"I have to get to City Hall," thought Roxy.
She rushed back to her friends.
"Hey, guys, I just remembered something.
I have to . . . uh . . . do a book report.
See you later!"
Terrell watched Roxy run away.
"That's weird," he thought.
"Our teacher didn't assign a book report."
Roxy arrived at City Hall.
Detective Smith was talking to Mayor Bloom's assistant.
". . . and after that," the assistant was saying, "Mayor Bloom ran out of City Hall."
"I wonder why he stole the money," said Detective Smith.
"Maybe Mayor Bloom was going to buy a new assistant," said Roxy.
She glared at the assistant.
"I think you're lying.
Mayor Bloom is not a thief."
The assistant frowned.
"I am not lying," she said.
"I'm as surprised as you are by this."
"Ahem," said Detective Smith, looking at Roxy.
"Arguing won't help, Rocket Girl."
Roxy sighed.
"You're right. Do you know where the mayor went?
Did he leave any clues?"
"No," said the assistant.
"But he got a mysterious phone call before he took the money."
"Who called him?" asked Detective Smith.
The assistant checked the mayor's phone.
"The call came from the lab at Metro City University."
"Okay, Rocket Girl," said Detective Smith.
"We need to go to the—Rocket Girl?"
Roxy arrived at the Metro City University lab.
Two large booths stood along one wall.
Wires and coils connected the booths to a big computer.
A man sat in front of the computer.
He had black hair and thick glasses.
"I was expecting you, Rocket Girl," said the man.
"You must be looking for Mayor Bloom."
"Who are you?" asked Roxy.
The man smiled. "I'm Professor Ditto."
Roxy heard a footstep behind her.
She spun around and saw another man.
He looked just like the first one.
"I'm Professor Ditto too," said the new man.
Another man entered the lab. "And so am I."
Roxy blinked in surprise.
That man was followed by more men.
Every one of them looked the same.
"They're all Professor Ditto!" thought Roxy.
The men moved toward Roxy.
She took a few steps back.
Suddenly the professors pushed her into one of the booths.
Roxy yelled as the door slammed shut.
Electricity hummed.
Bright lights flashed. Sparks flew.
Then the lab was quiet.
Roxy was taken out of her booth.
She looked at the other booth.
Someone stepped out of it.
Roxy gasped. It was another Rocket Girl!