Ben
Ava's table neighbor“I came in around 12:10 to charge my robot's battery at the outlet by the stage. I was there about ten minutes, and I never went near Ava's table.”
Case file
The case
Case closed
It was Chloe.Ms. Ortiz only told the students that 'something went wrong with Ava's supplies,' and the jar was locked away where they couldn't see it. Chloe knew the baking soda had been swapped for sugar, a detail only the person who made the switch could know. Chloe is the saboteur.
The Science Fair Sabotage
At Lincoln Middle School's science fair, Ava's model volcano fizzled out in front of the judges. Afterward, Ms. Ortiz checked the jar labeled 'baking soda' and discovered it was full of powdered sugar instead. Ava had tested her volcano at 11:30 a.m. and it worked perfectly. During lunch, from 12:00 to 12:30, the gym was closed to everyone except three students who had hall passes. Ms. Ortiz locked the jar in her desk drawer, called those three into her room and said, 'Something went wrong with Ava's supplies. Tell me why you were in the gym at lunch.'
The suspects
Chloe
a rival with a crystal-growing project“I only went in to straighten up my crystal display. I would never swap somebody's baking soda for sugar. That's just mean.”
Marcus
a student helper“I was setting up folding chairs for the awards ceremony. I walked past Ava's volcano a few times, but I didn't touch anything on her table.”
Who sabotaged Ava's volcano?
Hint: Compare what Ms. Ortiz told the three students with what each of them said back.