Note from the Detective’s Files The name is Gummyshoes Jon Gummyshoes I know what you’re thinking funny name right Well that’s not what I’m here to talk about I’m here to tell you the facts The cold hard facts about the cases I come across day in and day out at Edwin West Elementary School The way I see it trouble seems to find me around every corner So I make it my business to clean it up I don’t need this game It needs me The case I’m about to share with you wasn’t my first and it certainly won’t be my last It took me in a new direction I had to deal with a new school a new principal and even a rock band It was pretty crazy wild bike chases strange threats and bodyguard duty In the end I learned that being a star isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be 6
Chapter 1 A Shooting Star My vision was blurry I was trying to keep the sweat from getting into my eyes but it wasn’t working The houses faded behind me with each turn of my bike pedals The brilliant oranges and reds of the trees blurred as I sped by I could see my breath as I rode the bike up the hill Fake skeletons and cotton spider webs were all over the houses Soon youngsters in costumes would come out to collect candy This year would be the first year in my ten-year-old life that I wouldn’t be joining them 8
My bike passenger was squeezing my stomach a little too tightly It was hard to keep going But I had to push on faster and faster The Battle of the Bands and the fate of everyone involved depended on it See I had decided to try my detective work at a new school for a while I moved my operation to Edwin East But they didn’t really like the idea of a student detective there They thought I was out to get them But really I was out to help them That’s what got me where I was on my bike I turned onto Jugg Street and pedaled through crowds of people strolling along the sidewalk I weaved and screamed trying to get them out of my way I rode off the sidewalk and pedaled harder across the street Huffing and puffing I felt the burn in my chest become more and more intense My legs were tensing up and I felt like they would go up in flames I reached the main gate and a poster by the entrance read Edwin East’s Battle of 9
