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searching for something to help them. There were a few things—a shovel, a tarp, an old rusty swing set—but not much.
    “We must return to the lab,” said Drake.
    “Agreed,” said Nell.
    “We’ll be back in an hour,” said Drake.
    “Please hurry,” said Jessie, wiping away a tear. “My heart’s about broke.”
    So off they rode, with Dr. Livingston racing ahead.

A s Jessie watched Drake and Nell ride away, the little lump in her throat became a big lump.
    “Don’t you worry none, Dolly,” cried Jessie into the pit. “Doyle and Fossey, Science Detectives, are gonna save you . . . at least I think they are.” She suddenly realized she didn’t know much about Doyle and Fossey. Maybe they could save Dolly, but maybe they couldn’t . Maybe . . . maybe . . .
    Jessie dug in her pocket and pulled out another business card. “Frisco,” the card read. She’d been warned that his prices were steep and that he wasn’t nearly so polite as Doyle and Fossey. But if he could save Dolly . . .
    Jessie ran into the house to make a quick phone call.
    • • •
    Meanwhile, back at the lab, Drake and Nell had already read the section in their handy reference book titled: “Porker Problems: What to Do When a Big Fat Pig Has Fallen into a Pit and Can’t Get Out.”
    “We need to formulate a plan,” said Drake, pushing his glasses up.
    “A foolproof plan.” Nell took a quick gulp of decaf. “Because if it fails . . . well, the possibilities are just too horrible to imagine.”
    “Here’s what I think we should do,” said Drake, and they put their heads together and formulated a foolproof plan.
    After gathering all the necessary equipment, they set out again, pedaling like mad. (With Nell’s decaf in a to-go mug.) But when they arrived in Jessie’s backyard, what they saw was shocking beyond words.
    They saw Frisco and Baloney tugging on a rope that led out of the pit.
    “Ugh!”
    “Grunt!”
    OINK!
    Now, in case you didn’t know, Baloney was Frisco’s best friend and easily the biggest kid at Seaview Elementary School. If anyone could pull one big fat pig from a pit, it was Baloney. Drake knew from experience just how big Baloney was, as he often sat on Drake if Drake came too close or if Baloney just happened to feel like sitting on something. (Having Baloney sit on you was rather like having a refrigerator sit on you, or a rhinoceros.)
    Drake was so shocked that he dropped his armload of equipment with a clatter. “Great Scott!”
    Nell dropped her decaf. “Oh my gosh!”
    Woof! said Dr. Livingston.
    “Hey, look who’s here,” said Baloney, stopping for a breather. “It’s those other guys.”
    Nell put her hands on her hips. “Better known as Doyle and Fossey, Science Detectives.”
    Frisco frowned. “What’re you doing here?”
    “We were hired by Ms. Simmons to handle this most difficult case,” said Drake.
    “Oh yeah?” said Frisco. “Well, so was I. And I was here first, so beat it, brainiacs.”
    Jessie broke in between them. “Y’all, please. It’s my fault, I reckon. You see, I hired all y’all. I—I just want someone to save Dolly. It don’t matter who. Please don’t make a fuss. Please save her. Please .”
    Frisco snorted. “Well, so long as they stay out of our way and let us men do our job.” And he and Baloney went back to pulling on their rope.
    “Ugh!”
    “Grunt!”
    OINK!
    Nell murmured to Drake. “Jessie must have lassoed Dolly for them. At this rate, not only will it take them all day, but Dolly will still be in the pit by the end of it and very sore, besides.”
    “Agreed,” said Drake. “They’re going about it all wrong.”
    “Shall we?” asked Nell.
    “Indeed,” replied Drake. “Let’s get to work.”
    And so they did.
    With Jessie’s help, they moved the old rusty swing set into position. They suspended ropes. They hung pulleys. They tied knots. They scratched Dr. Livingston behind his ears.
    Finally, Jessie climbed a rope ladder down into the