Steve`s Country
For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
The Investigators, Inc. The Missing Cat. Chapter 1.
“Well you two, tomorrow we will be heading back home, and hopefully we will get a new case soon too,” I said trying to sound hopeful. Meow,meow?=We take Lena home with us? “No Muffin, Lena is staying here, this is where she lives,” I said to her. Meow,meow?=Maybe we move here? Nice place to live. Meow.=Hey, not bad idea, much warmer here, you live in such cold place, not understand why human people live in such cold place. “Yes, well, I have to agree with you on that one Mr. Cat,” I said, “but that is where we live.” Meow,meow.=He hard to convince sometimes. Meow.=Yep, sure is, maybe he need more chomp, chomp. Right then Lena came knocking on our bedroom door.
“Can I come in Steve?,” she said anxiously. Meow,meow=You can come in Lena, is okay. “Um, I think she was talking to me,” I said to Muffin. Meow,meow.=You always too slow, we need to give push sometimes. Anyway, Lena came into the room and said, “Steve, a friend of mine needs your help, it’s very important!” Meow,meow!=Yay, a case, now we have to stay! Meow,=Yes, this sound very good. “Hey you two, let Lena talk so we can find out what’s going on,” I told them with a sigh. Meow.=There he go, he get to sigh, not us. Lena and I stand there looking at them. Meow,meow.=Oops, sorry, we not talk now. Meow?=Yep, we listening to every word, what you say again? “My friend’s cat is missing, you must find her!”, said Lena.
Meow,meow=Oh, missing cat, that perfect, we find her real fast. Meow.=Yep, this look like nice easy case for change. “Maybe the cat ran away, or maybe she was catnapped,” I suggested. Meow,meow.=No, no, catnap is short nap, when someone take cat it called kittennapped. “But what if it’s an adult cat?”, I asked, “how can it be kittennapped then?” Meow.=When adult human people get taken you call it KIDnapped. “Hmm, guess you got me on that one,” I said. “No, no,” said Lena, “you have the wrong idea, this cat is worth millions, but it’s a statue, not a real cat.” “Wow, why is it worth so much?”, I asked her. “It’s a jade cat, very, very old, it came from China originally, it has brilliant, very expensive ruby eyes and an exquisite diamond necklace, plus other gems hidden inside,” she explained. “I can see why someone would steal the cat, but China is a rather large country and there is a good chance it might be heading back there,” I said.
“That is possible, so we have to work fast to find it,” said Lena. “Um, what’s the ‘we’ all about?”, I asked. “Well, you might need help, and my friend can speak the language if necessary,” said Lena. “I take it your friend would be coming too,” I said. “Naturally,” said Lena. “Well, we better get over to your friend’s place and get started on this case,” I said. “Right,” said Lena, “oh, she also mentioned there was a strange note left behind, but she couldn’t understand what it meant.” We drove for nearly 2 hours and finally arrived at her friend’s place. It was a large old country house, very nice, but certainly not what I was expecting. Lena’s description made me think of some kind of country mansion rather than what looked like a country farmhouse, except without the farm.
There was a nice pond to one side of the house with a couple of ducks swimming around, and on the other side of the house was a large garage with perhaps living quarters above it. I couldn’t see behind the house at all. It’s important to keep track of details in a case, though we probably won’t be staying here very long. We went to the front door and I suppose it was the maid who let us in. Lena’s friend came out very quickly and Lena introduced us. Her friend’s name was Lara and apparently her mother was Chinese and her father was Swiss. The jade cat had been in her family for centuries and she was horrified that she would be the one to lose it. I asked to see the note that had been left behind. I told her that would normally mean they want some money for returning the cat, so they probably don’t know the true value of what they have in their hands. So they are likely not professionals, which helps us quite a bit. Lara handed me the note. Oh my…
To Be Continued.
©2021 Steve McLeod.
Steve`s Country 
Haha 😀 When I read the last 20/20 chapter I thought for sure that one of them will be the victim, haha but I should have guess. Muffin is just way too cute and I think it’s the first time I heard her say “yay it’s a new case” haha 😂
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Yes, Muffin has never said that,😹 usually she is very reluctant to get going on another case.😾 But, will she continue to be enthusiastic? What lies ahead for us? What does that note say?🤔😳🙀🙀🕵️♂️
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Well, that’s for you to answer, you’re the one reading it. I’m here to simply the ride, safe and sound in my room haha 😂
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But how can I read the note when it’s in a different language? I’ll get Muffin to read it.🙄😸
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Great start Steve! I love it! Why do Lena and Lara really have to go along and what is in the note? 🤔👏😁
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Yes, I am wondering about that too, and that note, well, it says….
Have to wait until Monday for that one!🤔🙀🙀🕵️♂️
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A jade cat ! Sounds interesting ! Waiting for the next chapter ! ☕️☕️🕵️♂️😺😺🤔
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Yes, but sometimes things are not what they seem to be! Or are they?😳🙀🙀🕵️♂️
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Perhaps the Jade Cat is a likeness of Muffin or Mr. Cat? Could they be from a line of Royal Cats that are famous and very wealthy??😮😯😲😳🤯🙀🙀
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Now you have your thinking cap on! But remember, things are not always what they seem to be!😳🙀🙀🕵️♂️
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So it’s not a likeness? It’s a real cat that’s Muffin Mom?? Wow! I wouldn’t have guessed that!🤯😲😳
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That’s what I was thinking that you wouldn’t be thinking of something that I was thinking so you wouldn’t be thinking to catch you off guard about what I was thinking about what you were thinking about!😳🙀🙀🕵️♂️
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I don’t know… we don’t usually think alike unless you’re thinking like me which means you were reading my mind so you didn’t really think you just thought you thought that which I was already thinking before you thought I was thinking what you’re thinking 🤔 🤪🤪
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And now the mystery and fun begin! ☕️☕️😺🤨
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Yep, just kind of groundwork, but now, what’s next?🤔😾😾🕵️♂️
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kittennapped, you better listen to Muffin, she’s always right 😻😼
I’m glad is not a real cat that disappeared though 😉 Sounds an interesting and exciting case but Chinese can be really tricky so just be careful🕵️♂️
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Yes, I don’t think this is going to be a simple case and just might get very complicated! We will have to keep our eyes and ears open on this case!😳🙀🙀🕵️♂️
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I’m glad it’s a statue and not a real cat😹 Curious to read how this case unfolds!🕵️♀️
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Yes, that is so true, but there is something that is odd here, I just can’t figure out what it is yet.🤔😾😾🕵️♂️
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Great Beginning Steve 😍 I thought one of our cats is going to be missing 😂 You have chosen a magnet title ☺️. Jade cat 🤔 where do you get such thoughts 😊 and hilarious part 😂Kittennapped ha ha… Enjoyed reading…. ✨✍️ Keep going 😉
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Thanks so much Simon! Have to admit, I do think differently! There just might be some surprising twists and turns in this one. Or not. Glad you liked the opening chapter!😁😸😸🕵️♂️
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😊😉I am 100% sure you’ll pour out your creativity with us🤗
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If I don’t I will have to resign and let Muffin take over writing!😳😹✍
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,Ha ha ha, 😎A serious reply☺️Muffin would Rock that too ,😻😉😁
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Thanks!😁 I think.🤔😳
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Hello Steve
I was thrilled reading the events , but when
I arrived to “kittennapped” I couldn’t stop laughing , it’s a nice gang of cat you have here , I wonder what’s going to happen next !
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Hi Venus! Glad to see you are enjoying my mystery series, which although serious, can be funny at times too, especially with the cats! They are really the stars of the story!
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Hey Steve and muffin,
I love mystery stories. This is really good, especially the joke about catnap & KIDnap. Lol!
Can’t wait for chapter 2
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Merry Christmas Tiffany!
I’m glad you enjoyed the beginning that mystery story. I have now finished my second year of writing these short stories and will be starting a new bunch on January 1st.
The cats add the humor to the stories!😁👱♀️😺😺👱♀️👩👩😐😊🧔🕵️♂️
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