25. CC Bait

Right after our meeting you would find "CC", our Crayfish client, strolling thoughtfully along in the same area where the unknown jellyfish had a few days before sailed by asking if he was going to the whale's birthday party.

But THIS time, so high above him that he was a mere speck in the sky, sailed our good friend Barney Sea Gull.

...

24. Huddle

"Gather around all of you and I will tell you what I want you to do and WHEN. 


"Everything must be carefully coordinated if we want to apprehend these Black Pearl Bandits and relieve CC Crayfish, here from his anxiety.


"Now first, CC, I want you to..."

And I whispered my detailed instructions to my team in the huddle--so no outsider could overhear.

...

23. Mistaken Identity

"Gather around, friends, and I will tell you what I know and outline my plan of attack.

"It is my strong suspicion that our friend CC here has been mistaken for another crayfish by a jellyfish messenger. This jellyfish carried a coded message from the dock gang leader, Leopard Seal to wit: "The whale will come to your birthday party."

In a simple case of mistaken identity, the jellyfish delivered the correct message, but to the wrong crayfish!

"I know for a fact that there is another crayfish-- calling himself Edgar Allen Crawfish in our neighborhood--because I mistook him myself for our CC! Truly they could be identical twins!

"I believe this whole mystery revolves around a large shipment of black pearls which is now in the possession of the seal gang--and THEY are trying to sell them to Edgar Allan Crawfish who must be a fence for stolen items!

"Our friend Barney Sea Gull discovered the news about the black pearls--and for this key information I am VERY grateful!

"Now here is my plan..."

...

22. What Next?

I hurried down to the Sea Breeze Hotel and found CC Crayfish in the bar.

He looked nervous but expectant.

"Constable! What is happening? What's going on?"

"I haven't made much real progress, CC," I admitted, "but I believe we are going to solve this puzzle soon--with YOUR help!"

"I'll do ANYTHING to end this suspense and feel normal again!" CC said.

Just then there was a fluttering nearby and Barney Seagull walked in with his usual casual nonchalance, followed by my pal Starry Starfish.

"We're all here, Constable! What do we do next?" Barney asked.

...

21. Rendezvous

"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.

...

20. Black Pearls

"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.

...

19. Gull News

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!"

...