On the Case

The handmaiden burst through the security office doors breathless. "There's a body in the library!" she gasped.

"This is the third one," Captain Panaka said, standing over the body minutes later. "One is tragic; two may be coincidence, but a third time…."

"The saliva around the wound matches with the previous victims," the medical examiner announced.

"Shall we round-up the usual suspects, sir?" Sabé asked.

Panaka nodded in the affirmative. "There are only five of them, so I'm sure you girls can bring them in. I'll talk to the man who can fix this problem," he said ominously before marching out of the library.

Sabé found the first suspect lying in the sun in the Turret Room. "Please come with me, Chard. Captain Panaka would like to have a word with you."

Eirtaé found the second suspect lounging on the steps entering the palace, eyeing the birds. He stood as soon as he spotted her. "Don't even think about it, Lawrence," she warned. "The captain would like a word with you."

Saché surprised her prey just outside the palace kitchen. "Dinner will have to wait until later, Miss White," she said, grabbing the suspect by the collar.

Rabé discovered Vera in the royal rose-garden and had no trouble bringing her in. "Will you follow me, ma'am," was all she said as Vera followed her with feline grace.

Tubrel was the most elusive suspect, but Yané found him in the fish-market. After a short but messy chase, Yané finally collared her prey. "You better hope I can get the smell of fish out of my gown," she snarled as she dragged him to the palace.

The handmaidens and their charges assembled in the library. "Good," Panaka said when he arrived. "You found them all." Despite the words Panaka did not look pleased. "Examiner, do your duty."

The medical examiner stepped forward and took a saliva sample from each suspect. Minutes later, his analysis was complete. "I can prove who was responsible for the killings, Captain," he said.

"Who? Who did it?" Captain Panaka answered.

"Tubrel did it," the examiner answered, pointing a finger at the guilty party. Tubrel just tilted his head as if he didn't understand a word the examiner was saying.

"I knew it," Yané grumbled under her breath, but Tubrel ignored her, too.

"Trainer Millan," Panaka shouted as he turned to the door.

"Yes, Captain Panaka?" A dark-haired man of middle-years said as he entered the room. "How may I be of service?"

Panaka sighed. "Tubrel here has been killing peko-pekos and leaving them in the middle of the library. All of the queen's pets have been well-trained, but I'm counting on you to break him of this habit."

"It shall be done, Captain," the cat-trainer said as he took Tubrel's leash from Yané and led it from the room.

"Well done girls," Panaka said, only to find the handmaidens focusing their attention on the animals.

"I knew you didn't do it," Sabé cooed to Chard. "You're such a good boy."

Yané sneezed.

The End