The Great Shelby Holmes by Elizabeth Eulberg Read Free Book Online

Roxy, the dog that barks incessantly, didn’t bark when Daisy was taken from downstairs. Yet everybody overlooked it. Except Shelby.
    Tamra’s hands were trembling as she put the picture frames back in place. “Wait a second.” She began picking up the different pictures and examining them. “One of the pictures is missing.”
    “Really?” Shelby asked excitedly.
    “Are you sure?” Zane asked as he came over to inspect the photos. “Mom probably rotated them or something. It’s not like she can leave a room alone for too long without redecorating it.”
    “No, it was here yesterday. I remember showing Shayla the photo of us in London when she was over. It was right here.” Tamra pointed to the left corner.
    “What kind of frame was it?” Shelby inquired. “Crystal? Antique?”
    “None of these frames are expensive,” Zane stated. “We don’t have a lot of antiques on this floor.”
    “Ah, because Zareen sleepwalks,” Shelby stated to the shock of the group. “It was pretty evident from the extra locks on her windows, heavy curtains, bell at her bedroom door, and prescription on her dresser. You should’ve been concerned if I hadn’t noticed that. After all, I’m the one who’s going to find your dog.”
    So much for our cover.
    Zane scratched his head. “Ah, that’s what you’re doing here? Mom said Tamra had friends over, not some detectives .” He said detectives with a sneer. I remembered what Shelby said earlier about being underestimated. I would’ve also doubted her had I not witnessed her in action.
    Tamra crossed her arms. “Listen, Zane, Shelby’s the smartest person in the entire school. She was the one who figured out who had stolen the money from the dance department’s fund-raiser. The principal didn’t even bother with the police, she’s that good. Nobody knows that Zareensleepwalks, but she figured that out simply by being in her room for a couple minutes.”
    I looked over at Shelby, who smirked back at Zane, clearly annoyed that she’d have to prove herself to anybody.
    Zane laughed. “Yeah, okay. Call me crazy, but that doesn’t really instill a ton of faith in me. Anybody can read a prescription bottle. Congratulations.”
    Shelby ignored Zane’s dig. “Do we know if she had an episode last night?”
    “No.” Zane put his hands in his pockets. “Zareen hardly sleepwalks anymore.”
    “I KNEW IT !” Zareen’s voice boomed as she stomped up the stairs, her curls bouncing with every step. “I KNEW you were going to find a way to blame me. I didn’t do it! But, of course, perfect Tamra couldn’t be held accountable for losing her own dog.”
    “It’s not my fault you’re jealous of me,” Tamra spit back at her older sister.
    “Don’t listen to her, Zareen.” Zane placed his arm around his twin.
    “Oh, what a surprise. Zane’s taking Zareen’s side,” Tamra replied sarcastically.
    “Tamra,” Zane scolded his sister, “don’t pick on Zareen. We’re all doing everything we can to find Daisy. And, Zareen, nobody thinks you did it.”
    Tamra stepped forward so she was only inches away from Zareen. “That’s not true. I think you did it.”
    With those words, an eruption of accusations overcame the two sisters as they each tried to blame the other for Daisy’s disappearance.
    “Why would I want my dog to disappear?” Tamra exclaimed as Zane stepped in between his sisters.
    “Because all you want is attention!” Zareen tugged on her brother’s arm. “You have to admit that Tamra could’ve totally taken Daisy last night and given her to a friend so she can have Mom and Dad fuss over her even more. As if that were humanly possible.”

    Shelby leaned toward me and said in a low voice, “Well, Watson, we’ve arrived at the finger-pointing stage of the investigation where everybody thinks they’re a detective.”
    “Guys!” I tried to get the shouting to stop. Not only was this really uncomfortable, but I also hated watching a family fight.