Mysteries

Lesson 3: Analyzing Mini-Mysteries

The Dusty Suitcase by Janet Blaylock

Suggested Reading Assignments

(1) The Dusty Suitcase.

The following is a mini-mystery that I wrote titled The Dusty Suitcase. The link to the solution is included at the end of this lesson.

The Dusty Suitcase

Detective Mallory was called to investigate a bank robbery that happened two days ago in a nearby town. A young couple ran off with twenty thousand dollars. The girl, who was called Teri, had long brown hair, brown eyes, and was very slender. Her boyfriend, Ron, was average weight and a little taller than the girl. Kari drives around her neighborhood looking for garage sales. She suddenly comes upon a sale six blocks west of her house. As Kari parks her car, she notices a rather handsome young looking man enter the house. Kari climbs out of her car and walks over to the items. She sees a very old dusty suitcase at a garage sale. The owner says, "This suitcase has not been opened for years, so I don't have any idea what's in the suitcase." "Why are you selling it without knowing what's in it?"

"I just didn't want to take the time to open it. I'm in a hurry to sell these items, so I can leave town." "I see. Where are you going?"

"Mexico. My boyfriend and I are leaving in the morning."

"By the way, I'm Kari."

"I'm Teri. Before I forget. The suitcase is locked, but I do have the key." She gave Kari the key, and Kari walked back to her car.

When Kari returned home, she took suitcase to her bedroom and set it on the bed. Then, she took the rusty key and unlocked the suitcase. Kari stood in awe as she looked at the contents. "Wow! Money! This is weird. I wonder why the owner didn't realize there was money hidden inside. Maybe she did. Oh no! Maybe this is stolen money!" Kari closed the suitcase and sat on the edge of her bed as she pondered over her situation. Finally, she said, "I've got to tell the police.

Kari took the money and hid it under her bed. Then, she called Detective Mallory and asked him to come over as soon as possible.

Within a half hour, Detective Mallory arrived at Kari's house. "Hi, Kari, what's wrong?"

"I have something to show you. It's in my bedroom. I'll go get it."

"Okay."

Kari brought out the dusty suitcase and opened it. "I bought this suitcase at a garage sale today. When I brought it home, I opened it and saw all this money."

As Detective Mallory studied the money, he said, "This is the money that was stolen in a bank robbery two days ago. Where did you say you got it?"

"From a garage sale. A woman had the suitcase and told me that she had not opened it for several years. She also said that she was in a hurry to leave town."

"Did she say where she was going?"

"Yes. She said she and her boyfriend were going to Mexico."

"I see. I'll have to go over there right away and visit with her about the money."

Kari gave Detective Mallory the directions to the house.

On the way, Detective Mallory called for back up. When Detective Mallory arrived at the house, the woman was closing down her sale. "I just sold everything, and I'm in a hurry."

"Well, I'm going to have to delay you with a few questions. I'm Detective Mallory."

"I don't mean to sound rude, but I'm in a hurry. I have to catch a plane to Texas. I'm meeting my boyfriend. We are getting married tomorrow morning."

"I see. This won't take too long. I want to know where you got the money that was hidden inside an old dusty suitcase that a woman bought here this morning."

"Money! I don't know anything about a suitcase full of money."

"That's not what I hear."

"You have some wrong information."

"A woman came here this morning and bought an old dusty suitcase. When she got home and opened it, she saw a pile of money inside. Where did you get the money?"

"I don't know anything about it. Right now. I really have to catch my plane or I'll be late for my job interview."

"I'm afraid you aren't going anywhere except to the police station. I'm placing you under arrest for robbery."

"Robbery!"

"That's right. I know you committed the bank robbery. All I have to do arrest your boyfriend."

Questions:

1. What clues did Detective Mallory have that convinced him Teri was involved in the bank robbery?

2. Where is her boyfriend? Is he in Mexico, or is he in the house?

Solution to The Dusty Suitcase

You can find the solution to The Dusty Suitcase by clicking on the following link: http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/dete...

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