It is early morning when the phone rang. Someone stumbled out of a room before picking up the phone, "Murders R Us. You nab 'em, we slab 'em. Number Two speaking." The other voice replied, "All right already! You finally got the job done." "That's right, Bow Wow. So now you got to do your part. I want my ten thousand dollars." The other caller took awhile before answering, "Ah..which do you prefer, Visa or MasterCard?" "I only take cash. Cold, hard cash, in unmarked bills. Put it in your suitcase in the lobby, behind the screen. You have 3 hours." Number 2 said coldly. "Look, Number 2. I'm entitled to a discount for your screw-ups." Bow Wow raised its voice. "What's the matter? Can't you pay up?" Number 2 teased. "I'm having a cash flow problem at the moment. With this storm.." Bow Wow snapped. Number Two barked loudly, "Pay up or you're next!" The phone was slammed down.

Lila is pacing back and forth in the lobby. Faith trotted in and asked the Shiba Inu, "You're up awfully early, Miss Dean." Lila stopped & sighed before answering, "I can't sleep a wink." Faith nodded knowing that feeling sometimes. "I hope you kept your door locked." Lila sat down before she threw her paws in the air in dismay. "Now poor Colonel Clamskey!" "Our cooler is so stuffed we can't stuff another thing in it!" Faith said. Then Adelaide trotted into the lobby. She was heading toward the door. "Where are you going Miss Twitterman?" Lila asked. "Why good morning ladies! Out to find a lasipoaris faringus." Faith suggested, "I wouldn't go into that storm even if paid!" Adelaide shook her paw at Faith, "Old timers say that you only see a lasipoaris faringus during a bad storm." Lila cocked her head, "They're the only ones crazy enough to go out in storms." Miss Twitterman chuckled, "That's why they're commonly know as crazy loons. Toodaloo!" She dashed outside before the Shiba Inu or the Papillon could say anything.

Then Sam Slade trotted in looking mighty happy. Lila squealed with joy, "Sam!" Sam spun to face her before she quickly gave him a hug. Faith smiled before she said, "Good morning Mr. Slade. Anything new in the investigation?" Sam replied, "Not really, but I did see Mr. Wilton in the hall. He said he needed more towels." Faith sighed heavily before getting up. "What do those people do? Eat them!" Faith hurried off to the laundry room to get towels. "You must've searched every room Sam." Lila said quietly. Sam nodded before he answered, "For one thing, Holly Holgrave has a real talent for turning up in the wrong place at the wrong time." Lila cocked her head again and raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean by that?" "She was hiding under the desk while Colonel took his dive." Lila perked up, "Then she must have seen something!" Sam smiled weakly before he answered, "Sure. A clown. She said she didn't know who was more scared. Her or Bozo! She also said she was checking up on the guy." "Do you believe her?" "I don't even believe my name's Roberto anymore." "Your name's Sam." "See what I mean Lila." Lila sat on the lobby sofa before she asked, "Anything about the others?" Sam sat on the chair that was across from the sofa. "Mr. Wilton wears Mickey Mouse boxers. Miss Twitterman is a vegetarian, and at least one of the Miss Beaupree once sang at a piano bar in Tallahassee." Lila shrieked, "Sam!" But Sam paid no attention. "But I found traces of arsenic in one of the guests' suitcases." "Whose?"

Just then Mortimer walked in with a note in his paw and a fierce look. "What is the meaning of this, Mr. Slade!" Sam jumped up and growled, "Fess up! I know you did it." The Airedale Terrier growled back before replying, "I did nothing! But I need a glass of milk." Lila started to the kitchen, "I'll get it." Mortimer growled, "No! It might be laced with arsenic." Sam smiled, "Funny how that is our subject." Mortimer growled but Sam spoke, "You're out of time! You've killed your last victim, McGrath!" Mr. McGrath huffed, "Well I think you're out of your mind! I didn't kill anybody!" Sam bellowed, "Then explained the arsenic!" Mortimer snapped "I don't KNOW how it got in my suitcase you nutcase of a detective!" "Then what have you against Clamskey!" "I had nothing against him." "It's written all over your face and cartoons! You've made fun of him since he started his business!" Mortimer didn't reply for awhile but then he spoke, "I did hate him but not for his money." Sam sat on the sofa. Lila all this time has been standing near the screen watching the two. "Then it had to be for love." The German Shepherd spoke.

Mortimer then just exploded. "He stole the only woman I had ever loved. He used her, then tossed her aside." Sam mumbled something before he spoke, "But YOU had the arsenic in your suitcase!" Lila then answered, "But anyone could have slipped it in!" Mortimer snapped, "Actually my point." "Then what are you doing at The Calm Cove Inn, you stubborn terrier!" "I've been trying to look for some peace and quiet. I have not found any moment!" And with that Mr. McGrath goes up the stairs to his room.

Hope enters wondering what were they arguing about. "Is everything all right?" she asked sweetly. "Everything is fine Hope but thank you for asking." Lila answered. Hope snuffled but then her 2 sisters came in. Charity was holding a note while Faith wailed. Sam covered his ears for he hated the sound of little dogs' wail. "Mr. Slade look at this!" Charity cried. Sam swiped the note from her little paws. "If you want Miss Clamskey back, bring $10,000 to the lobby at midnight tonight!" He read aloud. Hope closed her eyes and shook her head. Charity and Faith snuffle and Lila gasped. Sam gave the note back to the Papillons and sighed. Clicking nails on the smooth tile told them someone was coming. Verna has entered the lobby by coming from the pool. Her fur is damp but she still looks like a cranky teacher. Charity rushes over to the terrier and holds the note up. "Look! A ransom note!" Verna cocks her head but she looks at it with an uncaring expression. Sam has settled himself on the sofa. "As if you didn't know." He said quietly. Verna looks at him coldly. "What are you implying, Mr. Slade?" Faith and Hope look at Verna then at Sam. "Look, it's common knowledge that with Cousin Calvin, Colonel Clamskey, and Caroline out of the way, you're the head clam." Charity squeaks, "You don't think..." Faith, Hope, Charity, and Lila look at Verna. Verna trembled with anger before she yelled, "I'm a schoolteacher! I'm above murder and as for a ransom for Caroline, that's ridiculous! If I AM the head clam around here, why would I resort to kidnapping to make a buck?"

A door slams and the dogs look over to the main doors to see Tex, soaking wet entered with a sad expression. He doesn't know they're standing there as he says to himself, "Not a sign of her anywhere! If I ever find out who did this, I'll rip his liver out with my bare paws!" He pretends he's strangling someone. Sam sighs before he said to the hound dog, "That would be murder." Tex whipped around to face them. "Didn't know you were there but so what." He crosses his arms and stands with a stubborn stance. It's quiet for a moment before Lila spoke, "Tex, we've received a ransom note." "The kidnaper wants $10,000 tonight at midnight." Faith said. Tex uncrosses his arms and quickly spoke, "Ten thousand! Why shucks, I only got $382 dollars saved up." He sighs before leaning against the wall. Lila thinks before she said to Verna, "Wouldn't the Crazy For Clams franchise put up the money?" Sam smiles, "Brilliant idea! What about it, Miss Clamskey? You got the heart?" Verna looks at their questioning faces before she spoke, "How can we get $10,000 by midnight in the midst of a storm? I'm sure he or she doesn't take traveler checks." "I'm going save Caroline even if it's the last darn thing I do! I love her and I'll show the Colonel my feelings about her!" Tex shouted. Hope looked at Tex before she asked, "Mr. Dayton... you haven't heard?" Tex snorted, "I've been out all night so I haven't heard anything." Sam quickly spoke, "He's dead! Somebody threw him off the balcony at midnight." Tex stutters with his words before he got them out, "I'll be hog-tied and bushwhacked." The hound sat down on the chair, bewildered. It was quiet for about 2 minutes before Charity said, "Come on sisters. We must make breakfast for our guests." They hear a vase break as Rodney and Rhonda dash away. The Papillon sisters left to clean the mess up and Verna, Sam, Lila, and Tex hear them growling at Rhonda and Rodney for running in the halls. Verna muttered something about them being in six grade before walking up the stairs to her room. Lila and Sam follow her up the stairs.

Tex is still alone before he heard a psst! He looks around and stands. The second psst! Leads him behind the screen. He goes to the screen to see Caroline. "What are you doing here? If someone sees you the whole plan will be messed up!" Tex said loudly. "Oh it's already messed up! Uncle Horace is dead." Caroline exclaimed. They think about it before Caroline brightens up. "You know what that means? We can get married." Tex barks happily before he nuzzles the Smooth Collie. "But they're going have questions." she said. Tex thinks hard before he suggested, "Why don't I come down, act like a beat he guy up and save you?" "It'll be dark so you won't have to say what he looks like." Caroline said happily. Then they hear someone coming. "Go Caroline!" The collie doesn't waste time before hurrying to hide behind the couch. Tex makes sure she's hidden from view before he sees Mr. Slade walk down the stairs. "It's that great detective!" Tex said. Sam gives him an arched eyebrow before he spoke, "Alright Tex. What's up?"

"Up? Nothing's up." Tex smiled weakly. "You're acting strange partner." Sam spoke. "Well, I'm just shook! My baby's out there in the hands of a kidnapper." Tex said hastily before he sat on the couch. Sam gives him one more look before