The Nose Knows; Angie & Boe Tie's Mysteries

Chapter 1.

In the dimly lit alleyways of the medieval town, the stench of rotting garbage and human waste hung thick in the air, the cobblestones damp and slick from the incessant drizzle. Detective Angie Vincent, a young and determined woman clad in her trademark cloak, hurried through the labyrinthine streets, her trusty bull terrier, Boe Tie, trotting dutifully at her side. The duo had been summoned to investigate a series of baffling thefts that had been plaguing the town for weeks. Each victim reported their most prized possession missing, but no signs of forced entry and no witnesses to speak of. It was as if the thief had vanished into thin air.

As they approached the latest crime scene, a wealthy merchant's house, Angie felt a growing sense of unease in the pit of her stomach. Something about this case felt off, and she couldn't quite put her finger on it. She glanced over at Boe Tie, who had perked up at the sound of their approach, his ears pricking forward. The two shared a silent understanding; they were in this together.

The merchant, a portly man with a bushy beard and wild, anxious eyes, met them at the door, his hands wringing nervously. "Thank God you're here, Detective. My most prized possession has been stolen," he exclaimed, leading them inside. "My collection of rare and exquisite jewels. They were locked away in my study, and no one had access to the key."

As they followed the merchant through the lavishly decorated house, Angie glanced around, taking in the opulence that surrounded them. The study was no exception; it was a small, intimate room, lined with shelves overflowing with jewelry cases and ornate trinkets. The air was thick with the scent of lavender, and a warm fire crackled in the hearth.

Boe Tie sniffed around the room, his nose twitching as he caught whiffs of a foreign scent that seemed to linger in the air. Angie crouched down, scratching the dog's ears and murmuring softly to him. "What is it, boy? You picking up something?" The bull terrier gave a low growl and darted forward, his nose leading him to a hidden panel in the bookcase. With a click, the panel swung open, revealing a secret compartment. Inside lay the stolen jewels, gleaming in the flickering light.

The merchant gasped in surprise, his eyes widening with disbelief. "But how? Who could have known about this?" Angie glanced at Boe Tie, a satisfied smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "It seems our suspect has been hiding in plain sight all along," she said, nodding towards the fireplace. "Over there, by the mantel."

As they both turned their attention to the fireplace, they noticed a small, intricately carved figurine of a raven perched atop the mantel. Its beady, glass eyes seemed to stare back at them, mocking their ignorance. "That's it," the merchant exclaimed, recognition dawning on his face. "That's the only piece of decoration that wasn't mine."

"And a clever distraction, at that," Angie added, admiration in her voice. "Whoever did this must have been confident no one would suspect something as small as a figurine."

As the merchant thanked them profusely, Angie and Boe Tie turned to leave, their minds already racing ahead to their next case. The alleyways outside were still wet and dim, but there was a newfound sense of camaraderie between them as they trudged through the muck. Boe Tie, his tail wagging furiously, seemed to sense that something had shifted in their dynamic. No longer were they just a detective and her dog; they were partners, a team.

The rain let up as they neared the precinct, revealing a sky that was just beginning to lighten with the first glimmers of dawn. Angie paused at the entrance, her thoughts once again returning to the case they'd just solved. She couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in her partner, the unassuming bull terrier who had uncovered the thief's scheme with his keen nose and unwavering loyalty. She reached down and ruffled his fur, earning a pleased grunt from the animal. "You know, Boe Tie," she said, her voice serious, "you might just be the best partner a detective could ask for."