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Where We Left Off:
Fort Winchester-Nabu was the location of a couple of intruders—one of them a total surprise.
Play Mice:
First Critter of Interest Captured by Gus
Our Most Wanted list includes a mouse who has taken up where Lenier Peró (Case File No. 02-418) left off in The Cook’s kitchen, specifically the appliances. After Peró was released into our Witness Relocation Program, we thought things in the kitchen would be mouse-free. However, if you live pretty much anywhere and have food inside the house, you likely have mice (or some type of freeloading critters). It doesn’t mean your house is disgusting. It might be, but, it could also be clean and tidy. Mice simply exist where there’s food.
The mice do not stay out despite the presence of two highly-skilled felines, Gus and Oliver. Things picked up pace at the detective agency as we moved into late Spring. The cats and I would have loved to focus our attention on beasts, creatures, and critters outside. On May 19, 2026 around 04:30AM, Gus delivered a thick brown and white mouse to my bedroom. At that point, I hadn’t even begun adjusting to our early morning summer hours.
I ended up under the bed with Gus and his captive.
“Ish mime,” he said.
I fumbled for words. “You need to bring it out here and let me have it, OK?”
He released the mouse under the bed. I couldn’t get a hold of it. It went into my slippers which is not a bad spot and could’ve made the capture easier. Before I could slide out from under the bed, Gus had reclaimed his prize. He sat amongst his hundreds of toys while refusing to give me the critter.
The only good thing about this particular capture was that it did go better than usual. Gus didn’t make me chase him all over the house. I have been keeping old socks with the Witness Transportation Units so I can cover my hands with something quickly. Overall, I was better prepared and Gus took it easy on me.
What was more strange was that Ollie stayed in his suite during all of this. He’s usually nearby when Gus has a mouse. This doesn’t imply that Ollie hasn’t been working, because he has. I’m getting to that.
Every time Gus let the mouse go, I tried to grab it. I surprised myself when I succeeded. I didn’t feel anything in my mitted hand, but the critter of interest was in my grasp.
“In you go,” I told the mouse as I put it in the jar. There’s enough oxygen for a mouse with the lid on for a short time period. I have not performed the forensic tests to determine how long that is. I only know that the time frame is between ten minutes and overnight.
When I got back after the successful release, Gus told me who she was. She was Major Charlie alias “Charlie Big Ears”—a big Boss in the organized crime family that originally began around this house. As the families grew and splintered, there are constant turf wars.
Second Critter of Interest Captured by Oliver
Unfortunately, there isn’t a lot to share about this unusual capture because Ollie kept all of the action downstairs. Before I share what I know, I must give extra credit to Ollie. He has been working hard throughout the house having his own stakeouts with no help from Gus. The Cook and I find him posted at the corner of the hobbit door, at the top of the cellar stairs, in different places of the kitchen, and in key spots of the living room. Gus has also making daily trips to the cellar. Something is definitely going on there.
The Cook reported that she was asleep when she felt Ollie jump on the bed. Nothing strange yet. Instead of settling down, he was moving all over. Then she felt it. Something crawled across her bare legs!
She jumped up. The mouse flew to the floor. Ollie launched after it. The critter was a tiny baby but already had athletic prowess. It gave Ollie a fake-out, zigged then zagged. Whoosh! Up a piece of furniture and behind an enormous armoire.
The next morning, I heard the story from The Cook. Ollie arrived at the detective agency office right before our meditation practice. He demanded treats. I filled the cardboard tubes and watched him deftly knock them over to devour his chicken.
“Ollie, what do you know about the baby mouse you captured?” I asked.
“His name is Cliff Swift. Not that old obviously. His skills make me think he’s a descendent of Baby Driver, but I can’t confirm it.” Ollie spun around from his game pieces and went under the chair covered in blankets.
Third Critter of Interest Escaped
At least we had some data to add to our records. Unfortunately, there are still mice on the loose. Ollie tried to nab another one who plagues the kitchen.
The Cook’s horror came through her voice. “Ollie was by the oven. I looked and saw a MOUSE come out of the toaster! Right out of the toaster! Then it ran over the stove and went down the back. Ollie paced around the cabinets and the oven looking for the mouse to come out somewhere.” She let out a groan in frustration. This sounded a lot like the case mentioned at the very beginning of this one, Lenier Peró (Case File No. 02-418).
Case Findings:
Both cat detectives, Ollie and Gus, have captured intruders. One mouse was safely transported via our Witness Relocation Program. The second mouse terrified The Cook when Ollie brought him to her. That tiny baby escaped. The third mouse was spotted spelunking in the kitchen appliances and got away.
Case Status: Open