Trapped! (16 page)

“Humans don’t own animals,” Pete said. “You merely take care of them.”

“That means Piccolo gets to stay with us,” Mary said.

Benjie cheered. Rocky gave the thumbs-up sign.

Maybe it won’t be so bad, Pete thought. If Piccolo is as smart as the people claim she is, she might make an interesting friend. Pete liked Lizzy, but she couldn’t discuss current events, and when Pete had asked her opinion about who would win the World Series, Lizzy had no idea what he was talking about.

Tomorrow Pete would sneak out and pay that pig a visit.
If Piccolo didn’t understand Cat, perhaps Pete could learn to speak Pig. Maybe pig language would have some new words that start with c-a-t.

•  •  •

“Officer Dingam also told us to watch the news on channel four at six-thirty,” Alex said. “That’s why we invited you to come over now.” He turned on the television.

Partway through the broadcast, the station played the brief clip of Bick Badgerton covering his face as he hurried to his truck.

The reporter, Jenna Martinez, said, “Hilltop Police have made an arrest for a bank robbery that was committed seven years ago. Channel four has this exclusive picture of the suspect.”

“I knew it,” Benjie said. “I knew Hogman was hiding from the law!”

“Hush, Benjie,” Mrs. Kendrill said.

“The suspect lives in the woods west of Hilltop in an abandoned trailer that was once used as a temporary office for a timber company,” Jenna said. “Police had charged him with illegal trapping and animal cruelty, but when they ran his fingerprints through the computer, the prints matched those of a man wanted for bank robbery.”

Officer Dingam appeared on the TV screen. “When the bank was robbed,” he said, “two citizens gave chase. The robber dropped the bag of money when he ran away, so the fingerprints from that bag were on file.”

Jenna Martinez returned. “Mr. Badgerton will be arraigned in court next Thursday,” she said as the clip of Hogman with his hands over his face ran again. “Stay tuned to channel four for updates.”

A commercial came on, and Alex turned the TV off.

“Wow!” Rocky said. “We not only helped nab a trapper, we caught a bank robber!”

“Who caught the trapper?” Pete asked. “Who found the evidence? I’m the hero! I’m the one who should have been interviewed.”

“Do you think Pete’s shoulder hurts?” Mr. Kendrill asked. “Is that why he’s yowling?”

“Maybe we had better take him to the vet in the morning, after all,” Mrs. Kendrill said.

“No!” Pete said. “He would take my temperature and make unflattering remarks about my size. I won’t go!” He growled while his tail swished back and forth on the carpet.

Mary opened a large bag that she had brought along. “In all the excitement of getting Pete back and seeing Hogman arrested,” she said, “I forgot to show you what I found yesterday.” She removed a deer antler.

“Where did you find that?” Alex asked.

“I looked for Pete while you were at the hospital. When I went in the trees behind Elm Lane, it was lying on the ground, and I picked it up.”

Alex groaned. The antler had been practically in his own backyard.

“Do you want me to sell it for you on eBay?” Rocky said.

“No. I’m going to hang it in my room.”

Pete stood up and walked from Alex to Benjie, politely asking for his own dish of ice cream
.

“He moves okay,” Mr. Kendrill said. “Maybe he’s yowling because he’s hungry.”

“I’ll feed him as soon as I finish my ice cream,” Alex said.

Pete looked at all the humans, comfortable and relaxed as they ate their ice cream. Pete thought this would be a fine opportunity to catapult and caterwaul at the same time. But first, he needed to get rid of a hair ball. With all the mouse fur he had swallowed recently, he was sure he could bring up an especially big one. He stood in the center of the room, stuck out his tongue, and began to retch.

For those who want to learn more about pigs, I recommend
The Whole Hog: Exploring the Extraordinary Potential of Pigs
by Lyall Watson. Smithsonian Books, 2004

The idea of a pig who fell from a truck on her way to be slaughtered came from an actual pig who jumped onto a busy highway and was lucky enough to be rescued by Pasado’s Safe Haven. The incident of the puppy shooting a man who was trying to kill him is also based on fact.

Trapping laws vary from state to state. While it is true that many countries have banned leghold traps, some states in the United States still allow them.

I’m too tired to write any more. If you have questions, you’ll find me under the table in the sunny spot, washing Lizzy’s ears.

Pete’s not afraid of anything. If there’s a mystery to be solved, he’s your man. Er, your cat. Pete’s a cat, specifically, Alex’s cat. And since Alex and his family moved into a new housing development, Pete is Alex’s only friend, too. Things start looking up for Alex when Rocky, a boy his age, moves in next door. But Rocky isn’t very friendly, and Alex starts to suspect he’s hiding something. And when the neighborhood is terrorized by a rash of fires and vandalism, Pete knows that he’s got to investigate.

Pete the cat knows something is wrong. Pete can’t actually
talk
to his owner, Alex, but he’s a crime-solving cat, and he knows when things aren’t right. Someone’s been breaking into houses in the neighborhood, and they’re not just stealing people’s property—they’re kidnapping pets! When the burglars come to Alex’s house, they nab Pete. Lucky for Pete, Alex’s brother, Benjie, comes to the rescue. But he gets
himself
kidnapped by the thieves. Can Pete and Alex uncover the clues and rescue Benjie?