Two cookies vanished. Three faces knew nothing.
Two Empty Spaces
Grandma Rose had left two cookies on the cooling tray for Grandpa Arthur, Oliver, and Poppy to decorate.
“Once they’re cool enough,” she said, “you may take those two.”
The children had decided to make one especially for her. The other, Grandpa explained, would be for the three decorators to share. Poppy fetched a small dish of icing while Oliver arranged chocolate pieces on a plate.
By the time Grandma returned to the kitchen, the two cookies had disappeared from the tray. She looked towards the sofa.
Grandpa sat between the children, holding a cookie in each hand. Oliver had a napkin on his lap. Poppy was trying not to smile.
“Has anyone seen my two cookies?” Grandma asked.
Grandpa raised one finger to his lips. “We’re investigating.”
The Detective Takes the Case
Grandma came closer. “Have you found any clues?”
“Several,” Oliver said. “But we can’t tell you yet.”
Poppy leaned towards her. “We’re putting little chocolate—”
Grandpa cleared his throat.
“Little chocolate what?” Grandma asked.
“Questions,” Poppy said quickly.
“Very important questions,” Grandpa agreed. “This case requires absolute confidentiality.”
Grandma looked at the cookies in his hands. “Why is the detective holding the evidence?”
“For its personal protection.”
“From whom?”
Grandpa glanced at Oliver, who was looking at the dish of chocolate pieces.
“From anyone who might accidentally eat the decorations,” he said.
Oliver moved his hand away from the plate. “I was only counting them.”
Evidence on a Moustache
Grandma went to fetch the tea things. As soon as she turned away, Oliver pointed at Grandpa’s cardigan.
“There’s a crumb on you.”
“A planted clue?” Grandpa asked.
“A fallen clue.” Oliver brushed it onto the napkin.
Poppy studied Grandpa’s face. “There’s another one in your moustache.”
Grandpa crossed his eyes and looked down. “Can you reach it? I seem to be investigating from the wrong side.”
Poppy picked away the crumb just as Grandma returned with the teapot.
“Any progress?” she asked.
“The suspects have been extremely helpful,” Grandpa said.
“Especially the one holding the cookies,” Oliver added.
Grandma set the teapot down. “Then I’ll give the investigation a few more minutes.”
Once she was seated, Grandpa passed one cookie to each child. Oliver spread a little icing on the first while Poppy arranged chocolate pieces into a smile. On the second, they made three uneven dots: one for each decorator.
“The middle one is you,” Poppy told Grandpa.
“Because it’s the largest?”
“Because it slipped when I put it down.”
Case Deliciously Closed
They carried the cookies to Grandma on the napkin. The smiling one was for her; the one with three dots would be shared.
Grandma examined her cookie. “What a lovely surprise.”
“We made the smile,” Poppy said. “The cookie was already good at being round.”
Grandpa poured the tea while Oliver divided the second cookie into three pieces. One dot fell onto the napkin, and he carefully placed it on Grandpa’s piece.
“Your badge,” Oliver said.
Grandpa pinned it to a dab of icing and took a bite. Then he looked at Grandma.
“Did you know where the cookies were?”
“Of course,” she said. “The detective was holding the evidence.”
Livora Gracely ♥
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