white." 

      Balto sniffed it. 

      " Well, that eliminates wolves, birds, humans, and polar bears, so the criminal is a husky dog, " Balto said.  

      " Then that closes in on either Ralph, Kirby, Dusty, Star, or Cuddy," Boris stated. " I was with Kodi that night, so it couldn't be him, Nikki was in vacation with his owners, and Kaltag was hanging out with Steele."

      " Let's look for them tomorrow, right now, it's kinda late and we need the rest," Balto yawned.

       That night, Cuddy was alone crying. " Only 4 more days till the funeral," Cuddy sniffed. 

       Suddenly, the door burst open, and the dark figure stood in the doorway. Cuddy looked to see that the intruder fits the exact description Doc had told her. Cuddy screamed, but the dark figure knocked Cuddy out and dragged her. 

      The next day, Balto and Boris were looking for their suspects when Muk and Luk ran towared them.

      " Balto! Balto! Cuddy has been kidnapped!" yelled Muk, with Luk whimpering behind.

      " What? How?" asked Balto.

      " I don't know. You better go see Doc," Muk explained. 

          Balto and Boris ran to the boiler room where Doc was. 

      " Doc, what happened?' Balto asked.

       " Cuddy has been kidnapped late last night," Doc explained. " She disappereared without a trace."

       " This is such a bad timing," Boris said.

       " Tell me about it," Doc replied. " I sent out a few dogs to find her. So far, al we found was a hair and a single paw print in the dirt."

        " Let me see it," Balto urged.

          Balto , Boris, and Doc went to Cuddy's house. Balto examined the paw print while Boris took a good look at the hair,

          " This looks like the same hair found in the alleyway," Boris observed.

          " The paw print confirmes that it is a male husky, by looking at the shape of the paw," Balto stated.

          " Then Dusty is eliminated from the suspect list, " Boris added.

          " Then the suspects are either Star, Kirby, or Ralph, " Balto said.

          " Do you think we should talk to each one in person?" asked Boris.

         "  Yes, let's ask Star," Balto said.

          Balto and Boris found Star talking with Kaltag and Nikki. 

           "Star, can I talk to you?' asked Balto.

          "Ummm... sure," said Star. " See ya guys later!' waving to Nikki and Kaltag.

          " Where were you when Pastor TIm was murdered?" asked Balto.

          " Well, I was talking with Kaltaglate last night  when Steele showed up," Star said. " Then he took us to the beach and shared us his treats he recieved from his owner.Then, Kaltag said a very nasty joke about Steele, and Steele slapped him across the face. Then Steele was still mad and ran away to his home. Then I went to my house and slept, still shocked by what Steele had done."

            " Thank you Star, you've helped us a lot with our case," said Balto.

            As they left Star to hang out with his friends, Boris said, " Wait, now Steele is on our suspect list. Star said he was wondering why Steele was acting so strangely." 

            Balto was about to respond when Ralph showed up, trying to find food. 

           " But Ralph has grey fur on his underbelly, so he needs to be questioned," Balto said. 

           " Alright, but I may be right," Boris murmered.

           " Ralph, where were you the night Pastor Tim was murdered?" questioned Balto.

           " I just returned Kirby's stuff, when I saw Steele, Kaltag, and Star coming toward me. Suddenly, Steele pounced on me and dragged me to the beach, and he threw me into the water with Star and Kaltag laughing. After that, Steele slapped me across the face. I still have bruises from the throw," Ralph explained.

            " Ouch Ralph, I'm sorry about that. Thanks for telling me this. Feel free to come to Jenna's house. She'll make something good to eat," Balto said.

            " Sweet! Thanks a lot Balto!" Ralph shouted.

            " You welcome Ralph," Balto replied.

            " Wait, may I see your scratch?" said Boris.

           " Sure," replied Ralph, showing the nasty cut. 

           " Best to go to the vet," said Boris. "Balto, take Ralph to Jenna's house, I'll catch up later."

           " I'll see you later," replied Balto, taking Ralph to his house.

            Boris walked through the streets of Nome for half an hour until he spotted his target. Kaltag. Boris ran to Kaltag. 

            " Hey Boris, what's the rush?" asked Kaltag.

            " I've heard that Steele attacked you the other day. May I see your scratch?" asked Boris polietly.

            " Well, sure," said Kaltag, showing Boris the stratch. 

            " Thanks Kaltag," said Boris. " I'll take you to the vet."

            After Boris took Kaltag to the vet, Boris went to the coffin of Pastor Tim, whose funeral was about to take place less than 2 days. Quietly, Boris opened the coffin to see the body of Pastor Tim. Trying hard to not throw up, he focused on the slashes on Pastor Tim. After seeing it, Boris put the lid back. Boris waddled to Balto, who attracted Star's attention. Star started to go with Boris.

            " Where are you going?" asked Star.

            " Going to Balto's boat," panted Boris.

            As Star and Boris arrived at Balto's boat, Boris called to Balto, " Balto! Where are you?"

           " I'm right here," said Balto. " I just took Ralph to Jenna's. Why are you two here?" 

           " Come, I have something important to tell you," said Boris urgently. "Star, come with us,"

           " Really? It's him?" said Balto.

           " It all makes sense!" shouted Boris. " Steele's strange behaviour, the identical scratches on the dogs he attacked, his love for Cuddy several years ago, and his revenge on Pastor Tim! He killed Pastor Tim because he was in love with Cuddy, and Steele was mad that Cuddy took Pastor TIm as a husband instead of him! That was before he focused his attention on Jenna!"

          " Wait, he had a crush on another dog besides Jenna?" said Star.

          " Heck yes, he was popular back then, and there were a lot of girls that went crazy for him. Balto wasn't there, and I've known Steele my whole life!" replied Boris.

          " I thought you migrated from Russia," added Star.

          " We're missing the point!" ahouted Boris. " Steele killed Pastor Tim to get revenge and kidnapped Cuddy to marry her, because he knew that Jenna was hard to get because of you Balto!

          " Basically, Steele is afriad of me," said Balto, smiling and chuckling.

          " All this crime was for his hunger on revenge!" yelled Boris.

         " Let's all go find Steele," said Star getting up. " Balto, use your sense of smell to find Steele!"

          Balto lead the way to Steele. He could smell Cuddy's too, but it was faint. They arrived at an old storage building near the port.

         " Here's the place," Balto said, pointing to the crumbling building. Wait, Cuddy is near."

        " OH MY SWEET JESUS!!!!!!!!!!! NO, no, Cuddy!" yelled Star.

        In front of them was the body of Cuddy. Her neck was broken and bore