"Jesse McKinley!" Derrick Woods swung open the screen door and motioned me inside. 

"What a detective! Here to help before I could even give you a call."

I blinked and tried not to look surprised. I'd only stopped by to return his skateboard, but if Derrick wanted to believe my deductive powers included second sight I sure wasn't going to argue with him. I put the skateboard out of the way against the wall and grinned at him. "What's the case?"

"Remember that track meet the other day?"

"Sure. I finished second in the 200 and-- Hey, didn't you get two firsts?"

"Yeah. Two blue ribbons." Derrick scowled. "And now someone's ripped them off!" 

He led me down the hall to his room. "I had them hanging right there on that bulletin board, and now they're gone."

I studied the numerous sports-related ribbons pinned to the corkboard, the trophies on the shelf directly beneath, and whistled. "You've got quite a collection here."

"Yeah, minus my two latest ribbons."

"Well I didn't take them," said a voice from the doorway. "And don't you dare say I did."

We turned to see Derrick's little dark-haired sister, Michelle, glaring at us.

"Relax, Michelle," I said. "Nobody's accusing you."

"Ha! Derrick did just that earlier."

Derrick rolled his eyes. "I only asked if you'd seen them."

Michelle blew a large bubble gum bubble, popped it, and said. "Well I haven't. Not since those two friends of yours went home from your sleepover."

"If you're saying Alex or Leif swiped them--"

"Well Mom or Dad didn't and I didn't, so who else could've?"

Derrick flushed, and I cut in quickly, "When did you first notice the ribbons were missing, Derrick?"

"This morning. I was cleaning up my room, and Michelle came in and started bugging me."

"I did not! I came in to help."

"Whatever. Anyway, that's when I saw they were gone."

"Maybe they fell off the board," I suggested.

"No. I checked below on both my trophy shelf and on the floor. " Derrick pointed at two push pins stuck in the board. "Besides, the pins they were stuck up with are still there. Someone took the ribbons, then stuck the pins back."

I frowned, opened my mouth to reply and Michelle sang out, "Which means Alex or Leif must be the thief. Oh yeah, Alex or Leif, one of them is a thief." She ducked out of the room.

Derrick started after her, then stopped and turned back to me, his face grim. "Alex and Leif are friends, Jesse. Do you think one of them could have--" 

I sighed. "I don't know, but--" I broke off and pointed out his bedroom window. "Isn't that them bicycling this way now?"

Derrick looked and nodded. "Alex said he'd be back this afternoon, but Leif.... Leif was all excited about spending the rest of the weekend at his father's." Derrick shook his head. "What do I say to them, Jesse?"

"Just talk to them like you normally would. If any questioning becomes necessary let me do it." 

"Didn't expect to see you again today, Leif," Derrick said.

The blond boy grinned. "Yeah, but I can't stay. My Dad's picking me up in half an hour. But first--"

"You going biking with Derrick and me, Jesse?" Alex asked me.

"Afraid not. Just dropping off Derrick's skateboard. But--" 

"Someone ripped off two of my sports ribbons!" Derrick burst out.

I closed my eyes. So much for being subtle.

"That so?" Alex stared.

"Ripped them off?" Leif said. "You mean someone stole them?"

"Well, I had them yesterday, but after you guys left this morning...."

"Are you saying you think Leif or me...." Alex glared. "I'm out of here! Come on, Leif."

Leif hesitated, stared at Derrick. "You don't really think one of us would steal your track ribbons, do you, Derrick?"

Derrick looked at the floor. "Nah, I guess not. Hold up, Alex," he called out the door. "At least don't leave before I can apologize."

"Well...." Alex turned back. 

"I didn't mean to accuse you," Derrick said. "In fact, I bet I know who did take them." He started down the hall. 

"Hold on, Derrick." I grabbed his arm. "You wanted my help didn't you?"

"Yeah. So?"

"So I think I've solved the case." 

"So have I," Derrick said. He turned toward the hall, and yelled, "Michelle!"

"Michelle didn't take the ribbons, Derrick," I said. I turned to Leif. "That's why you came back this afternoon, isn't it? To return Derrick's ribbons."

"Now this is too much," Alex began. 

"But he's right, Alex," Leif cut in. "Though how Jesse knew-"

"You called them track ribbons," I explained. "But Derrick has ribbons from all sorts of sports so how could you know which ones were missing." 

Leif shook his head. "I see why everyone calls you a great detective." He looked at Derrick. 

"I wasn't stealing them, Derrick. Honest. I, uh, I just borrowed them." He pulled two blue ribbons out of his pants pocket. "Hope I didn't wrinkle them too much."

"No, they look okay," Derrick replied. "But why?" 

"I don't get to see my Dad much since he moved away. He's always liked sports, and, uh, I've never been the best at them. I was going to show him the ribbons and pretend I'd won them...wanted to make him proud of me. But.... Well, I decided I didn't want him to be proud of me for something I didn't even do."

I patted Leif on the back. "Glad you brought them back."

"Yeah," Alex echoed. "That took guts."

"Sure did," Derrick agreed. "In fact, I think I speak for all of us when I say I'm proud of you for something you did do."