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Murder Mystery Weekend

Cast(Titas' assistant
)Hosts......Retired Gen. Pita and his wife Tita
Sparkle (Titas' assistant)
Housekeeper.....Oreo
Cook......Paloma
Housemaids....Willow, Jojo, Peggy and Polly
Butler.....Gervais
Gardner....Vester
Asst. Gardner...Caleb
Stablehand....Tuff
Chauffeur....Timmy

Guests
Franci and Tare
Zade (actress)
Justin (Zades husband and manager)
Cathy (dominering matriarch)
Russel (her hen-pecked husband)
Poucette (retired music teacher)
Maddy (niece and companion to Poucette)
Captain CV (retired military with a shady past)
Hagrid ( widow ,recently married to)
Murray (businessman)
Sly, Loki , and Grizz (three young men about town)
Princess Lynsi (impoverished royalty)
Riley (loud , blustering American businessman)
Topaz (a lady with a secret)
Smig (her secretary)

Inspector Tarrigo ( investigator)
Lt. Bambam (sidekick to Tarrigo)

Retired Gen. Pita sits at the breakfast table reading his newspaper. "Dear," meows his wife Tita, "we simply have to do something about our finances. I have an idea." "Harumpf, everyone has ideas, but they have to be good ideas you know." "Yes , dear, and this is a good idea! We should hold murder mystery weekends! They are all the rage you know. Guests pay to come for the weekend and solve a murder!" Pita looks over his paper, "Murder, what murder? Who has been murdered?" Tita sighs, "no one dear, a pretend murder." Pita looks at his wife. "What a droll idea. And folks would actually pay?" "Yes, dear, they would." Pita goes back to his paper while Tita gets out a pad and pencil to begin making lists.

Two weeks later...

"Tare, look at this! Murder Mystery Weekend at Catnip Hall. Oh, wouldn't that be fun? Let's sign up. " Tare laughs, "that would be right up your alley for sure. You always have that pretty nose of yours poked into something. Let me see that." Franci hands Tare the flyer and he looks it over. "It might be fun at that," he meows. "Okay, let's do it!" Franci jumps up and gives Tare a hug. "Wheeeeeeeee, we are going to have a great time!"
She goes to the phone and calls the number on the flyer. "Hello, is this Catnip Hall? This is Franci Meowzers. My husband and I want to book the Murder Mystery Weekend. Yes, thats correct, there will be two of us. Thank you, see you on Friday." Franci drops into Tares lap. ""Goodness, so much to do! We have to pack! Yikes I need some new outfits! I don't have a thing to wear!" Tare chuckles, "Franci, you have a closet full of clothes." Franci looks into Tares eyes and grins. "But Tare, this is a special occasion. You do want me to look my best don't you? "You always look perfect, Franci. However, here, " he meows handing over his credit card. Franci purrs and snuggles, slipping the card into her pocket. "You're the best hubbykit ever." "I try dear, I try," he meows with a smile.

At the same time in another part of the village, Justin is going through the morning mail. "Zade," he calls to his wife, still snuggled in bed with a cup of tea. "Yes, dear, what is it?" Zade purrs, taking a sip of tea. Justin gets up and carries the flyer over to the bed. "Look at this, dear. They are holding a murder mystery weekend at Catnip Hall. Might be fun don't you think? Shall we give it a go? You made a marvelous detective in that movie a couple years ago." Zade takes the flyer and looks at it. "You're right darling! This does sound like fun. Let's do it!"

Meanwhile, back at Catnip Hall, everyone is hard at work. Well, almost everyone. General Pita has retired to his study far away from the bustle and hustle. "Oh, dear," he mutters to himself. "Oh, dear, what have we gotten ourselves into?"
The door opens and his wife, Tita, comes in. "Good morning , dear. I've brought you tea." She sets the cup on the table beside his chair and sits down across from him. "My goodness, I have been so busy! So much to do. This old house hasn't seen so much activity in years. "Yes, dear, I know," sighs Pita. Tita chuckles, "my dear husband, come on now, you're going to love having a houseful of people. It will be so exciting to have some lively folk here again. Besides, we need the money. And we have a very good turnout! There is a quick tap on the door and Sparkle, Titas' assistant looks in. "Ma'am," she says," the first of our guests have arrived." Tita finishes her tea quickly and goes down to the front hall to greet the first arrivals.
Tita reaches the door just in time to see the butler helping a lady out of a taxi. The driver is at the rear helping a gentleman remove luggage from the trunk. Off in the distance she can hear the sound of a mower droning as Vester, the gardner, cuts the grass. Then, "Oh , do come along, Russell," the lady says. "Must you always be so slow?" "Comming , dear," Russle replies. " Hello , I am Cathy NYC Snowta and this is my husband, Russel. Oh, Russell, do be careful on those steps. Oh, Russell, are you alright my dear. Watch out with those , you're going to break something."
Tita tries to suppress a giggle. "It's alright sir," she says. "Just leave them there and Gervaise will see they are delivered to your room. I am Tita, and my husband and I are your hosts. Please come in. There is tea and pastries in the dining room. Come along, yes, just in there. Do make yourselves comfortable."
Tita starts off for the kitchen after seeing that the couple are comfortable, but before she can get there she hears a car screech to a halt in the drive. She reaches the door just in time to see three young men tumble out of a car and grab their bags. "Hello, hello," they call , seeing her in the doorway...we have come for the murder mystery weekend! I'm Grizz, these are my brothers Sly and Loki."
"Well, you have come to the right place," Tita replies with a grin. "Come right in, leave your bags in the hall and go into the dining room. There is morning tea all ready."
"Thank you ma'am. Traveling is thirsty work!" The boys head off to the dining room and Tita continues on to the kitchen to consult with the cook about lunch. Once satisfied that all is going well in the kitchen, Tita returns to the front hall just in time to see a long , sleek, convertible pull up. A tall elegant lady is being helped out by a nattily dressed gentleman. "Oh my, it really is her!" Tita says to herself. "And she is just as beautiful as in the pictures.""Good morning," Zade greets her. "Good morning to you," Tita replies. "We are honored to have you stay with us. I do hope you enjoy your time here. Please come right in an join the others in the dining room." Zade and Justine follow Tita to breakfast.
More guests quickly arrive one after another. Poucette, a retired music teacher and her niece Maddy, a newly married , middle aged couple, Hagrid and Murray, an older lady, Topaz, and her secretary, Smig. A loud, brash businessman type, Riley, is followed by another single man with a military bearing, CV, and a lovely young lady in worn but well-made clothing, Princess Lynsi.
Tita looks at her guest list and checks off the names one by one. Just one more couple to come yet, and here they are now, she thinks. Tare and Franci pull up and hurriedly approach Tita at the door. "So glad you made it," Tita says. "You are the last to arrive". Franci looks at Tare and says, "See, I told you we were going to be late. You just couldn't stop and ask for directions." She turns to Tita and says, "So sorry to keep you waiting, we got lost." "No harm done," replies Tita. "Do come in and join the others in the dining room. Your luggage and car will be taken care of.

Franci and Tare walk into the dining room and look around. "My, what an interesting group of kits," Franci whispers to Tare. "This could be a very fun weekend indeed."
-----
Franci, Oreo, Caleb, Willow and Tita

Mr. Riley Catnip enters by the front door, greets his hostess, looks around and thinks to himself what an interesting house this is. He loosens his tie and decides that after he has something to eat and cup of tea (with a little added "jolt" from the secret flask he carries)he will explore the rest of the house. The library he saw on the way in off to his left had wall to wall bookcases with more books than the public library. Riley is certain there must be hidden passageways behind those cases. To his right when he arrives, there was a doorway at the bottom of a small flight of stairs. There was a sign on that door that said "No Entry". Riley is intrigued by that and thinks he just may have to investigate what's behind that door when everyone is asleep.
Mr. Catnip greets the others in the room and hands out his business card to all of them and sits down at the table with The Snowta couple.
-----
Luff,
The Catnip Crew....Riley, Ashley, Harley, Mushka and Nicky
In Loving Memory of our precious Bridge Angels:
Munchkin 8/95-6/09(mom's heart).....
Casey 8/93-2/11(mom's soul)......
Meadow 11/99-9/10 and Maddie 4/94-4/10

Lt. BamBam notices the long line of cars heading up to Catnip Hall. Inspector Tarrigo, Sir, have you noticed the increased traffic to Catnip Hall? I'm thinking we should keep an eye on this.
-----
The Zoo Crew
BamBam and Cuddles

Whiskers, Minx, Misty, Boo, Patches and Tinkerbell will live forever in our hearts.

Indeed, I haff been watching dat, too. I fink we should take a stwoll awound up dare to be shure dat effuryfing is otay.

By da way, just in case we need to do sum biting, you need to wun ober to da vetdoc and get your stikkyshots updated. I not want my assistant to get sick.

BamBam gulps...You sure we need to do that? She sighs, "Okay," and runs across the street to the vegetarian's office.
-----
The Zoo Crew
BamBam and Cuddles

Whiskers, Minx, Misty, Boo, Patches and Tinkerbell will live forever in our hearts.

Yup, we bites as a last wesort, but iffn we needs to, we gots to do safe biting. Mostly, we bites clothes to hold onto da perps, but day taste AWFUL.

Franci and Tare join the others at the table. A pretty little maid pours them tea from an antique silver pot.

"Thank you," Franci meows as she nibbles on a scone. "Oh, these are wonderful. At least there is an excellent cook here. If nothing else, that should keep you happy, Tare." Tare grins and wipes crumbs from his chin then reaches for another scone.

Franci turns to the lady sitting beside her. "Hello, I'm Franci and this is my husband, Tare. Are you as excited about this adventure as we are?" Poucette turns to Franci and meows, "Im too old to get excited by much these days, but I do love watching others," Poucette meows in answer to Franci's question." Observing kit nature is my hobby". "Really, how interesting," Franci meows. "Look at that gentlemankit across the table from the movie star," meows Poucette. "An excellent example. He looks like military. I bet he has a story or two to tell if he wanted. Dosn't seem at all the type to attend something like this. And the young lady at the end, Lynsi, I believe she said her name is. Some sort of princess she claims. She just dosn't quite seem to fit into this sort of thing. Makes one wonder just why they are here. But I am meowing too much. Do tell me about yourself, my dear." Franci proceeds to do so.

At last, Franci glances at her watch. "Tare , let's go to our room and unpack. Then I want to take a walk in that lovely garden." The two kits stand up and excuse themselves from the table.
-----
Franci, Oreo, Caleb, Willow and Tita

The unpacking finished, they return to the main floor and look for a door leading to the gardens at the rear of the huge mansion. As they pass the kitchen they can hear voices raised in lively conversation as the staff goes about its work. Finaly outside, they follow a stone path to a lovely rose garden.

"Oh, it smells delicious!" Franci meows. She reaches toward a huge red blossom "when something on the ground catches her eye. She picks it up an looks at it closely. "Look, Tare, it seems to be something from a piece of jewlery, a charm. What a funny design!" She drops it into her pocket and they wander on admiring the lovely blossoms. At the end of garden they come to a woods. The growth seems fairly new. They see a path and follow it. Interspersed with the young trees are massive rhododendrons. "How strange," Tare meows. I wonder why they have let the woods overtake this part of the garden. It must have been fantastic."

They wander on and eventually the woods thin and end on a rocky shore line. "I had no idea we were so close to the sea." Franci meows. "Oh, there is a boathouse over there. Let's go check it out." As they approach the small building they can see it has fallen on hard times. "Obviously it isn't used anymore," meows Tare. Franci goes up to the door an turns the knob while Tare peeks in a dusty window. "Come help me with this door," Franci calls to him. "It seems to be stuck."

Tare puts his shoulder to the door and nearly falls as it bursts open with a rusty creak of hinges. He quickly rights himself and steps inside followed by Franci. They find themselves in a small dingy room. An old sofa, a small table with a lamp. A shelf with a few books on sailing. Everything is covered in dust. There is another door at the back of the room. Tare opens it. Inside he sees a small sailboat. On the walls are sails and fishing gear. All is dirty and tattered.
" No one has been here for a long time," he meows. "That's for sure,"
-----
Franci, Oreo, Caleb, Willow and Tita

"You're right about that," meows Franci brushing cobwebs from her furs. "Let's get back to the house. I have had enough exploring for the moment and I need a good brushing before lunch."

They quickly exit the boathouse into the sunlight. Back through the rhododendron woods and across the rose garden and lawn. Once back in their room , Franci sits down with a sigh looking at the small snag in hur skirt. They hurridly clean up and change their clothes. Franci drops the charm she found into a drawer. Just as they are ready a gong reverberates through out the house calling everyone to lunch. "Just in time,"Tare meows with a grin. "I sure worked up an appetite." "Tare, you always have an appetite ." Franci meows with a giggle. They step out into the hall and start for the stairs.
-----
Franci, Oreo, Caleb, Willow and Tita

Emmy offer to take the luggage and unpack. She is hopein to find omething interesting

Sparkle slips around, helping everyone get settled. She observes everyone with a twinkle in her eye as they hustle and bustle about. As always, she is standing by faithfully to help Tita with all the pesky little details during this marvelous weekend Tita has planned.
-----
Sparkle (Princess Snow Queen)
& Tammy
(Stanley 8/91 - 8/07)
(Pookey 8/91 - 11/10)

Tita heers hur hellocellphone ring and gets it out ob hur handbag.
"Hewwo", she meows.
"Hi Tita, dis is yur daddy."
"Oh, hi daddy, wat's up?"
"Not too much. Just wanted to wet yu know dat iffen yu need anyfing or help during dis weekend, let me know, otay?"
"Fanks, daddy, I'll giff yu a call iffen I need yu."

Tita cwoses da phone and goes bak to da menny tasks dat haff to be done.
-----
Unka John, Tita's daddy. Retired and liffing in Honolulu

additional characters

John (a mysterious stranger)
Zoe, Emmy and Penny (chambermaids)
-----
Franci, Oreo, Caleb, Willow and Tita

***A "mysterious stranger" and a "lost" charm.***

"Nice touch, Boss," Assistant Sparkle whispers to Tita behind her paw, assuming Tita was indeed behind these two events.

Or was she?
-----
Sparkle (Princess Snow Queen)
& Tammy
(Stanley 8/91 - 8/07)
(Pookey 8/91 - 11/10)

Just as the gusts are finishing dere lunch, dey heer da motor ob a car coming up da dribeway. Dey wook at on anuffer meowing "Who could dat be; all da inbited guests are alreddy heer!"
As dey rush toward da front porch, a car door is herd to slam shut and da car kwikly dribes away.
Reeching da porch, dey look to see who had arribed, but dere no won dere. Den Riley da businessman kit notice rustling in da bushes at da edge ob da wooded area...
-----
Unka John, Tita's daddy. Retired and liffing in Honolulu

Tarrigo and BamBam watch this unfold and decide to sniff around to see who or what just got out of dat car.

Zade and Justin wander through the house looking at the lovely antiques and elegant furnishings. Zade is especially intrigued with all of the beautiful crystal and glassware in the numerous china closets and display cabinets around the formal dining room, drawing room and parlor. There is a lovely old Baldwin grand piano in the drawing room.

"Why hello Ms. Poucette. Did I hear that you are a retired music teacher? I bet you play that piano very well. I am certain the guests here would love to hear me sing as I got rave reviews in my last picture. Would you mind playing 'How Much Is that Goggie in the window' so I can stretch my vocal chords?"

While Zade is capable of carrying a tune, her voice, in reality is not nearly as melodic as she thinks. But Ms. Poucette, always a lady, graciously accompanies her.

Justin, meanwhile, has been looking in one of the display cases. "Zade, dear, your song was lovely. But look at this.. it seems so odd..." Mixed in with very expensive antique crystal pieces is a small little bowl of green depression glass, and not a very good piece either. It has a chip in the rim and is not a very pretty shade of green. "I wonder why this little junky bowl is given such a place of honor?"
-----

While the others are at lunch, Pita sits in his study with a bottle of catnip brandy. He is lost in thought. Sighing, he thinks to himself, I just don't know if this was a good idea. He sits up in his chair with a start when the door opens and a man walks in. "You," Pita meows. "What are you doing here?""Why General, aren't you glad to see me? Did you think I wouldn't find you? You look upset." "Upset, no, no. Just surprised. It's been a long time." "Yes it has at that. And we really should have a little chat. About old times. But not just now."

With that the tall gentleman kit turns and goes back out the door. Pita slumps in his seat and takes a long slug of his brandy.
As the mankit proceeds down the hall, behind him a door opens just a crack and a curious eye looks out.

-----
Franci, Oreo, Caleb, Willow and Tita

"If I were Vester, I'd be passed out right now," Sparkle thought to herself with all the intrigue going on... Who is the mystery man? Who is in the bushes? Has anyone seen Nortee? He should be sniffing this out.
-----
Sparkle (Princess Snow Queen)
& Tammy
(Stanley 8/91 - 8/07)
(Pookey 8/91 - 11/10)

Later dat affurnoon, Riley is walking down da hall to da kitchento see wat hims can find fur a snak wen he see someone who not on da guest list come out ob da ob da sitting room and slip into da liepurry. Him hurry into dat room, but to hims aazemint, dere no buddy dere! "Where did dat man go?", hims wunnners, "I know I saw hims go in heer!?"
-----
Unka John, Tita's daddy. Retired and liffing in Honolulu

Tarrigo and BamBam slip in past Riley, sniff, nod at each other and slip back out.

>>Later dat affurnoon, Riley is walking down da hall to da kitchento see wat hims can find fur a snak wen he see someone who not on da guest list come out ob da ob da sitting room and slip into da liepurry. Him hurry into dat room, but to hims aazemint, dere no buddy dere! "Where did dat man go?", hims wunnners, "I know I saw hims go in heer!?" >>

"But since no one is here, I must have been seeing things." he thinks to himself. To calm his nerves, he lights his pipe and pours some brandy and sits a spell thinking how mysterious this whole gathering seems. Suddenly he hears the screams from out in the garden and gets up to look out the window.
As he stares out the window and wonders what on earth is going on, all the while the smoke from his pipe circles his whiskers, he hears a creeking sound coming from behind the bookcase. The noise startles him and he almost drops the glass of brandy he was holding. But, as always, his curiosity gets the better of him once again and he begins to further investigate where that sound came from. He begins to move books and look for what could possibly make such a creaking noise. As he removes one of the last books on the middle shelf, suddenly the entire bookcase begins to slowly swing forward and it becomes obvious there is indeed a secret passage behind that bookcase...but before he can turn to grab the flashlight that just happens to be on the desk, a paw reaches out of the darkness and pulls him behind the bookcase and it closes behind him. Riley tries to focus his eyes, but it is too dark to see anything. He hears someone say "Shhhh. Just come with me!" and Riley is pulled through the darkness by this mysterious paw. But wait....Riley tries to feel the paw that is pulling him quickly through the dark passage, but there is nothing there! "How can this be? What is this force pulling me? And where is it pulling me to?" The fright causes him to pass out cold.......
-----
Luff,
The Catnip Crew....Riley, Ashley, Harley, Mushka and Nicky
In Loving Memory of our precious Bridge Angels:
Munchkin 8/95-6/09(mom's heart).....
Casey 8/93-2/11(mom's soul)......
Meadow 11/99-9/10 and Maddie 4/94-4/10

"Riley tries to feel the paw that is pulling him quickly through the dark passage, but there is nothing there! "How can this be? What is this force pulling me? And where is it pulling me to?" The fright causes him to pass out cold......."

Gasp!
-----
Sparkle (Princess Snow Queen)
& Tammy
(Stanley 8/91 - 8/07)
(Pookey 8/91 - 11/10)

Ms Poucette sits on a bench in the rose garden. Beside her is hur niece and companion Maddy. Poucette appears to be reading a book. In reality, she is busily watching everything around her. Out on the lawn the three boykits, Sly, Grizz, and Loki are wandering around, occasionally engaginng in a game of rough and tumble. Caleb, the gardeners asst. is busily pruning a hedge. The chauffer, Timmy, is lazily polishing a car. He occasionally glances toward the kitchen door. Out of the corner of her eye, Poucette notices someone slipping around a corner of the house and heading toward the treeline. And then she hears a shout. "Holy skunks and cream pies!", comes from the area the where the boys have been playing. Everyone looks up. "Maddy, help me up," meows Poucette. "I must see what has happened." The two start off hurridly toward the boys. They find them staring, mouths agape, at something on the ground. Poucette hurries over. "Oh, dear," she meows, gazing down at the skull half buried under a pile of rocks. "This is not good," she meows, "not good at all."

The area quickly fills with others. "I think it would be best if we all stand back," Poucette meows quietly. "And perhaps someone should go to the house and call the police."
-----
Franci, Oreo, Caleb, Willow and Tita

Vester has just fininshed his "undercover" work as a gardener by mowing the vast expanse of grass when he hears a scream. Running over he find a hat and coat semi-buried in a rock garden. He agrees with Pou that the law must be called immediately and he tells effurykit to back away from the scene so as to preserve it.
-----
Ninga
Mom to Kadie

:rincess Lynsi, after unpacking her clothing in her luvly room with the canopy bed, sits in a chair and sips a cup of tea that was brought to her by a cute little housemaid:: "What an interesting weekend this will be .. not only for the murdery mystery, but for the companionship of this motley crew of kits! Such an interesting group they are, but nice as can be, that is for sure!"

::As the Princess finishes her tea, she hears an odd creaking sound in the clawset of her room. "Oh no! Don't tell me there are bobs in the closet! That simply won't do, and I must tell someone!" The Princess gets up from the chair and caushusly approaches the clawset door. She tentatiffly grasps the door handle, and slowly opens it, ready to jump back at the site of evil mousie eyebolls. The door slowly creaks open ...

"Why Mr. Riley! What on earf are you doing in my clawset?" ::Riley starts stammering about bookcases and sekret passage ways and paws leading him through doorways and somehow here he wasy, when the kits hear a commoshun from outside. Riley and Princess Lynsi rush to the window to see what's going on, and from there they see a group of kits in the garden, gathered around what appears to be a skull half in the ground::

"Oh my. This does not bode well. Mr. Riley, we must hurry and go see what's going on!"

otay Iys beeze late wiff dis....but hunny bunny youse kin haffs wats eber youse wants!!!

youse hot soljer kit
Pita

'atta boy, Pita, I see Tita haff yu well traned! MOL
-----
Unka John, Tita's daddy. Retired and liffing in Honolulu

purrrrrrrrrrrrrr, yu ish dat fur shure!
-----
Franci, Oreo, Caleb, Willow and Tita

Caleb runs to the house to call the police. Meanwhile, Vester and Timmy escort effery to the house. Once effery is seated in the drawing room, Tita and Sparkle count noses to see that effery is accounted for. "Oh dear," Tita meows. "Where is Mr. Catnip and that lovely Lynsi?" "Shall I go look for them?" asks Sparkle. "No, my dear." Tita replies. "I think we had better wait here for the police to arrive."

Tita goes over to Vester and Timmy. "Perhaps you had better go stand gaurd in the garden. I will send Inspector Tarrigo there as soon as he arrives."

As Vester and Timmy approach the rock garden where the skull was discovered, Vester stops and looks off into the distance. "Did you see that,Timmy? Over behind the barn. I could have sworn I saw someone standing there." Timmy looks in the direction Vester is pointing. "Well, there is no one there now." he meows. "Maybe all this business just has me spooked a bit," replies Vester. He looks down at the partialy exposed skull. "I wonder who this is."
-----
Franci, Oreo, Caleb, Willow and Tita

Tarrigo slips out of the closet in the Princess's room and goes to the window with his binoculars. BamBam slips out from behind the barn, looks up at Tarrigo and nods. Both slip back out of sight.

>>Tarrigo slips out of the closet in the Princess's room and goes to the window with his binoculars. BamBam slips out from behind the barn, looks up at Tarrigo and nods. Both slip back out of sight.

BamBam feels her phone vibrate. "Officer BamBam here. Oh! I will let Inspector Tarrigo know."

BamBam hurries to find Inspector Tarrigo. She taps him on the shoulder and whispers, "Someone from here just called for us. A body has been found!"
-----
The Zoo Crew
BamBam and Cuddles

Whiskers, Minx, Misty, Boo, Patches and Tinkerbell will live forever in our hearts.

Gervaise goes to answer a knock at the door. Inspector Tarrigo and Lt. Bambam are at the door. "Do come in, gentleman, madam." meows Gervaise. "Everyone is waiting for you in the drawing room." Gervaise escorts them there, and opening the door, steps aside for them to enter. The room is abuzz with conversation. Tarrigo stands still for a moment looking around. Seeing them, Tita rushes over. "Thank goodness you are here," she meows. "This is all most distressing." "What seems to be the problem?" asks Tarrigo. "Why, there is a skull! In the rock garden!" Tita meows. "A skull?" woofs Tarrigo. "You had best show me." "Right this way, Inspector." Tita in the lead, they head for the rock garden. Vester and Timmy stand aside in order for Tarrigo and Bambam to examine the area. Tarrigo removes a few small rocks and brushes away the dirt exposing the skull fully. "Bam," he woofs. "Go to the car and get my kit, please." Bambam hurries off. Inspector Tarrigo stands up and brushes the soil from his paws. "I think we have more than just a skull here."
-----
Franci, Oreo, Caleb, Willow and Tita

Inspector Tarrigo stands up and brushes the soil from his paws. "I think we have more than just a skull here."

////

::Gasp!::
-----
Sparkle (Princess Snow Queen)
& Tammy
(Stanley 8/91 - 8/07)
(Pookey 8/91 - 11/10)

Tarrigo and BamBam pull on their special gloves and gently turn over the skull and a couple of the bones. They look at each other and nod.

Slowly and carefully, Tarrigo and Bambam brush soil and gravel from the bones. It is very tedious work trying not to erase any evidence that may be present. Who was this they wonder. "Hey,stop!" meows Bambam. "Look, there, something shiny." She quickly brushes away the dirt and lifts a locket from the area near the neck. "Let me see that," woofs Tarrigo. "This looks very old." He gently tries to open it. "No, I cant get it open. We will have to work on this later." He drops it in his pocket and goes back to unearthing the bones.

Eventually, the skeleton is uncovered and they can examine it. "Look here, looks like that could be the cause of death," Tarrigo woofs, pointing to a large crack in the back of the skull. "Your most likely right about that," meows Bambam. Tarrigo woofs to Vester, Timmy and Caleb. "Could you find me a sturdy blanket or canvas, please?" Timmy runs toward the barn returning in a few minutes with a large tarp. They spread it by the grave site and carefully lift the skeleton from its resting place. Tarrigo turns for another look at the grave. "Whats this?" he woofs reaching down toward another shiny bit in the dirt. He scrapes away the soil and finds a small handbag. "Well, well," he woofs. "What do we have here? I'm sure this will give us some idea just who this poor kit is."

He walks over to where Bambam and the others are waiting. "Bam, go check on the coroners wagon, please. Then I want to see everyone in the drawing room." "Yes, Inspector," Bambam replies.
Tarrigo heads toward the house. When he reaches the kitchen he stops and lays down his finds on the table. He turns to Paloma at the stove, stirring a large pot of something that smells heavenly. "Excuse me, would you have a small sharp knife I could borrow and perhaps a clean towel?" "Certainly, Inspector," Paloma meows. "Jojo, would you get them for Inspector Tarrigo, please?" "Yes, ma'am," meows Jojo, running off to fetch them.

-----
Franci, Oreo, Caleb, Willow and Tita

Sparkle watches the goings on quietly from the sidelines and notices the locket BamBam and Tarrigo found. She wonders if it has anything to do with the charm with the odd design Franci and Tare found in the flower in the garden...
-----
Sparkle (Princess Snow Queen)
& Tammy
(Stanley 8/91 - 8/07)
(Pookey 8/91 - 11/10)

BamBam meets the coroner on his way up the driveway and brings him to the skeleton. Then she makes the rounds of the estate, knocking on every door, and telling every cat she sees that Inspector Tarrigo wants to see them in the drawing room. Finally everyone is assembled, looking both nervously and expectantly at Inspector Tarrigo.
-----
The Zoo Crew
BamBam and Cuddles

Whiskers, Minx, Misty, Boo, Patches and Tinkerbell will live forever in our hearts.

Tarrigo sits at the kitchen table with the purse and locket before him. He examins the purse, hmmm, good quality, very well made. He opens it and one by one removes the contents. A mirror and comb, a lipstick, a few greenpapers and some coins. A letter and at the very bottom, a key. He picks up the key and examines it, hmmmmmm , I wonder what you unlock. Then he carefully unfolds the letter, the paper yellowed and brittle. He gently lays it on the table. Just a few words. Pretty Kitty, ten on the clock. Then he picks up the locket and gently pries it open with the small knife provided by Paloma. The locket itself appears to be solid gold and inside is the faded photo of a handsome young gentlemankit in army uniform. Hmmmmmmmmm, now he looks a bit familiar, Tarrigo thinks to hisownself. He sits back in his chair for a few moments thinking about what lays before him. Then he carefully gathers it all up and puts it in his pockets. Rising from his chair he leaves the kitchen with a nod to the servants and heads for the library to begin his interviews...
-----
Franci, Oreo, Caleb, Willow and Tita

Just as Tarrigo exits da kitchen, hims see a figure head out ob da foyer and into da sitting room. It not one ob da inbited guests, but wooks wike da purrson hims caught a glimpse ob earler in da bushes outside. Hims rushes toward dat woom and on entering is surpwised to see...
-----
Unka John, Tita's daddy. Retired and liffing in Honolulu
-----
Franci, Oreo, Caleb, Willow and Tita

…the tall gentleman kit stranger that was last seen leaving Retired Army General Pita’s study earlier in the day.

As she sees Tarrigo brush by, Sparkle follows his line of sight into the sitting room and thinks to herownself, “Why is that man kit still here? I saw hims leave Catnip Hall hours ago, after hims brief meeting with General Pita. I don't recall mailing an invitation to hims, and I assisted with all the invitations..."
-----
Sparkle (Princess Snow Queen)
& Tammy
(Stanley 8/91 - 8/07)
(Pookey 8/91 - 11/10)
-----
Franci, Oreo, Caleb, Willow and Tita

Riley is sitting in the study having a brandy and smoking his catnip cigar when Tarrigo rushes in. The look on Tarrigo's face startles him and make him sit bolt upright in the recliner. "Why Inspector Tarrigo....why you got that look on your face? What going on??"
-----
Luff,
The Catnip Crew....Riley, Ashley, Harley, Mushka and Nicky
In Loving Memory of our precious Bridge Angels:
Munchkin 8/95-6/09(mom's heart).....
Casey 8/93-2/11(mom's soul)......
Meadow 11/99-9/10 and Maddie 4/94-4/10
-----
Franci, Oreo, Caleb, Willow and Tita

:rincess Lynsi, who has been fluffin up her dresses and shinin hr tiara, hears more commoshun downstairs and comes down to see Tarrigo rushing around. On the way down the staircase, howeber, a tall gentlemankit goes upstairs past her:: "Hmmm," the Princess mewses. "I don't recall seeing him afore with the other guests ..."
-----
Franci, Oreo, Caleb, Willow and Tita

With that, Princess Lynsi continues on to the drawing room to join the others. She walks in just in time to see Tarrigo spread the things he found with the body on a table. She glances at the items, then looks sharply at one of them, hur furs turning white at the sight. She grips the edge of the table. "Are you alright, my dear lady?" Tarrigo asks noticing her distress. "Oh, yes," Lynsi murmurs. "It's all been such a shock."

Sparkle hurries over. "Come with me Miss," she meows to Lynsi. "Lets find yu a seat and a nice cup of tea. As a matter of fact, I think everyone could use a nice cup of tea."
-----
Franci, Oreo, Caleb, Willow and Tita

Seated next to his wife, on a sofa across the room, Justin surveys the scene. "Cup of tea my hind paw," he murmurs under his breath. "Shot of whiskey is more like it." Cathy turns to Justin and stares.
-----
Franci, Oreo, Caleb, Willow and Tita

Tarrigo looks at Riley. "Ummm, I thought I saw someone come in here." "No,"Riley meows. "I've been sitting here thinking things over for quite some time and I've seen no one. Perhaps they went into the drawing room." "Hmmmmm, perhaps you're right," Tarrigo woofs in reply. "And I would appreciate it if you joined the others there too." "Certainly, sir," Riley meows. "After you."
Riley picks up his drink and follows TArrigo down the hall and into the drawing room where most of the others await.
-----
-----
Franci, Oreo, Caleb, Willow and Tita

Tarrigo sits at the kitchen table with the purse and locket before him. He examins the purse, hmmm, good quality, very well made. He opens it and one by one removes the contents. A mirror and comb, a lipstick, a few greenpapers and some coins. A letter and at the very bottom, a key. He picks up the key and examines it, hmmmmmm , I wonder what you unlock. Then he carefully unfolds the letter, the paper yellowed and brittle. He gently lays it on the table. Just a few words. Pretty Kitty, ten on the clock. Then he picks up the locket and gently pries it open with the small knife provided by Paloma. The locket itself appears to be solid gold and inside is the faded photo of a handsome young gentlemankit in army uniform. Hmmmmmmmmm, now he looks a bit familiar, Tarrigo thinks to hisownself. He sits back in his chair for a few moments thinking about what lays before him. Then he carefully gathers it all up and puts it in his pockets. Rising from his chair he leaves the kitchen with a nod to the servants and heads for the library to begin his interviews...
-----
Franci, Oreo, Caleb, Willow and Tita
-----
Franci, Oreo, Caleb, Willow and Tita

Tarrigo leans back in his seat and surveys the room. He pulls his pipe from his pocket and proceeds to lite it. Lt. Bambam comes in the door and approaches him. "Sir," she meow, "I thought a list of the guests and staff might be of use." Tarrigo glances at the list. "Thank you, Lt., this will be most useful." He peruses the list carefully and then looks up.

"Alright, lets begin," he woofs. "I'm sure by now you are all aware that a body has been found in the rock garden. It appears said body has been there for quite some time, however we must still proceed with diligence. I think we will begin with General and Mrs Pita. Have either of you any idea who this ladykit may have been?"

Pita looks at Tita. "Well, no, I have no idea," Tita meows. Tarrigo looks at Pita, "and you, Sir," he asks. Pita hems and haws a bit, "well, I'm sure I don't know, no, no I don't know at all." Pita plucks nervously at his jacket. "Very well," woofs Tarrigo. "You have lived here quite sometime now, have you not," Tarrigo continues. "The rock garden was in place when you arrived?"

"Well, yes, it was," Pita replies. "The gardens were well established." "Very well," woofs Tarrigo. "And how is it you have so many guests this weekend? Most unusual isn't it?" "I'm afraid that is my doing, Inspector," Tita replies. "It's a murder mystery weekend. Though I must meow I never expected it to be a real mystery."

"Murder Mystery Weekend?" woofs Tarrigo. "Yes, Inspector. One has guests and plants clues and weapons and the guests solve the murder. I thought it would be a good plan to raise greenpapers. Things have gotten a bit hard lately, you know."
"Oh, I see, then these are paying guests," Tarrigo woofs. "Yes," Tita replies. "Well, that does cast a different light on things," woofs Tarrigo. Thank you, I think that is all I need from you two for now." Tarrigo looks back at the guest list deciding who to question ne
-----
Franci, Oreo, Caleb, Willow and Tita

Looking up, he spies three youngmenkits sitting together near the fireplace. "You three," he woofs, "you're the ones that discoverd the body?" "Yes, sir," meows Sly. "Excellent. And just how did this come about?" The three boys begin to meow all together. "Wait, please, one at a time," woofs Tarrigo. They look at each other and then Loki begins to meow. "Well we thought the mystery weekend would be a bit of a lark so we decided to come. We were out in the gardens looking for clues and having a bit of rough and tumble, just for exercise you know, and well Grizz tripped and fell over a pile of rocks. And there it was, the skull! Just sitting there! At first we thought it was a fake, part of the game you know, but then we looked closer. Gave us quite a start to see that it was real!"

"I'm sure it did," Tarrigo woofs. "What did you do next?" "We just kind of stood there staring at it. I guess the others heard us yelp at first. The man doing the gardens and the chaufer came to see what was what. Then the chauffeur went to the house to call the police. By then there was quite a crowd and the gardeners made everyone stand back out of the way."

"Very good," woofs Tarrigo. "Did you notice anything else? Anything at all?" "No, I don't think so," Grizz replies looking at his friends. "Well," Sly begins. "No, I'm sure it was nothing." "No, speak up lad," Tarrigo woofs. "You never know what may be important." Sly starts again, "Well, I thought I saw someone watching from behind the corner of the barn. But I don't see what that could have to do with anything."

"Alright, you can return to your seats for now," Tarrigo tells them.

The door opens and Gervaise with Willow and Jordie come in bearing trays with tea and sandwiches.
-----
Franci, Oreo, Caleb, Willow and Tita

Lt. BamBam watches General Pita closely. Hmmm...she thinks...Maybe the gardens were already established, but I think maybe he knows more than he's telling us. She jots her thoughts into her notebook to discuss with Inspector Tarrigo after the interviews.
-----
The Zoo Crew
BamBam and Cuddles

Whiskers, Minx, Misty, Boo, Patches and Tinkerbell will live forever in our hearts.
-----
Franci, Oreo, Caleb, Willow and Tita

General Pita sure has been acting strangely since the tall gentleman kit stranger met with him in the study earlier. He is usually so composed and so well spoken, Sparkle thinks to herself. Maybe he is protecting someone?
-----
Sparkle (Princess Snow Queen)
& Tammy
(Stanley 8/91 - 8/07)
(Pookey 8/91 - 11/10)
-----
Franci, Oreo, Caleb, Willow and Tita

Tarrigo is also keeping a close eye on General Pita. He seems to be a very nervous kit, one who may know more about the find then he carss to tell. "No matter," Tarrigo thinks, "I will find out whatever he knows." Then he continues with his questions of the rest of the houseguests and staff. Not much information from any of them, but one or two he will be watching closely. Suddenly a loud crash is heard coming from the hall. Tarrigo and Bambam jump up and race out the door, closely followed by the others in the room. They are just in time to see what appears to be of all things, a human foot disappearing out the window at the end of the hall. A large vase of lilacs is smashed on the hall floor. Tarrigo takes off like a shot after the human intruder. He sees him well ahead racing swiftly across the gardens and toward the woods at the bottom. Tarrigo and Bambam give chase, running low and swiftly, but to no avail. By the time they reach the woods the intruder is out of sight. They sniff the air in vain, trying to pick up his scent. But there is nothing. "Kinda strange, don't you think, boss," Bam meows.
"Yes, it surely is," replies Tarrigo. "How does he not leave a scent? Veru well, let's return to the house. Perhaps somekit knows who this strange human is and what he is doing here."
-----
Franci, Oreo, Caleb, Willow and Tita

Sparkle overhears BamBam and Tarrigo and starts sniffing around. She notices the air is really earthy smelling, like someone rolled around in the dirt to mask their scent. This perplexed her, but not as much as the thought of a human foot being seen at Catnip Hall.

As far as she knows, no humans know about its existence except for Mommy and Daddy humans, and they would never do something like this. Who could have found out the location of Catnip Hall? Did someone or somekit leak this information?

She is ever more suspicious of what the strange gentleman kit from the study may be holding over General Pita…
-----
Sparkle (Princess Snow Queen)
& Tammy
(Stanley 8/91 - 8/07)
(Pookey 8/91 - 11/10)

Inspector Tarrigo and Lt. Bambam turn and start back towards the house. From the woods a pair of blue eyes watches them leave, then the human turns and heads deeper into the trees toward the shore and the boathouse.

Back in the drawing room, now empty of its visitors, Tarrigo goes back to the table where he left his notes and the things found with the body. He starts to gather them up, then realizes something is missing from the pile, the locket. "Well now," he woofs to Bambam. "Isn't that interesting. Just to be sure let's take a good look around." The two search through the pile of things on the table and check the chair and on the floor. "No," Tarrigo woofs, "it's gone. Apparently it means something to someone. The question is who." Tarrigo sits down to think things over. Lt. Bambam wanders around the room. She dosn't know what she is looking for but hopes she recognizes it when she sees it.

Upstairs a tiny paw holds the locket, clicking it open with the other. With a soft sigh, she places the locket in a drawer then goes to sit in a chair by the window, looking out at the setting sun.
-----
Franci, Oreo, Caleb, Willow and Tita

Hey erryfurry -- dere is a dead body and a mystery dat needs solvingk!
-----
Sparkle (Princess Snow Queen)
& Tammy
(Stanley 8/91 - 8/07)
(Pookey 8/91 - 11/10)

Upstairs in their room, Tare sprawls out on the bed. Franci paces restlessly. "Tare, this whole situation is very strange. Don't you think some of the kits acting oddly?" she meows.

"What do you mean, oddly," Tare asks

"I dunno, it's like they have secrets, like they know something about this body."

"Oh, Franci, that imagination of yours is just too much."

"Imagination! It's not my imagination! Harumpf!" Franci turns on hur heels and stomps out the door.

"Utho, now I've done it," Tare meows to himself as he gets up and follows after her. "Franci, wait up!"

Ignoring him, Franci opens the door to the library and goes in. Tare follows her. She wanders back and forth at the shelves, looking at all the books. Finally she stops and pulls out a book, A History of Catnip Hall. She takes it over to a comfy chair, curls up and starts to read. Finally she comes to a section with pictures. She looks them over carefully. "Tare, Tare come here and look at this." She points out the picture of a lovely white ladykit. "Look,Tare. Look what's hanging round her neck!"

Tare peers over her shoulder at the page. "Why that looks like the locket found with the bones!"

"It sure does," Franci meows. She looks at the caption under the picture. Lady Margaret, daughter of Sir Frederick Alaskit, at the time of her engagement to Lord Peter of Kitsville. "Oh my doodness," Franci meows.

"I think we better show this to Inspector Tarrigo," Tare meows.
-----
Franci, Oreo, Caleb, Willow and Tita

Tarrigo returns from the funeral of his dear friend and mentor to rejoin the group. He gathers the information that they have found and settles down to study it.

Otay, as I see it, da furst fing we do is we ignore da man in da yellow hat. I no awl about him. Him's watching ober a couple of da guests, just in case.

Franci and Tare race out of the library in search of the Inspector. They find him, at last, sitting on the terrace smoking his pipe and gazing off across the gardens toward the woods. "Inspector, Inspector!" they call. "Look what we found! Look at the pendant on hur neck!" Tarrigo takes the book an looks at the picture. He gets out his magnifying glass to examine it more closely. "Why, I do believe you're right. If that isn't the same locket, it is its twin. Well done!" He reads the caption. "Now isn't that interesting," he woofs. "Why does that name seem familiar?" Tarrigo leans back in his seat and puffs on his pipe, then suddenly gets up and goes into the house. Franci and Tare look at each other and run after him. They are just in time to see him enter General Pita's private study.
-----
Franci, Oreo, Caleb, Willow and Tita

Tare and Franci hurry down the hall and stop outside the door. They press their ears against it in a vain attempt to hear what is being said inside. But the wood is too thick and they can only hear a mumble of voices.

"Drat," meows Franci. "I sure would like to hear what is going on in there."

"Me too," says Tare. "Oh, well, come on let's go back to our room. Don't think we are going to learn anything here. We need to think this over." They turn back up the stairs an start up.

Sparkle, standing at the top of the stairs just out of sight, runs to Titas room and taps on the door. "Ms Tita, it"s me, Sparkle. I must meow with you." Tita opens the door. "Sparkle, what is it?" she meows. "Come in."

"Oh, Ms Tita, I just saw that Inspector go into the Generals private study carrying a book. It looks like one from the library."

"Oh, dear," Tita meows. "That may not be good. Sighhhhhhh, why did I ever start this?"

Meanwhile, the others start to gather in the drawing room. Ms Poucette sits quietly knitting while Maddy sits nearby looking through a magazine. Justin sits in a chair by the window sipping a gin, while Zade roams around the room . She stops in front of the cabinet and looks at the glass piece that dosn't seem to fit, finally taking it out for closer examination. Cathy and Russel wander in and take seats on the sofa closely followed by the three youngmenkits. "I say," meows Sly, "I wonder if we are going to get tea. I'm absolutly famished."
-----
Franci, Oreo, Caleb, Willow and Tita

Upstairs, Lady Topaz puts the finishing touches to her toilet and rises from her dressing table. "Smig, bring me my shawl, dear."

"Yes, ma'am," Smig replies fetching the shawl an draping it around Lady Topazs thin shoulders. "There you go, Ma'am, all ready." Topaz pats Smigs paw. "Thank you, my dear. Your such a comfort. The elderly ladykit with her companion head down to the drawing room, closely followed by Hagrid and Murray. A dark figure watches from a corner. The figure fades away as they go down the stairs. They reach the drawing room door just as Willow and Jojo arrive with tea and they all enter together.

Inside, Russel looks longingly at the gin in Justins paw, then goes to the bar to help himself. "Well, looks like we are all here," Hagrid meows. "And just in time for tea."

Ms Pou looks up from her knitting, "no, not quite all. Some seem to be absent, Captain CV and Princess Lynsi, and has anyone seen that American fellow, Catnip I think he said was his name.
They seem to be absent."

t
-----
Franci, Oreo, Caleb, Willow and Tita

Paloma rings the bell as the tea is laid out in the dining room with all the usual fixings and some more substantial fare for the group. She then returns to the kitchen to continue with the preparations for the evening meal.

Sparkle does a quick head count to make sure all of the guests are accounted for during the confusion of the investigation and comes up short one person.

She wrinkles her nose, deep in thought, and finally figures out why her numbers do not match.

She heads to Ms. Tita to let her know she hasn't seen General Pita in quite a while.
-----
Sparkle (Princess Snow Queen)
& Tammy
(Stanley 8/91 - 8/07)
(Pookey 8/91 - 11/10)

While da rest ob da guests is in da house, da mysterious hoomin is sitting wiff General Pita in two twee stumps deep in da woods. Da hoomin haff a rather large bottul ob catnip whiskey frum which dey bofe haff been imbibing and singing old Meowchat Army songs. "Pita", da hoomin says, "you remempurr dat one time when General Spunky and yu were direkting dat litterbomb mission..." Dey bofe gwin at da meowmory and take anuffer shot ob da whiskey...
-----
Unka John, Tita's daddy. Retired and liffing in Honolulu

Tarrigo, coming out of the library, sees Riley Catnip hanging around outside Gen. Pita's office door. He stands quietly and watches as Mr. Catnip tries the knob. When it fails to open he pulls out a key and tries it in the lock. The door opens with a click and Riley enters the study. "Well now, and just what are you up too, Mr. Catnip?" Inspector Tarrigo watches the door for several minutes. At last it opens again and Riley Catnip steps out and heads toward the drawing room. "Furrrrrrrrry interesting," Tarrigo meroofs to himsownself as he starts up the stairs to begin a surreptitious investigation of the house guests rooms. After witnessing his odd behaviour, Inspector Tarrigo decides to begin with Riley Catnip's room. He slips in the door and looks around. Nothing out of the normal in plain sight, he begins to rummage through drawers and suitcases. Nothing. He runs a paw under the mattress and feels something odd. Grasping it he pulls out a small notebook. He slides his paw under the mattress once more, finding nothing else. He opens the notebook and begins to read....
-----
Franci, Oreo, Caleb, Willow and Tita

At last, Tarrigo slips the notebook in his pocket an quickly fineshes his search of the other rooms. He finds an interesting item here and there and little by little a story forms in his mind. One more thing to do he mutters to himself. He goes out to his car and gets in and quickly heads down the drive and takes the hiroad to Catsville. He goes directly to the towns library and after a word with the librarian is shown to a small room and provided with a large stack of newspapers. Once again he begins to read....
-----
Franci, Oreo, Caleb, Willow and Tita

Hmm, dare was a bwacelet dat had many widdle 'charms' on it but day weren't charms. Ooh! Day are keys! But to what? Where? Hmmmm

Otay, sumkits says dey losht twack here sho we gonna recap fur dem..
Generul Pita an Tita deshides to haff a murdur mishtery weekend to make some gweenpapers. Affur da geshts arrife fings take a unexpected turn. Insthead uf da fake mystery, dey gots a real one on der paws. A skeleton ish fownd in da rock garden. Wit da bones a locket, and a purse containing a mysterious note, and a key are fownd. Amongst da bones der ish a locket containing da piishure uf a yungmankit in military dwess. A stwange shadowy figger ish seen in diffwent places, behind da barn, on da stairs, etc.

Riley Catnip discoffurs a secret passage in da libwary dat leads to Pwincess Lynsis closet. He has awsho been snooping in da Generals office.

Justin fownd a gwass bowl in da dwawing room dat sheems owt uf place.

Franci an Tare discoffur a book in da library dat leads to da pwobable identity uf da skeleton..Lady Margaret dawter uf Sir Frederic Alaskit, engaged to Lord Peter of Kitsville a nayboring town. Franci and Tare also discover a disused boathouse apparently being used by the mishterious stwanger and what seems to be a charm frum someones bracelet.

Pita has been visited by a stranger on seferal occasions.

Tita and Sparkle have a secret.

Tarrigo has kwestiond efferyone and made a visit to Kitsville Library.

Lynsi has taken the locket frum the evidence and hidden it away.

Tarrigo also found a notebook under the mattress uf Rileys bed.

I fink dat about it...
-----
Franci, Oreo, Caleb, Willow and Tita

In a moment of quiet during all the excitement, Sparkle suddenly recalls that back when she was helping Ms. Tita prepare for the murder mystery weekend, she was up in General Pita's study fetching an address book. While she was there, she accidently bumped into a potted plant on the General's window sill. Under it was a sturdy, plain looking flat metal key. Being the good kitty she was, she put the plant back over it and scurried back down to Ms. Tita to plan for the mystery event.

Now with worry about the real murder and the mysterious stranger from General Pita's past that keeps showing up kind of secretly, Sparkle decides she wants to help and lets her natural-born kitty curiosity take over.

She heads up to the study and finds the key is still under the plant. She tries the key in the desk drawers with no luck. She turns to leave and notices General Pita's military foot locker peeking out from under a humongous stack of newspapers (that General Pita sure likes to read!). After clearing the papers away to try the keyhole, she lucks out and the key works!

Inside the trunk, she sees many military awards and memorabilia, but what catches her eye is a bent and creased corner inside the top lid. With a sharp paw nail on the seam and a quick tug at the corner, a hidden compartment flies open and a dusty military journal falls into her lap. Achoo!

She quickly straightens her spectacles, scoops up the journal, puts every back just as she found it, and rushes to Ms. Tita downstairs.

She explains to Ms. Tita what she has just found and apologizes for the uncharacteristic violation of privacy, but she did it because she is very concerned about General Pita.

After a stern lecture and some finger shaking from Ms. Tita, Sparkle watches the emotions play across Ms. Tita’s face while debating whether to read her husband's journal.

Finally, Ms. Tita quietly opens the journal, and both girlkits put their heads together and start scanning through the pages. Suddenly, what they read makes their eyes widen.

Tita gasps loudly and Sparkle squeaks...
-----
Sparkle (Princess Snow Queen)
& Tammy
(Stanley 8/91 - 8/07)
(Pookey 8/91 - 11/10)