First edition for the United States published in 2014

      by Barron’s Educational Series, Inc.

      First published in Great Britain in 2013 by Orion Children’s Books,

      a division of the Orion Publishing Group Ltd., Orion House,

      5 Upper St. Martin’s Lane, London WC2H 9EA, Great Britain

      Text and illustrations copyright © Kate Pankhurst 2013

      The right of Kate Pankhurst to be identified as the author

      and illustrator of this work has been asserted.

      All rights reserved. No part of this book may be

      reproduced in any form or by any means without the

      written permission of the copyright owner.

      All inquiries should be addressed to:

      Barron’s Educational Series, Inc.

      250 Wireless Boulevard, Hauppauge, New York 11788

       www.barronseduc.com

      eISBN: 978-1-4380-9289-8

      First eBook Publication: September 2014

      For Dad and Andrew

      Contents

      Sunday October 25th

      Monday October 26th

      Tuesday October 27th

      Wednesday October 28th

      Thursday October 29th

       Friday October 30th

       Saturday October 31st

       Operation Hair Scare

       Sunday November 1st

       ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

      

      1:30 PM

      GARDEN, 22 SYCAMORE AVENUE (MY HOUSE)

      I have high hopes that Watson (pet cat and trusty sidekick) will become the world’s first fully trained detective’s sniffer cat.

      SNIFFER CAT INTENSIVE TRAINING PROGRAM

      Expert Team of Cat Trainers (and Mystery Solvers)

      Violet Maple

      Mystery Girl and Chief Cat Behavior Analyst. Violet has been observing Watson’s progress. She is totally allergic to cats so she has to do this from a safe distance (approximately five feet) to prevent sneezing fits.

      Poppy Holmes

      Mystery Girl and Sniffer Cat Coaching Monitor. In charge of thinking up new challenges for Watson. She’s really good at this because she is the team captain of our local synchronized swimming team, the Puddleford Puddles.

      Mariella Mystery (me)

      Also a Mystery Girl and Chief Cat Handler. I know Watson best, so I’ve been guiding him through the intensive training challenges.

      KITTY CHALLENGE SIX: TRACKING THE SCENT OF A MISSING PERSON

      10:00 AM: Poppy and I nominate Violet to be the missing person. Violet says she’s not sure Watson is ready for this, but goes inside the house to hide.

      10:07 AM: We let Watson sniff Violet’s sweater and give him a clear instruction: “Find Violet, Watson, find Violet.” (I read in the Young Super Sleuth’s Handbook that it’s important to give clear instructions to sniffer dogs. I’m sure the same is true for cats.)

      10:10 AM: Watson heads toward the house and disappears through the cat flap. This is good. He is following Violet’s scent!

      10:18 AM: Poppy and I go to investigate.

      10:33 AM: We hear a screeching noise and thudding. Has Watson located Violet?

      10:34 AM: Source of disturbing noise levels located in The Chief Cat Distractor’s bedroom.

      CHIEF CAT DISTRACTOR (AKA ARTHUR MYSTERY):

      Totally annoying little brother, aged five and three quarters.

      10:35 AM: The true extent of Arthur’s cat distraction is revealed. He’s recently decided he wants to be just like his favorite pop star, Coco Nutello. The thudding noise was him dancing and the screeching was him singing. He has also recreated one of Coco Nutello’s stupid hairstyles (a huge flip) on his hair and done the same to Watson.

      10:36 AM: Arthur says it’s fine to put hairspray on a cat because it’s Coco Nutello’s own brand. (As if that makes a difference. You do not put hairspray on a cat!)

      10:37 AM: Mom comes in with Violet and demands to know what is going on. She found Violet trapped in the closet shouting for help. Whoops.

      10:38 AM: Training session is abandoned.

      VERDICT:

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