The Gemini Mysteries: The Cat's Paw (The Gemini Mysteries Book 2)

By Kat Shepherd

"The teen banter is quirky and amusing and keeps the reader interested...Readers who enjoy Stuart Gibbs's "Fun Jungle" series or Carl Hiaasen's novels might enjoy the environmental and animal rights aspects of this mystery."-School Library Journal

"With characters who grab your attention, illustrations that invite you to play along, and a plot with more twists than a country road, get ready for a fast and fun mystery that will keep you guessing until the end. How do I sign up to join the Gemini Detective Agency?"
- James Ponti, Edgar-award winning author of the FRAMED! mystery series

"The North Star is mystery and intrigue at its best. I loved putting my observational skills to the test as I searched for clues in the illustrations at the end of every chapter. Captivating. Clever. Compulsively readable. A must-have for all emerging detectives!"
- Lauren Magaziner, author of Case Closed series

When Martin the red panda goes missing from the zoo, the Gemini Detective Agency takes it upon themselves to crack the case. Join them and help the teenage sleuths solve their next mystery!

Twins Zach and Evie Mamuya and their friends Vishal Desai and Sophia Boyd make up the Gemini Detective Agency. They've helped solve the case of the stolen diamond necklace known as the North Star, and now they've got an even bigger mystery to solve.

During a dinner at the zoo, Martin the red panda goes missing. And even worse, there's a bobcat's paw print located in his enclosure! But what first looked like an unfortunate incident in the animal kingdom starts to look more like foul play when the Gemini Detective Agency finds a crumpled flier that says "Free Martin." Then they learn about local dealings in an online exotic black market where people can buy rare animals. Could Martin have been set free by extreme animal activists, or is this the work of someone involved in the black market for rare animals and will they be able to find Martin before it's too late?

The Gemini Detective Agency is on the case! Readers will love this interactive mystery where clues can be found in the illustrations that appear at the end of each chapter!

The Gemini Mysteries is an action-packed series full of twists and turns that will keep readers guessing until the very end.

• Language: English
• Publisher: little bee books
• Release date: Jan 5, 2021
• ISBN: 9781499810370

Kat Shepherd

Kat Shepherd lives in Los Angeles with her husband, two dogs, and a rotating series of foster dogs. Each year she and her husband travel to a different national park for her wedding anniversary, and they have been lucky enough to also visit places like South Africa, Paris, and the Galapagos Islands. Babysitting Nightmares is her first middle grade series.

Book preview

CHAPTER

1

Evie Mamuya looked critically at her twin brother, Zach. He stood in front of her expectantly, his skinny arms jutting out awkwardly from his sides. I don’t know, she finally said. It’s hard to tell. Could you just act normal? You look like a scarecrow standing like that.

Zach sighed and dropped his arms. Seriously? I’ve been standing here for like a hundred years, Evie. I just want to know if this is okay to wear to the dinner at the zoo tonight. Just say yes or no so we can both get on with our lives.

Evie narrowed her eyes at his pink button-down shirt and khaki pants, the pants a few shades paler than his light brown skin. I don’t know; I think you might need a tie.

Zach’s eyes bulged. "A tie? Come on, Evie. We’re going to the zoo. He folded his arms. I’m not wearing a tie. That’s dumb."

Fine. Don’t. Evie turned her back to him and fluffed her shoulder-length twist-outs as she looked in the mirror. She held up two different cardigan sweaters, seeing which matched better with the pineapple-print dress she was wearing. "But just remember, Sophia said this dinner was for major donors. Do you really want to be sitting at a table full of rich people and you’re the only one not wearing a tie?"

Zach rolled his eyes and slouched out of the room. You are so annoying, he muttered.

Where are you going? Evie asked.

To put on a tie.

Evie smirked. The sharp sound of the front-door buzzer filled the apartment, and Evie heard her mom’s voice drift back from the living room. Vishal’s on his way up! Evie and Zach darted out of their rooms, almost colliding in the hall. Zach now sported a navy tie with a pattern of fluffy tan blobs.

Evie laughed. "OMG, are you really wearing your hamster tie?"

It was the only one I could find!

Well, I think you look very handsome in it. Mrs. Mamuya stepped into the hallway and kissed the top of her son’s head, her blue eyes warm. I still remember buying you that tie for your ninth birthday. Do you remember?

"Are you kidding? We all remember it. Hamsters were the only thing he talked about for our entire third-grade year! Evie said. I’m pretty sure he even wore that tie to soccer practice for a while."

I did, Zach admitted.

And here we are four years later and you’re almost all grown-up. Mrs. Mamuya’s smile was tinged with melancholy. Your dad would be so proud if he could see you now. Evie and Zach leaned in for a family hug. Their father, Yaro, had died when the twins were three. Although they barely remembered him, they knew their mom still missed him.

Vishal Desai let himself in through the front door and grinned at the knot of Mamuyas in the hallway. Hey, Mam Fam.

The hug broke up, and Mrs. Mamuya gave Vishal a warm smile. How’s my second-favorite boy in the world?

I’m pretty excited about tonight, Vishal replied. He slouched effortlessly against the wall in a pair of dark pants and a pastel polo shirt, one hand tucked into the pocket of an unzipped charcoal hoodie. The Boyds’ car is already outside. He ran his free hand through his spiky hair and blinked at Zach. Why are you wearing a tie?

Zach turned to his mother and sister. See? I told you. Vishal’s not dressed up.

I am too dressed up, Vishal said. This is my best hoodie. It doesn’t have a single hole in it!

Mrs. Mamuya gently pushed her kids out the door. Different families, different rules, Zach. Have fun, and don’t forget to thank the Boyds for inviting you.

A large black SUV with tinted windows sat idling in front of the apartment. A man in a black suit and tie over a crisp, white shirt jumped out of the driver’s seat and came around to open the back door. He grinned at the kids and tipped his black cap.

Edgar! Vishal’s face lit up as he high-fived the chauffeur. Edgar was the Boyd family’s driver, and he often ferried Sophia and her friends around town.

Vishal hopped into the front seat next to Edgar, and the twins joined Sophia in the back row of soft leather seats behind her parents. Dashiell and Mareva Boyd were both dressed elegantly but casually, Dashiell in a blue Oxford shirt and gray flannel pants, and Mareva in a black silk jumpsuit and espadrilles.

Thank you so much for inviting us, Evie said. I can’t believe we get to go behind the scenes with some of the animals tonight!

It should be superfun, Sophia said confidently. I heard some of the keepers talking about it. At Sophia’s urging, her family had recently funded the zoo’s brand-new gibbon exhibit, and Sophia spent every weekend volunteering as a junior zookeeper. She smiled at her friends. You’re gonna love it. Her head tilted to one side when she noticed Zach. Why are you wearing a tie?

That’s it. I’m getting rid of this stupid thing. Zach yanked off the hamster tie and shoved it in his pocket.

The car turned from the main road and into the parkland that surrounded the city’s zoo and botanical gardens. The sun hadn’t set yet, but shadows were beginning to pool under the thick trees along the river. It was a warm spring night, and Evie opened her window. Flowers were starting to sprout on everything, and the first bright leaves of spring covered the trees in a mist of fresh green. It was a peaceful scene, but then Evie straightened in her seat with a cry. You guys! Look!

CHAPTER

2

Evie pointed at the animal she had spotted through the trees. What is that?

Sophia shoved across the seat and squeezed in next to Evie. Oh, my gosh! That’s B-17! It’s got to be! She turned to her parents, eyes glowing. Can you believe it? I never thought we’d be lucky enough to see her!

What’s B-17? Vishal asked, craning his neck to see across the car.

Sophia stretched her phone out the window in an effort to get a photo. She’s the wild bobcat that lives in the city. MEOWS has been studying her to learn more about how predators can adapt to new environments. I’m helping them plan a citywide festival this summer to raise awareness about her and other urban wildlife. She smiled down at the gray, blurry image on her screen. I’m gonna tweet them right now to tell them about the sighting!

Vishal cleared his throat. I’m sorry, but did you just say MEOWS?

Sophia looked at him flatly. Yeah . . . why?

Vishal snickered. There’s a group that studies bobcats, and it’s called MEOWS?

Yes, Sophia said impatiently. Minnesotans Empowering Our Wildlife Safety. What about it?

It’s just, you know, MEOWS. Studying a cat? Don’t you think that’s kind of funny? Vishal asked. Sophia stared at him. Zach and Evie shared a secret grin.

The group waved goodbye to Edgar at the zoo entrance, where there were several open trams lined up along the curb. There was an elderly couple already seated at the back of one of them. The man was thin and bent, and he wore a red, white, and blue sweatband stretched across his spotted, pink bald head. His wizened wife dug around in her huge purse, her elbow jabbing his ribs as she rummaged. Other couples milled about and chatted with docents in khaki-and-white uniforms. Nobody seemed to have any kids with them, and Evie wondered if this was going to end up being one of those boring evenings where adults either ignored you or kept asking what you liked about school. She hoped it wasn’t.

Then she spied someone she knew, and her face lit up. Hey, look! It’s Abby! Let’s go say hi. Abigail Morris was a kindergarten teacher they had met a few months earlier, when she and her fiancé, Gideon Doheny, had gotten tangled up with the kids’ last case. Evie still wasn’t too sure about Gideon, but she liked Abby.

When the twins and their friends joined the group, Abby was standing a little bit to the side watching Gideon hold court with a cluster of people. Abby! Evie cried. You’ll never guess what we saw on the way over here! She pulled Sophia over, and they showed off the blurry photo of B-17 to Abby’s enthusiastic oohs and ahs.

Gideon pulled his fiancée out of the conversation to introduce her to another couple and a jolly-looking man with ivory hair and fat, rosy cheeks. Gideon noticed the children and smiled broadly, his gleaming teeth the exact same shade as his immaculate white suit. Fancy meeting you here, he said with a condescending wink. Tommy, let me introduce you to Sophia Boyd. She’s Dashiell and Mareva’s daughter. Tommy shook Sophia’s hand vigorously. And these are her little friends, Gideon added, without bothering to include their names.

Abby introduced Evie and the boys. The jolly man took Evie’s hand in a crushing grip, shaking her arm like a dog with a rope toy. Evie noticed he wore a circular BIG TOMMY BROWN FOR MAYOR button on his lapel. He slapped both boys on the back, and Evie noticed her brother stumble a bit from the force of it. Always a pleasure to meet such fine junior citizens. I’m City Councilman Tommy Brown, but most folks around here just call me Big Tommy, he said with a folksy grin. It’s nice to see you young people out and about and interested in something besides your phones. He laughed loudly at his joke, and it took everything Evie had not to roll her eyes. Stay in school, he added, obviously finished with them, before turning back to the other couple with Gideon and Abby.

I’ll tell you what, Tommy, it’s great to see you get the recognition you deserve for all the work you’ve done on behalf of the zoo over the years, Gideon said.

Well, now, it sure was a surprise when the zoo called me a few months ago and said they wanted to honor me this evening, Tommy said with false modesty. But it’s been a treat to work side by side with them to plan this wonderful event and make sure that major donors like yourself have a really special time tonight.

This is my new business partner, Dante Fishman, and his girlfriend, Bitsy Romanevsky, Gideon said.

Of course! Tommy said, slapping Dante on the back. I’ll tell you what, Dante, I’ve been hearing all about you from Darwin. Your generosity has made quite a difference to the zoo, which is why I insisted you be included in tonight’s festivities.

It’s a pleasure to meet you, bro! Evie watched in surprise as Dante grasped Tommy’s hand and leaned in for a chest bump. Gideon’s new business partner had curly dark hair and olive skin, and he was dressed like he had just wandered off a yacht. Evie could see bare ankles peeking out from between the hem of his duck-patterned pants and the shiny tops of his leather loafers. It was a warm evening, but his girlfriend, Bitsy, wore a luxurious red fox-fur jacket over her short dress, stroking it idly with her French-manicured fingers while she cast adoring glances at her boyfriend. A blond mane of hair, salon-perfect tan, and flashy designer handbag told Evie everything she needed to know about Bitsy, so Evie focused her attention back to Gideon.

Dante’s developing a new app that’s going to sweep the casual gaming world by storm, Gideon said proudly, throwing his arm around Dante’s shoulder.

Councilman Brown nudged Vishal with his elbow. Uh-oh, sounds like something you boys are going to go crazy over with all your video gaming, am I right? He guffawed.

Vishal shrugged politely. I’m not really much of a gamer, actually. What’s it called?

Monkeyfarts Mayhem, Dante said.

Vishal’s eyes lit up. Forget everything I just said. That sounds amazing!

Zach chimed in. "Seriously. Do you need testers, because we will totally be testers for that!"

Everyone laughed except Sophia, who shook her head. I still do not get what people think is so funny about—she lowered her voice to a whisper—"farts."

Evie sighed. Pretty much everything, Sophia. I don’t really know how to break it down for you.

Whatever, Sophia said dismissively. Leaving the boys behind with Dante, Sophia and Evie joined Sophia’s parents, who were talking to a conservatively dressed man with high cheekbones and short-cropped salt-and-pepper hair.

Mareva reached out her hand to draw Evie into the conversation. Evie, I’d like you to meet Dr. Darwin Chang. He’s the zoo director. Our family worked closely with him on the gibbon exhibit, and he’s become a good friend.

Dr. Chang shook Evie’s hand, but his smile was tight and didn’t spread to his eyes. He glanced quickly at his watch and gestured to the carts. We’re behind schedule; it’s already six forty-seven. Shall we head into the zoo? The docents