Whose Pet Is Best? Read online

  Nancy picked it up and stuffed it into the pocket of her jeans. She would give it back to Katie after the contest.

  Finally, Mr. Lizard returned to the stage. “The rat has been caught,” he told the crowd. “Now, find your pets, and we’ll go on with the show.”

  He told Nancy to begin again.

  “Okay, Chip,” Nancy said. “Do your thing.”

  She kicked the soccer ball to her puppy. But Chip didn’t do her trick. She just whimpered and sniffed at the ball. Then she scratched her nose and backed off.

  “Come on, Chip,” Nancy said. “Get the ball!”

  Chip lay down and put her chin between her paws.

  Nancy felt her heart beat fast. Something is wrong with my puppy, Nancy thought. Something horribly, terribly, awfully wrong!

  4

  Sniffing for Clues

  Nancy carried Chip down from the stage. Chip was still whimpering and scratching her nose.

  Bess and George met Nancy at the bottom of the stage.

  “Nice try, Nancy,” George said, patting Nancy on the back.

  “Um, yeah,” Bess said. “You looked really great up there.”

  “Thanks,” Nancy mumbled. She felt a huge lump in her throat as she tried not to cry.

  The rest of the contest went by in an awful blur. Nancy could barely stand to watch.

  “Thanks, kids,” Mr. Lizard said when the last act was over. “And thanks to your fine feathered and fur-faced friends.”

  Chip nuzzled her nose into the palm of Nancy’s hand.

  “Now it’s time to announce the winner,” Mr. Lizard said, “and the most amazing pet.”

  To everyone’s delight, a chimpanzee ran onto the stage wearing a funny cap.

  Even Nancy had to smile as the chimp handed Mr. Lizard an envelope, tipped his hat, and skipped off the stage.

  “And the winner is,” Mr. Lizard said, opening the envelope, “Katie Zaleski and her parrot, Lester.”

  The crowd cheered as Katie let out a scream and raced up the steps to join Mr. Lizard. “Oh, thank you, Mr. Lizard,” she said. “This is the best day of my life.”

  Lester bobbed his head up and down. “Best day of my life. Squawwwwk!”

  Mr. Lizard announced the date Katie would be on the show. Then he lizard danced right off the stage. Soon Bess’s mother drove up in her minivan to take Nancy, Bess, and George home. As the minivan pulled away, Nancy cradled Chip in her arms.

  “We have to get home right away,” Nancy said to Mrs. Marvin. “Chip is sick.”

  Nancy looked at her puppy. Chip didn’t look good.

  Chip was fine before the contest, Nancy thought. I wonder if someone made her sick. But who?

  As soon as she got home, Nancy told her father what had happened at the pet contest. Carson Drew was a lawyer and often helped Nancy with her mysteries.

  “Daddy, what if Orson did spill real fleas all over Chip?” Nancy asked.

  Mr. Drew ruffled Nancy’s reddish blond hair. “Remember, Pudding Pie. A good detective gathers all the evidence before closing a case.”

  “You’re right.” Nancy sighed. “Well, Brenda Carlton fed Chip a cookie before the contest. Maybe that made Chip sick.”

  Nancy’s eyes lit up. “Or David might have opened Skeevy’s cage on purpose so Chip would chase the rat. Or so Skeevy would bite Chip and keep her from doing her trick.”

  Mr. Drew laughed. “I think you’d better take Chip to see Dr. Rios to find out for sure.”

  Dr. Rios was Chip’s veterinarian.

  “Okay, Daddy.” Nancy picked up her special blue detective’s notebook. She used it to help her solve mysteries. “I’m taking this along just in case.”

  Nancy phoned Bess and George. She asked them to meet her at Dr. Rios’s office with their bicycles.

  Just as Nancy was about to go to the garage to get her bike, the doorbell rang. Nancy opened the door and saw Katie Zaleski holding Lester in his cage.

  “Hi, Nancy,” Katie said. “You’re not going to believe who just came by for a visit.”

  “Don’t tell me,” Nancy said. “Your cousin Melvin.”

  “Of all the days for him to visit,” Katie said. “I should be celebrating with Lester, not dropping him off with you.”

  “You’re dropping Lester off here?” Nancy asked. “Now?”

  “Please, Nancy,” Katie said. “It’s just until dinnertime.”

  Nancy reached for the cage. “Okay. But I’m taking Chip to the vet. Is it all right if I leave Lester alone in the den?”

  “Sure, Nancy. I knew I could count on you.” Katie gave Nancy a playful punch in the arm and dashed off.

  • • •

  Nancy, Bess, and George watched quietly as Dr. Rios examined Chocolate Chip. When he was through, Dr. Rios turned to Nancy and smiled.

  “You’ll be happy to know that Chip was not bitten by a rat. Nor does she have fleas.”

  “But why was Chip scratching her face so much, Dr. Rios?” Nancy asked.

  “I did find something sticky on Chip’s nose,” Dr. Rios said.

  “Brenda’s cookie,” Nancy cried. “I knew it!”

  Dr. Rios shook his head. “It’s not a cookie, Nancy.”

  “Then what is it?” Nancy asked.

  “It’s something used to keep dogs away from things,” Dr. Rios said. “It’s called Paws Off.”

  “What’s that?” Nancy asked.

  “It’s a kind of spray that only dogs can smell,” Dr. Rios explained.

  “Does it smell bad?” Nancy asked.

  “It sure does,” Dr. Rios said. “Paws Off is to dogs what sweaty gym socks are to people.”

  Nancy wrinkled her nose and laughed. “That is bad!”

  Dr. Rios continued to explain. “People use Paws Off to keep dogs away from flower beds, baby carriages—”

  “And soccer balls?” Nancy interrupted the doctor.

  “Yes,” Dr. Rios said. “I suppose so. In any case, your puppy is in good health. You have nothing to worry about.”

  “That’s a relief,” Nancy said. “Thanks, Dr. Rios. Bye.”

  Once the girls were outside the office, George turned to Nancy.

  “Do you think someone at the contest sprayed Chip’s soccer ball with Paws Off?”

  Nancy nodded. “Definitely. I smell a rat,” she said. “And it’s not Skeevy.”

  5

  Things Get Hairy

  The girls leaned their bicycles against a bench in the park and sat down on the grass. Nancy held on to Chip’s leash and opened her blue notebook.

  “A mystery,” Bess exclaimed. “Cool!”

  Nancy wrote “The Amazing Pet Contest Mystery” on a fresh page.

  “The best time for someone to have sprayed the soccer ball was when I left it to chase Chip,” Nancy said.

  She wrote “Suspects” on the next line.

  “Well, Orson’s not a suspect,” Nancy said. “He was just playing a joke on me with his fake fleas. I almost believed him, too.”

  “Then who is?” Bess asked.

  “My first suspect is Brenda Carlton,” Nancy said, writing Brenda’s name in her book. “She really wanted Chip to mess up so she could write about it.”

  “How Brenda-ish!” Bess groaned.

  “Then there are David and Jason,” Nancy added. “Maybe they let Skeevy loose on purpose so they could spray the soccer ball. They’re always playing tricks.”

  Nancy wrote the boys’ names under Brenda’s.

  “Jason was also wearing his backpack,” Nancy added. “He could have hidden ten cans of Paws Off in there.”

  “Did I hear my name?” a voice said. Nancy looked up and saw Jason Hutchings and David Berger. She quickly closed her notebook.

  David was holding Skeevy’s cage. Jason had his big purple backpack slung over one shoulder.

  “How’s Scratchy doing?” Jason asked. He laughed and gave David a high five.

  “If you mean Chocolate Chip,” George snapped, “she’s fine.”
/>   Nancy grabbed Chip’s leash. She, Bess, and George marched over to Jason and David. “You let Skeevy out of his cage on purpose, didn’t you?” Nancy said.

  “Maybe,” Jason said. “Maybe not.”

  “Don’t bother asking Skeevy,” David said, holding the cage closer to the girls. “He would never rat on us.”

  Nancy, Bess, and George jumped back. Chip tugged at her leash and growled at David.

  “Down, girl,” Nancy ordered.

  David passed the cage to Jason and backed away. Chip tried to reach the cage by jumping up on Jason’s leg.

  “Get her off me!” Jason shouted.

  Bess giggled. “Jason’s afraid of puppies! Jason’s afraid of puppies!”

  Chip jumped on Jason again. Jason’s purple backpack slipped off his shoulder and fell to the ground. Everything inside spilled out.

  “See what she made me do?” Jason said. “Dumb dog.”

  “Serves you right,” George said. “You were teasing her!”

  “Was not!” Jason yelled.

  “Was, too!” George yelled back.

  Nancy didn’t argue. She was too busy staring at the spilled backpack.

  “Bess, George,” Nancy said, pulling Chip to her side. “Why don’t we help Jason clean up this mess?”

  “No way, Jose!” Bess shouted.

  “What for?” George asked.

  Nancy smiled slyly. “Because you never know what you’ll find,” she whispered.

  The girls picked up Jason’s stuff piece by piece. They found two packs of bubble gum, a rubber spider, and a water bottle. Nancy picked up a wet paper bag. It smelled yucky.

  “Gross! What is this?” Nancy asked, holding her nose.

  “It’s Skeevy’s lunch,” David said. “He likes blue cheese with onions.”

  “That’s disgusting,” George said.

  Nancy shoved the paper bag into the backpack and sighed. There was no can of Paws Off anywhere.

  “Forget it,” Nancy whispered. “This backpack is clueless.”

  The girls brushed off their hands. They stood up and returned to their bikes.

  “You can clean up our rooms next,” David teased.

  “No way,” George shouted back. “I’d rather clean a hippopotamus’s toenails!”

  • • •

  After pedaling a few blocks, the girls stopped their bikes in front of a small glass building. It was the local television station, WRIV-TV.

  Nancy looked up at the building. “This is where Mr. Lizard does his show,” she said.

  “And those dog food commercials.” Bess giggled. “They’re funny.”

  All of a sudden, Nancy remembered that Mr. Lizard had said he didn’t want another dog act on his show. Could he have used the Paws Off?

  “I think I might have another suspect,” Nancy said to her friends.

  “What do you mean?” Bess asked.

  They hitched their bikes to a rack in front of the building while Nancy explained.

  “It won’t be easy,” Nancy said. “But let’s try to speak to Mr. Lizard.”

  The girls walked through the main door of the television studio. Nancy led the way, holding Chip’s leash tightly.

  A guard in a blue uniform sat behind a desk. She looked at the girls and smiled. “Hello. You must be the kid reporter Mr. Lizard is expecting.”

  “Uh, I am?” Nancy asked.

  George nudged Nancy.

  “Yes, I am!” Nancy said quickly.

  The guard handed Nancy, Bess, and George three visitor’s passes.

  “Third floor, to your left,” she said, pointing to an elevator.

  “Are we lucky or what?” George whispered to Nancy.

  The girls rode the elevator up to the third floor. The doors opened, and they stepped out.

  Nancy spotted a door with a shiny gold star. Mr. Lizard’s name was on it. “This is Mr. Lizard’s dressing room.” She made sure Chip stayed close to her.

  Bess gazed at the star. “This is where he combs his bushy red hair.”

  “And puts on those big rubber ears,” George said.

  “And this is where he might hide a can of Paws Off,” Nancy said.

  “I hope Mr. Lizard didn’t do it,” George said.

  The door was open a crack. Nancy peeked in and saw the room was empty.

  Nancy turned to Bess and George. “There’s only one way to find out.”

  “You mean go in?” Bess asked. “Going into Mr. Lizard’s dressing room would be like going into—the White House!”

  “We have to,” Nancy said.

  The three girls slipped through the door and looked around. There was a big mirror on the wall and lots of colorful costumes and hats on a rack.

  George patted her chest. “My heart feels like it’s doing the lizard dance.”

  Bess slipped her feet into a pair of giant red-and-white shoes. “How can anyone do the lizard dance in these things?” she said.

  Nancy walked over to a long, white table. On it was a row of bushy red wigs set on fake heads. Next to the wigs was a large spray can. Could it be Paws Off? Nancy wondered.

  She picked up the can to look at the label. It was a product called Hair Today.

  Suddenly, George grabbed Nancy’s arm. “I hear someone coming. Quick, let’s hide!”

  Nancy grabbed Chocolate Chip and picked her up. Then she, George, and Bess ducked behind a costume rack.

  Chip grunted softly.

  “Shhhhh,” Nancy whispered into the dog’s ear.

  The girls peeked out from behind a shiny purple-and-gold cape.

  Nancy watched as a man entered the room. He was dressed like Mr. Lizard but didn’t look like him. This man was totally bald.

  The man walked over to the mirror. He looked at himself and rubbed his head. Then he reached for the can of Hair Today and sprayed his entire head.

  “Yuck! What is he doing?” Bess whispered to Nancy.

  Nancy saw the man grab a bushy red wig and place it on his head.

  “It is Mr. Lizard!” she hissed.

  Nancy felt her heart sink. Not only was Mr. Lizard not as nice as he was on TV, but his wild red hair wasn’t even real.

  “Nancy.” George sniffled. “That stinky spray is tickling my nose.”

  Nancy looked at George in horror.

  “Don’t sneeze, George,” Nancy pleaded. “Whatever you do, don’t—”

  “AHHHHHCCCHOOOOOOO!”

  Nancy, Bess, and George froze.

  “Who’s back there?” Mr. Lizard roared.

  6

  Polly Wanna Crack a Case?

  You might as well come out,” Mr. Lizard called. “I know you’re behind that costume rack!”

  “How does he know where we are?” Bess murmured.

  Nancy pointed to the floor. “You forgot to take off the giant shoes.”

  Bess looked down. The clown shoes were sticking out from under the costumes.

  “Whoops.” Bess slipped her feet out of the big shoes. “Sorry.”

  The girls slowly stepped out from behind the costumes.

  Mr. Lizard looked at them and crossed his arms. Then Jane, the producer, stepped into the dressing room.

  “What is going on here?” Jane asked. She looked at Nancy and Chip. “What are you two doing here?”

  “Uh, I’m here to ask Mr. Lizard a few questions,” Nancy said.

  Mr. Lizard nodded. “Oh, yeah. You must be the kid reporter who’s supposed to interview me, right?”

  Nancy’s mouth felt as if it were full of cotton. She had to think fast.

  “Yes,” Nancy said. She opened her notebook and took a pencil out of her jeans pocket. “I promise not to take up much of your time.”

  “No problem,” Mr. Lizard said. “Ask me anything you want.”

  “First question,” Nancy said. “What do you think of the product Paws Off?”

  “Paws Off?” Mr. Lizard said. “Never heard of it.”

  Nancy stared at Mr. Lizard. I wonder if he’s telli
ng the truth?

  Nancy twirled the pencil between her fingers. She pointed it at Mr. Lizard’s head. “Next question. That hair of yours—is it real?”

  A hush fell over the dressing room. Jane followed Mr. Lizard as he paced back and forth, biting his nails.

  Mr. Lizard sighed and turned to Nancy. He yanked the wig off his head. “Does this answer your question?”

  Nancy smiled. Mr. Lizard may be a gruff man, she thought, but at least he’s honest.

  “Just one more question, Mr. Lizard,” Nancy said. “Do you like having dogs on your show?”

  Jane chuckled. “Good question!”

  “Okay, I have to admit it,” Mr. Lizard said. “I’m not too crazy about mutts.”

  Mr. Lizard reached down and patted Chip gently. “Except for this little one. She has to be the cutest puppy I’ve ever seen.”

  Nancy’s eyes twinkled with excitement. That was all she needed to hear.

  “Thank you, Mr. Lizard.” Nancy closed her notebook and put her pencil in her pocket. “No more questions.”

  “That was the shortest interview I’ve ever given,” Mr. Lizard said.

  “Bye,” Nancy said.

  The girls and Chip left the dressing room and rode the elevator back down to the first floor.

  Brenda Carlton was standing by the guard’s desk. The guard was holding a walkie-talkie.

  “I think I have a way to find out if Brenda sprayed the Paws Off,” Nancy said to Bess and George as they walked toward Brenda.

  “How?” George asked.

  “We have to play a trick,” Nancy said. “Just follow along with what I do.”

  “Okay.” Bess smiled. “This is going to be fun.”

  “I’m sorry, miss,” the guard said to Brenda. “But Mr. Lizard just gave an interview to a young reporter.”

  “That’s impossible!” Brenda cried.

  Then Brenda looked at Nancy.

  “What are you and Chocolate Marshmallow doing here?” Brenda asked.

  “Chocolate Chip!” Bess snapped.

  “We were just coming from Mr. Lizard’s Funhouse,” Nancy said. “His producer has a video of the whole contest.”

  Brenda’s eyes were wide. “What’s in the video?”