Read Encyclopedia Brown Cracks the Case for Free Online

shirt. “You can ask,” Encyclopedia said. “But holding someone else’s baseball won’t break your slump. All you need to get your confidence back is one good catch.”
    â€œCatch?” Billy groaned. “I can’t catch my reflection in the mirror.” He got to his feet. “I’m going to go and stare at the ball some more.”
    Encyclopedia entered the relay race with Pinky and Charlie, and he forgot all about Billy until he saw two police cars pull into Ace Harvey’s driveway. His father waved and then headed into the house.
    Encyclopedia went inside to see what was up. Mr. Harvey had a tight grip on Billy’s left arm and was talking to Chief Brown.
    The baseball case was broken. A few bits of glass lay scattered on the pedestal, and the baseball was nowhere to be seen.
    Three officers were searching the rooms on the first floor.
    Billy’s eyes darted from Chief Brown to Mr. Harvey and back again. He held his right hand in front of him, palm up. It was bleeding. He tried not to let it drip on Mr. Harvey’s floor.
    â€œI found this hooligan in front of the case. The glass was broken and my baseball is gone.” Mr. Harvey said. “He won’t tell me where he hid it, so I called you.”
    â€œI didn’t take it,” Billy moaned. “I just came in to look at it again, and it was gone. There was glass everywhere. I cut my hand, and then Mr. Harvey came in and started yelling.”
    Encyclopedia heard a gasp behind him. Other kids from the picnic had followed him into the house.
    â€œHe kept saying he wanted to hold that ball,” Charlie muttered.
    â€œBilly, you didn’t…” Sally said.
    â€œYou can’t trust any friends of brainhead Brown,” Bugs Meany shouted. “Give up the ball, Billy. Tell the cops where it is.”
    â€œBut I didn’t steal it,” Billy said again.
    Chief Brown asked Officer Lopez to take Billy into the bathroom for some first aid. The other officers led the kids back outside.
    â€œCan I stay, Dad?” Encyclopedia asked.
    His father nodded. “Do you have any information that might help us, Leroy?”
    â€œI know Billy was in a slump,” Encyclopedia said. “But I don’t believe he’d try to steal Mr. Harvey’s baseball.”
    â€œWell that’s exactly what he did,” Mr. Harvey insisted. “I found him standing in front of the case with a bleeding hand.” Mr. Harvey shook his head. “He must have hidden the baseball with a plan to come back for it later.
    â€œIt’s a good thing I just insured that baseball,” Mr. Harvey continued. “It’s worth thousands of dollars.”
    â€œIt looks bad for your friend, Leroy,” Chief Brown said. “Do you think you can get him to tell you where he hid the baseball?”
    Encyclopedia looked into the case again. There were pieces of glass all over the bottom and on the pedestal that had held the baseball just this morning. “Can I ask a question first?”
    His father nodded.
    Encyclopedia turned to Mr. Harvey. “How many people have keys to the case?” he asked.
    â€œI have the only key,” Mr. Harvey answered.
    â€œI unlock the case for the maid when the glass needs cleaning.”
    â€œThere’s no need to question Billy, Dad,” Encyclopedia said. “Mr. Harvey is the only one that can tell us where the ball is hidden.”
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    HOW DID ENCYCLOPEDIA KNOW?
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    (Click here for the solution to “The Case of the Lucky Catch.”)

The Case of the Missing Money
    On Saturday, Encyclopedia and his father headed to the west side of town to help build houses.
    An organization called Shelter from the Storm was building three houses on what used to be a farmer’s field. Where tomatoes and cucumbers once grew, families who lost their homes in hurricanes would be putting down roots of a different kind.
    A busy team of volunteers was