27. Shock

I had instructed CC to continue walking no matter WHAT happened--and he courageously DID!

What happened next was one of the biggest surprises of his life he later told me.


"It was like walking into a mirror! I saw MYSELF coming toward me! I was so shocked I almost fainted, but managed to stagger on somehow."

...

26. Messenger Returns

As soon as CC strolled into the sea, a small jellyfish drifted near.

 "Didn't you HEAR me last time?" the jellyfish whispered. "You are going to get BOTH of us in a LOT of trouble if you ignore the message again! I am risking my life to approach you like this, but The Boss said if I fail again it will be curtains for YOU and for ME!

"Now GET this STRAIGHT" the jellyfish almost shouted---The whale WILL come to your  BIRTHDAY party!!"

And the jellyfish drifted quickly away without looking back.

...

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.

...