In no time flat, the PAW Patrol had arrived at the scene, forming a tight semicircle around the salon, while Skye hovered overhead in her boxy pink helicopter, her binocular goggles glued to the rooftop.
Mr. Porter, who had just emerged from the salon, caught sight of the rescue force and rushed forward to hastily greet them, "Ryder and the PAW Patrol, I'm so glad you're here. We need to get to the bottom of this as soon as possible!"
"Thanks for reporting this emergency to us, Mr. Porter. We'll take it from here. You can go finish delivering your vegetables now." replied the PAW Patrol leader kindly as he laid down his helmet on the seat of his ATV.
"Yep, got to deliver-OH MY GOSH, I'M LATE! LATE!" cried Mr. Porter as he bounced back to his vehicle in three long strides, and sped off down Main Street.
"Nothing suspicious on the roof, Ryder. They must have entered in through the front." reported Skye over the radio. Telling by the anxiety in her voice, Ryder knew Skye desperately wanted the kidnapper, or kidnappers, caught and Katie found.
"Great observations, Skye." complimented Ryder gladly. Turning to the other Pups, Ryder parked his ATV as he gave out new orders, "Okay, PAW Patrol, this is now a mystery that we have to crack. Go inside the salon and fish out any suspicious clues you find."
"What should I do, Ryder?" demanded Skye.
"Continue monitoring from the air. We must pick up every piece of evidence in and around the salon." The connection was cut off, and Ryder guessed that his aviation Pup was up to the job. He smiled diligently; his Pups never fail to impress him.
"Ryder, I found Cali!" Chase called out from inside the salon. In his paws was the sleeping kitten. Though cuddled up like she was next to a warm fireplace, not one, not two but three long scratches adorned her back. Ryder cringed, they looked like the decisive results of a fight. Rocky, on the other hand, leaned in closer to look at the marks more carefully.
"Judging by these scratching marks, whoever kidnapped Katie must also have a companion dog. And these furthermore tell us that this dog isn't fully grown yet, like us puppies." Rocky announced as he analyzed Cali gently with his mechanical arms.
"Chase, can you get the Pup's scent?"
After Rocky put down the snoozing kitten, the police Pup laid on all fours and started sniffing her fur. Ultimately, he came anything but successful, "I just can't seem to get a *Achoo* scent! This Pup *Achoo* must be well-prepared to throw off an expert sniffer like me!"
"We must be dealing with professionals then," murmured Rocky, shaking his head sadly, "This day just keeps getting stranger and more complicated."
Just then, Rubble rushed over. Clamped in his jaws was a large yellow stick note, "Ryder! I found this note taped onto the counter. Do you think Katie left it as a goodbye message?" he asked, sniffling at the pitiful thought as he handed the note to the PAW Patrol leader.
"No, that can't be, she wouldn't have been allowed to write one, as it would foil whatever her kidnapper wanted to accomplish. It must be a ransom note." Ryder finalized firmly.
With the note in his hands, he started reading it aloud, "Dear Zack Ryder. If you want to see Katie again, come to the train station alone at midnight tonight. If you don't comply, if you come here accompanied, if you try anything rescue her, I will kill in cold blood. Make your decision now."
"Wait, who would call you Zack?" questioned Marshall. "It just doesn't make sense!"
"It narrows down the suspects." Ryder stated. In his soul he was sure the kidnapper knew him well, inside and out. There were few people in the world who truly knew of his childhood.
"Katie has to be rescues, no matter what!" declared Skye boldly as if she neglected to hear about the various threats. "This emergency will test out our training to the highest degree. All of us must go with Ryder to the train station."
"We can't intervene, Skye, we have to comply with whatever the wansom note says," interjected Zuma, and then giving her a chilling look. "Unless you want our fwiend dead."
"Who asked you?" shot back Skye, baring her small but sharp canine teeth.
"Enough!" ordered Ryder, stepping between the two. "We'll discuss what we're going to do at the Lookout, which everyone will go now. I'll call the police to do further examinations and clean up the salon. Skye, bring Cali to the hospital."
"Got it, Ryder." Skye put the still snoring kitten on her back and marched out of the room, snout high in the air. The whup whup whup of helicopter blades filled the room as her aircraft departed without even a farewell.
"Come on Pups, this situation will not wait," concluded Ryder. He quickly exited the salon, mounted his ATV and drove away without bothering to wait for the Pups. Reluctantly, the PAW Patrol followed en suite, not knowing what will come next.