"Here's your...peanut butter and blue cheese sandwich, Shirley,"
Alicia Gianelli said as she gave Shirley Holmes her order.  Alicia gave
her a funny look.

 "Thanks, Alicia."  The young detective was hanging out with her
friends at the Quazar Cafe.  Alicia was working there today as a
waitress, but she took the time to talk to her friends.  Alicia left,
much to her relief, to take another customer's order.

 Bo Sawchuk watched with disgust as Shirley bit into her sandwich. He
expressed his uneasiness with Shirley's taste.  "Ugh, Shirley.  How can
you eat that?"

 Shirley chewed and swallowed.  "It's an acquired taste," she stated
just before taking another bite.  While she ate, she continued to read
the newspaper she had in front of her.

 Bespectacled Bart James stared at Shirley as she ate her sandwich.
"And people call me weird," he commented.  Bart was well-known for his
strong beliefs in the paranormal, especially ghosts and aliens.

 Sterling Patterson, better known as Stink to his friends, was about to
offer his input when he spotted someone who just entered the Quazar
Cafe.  "Hey, Shirley," he teased.  "Your boyfriend's here."  He giggled
a little as he placed something on his hand underneath the table.

 Shirley looked up to see Blake Hewitt walking towards her and her
friends.  Blake was a newcomer to Redington; he had recently moved
there from California.  He was rather tall with neatly-cut brown hair.
He was essentially a loner, but eventually Shirley and Bo became his
first friends, and in turn they introduced him to their friends.

 Although Shirley and Blake went out once on a movie date, she did not
really consider Blake her boyfriend.  She did find him cute, and they
did have a lot in common, like a love of mysteries.  They also had
parents who were presumed dead, but were actually alive.  In Shirley's
case, it was her mother, a world-renowned virologist.  In Blake's case,
it was his father, a police inspector with Interpol.

 Stink got up from his seat and walked up to Blake.  "Hey, Blake,
how're you doing?" he asked in a friendly manner, holding out his hand
to Blake.  Blake did not make a move to shake his hand and just stared
at it silently.  "Aw, come on," Stink said, acting hurt.  "Shake."

 "Only if you remove the hand buzzer from it," Blake said with a smile.
 Stink was dumbstruck.  Shirley was impressed.  "How'd you know?" Stink
asked, revealing the buzzer on his palm to Blake.

 "Well, Stink, you looked rather happy to see me.  Too happy," Blake
explained.  "I also recall when the first time we met, you pulled that
gag on me." "Oh."  Stink returned to his seat, speechless.

 "Whoa," Bart remarked as Blake took a seat next to him.  "Blake,
you're quite good," he said with admiration.

 "I learn from the best," Blake commented.  He smiled and looked at
Shirley, who tried her best not to blush.

 Bo looked uneasy and he suddenly had an urge to throw up, but he
controlled himself.  "So, Blake," he started, sounding friendly, "what
brings you to the Quazar Cafe?"

 "Well, since you guys kept telling me about this place, I decided to
see it for myself," Blake answered.

 "Where have you been all this time?" Shirley asked, curious.  "Ever
since your father came here, we haven't seen you outside of school.
 "Basically, my dad and I have been trying to reconnect.  We've been
doing stuff together, like fishing and going to sports events."  Blake
paused for a moment.  "Especially fishing," he said, sounding troubled.

 "You don't like fishing?" Stink asked.

 "Nah.  I'm actually quite good, although the smell does sometimes get
to me."  Blake grinned briefly. "So what's the problem?" Bo asked.

 "My dad's been taking me out fishing for two weeks now," Blake
recalled.  "When I was younger, when my dad had a tough case, he would
do something that relaxes him, like fishing, and he wouldn't stop doing
that activity until he solves the case.  However, while we were
fishing, my dad looked really bothered.  He didn't care if he got a
bite, and if he did, he didn't try to reel it in."

 "What case has he been working on?" Bart asked.

 "The jewelry thefts at Derrick's on Main Street," Shirley announced
matter-of-factly. All eyes were on Shirley.  "How did you know?" Blake asked.

 "It's in the newspaper.  In fact, it's been in the news for two weeks now," Shirley stated.

 "Oh yeah," Bart remembered.  "Someone has been stealing jewelry from Derrick's."
 "Derrick's?"  Stink whistled.  "That is a top-notch store.  Only the extremely wealthy go there."
 "So what exactly has been stolen from Derrick's?" Bo asked.
 "Rings and earrings," Shirley replied.
 "Just rings and earrings?" Bo looked puzzled.  "Why just rings and earrings?"

 Shirley shrugged.  "Listen to this."  She read out loud part of the
article she was looking at.

"'So far, there has been no developments
in solving the jewelry robberies at Derrick's on Main Street.  Police
reports show that the stolen items, namely rings and earrings, were
gone from the storeroom the next day.  At this time, the police have
found no signs of forced entry.  It is believed that the security
alarms were never triggered.'"

"Any suspects?" Bo asked.

 Shirley read on.  "'Arthur Brock, 18, a part-time employee of
Derrick's, had been suspected because he, with the owner, was present
as Derrick's was being closed for the night.  A police search on
Brock's house, however, has turned up nothing.  Brock maintains his
innocence, as does Jason Derrick, the store's owner.  "He's a good
kid," Derrick declared.  "He couldn't have done it."

 "'"We are still puzzled by this crime," admits Inspector Chris Hewitt,
head of the investigation.  "But we will not give up until the culprit
is caught."'" Shirley finished reading.

 "That's my dad," Blake stated, smiling weakly.  "He never gives up."
 "Shirley, did you mention an Arthur Brock?" Bo asked curiously.
 "I did," Shirley acknowledged.  "Why do you ask?"

 "Arthur Brock's one of the meanest, sneakiest guys I've ever heard
of," Bo started to explain.  "He used to be with the Bisons until the
police nabbed him two years ago.  The guys I used to hang out with kept
talking about how he shoplifted twelve toothpaste boxes without anyone noticing."

 "So why isn't he in juvenile hall still?" Shirley asked.
 "Got out on good behavior," Bo answered.  "He's been keeping his nose
clean ever since.  I've heard that he helps out occasionally at old
people's homes and orphanages."

 "What about the owner?" Stink pointed out.  "Why wasn't he suspected?"
 "My dad took him off the suspects' list," Blake said.  "Mr. Derrick
always leaves before Arthur." "That leaves Arthur Brock," Bart stated.

 "But nothing was found at his place," Bo said.
 "That's what's been bugging my dad," Blake admitted.  "He's sure
Brock's the thief, but he's got nothing but a hunch."

 Shirley sat back and thought for a moment.  "We need to find out if he's the thief."
"How?" Bo asked.  "We don't know where he lives."
 "Well, count me in," Blake said.  "I think I can help you guys out."
 "Thanks, Blake," Shirley said.  "Your help would be greatly appreciated."

 Alicia walked up to the table.  "Hi, Blake.  Can I get you anything?"
she asked, smiling. Blake looked at Shirley.  "I'll have what she's having."
 Shirley grinned while everyone else stared at Blake wide-eyed.

"What?" he asked, puzzled.
 

-End of Part 1-

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