Chapter 44

The Team

Colin took over. “Here’s what I know, Officer Johnson,” and he told him, step by step, one piece of evidence after another, how Rodney directed the “Talented Animal-Napping Ring,” how Big Bob was an unwilling accomplice, how Mrs. Oliver had Pauly and Calico, how there were probably animals in Rodney’s basement right now, including Flip the Bull Dog and the singing mice.

“Here’s the big evidence,” Colin handed Officer Johnson a plastic bag with the tags that Pauly had brought out of Rodney’s basement.

“I think you’ll find one set of finger prints on these tags,” Colin said. “Besides mine.”

Who would believe Officer Johnson if he said he was told by a dog-detective, yes, dog-detective, that the “Talented Animal-Napping Ring,” was operating in the Kenwood neighborhood in Minneapolis, that Rodney Smithers was the leader? And, “Oh, by the way, here’s all the evidence you need to smash the ring and put Rodney and his gang away for a long time.”

Nobody.

Colin was the one who had to present the evidence, and Shannon, and Emmett, and Liz. They did, and that was the really important part. They did.

What a team.