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“Yeah, all my emails from last year,” said Odelia. “And when we asked the Hampton Heisters they claimed it wasn’t them. They could be lying, of course.”

And as she explained what else had been deleted, suddenly I had what is commonly termed a brainwave, and for a moment I was lost to the world. A persistently ringing phone brought me back. It was Odelia’s phone, and after she’d listened for a moment, then hung up, she said, in a somber tone, “That was Chase. Carl Strauss just died.”

“Carl is dead?!” Gran exclaimed.

Odelia nodded.“Chase is going to pick up Erica Barn for questioning. This is a murder investigation now, and if those Hampton Heisters are right, and they’re innocent, then Erica is our most likely suspect.”

“Odelia?” I suddenly piped up.

Odelia glanced down in my direction.

“Could you do me a favor?” I asked, and gave her a look of much significance…

She frowned.“What did you have in mind?”

But before I could explain to her what I wanted her to do, suddenly Scarlett cried,“Who’s that?!”

We all looked where she was pointing, and saw that Frank Beaver was back: Hampton Cove’s fearless vlogger was looking in through the window, and filming us!

“Oh, no, you don’t!” Gran shouted, and before the guy could stop her, she’d yanked open the window and was grabbing him by the lapels and wrestling him down to the ground!

Four watch members were upon the guy in seconds flat, and as he whimpered and squirmed, he was being turned on his stomach, and professionally outfitted with plasticuffs I didn’t even know any of the watches possessed!

“I got these at Walmart,” Wilbur said proudly.

“I get mine online,” Gran announced as she neatly secured the guy’s feet.

“And this was a present from my hairdresser,” said Scarlett as she showed us a can of mace, then made to press down on it to release a stream of the liquid into the man’s face.

“Stop!” said Odelia.

“Why?” asked Scarlett. “This man is a home invader. We should treat him as such.”

“Please don’t hurt me!” our vlogger now cried. He already looked a lot less cocky.

“That’s what you get when you interrupt a meeting of the neighborhood watch,” said Dooley.”

“Two neighborhood watches,” I said.

Gran had taken out her shotgun, Father Reilly was wielding a stun gun, while Wilbur brought out a very large revolver and was waving it in front of the vlogger’s face.

“Please let me go!” the vlogger cried helplessly.

“I think we’re going to keep you for a while,” said Gran. “Maybe lock you up in the basement.”

“Yeah, I’ll bet he’s just the vanguard,” Wilbur growled. “So where are the other home invaders, huh? Talk, sonny boy—or eat lead!”

“I’m so sorry!” said the vlogger.

“Hey, isn’t this the guy you told me about?” asked Gran, addressing her granddaughter. “The one who’s been filming you and threatening to expose your secret?”

“What?!” Scarlett exclaimed, taking a firmer grip on her can of mace.

“What secret?” asked Wilbur.

“Never mind what secret,” Gran snapped. “This man has been following my granddaughter around and filming her every move. It wouldn’t surprise me if he didn’t secretly film her taking a shower, the dirty little pervert.”

“You should be ashamed of yourself, young man,” said Father Reilly, his finger on the button of his stun gun. “Shame on you!”

“I’m sorry,” said the guy. “Please don’t lock me up in the basement. I’m claustrophobic!”

“Don’t I know you?” asked Scarlett suddenly. “Aren’t you Franka’s kid?”

“You know my mom?” asked the guy tearfully.

“Your mom does my nails. She’s great.” She now wagged a finger in the man’s face. “If you ever post a video of Odelia in the shower, I’m going to tell your mom—is that understood?”

“Please don’t tell my mom. Please don’t,” he sniveled.

“I remember you now,” said Father Reilly. “Little Frankie Beaver. You once released a mouse in church during Sunday Mass, didn’t you? I never told your mom about that.”

“Please,” he whimpered.

“Now first you’re going to show us your cloud account,” said Odelia.

“Yes. Yes, of course.”

“And you’re going to delete all of those videos—every single one, while we watch.”

“Absolutely. I’ll delete them right now.”

And so for the next half hour, while we watched, Frank Beaver deleted video after video of Odelia and especially of her interactions with yours truly and my friends.

30

Ellie arrived at the big house and sincerely hoped she would find herself alone with Carl. Ever since he’d sent her that message, she’d found herself a little on edge. To be invited to the house of a famous celebrity is always a little nerve-racking to say the least.

She parked her bicycle out in front and walked up to the front door, then gave it a tentative knock. But when no response came she pushed and discovered it was open.

After a moment’s hesitation, she made her way in—like any intrepid reporter would.

“Mr. Strauss?” she called out. “Mr. Carl Strauss?”