The Mystery of Mr. Nice: A Chet Gecko Mystery

By Bruce Hale

Most folks know him as the best lizard detective at Emerson Hicky Elementary, but it's not all knuckles and know-how with Chet Gecko. He's also got his artistic side.
If it wasn't for his art, he might never have been sent to Principal Zero's office, where he stumbled onto the mystery of Mr. Nice. Because whatever you can say about Principal Zero, one thing is certain: He is not nice. Until now.
Chet knows something is wrong with this picture, and he's just the gecko to solve this mystery. After all, who do you think put the art in smart aleck?

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Oct 1, 2008
• ISBN: 9780547542720

Bruce Hale

Bruce Hale has written and/or illustrated over sixty books for kids and is the author of Clark the Shark; Clark the Shark Dares to Share; the award-winning Chet Gecko Mysteries series; Snoring Beauty, one of Oprah’s Recommended Reads for Kids; and the School for S.P.I.E.S. series. In his free time, Bruce enjoys hiking, watching movies, and making music. He lives in Santa Barbara, California, with his wife, dog, and many hats. You can catch him online at brucehale.com.

Book preview

Copyright © 2000 by Bruce Hale

All rights reserved. For information about permission to reproduce selections from this book, write to [e-mail] or to Permissions, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, 3 Park Avenue, 19th Floor, New York, New York 10016.

www.hmhco.com

Originally published in hardcover in the United States by Harcourt, Inc., 2000.

The Library of Congress has cataloged the print edition as follows:

Hale, Bruce.

The mystery of Mr. Nice: from the tattered casebook of Chet Gecko, private eye/Bruce Hale.—1st ed.

p. cm.

A Chet Gecko Mystery.

Summary: When the principal of his school begins acting nice to him, Chet Gecko realizes that he is an imposter and so sets out to find the real one.

[1. Geckos—Fiction. 2. Lizards—Fiction. 3. Schools—Fiction. 4. Mystery and detective stories.] I. Title.

PZ7.H1295My 2000

[Fic]—dc21 99-50914

ISBN 978-0-15-202271-6 hardcover

ISBN 978-0-15-202515-1 paperback

eISBN 978-0-547-54272-0

v2.0316

For my brother, the one and only Matteo Grande

[Image]

A private message from the private eye . . .

Nobody appreciates great artists when they’re still alive.

Take that Vincent van Gogh guy, for example. He chopped off his ear because nobody liked his art. That must have hurt. Both the lack of respect and the ear chopping, I mean.

But I know how he felt.

How do I know? I’m another unsung artist.

True, most folks know me as the best lizard detective at Emerson Hicky Elementary, but it’s not all knuckles and know-how with Chet Gecko. I’ve also got my artistic side.

And if it wasn’t for my art, I might never have stumbled over the clue that started me on this case.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not going to quit detective work and chop off my ear anytime soon. (Geckos don’t have ears.) But I wouldn’t mind a little more respect for my talents.

After all, who do you think put the art in smart aleck?

1

Wombat Kisses

It was a hot, slow day. History class crept by like a slug on ice. Mr. Ratnose stood at the blackboard, trying to make some history of his own as Most Boring Teacher Ever. Half the class was asleep, and the other half was trying to look like they weren’t.

Me, I was watching Mr. Ratnose’s long whiskers droop like the seat of a kindergartner’s pj’s.

Suddenly, inspiration struck.

I whipped out a sheet of paper and a pen. Behind the cover of my open history book, I began a truly great cartoon. It started with Mr. Ratnose, and for the sake of Art, I made his nose four times the size it usually is.

And that’s pretty big.

[Image]

Then I pooched out his lips. With great detail, I drew in Marge Supial, the school nurse, puckering up for the mother of all kisses.

Before I’d even finished, I heard a smothered giggle. I glanced over at Bo Newt.

Eeew, wombat kisses! he whispered.

He giggled some more. Shirley Chameleon scooted her desk closer, trying to see what all the fuss was about.

"Shhh," I said. An artist must have silence. I bent to my work. I had just labeled the characters in my latest masterpiece, when IT fell on me.

The teacher’s shadow.

"What do you call this?" said Mr. Ratnose.

Um . . . art gecko? I said.

And who is that supposed to be? He pointed a clawed finger at the big-nosed rat.

Duh. It was obviously him. But I couldn’t say that.

Um, it’s an Afro-Cubist rendering of a rare lumpenhuffer in a Post Toasties–influenced style, I said. That’s the kind of stuff I read in my parents’ art books at home. No fooling.

It looks like me kissing a wombat, said Mr. Ratnose. He bared his long front teeth.

The kids sitting near me were trying so hard not to crack up, they were snorting like pigs at a mud festival. Bo Newt’s eyes bulged like two pumped-up grapefruit. He clapped a hand over his mouth.

My lip twitched into a semi-smirk. I couldn’t help it.

You think that’s funny? said Mr. Ratnose.

No, I think it’s art, I said.

My public agreed. I could tell because smothered laughter was turning their faces as purple as a grape-stomper’s socks.

Mr. Ratnose frowned. His ears quivered. Well, I think it’s awful, he said, grabbing my drawing. It shows a lack of respect.

Everybody’s an art critic.

Mr. Ratnose scribbled on his pink pad. He tore off the sheet and thrust it at me. Then he ripped my sketch in half.

Ouch. That hurt. But every great artist suffers insults in his time. I knew that future art lovers would recognize my genius.

Chet Gecko, said Mr. Ratnose, "go straight to the principal’s office, and take this—this thing. He pointed at my mangled artwork. Mr. Zero will deal with you!"

He stalked back to the front of the room, hairless tail dragging behind him.

I sighed and got up to go. An artist’s life is not an easy one. That’s why I usually stick with detecting. People might make

Reviews for The Mystery of Mr. Nice

[chazzifrazz · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Chet Gecko is once more on the case.Caught creating one of his classroom portraits, Chet is sent to the Principal’s office by his teacher, Mr. Ratnose. Upon arrival, Chet is given a huge surprise — Mr. Zero is nice to him! This is so far out of character for Mr. Zero, that Chet is sure the cat is an imposter. Something strange is going on and Chet decides to investigate.This is the second book of this series I’ve read and it was fun. It is geared for ages 8-12, but the style is of the detectives of the 1940s – 1950s. Think Bogart in “Maltese Falcon” only not as gritty or adult. Chet has the fedora and trench coat to show his seriousness.By-the-way, the cast are critters: Chet – gecko, Mr. Zero – cat, Mr. Ratnose – rat and so forth. There are also illustrations sprinkled through the book to give some aid to the mental images.Fun, light read!

[sheila1957 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Chet Gecko is a private eye who is in grade school. He's been sent to the principal's office but comes out without receiving a punishment. Who is that guy? He's sure it's not the real Mr. Zero. What is going on?Chet is a hoot. He sounds like a 1940's Sam Spade or Philip Marlowe. I chuckled at his puns which are creative. He solves the mystery but he needs help which is how he gets his Girl Friday, Natalie, who usually has to point him in the right direction. He also gets a little help from some friends at school and makes a new friend. I like the cleverness of this series. I look forward to reading more.