Copyright © 2025 by Heidi Harris

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, Steampunk Rock Press LLC, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law. For permission requests, contact Heidi Harris, heidiharriswrites@gmail.com.

  The story, all names, characters, and incidents portrayed in this production are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living or deceased), places, buildings, and products is intended or should be inferred.

  Book Cover by Heidi Harris

  Illustrations by Heidi Harris

  Contents

  For Jamie,

  Scripture

  Kaylina Strawly, future mystery author.

  Magnifying Glass

  1. 1

  Magnifying Glass

  2. 2

  Magnifying Glass

  3. 3

  Magnifying Glass

  4. 4

  Magnifying Glass

  5. 5

  6. 6

  Magnifying Glass

  7. 7

  Magnifying Glass

  8. 8

  9. 9

  10. 10

  The Case of the Crying Cave

  Kaylina Strawly, future mystery author.

  11. 1

  12. 2

  Kaylina 1-3

  Heidi Harris

  Kaylina 4-6

  Kaylina Strawly

  Trice 1-3

  Trice Strawly

  Magnifying Glass

  For Jamie,

  We used to go to her Dad's, and swim.

  He passed while I was writing this book.

  He is missed, and will be missed forever.

  RIP Jim

  Scripture

  Then it happened, as he drew back his hand,

  that his brother came out unexpectedly; and she said,

  “How did you break through? This breach be upon you!”

  Therefore his name was called Perez.

  (Genesis 38:29)

  Kaylina Strawly, future mystery author.

  Iam twelve years old... I am not a published author yet, but I will be one day. I find a mystery around every corner. If I don't find one at the end of my case, my younger brother and sister, TJ and Tori, help me find another case to solve.

  one

  1

  “Can we go to the store? Gracie’s birthday is this weekend, and I want to get her something special.” I asked my Mom.

  “Tonight?” My mother frowned.

  I nodded.

  Dad looked up. “Why don’t I take you?”

  “Sweet!” I threw my fist into the air.

  I was sure I could talk Dad into going through the drive-through. Dad usually stopped to get a snack on the way home. I know we already had dinner, but I’ve been playing more, so I needed more energy, and I got hungry more.

  “Can I come?” Tori asked.

  “No, you still have to get your bath.” Mom reminded her.

  “I don’t want to take a bath.” Tori shook her head.

  “Me either.” TJ shook his head.

  “You are both taking a bath. Listen to your mother.” Dad stood up.

  “I have to grab my purse.” I ran back to my bedroom, and got my purse. I was back in the living room in a flash.

  “You can’t take too long. I have to be back in time to help Mom wrangle the little ones into bed.” Dad whispered as we walked towards the door.

  “Okay, I’ll be fast.” I agreed.

  “One thing you’re great at is spending money.” Dad chuckled.

  “Dad!” I complained.

  “Come on, Princess.” Dad slid into his car.

  I climbed in beside him. The radio was blaring rock. Dad turned it down with a guilty smile.

  “Gracie really likes penguins.” I buckled my seatbelt.

  “Then you should get her something with penguins.” Dad carefully reversed out of the driveway.

  “Yeah, I think you're right.” A song came on that I knew, so I turned it up. Dad and I sang all the way to the store.

  The two of us made our way into the store. I led the way to the toy section. Dad looked at the aisles like it was painful. If my little brother and sister had been with us, they would have wanted everything in sight. Their birthday was a few months away.

  I didn’t see anything in the toy aisles that I thought Gracie would like, so I made my way to the board games, and found a card game with penguins on it. I scooped it up. Gracie would love it.

  “That looks promising.” Dad pulled another set of cards off the shelf.

  “What’s that for?” I asked.

  “I’ve never played.” Dad winked at me.

  I giggled, and led my father to the jewelry section. I found some penguin earrings, and a necklace. Holding them up to my father, he nodded.

  “It needs one more thing.” I tapped my chin.

  “Well, we are running out of time. The littles will be done with their bath time soon.” Dad tucked his phone back into his pocket.

  “How about some candy?” I suggested.

  “Okay.” Dad nodded.

  I picked out Gracie’s favorite candy, and I picked out one for myself. Dad picked out two bags of candy. One was his favorite candy, and the other was my mother’s. I narrowed my eyes at my father.

  “Happy wife. Happy life.” Dad held up my mother’s favorite candy.

  I laughed.

  “Anything else, Princess?” Dad scanned the store.

  “Yes, I almost forgot. I need a bag to put it in.” I held onto the items tightly, and made my way to the gift wrap section.

  “I see a penguin bag.” Dad pointed.

  “Yes.” I grinned. “Gracie is going to love it.”

  I was running out of hands, so Dad grabbed a bag, and tissue paper, and we headed to the cash register. I put everything on the conveyor belt, and pulled out my wallet. I pulled out a $20 bill. The cashier said the price, and my eyes about popped out of my head. I didn’t have that much. I stared at the empty conveyor belt, and tried to decide what to put back. Dad pulled out his card, and scanned it before I had a chance.

  “Thank you, Daddy.” I tried to hand him the money.

  “You keep it, Princess.” Dad winked at me, and took the receipt from the cashier.

  Tucking my money back in my wallet, I gathered two bags. Dad gathered the rest, and the two of us made our way back to the car. Dad put the bags on the back seat.

  “Do you feel like a little pit stop on the way home?” Dad asked.

  “Sure.” I agreed.

  We ran through a drive-through, and Dad got a few burgers and a shake for Mom. He paid at the window, and handed me the bag. After a quick prayer, the two of us demolished a cheeseburger, and saved one for Mom.

  “Thanks, Dad.” I grinned.

  “That’s my job.” Dad smiled at me.

  two

  2

  “I'm so glad you're home.” Mom pointed to TJ running around the living room in his underwear.

  When he ran by again, Dad picked him up. “What are you doing?”

  “I'm a dinosaur. RAOR!” TJ held out his hands like claws.

  “Well, it's time for dinosaurs to go to bed.” Dad hugged him to his chest.

  “Five dinosaur stories.” TJ held out his hand.

  “One dinosaur story.” Dad held up a finger.

  “No. Five.” TJ shook his head.

  “Two, that's my final offer.” Dad said.

  “Okay.” TJ wiggled down, and he ran towards his bedroom.

  I pulled the items out of the bag. Opening the gift bag, I put the items into the gift bag. I wasn't sure how to put in tissue paper. After looking online, I found a video on folding the tissue paper into triangles. It didn't take long to fold all of the tissues into triangles, and stuff them into the bag. Holding the bag up, I deemed it beautiful.

  “Ut oh.” I forgot to buy a card.

  I made my way to the kitchen. If we had an extra birthday card, it might be in the junk drawer. My mother caught me rummaging through the drawer.

  “What are you doing?” Mom asked.

  “I'm looking for a birthday card. I forgot to buy one.” I pushed everything back into the drawer.

  “Why don't you make her a card, or draw her a picture?” Mom suggested.

  “Do you think she would like it?” I bit my lower lip.

  “I know I'd rather have a hand-drawn picture than a store-bought card any day.” Dad said from the doorway.

  “I guess you have your answer.” Mom smiled.

  “Thanks Mom. Thanks Dad.” I rushed down the hallway to my room.

  I dug through my desk. It didn't take me long to find my markers. I didn't want to draw on lined papers, so I went to Trice's room, and knocked.

  “What?” Trice called.

  “I need computer paper.” I called.

  “Why?” Trice asked through the door.

  “I want to make a card for Gracie!” I called.

  “Sh...” Mom put her fingers to her lips from outside of the kitchen.

  “Sorry.” I whispered.

  The door opened. Trice handed me several pieces of white computer paper. I took the paper. He scratched his stomach, and started to close the door.

  “Thanks.” I smiled, and made my way back to my room.

  three

  3

  “Do you want to see the pool?” Gracie asked.

  “Yeah.” I followed my friend to the backyard.

  “We finished filling it up last week.” Gracie smiled.

  “I wish we had a pool in our backyard.” I walked around the in-ground pool.

  “Mom said she’s been married to Dad for 15 years, and deserved a pool to show for it.” Gracie laughed.

  I giggled. “Really?”

  “Yep.” Gracie stopped walking with me. “What’s this?” She bent down, and picked up a wrapped present.

  “I thought you said your party was on Sunday.” I frowned.

  “It is.” Gracie walked over to the table on the back deck, and plopped into a chair.

  I sat beside her, and waited for her to unwrap the present. “Who is it from?”

  “I don’t see a card.” She crumbled up the wrapping paper, and set it aside.

  “Maybe they put it inside?” I suggested.

  “Maybe.” Gracie shrugged.

  “They probably did.” I leaned forward.

  Gracie opened the box, and pulled out a black and white package. I wasn’t sure what it was. Gracie pulled it out of the clear bag, and unfolded a plastic item.

  “It’s a penguin pool floatie.” Gracie stood up, and held it out.

  “That’s so cool.” I got out of my chair.

  “I think we have an air pump in the basement.” Gracie ran into the house.

  I followed Gracie through the back door, into the kitchen, and down the steps to her basement. It took her a minute to turn on the light switch. I held the plastic item, and Gracie started blowing up the floatie. When it was full, she moved the plastic tab into place. She turned off the air machine.

  “It’s so cute!” Gracie put it around her waist, and swished back and forth.

  “Very cute!” I nodded.

  “I’m going to show my Mom.” Gracie tried to run up the stairs, and she bounced off the wall. She fell on her butt with the penguin still wrapped around her waist. Both of us busted out laughing.

  “I think you might need to take off the penguin first.” I held my hand out to her.

  “Yeah, I think you’re right.” Gracie took my hand, and let me pull her to her feet.

  I helped Gracie pull the penguin over her head. Giggles kept erupting, before I could stop them. Gracie’s laughter joined mine. My friend took the pool floatie, and carried it up the stairs.

  “What do you have there?” Gracie’s mother asked.

  “It was by the pool.” Gracie said.

  “It was?” Gracie’s mother frowned.

  “Do you know who put it there?” I asked.

  “No, I didn’t know it was there.” She was visibly confused.

  four

  4

  “Did you have fun at Gracie's?” Mom asked from the kitchen table.

  “Yes, but we found a floatie in the backyard.” I said.

  “A lot of people have floaties in the backyard when they have a pool.” Mom said matter-of-factly.

  “Yeah, but it was in a box with Gracie's name on it.” I said.

  “Did you ask Gracie's parents?” Mom asked.

  “Yeah. Well, we asked Gracie's Mom, and she said she didn't know anything about it.” I frowned.

  “Hmm.” Mom tapped her chin.

  “Can we get a pool?” Tori asked.

  Mom chuckled.

  “Does that mean we can get a pool?” Tori scrunched up her nose.

  “Not this year.” Mom shook her head.

  “Aw, I wanted a pool.” Tori pouted.

  “Maybe you can buy a house with a pool when you grow up.” Mom smiled.

  “How about Kaylina buys a house with a pool, and I can live with her?” Tori smiled.

  Mom chuckled. “That's one way to do it.”

  “What if I don't want a pool?” I asked.

  “Not everyone wants a pool.” Dad walked into the kitchen.

  “Why not?” Tori complained.

  Mom and I were fighting our laughter. Tori was adorable. She had a good point though.

  “Everyone is different, but don't worry, we will go swimming this summer.” Mom smiled.

  “Is that a promise?” Tori held up her pinkie finger.

  “Yes, ma'am.” Mom shook her pinkie finger with hers, and leaned her head against Tori's forehead.

  “Do I get to swim with Kaylina at the pool party?” Tori asked.

  “No.” I shook my head.

  “Why not?” Tori frowned.

  “Because it's a party for big kids.” Dad explained.

  “I want to be a big kid.” Tori pouted.

  “Soon enough.” Mom tapped her nose.

  Tori sighed dramatically, and walked away. I waited until she was just out of earshot before my giggles escaped. I love my baby sister.

  five

  5

  “Did you ever find out who gave you the penguin?” I asked.

  “No! I asked Mom and Dad. They have no clue. I guess it could have been delivered here by accident, but not everyone has a pool.” Gracie frowned.

  “I don’t think it was an accident. They had to know that you like penguins.” I tried to think of who would deliver a present to Gracie on the same week as her birthday.

  “I asked both of my grandparents. Neither of them sent it to me. I tried to get ahold of my aunt Gigi, but she only answered long enough to let me know it was a camp week, and she couldn’t talk.

  “What about your uncles?” I asked.

  “Mom is an only child, and Dad only has the one sister, Gigi.” Gracie explained.

  “That is a hard one.” I nodded.

  “I even asked my brother.” Gracie rolled her eyes.

  “Maybe one of your friends sent it?” I suggested.

  “Maybe, but why wouldn’t they just wait until the party on Friday, so they could give it to me in person?” Gracie asked.

  “I don’t know.” I shrugged.

  There was a sound in the driveway. I got up, and peeked out the window. A delivery driver was walking back to their vehicle.

  “I think there is a package on the porch.” I closed the curtain before the driver could see me.

  “A package?” Gracie frowned.

  “Yeah.” I nodded.

  Gracie hopped off the couch, and opened the door. She returned with a package. She collapsed onto the couch beside me.

  “Does it have your name on it?” I asked.

  “Yes.” Gracie nodded.

  “Open it.” I encouraged.

  “Okay.” Gracie hurried to open the box. She pulled at the tape, but it wouldn’t budge.

  “I think you need scissors.” I frowned.

  Gracie pulled at the tape again. “Yeah, I think you're right.”

  “Where do you keep your scissors?” I asked.

  “I think we have some in the junk drawer in the kitchen.” Gracie jumped up, and rushed to the kitchen.

  I followed Gracie. My friend pulled out tape, batteries, and nails. Finally, she pulled out a pair of scissors, and thrust them into the air.

  “Found it.” She grinned.

  I pushed the other items into the junk drawer. Gracie closed the door, and the two of us made our way back to the living room. Gracie picked up the box, and cut it open. Inside the box was a black and white towel. When she stretched out the towel, I noticed a penguin that said, hang loose.

  “It’s a penguin.” I pointed to it.

  “Wow! This is so cool.” Gracie grinned.

  “Yeah, it is.” I grinned.

  Gracie wrapped it around her shoulders like a cape. She giggled. After doing a spin, she stuck her hand out in the air like she was a superhero. I busted into giggles.

  “I love it.” I fell onto the couch.

  “Me too.” Gracie tugged the towel off of her shoulders and folded it up. “I just wish the person responsible for the presents would send a note.”

 

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