CONTENTS
Chapter 1: A Dog in a Cage
Chapter 2: Hare of the Dog
Chapter 3: Tricks and Trouble
Chapter 4: Welcome to the Stage
Chapter 5: Hypnotic Hijinks
Chapter 6: The Great Escape
Chapter 7: No Magic, No How?!
Chapter 8: Bunnies, Bunnies, Everywhere!
Chapter 9: Stage Showdown!
Chapter 10: The Magic Word
‘The Big Bad Woof’ Excerpt
About Walker Styles and Ben Whitehouse
A Dog in a Cage
“I have a package for Labra-cadabra-dor from Rider Woofson,” said the delivery bird. He was a nervous bird. He’d never delivered a package to a prison before, let alone to the Cage—a prison that held only the most dangerous criminals.
“We’ll take it from here,” one of the prison guards said. He held the box up to his ear and gave it a little shake. “Well, it’s not ticking. That’s a good sign.” Then the guard ran it through an X-ray machine. “Looks like we’ve got a cake.”
“Run it through again,” said the warden. “You can never be too sure when it comes to Labra. Before he was an inmate, that pesky pup was the world’s most dangerous magical criminal.”
The guard ran several more tests. He even opened the box. The cake had white frosting and a bunch of candy stars that spelled out “HAVE A MAGICAL DAY!”
“Hmm, cute,” said the warden suspiciously.
“The cake is safe, Boss,” said the guard. “The only other thing in the box is a flimsy spoon.”
The warden picked up the long spoon and examined it. “Okay, I’ll deliver it myself.”
He carried the cake down a series of highly protected hallways through lots of thick doors. The first door needed a card swipe to open. The next one needed paw prints. The third door needed an eye scan, breath scan, and voice recognition. After all, the Cage was an inescapable prison.
Finally, the warden arrived at the last security checkpoint. He put on a pair of special sunglasses before stepping into the cell.
Labra-cadabra-dor was sitting on his cot, reading a book. He looked kind and innocent, but the warden knew better. “Special delivery,” the warden said. He set the cake and the plastic spoon down on a table and backed up slowly.
“What’s this?” Labra asked. “A cake for me?”
“It’s from Rider Woofson,” the warden said.
“Ahh, that’s right! Today is the anniversary of when he sent me to jail,” said Labra. “It’s so sweet of him to remember.”
The warden watched Labra carefully. “You can have one slice of the cake since it’s from Detective Woofson,” he said. “I’m going to watch you eat it, just in case there are any magic tricks up your sleeve.”
Labra walked over to the cake and swiped a bit of the frosting into his mouth. “Vanilla. How boring. It’s the least magical flavor.” He picked up the spoon and, with a quick flick of his paw, it turned into a magic wand.
“Hey! What? No!” shouted the warden, but it was too late.
“I’ll take these,” said Labra. With a wave of the magic wand, the special glasses flew off the warden. Then Labra hypnotized him. “Oh, dear, Warden. I don’t think this gift came from Rider Woofson at all. Still, I should visit Pawston to thank the detective—for putting me behind bars.”
Hare of the Dog
Ziggy Fluffenscruff stood in the middle of the P.I. Pack office. He was wearing a cape and holding a hat. “Hey, everyone! Watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat!” The young detective reached into the hat and then lifted his paw high in the air. It was empty.
“Umm, is it an invisible rabbit, kid?” joked Rora Gooddog. She was one of the city’s most brilliant detectives.
“Well, now what did I do wrong?” Ziggy looked down into the hat.
“Hmm . . . for starters, that’s my hat,” Rider said with a smile.
“Then where’s my hat?” Ziggy asked.
Westie Barker walked into the room wearing a top hat. He had been fixing a gadget in his lab. Slowly, the hat lifted up and a rabbit peeked out.
“Psst, Ziggy. What’s my cue?” the rabbit whispered.
“Rita Rabbit!” Ziggy barked. “How’d you get over there?”
“Nice hare-style, Westie,” Rora said.
Everyone had a chuckle, except for Westie, who didn’t get the joke.
“There’s a hare on your head,” Rider explained.
“Of course there’s hair on my head,” Westie said. “I’m a dog. I’m covered in hair.”
“No, they mean ‘hare,’ as in rabbit, as in me,” said Rita. She hopped off Westie’s head and onto a desk. “Hi! I’m Rita, Ziggy’s magician’s assistant. And actually, I’m a rabbit, not a hare.”
“Ohhhh,” Westie said, still confused. He took off the hat and put it on a desk. “Nice to meet you?”
Rita hopped back into the top hat. “Do you want to try again, Zig?” Rita asked.
“Duh!” said Ziggy. “If I want to be a magician, I need to practice!”
“Well, we all know there’s no such thing as magic,” Westie said. “It’s all an act.”
“Bow-wowza, Westie! You sure know how to ruin a magic trick,” Ziggy said with a frown.
“What can I say?” Westie said. “I am a scientist. That means I believe in science and facts.”
The phone rang, and Rider answered it. Suddenly, his face turned pale. “I see,” he said. “Thank you, Mr. Mayor.” Then he hung up.
“What is it, Boss?” Rora asked.
“I’m afraid I have some bad news, P.I. Pack,” Rider said. “Labra-cadabra-dor has escaped. The mayor thinks he’s coming to get his revenge on me.”
“As in the same Labra who made Pawston City Bridge disappear?” asked Westie.
“As in the same Labra who stole Queen Elizapup’s crown and scepter?” asked Ziggy.
“As in the same Labra who sawed a military plane in half—while it was flying?!” Rora asked.
“Yes, yes, and yes,” Rider said in a tired voice. “We all know what Labra’s done, but I’m worried about what he’s going to do next. If Labra comes back to Pawston for an encore act, we need to be ready for anything.”
Tricks and Trouble
“Any news, Boss?” Ziggy asked.
Rider was listening to the police scanner. “I’m afraid not. It’s your typical cat-stuck-in-a-tree kind of day. What are you doing?”
“Looking online for anything out of the ordinary around town,” Ziggy said, checking the computer. “If Labra shows up anywhere on social media, I’ll be the first to know.”
“Good pup,” Rider said. “How about you, Rora?”
“I’m checking in with my entertainment contacts, just in case anyone hears anything on the magic-show front,” Rora said.
“Always thinking two steps ahead,” Rider said. “Good job.”
“I’m working on the No-Presto Detector,” Westie said, holding up a small device. “It can detect how all illusionist tricks are done.”
“They’re not called illusionist tricks—they’re called magic tricks!” Ziggy barked. “And that sounds like a terrible invention! What fun is there in that?”
“Easy, kid,” Rora said. “It’s a good device to have on our side going up against someone like Labra.”
“Why don’t we give it a test run?” Westie said. “Care to do a magic trick for us, Ziggy?”
“Sure!” Ziggy stood up from his desk. “See if your No-Fun Detector figures this one out.” Suddenly, Ziggy began to levitate—he floated a few inches above the floor.
The No-Presto Detector scanned Ziggy. Beep beep beep!
“According to the No-Presto, you have secret ho
les in your shoes,” Westie explained. “It appears you’re floating, but really you’re just standing on your tiptoes.”
Ziggy growled. “Well, your silly machine won’t figure this one out.” The young pup grabbed a Styrofoam cup and held it up in one paw. He lifted his other paw above it and the cup began to float.
“Wow, that’s impressive,” Rider said. Rora nodded in agreement.
Again, the No-Presto Detector scanned Ziggy. Beep beep beep!
“Aha! The No-Presto says you attached a small wire through the back of the cup, so that it appears to float. But it’s you that’s moving it,” Westie said.
“That is also impressive,” Rider said, clapping Westie on the back. Ziggy looked sad and deflated.
“Chin up, kid,” Rora said. “You fooled me.”
Rora’s phone rang. At the same time, Ziggy’s computer started to light up with new alerts, and Rider’s police scanner stated: “Calling all cars! Calling all cars! There’s trouble at Manatee Mike’s Magic Emporium!”
Rora grabbed the keys to the P.I. Pack van. “Let’s go, boys! I’m driving!”
Welcome to the Stage
When the P.I. Pack arrived, the police had Manatee Mike’s Magic Emporium surrounded. The mayor and Mr. Meow were there too. It always seemed like Mr. Meow was around when trouble struck.
“What are you doing here, Meow?” Ziggy barked. “And why are you wearing a baby bib?”
“I was having a very delicioussss ssssupper together with the mayor at the new restaurant, the Bee’s Knees,” Mr. Meow hissed. “Not that it’ssss any of your beesssswax!”
“I never have a night off in this town,” said the mayor with a sigh.
“A good dog’s work is never done,” Rider said, with a tip of his hat. “What’s the situation, sir?”
“Labra-cadabra-dor is inside. He has only one request: He wants to talk to you, Detective . . . alone!”
“Then it looks like I’m going in,” Rider said bravely.
“No way! You can’t!” Westie and Ziggy barked at the same time.
“I have to,” Rider said. “Wait out here. I’ll signal if I need backup.” Without a second thought for himself, Rider walked into the magic emporium.
The police stood guard, while the P.I. Pack got on top of their van. Using mini-binoculars that Westie had made, they tried to see inside the shop.
Suddenly, a strange fog floated through the crowd below. The police, the mayor, and Mr. Meow began to yawn.
“Ssssuddenly, sssso ssssleepy,” Mr. Meow said with a stretch. “I feel like taking a catnap.”
Several others on the police force actually began to snore.
“Hey! What’s wrong with these officers?” Ziggy said to Rora. “This is no time to sleep on the job.”
“It’s not their fault,” Rora said. “It’s the fog!”
Beep beep beep! It was Westie’s No-Presto Detector again. “Rora’s right. That fog is a sleeping gas. It’s a Labra trap.”
“The police are okay. They’re only sleeping,” Rora said. “Now we have to find Rider.”
Leaping from car to car, each detective jumped over the fog and made it safely inside the magic shop’s front door.
“Not so fast,” said a little rabbit, hopping out of the shadows. A herd of muscle-bound thug bunnies were right behind him. They all held magic wands. “Nobunny moves unless I tell ’em to. This is Labra’s magic show.”
“I may not know much magic,” Rora confessed, “but I know a trick—or three.” She grabbed a set of silver rings from the shelf and tossed them around three of the bunnies. Then she linked the rings together so the bunnies couldn’t escape.
Surprised by this, the other rabbits dashed for the exit, but Westie jumped in their way. “Let’s not fight. Let’s shake on it!” He shook their bunny paws and jolted them with a joy buzzer.
“Okay, that takes care of the the rascally rabbits, but where’s Rider?” Rora asked.
Suddenly, a set of red curtains were pulled back to reveal a stage in the store. A spotlight shined on Rider Woofson, who was trapped in a straitjacket and covered in chains.
Labra-cadabra-dor walked out onto the stage. “Ahh, good! The audience finally arrives. And now for a real magic show. Lady and gentlepups, I give you . . . the grand finale of Rider Woofson!”
Hypnotic Hijinks
“Don’t worry, team,” said Rider with a sly smile. “I’ve got this crooked magician right where I want him.”
“It doesn’t look that way, Boss,” said Rora.
The P.I. Pack rushed forward to save their friend. “Ah-ah-ah!” Labra said. “I already have my volunteer for this trick.” With a wave of his wand, Labra magically lifted ropes off the floor and tied up the three detectives.
“Don’t worry, P.I. Pack,” Rider said. “I’m coming!”
Rider began shifting around. His paw appeared with a key, and he began to unlock the chains around him. Then, in almost no time at all, Rider shrugged off the straitjacket. “Time for you to go back to prison, jailbird!”
“Jailbird? I think you mean jaildog,” Labra said with a smirk. Then he waved his wand again and let out a booming magic word. “LABRA-CADABRA!”
The magician zapped Rider with a powerful beam. Rider stood completely still. His eyes glazed over with spinning black-and-white hypnotized pinwheels.
“When you awaken, you will no longer be Rider Woofson, ace detective,” Labra commanded. “Instead you will be Rider Woofson, criminal mastermind and my evil assistant!”
“That will never happen!” Ziggy cried out as he escaped from the magic ropes and leaped onto the stage. He tried to tackle Labra, but the magician disappeared in a cloud of purple-and-gold smoke.
Westie freed himself next with a handheld laser from his utility belt. Then he freed Rora, too. They joined Rider onstage. “Boss, talk to us!” Westie barked.
Rider shook his head as if waking up, but he had a different look in his eyes. “Who are you? What am I doing here?” he asked.
Another poof of smoke flashed as Labra appeared on the other side of the room surrounded by his henchbunnies. And those rabbits looked mad.
“There’s Labra!” yelled Ziggy. “Let’s make him vanish—back to prison!”
“I don’t think so,” Labra said. “Rider, if you don’t mind, take care of your friends.”
Before Westie or Ziggy knew it, Rider grabbed them by the backs of their shirts. The hypnotized detective flung the two pups into a wooden magician’s box. Then an enchanted saw began to cut the box in two.
“Boss, what are you doing?!” Westie cried.
“I never liked this trick!” Ziggy yipped.
“What’s going on, Rider?!” Rora shouted as she tried to stop the saw. “They’re your friends!”
Rider laughed. “They were my friends, but I’ve got to . . . split. Henchbunnies, why don’t you finish the job?” Suddenly, two henchbunnies grabbed Rora and tossed her into another magician’s box. Then they locked it shut.
“See you later,” Rider sneered. Then he added, “Not.” He left with Labra as the magician’s newest evil assistant.
The Great Escape
The enchanted saw bit into the box that trapped Westie and Ziggy.
“This is why I don’t like magic!” yelped Westie as he struggled to escape.
“Well at least this is not an illusion!” snapped Ziggy. “Even though I wish it was!”
“Hold on to your tails, you two,” Rora called out. “I’m on my way.”
She quickly gave the lid a mighty chop. It burst open! Then she raced across the room and stopped the saw before it could finish sawing.
“You saved us!” Ziggy cried.
“Of course I did, kid,” Rora said as she threw down the saw.
“Wow! I didn’t know you knew Bark-Jitsu!” Westie said.
“I’ve got even more tricks up these sleeves,” Rora said. “But right now, we need to save our boss.”
The trio ran outside. Everyone was wakin
g up. There was no sign of Labra or Rider.
“Now what do we do?” Westie whined. “The bunny trail’s gone cold!”
“Not necessarily,” Rora said. “I can’t imagine the magic-rabbit community is too big in Pawston. Ziggy, maybe your friend Rita Rabbit knows something about Labra and his henchbunnies?”
“Bow-wowza! That’s a great idea!” Ziggy barked.
After the P.I. Pack made sure the police and the mayor were okay, they hopped into their van and drove to Magic Alley. All the magic-rabbit assistants in Pawston lived there, including Rita Rabbit. She had three rabbit costumes when she invited the detectives into her home.
“Are those the costumes for our new magic trick, the Bunny Bluff?” asked Ziggy.
“They sure are,” said Rita as she handed them to the young pup. “These should fit you three detectives perfectly.”
“Unfortunately, we’re not here for a magic trick,” said Rora. “Do you know anyone who works with Labra-cadabra-dor?”
Rita took two jumps back at the mention of the magician. “All the bunnies in this neighborhood know to stay away from Labra. He’s bad news.”
“Any chance you know where he’s been hiding?” Rora asked.
“I’m sorry,” Rita said. “I don’t. I wish I could help.”
Labra-cadabra-dor's Revenge Page 1