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Buttons was on the side, with Stacy holding his reins, of course. In the back were Mr. Johnson and a very unhappy Amanda, who had been forced to be in the photo.
    â€œSmile,” Ms. Walton said, looking though the camera lens.
    â€œFantastic,” Bess grumbled. She leaned over and whispered to George and Nancy, “In tomorrow’s newspaper there will be a photo of the Clue Crew standing with their three suspects!”

It was Sunday afternoon. The girls were in Nancy’s bedroom, talking while George booted up Nancy’s computer.
    â€œDetective work is fun,” Bess said as she flopped backward onto Nancy’s bed. The purple covers were crinkled beneath her. “But it’s hard work, too.” She grabbed a pillow and hugged it to her chest.
    Nancy got out her purple notebook and flipped through the pages.
    â€œComputer’s ready,” George announced. “I started a new file for this case.”
    â€œGreat.” Nancy looked down at what she’d written. “We have three suspects. Stacy Quinn,Mr. Johnson, and Amanda Johnson.”
    From over at Nancy’s desk, George stopped typing. “It’s hard to think of them as suspects because we really like all of them. It’s a bummer to think that one of them is letting Buttons out of the animal pen.”
    There was a knock on Nancy’s door.
    â€œCome in,” Nancy called instead of answering the door herself.
    â€œHello, girls,” Hannah said as she walked into the room, carrying a white plastic tray. “Why are you looking so sad?”
    â€œWe aren’t sad,” Nancy answered. “We just like all our suspects.”
    â€œTake a break,” Hannah said as she set the tray on top of Nancy’s dresser. “I made cookies. Eat. Drink some milk. Things aren’t always what they seem. Did you review your clues?”
    â€œNot yet,” Nancy answered. “We were talking about the suspects first.”
    â€œAfter your snack, check your clues.” Hannah walked to the door. “You girls know,” shereminded them as she closed the door behind her, “that good detectives always think about their clues.”
    Each girl ate two chocolate cookies and drank a glass of milk. Full and happy, they were ready to get back to work.
    â€œClues,” Nancy said, reading the column in her notebook. “Buttons doesn’t like hay. There is a lot of hay outside the pen. Then, there’s the red paint on Buttons’s hoof.”
    Suddenly, Bess sat up on the bed. “I just realized something. Stacy can’t be a suspect. The key to the lock is kept in Mr. Johnson’s house. She doesn’t have a way to open the gate.”
    â€œGood thinking,” Nancy cheered. “I think we should go talk to Stacy again. Let’s ask her if she’s letting the pony out. That way we can cross her off our list for sure.”
    As a rule, the girls were only allowed to walk five blocks from Nancy’s house. Luckily, Stacy lived three blocks away.
    The girls were there a few minutes later.
    George knocked. “Who’s there?” Stacy asked through the closed door.
    â€œNancy Drew and the Clue Crew,” Nancy replied. Stacy immediately opened the door.
    â€œHi.” Nancy didn’t waste any time. “Are you letting Buttons out at night? You said you would keep him if he showed up at you house.”
    â€œSure, I’d love to keep him, but that’s just a dream.” Stacy laughed. “Buttons belongs to Mr. Johnson and has a good life at the petting zoo. I can visit there any time I want. Sure I wish Buttons lived at my house, but where would I put him? In the living room?”
    â€œHe’d probably enjoy staying in the kitchen,” Bess put in, and all the girls chuckled.
    Nancy thought of an important question that Stacy could easily answer. “Mrs. Fayne told us that Shetland ponies are different from other ponies.