0aeaa1e36e6f2e625b6ba8d48f773062

So they both traipsed across the street and joined the large dog, who was yapping even louder now that two cats looked like they were about to invade his territory.

“Cool it, buddy,” said Harriet. “All we want is some information.”

“No way are you setting paw in here,” said the dog in response. He was a big brown dog, and if Brutus wasn’t mistaken belonged to the Danish Dog variety.

“What makes you think we’re even remotely interested in setting paw in there?” asked Harriet. “We have our own homes, dog, so you can keep yours, all right?”

“Oh,” said the dog, not expecting this comeback. “So what do you want, exactly?”

“A crime was committed across the street,” said Harriet. “A man was kidnapped, and we were wondering if you saw something.”

“Yeah, I saw something,” said the dog, giving Harriet a curious look. It probably wasn’t every day that cats came inquiring after kidnapped people. “So what’s it to you?”

“That man is our human’s brother,” said Brutus, “and she would like to get him back before these bad men hurt him beyond repair.”

“Well said, Brutus,” said Harriet. “So how about it? What can you tell us?”

The dog sank down on his haunches and gave them a sly look.“What’s in it for me?”

“The satisfaction of having solved a crime, that’s what,” said Harriet, and it was immediately clear the dog wasn’t all that happy with her answer, for he made a face.

“I’m not into solving crime, cat, so I don’t really care if you find your human or not.”

Harriet cocked her head.“You don’t care if Alec Lip is found? Chief of police and the person in charge of the police station?”

“Nope. I don’t care one bit,” said the dog, and yawned cavernously to show them exactly how little he cared about Uncle Alec’s fate.

“You do know that the chief of police in this town is also in charge of the rules and regulations governing the use of our parks and sidewalks, don’t you? And so far I think Chief Alec has been very lenient when it comes to dogs being able to do their business both on those same sidewalks and in those same parks. But what if I tell you his second-in-command, Chase Kingsley, who now stands to take over, takes a much harder line?”

“He does?” asked the dog, showing signs of concern.

“Oh, sure. Chase Kingsley hates dogs with a vengeance. He was once bitten by a dog, you see, and he’s made it his mission in life to make your lives as miserable as he can.”

The dog glanced at Brutus, who nodded solemnly.“You’re in for a very bumpy ride, buddy.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m talking about the new ordinance forbidding dogs to be walked,” said Harriet. “Forcing their owners to make them do their business in litter boxes from now on. So no more walks in the park for you, sir. No more refreshing rambles along the sidewalks and the roads of our town. And most importantly no more walks along the beach.”

“No more walks along the beach!”

“Oh, for sure. You’ll be cooped up inside for the rest of your natural life, Mr…”

“Buddy,” said Buddy sadly.

“No more running wild and free. No more doing your business al fresco. No more—”

“All right, all right! I get your point! What do you want?”

“If we can find Chief Alec, and he’s reinstated as Chief of Police, Kingsley won’t be able to carry through his frankly apocalyptic plans, and your life will go on the way it always has. So are you going to help us find Chief Alec or do you prefer Kingsley to be the new chief?”

“No! Please not Chief Kingsley! I like to run along the beach, and I love to do my business al fresco! I’ll tell you everything I know!”

Harriet gave her friend and partner a cheeky wink and he grinned. Harriet would have made a great police cat.

“So tell us what you saw.”

“Three guys, heavily built, all wearing masks when they came out of the house. But then one took off his mask, and he had a shaven head, cause it reflected the light from that lamplight over there. He looked like a real tough guy, with a crooked nose and a jutting chin. He also had cauliflower ears.”

“Excellent powers of observation, Buddy,” said Brutus appreciatively.

“Thanks. The nights get pretty lonely out here, so I like to spend them people watching.”

“Anything else?” asked Harriet.

“Well, they came out with a fourth guy, who didn’t seem to like what was going on, for he kept struggling. He had a hood over his head, and his hands were tied behind his back.”

“That was Chief Alec,” said Brutus.

“They put him in a panel van and drove off, and that’s all I know.”

“Did you catch the license plate?” asked Harriet.

“Lady, I’m not a cop, all right? I don’t care about license plates, unless my owner gives me one I can chew on. All I know is that the van was the same type of van my owner’s got. An old Ford van. Looks like a big box on wheels?”

“Color?”

“Dark green. And did I say it was an old model? You should have heard the racket that thing was making, and the fumes spewing from that exhaust!” He shook his head. “They should probably have that looked at.”