Yes we got the bad guy! It was hard work, but Marissa, Holly, Dot, and I were able to catch the bad guy.

 

Dot distracted the 2 body guards with a story about her being lost and whatever, Holly and I scaled the wall to videotape the printing press, place where they worked to get proof that they were doing a crime lab, and Marissa just watched around in another tree to make sure nobody followed us, and would call the cops if we didn't come back in 15 minutes.

 

Luckily, the place wasn't well secured, so we got in real easy after Holly jimmied the door. We snuck in, and hid behind some boxes real quick when we heard someone. Unfortunately, I stepped in something really brown and sticky on the floor. I don't know what it was, but it smelled real old and yucky. Almost like glue. I got it all over my pants and shoes. Ugh.

 

There were lots of boxes stacked around, so we crept behind them as we tried to find the printing press in this big warehouse. We finally spotted it. There it was, chugging and chugging out green bills. Guys would take it up, and took it to the cutting machine. Wow. Slick operation. It's a wonder how they got it.

 

Well, we videotaped it for about 5 good minutes. Got some good stuff. We almost got out without being noticed, until Holly stopped to get a drink of water at the water fountain near the restroom. Some guy coming out of there saw us and gave us a look. Whoops.

 

"Why are you girls here?" he asked. I told a quick lie on the spot, and said that we were delivering sandwiches here. He said, "Ok", and was walking away, before he saw Holly with the video camera. Whoops. He said, "Hey, why are you carrying around a video camera?".

 

Time to scram.

 

We hightailed it out of there real quick. We climbed on top a hood of the car, and tried to jump over the wall, but we realized the wall was too high. And the goons were coming after us! Holly told me to jump into the car - the windows were open. We jumped in real quick, before they could see us clearly. We crouched down below. We heard them walking around trying to find us.

 

Then Holly whispered, "Hey, I found the keys!". At that moment, one of the goons peered in and saw us! "Hey, guys! They're over here," he yelled. Holly jumped up, gave him a punch, and turned on the ignition. VROOOM! Did I mention this was a nice sports car?

 

She pushed forward, and we were moving! "Hey!" the guy yelled. He was holding onto the door handle as we started moving. "Stop! Stop!". "Let go!" cried Holly. She tried pulling off his finger, but she was forgetting the steering wheel. "Holly! The steering wheel!" I cried. I took over quick, before we hit a wall. She finally got him off, and rolled up her window. "What are we going to do now?" she cried? As we drove.

 

BANG! BANG! Sounds of bullets were coming. "Head straight for the exit" I cried! She pushed the gas pedal and we were heading towards the exit.

 

BAM! We heard the gates fly off as the bodyguards and Dot were running away. I was still surprised that Holly could drive. "You can drive?" I asked? We didn't have time as Dot and Marissa jumped in. "Step on it!" Marissa cried. "I called the cops on my cell as soon as I heard them searching for you guys.". We were going to start moving forward before we heard the sound of another bullet, and a hissing sounds.

 

"I can't move forwards!" Holly said in despair. Flat tire. Luckily the cops showed up at that moment.

 

3 hours later.

 

The bad guys are put in a jail, we gave a statement, and all you're typical tied-up loose ends. This was one of my fastest mysteries. Actually, all I heard was the guy talking, scouted him around, followed him to his bad-guy lair, and got proof to catch him.

 

Usually, I would get really mysterious clues (reason why it's a mystery), threats, red herrings, dead-ends, no leads, tons of things that make it hard. But this was relatively easy. Well at least I solved a crime. It turns out they stole it from a mint in San Diego, and came here to quiet Santa Martina to press out some money. Well they're got and they're in jail.

 

And I'm on the newspaper! I'll talk more later.

Marissa and me met up yesterday. We talked, about her vacation and how stuff has been going on. She even got me a nice souvenir. A pair of maracas. Not my thing really, but it was cool. She must have had a fun time in Cancun.

 

Well anyways, we were at the deli, when all of a sudden I spot the 2 guys talking at the lunch counter. Well, while they were eating, and we were eating, I told Marissa about what's been going on with those two. She said maybe I misheard or something. And maybe we should stay out of it. Typical Marissa. I told I could go without her, but she changed her mind. We followed those two when they got out.

 

They walked the whole way to their hideout in the woods, north of Santa Martina. There was this really high fence surrounding this complex. The building was about as high as a typical suburban 2 story house. And as wide as 2 houses. They entered through this private gate with a key. I could pick it, but I might get caught. The walls are just really made out of bricks, and there's no barbed wire or anything on the top. I found a couple of trees that I could climb onto, and drop over the wall. But Marissa said she heard something. I didn't hear it at first, but then I heard it. It sounded like footsteps. We scrammed out of their real fast, before whoever it was saw us.

 

I'm planned on going there today, but it's raining. I'll go tomorrow though, right after my job at the library. I really suspect those guys, because who operates a building in the middle of the woods? Unless they were hiding something. So right now, I think I'm on to them.

 

I'll also see if I can get Holly and Dot to come with us. Maybe they can help. Marissa is kind of a chicken when it comes to it. Here's to hoping the best tomorrow.

First, I'll start with Live Spaces and it's new update. They've like updated the place a bit. So it is kind of better. The UI is kinda cool, I guess. Much more organized. Although I do miss the ole' 'spyglass' icon. It's just a bit slow. Maybe it will get faster though. Who knows. At least it's a step up.

 

Now about my new mystery. I was working at the library yesterday. I was shelving some books, when I heard some whispering. I saw 2 guys (complete strangers) talking about something. At first, I didn't care. But then I heard them mention "money", "fakes", "counterfeits" and that kind of stuff. I listened in, and it seems like they were making counterfeit bills at this shack, south of town. They were suppose to find one of their buddies (who seems to have something important) and get him there fast. Only these 2 guys can't find him. They're planning on something else that I couldn't hear. I followed them out the library, and I tried my best to look like I wasn't following them. Only too bad for me, I tripped on a banana peel (yes, there really was a peel), and I fell. By the time I got up, they were gone. I ran around looking for them, but they scrammed. I thought of telling the cops, but I got no proof about this. Maybe they joking, but I seriously doubt it.

 

Well, I'll be on the look out for them. I think I've seen them before. Not sure though. I'll also be exploring south of town to find this 'shack'. Maybe I'll get lucky. Luckily Marissa is coming back tomorrow. Finally. And maybe Dot and Holly will be availiable too.

 

Well I gotta go. Grams is waiting out front.