Page 1 Illustration Concept: The interior of a cozy, slightly messy detective office inside a hollow tree. Books are stacked everywhere. Felix, a sharp-looking fox wearing a plaid vest and a monocle, is examining a leaf with a magnifying glass. Story Text: Felix Fox was the smartest detective in the forest. While others ran around in circles barking or squawking when things went wrong, Felix did something different. He stood very still. He watched. And he looked at the tiny details that everyone else missed. Page 2 Illustration Concept: The door bursts open. Duchess Swan stands there, looking frantic. She is wearing a fancy dress and holding up a wing that is missing a ring. Story Text: One rainy Tuesday, the door to his office swung open. It was Duchess Swan. She looked terrified. "It’s gone!" she cried. "My beautiful emerald ring! It vanished right off my wing!" Felix calmly poured her a cup of tea. "Tell me exactly when you last saw it," he said. Page 3 Illustration Concept: A flashback bubble or scene showing Duchess Swan in a messy kitchen, surrounded by flour and bowls. She is baking. Story Text: "I was in my kitchen," the Duchess explained. "I was baking a cake for the Forest Fair. I put the ring on the counter so it wouldn't get sticky. I turned around to whisk the batter, and when I looked back—poof! Gone!" Page 4 Illustration Concept: The scene changes to the Duchess’s kitchen. It is a disaster. Flour is spilled, bowls are overturned. Officer Bulldog is there, pointing at an open window. Story Text: Felix and the Duchess hurried to the kitchen. Officer Bulldog was already there, stomping around. "Open and shut case!" barked the Bulldog. "Look at that open window. A thief obviously reached in, grabbed the ring, and ran away!" Page 5 Illustration Concept: Felix is inspecting the windowsill closely with his magnifying glass. Officer Bulldog looks impatient. Story Text: Felix walked over to the window. He peered at the sill through his magnifying glass. "I don't think so," Felix said quietly. "Officer, look at this dust. It is thick and gray. If a thief had climbed through here, the dust would be smudged. But it is perfectly smooth." Page 6 Illustration Concept: Officer Bulldog scratches his head, looking confused. Duchess Swan looks hopeful. Story Text: Officer Bulldog frowned. "No thief?" "No thief," said Felix. "Which means the ring is still in this room." The Duchess gasped. "But we’ve looked everywhere! Under the table, behind the stove, even in the sink!" Page 7 Illustration Concept: Felix is now looking at the floor. He sees a trail of sticky batter droplets. Story Text: Felix didn’t look everywhere. He looked at the details. He noticed a splatter of sticky cake batter on the floor. It led from the counter to the refrigerator. "Duchess," Felix asked, "did you go to the fridge after you took off the ring?" Page 8 Illustration Concept: Duchess Swan nodding enthusiastically. She is miming the action of carrying a heavy bowl. Story Text: "Yes!" she said. "I needed milk. I grabbed the milk jug, but it was heavy, so I used both wings." Felix’s eyes narrowed. "And were your wings sticky from the batter?" "Very sticky," she admitted. Page 9 Illustration Concept: Felix is examining the handle of the refrigerator. It is clean. He looks puzzled for a moment. Story Text: Felix checked the fridge handle. Clean. The ring wasn't there. He paced the room. If the ring wasn't stolen, and it wasn't dropped... perhaps it was carried? He looked at the details again. The counter. The fridge. And something else... Page 10 Illustration Concept: Felix looks up at the ceiling. Above the counter is a hanging rack of pots and pans. One ladle is swinging slightly. Story Text: Felix looked up. Above the counter hung a rack of pots and pans. "Duchess, when you whisked the batter, did you whisk it hard?" "Oh, furiously!" she said. "I flung my wings up high!" Page 11 Illustration Concept: Felix climbs onto a stool to look at the pot rack. He is reaching toward a large soup pot. Story Text: Felix climbed onto a stool. He didn't look at the counter. He looked inside the hanging soup pot. "Physics," Felix muttered. "If you flung your sticky wings up, and the ring was loose..." Page 12 Illustration Concept: Felix reaches into the pot and pulls out the emerald ring. It is covered in a little bit of flour. Story Text: Clink. Felix reached into the soup pot and pulled out a sparkling green stone. "Here it is," Felix smiled. "It flew off your wing and landed right in the soup pot above your head." Page 13 Illustration Concept: Duchess Swan is clapping her wings. Officer Bulldog looks impressed. Felix is wiping the flour off the ring with a handkerchief. Story Text: "My ring!" cried the Duchess. "You found it!" Officer Bulldog shook his head. "I never would have looked up there. I was too busy looking for a bad guy." Page 14 Illustration Concept: Felix is back in his office, pinning a picture of the ring onto a board marked "SOLVED." He looks satisfied. Story Text: "Most mysteries aren't scary," Felix said, polishing his monocle. "They are just puzzles waiting for someone to notice the pieces." Case closed.