Rubble's POV

We were doing chores at the Lookout. Rocky was picking up toys and putting them away in the pup houses, Zuma was having fun watering the grass with the hose, Skye and I were cleaning our vehicles, and Marshall was... well... being Marshall.

CRASH!

"I'm good..." he shouted.

We all giggled at once, watching Marshall being clumsy and funny while doing his chores. Sweetie was sleeping. She didn't get enough sleep last night so I wasn't surprised she's asleep now.

Suddenly, we saw a car park in front of the Lookout. Out came two police officers walking right toward us. Ryder saw them coming and approached them first.

"Sir, what is this about?" Ryder asked

"We are looking for Rubble. He needs to come with us for questioning." the policemen answered.

I let out a big gulp and felt my legs starting to tremble. Everyone turned their gaze at me.

"Rubble?" Rocky called, staring in confusion at me.

"Um, I... okay... I'll go," I stuttered.

I left them and went with the policemen. I silently hopped on the car and the other policeman shut the door. I stared sadly at the window as my friends watched me get taken away.

When we arrived, I was brought to the same room where Chase questioned me before. My heart was pounding and my whole body was trembling. I don't know what Chase is up to now. I entered the room and sat on the empty chair in front of Chase, who gazed silently at me.

"H-Hi, Chase..."

"Hey, Rubble," Chase greeted back, "How are you?"

"I'm good..."

"That's good... How are the others?" Chase asked.

"They're fine," I answered.

Chase took a deep breath before actually starting.

"So, you remember I asked you about this knife?"

"Yeah, I remember that..."

"Well, I found something in the knife," Chase said, "I found a carving on the handle. A carving of someone's name."

"Who is it? Was it someone you know?" I asked.

"Yeah, someone I really know personally," Chase replied and paused before saying the name, "The name carved on it was Mr. Porter."

My eyes widened. I was more confused now than before.

"Mr. Porter? But... how?"

"I was just as confused as you. It didn't make sense until I asked Mr. Porter himself, so I took him here for questioning," Chase said.

"Well, what did he say?" I asked.

"He said it went missing a few days ago when he was unloading groceries."

"Okay, but what does it have to do with me?"

"Rubble... you were at the cafe, unloading groceries before the knife went missing."

I didn't know what to say. I paused and thought to myself before speaking up again.

"Look, I know you're suspecting me just because I was there when the knife disappeared. But that's ridiculous. I would never do such a thing like that! I didn't steal that knife or kill the princess."

*Flashback*

September 16, 2024

"Hey, Chase. Anything I could help you with?" I asked.

Chase glanced at me as he was cleaning his pup house.

"Hi, Rubble... I'm good, actually. Just cleaning my pup house here, that's all."

"Okay,"

I thought of going to Mr. Porter. Maybe there was something I could help him with. Suddenly, I heard my pup tag glow.

"Hi, Rubble. It's me, the Princess of Barkingburg," the Princess said, lowering her voice.

"Princess? What- How did you-? What's wrong?" I stuttered after being completely shocked at hearing her voice over my pup tag.

"I know this is surprising, and sorry to startle you. But can I talk to you privately?" the Princess asked.

"Uhm, sure... Hang on," I replied as I ran in straight to my pup house, shutting the door behind me.

I sighed in relief, making sure no one noticed me and my quick and strange actions.

"Okay, I'm inside my pup house. What is it, Princess?" I asked.

"You're all going here for guard duty in a few days, right? I just wanted to ask you a little favor. Is that alright?" she asked, softly.

"Sure, what is it?"

"I need you to steal a knife for me."

"A... A k-k-knife?" I stuttered, making sure I heard it right, "Are you sure?"

"Yes. I promise I'll give you a big stash of pup treats, bring me the knife when you guys come here," the Princess replied.

"Really? Uh, okay..." I answered.

After she hung up the call, I went over to help with Mr. Porter. He was busy unloading groceries from his van, so I decided to lend him a hand, eh, paw.

"Hi, Mr. Porter, do you need any help?" I asked.

"Oh, hey, Rubble... Sure, I could use some help with those fruits," Mr. Porter replied.

"Okay."

I carefully put the fruits on the stand outside. After putting all of them, I went back to Mr. Porter and asked if there was anything else I could help with.

"You can bring these inside the kitchen. I'm about to cook them later," Mr. Porter added.

"Okay."

I picked up the paper bags with my shovel and headed inside the cafe. I entered the kitchen and put the paper bag on the counter. That moment, I saw Mr. Porter's stack of knives up on the kitchen counter, and I remembered what the princess told me earlier.

"I promise I'll give you a big stash of pup treats, bring me the knife when you guys come here."

I glanced back at the door and saw Mr. Porter, still busy unloading other groceries. I gazed back at the knives. If I took the knife, he wouldn't think I did, would he? I quickly went through the stack of knives, grabbed one with my mouth, and dashed out of the kitchen. I hid it in my pup pack so Mr. Porter wouldn't see.

"I put them in the kitchen, Mr. Porter," I said.

"Okay, thanks, Rubble. I think that's the last of it."

Before I left, Mr. Porter tossed me a pup treat.

"Here's a pup treat. Thanks again, Rubble," he said.

"Thank you!" I replied as I ran off and headed back to the Lookout.

*End of Flashback*

After the interrogation, I returned to the Lookout. The pups were both worried and curious and asked how my interrogation had gone.

"So how did it go?" Marshall asked.

"Um, it went okay, I guess," I answered.

"What do you mean, 'I guess'?" Skye questioned.

"I, uh, um... Well, you know how scary interrogations can all be, right? So, it was scary, as always," I stuttered.

"But, Rubble, don't forget... This is Chase. He may be asking some dark questions and all, but he is still our friend. He may even think we have nothing to do with the murder," Rocky said.

"Then if he thinks so, why is he questioning us right now?" Sweetie barged into the conversation.

Everyone fell silent at her question. She was right. Chase was their friend. But does he still trust them the same way? What if that trust had already started to fade away?

Chase's POV

I know you are lying to me, Rubble. I can see it in your sus face. What is it else that you are hiding? Why would you take that knife? The more he denied, the more questions and suspicions I got. Him taking the knife was one thing, but killing the princess was a different thing. Why would Rubble kill the princess if he did not have any grudges against her or anything like that? I'm just so confused.

Hi Detectives!

I know it's been too much of a while. Things have been busy and I've been trying to write this down even though I'm doing this on and off and slowly. Anyway, I hope you like it, and what do you think of it? Did any of your opinions on who the murderer is changed? Let me know in the comments below.

So long, and see you next time!

-Detective Skye-