Page 137 of Nails

“Yep.But someone stole two marshmallow chicks from my basket,” she said, looking angry, though it was funny.

“Someone stole your Peeps?”Nails asked, looking offended on Amira’s behalf, which only riled up Amira more.

“Yup, and I have narrowed down the suspects,” she said, glaring at her brother Max.

Max groaned and rolled his eyes.“I already told you that it wasn’t me!”

Amira spun toward him dramatically.“No one said itwasyou, but now you sound very defensive.”

“Maybe you just ate them and forgot that you did,” Max muttered under his breath.

Amira started pacing like a small detective.“I’m just saying that someone better fess up before I start leaving traps.”She stopped moving and looked at everyone.“I will find who stole my chicks.”

Nails was trying hard not to laugh.His eyes drifted to Bear, who was doing a terrible job suppressing a smug little grin.He was so busted!

Nails turned back to Amira.“Maybe the Easter Bunny got hungry and ate the two Peeps.”

Amira scrunched her nose up as she tapped her pointer finger against her lips, looking as if she was really considering that it could have been what happened.

“It is possible,” she stated very seriously.

Riley leaned toward Nails and whispered, “She is like a crime-solving prodigy.”

Nails nodded.“She is, but I’m pretty sure her dad’s the marshmallow bandit.”

Riley gave him a knowing smirk.“Think we should turn him in?”

“Not yet.I want to have some fun.”

Nails turned his attention back to Amira.“Maybe we should call the Easter Bunny’s internal affairs unit?”

Bear snorted a laugh, and Nails could hear the faint snickers coming from Jocelyn and Riley.

“What is an internal affairs unit?”Amira asked.

“An internal affairs unit is a special group that investigates when someone is accused of doing something bad.”

“How do we contact them?”She asked him.

“I have their phone number,” Nails said, trying his hardest to stay serious.

Amira’s eyes widened.“You have the Easter Bunny’s Internal Affairs phone number?”

“I’m the only one who has it.”

“Wow!Uncle Nails, you must be really important to the Easter Bunny.”

Nails pulled his phone.“I can call them right now, and we can solve this crime.”

Before she could respond, Bear started laughing and stepped forward.“Okay, okay!”he laughed, holding up his hands.“It was me.I ate the chicks.I got up in the middle of the night to check the thermostat, and they wereright there.”

Everyone was laughing except for Amira, who gasped like the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus had personally betrayed her at once.

“Daddy!”she cried.“You’re supposed to protect me from snack thieves, notbeone!”

“I’m sorry, sweetie.You know I love Peeps.”

Amira grinned.“I know, Daddy.That’s why they are my favorite too.But you could have asked.I would’ve shared them with you.”