Lock and Dam #1

Jack says-

Everyone!

Today we spent time visiting the lock and dam on the Mississippi running under Ford Parkway!

Dad says understanding a lock and dam system is a great way to learn about how a detective’s mind works. There’s a constant stream of information coming through and a great detective has to know when a significant piece of information turns up and keep those details for a period of time. If you try to keep too much information in your mind the dam will break and you’ll lose all ability to retain information, especially clues. It’s all about knowing which things to learn and which things to forget.

The dam is a sight to behold! It features a twin lock system, each 56 feet wide by 400 feet long!

The swell fellows at the US Army Core of Engineers say the dam may be unsafe. I guess the water seeping under the dam makes it more likely to fail. But Fred and I agreed that it sure seemed like an awful well built and solid dam to us. We decided to have a closer look and took a small row boat out to the base of the dam. I don’t know how smart a guy needs to be to tell if water’s going where it shouldn’t in a dam but it all just seemed like wet everywhere to me.

Some official looking man in a uniform came out of a building in the lock and started yelling something to us but the water was too loud and we knew dad was making creme brulee for dessert so we headed back to the shore and headed home before the man in the uniform could give us any information.

We’ll have to continue our dam investigation later this summer.

JACK

Witches Hat!

Jack Says-

Hey, everyone!

Fred and I were at the Pratt Community Center in Propect Park having a catch with some chums the other day. We heard a shout from somewhere above us and when we looked up the hill where the sound had come from there were two suspicious looking characters disappearing into the trees!

The rest of the gang said it was probably no big deal and wanted to get back to the ball game, but I could smell a mystery unfolding right before our very eyes. Fred and I had to check it out!

We raced to the base of the hill and quickly managed to spot footprints. Without a seconds pause I was bounding up the hill, following the footprints, hot on the trail of the shady characters. At the top of the hill we found the Witches Hat Water Tower!

Quickly, Fred and I decided to head up to the observation deck of the water tower to get a panoramic view. Our legs pumped harder and harder as we neared the top.

Out of breath, from excitement as much from the stairs, I reached the observation deck and looked out. I could see our gang of friends tossing the ball around and some kids on a playground and then I spotted a clue!

A green scarf was dangling from a tree branch, blowing in the breeze!

Fred and I high-tailed it down to the clue. We were about to follow the footsteps leading away from the scarf when we realized it was nearly dinnertime. I stuffed the scarf into my napsack and we grabbed our pals to head home.

Perhaps I’ll get to come back to this mystery someday soon?

JACK-

Jack found a clue!

Jack says-

Everyone!

Today, Fred and I went shopping for new magnifying glasses!

Sometimes you never realize how many little details can be missed by using an old worn magnifying glass. So, the second we got home I cracked open my new magnifyer and went back over a few things from a case we’re working on. And that’s when I noticed the weave on a scarf I’d discovered was more intricate than we’d thought.

This means the scarf is less common and will be easier to trace back to where it was sold. That’s one step closer to unraveling a mystery!

I gotta go, dad just got home and it sounds like he’s got a test for Fred and me!

JACK