CHAPTER 8: DETECTIVE WORK
Charlie Brown and Frieda were with Peppermint Patty and Franco discussing the whole Thibault Stalking situation at Joe's Café. As long as she knew him, Peppermint Patty would've never suspected Thibault of stalking someone, no matter how mean and angry he was.
"I have no clue about it, Chuck," said Peppermint Patty. "I haven't heard anything about Thibault even talking about Patty or even getting revenge. I don't see much of Thibault at school. He's pretty much stayed to himself this year so far."
"Yah," added Franco. "Patricia told me about kid and he didn't act like how she described. Maybe he scared of girls beating him up again."
"Well I think we should still keep an eye on him," Charlie Brown said, seriously. "If he's threatening or stalking people, even if it's one half of the 'Snob Squad', that's still serious."
"I agree, Chuck," Patty said. "But who can we get to spy on him without getting detected?"
"I know someone," said Frieda.
"Who?" everyone else asked.
"Well, Charlie Brown, he lives in your backyard."
"Snoopy?" said a bewildered Charlie Brown. "He only plays a secret agent. He's not really a spy."
"Well you can make it out like it's a game," Frieda suggested. "Tell him that a criminal mastermind possibly sent his henchman on a mission to spy on a damsel in distress. I guarantee he'll go for it."
"I don't doubt he'll go for it," Charlie Brown said with concern, "I'm just afraid Thibault will catch him. And if he does anything to my dog, I'm obviously not a fighter, but when it comes to the three important things in my life, I will take a bullet for them."
"Three important things, Chuck?" asked Peppermint Patty.
"Snoopy, my family, and of course, Frieda," stated Charlie Brown.
"Oh, Charlie Brown!" Frieda embraced him and planted a kiss on him, making him blush.
"Alright, Chuck, enough of the mushy stuff!" Patty said getting to business. "You get Snoopy to go on this 'mission' and wait for him to report back with any info he may have. If Thibault's indeed stalking Patty, we'll take it from there."
Everyone agreed and after finishing their malts, they left Joe's. Later at his house, Charlie Brown walked up to Snoopy, who was napping on top of his doghouse. He must've repaired the roof, Charlie Brown thought to himself.
"Snoopy," Charlie Brown began, "I got a serious job for you." Snoopy rolled over to face his owner.
"There's this evil mastermind. He may have his top henchman spying on a young damsel. This henchman in question is a short guy with long hair and thick sideburns. He also frowns a lot. I need you to check and see if he's spying on the young damsel. If he is, come back immediately and report to me. There will be a reward of a bunch of chocolate chip cookies for you if you complete this mission. Here is the picture of the henchman. He goes by the name of Thibault."
Snoopy takes the picture from Charlie Brown, and gives him a salute and heads into his newly-repaired doghouse. When he comes out he's dressed in a hat and trench coat. He gives Charlie Brown another salute and heads out. We hear Snoopy's inner monologue:
Here's the World Famous Secret Agent on an important mission that was just given to him moments ago. Apparently there's a short, Elvis-style sideburned curmudgeon possibly eyeing a possible damsel in distress. Possibly. He retrieves his sidekick, Woodstock for aid in this caper.
Snoopy grabs Woodstock and they go forth looking for Thibault.
As the World Famous Secret Agent looks over the mugshot of this evil guy spying on poor girls, he notices this gent frowns a lot. Must be a very unpleasant person. He searches high and low for his target.
Meanwhile, Charlie Brown and Linus were standing by the wall talking about everything that had happened; from Lucy's attempt to humiliate Ox, to Patty's possibly being stalked by a vengeful Thibault.
"So you sent Snoopy to spy on Thibault to see if he's stalking Patty?" asked Linus.
"Yeah," said Charlie Brown. "It was Frieda's idea."
"I guess if anyone can spy on Thibault without getting detected, it would be him."
"How are things with Lucy?"
"She's more ashamed than angry at this point. Though don't count on her to willingly admit it."
"I'm surprised that she actually feels some guilt over what she did."
"I know. She actually may be human after all!"
"As far as Thibault goes, I hope Snoopy doesn't get caught by him. If he did anything to harm Snoopy, I may go Lucy on him, myself."
"Wow! I've never seen this side of you, Charlie Brown."
"When it comes to my dog, Linus, I take no prisoners."
Later Snoopy and Woodstock find Thibault leaving his house and starts walking somewhere. We hear more of Snoopy's inner monologue:
We spot out quarry and follow from a distance. The boy seems to be in a hurry for something. As we continue to follow far behind, the boy stops at an ice cream shop.
They end up at Ace's Ice Cream Shop. Thibault looks in the window. Then he goes inside.
As me and my assistant get a closer look after the boy went into the place, we see him sitting at the bar with a chocolate sundae to die for. He seems to be watching a couple, however. This couple is an odd pairing to say the least. The boy is large, yet is childlike at the same time, while the girl looks very normal, yet very pretty. They seem to be enjoying each other's company. The boy who I'm watching seems to be watching them. The girl must be the one the round-headed kid mentioned. Woodstock, we need to get back to headquarters! But first, get some pictures!
Woodstock started taking pictures and after he was done, they ran back home to show Charlie Brown what they found.
NEXT CHAPTER: THIBAULT, WE HARDLY KNEW YE!