Go easy on yourself! Theres no meerkat without flaws! The boy tried to encourage the disappointed creature.
I must eat much ice cream to stay cool. Cool as a cucumber! Notaspy said, and jumped on his hind legs.
Ive already heard these words today! In the ice cream parlor, the boy exclaimed. Are you the same meerkat who asked for Butter Pecan? Is the gator your friend or partner?
You ask too many questions for an 11-year-old boy, the meerkat replied, and looked at him suspiciously.
How did you guess my age? Colin asked in surprise.
There is nothing impossible for a secret agent, he whispered. Lets go get some ice cream and talk about it!
They ran to the ice cream cart at the corner of the street. It wasnt abandoned, after all. The vendor was napping behind the cart. He flapped his wings to finally wake up.
Hi! Im Oscar the Stork. Ill give you ice cream cones for free if you give me the correct answer to the question.
The boy and the meerkat exchanged glances and agreed.
The vendor asked, What is the best time for ice cream?
The best time for ice cream is always! Notaspy replied laughing. His bright eyes were glittering with delight.
Thats the right answer! Oscar beamed. What flavor would you prefer? Ive got Vanilla, Mango, and Butter Pecan.
Butter Pecan for me! Notaspy yelled with joy.
Ill take Vanilla! Colin said to the vendor.
They were racing to see who could finish the ice cream cone first, and the meerkat won.
CHAPTER FOUR
Why are you wearing a beanie hat? Colin asked Notaspy anxiously. Arent you a bit warm this time of the year?
The meerkats bright eyes were glittering mysteriously. He looked around to make sure that nobody could eavesdrop on what he was going to tell the boy in strict confidence.
Thats a spy tool, whispered Notaspy. It increases the ability to think rationally. Emma left me a secret message in invisible ink. I cant make out what she wrote.
Whos Emma? Colin glanced inquiringly at the meerkat.
BCI Special Agent. Emma was the best student in the Defense Intelligence School. Now shes the most successful and prolific undercover crocodile agent, best known for her undercover work on Ko Ta Pu or James Bond Island.
What does BCI mean?
The BCI stands for the Bureau of Crocodile Investigation. Youve mentioned that you met Hunter, the meerkat said in a low and worried voice, What did he want?
Hunter told me about the meerkat who had stolen the ancient jewelries. He asked me to call him if I saw a suspicious meerkat, Colin said with caution.
Are you going to call Hunter and turn me in? Notaspy asked. He was staring ahead; his pupils were pinpoints. He got up and started collecting his belongings.
No, Im not, the boy said in a confident voice. You dont look suspicious. Ill call Hunter if I find the meerkat who stole the treasure. Ive got no proof that youre the one.
Nice to hear it. I appreciate that you believe in me.
At first, we must figure out whos the thief!
Im out! Notaspy said firmly, Im NOT a SHERLOCK!
Based on?
A number of things. My failures mostly. As a detective Im useless. We dont need to go around this topic again.
The meerkat pensively toyed with the tail. He was wearing sunglasses now. Colin could barely see his muzzle.
Dont give up. A spy is always a detective. Remember? Colin said, patting his paw. Together we will find the thief!
Never call me a spy. I dont deserve that, he added, and scratched the back of his neck nervously. I cant even read Emmas message! Im hopeless.
He put the sunglasses on the back of his head.
Are you checking for a tail or just want to look good? The boy burst into laughter.
These are Rear-View Glasses! You must never be caught off guard. Knowing whats happening behind you can mean the difference between life and death! Notaspy was serious.
Nobody moves! Hunter the Bat shouted in a loud voice. Notaspy, you wont escape. Not this time!
The bats! Theyve been tracking us, the boy cried out.
The meerkat dashed to the box, took a corn cob, and threw it on the sidewalk. It spewed dense clouds of smoke reducing visibility to almost zero. The bats began sneezing and coughing. A chill of horror ran down the meerkats spine as he heard a snapping sound above his head.
Spinning knives, he thought; the pain engulfed him. He took hold of the boys sleeve and crawled up to his shoulder.
They are trying to encircle us! Come on, Colin, run! Notaspy shouted at the top of his voice.
The boy darted away as fast as he could.
CHAPTER FIVE
Emma the Crocodile shivered suddenly, although the water was warm. She soaked in a tub. It was her day off. Emma got a job in the Crocodile World Amazement Park. Two performances every day, except Monday!
Something was very wrong. Her instincts never lied to her. The crocodile wondered what had happened to Notaspy. She had left him a message in invisible ink, but she got no answer. Can he have failed to read it? Emma had been undercover for a month when she got a new assignment to investigate the theft at the Royal Jewerly Museum. She was grateful to Notaspy for doing a superb job of protecting her cover. Now it was time to take the risks of declassifying in order to help him.
Emma looked out of the window and saw a bunch of BFI special agents up in the tree by the neighbors house.
Why are they setting up covert surveillance on the house? An ordinary family of three, no special agents there. The kid is interested in spy tools and stories. He couldnt be involved in a spy game, could he?
She saw a boy coming out of the house. He was in a hurry. Emma decided to follow him in disguise. She took out her green Invisible Scarf. This was the spy tool she adored to use. It was so thrilling to walk invisible for everyone! She dried her paws with a towel because wet prints could betray her. Then she started snooping. Unseen and unheard.
Notaspy will be all right; hell be all right. I must apply a sterile dressing! I need disinfectant, pain medication, more bandages and plasters, Colin said in grieve agitation.
His hands were trembling in despair. He hurried to the nearest pharmacy. Emma heard the key word. The boy mentioned Notaspy. She raced to the house and found the meerkat. He was unconscious, his right forepaw was injured.
Spinning knives! Thats too oldfashioned, Emma mumbled and reached for her spy first aid kit. Hold on! Help is on the way! All these years Id thought being a spy was challenging. Turns out, being a doctor is even more.
Im going insane! She heard a troubled voice. Colin was standing in the doorway. He saw bandages and vials of iodine jumping over the meerkat. The boy rubbed his eyes in disbelief. Emma remembered that she had forgotten to remove the Spy Scarf. She was invisible to him.
Dont be scared. Im Emma. I followed you here. Ill become visible in eight seconds, she said softly to Colin.
The boy felt he was suffocating with amazement and joy.
Emma? The best BCI undercover agent? In my house? No one would believe me, the boy yelled with sheer delight.
CHAPTER SIX
Notaspy regained consciousness in a few hours. Hunters on my trail, he whispered to Emma. Im removed from duty and suspended pending further investigation!
The BFI agents are watching the house. No prizes for guessing why, she said. Hunters looking for the jewelries.
Ive never actually seen the jewelries firsthand! Hunter has set me up! The meerkat blinked in bewilderment.
Tell me everything! Emma asked. The meerkat nodded and gave her a play-by-play of his memory.
He said in a weak voice, I decided to visit the Royal Museum as a private person. It was two days after the theft.
Was there anything unusual that day?
Nothing. I slipped on the wet floor. Its not a big deal.