Pictures of Mr. Cat are kindly supplied by his human, Nina.

Previous chapters of this story and other stories can be found on my home page under “The Investigators, Inc.” and “20/20 Investigations, Inc.”

Now to continue with our story, Muffin has been kittennapped…

After checking to make sure of the room number up we went to the second floor. I knock on the door, but there is no answer. Then we use the key and go in quietly. But no one is there, and then, that laughing again. “You’re a no good PI, you shouldn’t be allowed to look for a lost pen!” Then more laughing. “You lost your precious cat, she’s already dead and buried, right under your nose!” Mr. Cat’s ears went straight up when he heard that! I spotted the recording device on the desk so I grabbed it and we all left in a hurry. “Where are we going?”, asked Caren as we ran back outside to her car. “To hopefully find Muffin quickly”, I answered, “let me drive.”

She tossed me the keys to her 1993 Jaguar and we started off. “How did you afford a car like this?”, I asked. “My parents bought it for me, it’s one of the first produced in 1993, I liked it because of the name, I love jaguars, they’re beautiful cats,” she answered. “This car will fly,” I said. “Not on the roads around here,” she said, “by the way, don’t you trust my driving?” “You’re too slow,” I said, “we need to move fast.” She just stared at me, “but we don’t know where to go”, said Caren. “Back to your house,” I said and started to push the car. “You can’t go fast on these roads Steve, it’s too dangerous!”, she yelled. “Just watch,” I said, “hold on Mr. Cat.” Meow!=Me holding! SCREECH!

“Forgot how tight that curve was,” I said to Caren. “I’m sure I was on air that time,” she said shaking a bit. “It wasn’t that bad,” I said. She just stared at me, “you weren’t on this side! Please watch the next curve, it’s also bad.” We went screeching around that one too. “They don’t believe in straight roads around here,” I said calmly. “Steve, these are mountains, there are no straight roads possible,” said Caren nervously. “Have they never heard of tunnels?” I asked. Caren just stared at me. “Are you trying to kill us?”, she asked. I didn’t say anything more until we got back to her house. I came to a screeching stop and sure enough, by the front steps was a fresh little grave with a cross marking the spot and Muffin’s name on it.

Mr. Cat was out of the car so fast, ran to the grave and started digging as fast as his legs would go. I got there next and started digging with my hands. “I have a shovel,” said Caren. “Please bring my backpack, in the main compartment is a cylinder of oxygen and mask,” I said. She got it out. We got down to Muffin and pulled her out and quickly hooked up the oxygen to her. “I’ve never seen such a small mask,” Caren said quietly. “It was specially made for the cats,” I said, “is there a vet in town?” “No, but the doctor will sometimes look at pets if it’s an emergency,” answered Caren. “Let’s go then,” I said and we all hopped back in the car. I showed Caren how to hold Muffin, “keep pushing here to help her breathe.” So she did, and Mr. Cat curled up around Muffin and started purring loudly.

The trip back was just as fast though I did slow down a bit through town. We stopped at the doctor’s office, he didn’t have any patients at the time so he took Muffin in right away. Just then my phone rang so I went out to the waiting room to answer while the others stayed with Muffin. It was Lena, nice and cheerful asking how our vacation was going. “It’s not a vacation,” I said, “more like a nightmare.” Then I told her about what had happened so far. She started crying and handed the phone to Baldwin as he and Calanthe were in the room too, all waiting to hear about our vacation. I told Baldwin the news.

“I hate to say this,” I said slowly, “but I need help.” “Hey Steve, you got it, whatever you need,” said Baldwin. It was decided that he would send 3 of his men and they would stay at the hotel, but wouldn’t communicate with me until I wanted their help. They would leave me a note at breakfast tomorrow just so I would know who they were. Baldwin asked about me as I had mentioned getting hit on my old wound. “It’s kind of hard to stand right now,” I said, “there’s a lot of pain.” “Get the doctor to look at it,” he said. “No time right now,” I said, “maybe later.” “Not later, now, I’m doing what you wanted, now you do what I say,” he said firmly, “if not for me or yourself, do it for Lena, that poor girl is sitting here crying right now.” “Okay,” I said, “as soon as he’s finished with Muffin.”

To Be Continued.

©2021 Steve McLeod.