by A M Bostwick
He was fired immediately from the Lakeville Post Office.
Our article, though 15 minutes behind deadline, made the front page. Above the fold it read “BLACKMAILING MAILMAN NAILED IN ACTION, CHARGES PENDING.” Tomorrow, we’d work on an article about the crime of identity theft.
“You shouldn’t have been downtown last night in all that action, Ace. Allen told me he saw you there,” Max scolded after the newspaper was put to bed. His half smile and the glint in his eye told me differently however, especially when he gave me the larger half of his jelly-filled, heavily-iced donut.
I munched away happily, only slightly sore in the ribcage from last night’s assault. Max and I perused the email box for the first time since earlier that day. The news, after all, never quits.
“Look at this, Ace. Another press release regarding an arrest,” Max said, sitting forward for a better look at the mug shots. “Too bad it missed the print deadline. We’ll have to post it online.”
I stopped mid-bite. It was none other than The Moustache and his straggly sister who attempted to squash me the other night. His moustache had not lessened in size, nor had her unibrow. Both wore expressions that showed off their cheerful dispositions.
“Kramer ‘The Moustache’ Carson and his sibling, Jane ‘The Eyebrow’ Carson were arrested last night in connection to a series of animal thefts. Anonymous sources have implicated the pair as having numerous stolen, high-value animals in their possession. A witness was able to positively identify the duo by a deep scratch on the woman’s face and a heavily-bandaged right hand on the man. They will face a multitude of felony charges following a continued investigation.”
I smiled.
“I wonder if they knew the mailman?” Max laughed, sinking his teeth into his gooey pastry. Then, mouth full, “I’m just glad they were all caught.”
Me too.
The next day, a letter addressed to Max in shaky handwriting appeared on his desk. It was from Mrs. Louise Bigg. She gratefully commended Max for the uplifting feature story on Ruby’s happy reunion with her loving owners.
EPILOGUE
The next morning saw The Daily Reporter flying off newsstands. Scandal sells.
Innately satisfied, I joined Sloan and together we sauntered over to Anne’s Coffee Cup to join Lily. She was accompanying us on an invitation to Arbor Vitae Lane, where Ruby and Aero had respectfully requested our company. The sun was shining brightly, and for October, it didn’t feel too dreadfully cold.
At our approach, Lily smiled and closed the cover on her paperback where a googly-eyed, love-struck woman coyly ogled a long-haired rose gardener.
“You boys,” she attempted to reprimand us. “Will you ever learn? That sure was a narrow escape, especially for you, Ace, Mr. Feline Reporter-Detective.”
“I may have been done for, if not for all of you,” I admitted.
“But you have to admit, we really made the fur fly!” laughed Sloan, patting Lily and I on our backs.
The three of us walked, enjoying the warmth of the sun. Above the quilting shop, we all paused and waved at Birdie, taking in the glorious fall day from her window perch. I’d sent her a new catnip mouse, something a faithful reader once gave me but would be much better loved by the elderly cat. Birdie waved excitedly, holding up the new mouse for me to see. It was already missing one eye.
She was not my only debt to repay. Last night, Boris the Rat arrived at my back step, demanding his box of sickly sweet cereal.
“Well, Ace the Cat. We did it again. Did you ever think you would be in cahoots with a rat?” Boris asked me. “What a peculiar friendship.”
“It’s everything I never wanted, and so much less,” I grinned. He left with the box of cereal, towing it behind him with a rope. If he noted the absence of a silver platter when I gave it to him, he had not commented.
At the McMahon home, Ruby—not Ruby the Russian, just Ruby—sat on the porch. Aero, wearing a fetching red bandana around his neck, was at the base of the steps keeping a watchful eye over his homestead. Ruby leapt from her spot and barreled over to us, acting just like any other common housecat. She hugged each of us, lingering slightly longer when she got to me. Aero followed, tail wagging.
“Ace, I can’t convey my gratitude enough for all you’ve done,” Ruby said. “You were all so brave.”
“Hey, pal,” Aero said to me. “Thank you for sticking to the story, even when I told you not to.”
I nodded sheepishly.
As we all made our way to the back garden, we went over the wild events of the night Frank “The Mailman” Leonard was taken down. It was the kind of conversation you could only have after you’ve been through such a life-changing event that had turned out so well.
Turned out well, it had.
Ruby was no longer a show cat. The McMahons were overjoyed to have their companion back and wanted to simply enjoy being a family again. Having Ruby in those high-class shows was too much of a risk, they said. It was time to partake in the simple life. Ruby was thrilled, having not even bothered to lick her fur that day, nor her paws. She could just be a simple, lazy housecat now.
“Hey, guys, remember when I cornered you under the kitchen window here?” laughed Aero. “You guys were so scared I thought you were both going to drop dead!”
“Oh. Oh, yeah. That was fun,” Sloan said without conviction.
In the backyard, a picnic of sorts was spread out clumsily by Aero and Ruby, with a selection of salmon, tuna, shredded chicken, cheese slices, and whip cream. From around a hedge came the identical smashed faces of Uno, Dos, and Tres.
“Ace!” Uno called to me.
“Uno! Hi, Dos, Tres,” I said. They ignored me, heads held high as they approached Sloan. I guess they still found my attitude lacking.
“What a great mystery you guys solved,” Uno said. “I’m so delighted you helped bring Ruby home safe and sound.”
“I appreciate you saying so, Uno.”
Everyone dug into the food, conversing happily. Along came Farfel, carrying a large milk bone for Aero. He hadn’t slobbered on it too much.
“Cripes. I just barely got away from Fifi and Fluffi!” he groaned. “Those darn, prying, yapping, bedazzled-sweatered, toy poodles!”
Even that made us all hoot with laughter.
“Ace, aren’t Rogue and his crew coming?” Ruby asked suddenly.
“No. They plan to take a much-needed vacation, what with the animal smugglers behind bars now. I think they were planning to visit the aquarium today and the bird sanctuary tomorrow. I know Minx was hoping to find an all-you-can-keep-down buffet,” I explained, having spoken with Rogue after Boris left.
Against the odds, Rogue and I also become tentative friends. “Well-played, pal,” Rogue had said to me, a wry half smile on his face as he promised to visit again soon. “Keep in touch. You might be an underground cat after all.”
Last, but certainly not least, came Ally and Peter. While this was their first time meeting Ruby, Sloan and I had explained their integral role in our detective endeavors. Ruby welcomed the brother and sister with open paws. Peter dove headfirst into the dish of whipped cream; he emerged as a tiny Santa Claus.
“Ace! So good to see you!” he exclaimed in his usual high and squeaky voice. “I was just writing a story about Henny Penny and her allegation of the sky falling. It was a farce. It was just a pine cone planted by the CIA.”
We all smiled, and Peter mimicked us.
“What do you say, big shot reporter?” Ally teased me, rubbing my shoulder with her own. “Had enough of playing in the big leagues?”
“Ah, Ally. You know the news never sleeps,” I retorted.
Just then, footsteps at the front of the house sent Aero into a frigid state of anticipation; Farfel was brought to immediate attention as well.
“Excuse us ladies, gentleman,” Aero proclaimed properly. “We have a new mailman to scare the shorts off of.”
BARK! BARK! BARK! BARK!
With amused silence
, I watched them go. Just as I was about to dig into a donut, I felt a nudge at my side.
“Psssst...Ace.”
It was Uno. She looked nervously over her shoulder. “I think I’ve got another story for you.”
-END-
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
To all the readers who will join Ace on his adventure in the pages of this book, thank you.
To my family, especially my mom, Anne, and dad, Allen, who taught me to love books. For my sister, Alison, who loved my writing. And for Aunt Mary, who always sent me books.
Appreciation to my friends and fellow writers – here’s to you, Nicci, Anna, Jenny and Sandra.
Thank you to the staff at Cornerstone, a wonderful team to work with on the print edition. To Alice, my agent, for the million things she does.
Big thanks to the teachers in my life who put up with me and encouraged me to write as a teenager – Mr. Bob Colclasure, Mrs. Kathy Wegner, Mrs. Jean English and Mrs. Mary Jo Wojtusik.
Mary Abigail, I’ll never forget the first time you read to me. I am so proud of you.
A special nod to Lola, who is always at my feet when I write, and Boots, who prefers my lap.
Last, thanks especially to Wayne. You are my happily ever after.
About the Author
A.M. Bostwick writes Middle Grade and Young Adult novels. An early draft of her young adult novel, Break the Spell, was a finalist in the 2013 Wisconsin Romance Writers of America Fab 5 Contest. The Great Cat Nap, winner of the 2014 Tofte/Wright Children's Literature Award from the Council for Wisconsin Writers, is her debut novel. Abigail lives in Tomahawk, WI, with her husband, dog and thrill-seeking cat.
Read more at A.M. Bostwick’s site.