"This is going to be bigger than I thought, Barney. I think I had better call for back-up right now! Will you please flap on over to the pool where Starry Starfish hangs out and tell him I need him pronto! I will be at the Sea Breeze Hotel where I need to check in with CC Crayfish."
"Right-O, Constable! This reminds me of the Good Old Times, don't it?"
"It sure does, Shipmate! I'll see you soon with Starry--we should be on this mystery QUICK!"
Barney soared into the sky and I hurried to the Sea Breeze Hotel.
...
"Black Pearls is the word, Shipmate!" Barney laughed. "The docks is full o' the news--a stolen shipment of the valuable baubles is on the docks--or near the docks--even as we squeak!"
"Black Pearls?" I gasped. The most valuable of treasures of the sea, and so rare that I had never even seen one!
"The word is, Constable, that Leo the Leopard-seal is bringing in the trove from all points east--and he plans to fence 'em to some unnamed crustacean VERY soon!"
"Leo! That mega-rascal!" I couldn't refrain from snorting.
"The same, Constable! Your old nemesis, as I remember it." Barney chuckled.
"Yes. It looks like we will meet again." I quietly said.
...
I returned to my office without further incident.
I wrote up some notes concerning this bizarre case and pondered what clues I had obtained--not very much I had to admit!
What kind of whale would come to someone at the docks' birthday party for example?
THAT HAD to be some kind of coded message--I was sure of it!
But WHAT did it mean?
I gave up--closed the office, and was on my way to the Seabreeze Hotel to check on CC Crayfish when Barney Gull swooped down from the sky and landed before me.
"Hello Shipmate!" He said cheerfully. "Have I got news for YOU!"
...
"Well--what do YOU want?" I asked the seal--though it was only too obvious what he wanted--he and his gang wanted to intimidate me.
"We want YOU to stop nosing around where it ain't none o' your business!" he said in a hoarse whisper.
"That's it, crab!" another of the gang whispered behind me. "Lay off helping that lousy crawdad--NOW!"
"Yer just lookin' fer TROUBLE, SEE!" the third coughed.
"You are undoubtedly misinformed, gentlemen," I replied, "I am acting for a client of mine who has asked me for help. I am the Constable of this part of the beach acting in my jurisdiction..."
"Oh yeah!" said the first seal--we are quite aware of who you are and what you're doing and we want to inform YOU to DROP IT!"
"Drop it RIGHT NOW!" "Yeah--DROP IT!" the other two gangsters managed to bark/whisper.
"I have no intention of dropping anything!" I said. "As for the three of you--you can get yourselves back to the docks where you belong."
"Is that SO?" the first seal coughed. "Then WATCH YOURSELF, CRAB! Cause we mean business and THIS is NO JOKE!"
But I merely walked right through them and they made no move to stop me.
I didn't think they would attack me right here in a public place in broad daylight. It is more their cowardly style to jump their victim from behind and in the dark.
Still, I took their crude warning seriously. I would have to be very careful until I could find out what was going on with Mr. CC Crayfish!
...
I watched Until Barney became a far speck in the sky--he had flown right to work checking around the docks as I hoped he would--and he would find out anything I needed to know--I was sure of that.
There was nothing for me to do but wait.
I was walking slowly back to my office when I was stopped in my tracks by an ugly harbor seal which slid out from between two large rocks.
"Hold it right there, Crab!" he snarled.
I immediately glanced behind me and sure enough two more seals flopped into view. These rascally, cowardly harbor seals always travel in gangs!
...
"Constable Crab--my old buddy! What in the world brings you down to my rock today?"
"Barney--so good to see you again!
"I need your help. I believe there is something fishy going on down at the docks--and there is no one that knows the docks like YOU do. Whataya say? Will you help me?"
"Glad to! It'll be great to work with you again, Constable! Something at the docks you say? Anything specific?"
"Something about a whale coming to somebody's birthday party...
Honestly, Barney, I don't have a clue to what could be going down--but some harbor seals have been
seen down in my part of the beach and they seem to be following a certain CC Crayfish. He is terrified and doesn't know why they should be interested in HIM!
Another thing--there is a look-alike crawdad who calls himself Edgar Allen Crawfish also hanging around my neighborhood. I am at a loss as to what all this adds up to! It's a mystery for sure--but I think it is tied up somehow to the docks..."
"Sure, Constable! Your hunches are usually correct!
I remember that time back with the White Shark Mystery...anyway, I will mosey down to the docks and keep my eyes and ears open--if there is anything happening that you should know about, I'll let you know about it pronto!"
"Thanks, Barney. It is great to see you again after all this time and I know I can count on you!"
...
With Effie and CC taken care of I was free to make my way down to a special rock--the rock where my old friend Barney Gull could always be found at this time of day.
Sure enough--as soon as I got close enough to see him--there was my old gull friend taking in the sun.
...
I needed help.
I seldom got down to the docks, but I needed to find out what was happening to bring harbor seals all the way down to my stretch of beach. It HAD to be something important--and bad, if I knew the habits of those seals!
But first I had to take care of Effie and CC Crayfish.
"Effie, please accompany Mr. Crayfish over to the Seabreeze Inn and check him in as my guest.
"CC, I want you to stay at the Seabreeze until I know it is safe for you to return to your usual residence. I have a strong suspicion that something strange is occurring at the docks and I intend to find out what it is.
"I have a friend who knows EVERYTHING which happens at the docks and I am going to talk to him right now!
"So, Effie and CC, be brave and please do as I have told you."
"We will, Constable." Effie said and took CC by the claw to lead him away.
"Thank you, Constable! I feel so much better now you are taking action in my behalf!" CC trembled.
...
