The Case of the Clever Secret Code

by Cindy Vincent

  The Case

  of the

  Clever Secret Code

  Also by Cindy Vincent

  The Case of the Cat Show Princess:

  A Buckley and Bogey Cat Detective Caper

  The Case of the Crafty Christmas Crooks:

  A Buckley and Bogey Cat Detective Caper

  The Case of the Jewel Covered Cat Statues:

  A Buckley and Bogey Cat Detective Caper

  The Mystery of the Missing Ming:

  A Daisy Diamond Detective Novel

  The Case of the Rising Star Ruby:

  A Daisy Diamond Detective Novel

  Makeover For Murder:

  A Kate Bundeen Mystery

  Cats Are Part of His Kingdom, Too:

  33 Daily Devotions to Show God's Love

  The Case

  of the

  Clever Secret Code

  A Buckley and Bogey

  Cat Detective Caper

  Cindy Vincent

  Whodunit Press

  Houston Bozeman

  The Case of the Clever Secret Code

  A Buckley and Bogey Cat Detective Caper

  All Rights Reserved. Copyright © 2015 Cindy W. Vincent

  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage or retrieval system, without the permission in writing from the publisher.

  Published by Whodunit Press

  A Division of Mysteries by Vincent, LLC

  For information, please contact:

  Whodunit Press

  c/o Mysteries by Vincent

  Mysteriesbyvincent.com

  This is a work of fiction. All events, locations, institutions, themes, persons, characters and plot are completely fictional. Any resemblance to places or persons, living or deceased, are of the invention of the author.

  ISBN: 978-1-932169-39-3

  Printed in the United States of America

  Dedication

  To Mocha Marie and Elisabeth.

  Sometimes “greatness” comes in small packages. You will always be in my heart.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  CHAPTER 1

  Holy Mackerel!

  For as long as I live, I’ll never forget the day when that really, really long, black car drove right into St. Gertrude. It was on a Monday morning, and the sun was already blazing way up high in the sky. June had been extra hot, and I didn’t think things were going to change for a while. It wasn’t exactly a good time to have extra layers of fur like I did. And it wasn’t exactly a good time to be afraid of the water, like I was. And like most other cats are. Because jumping into a swimming pool probably would have cooled me off pretty nicely.

  But let me tell you, if I thought things were hot then, well, that was nothing. Because things were about to get a whole lot hotter! And I don’t mean because of the temperature. No, it was because of that long, black car that rolled onto Main Street and went straight through our downtown! In my short time as a cat detective, I had never seen anything like it. That car must have been the size of three or four cars put together. In fact, I wasn’t even sure it was a car at all.

  I turned to ask my brother and best friend, Bogart — or “Bogey” as we call him — if he knew what it was. He was sitting beside me on top of an old oak dresser in our Mom’s antique store.

  But Bogey knew what I was going to ask even before I got the words out. I guess that’s the way it is when you’re one of the best cat detectives in the business.

  “It’s a limo, kid,” he told me. “That’s short for limousine.”

  “Oh . . . well, there’s nothing short about it.” I crinkled my brow. “I wonder why they don’t just call it an extra, extra long car?”

  Bogey shook his head. “Beats me, kid. Some things just don’t make sense.”

  He reached a lean arm into a vase next to him and pulled out a bag of cat treats. They were fish flavored. Some of my favorites. He passed one to me and then took one for himself. We munched on our treats while we watched that long car drive slowly toward our Mom’s store. We had a perfect view of it all since we were sitting in the gigantic front window. Right under the big sign that read, “Abigail’s Antiques.” It was one of the places we liked to sit when we worked the security detail at our Mom’s store. As cat detectives, that was part of our job.

  Of course, the humans aren’t exactly aware of our detective duties. Probably because us cats always switch to cat language whenever humans are around. Plus, some people have no clue what cats are capable of. But Bogey always says we can use that to our advantage.

  Though to be honest, I’m not completely sure what he means by that.

  I squinted as that big, black car continued to creep closer. The bright sun bounced off the shiny hood and it was blinding. Especially when that limo stopped for a moment, smack dab in front of our store.

  “Put the treats away, would ya, kid?” Bogey said under his breath.

  “Um . . . sure,” I told him. Then I grabbed the treat bag and stuffed it back into the vase where Bogey always stashed it.

  When I turned back to my brother, I saw he was now sitting up very straight and tall. His ears were tilted forward and his tail flicked from side to side. And he didn’t take his eyes off that limo even for a second.

  I could tell his senses were on full alert, so I figured maybe mine should be too. So I sat up nice and tall and stared at that car. Just like he did.

  That’s when I realized that if we could see the limo, well, whoever was in that limo could see us. The only thing was, we couldn’t actually see them. That’s because the windows were tinted so dark that no one could see inside.

  And even though I’m supposed to be a big, brave cat detective like my brother, I, Buckley Bergdorf, suddenly started to shake in my paws. To tell you the truth, I didn’t like the looks of that black limo, with its dark, eyeball-like windows. It looked sort of like a big, scary monster crawling up the street.

  So I decided it might be a good idea for me to scrunch down and try to be invisible. The only problem was, being invisible wasn’t exactly something I’m good at, considering I’m a Maine Coon cat. If you’ve never heard of Maine Coon cats, well, let me tell you, we’re really, really big. And I do mean big! I’m only two years old and I’m already twice as big as Bogey. And Bogey is a full-grown guy!

  Then again, sometimes I’m amazed at how different Bogey and I really are. Sure, we’re both black cats with gold eyes. But I’m huge and fuzzy with gigantic paws that always seem to get in my way. It seems like I barely get used to them when they grow some more. Then I have to get used to them all over again.

  But Bogey doesn’t have that problem. Bogey is sleek and lean, and he can run so fast that some even say he can fly. Bogey never has any trouble getting his paws to go where he wants them to go.

  When he wants them to go there.

  Yet even though we’re diffe
rent, we’re both cat detectives. Together we run the Buckley and Bogey Cat Detective Agency. I’m the rookie and he’s the pro. He’s been teaching me everything he knows since the day I was adopted into our forever home. That’s when he took me under his paw, taught me the business, and helped me to become a real cat detective.

  Now I only hoped I could be as good a cat detective as Bogey was some day.

  But today probably wasn’t going to be that day.

  Especially when I heard a loud squeal behind us and I nearly jumped to the ceiling. It was our twelve-year-old human sister, Gracie. She is the only daughter of our human Mom and Dad, and we love her like she was our real sister. She is always so sweet to us cats.

  “Mom, Mom!” Gracie yelled as she swished around in her favorite sundress that had big pink, yellow, and red flowers on it. “There’s a limo outside on the street.”

  A few seconds later, our Mom strolled up to join us. Her long, dark hair floated around her shoulders. She had on a white cotton sundress, and I could see some of my black fur on the bottom of the skirt.

  “Sure enough, honey,” she said. “It’s a limo. We don’t see a lot of those in St. Gertrude. At least not in the middle of the day.”

  “I wonder who’s in it,” Gracie whispered.

  She had her own long, dark hair pulled into a ponytail today. Her dark eyes sparkled and she began to dance around. Then she stopped and grabbed me up into a nice, tight hug.

  She pointed out the window. “Do you see that, Buckley? There must be someone very important inside that car.”

  Well, I had to say, “important” sure was a lot better than scary.

  Seconds later, our Mom’s two employees, Millicent and Merryweather, ran up and joined us, too. Millicent had short, curly gray hair and dark-framed glasses that she wore on the end of her nose. Merryweather was dressed in a pink dress with a big skirt from the 1950s. Her dress went really well with her red hair and her pink, pointy cat-eye glasses.

  “I’ll bet it’s a rock star,” Merryweather said. “Maybe they’re on their way to a big concert somewhere.”

  “Or it might be a TV star,” Millicent added.

  Now the limo started to move forward again and inched up our street.

  “Maybe it’s the Governor,” Gracie suggested. “Because of our Fourth of July celebration this weekend. Maybe if I win the essay contest, he’ll be there to hear me read it. At our town picnic on Saturday night.”

  Our Mom put her arm around Gracie’s shoulders. “It’s probably not the Governor,” she said gently. “I don’t think he rides around in a limo quite as large as that one.”

  “Well, whoever it is, they must be really rich and famous,” Merryweather said. “To be sitting pretty in those fancy wheels.”

  “Whoever they are, I wonder what they’re doing in downtown St. Gertrude,” our Mom said.

  Bogey meowed over to me. Like I said, us cats always switch to cat language when humans are around.

  “I was wondering the same thing,” he told me. “Why is a limo driving up our street? And why are they looking at our Mom’s store like that?”

  I shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe they want to buy some antiques.”

  Then I glanced back at the huge main room of our Mom’s store. Our Mom sure had plenty of antiques for them to buy. Her store had rows and rows of old tables and chairs and sofas. Antique glassware and dishes were displayed on old bookshelves. Plus there were paintings and toys and all kinds of things on display for sale, too. I always loved the days when our Mom brought us to work with her. The whole store was full of wonderful smells and lots of great nooks and crannies for us cats to explore.

  Millicent picked up my brother and cuddled him. “Bogey, you’re the only ‘big star’ that I need. You do your namesake justice. Maybe one day you’ll be riding in a limo.”

  I wasn’t sure if Bogey would like to ride in a limo or not. And I sure didn’t know what Millicent meant by a “namesake.” But Bogey didn’t seem to care one way or another. He just grinned and purred up at her.

  “Be careful,” Merryweather warned. “Don’t get taken in by his charm. Buckley and Bogey may be as dashing and handsome as any big stars, but they’re also very sneaky. They’ve tried to fool me and sneak out the front door many times. And they know they’re not supposed to go out.”

  Bogey reached up and put his paw on Millicent’s cheek. All the women laughed before Millicent kissed Bogey on the head. Then she set him back on the dresser. Gracie kissed me on the head and set me down beside him.

  Just in time for us to see a whole bunch of people walk by. First there was a woman who worked at the store a few doors down. Then another couple of ladies walked by in a hurry. After that, a man and two girls a little older than Gracie hurried past. Before long, there were more and more people passing by our store. They were all rushing in the same direction.

  But nobody stopped in.

  I noticed Bogey sat at attention again.

  “Now what’s happening?” I asked my brother.

  “Don’t know, kid. But I don’t like the looks of this,” he meowed back.

  “Mom, can I go see what’s going on out there?” Gracie asked.

  “No, honey,” our Mom laughed. “You’re supposed to be practicing. You know the Fourth of July essay contest is tonight and you have to read your essay out loud. At the library.”

  Gracie started to bounce up and down. “I know, Mom. But I think something exciting is going on out there. And I want to see what it is. I won’t be gone long. I promise.”

  Now more and more people raced past our window. That’s when I realized they were all going in the same direction as that limo had gone.

  “All right,” our Mom sighed. “But don’t forget you’ve got to practice if you want to win that contest.”

  “I’ll take her,” Merryweather said. “It’s time for my lunch break, anyway. Gracie and I can check things out and we’ll grab a bite to eat, too.”

  Millicent glanced at her watch. “And I’ve got to get back to work.”

  I turned to my brother. “Do you think we should go check this out?”

  Bogey shook his head. “Nope, kid. We’d better stay put and keep an eye on things here. We’ve gotta make sure our Mom’s store is secure.”

  Seconds later, Merryweather and Gracie went through the front door. Then they walked right in front of our store along with a whole bunch of other people. Gracie blew us a kiss as she went by.

  They had barely gone out of sight when the phone rang. Our Mom ran to answer it.

  Then we heard her say, “Who? Oh right, him. What’s he doing in St. Gertrude?”

  Well, that sure made me wonder who “he” was. Especially since our Mom must have known him. And apparently that “him” she was talking about didn’t live here.

  More people went by, and they headed in the same direction that all the other people had gone. Pretty soon I figured the whole town of St. Gertrude must have passed by our window.

  A few minutes later, a man holding a big news camera on his shoulder went by. A lady dressed up in a suit tripped along in her high heels in front of him. I was pretty sure she was holding a microphone.

  Bogey nodded at them. “Must be something pretty big brewing out there, kid. For the local TV news to be here.”

  Holy Mackerel! Now TV reporters were running by our window, too?

  I gulped. “Do you think it has anything to do with that limo?”

  “That would be my guess, kid.” Bogey squinted his eyes and moved even closer to the glass.

  Not long after that, Gracie came rushing back. She had to dodge people on the sidewalk just to get into our store. She flung the front door wide open and ran inside.

  “Mom, Mom!” she yelled. “You’ll never believe it! You’ll never guess who’s here in town! It’s Steele Bronson!”

  Gracie had the funniest look on her face. She smiled kind of goofy-like and she sort of wobbled around the room. It reminded me of the way Bogey loo
ked whenever he saw our friend, Amelia. She was a beautiful, longhaired calico cat, and for some reason, Bogey always went into a daze when he saw her.

  Our Mom smiled at Gracie. “I know. I just heard from Velma down the street. She heard it from the store next to hers.”

  Millicent gasped. “Steele Bronson? Did you say Steele Bronson? Oh my goodness! I can hardly believe it! He’s here? Right here in St. Gertrude?”

  “Oh Mom!” Gracie gushed. “Steele Bronson is so hot.”

  “You’ve got that right,” Millicent agreed. “He’s the most handsome man alive. I can’t believe he’s really here.”

  “I saw him, Mom! I actually saw him!” Gracie squealed.

  “That’s nice, honey,” our Mom told her. “What happened to Merryweather?”

  “She saw him, too. And then the crowd got so big that she told me I should come back. She took some pictures on her phone and she almost fainted. So then she went to lunch. She said she wasn’t sure if she was hungry or in shock.”

  I turned to look at my brother. “Do you know who Steele Bronson is?”

  Bogey shook his head. “Haven’t a clue, kid. But apparently he’s very handsome.”

  “And hot,” I added. “Maybe if he’s so hot, he should come into our store. After all, our Mom has air conditioning. That might cool him down.”

  Bogey kept on watching out the window. “Could be, kid. Could be. Though I’m not sure we want all the hubbub that seems to go with this guy.”

  Millicent and Gracie joined hands and started to spin around and around. I had never seen them so excited before in my life.

  Now I had to wonder, who in the world was Steele Bronson?

  Holy Catnip!

  CHAPTER 2