In a quiet little cul-de-sac, where the houses curve like a smile, there lives a small dog with a big job.

His name is Tater.

Tater isn't just ANY dog. Oh no...He's part Corgi and part Jack Russell terrier- and with his short legs and tiny "bee stinger" tail, he is ALL investigator!

He sniffs every yard, examines every blade of grass and keeps an eye on suspicious squirrels in his territory - which he lovingly calls his  "Tater-tory".  

Lately in the Tater-tory things have changed. His owner recently rescued a new dog. Marlee is a 15-yr-old pit-bull - Dalmation mix with a white coat, black spots and kind eyes.  

The neighbors call Marlee the "Jersey cow". Tater wasn't sure what a Jersey cow was, but he's already fond of his new buddy - partly because they can work together - to beg their owner for delicious treats! Ha!

Today though, Tater had more important things to think about....

Like the case!

His favorite blue dinosaur squeaky toy was missing- perhaps even stolen! 

 Tater loved the way "squeaky" sounded and he would throw it up into the air- to show off for his owner-which would sometimes mean getting more delicious treats!

But now it was gone! It disappeared sometime after his inspection patrol and breakfast, Tater thought to himself.

Hmmmmmm, suspicious!", he growled to himself.

Clue#1 Beyond the Dust

Tater had been investigating for awhile now. Sniffing under the couch and behind the curtains,  but had only found some dust. Then, just when he was ambling past the doorway to the deck....He froze!

There outside....on one of the deck boards...sitting there all 

cute and fluffy....was a tiny piece of blue lint. 

"Aha!", he barked. "A clue!"

His bee stinger wagged. He lowered his nose to inspect it.  The scent trail drifted across the deck to the yard, the trees....and beyond. Tater's gaze sharpened at the perimeter.

Clue #2 The Suspicious Cat

There lounging near the perimeter of the backyard- on the 

neighbor's lawn, lay a very suspicious gray cat. She was always 

watching. Her name is GK and she doesn't miss a trick.

"Interesting", Tater muttered to himself. 

Marlee trotted up beside him.  

"A suspect",  Tater said. 

Marlee squinted. "That cat?"

"Indeed!", Tater barked.

Marlee tilted her head. "Do you

 think she took your toy?"

Tater puffed out his chest. "I don't think.....I investigate! "

Tater needed information. 

And in his Tater-tory, there was

 only one source. One tiny twitchy-tailed witness to all the neighborhood matters - Mr. 

Nibbles, the squirrel!  Tater found him up in a tree near the

 perimeter of the yard, nibbling 

on something crunchy.  Marlee came up beside Tater. 

"Mr. Nibbles!", Tater called out, clearing his throat.

The squirrel peeked down, his cheeks full.

"Mr. Investigator Tater", he chattered. "To what do I 

owe this honor?"

"There's been a theft!" , Tater reported.

Mr. Nibbles gasped. "A theft?! In the Tater-tory?!" 

"Indeed!", barked Tater, grimly. "My blue squeaky

 dinosaur."

Mr. Nibbles flicked his tail. "I may have seen something....."

Tater and Marlee leaned in....there was a pause....

"What did you see?!", Tater barked.

Mr. Nibbles lowered his voice. "This morning, I'm sure I saw something blue fly past my gaze quickly". 

Tater's heart raced and Marlee's ears perked up.

"But it wasn't the cat" , Mr. Nibbles admitted. .

Tater blinked. "Not GK?" 

Mr. Nibbles shook his head. "Nope, she's got nuttin' !" He pointed

 one of his paws toward the edge of their yard. 

"Your mystery...is bigger than you think."

Tater and Marlee turned and stared into the distance past 

the yard. 

"Hmmmmm, very curious", Tater whispered to himself. 

 "Care to assist, Marlee?""

Marlee thumped her tail. And just like that, Tater the Investigator had an assistant!

Tater started sniffing the yard. After a few minutes, he barked.

"A clue!" , he barked. His bee stinger was wagging.

"Oh, false alarm...just a suspicious leaf."

Marlee followed at her slower pace, sniffing

 and observing. Then

 they both reached

 a fence where they found GK the cat, 

lounging on the 

neighbor's  lawn 

behind it.  Tater looked 

suspiciously at GK. 

"I still think you have something to do with my missing 

squeaky." 

"I haven't even moved all morning", she purred. 

Tater thought to himself....

He had to admit.....that was true. 

"No toy here", Marlee reported.