I don’t know how the police had gotten to Lady Beatrice’s so fast. It had only been a few minutes since the ladynapping, and already there was a cop coming straight toward the house. The only way anyone could have arrived so soon was if they had been driving in the jungle nearby when Bouncer called.
Bouncer held the machete like it was his duty and insisted we not move. The cop golf cart had red and blue lights on it and was painted blue. At the wheel was Sheriff Rolly, Lady Beatrice’s nephew. He pulled up to the house and got out of his vehicle.
“What’s going on?” Rolly asked. “I should be helping set up for Carrot Con right now. This better be important!”
“Lady Beatrice is gone,” Bouncer said.
Rolly looked bothered. “That’s what you said on the phone.”
“A rabbit took her.”
Rolly laughed.
“It’s true,” I said. “A huge rabbit. Probably the same one that tore up those trees earlier. And now this man is waving a knife at us.”
“The reason I am holding them at knifepoint is because I know Zeke had something to do with what happened,” Bouncer announced.
“What?” Zeke said as all of us stared at him.
“You came for dinner and now she’s gone. Lady Beatrice told me before you arrived that if anything odd happened, make sure they investigate you.”
“Why did she say that?” Rolly asked.
“Because of their past. Plus, just months ago Zeke was a rabbit. Now a giant one takes her away. There must be a connection.”
“That’s a bunch of crab!” I argued. “We had nothing to do with it.”
“That’s true,” Bouncer agreed. “You are children and therefore unable to plot or pull off such a terrifying act.”
“Wait a second!” Rain protested. “I could think that up if I had a massive bunny.”
“Excuse me,” Bouncer said. “The adults are talking.”
“I’m fourteen!” Rain argued.
Zeke spoke. “Listen, Rolly. You know me, and I’m telling you I had nothing to do with her being taken away. What we need to be doing is going to find her.”
“You should probably read this before you do anything.” Bouncer handed Rolly a folded piece of white paper.
The sheriff unfolded the paper and read it. When he was finished, he looked at Zeke and walked right up to him.
“Turn around,” Rolly said.
“What?”
“Turn around.”
Zeke turned around.
“What’s that in your back pocket?” Rolly asked.
My uncle Zeke reached back and pulled out a thin pink wallet from his back pocket. Zeke looked as surprised to see it as the rest of us.
“I have no idea where this came from,” Zeke said.
“Right.” Rolly looked defeated. “Well, this letter is from my aunt. And it says that you stole her wallet and were the mastermind behind her being bothered by the bunny.”
“That’s a lie!” I yelled. “She’s setting my uncle up.”
“Remember, we’ve had disagreements with Zeke before,” Bouncer said. “Now do as your aunt instructed and place Zeke under arrest.”
Rolly looked at Zeke. He then looked at Bouncer and sighed. “Sorry, Zeke, but you need to come with me to town. Most of my officers are helping to set up Carrot Con, but I’ll radio for some of them to get out here to find my aunt.”
“I can’t believe this.” Zeke was baffled.
“You’re arresting us?” I questioned angrily.
“Not you,” Bouncer explained. “You’re just kids.”
Bouncer was the worst. He reminded me of a sponge named Phil Up from Ocean Blasterzoids. Phil was always talking down to young urchins and baby shrimp.
“I’m not arresting anyone,” Rolly said. “I’m going to detain Zeke until I figure out what’s going on. Come on, Zeke.”
Rolly motioned for my uncle to get into his cop cart. I thought Zeke might try to argue or put up a fight, but he climbed on board without resisting.
“What should we do?” I yelled.
“Find the keys! Take the Squidmobile home! They can’t hold me for long. In the meantime, remember Uli,” he yelled back. “Issue #3!”
Zeke and Rolly sped away.
Bouncer looked down at us.
“Whatever you children do,” Bouncer said, “you should do it somewhere else. There will be grown-ups coming to help Lady Beatrice. You being here is only going to complicate things.”
I stared at Bouncer. “Did some kids pick on you once? Because you really seem to have it out for us.”
Bouncer reached out with his left hand and gave me the keys to the Squidmobile.
My face grew hot and red like the top of a boiled crab. “You had them?”
“I didn’t want anyone taking your cart.”
“Or you didn’t want us to leave before the police got here,” Juliet said with some fire in her words.
“Something like that.” Bouncer walked off.
My friends and I hopped into the Squidmobile.
“What are we going to do?” Juliet asked.
“Something,” I answered.
Rain frowned. “Sounds like a solid plan.”
It wasn’t, but I knew before any plan was made I needed to get to my uncle’s house and take a look at Issue #3.