The next morning The Lemonade Detectives discussed the mystery as they put the finishing touches on their float.
"Let's list everything suspicious that's happened," Henry suggested.
"Okay," Cole said.
"The first thing we found out about was that threat on the website."
"True," Henry said. "But that wasn't the first thing that happened.
The threat appeared sometime yesterday.
Mrs. Sweet's candy disappeared before that, on Thursday night."
"Don't forget Mr. Fleming's threat," Maggie said.
"That happened yesterday too."
"So did Jackson's comment about the parade being cancelled," Henry finished.
"So who are our suspects?"
"Jackson," Cole said.
"If your theory is right, he could be trying to create an interesting story to write about."
"Yeah," Maggie said. "I think Snake is a better suspect, though."
"Snake?" Henry had forgotten about the teenager.
"Why?" Henry asked Maggie. "His band isn't even making a float anymore."
"Exactly," Maggie said.
"This stuff started happening after the band dropped out of the parade.
Maybe Snake is mad about dropping out.
And now he doesn't want anyone else to win those prizes either."
"Maybe," Henry said. "I guess we should keep him on the list. Who else?"
"Mr. Newman," Cole said.
"What about him?" Maggie asked.
Cole shrugged. "He was in Mrs. Sweet's shed the night her candy disappeared."
"True," Henry said.
"The rumor Jackson started and the threat from Mr. Fleming could be red herrings—false clues that are confusing us.
Why do you think Mr. Newman should be a suspect?"
"You said his daughter is in Snake's band," Cole said.
"Maybe Mr. Newman wanted to sabotage other floats because of that."
"Maybe," Henry said.
"But he didn't seem very excited about the band when I heard him talking to Jade."
"Yeah," Maggie agreed. "But what about Miss Bishop?
She was sneaking around Mrs. Sweet's shed yesterday."
"True," Cole said. "But she has no reason to want the parade cancelled.
So she probably didn't post that threat on the website."
"I guess you're right," Henry agreed.
"That leaves one more suspect: Mr. Fleming."
Maggie nodded. "He definitely wants the parade shut down."
"But why would he steal Mrs. Sweet's candy?" Henry asked.
"Who knows?" Cole grabbed a bottle of glue.
"Let's finish our float and then go try to find out.
We still have a few hours to investigate before the parade starts."
An hour later The Lemonade Detectives waved to Maggie's dad as he drove away down the street on his tractor.
The float was on the cart behind him.
It was covered in a sheet so nobody would see it until the parade started.
"I'll meet you kids at the high school at three o'clock," Maggie's dad said.
"See you then," Henry called back. "Thanks, Uncle Bruce!"
Henry and his friends walked to Mr. Fleming's house.
A plump older woman was out in the yard watering some flowers.
"That's his wife," Cole whispered to the others.
Then he waved to the woman. "Hi, Mrs. Fleming!"
"Oh, hello, Cole!" Mrs. Fleming put down her watering can and hurried over.
"It's so nice to see you! Are you excited for the parade this afternoon?"
"Definitely," Cole said.
"We heard your husband isn't very happy about the parade," Henry put in.
"He thinks everyone is being too noisy building their floats."
Mrs. Fleming sighed. "Yes, I know. He's been complaining all week.
He hates noise.
He's always yelling at the neighbors about their barking dogs or their loud lawn mowers."
She smiled at the kids. "He's really a nice man, though.
Too much noise just makes him cranky."
Maggie stepped forward.
"Do you think he was crabby enough to post a threatening message on the town website?" she asked.
Mrs. Fleming chuckled. "Oh my, no," she said.
"My husband hates computers. He won't touch one unless he has to.
He even asks me to send emails to his clients for him."
"Yes, that's true," Henry said. "Sorry to bother you, Mrs. Fleming."
"It's no bother at all." Mrs. Fleming waved as they walked away.
"Enjoy the parade, kids!"
"She's a lot nicer than her husband," Maggie said as The Lemonade Detectives headed down the sidewalk.
"Yeah," Henry said. "It sounds like Mr. Fleming isn't the culprit.
He hates computers, so he probably wouldn't have posted that threat."
Cole nodded. "Plus, it's hard to imagine him breaking into Mrs. Sweet's shed.
So who should we investigate next?"
"How about Jackson?" Henry suggested.
"Let's go to the newspaper office and see if he's there."
Soon they reached the office.
"I'm sorry, kids," the receptionist told them. "Jackson isn't here.
He just rushed out.
He said there's some urgent breaking news that will make the newspaper's front page!"