It was a warm, peaceful morning in the quiet village of Palmwood. Birds chirped happily in the trees, the sun peeked over the hills, and all seemed well—until a loud screech shattered the calm.
“EEEEEK! EEEE! EEEK!”
The sound came from a small cottage at the edge of the village—the home of baby monkey Miko.
Inside the house, little Miko was hopping in panic. His big round eyes were full of fear. A stranger had broken into the house through the back window! Miko, who had just learned how to use the emergency button on the wall, leapt to it with trembling fingers and pressed it hard.
BEEP-BEEP-BEEP!
The alarm was triggered instantly. Bright red lights flashed around the room. In seconds, the call reached the most trusted person in the village—Detective CUTIS.
Detective CUTIS wasn’t your ordinary investigator. He was smart, calm, and surprisingly gentle—especially with young animals. Known for solving the most puzzling mysteries, CUTIS had a sharp mind and a heart full of care.
At the sound of the alarm, CUTIS dropped his newspaper, grabbed his magnifying glass and hat, and sprinted to his electric scooter. His eyes narrowed with concern.
“Hang on, Miko,” he muttered. “I’m on my way.”
At the Scene
When Detective CUTIS arrived, the front door was slightly open. That was already a red flag. Carefully, he stepped inside, scanning the room.
“Miko? Are you okay?”
“CUTIS! HELP!” Miko’s tiny voice echoed from the living room. The baby monkey was hiding behind the couch, clutching a pillow tightly.
CUTIS rushed over. “It’s okay, little one. I’m here now.”
Miko pointed a shaky finger toward the kitchen. “A bad guy! He came in the window! He looked through our stuff!”
CUTIS nodded, immediately inspecting the window. Sure enough, there were scratch marks on the windowsill and muddy footprints on the floor.
“Hmm… this wasn’t just a prank,” CUTIS whispered. “Someone was looking for something.”
The Investigation Begins
CUTIS examined the footprints carefully. They were large and a bit clumsy, suggesting the intruder wasn’t very stealthy.
“Did he take anything, Miko?” CUTIS asked.
Miko shook his head. “I don’t think so. He looked under the carpet and in Mama’s flower vase. Then he heard the alarm and ran away!”
CUTIS made notes in his detective journal:
- Intruder entered through window
- Searched several hiding spots
- Left in a rush
- Didn’t take anything (yet)
CUTIS scratched his head. “This isn’t a normal break-in. Whoever it was, they were searching for something specific.”
Just then, Miko said something that made CUTIS pause.
“Last week, Mama found a shiny rock in the forest. She thought it was pretty and kept it in a jar. Could it be about that?”
CUTIS’s eyes lit up. “Now we’re getting somewhere!”
Following the Trail
CUTIS examined the jar. Inside was a dull-looking rock—but upon closer inspection, he saw a faint symbol carved into it. “This isn’t just a rock,” he muttered. “This is part of something bigger.”
Using a special blue light from his tool belt, CUTIS illuminated the symbol. It matched a mark he had seen once before, in an old book about ancient forest treasures.
CUTIS turned to Miko. “We need to keep this safe. Someone thinks your family has something valuable.”
Miko’s eyes widened. “Are we in danger?”
CUTIS smiled gently. “Not if we stay one step ahead.”
He placed the rock in a secure box and left it with Officer Penny at the village station. Then he and Miko retraced the intruder’s path through the forest.
A Mysterious Message
Along the path, CUTIS found something odd: a piece of paper stuck to a tree with sap. It was torn and dirty, but three words were clear:
“THE MAP PIECE”
CUTIS studied the paper. “So it is a treasure hunt.”
Suddenly, there was rustling behind them. CUTIS raised a hand to protect Miko. But it was only a squirrel, chittering nervously.
“She saw someone run this way!” Miko translated excitedly. “He had a big coat and a backpack!”
CUTIS thanked the squirrel and continued down the path, now certain they were getting close.
The Showdown
The trail led them to an old cabin deep in the woods. CUTIS crouched behind a bush, peering through binoculars. Inside the cabin, a tall figure was examining another strange stone—possibly another map piece!
CUTIS motioned to Miko. “Stay here. I’ll handle this.”
With stealth and speed, CUTIS approached the door and knocked firmly. The stranger froze.
“I know you’re in there,” CUTIS called. “Step out, and let’s talk.”
The door creaked open slowly. A lanky raccoon with shifty eyes stepped out, clutching a cloth bag.
“I don’t want trouble,” the raccoon said.
CUTIS nodded. “Then tell me why you broke into Miko’s home.”
“I… I thought they had the last piece of the Forest Map,” the raccoon muttered. “I didn’t want to hurt anyone. I just needed the map to find the treasure.”
CUTIS folded his arms. “And what would you do with the treasure?”
The raccoon hesitated. “Sell it, I guess. I need the money.”
CUTIS looked at him for a long moment. “There are better ways to solve your problems than stealing and scaring children.”
The raccoon lowered his head. “I didn’t mean to frighten anyone…”
CUTIS sighed. “I believe you. But you still broke the law. Come with me. You can help us return what you took—and maybe make things right.”
Justice and Kindness
Back at the station, CUTIS helped the raccoon apologize to Miko and his family. The raccoon returned his piece of the map, and together with the stone Miko’s family found, CUTIS handed the full map to the Forest Museum for safekeeping.
“I’ll work off my debt,” the raccoon said. “I want to do better.”
Miko smiled and gave him a banana. “Next time, just knock!”
Everyone laughed, even the raccoon.
Case Closed
Later that evening, Detective CUTIS stood under the stars, watching the lights of the village flicker like fireflies.
Another case solved. Another lesson learned: even the smallest creature—like baby Miko—can be a hero when they stay brave and do the right thing.
And as for CUTIS? He was already back to reading his newspaper, waiting for the next call for help.
