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Chapter 1
Chapter 1: The Detectives of Maple Street
Every Wednesday at four o'clock sharp, Leo Martinez climbed through the loose board in his backyard fence and landed in Harriet Walsh's vegetable garden, careful to avoid the tomato plants.
"You're late," Harriet said, not looking up from her notebook. She sat cross-legged on the grass beside their headquarters—a lopsided wooden shed her grandfather had built twenty years ago. The words "THE WEDNESDAY CLUB" were painted across the door in bright blue letters, courtesy of Leo's artistic skills.
"I'm two minutes early, actually," Leo said, checking his watch.
"Then I'm four minutes early, which makes you late compared to me." Harriet finally looked up and grinned. Her red hair was pulled back in its usual messy ponytail, and she had dirt smudged on her freckled cheek. "We've got a new case."
Leo's heart jumped. "Really? What is it?"
"Mrs. Patterson's garden gnome has gone missing again. Third time this month."
Leo sighed. "It's definitely the Kowalski twins. They think it's hilarious."
"Obviously. But we need proof." Harriet tapped her pencil against her notebook. "I'm thinking a stakeout."
The Wednesday Club had been solving neighborhood mysteries for almost a year now. Nothing too serious—lost pets, missing toys, the occasional case of who ate the last slice of birthday cake. But Leo loved it. He loved piecing together clues, loved the moment when everything clicked into place.
Harriet was his perfect partner. She was organized where he was scattered, brave where he was cautious. Together, they'd never failed to crack a case.
"Did you hear about the new neighbor?" Harriet asked as they settled into the shed, surrounded by their collection of magnifying glasses, flashlights, and a filing cabinet stuffed with case notes.
"The one who moved into the Miller house?"
"Mr. Bellamy. He's a retired magician." Harriet's eyes sparkled. "A real one, Leo. He performed on cruise ships and everything. My mom had him over for tea yesterday, and he pulled a quarter out of my ear."
"That's just a basic trick," Leo said. "My uncle can do that."
"He also made a whole deck of cards disappear. Into thin air." Harriet waved her hands dramatically. "He said he might teach me some tricks if I help him with his garden."
Leo felt a small twist of something uncomfortable in his stomach. He wasn't sure if it was jealousy or something else. "That's cool, I guess."
"You should come meet him. He's really nice. And he's collecting donations for this children's charity—buying books for kids who can't afford them. My mom already gave twenty dollars."
Leo nodded, but the uncomfortable feeling didn't go away.
