The Case of the Missing Merchandise: Cinnamon Chou, #5

The Case of the Missing Merchandise

The Cinnamon Files, Case 5

Deb Logan

For Joya and Julia with my deepest thanks for your support!

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Also by Deb Logan

Preview: Thunderbird

About Deb Logan

1

Iwas in a quandary as I slid into my seat at our table that morning. The agility trials were coming up soon and my best friend Sammy was off-station visiting her grandparents on Gamma IV. With Sammy and her cute little dog Fred unavailable, who would partner with me and my Fornaxian dragon Rafe?

What’s wrong, Cinnamon? Mom asked as she set my plate of synth-eggs and replicated toast in front of me.

I sipped from my glass of calcium-enhanced, hydroponically grown orange juice while I considered my answer. As Space Station Zeta’s commanding officer, Mom didn’t appreciate whiners. She expected a can do attitude… which was usually a no-brainer for me. But today…

The agility trials are coming up and today’s the day teams need to register.

Mom nodded, a forkful of synth-eggs hovering in front of her lips. And?

And Rafe and I don’t have partners, I said. The bite of toast I’d just swallowed hit my stomach like a brick.

We ate in silence for a few bites, though I didn’t enjoy my food. At last Mom wiped her mouth on her napkin and reached for my hand.

I know you and Rafe miss Sammy and Fred, but they haven’t moved away permanently. They’ll be back before you know it.

Just not in time for the agility trials, I thought, but since that sounded suspiciously like self-pity, I kept the words locked inside my head. Where’s Dad? I asked instead.

He had an early call this morning, she answered. He promised he’d grab a cheese pastry from Mr. Zitnik’s bakery.

Despite having just finished my breakfast, my mouth watered. Mr. Zitnik made the best pastries on the station!

Once I’d cleared my place at the table, I raced to my bedroom. Time to get Rafe and head to the recreation area. I grabbed the special sheath glove and the padded vest Dad had designed for me, pulled them on, and opened the door to Rafe’s habitat.

Come on, Rafe. We’re going to the recreation area to find partners for the agility trials.

He glanced at me from the highest of his permaplastic perches and closed his eyes.

It’s okay, Rafe, I crooned. I know you miss Fred and Sammy, so do I… but they won’t be back in time for the games. We need new partners.

He shuffled on the perch and turned his back to me.

Even when he acted sullen (like now!), Rafe was gorgeous. Glistening red scales that he kept clean with a daily bath in