Harbourville’s Beach Snack Shop had been open only an hour when Ben stopped in and noticed a new poster announcing a price increase. “I put the sign up this morning,” Mr. Levine told him, “Had to raise my prices ten percent because I have so many new expenses. Now I need a new window for my back room. Somebody broke it, trying to get into my store last night.”
“Have you called the police?” Ben asked.
“No. Nothing was stolen.” He led Ben to a small storeroom in the back. “I use this space as an office. Sat here and made my price change poster last night. As soon as I was done, I left it on that old desk. When I went out, I locked the door to the main part of my store. So whoever got in was stuck in this little storeroom. Nothing here to steal.”
When Ben left, he wandered down to the break wall, where Nathan and Trevor were fishing. “Did you hear that somebody broke a window at the Shack?” he asked.
“Nope,” Nathan said, “We’ve been here since dawn. Haven’t talked to anybody.” Trevor gestured to the bucket. “We’ve caught some big ones.” Nathan stood. “But now I’m starving. I’ve got a dollar left from my allowance. If Mr. Levine is there now, I’m going up to the Shack to get a Big Beach Bun.”
“Better get another dime from somewhere,” Trevor told him, “A dollar’s not enough any more. As for me, I’m going home to get a couple of sandwiches for myself.”
“You both stay right here,” Ben said, “I know which one of you broke that window. You’d better think of a way to pay for it, because I’m telling Mr. Levine.”
Solution
Mr. Levine had just put up his poster about the increase in price that morning. Nathan and Trevor said they had been fishing since dawn and had spoken to no one. Since Trevor knew that a dollar bun was now a dollar and ten cents, he must have been the one who broke the window and got inside the back room, where he read the poster lying on the old desk.
“That was good detective work,” Nina, his friend, told Ben later.
“Mr. Levine thought so too.” Ben opened a bag. “He gave me a Big Beach Bun for free. Want some?”
“Yes. At least ten per cent of it,” Nina told him, reaching for the bag.
