The Fake Heiress and Her Purrfect Partner novel Chapter 51

**TITLE: Dreams Rise Again by Braxton 51**
**Chapter 51**

With a determined stride, Simon moved ahead, the Squirrel Bros’ carrier swinging lightly in one hand while he cradled Tabby Cat snugly in his other arm. The weight of responsibility felt familiar, yet invigorating.

A short distance behind, Nina followed closely, wedged between two imposing SWAT officers, their bulk a stark contrast to her smaller frame. She felt a flutter of anxiety mixed with admiration as she watched Simon navigate effortlessly through the terrain. *I seriously need to get in shape,* she mused, the thought nagging at her. *If I ever find myself trekking through the wild to crack a case, I’d be out of breath before I even began—and if danger lurked, I’d barely have time to escape.*

As they approached the foreboding silhouette of the abandoned chemical plant, a chill ran down her spine. The dilapidated structure loomed ominously against the sky, its broken windows resembling hollow eyes watching their every move.

Once at the entrance, Simon and Nina meticulously attached tiny police cameras to the chests of the Squirrel Bros, who puffed out their tiny chests in pride, resembling miniature officers ready for action. With a squeak of excitement, they darted inside the factory, their little forms vanishing into the shadows.

Meanwhile, Tabby Cat took up his post on the perimeter, his senses heightened and alert for any signs of trouble. He prowled the area, ears perked, hoping to catch a mouse or two for some inside information. *A little snack wouldn’t hurt either,* he thought, his stomach rumbling softly.

In his hands, Simon held a sketchpad and pencil, his focus intense. With the live feed from the Squirrel Bros’ cameras, he began to sketch a detailed map of the factory’s interior. Nina stood nearby, mesmerized by the fluidity of Simon’s movements as his fingers danced across the paper, guiding the pencil with the precision of a seasoned architect.

The lead made a soft scratching sound, and soon a comprehensive layout of the factory, complete with every ventilation duct and exit, emerged on the page as if it had been digitally rendered. *No wonder he graduated at the top of his class from the National Police Academy,* Nina thought in awe. *His spatial awareness and drafting skills are practically those of a human-grade 3-D scanner.*

After what felt like an eternity but was only half an hour, Coco scurried back, his tiny voice filled with urgency. “Nina, I found Evan!”

The little camera strapped to Coco’s chest had captured the scene. In the footage, Evan was tied to a chair, his face pale and weary, looking utterly defeated.

Coco continued, “He’s locked up in a small house on the north side, with two guys standing guard at the door. Chubby’s playing lookout by the window. Right now, it’s just Evan in there.”

Nina’s heart raced as she asked, “Are those two guys armed?”

Coco replied, “They’ve got electric batons hanging from their belts.”

Nina quickly relayed the information to Simon and the other officers, her mind racing with concern for Evan.

The Squirrel Bros’ cameras picked up two more men patrolling inside the factory, their eyes scanning for any signs of intrusion.

Simon’s voice was steady as he made a plan. “We’ll scale the north wall and rush in to rescue the hostage. No time to waste. Four officers will secure the two lookouts on patrol.”

Once they confirmed Evan was indeed inside, the SWAT vehicles screeched to a halt outside the factory. Heavily armed officers fanned out, swiftly locking down the entire area, their movements practiced and efficient.

Just as Simon and his team were preparing to make their move, Tabby Cat sprinted over, his fur bristling with urgency. “Nina, there’s a black car coming this way! It was here last night too. Should we intercept the people inside? They dumped water on Evan last night and slapped him around!”

Without hesitation, Nina passed this critical intel to Simon.

Simon shifted into command mode, his demeanor sharp and focused. “Listen up, we’re splitting forces—one squad will rescue the hostage, while the other blocks off the black car. We can’t let anyone inside suspect a thing or make a break for it.”

The detectives and SWAT officers sprang into action, their adrenaline surging.

Nina turned to Tabby Cat, handing him a cat treat as a reward for his efforts. “Tabby Cat, how did you gather all this intel?”

With a flick of his tail, Tabby Cat replied, “I kidnapped the rat boss in this area. Now all his minions within five miles are feeding me intel. Otherwise, patrolling this whole place alone would be way too much hassle.”

Another added, “These three little guys are incredible. With their intel, we felt like we had superpowers.”

Someone else chimed in, “If it weren’t for this cat warning us to block the car in advance, we’d still be chasing shadows looking for that black car.”

It was a unique experience for the officers to be out in the field alongside such small creatures—aside from police dogs, of course.

The Squirrel Bros and Tabby Cat basked in the accolades, their egos swelling with each compliment.

Nina watched in amusement as two fluffy squirrel tails and one slender cat tail stood proudly upright in front of her, like flags of victory.

Chubby, unable to contain his giggles, asked, “Can we be police squirrels too? With real uniforms and everything?”

This was Tabby Cat’s inaugural police mission, and witnessing the bad guys being handcuffed and ushered into squad cars filled him with an overwhelming sense of pride.

He knew these officers, clad in their uniforms, were some of the most respected heroes in the human world. Now, those very officers couldn’t stop praising him.

As the three creatures hopped into the cruiser, their tails held high and chests puffed out, they strutted like champions, soaking in every ounce of glory.

As Nina settled into the car, she noticed her vehicle veering away from Diana’s convoy at the intersection. She turned to Simon and asked, “Where are we headed now?”

Simon replied, his tone steady, “Evan just finished being checked out at a nearby hospital. The doctors said he’s fine. We’re going there to speak with him. We need answers—why did those people grab him right before the competition?”