Monkey Trouble

"[Tom stares down at the brooch, then in the direction of Eva's bedroom. He doesn't like what he is thinking]"

"[Boy, will she have a lot of explaining to do, Eva thinks as she heads toward school, explaining to a lot of people, and she dreads it]"

"Tom: With Jack at Megan's festival. Did you have a nice weekend?"

"[Eva grabs her bags and hits the bedroom, leaving Tom with the stolen brooch and a concerned expression. His police station has been working on a recent string of petty thefts in the area, and many of them involve stolen jewelry]"

"Kaye: I'm afraid we don't."

"Eva: Don't let Dodger near the cash register! I'll explain later!"

"[She throws the entire wad of bills into his lap]"

"Eva: He, ah...you know, he was late for a date or something. Where's Mum?"

"[Tom gives her a strange look]"

"Tom: What did I say? What's wrong?"

"Shorty: What can I warn you, I've been in surgery all night. I can't rest until I find my monkey."

"Shorty: Sounds like it could be my monkey. Do you know where the girl lives?"

"[Harold Weller says the magic words]"

"[Eva drops off Dodger at the pet shop on Monday morning]"

"[The cab squeaks aside just as the front door opens and a red-faced, shivering Shorty thunders out. Cursing, he dives into his truck and starts the engine. That brat will not keep his monkey]"

"Cabby: How much faster?"

"[Eva watches in amazed delight as the pirate's trailer breaks free and rolls right past him on the hill. The cab turns left, but the runaway trailer and truck go straight, knocking over roadwork signs and smashing into a huge mound of dirt on a dead-end street. That puts the pirate right in his place, Eva thinks, cheering and whooping. Perhaps luck is on their side, after all, and everything will turn out fine]"

"Tom: Hi. Where's Peter?"

"[Tom spots something on the carpet. He picks it up and holds it out to Eva]"

"Eva: I don't know–––how would I know? It's not mine."

"Eva: I'm tired."

"[Dodgers. Pirates. That does it. Eva bursts into tears]"

"[The Wellers take one look at his dirty, unshaven face and hesitantly huddles together]"

"[Shorty smooths down his hair and tries to act the part]"

"Harold: Now, we can't be sure it was your monkey we saw. First time was right here in the park, with a little girl. Same day Mother lost her earring and I lost my wallet."

"[Shorty almost dances a jig]"

"[Shorty's face falls]"

"Shorty: You said you saw the monkey the "first time". Where was the second time?"

"Harold: Oh, over at the pet shop. [He gives Shorty the address]"

"[Shorty flashes a rotten-toothed grin that makes the Wellers wince. Tomorrow he'll steal the monkey, and no pint-size, smart-mouthed brat is going to stop him]"

"[Eva fumbles in the knapsack and pulls out a fat wad of bills]"

"Eva: You see? Now go!"

"[The cab goes down Wellesley and approaches the top of the steep hill at Seventeenth. Eva sits in the back of the cab, glancing out the rear window with hesitation. The pirate is right behind them and getting closer]"

"Eva: Can't you go a little faster?"

"Hook: This much!"

"[Eva is thrown back in her seat as the driver hits the gas. The cab hits down the steep hill and goes over a big bump. The truck does the same. But then, a miracle happens]"

"[But her high spirits sink once she gets home]"

"[Tom Gregory opens the door of the apartment with a welcoming grin and takes her duffel bag]"

"[About as nice as a pile of Dodger's used diapers]"

"Eva: Sure."

"Tom: What's this?"

"[Eva stares in horror at a flashy brooch, one of the items Dodger has stolen in Venice. It would have fallen out of the knapsack]"

"Tom: Alright."

"[Eva sighs heavily]"

"[The tension of the weekend is starting to get to her. She has to escape to her room and be alone]"

"Tom: Want to watch the ball game with me? Your Dodgers are playing the Pirates."

"[Shorty has bounced back and gotten a lead]"

"[Now he is grinning at a well-dressed elderly couple, Harold and Kaye Weller. The Wellers have noticed one of Shorty's posters at the park and have paged him on his beeper. They have information about a missing monkey, they warn him, and agree to meet him in the park. As soon as the tow-truck guys have reattached his motor home to his pickup, Shorty has practically flown to the meeting. He hasn't had time to clean up or change]"

"Kaye: You don't look like a doctor."

"[Eva can't concentrate in school all morning. Thoughts of Dodger keep running through her head. She has to do something about her pickpocket pet, but she doesn't know what. Perhaps Christine, her teacher, can help]"