The Case of the Forgotten Path & Invisible Thief

The next morning, as the sun streamed through Mallory's bedroom window, she couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right. Her interactions with Elliot had been perfect, yet there was an unease creeping into her thoughts—something about the way he'd acted, the secrets she sensed he was keeping. And then there was Mrs. Robb, who seemed to be everywhere, always lurking just a little too close.

It was more than just a feeling, though. Mallory had noticed things that didn't add up. Her jewelry went missing a few days ago, and then there was her diamond hair clip—she had left it on her vanity, but it was gone. She'd chalked it up to forgetfulness, but now, every time something disappeared, it made her skin crawl a little more.

Her mind was racing, but one thing stood out: Elliot. Ever since their walk under the stars, he'd seemed different—more distant, more secretive. Mallory remembered what Mr. Brown had told her about Mrs. Robb and her strange behavior, the way she'd come and gone from his house, disappearing for minutes at a time. And then there was the way Elliot was always around when things started going missing. Was it possible that he knew more than he let on?

She couldn't let this go.

That afternoon, Mallory told Max. She was trying to act casual, but she knew he could tell something was off. They were sitting in the backyard, eating snacks and watching the clouds drift by.

"Max, something weird is going on. And I don't know if it's just my imagination, but I think Elliot and Mrs. Robb are involved in all of this," Mallory whispered, glancing around to make sure no one was listening. Max looked up from his phone, eyes wide.

"You mean, like... stealing stuff?" Max asked. His tone was skeptical, but Mallory could tell he was beginning to get on the same page.

"Exactly. I don't know how or why, but I think they're connected. And I don't know if I can trust Elliot anymore," Mallory continued, her voice faltering just a little. "I think Mrs. Robb is behind all of this, but Elliot's... involved, somehow. And my dad... I'm starting to think he might know more than he's letting on."

Max raised an eyebrow. "Your dad? You think he's part of it too?" He looked as if he didn't fully believe her, but he was willing to hear her out.

"Yeah, I don't know. Maybe he's covering something up. He's been acting weird lately, too. I've seen him sneaking around the study, and I found this receipt for some kind of weird purchase—nothing too big, but I don't know, it feels off."

Max sat up, a little more serious now. "So, what do we do?"

Mallory bit her lip, a plan starting to form in her mind. "I'm going to sneak into my dad's study tonight. There's a security system there, and I'm betting he's been recording everything. Maybe we'll find something that proves he knows more than he's letting on."

Max was quiet for a moment, looking a little hesitant. "Are you sure about this? What if your dad finds out?"

Mallory shook her head. "I have to know the truth. I can't keep ignoring these little things that don't add up. Plus, I need you, Max. You're the best at sneaking around."

Max grinned. "Yeah, I am pretty good at that. Alright, I'm in. But we'll need a plan. And if we get caught... well, I'll be the one explaining it to your dad."

They both chuckled, but Mallory could tell that Max wasn't fully sure what they were getting themselves into. Still, the excitement of uncovering the truth—of possibly uncovering her dad's role in all of this—was enough to get them both fired up.

That night, after dinner, Mallory waited until everyone was distracted. She motioned for Max to follow her. They crept down the hallway and to her dad's study, where the door was slightly ajar. Mallory had memorized the location of the key, so she quickly unlocked it, hoping they wouldn't be caught.