18 year old, amateur sleuth Kate Smith was pacing round the room chatting to her best friends Isabelle Marvin and Laura Fayne.  Kate had long blondish, reddish hair and was wearing a blue cotton mini-skirt and a pale blue off shoulder shirt.  Even though Isabelle and Laura were cousins they were very different.  Isabelle was medium height and slim with long waist length blond hair.  She was way into fashion and cute boys.  She was wearing a silky pink mini-skirt with a normal white t-shirt that showed off her belly and slim figure.  Laura on the other hand was tall and slender with just past shoulder length, wavy black hair.  She loved sports but not boys.  She was wearing a white mini-skirt made for tennis and a white shirt made for tennis.  But they were both 18 like Kate. 

“So what you’re saying is that you have another mystery for me to solve?” Kate asked with excitement to Isabelle and Laura.
“Shall we tell her it?” Laura grinned at Isabelle.
“Yeah!” replied Isabelle wit a twinkle in her blue eyes.
“Oh come on guys. Just spit it out!” Kate said playfully.
“You know how my mum’s a fashion designer?” Isabelle asked.  Kate nodded.  “Well every time a new fashion is out in the store ‘Girls Fashion’ they always keep disappearing even before anybody can buy them.  Now the store’s going to be out of business unless someone can find the thief before 3 weeks are gone!” Isabelle and Laura wailed together.

“And you chose me to do the job and I will.” Kate replied calmly.
“Yes!” Laura and Isabelle jumped for joy.
“Let’s go to the mall to check out for any clues.” Kate suggested firmly.  The three girls got into Kate’s convertible.  “You always understand when you are needed.” Isabelle said admiringly to Kate while putting on her seatbelt.
“And you’re always there when there are cute boys around.” Laura joked at her cousin.

45 minuets later they arrived at the big shopping spree.
“Were here now!” announced Kate.  As the girls walked into the ‘Girls Fashion’ Isabelle’s mum greeted them with an anxious frown.  “Check the place for clues all you want Kate dear.” Mrs. Marvin smiled worried.  As Kate walked by a rack of skirts she noticed something glinting in the sunlight.  Kate walked towards it.  It was a pure ladies golden ring with the initials ‘NB’ on them.  Mrs. Marvin do you know anybody with the initials ‘NB’?” Kate asked.
“Well, the owner of the shop next door is Nicole Brown so her initials are ‘NB’.” Mrs. Marvin answered looking thoroughly puzzled.
“Oh mum her! She’s vile, she won’t let any teenagers into her store and she’s trying to push mum out of business! So put her on your suspect list Kate.” Isabelle explained.
“Why’s she trying to put you out of business Mrs. Marvin?” Kate asked interested in this new piece of information.
“Because even though she has one of the top shops I’m still much more successful than she is and now she wants to get me out of my business!” Mrs. Marvin sighed deeply.
“I’m just going next door to give this ring back to this Nicole Brown.” Kate declared.  Kate jogged out with the ring in her pocket.  As she walked into the shop she saw a young pretty woman who had long brown hair and was wearing a jean mini-skirt with a lilac tank top.  “Yes, what do you want?” Nicole asked Kate bitterly. 
“I just wanted to know if this ring is yours please? It was found on the floor of the store next door.” Kate replied calmly and politely.
“Yes, that’s my ring!” Nicole’s eyes blazed with anger!
Kate was completely taken aback by the reaction of Nicole.
Why had she reacted so furiously? Kate thought to herself privately.
Kate quickly walked out of the room to tell the others what had happened.  As Kate quickly told her news the others were just as shocked as she was to a reaction of a ring. 
“I wonder why she would do that?” Laura wondered out loud.
“Look!” Kate exclaimed.  Kate had seen Nicole spying!  Now Kate was rushing after her.  Unfortunately, Kate didn’t make it in time to catch Nicole.  Kate was now definite that Nicole was the thief.
“Who was snooping on us Kate?” Mrs. Marvin inquired.
“Nicole Brown.  I have a feeling that won’t go away that it is Nicole who is the thief.” Kate responded wryly.
One of us has got to go and spy on her. Me, mum and Kate can’t cause she’d recognize us, so that only leaves you Laura.” Isabelle pointed out.
“Oh fine.” Laura muttered.
“Listen Laura, this is what you will do.  You are going to go into the store and act as if you are looking at some clothes and if she asks what you’re doing just pretend that you really like that shop and ask if you can see the latest fashions, if she has them come back straight away understand?” Kate told Laura.
“Yes.” Laura said solemnly.  Laura quickly walked out of the door and went to Nicole’s store.
“What do you want?” Nicole asked carelessly.
“Oh I just adore this shop and I was just wondering if I could see the latest fashions?” Laura asked entirely flattering Nicole.
“Come on this way then.” Nicole said proudly.
And there they were, the missing fashion clothes stored away in a closet.
“Come with me to boast next door.”
As Nicole walked in Laura signaled to Kate to call up the police.

10 minuets later the police arrived and arrested Nicole.
“I thank you with all my heart Kate and how would you like to have one of my fashions?” Mrs. Marvin told Kate appreciatively.
“Sure.” Kate replied.  Kate chose a black mini summer and over beach wear dress.  As Kate got home her tall handsome lawyer dad, Mark Smith came out of the front door and called over Kate, “Phone for you darling.  Something about the missing Queen’s jewels of England.
Another mystery! Kate said to herself………..

Written and Illustrated by Fleur Schrader