Hen Thief
(Author's Note - 200 words written for @crime Criminal Minds Feb 2018 challenge Day 27. Prompt - the story of a stolen animal)
Hen Thief
"Where's Esmerelda?" screeched Margueritte. "She was right beside me in her nest, and now she's vanished, stolen away in the night!"
Everyone looked down at the empty straw; a few feathers were all that remained of the best layer on the farm.
"She's been chicknapped. Call the police!" squawked Bernadette, the youngest member of the henhouse.
A funny look crossed Margueritte's pointy face and Charlotte, Josephine and Victoria stared uncomfortably at the dusty ground. Victoria scratched nervously in the dirt.
"Uh, that's probably not a good idea, Bernadette," hissed Margueritte, after an awkward pause.
"Why not?" Bernadette was bewildered. Why wasn't someone rushing off the phone Inspector Reynaud? Why were they all just standing around?
"It's probably too late now, anyway," clucked Victoria, sadly.
"Too late," echoed Josephine, their second best layer, with a touch of smugness.
Everyone was squawking at once, confusing Bernadette even further.
"I shall call him myself," said Bernadette bravely. "Poor Esmerelda could be stuffed in a sack somewhere!"
The other hens stared at her.
"But don't you know who the police inspector is?"
"Does the name Inspector Reynaud, give you a clue?"
"Pointy ears, bushy tail?"
"I'm afraid it was an inside job."
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