The Case of the Burgled Bundle by Michael Hutchinson

Author:Michael Hutchinson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Second Story Press
Published: 2021-02-26T18:40:16+00:00

Chapter 10

A Survey of Suspects

“My family is crushed!”

Brandon Shining Deer sat in the kitchen at Grandpa’s scarred, wooden table and explained why he came. “My grandmother is very upset. To her, the bundle is all wrapped up with my great-grandfather and their promise to him. I have never seen her this…confused…and sad. I’d do anything to find the bundle.”

Chickadee and Otter tidied up around the men. The tea had just finished steeping, the recently emptied kettle was cooling, and a pot of stew was bubbling on the stove.

“Is Aunt Dee going to be okay?” Chickadee looked at Brandon with sympathetic eyes.

Brandon shook his head. “No. My grandparents are so involved with being Bundle Holders…it’s like a piece of her has been lost.”

Grandpa grunted as he filled Brandon’s cup. “Something else went missing along with the bundle. The entire Assembly felt off this morning.” The old man thought in silence for a moment. “After it was taken, the sunrise ceremony wasn’t going to happen, but still…a few of the Elders who should have come, didn’t show up.”

With a loud creak, the door to the house burst open and Atim and Samuel flew in. “Sorry we’re late!” Atim smiled wide.

Sam was bursting with news. “We found out where that Guy guy lives. We bumped into Cousin Mark on the road, and he says Guy lives in the trailer park, just a few doors down from the cop shop.”

“Your uncle’s office?” Brandon raised an eyebrow.

Grandpa gave Sam the look that said he should be more respectful. “He means the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Why are you looking for Guy?”

Atim flicked the hair out of his eyes. “Mavis said he hated Crees, and that he bragged he was going to do something to disrupt the Assembly. She figured, if someone in town was going to steal it, Guy would be the guy to do it.”

“So, he’s on our list of suspects. And now we know where he lives.” Sam beamed.

“Don’t go putting yourselves in a dangerous situation.” Grandpa waggled a stern finger at the Muskrats.

Chickadee went over and took his hand. “We’re careful, Grandpa. We check people out before we speak to them.”

“And we speak to most people in places where there are a lot of other people close by,” Sam assured his Elder.

The Muskrats’ grandfather pursed his lips and acknowledged their cautions with an approving gesture and a nod. “So, Muskrats, what else do we know?”

“Well,” Chickadee twisted her face in thought. “The usual suspects are out of town….”

“Usual suspects?” Grandpa’s brow furrowed.

Sam leaned on the table. “We think we saw a group of people from Windy Lake stealing a cooler from one of the campgrounds.” He paused. “We didn’t tell Uncle Levi because we don’t have any real proof yet.”

Atim stepped forward, tapped the table, and interjected loudly. “Bug confessed!”

His brother scoffed. “A cooler isn’t the bundle. We need to focus on the case.”

“My boys!” Grandpa didn’t look up from his tea. The two brothers nodded an apology at each other. Their Elder preferred arguments to stop before they led to harsh words.

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