The Neighbourhood Cat Burglar

Chapter 3

Howdy was waiting at the door as soon as you walked up, and there was a small smile on his face. "Well, I can guess where you went." He eyed the clothes in your arms and let you into the store. "Barnaby's just finishing up a grocery run, but it's all snacks. That dog could eat his weight in snacks."

You laughed and nodded, heading behind the register. That was your job now, after all. Your apron was sitting on the counter, just waiting to be put on, and Howdy helped you tie it once again.

"So, I'm not sure if Wally's a dead end or not, now," you admitted. You thought back to your interaction. The strange puppet had never once broken his staring at you, even at the underlying accusation of him. "But, as you noticed, I have something to check out."

"Hm. That paint looks fresh," Howdy said, staring at the clothes observantly.

"Yeah... is there any way we can see if any of it is from last night, too?"

Howdy put a hand to his chin in thought. "Not really, no." You sighed at another dead end. "But-" Howdy continued "-let me work some laundry magic, and I might be able to cook up a result."

Your face brightened. "Really? Thank you!"

Howdy chuckled. "Now, let's not be too excited. There are still several other neighbours who could have done this. I'll keep an eye on things from the back of the store in case you need any help."

You nodded again and sat behind the register to wait for Barnaby to check out.

It took a few minutes, but he soon walked over with a basket full of goodies. You were a little jealous at the haul, but promising yourself a few treats after you solved your investigation seemed to help.

"Is that all?" you asked after Barnaby set everything out for you to look over.

He shook with a laugh. "Hmm, not sure. What was it that Howdy said? That I could eat my weight? Might need a few more things to make that happen." He grinned, waiting for a laugh back which you offered lightly.

"Well, you can always come back later. Just don't eat too fast, or you might get a stomachache."

"Aye, captain!" Barnaby shouted with a mock salute before leaning over onto the counter. "Now, about what you asked me this morning."

There was a moment of registering what Barnaby was talking about as you bagged his things before it clicked. "About Wally?"

"Yeah, about him." Barnaby looked away from you and sighed. "Is something wrong? Is he in trouble?"

"We don't--"

"I saw Howdy with some of his painting clothes, and whatever it is you think he did, I assure you my little buddy is innocent." Barnaby seemed mighty serious about this, and while he wasn't really all that intimidating, his size made up for what his chill attitude didn't.

You took a breath as you put the last item in the paper bag, everything stacked neatly inside. It made you feel slightly better about all of this. You pulled your hands away and clenched them a few times before shaking them at your sides.

"Did you... notice anything missing while you were shopping today?"

Barnaby stood back up, looking around to try and see anything obviously amiss. His eyes trailed by the fruits and you thought he was just going to skip them, but he stopped, his mouth forming an 'O'. "Well, I see why your thought process is what it is now," he admitted, scratching the back of his head.

"Thank you. At least someone is listening to me!"

Barnaby tilted his head, letting out a sharp noise of disagreement. "I understand it, but I still don't think he did it."

"That's about all I'm going to keep getting, isn't it?" Barnaby smiled and shrugged, which told you all you needed to know. "Why don't either of you think he could have done it?"

It was a genuine question, and one that seemed to catch Barnaby off guard. He looked toward the back room as if Howdy could somehow save him but the bodega owner was still busy, albeit checking on the two of you like promised as he waved through the doorway.

The bell over the door rang, signalling a possible saviour of your own, but when you looked you just wanted to sink into the floor. It was the exact puppet you were accusing and while he didn't look angry, he was here on business.

He looked around a bit for something specific, met your eyes briefly with his orange half-lidded ones, then walked straight to the back of the store. You watched him step inside with his hands behind his back and he began talking to Howdy as if neither you nor Barnaby was there.

Movement caught your eye and you watched Barnaby lift a paw to rub at the back of his head. "That's odd."

"What?"

"Oh, just... Wally didn't greet me when he came in. He never misses saying a quick hello to me--even if they never end up actually quick." His paw kept rubbing at his neck in what you could only assume was a soothing gesture. "Maybe something is up."

This time you struggled to agree, afraid it would be taken as a mocking, "I told you so!" so you stayed silent.

"I think we should know if you have a habit of becoming a little neighbourhood detective, you know," Barnaby joked, leaning further his weight onto the counter; it barely started tilting.

"I don't hope it'll be a habit," you tell him, a nervous laugh escaping you at the thought of this becoming something weekly or even daily. There was too much attention on you which was just a teensy bit unwanted. "I'll let you in on any future escapades, though. For a price."

Barnaby's brow rose and he smiled. "And what would this price be, neighbour?" The gears were turning in his head already, trying to come up with something.

Your brain was on a similar path as you thought through your tease. Suddenly, an idea popped up. It wasn't a good one, but if Barnaby was really as invested in snacks as you've been told...

"You have to provide stakeout goodies."

"Stakeout, huh? And when do you plan to do one of these?"

Your eyes shot over to Howdy's back room again, where he and Wally were still deep in conversation. Wally looked much less tense now, and soon turned to leave the room. You looked back to Barnaby.

"Tomorrow. We're getting a new shipment, and we'll catch whoever is stealing the apples, once and for all."