Free Inspector Rumblepants and the Case of the Golden Haggis by Mike Blyth Page B

Firt’a-way’e.
    As the carriage bounced down the muddy track, Inspector Rumblepants was thinking hard. He looked at Agent Amber and asked, “Have you wondered how the gypsies knew we were going to travel across that lake?”
    Agent Amber looked over at the Inspector. “I believe there is a traitor passing on information,” she stated without hesitation. “It could be a solider from Castle Stirling or perhaps someone within our team,” she added. “That is why I met you at the other side of the lake. I suspected that there is a traitor, and I came to warn you.”
    Inspector Rumblepants was very annoyed that there might be a spy among them, called a “mole.”
    â€œThat’s a bit sneaky,” he said, indignant. “They are not playing fair! Criminals today have no sense of ethics. What is the world coming to?”
    â€œYes, criminals do seem to break the rules occasionally,” answered Agent Amber knowingly. “I am sure you will tell them off when we arrest them.”

    Their carriage broke from the black forest and bounced into a sunny valley with mountains towering on either side. The valley was dotted with fields of grazing sheep. In its center was a little village. On one side of the valley, the waters of Loch Ness lapped gently on the shore, which was covered with smelly seaweed. The lake, shrouded with mist, exuded mystery. Their carriage sloshed through muddy puddles and finally ended up in the village. Inspector Rumblepants and Agent Amber quickly found a large, stone building with an old sign stating that the building was the University for Clever(ish) Folks.
    The sun was starting to set, so they decided to find a place to stay for the night. Their plan was to visit Professor Aberdeen the next day. They found a modest inn with an ancient, weathered sign saying the Loch Ness Beastie Inn. There they asked the old innkeeper for three rooms, one each for the Inspector, Agent Amber, and Sergeant Widebottom.
    â€œYe want rooms?” asked the innkeeper, giving a toothless smile. “Certainly!” With incredibly wrinkled hands, he handed over three heavy, iron keys.
    With all of their bags, they climbed the narrow stairs to their rooms. Inspector Rumblepants and Agent Amber quickly unpacked and agreed to meet later that night to wait for Sergeant Widebottom and have dinner. Their rooms were small but cheerful, with tiny windows that let in the last rays of sunshine. Downstairs, the wonderful smell of cooking seeped through the rooms. They could hear mothers outside calling their playing children to come home for supper.

Chapter 10
    Professor Aberdeen
    L ater that night, Sergeant Widebottom arrived at the Loch Ness Beastie Inn on the back of a Scottish police pony. He had obtained the steed at the police station to which he had taken the gypsies. The officers had given him the pony on loan so that he didn’t have to walk all the way to the village of Firt’a-way’e. When the Scottish police officer had handed over the reins to the pony, Sergeant Widebottom had asked why they had painted the pony’s head blue.
    â€œâ€˜Cause that’s a police color, don’t ye know,” stated the Scottish policeman firmly. “All police property is painted blue.” The officer pointed to a small horn tied to one of the pony’s ears. “And that is yer police horn,” he stated. “All folks will leap out of the way when ye blow it!”
    Sergeant Widebottom tried the horn, which let out a small squeak. “I guess they hear you coming from miles off,” he deadpanned.
    After several hours bouncing up and down on the back of the small pony, he eventually found the inn and boarded the pony in the stable so it could eventually be returned by a local officer. The sun had set several hours previously, and the night was getting cold and damp. Fog was rolling in. Throughout the valley, a strange and eerie bleating noise