The Secret of the Shadow Bandit

by Linda Joy Singleton

Overview

Kelsey’s dad has a new job and that means a new house—on the same property as a castle! Kelsey, Becca, and Leo can’t wait to explore, but what they find might lead to their most intricate case yet. How are an abandoned tree house, a wad of cash, a missing heirloom, and a mysterious creature roaming the grounds all connected? The Curious Cat Spy Club is determined to find out!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780807513873
Publisher:	Whitman, Albert & Company
Publication date:	10/01/2017
Series:	Curious Cat Spy Club Series
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	296
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 7.90(h) x 0.90(d)
Age Range:	9 - 12 Years

About the Author

At age eleven, Linda Joy Singleton and her best friend created their own Curious Cat Spy Club. They even rescued three abandoned kittens. Linda was always writing as a kid—usually about animals and mysteries. She is now the author of more than thirty-five books for children and young adults, including YALSA-honored The Seer series and the Dead Girl trilogy. She lives in California.

Read an Excerpt

The Secret of the Shadow Bandit Book Four

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By Linda Joy Singleton

Albert Whitman & Company

Copyright © 2016 Linda Joy Singleton
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-0-8075-1386-6

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CHAPTER 1

Monstrous

A shrill scream rips through the house.

I jump off the window seat, fling my mystery novel aside, race out of my bedroom and — Wham! — into the solid mass of big brother.

"Whoa, Kelsey!" Kyle's hair is mussed like he just woke up from a nap. He puts his hands on my shoulders and peers into my face. "Why'd you scream?"

"Not me ... Kiana, I think," I say as another scream echoes through the hall. I whirl around and run into her room, my brother close on my heels.

My older sister is perched on her bed, clutching a stuffed pink bunny to her chest like a shield. "Get the monster out of here!" she shrieks.

"What monster?" Kyle scrunches his forehead, looking around.

"It moved too fast to get a good look, but I think it's a fanged snake or horned lizard with a spiky tail," Kiana says in a rush.

A fanged horned monster with a spiky tail?

I want to believe Kiana because she's nicer to me than Kenya and sometimes she even helps me with my homework. But there's no monster in her room.

"It's in my closet!" Kiana points a shaky finger. "I saw a horrifying shadow on the wall then heard claws running into my closet so I kicked the door shut. It's still there!"

"You only saw a shadow?" Kyle scoffs. "Don't you know that shadows are always more exaggerated than reality? I'm not surprised you're imagining monsters after you and Kenya stayed up late watching Jurassic Park."

"That has nothing to do with this ... this creature!" Kiana squeals, her gaze glued to the closet. "I came into my room to get my backpack and heard a crunching sound — and look! That thing chewed my book report!" Kiana picks up a shredded paper from her bed and waves it at us.

I stare at needle-sharp punctures and clawed stripes, and my stomach knots. As Spy Tactics Specialist in the Curious Cat Spy Club, I've trained myself to observe and analyze evidence. The claw and teeth marks are proof I can't ignore. A horrible suspicion grows in my mind.

"A monster ate your homework?" Kyle throws back his head and laughs. "Try getting that excuse by your teacher."

"It's true! And it's probably devouring my clothes and best shoes right now!" Kiana twists a curl of her dark hair around her finger. "Hurry, Kyle! You're older and stronger than we are. Get rid of it!"

My brother's smile fades fast. While he's tall and can play a mean game of hoops, he's not made of muscles or courage. And lately he's been too busy researching colleges to play any sports. He glances uneasily at the closet, backing into the hall like he's poised for a quick getaway. "I'll go ask Mom to help. Catching animals is her job, so she'll know what to do."

"She's working in the garden," Kiana says.

"No need to bother Mom on her day off," I say calmly even though my heart is thudding. I step forward. "I'll do it."

My brother and sister stare at me, shocked. I'm the youngest in the family after all, the little sister who's usually so quiet no one notices me. They probably think I'm trying to prove I can be brave, but my offer has nothing to do with bravery. It's the opposite. If my suspicion about the "monster" is right, I'm going to be in big trouble. My only hope is to get my sister and brother out of the room.

"I can handle this." I imagine I'm a fearless detective from one of my novels and lift my chin confidently. "I've learned a lot about dealing with wild animals from hanging out with Becca at her wild animal sanctuary. Alligators, lions, and bears — they don't scare me. Becca's taught me how to protect myself, but I can't protect both of you, so wait in the hall."

Kiana frowns at her ripped homework then jumps off her bed and comes over to me. "I can't leave you in here alone," she says anxiously.

"Really, it's okay. Don't worry."

As I say this I hear rustling sounds from the closet and wonder what will happen if I'm wrong. Could there really be a spiked-tail snake-lizard in the closet?

"Kelsey knows a lot about wild animals, so she can take care of this," my brother says with a shrug. "Come on, Kiana. Let's get out of here."

"But Kelsey could get hurt." She tugs my hand. "Better my shoes get eaten than my baby sister. Let's all leave and go get Mom."

"Get Mom to do what?"

I spin around as Mom strides into the room. Her curly brown hair falls out of a red scarf and her gardening gloves are dirt-stained. Before she became a county animal control officer, she worked for a florist because she loves gardening.

I wish she'd stayed outside in the garden.

Things get worse when I hear Kenya's and Dad's voices.

Drats! Now my whole family is here.

"What's going on?" Dad squeezes in beside Mom. He must have been in the kitchen working on a culinary masterpiece because he's wearing his Eating Is a Necessity but Cooking Is an Art apron.

"Kiana, did you scream?" Kenya pushes past everyone to hug her. They both have long dark-brown hair like Mom's and full lips like Dad, and everyone says they're identical. But I can tell them apart. It's Secret 8 in my notebook of secrets.

"Mom, Dad!" Kiana gestures wildly. "There's a monster in my closet!"

Dad wipes his hands on his cooking apron as he chuckles. "Aren't you a little old for imaginary friends?"

"It's not a friend or imaginary! See what it did to my book report!" Kiana waves the ripped homework in the air. A corner breaks off and flutters to the carpet.

Mom pushes her hair from her eyes, leaning in for a closer look at the paper. "Hmmm," she murmurs. "What does this monster look like?"

"Horrifying! It was huge like a giant lizard or dragon with wicked fangs!" Kiana spreads her arms and juts out her teeth like fangs. "And it had a spiky tail!"

"But you only saw its shadow," I point out, hoping to calm everyone down and convince them to leave. "I'm sure it's just a harmless rat. I can get rid of it."

"No, you will not, Kelsey," Mom says firmly as she steps in front of me. "Rats carry diseases. Kyle, go out to my work truck and grab my net."

We all wait as if frozen in a movie frame. Kiana and Kenya stand close, their hands dramatically clasped together and their gazes fixed on the closet door like they're actors in a horror movie. Dad stands by awkwardly like an extra, while Mom waits to direct the action.

Minutes later, Kyle's footsteps pound down the hall and he hands Mom the net before he quickly ducks back into the hall.

Mom raises the net in one hand, reaching for the closet with the other.

I hold my breath as Mom twists the knob.

Slowly, the door opens ...

CHAPTER 2

Houdini Cat

"Stand back, kids," Mom warns.

The others huddle in the hall, but I step forward to look inside the closet.

Just as I feared, I recognize the "monster."

Of course, there's nothing monstrous about my sweet kitten. Honey is adorable with long marmalade-colored fur, white patches across her back, and a stubby tail that's twitching as if she's annoyed.

"Honey!" I rush forward to scoop up my cat. She mews with attitude, letting everyone know she does not appreciate being locked in a closet.

"Some terrifying monster." Mom chuckles, the net dangling from her hand.

Kyle swaggers into the room. "I thought the monster had a spiked tail."

"It did!" Kiana waves her arms emphatically. "It can't be a kitten!"

"You only saw its shadow." Kyle smirks. "I can't believe you freaked out over an itty-bitty kitty."

"I did not freak out." Kiana glares at him.

"Your scream probably registered on the Richter scale," Kyle jokes.

"You were too scared to even look in the closet." Kiana whirls away from Kyle to point at me, her fear switching to fury. "Kelsey, this is all your fault! Your cat destroyed my homework!"

Uh-oh. Now I have a monster to deal with — my angry sister.

"She's only a kitten and doesn't know any better," I say in a mouse-squeak. Usually Kiana is nice to me, but when she's angry — watch out! Arguing never works. My best strategy is to apologize and beg forgiveness. "I'm really sorry, Kiana. I'll help you rewrite your book report."

"As if a seventh grader could do high school homework." She makes a harrumph sound.

I hug Honey tightly to my chest, not sure which of our hearts is beating faster. "She won't do it again."

"She better not," my dad puts in firmly. "Kittens are too full of energy to run loose in a house — especially a house we're living in rent-free due to the generosity of my new employer. We have to be careful not to damage anything. No stains on the carpet or broken windows or marks on the walls."

I groan. Not another lecture about taking care of our new home. Sure, I'm grateful to Mr. Bragg. (That's King Bragg from the resort hotel commercials with him wearing a crown while skydiving into a luxurious swimming pool.) But Dad is so afraid something will go wrong and he'll lose another job that he's stressing everyone out. It's not like we're toddlers who draw on walls or spill juice on the carpet. Besides, the only reason King — I mean, Mr. Bragg — offered us this house is because he wanted his new personal chef nearby to prepare his meals 24/7.

"I assured Mr. Bragg that my family was responsible," Dad continues, not noticing that my siblings have sneaked away. "But Kelsey, I can't allow a destructive animal in this house."

"She's not destructive, just playful," I argue as my kitten bats at my hair.

"And very sweet," Mom adds, stroking Honey's silky fur. "But I agree with your father. Kelsey, you must keep a close watch on your kitten."

"I will," I assure my parents. "Her litter, food, and water are in my room. I'll make sure she doesn't sneak out."

"If she causes any more trouble she has to go," Dad warns.

"No!" I hug my kitten to my chest. "Honey won't do anything wrong again. She'll be a perfect little angel. I promise."

I hope this is a promise I can keep.

* * *

Dad offers to make tacos for lunch. His tacos are always delicious with his special seasoning and juicy organic tomatoes. I leave Honey curled in her cushioned cat bed in my room.

"You stay right there and don't get into any trouble." I wag my finger at her.

She blinks her golden eyes innocently, as if to say, "Cause trouble? Me?"

"Yes, you," I say firmly.

I don't know how she got into my sister's room, but I have to make sure she doesn't do it again. I can't lose Honey after waiting so long to bring her home. She was one of three kittens Becca, Leo, and I rescued from a dumpster. At first we secretly cared for them in the Skunk Shack, our CCSC clubhouse, until Leo was allowed to take his kitten home. Then Becca brought her kitten and mine to live in her house. Stuck in an apartment that didn't allow pets, I didn't think I'd ever get to keep Honey and would only be able to visit her after school and on weekends. Then Dad got a job, and it came with a house big enough for my large family, our energetic dog, Handsome, and my sweet kitten. Now every night I fall asleep to Honey's purring lullaby.

I am not giving her up.

Shutting my door firmly, I hurry downstairs to join my family around the dining table. I plop a crispy taco on a plate and take a big bite. Spicy tomato juice dribbles down my chin and I lick it off. Yum.

When my brother reaches for his third (or fourth) taco, Dad grins. "As the chef, I take that as a compliment. But don't stuff yourself. We have an important dinner tonight." Dad winks, as if we need reminding despite him telling us a zillion times about our dinner invitation to Bragg Castle.

It's not really a historical castle but it sure looks formidable with massive stone walls and turrets spiraling to the sky. It's just past a grove of trees beyond our new home. I can't wait to see inside the castle. But I'm kind of nervous too, because King Bragg is famous and I won't know what to say to him. I'm better at listening than talking.

I'll ask Becca for advice. Her CCSC title is Social Contact Operative, and she can talk to anyone. Sometimes I think she can talk to animals too, or at least understand what they're saying since she helps her mom run their animal sanctuary. When I called her earlier, she was getting ready to give a bear a bubble bath. Yeah, a real bear.

Becca and Leo, our club's Covert Technology Strategist, will be here in an hour to see my new home. When Dad first told us we were moving into a cottage, I expected something small and cozy like out of a fairytale. But a five-bedroom house is a cottage to the King of Resorts when compared to his castle. I wonder if there will be suits of armor propped up like guards, secret passages, or a dungeon. Exploring a dungeon would be cool.

After lunch, I head up to my room to check on Honey. The door is shut just like I left it. As I step inside, I say, "Honey, I'm back."

She doesn't romp over to rub my ankles or meow to be picked up. And when I look at her kitty bed, only a catnip toy and fuzzy red blanket are there.

My cat is gone.

CHAPTER 3

Cat-Napped

Honey has to be in my bedroom somewhere. I look beneath my bed. Nope. I check behind my desk. Nope. The closet is open a crack, but when I search inside, still no cat. Impossible! She couldn't turn a door knob or lift a latched window. Could someone have taken her?

Suspect #1: Kiana. Motive: Revenge for her ruined homework.

Is she trying to get my cat in trouble so I can't keep her?

She is not getting away with it!

I start for my sister's room but as I pass my window I catch a flicker of movement outside and see orange. To be exact, the soft orange shade of Honey.

How did my cat get outside?

I practically fly down the stairs, the front door banging behind me. Honey is crouched in the grass, stalking an unsuspecting leaf. She loves to pounce on leaves like they're birds or mice. It's funny to watch her strut around with a leaf in her mouth, like a trophy she's showing off.

But nothing about my escapee-cat is funny now.

"Bad kitty," I say as I scoop her up in my arms. She mews and her leaf floats to the grass. "How did you get out here?"

She licks my arm and I giggle because it tickles. She's so soft and sweet, and I'm just relieved she's safe. I run my fingers through her orange fur, my anger melting away.

A fanged monster with a spiked tail? I smile. What was my sister thinking?

Honey squirms in my arms. I follow her gaze to the enormous tree that towers over the front yard. It's so huge it eclipses the house and it's so dense I can't see through the leafy branches. A good climbing tree, I decide. I've had a lot of experience climbing trees, especially on CCSC stakeouts. A shady tree with sturdy branches can be a spy's best friend.

I carry Honey to the porch swing and she settles comfortably on my lap. The swing squeaks as I rock back and forth. I scratch Honey in her favorite spot just below her chin and she purrs loudly. "No more escaping, you little Houdini. You have to be good."

She looks at me with big golden eyes as if to say, "How could I be anything but perfect?" I just laugh.

When I hear a humming motor, I look up and see Leo zooming toward me on the homemade robotic skateboard he calls a gyro-board.

"What are you doing here so early?" I ask as he rolls to a stop, gravel spitting from his wheels.

"Should I leave?" Leo asks with an uneasy frown.

"Of course not." I gesture for him to come up to the porch. "Let's wait here for Becca so I can give you both a tour together. She won't be here for a while."

"Twenty-two minutes, if she's punctual." Leo hops off his gyro-board and flips it up to balance on one end. "To be honest, I came early on purpose."

"Oh?" I raise my brows.

"I thought we could ... you and I, or is it you and me? ... could talk."

He sounds more awkward than usual. My spy senses flash alert and I study Leo. He looks normal enough in dark slacks and a vest over a white shirt. But he seems nervous, shifting his feet and twisting the gyro-board remote in his hand. He's not meeting my gaze either. He's looking down at my feet as if my sneakers are encoded with a secret message.

"Talk about what?" I ask in an encouraging tone.

"It's nothing ... I mean ... uh ... just a question ..." He looks away from me.

"About what?" "Nothing really ... I mean ... umm ..." Stammering from precise Leo? Something is definitely up.

"Want to sit down?" Smiling, I pat a spot on the swing.

"Next to you?" "I don't bite, although Honey might," I tease.

Fair-skinned Leo blushes like his face is on fire. As a collector of secrets, I can tell Leo is working up the courage to confide in me. Does it have to do with his new drone project? Yesterday he hinted that his new project will be both "huge and minuscule" — whatever that means.

As I scoot over to make room for Leo, Honey suddenly leaps off my lap and scurries over to the huge oak. She crouches by the trunk, her gaze sharp like a predator at something gray that disappears into leafy branches. Probably a squirrel, I think. And then Honey springs up the tree trunk. In a blink, my kitten is gone — as if the massive tree has swallowed her.

"Honey, come back here!" Jumping off the porch, I run over to the tree and peer up. But I only see leaves.

"Don't worry about her," Leo says, coming beside me. "According to my calculations, a cat will come down from a tree in three to five days."

(Continues...)

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Excerpted from The Secret of the Shadow Bandit Book Four by Linda Joy Singleton. Copyright © 2016 Linda Joy Singleton. Excerpted by permission of Albert Whitman & Company.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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Table of Contents

Contents

Prologue: Three Months Ago ...,
Chapter 1: Monstrous,
Chapter 2: Houdini Cat,
Chapter 3: Cat-Napped,
Chapter 4: Up in a Tree,
Chapter 5: Cash and Clues,
Chapter 6: Dinner Rules,
Chapter 7: Bragg Castle,
Chapter 8: Game of Bones,
Chapter 9: Tailing a Tail,
Chapter 10: Ferreting Out the Truth,
Chapter 11: Surveillance,
Chapter 12: Doggy Dilemma,
Chapter 13: SOS!,
Chapter 14: The Cat Guy,
Chapter 15: Pawn,
Chapter 16: A Sticky Situation,
Chapter 17: Cash, Clues, and Crushes,
Chapter 18: Dog-Gone Lucky Day,
Chapter 19: Road Trip,
Chapter 20: Mystery Solved?,
Chapter 21: Accused,
Chapter 22: It's a Trap,
Chapter 23: Shaker Shake-Up,
Chapter 24: A Thief Unmasked,
Chapter 25: King, Queen, Pawn,
Chapter 26: The Mystery Name,
Chapter 27: Treasure Quest,
Chapter 28: The Emerald King,
Chapter 29: Club Mates,