Chapter 9 

   I snuck through the halls. I darted around corners and hid behind anything I could find.

   I was slipping noiselessly down the passage when suddenly the sound of adult voices drifted to my ears. I slid to the side and shrouded myself behind a tall fern plant.

   The teachers passed, their footsteps fade away. I let out a deep breath and continued my search. Where was it again?

   As I was walking past the stairs, I spotted the animal I was looking for. I followed her quietly down the hall, inching ever so quietly as she padded away.

   Mrs. Harris was holding a stack of English books and was walking toward the English classroom when suddenly she turned and began heading down the passage to the right.

   Following, I watched as she snuck into the music room, where the teacher put the English books on the shelves, pulling the music pages off the tables.

   Suddenly she began knocking over the music stands and spreading the sheets of music all over the floor. She opened the drawers and dumped their contents all over the floor.

   I gasped. It was Mrs. Harris. It was Mrs. Harris all along. I turned around and raced back through the passage when suddenly I heard paw steps behind me. Harris heard my gasp. She knows I saw. My heart hammered in my chest. While I was running, I saw Marie up ahead and was about to shout to her for help when a voice from behind me suddenly spoke up.

   “Something happened again!” The tiger cried. “The music room is completely destroyed! Someone messed everything up. They are interfering with the learning. We must shut down the school!” Anger sizzled in me and I burst from my hiding place, shouting,

   “NO!” Both the icy white and crystal blue fox, and the white and grey tiger jumped in surprise. “Someone did not mess the music room, YOU did.” I accused, pointing at the white tiger. Mrs. Harris gasped, fear and anger burning in her pupils.

   “HOW DARE YOU!” She bellowed. The noise and commotion started to attract bystanders. Students leaked out of the classrooms, their teachers peeking from behind the doors.

   “I saw the animal that stole the uniforms,” I growled. “It was a shadowy figure, a shadowy figure who was slightly hunched over and fairly large.” I pointed at Harris. “Just like a tiger.” She stared at me with rage, but I continued. “You were in the office when the fire alarm went off. Marie didn’t even know you were in there. You turned on the alarm, and thought it would be the perfect way to hide your crime by showing that the attendance papers were forgotten.” She began to sputter, lost for words. Our Headmistress looked horrified.

   “And just now, I saw you myself in the music room messing up the papers and dumping out the drawers! YOU are the criminal!”

   Absolutely filled with furious rage, Mrs. Harris stood up on her back legs and roared, “YOU BEAST!” Marie stepped quickly in. “But Harris, why?” she begged for an answer. She looked deeply hurt as if she saw Harris as a friend. The secondary Headmistress shook her head vigorously. “I didn’t! I didn’t!” She claimed frantically waving her paws. She began looking hurriedly at the crowd of students. She was searching for someone. Finding who she was looking for, she suddenly jabbed a finger forward, pointing. “It was Anastasia!” She accused. Anastasia gaped at her cousin. “How could you!” She hissed. “I was simply doing what you told me to do!” She promised. There was a lot more yelling before it was all put to a stop by Marie’s loud call.

   The next few moments were a blur. My heart still racing, Marie on her phone, the police coming and taking that horrible Harris and her no-good cousin away… But none of it really mattered except for the fact that I had cracked the case, and the mystery had been solved. Silver Moon Academy would be safe from then on, as long as Harris was behind bars.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was Miss. Harris all along! Who would have guessed!? Did you figure it out before Isis? Tell me how! What really gave it away? I hope you enjoyed it, but don’t forget to come back soon for the very last chapter of Book 1.
***Special thanks to Genesis for editing this chapter! Check out his awesome music channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUugrAIndHz-TNLftLT862A/***

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------