Princess the Cat Cracks the Case: Princess the Cat, #6

By John Heaton

Justice needs the master detective—Princess the Cat!

 

The uptown festival is afoot, but so are murder and theft. Who has committed such a cunning crime? Only a cat could be so clever. The case will require the most cunning detective to unwind the knotted yarn of clues!

 

For her sixth adventure, a mystery, Princess the Cat is once again joined by Max, Chief, the dog next door, and a slew of friends, both old and new.

Can Princess the Cat crack the case, or will the criminal make a clean getaway?

 

Princess the Cat Cracks the Case is the sixth in a series of middle-grade novels for readers in grades 3-6. You can read this as the sixth in the series, or start the series here. If you and your children like animals, action, and laughing yourselves silly, then you'll love John Heaton's perfect-for-all-ages series.

 

Buy Princess today to make hilarious story time fun for the whole family!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Flannel and Flashlight Press
• Release date: Nov 24, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201824112

Book preview

1

One approaches from my right, the other from my left. The bus stop’s streetlight hums as I await the two suspects for our clandestine meeting. I risk a glance behind me to the dark ravine where that thing lies hidden. And by that thing, I mean what has been the source of so much bad blood between the cats who live uptown. Opposite the ravine sits the historic lodge. A bell tower that rings every night at ten o’clock crowns the hulking log cabin structure. Don’t ask me why ten o’clock. Beyond the lodge lie two other buildings and the forest into which the ravine runs. Supposedly, an abandoned silver mine rests deep in the woods.

The first cat to arrive narrows his blue eyes at me and gives a quick shake to his long, white fur before sitting and looking me in the eye.

Why the secrecy, Princess the Cat? Archie asks.

I’ve narrowed the suspects down to a small pool, I answer. "I’ll reveal more when Squeaky arrives.

Moments later, a short-haired cat with splotches of gray and white arrives and sits before Archie and me. Archie looks like he should be sleeping on the arch-villain’s lap in a human movie. Squeaky, however, has the perfect markings to hide in the shadows and do things nobody should know about. Both are powerful cats uptown and both despise each other.

Where is it? Squeaky asks. You’re the mighty Princess the Cat, Empress of Rover Boulevard, Slayer of the Wicked Serpent, and so on and so forth. You came to recover that which has gone missing and to discover Archie’s villainy.

Archie growls at this accusation.

I’m merely an emissary from the First Feline Republic, I respond coolly. But Squeaky is correct; I’m all those things he mentioned, and more. I’ve learned to tone down my ego when necessary.

We all know you’re the one to blame, Archie shoots back.

Before Squeaky responds and escalates the aggression, I interject, I’m a whisker away from discovering who took it.

Both sets of shining eyes lock on me.

I continue. The clues have been varied and winding, but the truth never escapes me.

Both sets of eyes narrow.

When I first met you, I say as I turn to Squeaky to speak, your paws left a faint trail of something whitish-gray. You couldn’t resist walking across wet cement. That color and freshness were only to be found at the new skate park nearby. You haven’t been completely honest about your whereabouts.

That proves nothing! Squeaky argues.

I knew it, Archie growls.

I’m maneuvering these two to just where I want them.

Not so fast, Archie, I say, now turning to stare down the long-haired cat. Your proud fur coat has betrayed you. Do you recall the other day? I found you just over there.

What of it?

You weren’t exactly forthcoming about your previous whereabouts. A dead pine needle stuck in the fur of your tail.

And so what?

Even an amateur would recognize that the needles of the Abies lasiocarpa, known as the Corkbark Fir to the average human, is rare and found only in a select few locations. Coincidentally, that ravine over there is the only nearby location.

I knew it! Squeaky shouts.

That proves nothing, Archie shoots back.

No need to argue, I say to the dueling cats. My esteemed sidekick, Max, will soon recover the item. Along with it, he’ll have the smoking gun evidence! Max is the other cat who lives in my house with me. He’s primarily orange, with long hair and a white spot on his back. I’m cunning and exceedingly competent; Max is sweet and somewhat less competent, but he’s proved his worth in my previous adventures to become my sometimes helpful accomplice.

I observe Archie’s reaction. But these cats didn’t become so powerful because they were fools. The nonverbal communication of neither betrays guilt.

One of them is guilty, but which one?

It’s time to set my trap.

If we wait just a few minutes, Max will arrive. He will possess not only the object but also the smoking gun, identifying who took it.

And you think—? both suspects say in unison.

Yes, I know who took it, but I want both of you here when the last piece of evidence is presented.

Their eyes reveal nothing. These two are constantly scheming, so whether they detect my trap or even believe me, I can’t discern.

When will Max finally show up? Archie asks, breaking the silence.

I turn to look towards the ravine. Perhaps it’s taking Max longer to get out—

But I don’t finish my sentence because Archie blurs past me towards the ravine.

I set the trap, and Archie is falling into it.

Squeaky yells out, but I burst into a chase after Archie. Away from the streetlight, we enter darkness, but Archie’s white coat betrays him. He sinks below the ravine’s edge and momentarily out of my sight. When I reach the edge, I see him below, dashing down the rocks.

Don’t let that thief get away! Squeaky yells after us.

Though I don’t doubt my speed and agility, not even I think I can catch Archie now. Once he reaches the ravine's base, he must pass through a storm drainpipe and then into a bend of the empty gully where the object lies hidden. It will be up to Max to stop him. Archie has, no doubt, considered he can handle Max and get away with the item.

But my trap accomplishes more than scaring the suspect into revealing himself.

I hop from boulder to boulder in pursuit, rapidly approaching the sandy floor of the ravine. Shrubs line the lip of the ravine, even the rare Corkbark Pines. Bending along the ravine’s bottom, the black hole of the storm pipe appears.

Archie’s white haunches disappear into the tunnel a moment later.

I slow my chase as I approach the entrance.

You’re not fast enough! I shout down the black tunnel formed by the storm pipe.

I plunge myself into the narrow tunnel. There’s a dim dot of moonlight from the other end. I see Archie’s shape racing ahead of me and toward the tunnel’s exit.

Any moment now—

Archie releases a sharp screech. His speed crashes to zero. He writhes as if grasped in the clutches of an unseen enemy. A cloud of dust kicks up from the ravine floor as I exit the tunnel to spot Archie wrestling the air.

That’s not the only thing I see.

Max pops out from behind a shrub and begins rolling on the ground, laughing at Archie’s predicament.

You should have seen the look on his face! Max says between chortles of laughter. He can’t get much more out between his fits of giggles. It was classic! Classic!

I stand before the twisting and turning Archie and call out.

Stop fighting it. You’re only making it worse.

The twisted ball of white fur finally stops moving, save its heaving chest.

What is this confounded enemy I fight? Archie pleads with desperation.

Best prank I’ve ever seen, Max explains as he walks over. All I had to do was cover the end of the tunnel with clingy plastic wrap, and you got snagged in it like an invisible force field. I wish I had a picture when you tried to leap through it. Hilarious!

Max breaks down in laughter again.

I rest my paw on Archie, who lies in defeat, and I declare, Squeaky and all the other cats will be here soon. Then, they’ll carry out justice on you.

You’ll regret this, Archie threatens.

I never regret catching a criminal. I only regret not catching you sooner. But your attempted escape is all the proof the others will need.

Squeaky comes out from the tunnel.

Ha! I always knew it was you. Wrapped up and lying in the dirt, just like you deserve.

Archie lies silent in defeat.

A few sets of glowing eyes appear on the ravine’s edge. They are representatives of the uptown cats. Now I must state to them the case against Archie.

Archie was a strong suspect. The rare needle in his fur made him so. Then he fled when he feared I would secure the condemning clue, thus condemning himself. The clear plastic restrains him. I turn him over to you know, and you may carry out justice on him for theft of the precious item.

A muscular black cat enters the ravine and begins taking Archie away.

I would have gotten away with it too if it wasn’t for you meddling cats!

You’re starting to sound like a human, I state.

Come on, the black cat says to Archie with a prod. We’ll hold you in the old chicken coop until we figure out what your punishment is.

But you’ll never find it, Archie yells, ignoring the black cat. You trapped me too soon.

Actually, Max says, I already found it.

Max returns to the shrub and brings out a small, black item.

Nobody can hide a laser pointer from me, Max proudly declares.

After Archie is out of sight, the remaining cats cheer and thank me for solving the mystery of the missing laser pointer.

For somebody like Princess the Cat, it was elementary, I think to myself as I walk back to the bus stop to catch the last ride to my neighborhood. I’m much more than all my titles mentioned. I’m a master detective who never misses the truth but always serves justice like a fresh can of tuna.

2

Ihop off the bus twenty minutes later, about a minute’s walk from my house. Max is only a pace behind.

Anything to report? The voice comes from the nearby tree. It’s Moonbeam speaking. He’s a rare owl and one of my trusted advisers.

What did you expect? I reply as I look up at the pair of ghostly eyes staring from above. Case solved. Archie was the thief.

And you should have seen how funny Archie looked when he smacked into that plastic wrap like an invisible wall! Max chuckles. It tangled him up and trapped him perfectly.

And the stolen item? Moonbeam queries with a