murder in the morning ✦ chapter one

Instructions

Murder in the Morning ✦ blurb — — — There was never a dull moment at Lotrican Middle School ever since a student went missing… Twelve year-olds Valerie Garcia and April Barnes, set up a detective society. Was it a hit? Unfortunately, no. Not many mysteries had been occurring. None at all, unless you count the case of Heidi’s Missing Money. Which was stolen and used. They were extremely bored — that was, until an excellent opportunity showed up. A student hadn’t attended school for days. No contact. No nothing. It was time for the Incognito Detective Society to strike. Will the case be solved? Or worse, will the two girls be trapped in a labyrinth of evidence? — — — — — — — — — The Broken Friendship ✦ Chapter One — — — IT WAS AN ordinary Tuesday. The day the Incognito Detective Society, (AKA The IDS) came to birth. But if you think about it, it isn’t very ‘incognito’ to me. I don’t know why Valerie Garcia, my best friend, and the president of the IDS picked that. I don’t dare ask. If you are wondering why, she can be…well…very Valerie-ish at sometimes. Because Valerie, well, she’s Valerie — the perfect girl, the red hair girl, the queen, or any other names. Despite the fact she can be a teensy bit rude and short-tempered at times. Anyways, it was a normal Tuesday. It was a beautiful autumn day, a breezy wind, a chilly temperature. That day was perfect. At break, I was sitting with my best friends, Valerie Garcia, Sophie Waters, and Melinda Vase (we call her Minnie). And we were talking excitedly about the summer hols! (hols is the short form of holidays) Even though it wasn’t that long, we wanted to make the most of it. ‘I’m probably going to go to the beach! My weather app says it’s gonna be the perfect stay!’ said Minnie. ‘It’s too hot, Minnie. There’s a good chance you’ll get sunburned.’ Valerie flinched at the thought. She was incredibly fair and wouldn’t like to ruin her skin. Luckily for Minnie, she was already tanned by sunbathing lots. ‘But—‘ Minnie began, only to get interrupted by Sophie. ‘I think I’m going to the beach as well.’ Valerie rolled her eyes. ‘No one listens to me! Who likes tanned skin?’ Minnie, Sophie and I glared at her. She took back instantly what she had said. ‘Anyways,’ she started, ‘I believe we ought to—‘ ‘We ought to what?’ Minnie was impatient. ‘Shut it Minnie, stop interrupting me. April, follow me to ask the teacher something.’ She abruptly gripped my wrist and dragged me away from Minnie and Sophie. ‘Val…’ I began. She was a strong person, both mentally and physically. She sat down by the far end of the field and beckoned me to sit as well. I sat. ‘Right…’ she looked around, ‘I’ve been reading a detective book and I believe we ought to start a detective society! I’ve thought of a name already. The Incognito Detective Society. How does that sound?’ I thought it’d make sense if no one else knew about it so I agreed. But what I didn’t know, was that she went up putting flyers about us. So much for ‘Incognito.’ ‘Valerie!’ I yelled, ‘What’s all this?’ I pointed at a flyer. ‘It’s called something advertisement, ever heard of it?’ I hated sarcastic Valerie. She continued sticking them up, everyone crowding around her. I retreated back to Minnie and Sophie, where they were furious at Valerie and I. ‘What were you talking about?’ Minnie asked, arms crossed. Her brunette hair swaying as she tilted her head, her brown eyes glaring into mine. ‘Valerie’s idea. A detective society.’ I said. ‘And why can’t we join?’ Minnie looked at Sophie, she looked at the ground. ‘Oh, buck up Soph.’ ‘We never said you weren’t allowed to.’ I protested. ‘Then why did Vals tell only you?’ ‘I don’t know.’ ‘Then why won’t you ask her?’ ‘You know how she gets.’ ‘Don’t be such a baby.’ Minnie promptly pulled Sophie’s hand. Valerie ran across the field to see what was going on. ‘What’s up guys?’ Minnie ignored her and rolled her eyes. ‘What’s wrong with you today then?’ Valerie sat next to Minnie. Minnie ran off. ‘If you don’t want to talk to me, fine! Let that be it.’ This was the beginning of one of Valerie’s long tempers. How fun.