| Icy Puddles of Mystery When the pair returned to Manhattan that evening, they decided to head up to Rich's office to discuss the information they'd received from Mr. Pig. Climbing the stairs, Rich stated, "Well, Tink, I guess this proves it. That Tim fellow who came into your office the other day sure wasn't bluffing, after all." "You're right, Rich," Tink replied. "Froggy even invited Mr. Pig to his cookout. I wonder who else that scoundrel is planning to roast..." As the duo reached the top of the stairs, Tink reached into his coat pocket to retrieve the key to his office. As he reached to unlock the door, he discovered that had already been opened. "Rich, stay back," Tink whispered as he pushed her aside. "No, I'm coming with you!" Rich replied, grabbing Tink's right hoof. Tink slowly opened the creaking door to the quiet, dark room. The two cows were overcome with suspense as they inched their way into Tink's office. Rich reached for the light switch... *click*...nothing. She tried again...*click, click*...still nothing. She gripped Tink's hoof a bit tighter. "Ow! Not so tight, Rich!" Tink half yelled in pain, wrenching his hoof out of Rich's nervous grasp. Just then, our heroes heard a creak from the floorboard across the room. They froze in horror...but still "kept their cool". Tink stepped up. "I'll check it out," he whispered. "I'll just get my lighter from the desk." Tink crawled toward his desk in the center of the room, searching quietly for his lighter to better see what was happening in the darkest corner of the room. As his cold, clammy hoof fumbled across the familiar desk, it landed in ice cold water and was immediately drawn back. Water? What was this doing on his desk? And ice cold water, no less? Tink quickly pushed these and other questions out of his mind and, regaining his composure, reached again, this time locating his trusty lighter. He lit the flame and held it close to his desk. Tink examined what he could of the room with the dim light. He crept around his desk, gallantly pushed the chair aside, and headed for the shadowy depths of the far corner...nothing. He noticed his file cabinet door open. His top secret information on Froggy the Bowman was gone! "Rich!" he whispered. "Rich, Froggy's files are missing!" No reply. "Richard, did you hear me?" Tink moved slowly toward the entrance where he had left Rich. All he found was another puddle of ice cold water. Continued in the following edition... |