Shirley walked away from the alley and saw a note on the window of her car. Shirley took the letter off her window and read it. Finally, Shirley said, "'Consider the dogs a warning. Leave Missouri and leave me alone. If I see you again, you will wish you had.' Still no handwriting." Shirley went to her hotel and looked at the note she found again. When the sun went down, Shirley heard somebody playing Home on the Range on the flute. Shirley ignored the music and thought about the mystery for a minute because she thought she was missing something. Finally, Shirley said, "Wait a minute." Shirley looked up the address she found on her computer and tried to see if she could figure out who lived there. When her computer told her, she finally put the mystery together. Shirley said, "It wasn't about the crimes or the animals. It was about the football game."
Shirley hurried over to Mr. Fletch's pet store while Mr. Fletch wasn't around, but the door wouldn't open. Then Shirley picked the lock on the door with her library card. Shirley pushed the door open when she unlocked it and walked in with her flashlight so she could look around while it was dark. Shirley looked at the counter and saw a magazine on it. Shirley opened the magazine, cast her light on the pages, and saw many cut-out holes. Shirley said, "Bingo." Shirley looked around the store for clues to confirm her theory. Shirley said, "Dog food, cat toys, and a book." Shirley grabbed the book, looked at the cover, and saw that it was a photo album. Shirley said, "What's this doing by the fish tanks?"
Shirley took the photo album from the pet store and walked across town while looking through it. Shirley said, "Bingo. St. Charleston wins every year. Plus, his kids already commit crimes at St. Charleston. The magazine I found in his store had cut-out holes for the notes I found." Shirley closed the photo album and thought about her theory. Finally, Shirley said, "What better way to win the game against a team you can't win against than to cheat? Bingo." When the sun fell, Shirley heard somebody playing Rats of Hamelin on the flute. Then she fixed the tires on her scooter and followed the music. The music led Shirley back to the library. Then she kicked the doors open and saw the flute player. Shirley said, "It's over, MR. FLETCH."
Mr. Fletch removed the hood on his cloak and revealed who he was. Mr. Fletch said, "Shirley Holmes. Welcome. But I must know. How'd you figure it out?" Shirley showed Mr. Fletch his magazine, dropped it open, and showed Mr. Fletch the cut-out holes in his magazine. Shirley said, "Your crime days are over." Mr. Fletch said, "On the contrary. My flute works on almost any animal as long as I play the right tune." Mr. Fletch started to play 3 Blind Mice on his flute, and then all the mice in the library came dancing out of their holes. Mr. Fletch looked in front of him and saw that Shirley was gone. Mr. Fletch said, "Where'd that little brat go?" Shirley snuck up from behind Mr. Fletch and quickly stole his flute. Shirley said, "Would a little brat do that?" Mr. Fletch said, "No, just a big baby. Now give me my flute back." Shirley gave what Mr. Fletch said a little thought and ran off with his flute.
Mr. Fletch pulled the rug Shirley was running on, and Shirley fell to the ground. Then Mr. Fletch grabbed his flute and Shirley. Mr. Fletch tied up Shirley and put a handkerchief over her mouth. Shirley tried to speak, but Mr. Fletch couldn't understand her. Since he couldn't understand Shirley, Mr. Fletch lowered the cloth on her mouth to talk. Mr. Fletch said, "What did you say?" Shirley said, "I said you'd never get away with this." Mr. Fletch said, "Oh, but I already have. Bye." Mr. Fletch put the handkerchief back over Shirley's mouth and locked her in the closet. Then Mr. Fletch wore his cloak and went to the football game with his flute. Shirley looked through the keyhole of the closet and saw that Mr. Fletch was leaving the library disguised as the flute player.
Shirley reached for the zipper on her backpack but couldn't get it. Then she took the nail file from her pocket, rubbed it against her ropes, and broke them. Shirley then took the handkerchief off her mouth so she could speak again. Then Shirley took a hair clip from her hair, put it in the keyhole to unlock the door, and escaped. Once Shirley got out, she wondered where Mr. Fletch went. Shirley said, "Where could he have gone? Wait, the football game."
Shirley drove her car to St. Charleston as fast as she could. When she got there, she ran to the football game. Shirley looked for Mr. Fletch and saw him in the scoreboard booth. Mr. Fletch said, "At halftime, St. Charleston will lose." Mr. Fletch brought out his flute from his pocket, but his hand got hit by a magnifying glass, and he dropped his flute. Shirley said, "That ought to slow you down."
Mr. Fletch looked at the scoreboard booth's door and saw Shirley. Mr. Fletch said, "How did you get loose? Guess I'll have to finish you off myself." Mr. Fletch blew an air horn, and the game stopped. While the game was on pause, Mr. Fletch ran off with his flute, but Shirley chased after him. Mr. Fletch ran across the football field, but Shirley threw a football at him. The football knocked Mr. Fletch down, and he dropped his flute. Then Shirley grabbed Mr. Fletch's flute off the ground and ran off with it. Mr. Fletch said, "Give me that flute, you little brat." Shirley was running away when she had an idea. Shirley said, "Wait, why am I running when I have his power?" Mr. Fletch walked up to Shirley when he saw that she had his flute. Mr. Fletch said, "I bought it fair and square. Now hand that flute over." Shirley backed up, took the flute, and played B-I-N-G-O on it. Then, a bunch of dogs came dancing from behind Shirley. Mr. Fletch got scared, got out of the way, and the dogs danced past him. Shirley said, "That's not right." Mr. Fletch said, "Give me that flute, you worthless little rat." Shirley snapped her fingers. Shirley said, "Good idea." Shirley played Pied Piper of Hamelin on the flute, and many rats danced under her feet. Shirley said, "This is better." Mr. Fletch tried to squash a few rats and walked up to Shirley. Mr. Fletch said, "Looks like you're the rat now. Just give up; you'll never beat me." Shirley said, "We'll see about that."
Shirley played Home on The Range on the flute and danced to the music. Then, a herd of cattle came dancing from behind Shirley, and Mr. Fletch ran into the St. Charleston fair while Shirley danced with the cows. Shirley put the flute in her backpack and went after Mr. Fletch when she saw him trying to escape. Meanwhile, the dogs, rats, and cows ran onto the football field, making both teams run for their lives.