Chapter 23

The Crime Scene

Tramp heard a loud splash behind him and felt the water wash over his back, pushing him towards Deserted Island. Colin was making good use of all those lessons Liz had made the kids take at the “Y.”

“Up to you, Tramp. Show me why you got me out here,” Colin said spluttering, as he pulled himself out of the water onto the shore of Deserted Island. He looked down at his Nikes.

“She’ll know for sure now. We might dry off, but this leather sure won’t. Good thing my toes are breaking through. Time for a new pair of Cortezes.”

Tramp raced up the hill, barking, “Follow me.”

Colin followed. When Tramp stopped at the bag Calico had crawled out of, Colin knelt down and pulled the bag inch by inch out from under the leaves and worms and beetles that had started to make it their home. He brushed the squirming creatures away and held it in front of his chest, pulled the open end apart, and looked into the bag.

Finally, he said, “Empty burlap bag. Not covered with pine needles, oak leaves, dirt, and bugs as if it’s been here long. It’s dry, but it rained four days ago. Been here three days at most.”

He looked into the bag, then reached in. “What’s this?” he said as he pulled out a leather strap with a silver tag hooked onto a small buckle. “It’s a name tag. Wow, look. It has a name and phone number. ‘Calico, 612-555-3333.’ This is ev-i-dence,” Colin said, dragging the word out. Then he looked at Tramp. “Is this our Calico’s tag? Is this where you found her? Some of this actually makes sense.”

Tramp was pleased his human was so smart. And if he got that much, maybe he was ready for more. Tramp ran to the bag Pauly had been in, shoved his nose inside, pulled it from the leaves and shook it back and forth.

“More? You mean there are more bags?” Colin asked.

Tramp dropped the bag with the white feather at Colin’s feet. Colin picked it up, turned it around and ran his fingers along the spine, smoothing the edges.

“What have we gotten ourselves into here?” Colin asked. “This is the same kind of bag Calico was in. A long white bird feather, probably a wing feather by the looks of it.”

Tramp pulled the third bag to Colin.

“More? I don’t think I like this,” Colin said. He picked Finn’s bag up, turned it upside down and shook it. Nothing fell out. Then he put his head inside the bag and sniffed. “Smaller bag than Calico’s. Smells like Calico, kinda like milk and fish. Maybe a kitten. Maybe Calico’s?” He looked at Tramp and they both grinned.

Tramp was thrilled Colin had gotten so much. He’d even smelled the scent of cat. Amazing.

“A canoe, a cat, a bird, and a kitten,” said Colin. “This feels like a pet store mystery involving a dog, a cat, a bird, and a kitten. How many pet stores around here, Tramp? Never mind. The Sigley canoe is another clue. Big Bob is tied to this and so is… so is… Bobby.”

Colin’s face went red, and his eyes got all squinty. His nose flared. He was not smiling.

Tramp knew Colin didn’t like Bobby, but he also knew Bobby wasn’t the worst villain in this case.