Weazel nodded, vainly trying to remember where he had put that important little slip of paper.

“Contact Kazim in Aridia and make him an offer for the map.”

“With the $200,000, Heimlich?” Weazel whispered.

“Of course, you fool!” Heimlich angrily ground what was left of his teeth.

“But what if he refuses?” Weazel asked timidly.

“Make him an offer he can’t refuse. Give him all my money, if necessary. I must have that map at any cost! Do you understand me, Weasel?”

“That’s Weazel.”

“Whatever. For your loyalty, you also will be rewarded. Take about...let's say $200 dollars for yourself and get a new suit.”

Weazel looked down at his suit, wondering what was wrong with it. “Thank you, sir. That’s very generous of you.”

“I know,” Heimlich said magnanimously.

The guard’s booming voice rang through the room. “Time’s up, Menudo.”

“Do not forget all that I have told you, and do not mess up!” said Heimlich as the guard yanked him to his feet, making him drop the receiver.

“No problem, Heimlich. It'll be a piece of cake,” Weazel said with more confidence than he felt. “Uh, happy birthday, cousin!” he called as Heimlich Menudo was led back to his cell.

Weazel folded up the newspaper, placed it in his jacket pocket, and exited the room. Officer Malarkey was there, just outside the door, waiting to escort him back to the entrance.

“Kazim. Aridia. $200,000. Swizz bank account. Treasure map,” Weazel repeated over and over under his breath.

“What did you say?” the officer asked, peering down at the little weasel walking beside him.

Weazel’s beady eyes studied the floor until he came up with a good story. “Uh...it’s just my, um, grocery list. I need to, uh, pick up a few things for my wife on the way home. Milk, bread, chicken soup.” He quickly slipped outside to avoid the officer’s suspicious eyes.

After the door had shut, Officer Malarkey, choosing a powdered donut from the box, said sardonically, “Sure, and I’ll be believing that cockamamie story when pigs fly, Weasel.”

“It’s Weazel!” the weasel said angrily, opening the door to correct the officer. He slammed the door and stomped down the dock to the waiting taxi, murmuring, “Kazim. Aridia. $200,000. Swizz bank account. Treasure map...”

End of part 1

A Map Made in Heaven
part 2

Higher for Hire
A Week Later
Saturday Morning
Day 1

The weather was beautiful for the start of the von Bruinwald family vacation. The rising sun turned the wispy cirrus clouds floating over Cape Suzette pink with halos of gold. A warm breeze gently ruffled the azure water in the harbor. Seagulls swooped over the small brown building by the harbor’s edge.

Excitement was in the air at Higher for Hire. The von Bruinwald’s dark grey Chevrolette sedan was parked close to the office door to facilitate loading. Rebecca stood beside the open trunk, holding the official trip clipboard upon which was the official trip list and official trip schedule. She was checking off each bag that was packed into the automobile while Cassie played at her feet.

“Here’s my stuff, Mom,” Kit said, swinging a duffel bag into the trunk.

Rebecca made a neat checkmark beside that particular item on the list. “Check.”

“And mine, too, Mommy,” Molly said, emerging from Higher for Hire, doll Lucy in hand. Her blue suitcase bumped along the cobblestones as she dragged it behind her.

Kit took her bag from her and stowed it in the trunk.

“Thanks, Kit. Who knew that clothes could be so heavy!” Molly put Lucy on the backseat, then sped off to remind Wildcat to feed Goldie, her pet goldfish.

But before Molly could scramble down the ladder leading to Wildcat’s houseboat, Rebecca asked, “Did you remember to pack your swimsuits and your toothbrushes and plenty of clean underwear?”

“Yes, Mommy!” Molly answered, her blonde head disappearing down the ladder.

“Yes to all, Mom.” Kit nodded as he scooped up his baby sister before she could eat a pebble. “We’re going for a ride in the car, Cassie. Whatcha think about that? Can you say ‘fun’? Fun. Fun.”

“Fun, fun, fun...” the toddler repeated the newest word in her vocabulary over and over.

“Aw, man, don’t get the little broken record started,” Baloo said through a yawn. He staggered out to the car, lugging the heavy, ice-filled cooler. Stacked atop the cooler was the picnic basket. He peeked over his shoulder at the full trunk, and plunked both cooler and basket down on the ground, puffing, “The ol’ car can’t hold any more, Beckers. Now, if we’d take the Duck, we’d have plenty of room.”

“For the last time, Baloo, we’re not taking the Sea Duck! We’ll just have to rearrange,” replied practical Rebecca. She swiftly pulled each bag out, then, just as swiftly, put each bag in, leaving a large empty square in the middle of the trunk. “There. Plenty of room for the food, and there’s even room for souvenirs,” she said, shooting her husband an impish grin.

“You mean we gotta go shoppin’ on this trip?”

“Of course,” she replied matter-of-factly. “We can’t go on a family vacation without bringing home souvenirs.”

“Shoppin’,” Baloo grumbled under his breath as he put the cooler and picnic basket in the trunk. He had to slam the trunk lid three times before it latched.

Rebecca once again looked over the official clipboard; everything on her list had been checked off. “Molly! We’re ready to go, honey!”

As they ascended the ladder, Molly told Wildcat, “The food is right beside Goldie’s bowl. Remember that she gets a pinch every morning and every night.”

“Got it, Mollycat.” The lion mechanic’s grin turned to bewilderment. “Uh, what do I pinch? The fish?”

Giggling, Molly said, “A pinch means a little food, Wildcat. A few flakes.”

“Snowflakes?” Wildcat said, becoming even more confused.

“Fish flakes. I left instructions by Goldie’s bowl. You’ll figure it out.” She hugged Wildcat, saying, “I’ll bring you back lots of souvenirs, and Mom said she’s gonna take tons of pictures. I promise I’ll tell you everything that we did when we get back.”

“See you when I see you,” Wildcat murmured a little sadly, returning her hug.

“Everybody in front of the car for a picture,” Rebecca said brightly. At the sight of her family’s grumpy faces, she added, “The sooner we take the picture, the sooner we can leave.”

“Can’t argue with that logic,” Baloo said, pulling Kit and Molly to his side. “Huddle up, gang.”

“Say ‘fun’,” Rebecca said, focusing the camera.

Everyone, including Cassie, chirped, “Fun!” with big smiles.

A split second after Rebecca snapped the picture, Baloo and the cubs piled into the car - Baloo in the front, the cubs in the back.

“Remember, Wildcat, you’re in charge while we’re gone.” A scared look crossed Rebecca’s face at that thought. “Make sure you bring in the mail, and if any customers call, tell them that we’ll be back in a week, and...”

Baloo impatiently tapped his fingers on the steering wheel. Annoyed, he said, “C’mon, Becky, let’s pull chocks, already.”

Before Rebecca got into the car, she handed a thick stack of papers to Wildcat. “Here’s a list of places that we’ll be, categorized by the date that we’ll be there, and also the phone numbers of all the motels that we might stay at. If there’s an emergency...”

“Which there won’t be,” Baloo interrupted.

“I want you to call us immediately,” Rebecca concluded through clenched teeth.

“A-okey dokey, Ree-becca,” Wildcat said, sagging under the weight of the list as he headed to his houseboat. “Bye, guys! Say ‘hi’ to Santa Claus if you run into him!”

“Everyone ready?” Baloo asked, turning his head to look at the kids in the backseat while Rebecca double-checked her list.

“Yeah!” the cubs answered.

“Whattaya say, boss lady?”

“All checked off and ready to roll, darling.”

“Here we go!” Baloo started the car, put it in gear, and started off.

“Yay!” Kit and Molly shouted excitedly.

“My purse!” Rebecca cried, causing Baloo to stomp on the brake and back up.

Rebecca sprinted to Higher for Hire, got her purse, and ran back to the car. “All set.”

“Here we go,” Baloo said again.

“Yay!” Molly and Kit said, a little less enthusiastic this time.

“I forgot my squishy pillow!” Molly exclaimed. “I can’t sleep without my squishy pillow.”

Once again, Baloo backed up. Molly retraced her mother’s steps and returned with the pillow. “Got it.”

“Here we go,” Baloo murmured dully, putting the car in gear a third time.

“Yay! Yay!” came Kit and Molly’s curt, quiet cheers.

One block later, it became apparent that Cassie needed a serious diaper change. Frowning and grumbling under his breath, Baloo circled the block and headed home. Rebecca took Cassie into the house to change her.

While they waited in the car, Wildcat meandered out of his houseboat, wiping his greasy hands on his already greasy overalls. “You guys back already? That was a short vacation.”

“We haven’t even started,” Baloo groaned, switching off the engine.

A few minutes later, Rebecca and Cassie got back into the car. “This time for sure, darling.”

Cassie, on her mother’s lap, gurgled happily. She smelled pleasantly of baby powder.

“All right,” Baloo growled angrily. “Does anybody need anythin’else before we start?”

Everyone answered, “No.”

Baloo turned the ignition.

Nothing but a click.

He turned the key several more time, becoming increasingly frustrated with every try.

Click, click, click, click!

He plunked his forehead down on the steering wheel in disgust. “Oh, man! Just my doggone

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