As Katie and Kevin walked home, Katie wrote down the name that matched the prints in her notebook. "Katie, do you really think Pablo Peruggia is the real thief?" asked Kevin.
Katie answered, "Yeah, I'm sure. Kevin, we should also try to find a picture of him. Then we'll print it out and show it to Ellie"
"Good idea. Now let's go home before Mom gets worried." Kevin responded.
Finally, Katie and Kevin returned home. Katie told her mom they were tired, and she walked to her room with Kevin. Kevin grabbed the computer from the bed and typed, "Pablo Peruggia" into the search engine. A news article popped up claiming that, Pablo Perugia had once robbed a bank. He was released from prison two years ago. Below the article, was a mug shot of a young man with black, short, and unkept hair. His skin was light colored and youthful. The man had small, brown eyes and had a serious expression on his face.
Katie said unexpectedly, "Kevin! Aren't you hungry? Let's sneak some snacks from the kitchen."
"First let's print the picture out," Kevin replied. Katie nodded and printed out the mug shot. Kevin ran to the printer and took out the photo. After placing the picture in the notebook, Kevin followed Katie down stairs to sneak some snacks. Katie grabbed a few crackers and walked with Kevin back to their room. About thirty minutes later, the two twins fell asleep, optimistic that they were getting closer to solving the case.
Friday, December 11, 2015
Friday, November 27, 2015
Ch. 10 A Match
It was an hour before they had to meet Dr. Banks. Katie and Kevin were packing up the evidence to show the scientist. They carefully placed the red pen in a plastic bag making sure their finger prints didn't contaminate the clue. Katie took her notebook just in case she needed to write down a few more details about the suspect. Kevin thought about how they would meet the scientist without their parents driving them.
Finally, he thought of an idea. "Katie! We could just tell mom and dad we're going to Lily's house! Her house is only a couple blocks away. I'm sure Mom would let us walk there," Kevin said happily.
Finally, he thought of an idea. "Katie! We could just tell mom and dad we're going to Lily's house! Her house is only a couple blocks away. I'm sure Mom would let us walk there," Kevin said happily.
"Great idea!!" Katie answered impressed with Kevin's cleverness. Katie and Kevin ran to the kitchen, where their mom and dad were. Katie asked their mom if they could walk to Lily's and have dinner with her family. "Sure!" their mom agreed, glad to get her children out of the house.
Katie and Kevin walked out the door and headed toward Dr. Banks office. After fifteen minutes of walking, they reached their destination. "Hello there! Are you two kids here to see me?" Dr. Banks questioned, shocked that the children were so young. Katie and Kevin nodded. The scientist looked to be about in his early thirties. He was slender with brown, short hair and a long, white lab coat. Thick lab goggles rested on his forehead. The scientist led Katie and Kevin to a spacious room. There were a bunch of counters with microscopes and other equipment. Dr. Banks went to one of the counters. "Why don't you sit down, and tell me why you came here?" He asked, putting his goggles over his eyes.
Katie replied, "Well, we're looking for the person who stole the Mona Lisa, and we found a letter he wrote at the Louve. Their was a pen he dropped on the floor, and we think the thief's finger prints may be on it. If we identify the prints, we can find out who stole the painting."
"Wow! I can't believe that you two would try to crack this case. You should probably leave this to the adults." Dr. Banks responded.
Kevin said offended, "This is really important to us. Could you just try to identify the prints for us? We really think we're on to something."
Dr. Banks decided to humor them by testing the prints, though he still didn't believe them. Katie and Kevin watched him work not even trying to understand what he was doing. Soon the scientist actually found a print of interest.
Katie and Kevin walked out the door and headed toward Dr. Banks office. After fifteen minutes of walking, they reached their destination. "Hello there! Are you two kids here to see me?" Dr. Banks questioned, shocked that the children were so young. Katie and Kevin nodded. The scientist looked to be about in his early thirties. He was slender with brown, short hair and a long, white lab coat. Thick lab goggles rested on his forehead. The scientist led Katie and Kevin to a spacious room. There were a bunch of counters with microscopes and other equipment. Dr. Banks went to one of the counters. "Why don't you sit down, and tell me why you came here?" He asked, putting his goggles over his eyes.
Katie replied, "Well, we're looking for the person who stole the Mona Lisa, and we found a letter he wrote at the Louve. Their was a pen he dropped on the floor, and we think the thief's finger prints may be on it. If we identify the prints, we can find out who stole the painting."
"Wow! I can't believe that you two would try to crack this case. You should probably leave this to the adults." Dr. Banks responded.
Kevin said offended, "This is really important to us. Could you just try to identify the prints for us? We really think we're on to something."
Dr. Banks decided to humor them by testing the prints, though he still didn't believe them. Katie and Kevin watched him work not even trying to understand what he was doing. Soon the scientist actually found a print of interest.
Friday, November 6, 2015
Ch. 9 The Plan
As Katie and Kevin changed their clothes to get ready for bed, they thought about the clues they had gathered and tried to come up with a plan. Katie jumped into her bed and said to Kevin, "Let's write down the clues we collected on the notepad Mom gave us, so we don't forget anything important."
Kevin replied still changing his clothes, "Good idea! But write them in the middle of the notebook, so Mom won't find out."
Katie grabbed the notepad of her nightstand and took a pen. She scribbled down the following:
Kevin replied still changing his clothes, "Good idea! But write them in the middle of the notebook, so Mom won't find out."
Katie grabbed the notepad of her nightstand and took a pen. She scribbled down the following:
- Young Man: dressed in black trench coat, black, short, messy hair, and dirty green messenger bag
- Note with thief's handwriting: written with red pen, messy handwriting, and pen has thief's finger prints
Kevin, reading the notes, blurted, "Looks good. Also, let's start looking for a forensic scientist before we forget." Katie got up and snatched Kevin's computer from his desk. She searched on Google for names of forensic scientists in town. Finally, Kevin glanced at the list and pointed out, "Pick the one that's closest to us. We need to get there on our own. There's NO way Mom will drive us!"
Katie finally chose a scientist named, Dr. Joseph Banks. She quickly arranged an appointment for the next evening. Closing the computer, the two kids climbed into bed not wanting their parents to notice they were still awake.
Friday, October 9, 2015
Ch. 8 Convincing Ellie
Katie and Kevin searched for Ellie. "Wasn't Ellie here? I thought he was here just an hour ago!" said Katie running out of patience. Katie was just about to tell Kevin they should call the whole thing off when Kevin heard something.
"Cheese? Do I smell delicious cheese wafting through my NOSE?" questioned Ellie curiously as he jumped out of his hole.
"We can answer that question if you can answer some questions for us first," responded Kevin seriously.
Ellie, desperate for a nibble of cheese, blurted out without thinking, "Sure! I'll answer as many questions as you want! Just give me some of that cheese!"
Katie smiled at Kevin and gave Ellie the cheese stashed in her pocket. As Ellie gleefully ate his cheese, Katie asked "So, what did that theif look like?"
Ellie, desperate for a nibble of cheese, blurted out without thinking, "Sure! I'll answer as many questions as you want! Just give me some of that cheese!"
Katie smiled at Kevin and gave Ellie the cheese stashed in her pocket. As Ellie gleefully ate his cheese, Katie asked "So, what did that theif look like?"
"I don't know!" lied Ellie.
Kevin demanded answers, "You promised Ellie! Don't make us regret giving you that cheese."
Kevin demanded answers, "You promised Ellie! Don't make us regret giving you that cheese."
Ellie finally agreed and told them that the thief was a young man dressed in a black trench coat. He had black, short, and messy hair. After Ellie finished his explanation Kevin asked, "How are we going to find him!? He sounds just like a normal young man!"
Ellie realized he could give them a little more information and informed them that the thief had a dirty green messenger bag with a long black strap.
After receiving the information, Kevin replied, "Thanks Ellie! Is there any thing else you can tell us?!"
"Well, another clue was that note. You still have the red pen, right?" answered Ellie.
Katie nodded.
"What good is a pen?!" Kevin said frustrated.
Ellie was surprised that they didn't know how a pen could help them. He explained to them that the pen had the thief's finger prints all over it. All they would have to do was go to a forensic scientist to identify the prints. Katie and Kevin thought they made enough progress for the day. "Goodbye!" yelled out the two kids as they left the museum.
Ellie realized he could give them a little more information and informed them that the thief had a dirty green messenger bag with a long black strap.
After receiving the information, Kevin replied, "Thanks Ellie! Is there any thing else you can tell us?!"
"Well, another clue was that note. You still have the red pen, right?" answered Ellie.
Katie nodded.
"What good is a pen?!" Kevin said frustrated.
Ellie was surprised that they didn't know how a pen could help them. He explained to them that the pen had the thief's finger prints all over it. All they would have to do was go to a forensic scientist to identify the prints. Katie and Kevin thought they made enough progress for the day. "Goodbye!" yelled out the two kids as they left the museum.
Friday, September 25, 2015
Ch. 7 Coming Up With a Plan
"Where's Ellie? I thought he was right here!" exclaimed Katie concerned.
"Don't worry Katie, he'll come out once he hears our voices," replied Kevin comforting his twin sister.
"AHHHHHHH!!!!!!" shrieked Katie. Sure enough, Ellie was there brushing against her leg.
"Sorry," apologized Ellie bashfully.
"It's fine," Kevin reassured Ellie. "Actually we are really happy to see you! We really want to know more about the thief."
Ellie shook his head and walked away. It was clear to Katie and Kevin Ellie had no interest in discussing the stolen painting. The two kids tried to think of a plan to convince him to help. Katie told Kevin they should take a break. They met their mom at the entrance of the museum and asked her if they could have a small snack at the cafeteria.
At the cafeteria, Kevin and Katie waited in line. "Oh! Kevin they have grilled cheese sandwiches! I'm going to definitely order one of those," Katie remarked.
When it was their turn in line, Kevin ordered Katie the sandwich. As Katie munched her scrumptious sandwich, Kevin suddenly thought of a perfect plan to convince Ellie to help them.
"Katie! Save a piece of piece of your sandwich for-" before Kevin could finish his sentence, Katie interrupted."Why?! I'm not giving you any for sure."
"NO! For Ellie!" Kevin explained to Katie that they could use the cheese to persuade Ellie to give more information about the thief. Quickly, Katie finished her sandwich, leaving a little piece of cheese stashed in her pocket.
"Don't worry Katie, he'll come out once he hears our voices," replied Kevin comforting his twin sister.
"AHHHHHHH!!!!!!" shrieked Katie. Sure enough, Ellie was there brushing against her leg.
"Sorry," apologized Ellie bashfully.
"It's fine," Kevin reassured Ellie. "Actually we are really happy to see you! We really want to know more about the thief."
Ellie shook his head and walked away. It was clear to Katie and Kevin Ellie had no interest in discussing the stolen painting. The two kids tried to think of a plan to convince him to help. Katie told Kevin they should take a break. They met their mom at the entrance of the museum and asked her if they could have a small snack at the cafeteria.
At the cafeteria, Kevin and Katie waited in line. "Oh! Kevin they have grilled cheese sandwiches! I'm going to definitely order one of those," Katie remarked.
When it was their turn in line, Kevin ordered Katie the sandwich. As Katie munched her scrumptious sandwich, Kevin suddenly thought of a perfect plan to convince Ellie to help them.
"Katie! Save a piece of piece of your sandwich for-" before Kevin could finish his sentence, Katie interrupted."Why?! I'm not giving you any for sure."
"NO! For Ellie!" Kevin explained to Katie that they could use the cheese to persuade Ellie to give more information about the thief. Quickly, Katie finished her sandwich, leaving a little piece of cheese stashed in her pocket.
Friday, September 18, 2015
Chapter 6 Back at the Museum
On the way to the museum, Katie was still anxious and worried. She questioned how two siblings and a mouse would be able to find the Mona Lisa. Kevin was thinking the same thing but kept his feelings to himself not wanting to look like a coward. Interrupting their thoughts, their mom asked, "Why are you two so quiet today?"
"We're just thinking about the assignment," lied Kevin quickly. "What's wrong with that?"
The car pulled up to the expansive parking lot filled with cars. "We're here! Also, I got these brand new notebooks for you to take notes," said their mom cheerfully. Katie couldn't help but feel guilty. Their mom wasted money just to buy them new notebooks when they didn't even need them. But she knew it would all be over once they solved the mystery of the Mona Lisa.
As they walked into the entrance, the family was instantly reminded of the museum's beauty. "Wow! Look up you two! You know what that's called? It's called a mural. Write it down in your notes!" Mom exclaimed excitedly. Rolling their eyes, Katie and Kevin pretended to scribble words in their notebook.
"Mom, the report's due soon. We really need to get going," said Kevin as he pulled Katie toward the spot where they last found Ellie. Their mom smiled sweetly watching her two kids scamper away. "Meet me back here at lunch time. There's a great restaurant near here I thought we could try!"
Katie and Kevin ignored her since their mind was too occupied to think about food.
"We're just thinking about the assignment," lied Kevin quickly. "What's wrong with that?"
The car pulled up to the expansive parking lot filled with cars. "We're here! Also, I got these brand new notebooks for you to take notes," said their mom cheerfully. Katie couldn't help but feel guilty. Their mom wasted money just to buy them new notebooks when they didn't even need them. But she knew it would all be over once they solved the mystery of the Mona Lisa.
As they walked into the entrance, the family was instantly reminded of the museum's beauty. "Wow! Look up you two! You know what that's called? It's called a mural. Write it down in your notes!" Mom exclaimed excitedly. Rolling their eyes, Katie and Kevin pretended to scribble words in their notebook.
"Mom, the report's due soon. We really need to get going," said Kevin as he pulled Katie toward the spot where they last found Ellie. Their mom smiled sweetly watching her two kids scamper away. "Meet me back here at lunch time. There's a great restaurant near here I thought we could try!"
Katie and Kevin ignored her since their mind was too occupied to think about food.
Wednesday, August 19, 2015
Ch. 5 So Close to Getting Caught
Kevin and Katie woke up in their room, lying on their bunk bed, "I'm never going there AGAIN!" Katie shouted, waking up from one of her nightmares, "Shhhhhhh, at least you're not Ellie who has to sleep there!" stated Kevin in a furious tone.
Katie heard footsteps and screamed. Kevin annoyingly said, "This is going way too far, I mean IT'S ONLY OUR PARENTS!!!"
Their mom walked in shocked that they weren't out of bed yet. They usually woke up early when projects were due. Kevin suddenly remembered the lie they told their parents about the research project. Their mom stared at them waiting for her two kids to get ready. Katie and Kevin jumped out of bed, and their mom smiled and left the room.
"Do we have to?" whined Katie, as she picked up her favorite pink skirt.
"Why did you even have to think about finding the Mona Lisa in the first place?!" replied Kevin.
After Katie and Kevin took a shower and brushed their teeth, they ran to the kitchen.
"Oh, do you to want to go to the museum to take more notes?" questioned their mom.
Katie and Kevin nodded.
Kevin signaled Katie to follow him away from their parents. Kevin whispered, "We have to go back to the museum to find more clues."
Katie groaned, "Fine."
Katie heard footsteps and screamed. Kevin annoyingly said, "This is going way too far, I mean IT'S ONLY OUR PARENTS!!!"
Their mom walked in shocked that they weren't out of bed yet. They usually woke up early when projects were due. Kevin suddenly remembered the lie they told their parents about the research project. Their mom stared at them waiting for her two kids to get ready. Katie and Kevin jumped out of bed, and their mom smiled and left the room.
"Do we have to?" whined Katie, as she picked up her favorite pink skirt.
"Why did you even have to think about finding the Mona Lisa in the first place?!" replied Kevin.
After Katie and Kevin took a shower and brushed their teeth, they ran to the kitchen.
"Oh, do you to want to go to the museum to take more notes?" questioned their mom.
Katie and Kevin nodded.
Kevin signaled Katie to follow him away from their parents. Kevin whispered, "We have to go back to the museum to find more clues."
Katie groaned, "Fine."
Ch. 4 The Warning
"Hi!" squeaked the little furry mouse. "Don't be scared of me. I'm Ellie, the mouse!"
Katie just stared at the mouse while Kevin responded by saying, "Do you live here? Did you witness the Mona Lisa being stolen?"
Ellie nodded, "Oh yes! Actually I live right under where the Mona Lisa used to hang! Follow me, I will show you my house and where the Mona Lisa used to be too! I'm warning you BE CAREFUL!"
Ellie led the two adventurous children down a narrow, dark hallway which seemed to be deserted for weeks. They finally reached a small room. The walls were painted gold with massive, colorful stained glass windows. When the light came in it looked truly beautiful, "and that's why I live here," said Ellie with content.
Katie and Kevin looked behind them, and all they saw was a note on the wall where the Mona Lisa used to hang. In messy handwriting, it said, "I Have The Mona Lisa. Don't Even Try..." Kevin thought the thief must have written that and looked down. He saw a pen on the floor with red ink. Both kids were terrified and started to regret their decision to find the Mona Lisa. Katie stopped Kevin and whispered shaking, "Don't pick it up it up. It could be dangerous!"
Kevin whispered back, "This was your idea, and it's our only proof."
Kevin picked it up. Katie heard a little squeak. Ellie was gone. Katie understood how he felt. Kevin sighed holding the pen, "Let's go! Mom and dad will start getting worried soon."
Katie just stared at the mouse while Kevin responded by saying, "Do you live here? Did you witness the Mona Lisa being stolen?"
Ellie nodded, "Oh yes! Actually I live right under where the Mona Lisa used to hang! Follow me, I will show you my house and where the Mona Lisa used to be too! I'm warning you BE CAREFUL!"
Ellie led the two adventurous children down a narrow, dark hallway which seemed to be deserted for weeks. They finally reached a small room. The walls were painted gold with massive, colorful stained glass windows. When the light came in it looked truly beautiful, "and that's why I live here," said Ellie with content.
Katie and Kevin looked behind them, and all they saw was a note on the wall where the Mona Lisa used to hang. In messy handwriting, it said, "I Have The Mona Lisa. Don't Even Try..." Kevin thought the thief must have written that and looked down. He saw a pen on the floor with red ink. Both kids were terrified and started to regret their decision to find the Mona Lisa. Katie stopped Kevin and whispered shaking, "Don't pick it up it up. It could be dangerous!"
Kevin whispered back, "This was your idea, and it's our only proof."
Kevin picked it up. Katie heard a little squeak. Ellie was gone. Katie understood how he felt. Kevin sighed holding the pen, "Let's go! Mom and dad will start getting worried soon."
Friday, May 29, 2015
Ch. 3 The Louvre
At the Louvre Kevin said, "Whoa!" almost bumping into a sculpture.
The sculpture was crafted from white marble, and it was a woman with two amputated arm limbs.
Katie whispered to Kevin, "Let's go to where the Mona Lisa used to be displayed. This statue is creepy."
Kevin replied, "Yeah, the Venus de Milo is creepy. I really have no idea why Alexandros of Antioch, whoever that artist is, made it."
Kevin replied, "Yeah, the Venus de Milo is creepy. I really have no idea why Alexandros of Antioch, whoever that artist is, made it."
The two curious twins told their parents they were going to go look at other statues and walked off.
After 10 minutes of trying to find where the Mona Lisa used to be, Katie and Kevin had no luck. Katie suddenly heard a squeak, and she turned around nervously. "Did you hear that?" she asked Kevin.
Kevin responded back, " Oh, yes I did!" nodding his head.
They both peered down and saw a little fluffy brown mouse with giant eyes. The mouse was cute with a wiry, dull, and gray tail that was almost a half foot long! "AAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!" screamed Katie VERY loudly.
"Shhhh," scolded Kevin, "Remember? We can talk to animals," reminding Katie how they were born with special powers that no one could explain. "We might be able to ask him for help."
"OK," said Katie trusting Kevin.
Friday, May 1, 2015
Ch.2 Deceiving Mom and Dad
"Kevin, it's 1,000,000 dollars don't you want the money?" whispered Katie.
"You want the money, so you look for the Mona Lisa," responded Kevin.
"Come on Kevin don't you want to go on another adventure?" urged Katie, desperately trying to get Kevin to join the fun.
The two kids argued for a long time until finally Katie convinced Kevin to look for the Mona Lisa by reminding him of all the toys they could buy with their 1,000,000 dollars. They just had to find the painting before anyone else. But if they were going to find the Mona Lisa they needed a plan. First, they asked their parents if they could go to the Louvre to gather some research. Their parents asked Katie and Kevin why they wanted to go to that museum, because usually they never wanted to go to a museum, especially an art museum. So, Katie and Kevin lied that they had a school project to write a report on a famous painting.
"Okay, fine. You two can go next Tuesday when you're no longer grounded" Katie and Kevin's mom finally agreed.
The kids ran back to their room and shouted at the same time, "YES!!!" so loud their parents heard them all the way from the living room.
"Okay, fine. You two can go next Tuesday when you're no longer grounded" Katie and Kevin's mom finally agreed.
The kids ran back to their room and shouted at the same time, "YES!!!" so loud their parents heard them all the way from the living room.
Friday, March 27, 2015
The Case of the Stolen Mona Lisa Chapter 1: Grounded
"I can't wait until next Tuesday!" exclaimed Katie.
"Yeah! I can't believe we've been trapped inside for three whole weeks, and now we can finally enjoy the fresh air!" replied Kevin.
Ever since Katie and Kevin ran away from their parents during their birthday trip to Africa, they'd been grounded for three weeks. It had been torture ever since then. There was no television, no playdates, and no complaining about homework or school allowed.
"Yeah I can't wait until our next adventure!" said Katie excitedly.
"No, we shouldn't go on another adventure. We'll get in trouble again," disagreed Kevin.
While Katie and Kevin were talking, their parents started to watch the news on their black, new flatscreen T.V. Then, a scruffy, untidy meteorologist with a wrinkly, black t-shirt and blue denim pants started blabbering on and on about the weather. Katie and Kevin felt like he would never stop talking, but they had nothing else to do, so they just kept on waiting for someone to say something more interesting. Just when they couldn't take it anymore, an attractive woman with a bright white shirt and a black pencil skirt announced, "Good afternoon citizens of Paris! There is breaking news! Yesterday night in the Louvre the famous Mona Lisa was stolen. Anybody who can give the painting back and bring the robber to the police will get a reward of $1,000,000 dollars. "
Katie Kevin looked at each other dumbstruck. "$1,000,000 dollars?!" mouthed Kevin.
"Yeah! I can't believe we've been trapped inside for three whole weeks, and now we can finally enjoy the fresh air!" replied Kevin.
Ever since Katie and Kevin ran away from their parents during their birthday trip to Africa, they'd been grounded for three weeks. It had been torture ever since then. There was no television, no playdates, and no complaining about homework or school allowed.
"Yeah I can't wait until our next adventure!" said Katie excitedly.
"No, we shouldn't go on another adventure. We'll get in trouble again," disagreed Kevin.
While Katie and Kevin were talking, their parents started to watch the news on their black, new flatscreen T.V. Then, a scruffy, untidy meteorologist with a wrinkly, black t-shirt and blue denim pants started blabbering on and on about the weather. Katie and Kevin felt like he would never stop talking, but they had nothing else to do, so they just kept on waiting for someone to say something more interesting. Just when they couldn't take it anymore, an attractive woman with a bright white shirt and a black pencil skirt announced, "Good afternoon citizens of Paris! There is breaking news! Yesterday night in the Louvre the famous Mona Lisa was stolen. Anybody who can give the painting back and bring the robber to the police will get a reward of $1,000,000 dollars. "
Katie Kevin looked at each other dumbstruck. "$1,000,000 dollars?!" mouthed Kevin.
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