Solly the howler monkey had been very surprised when he got the new orders from Kerchak to actually help Chongo with his investigation and not set him up. It had to do with the young primates who'd been found dead down by the river, a grisly affair. Solly was the type who adapted quickly to changing situations, and he got right on it, tapping every source he could think of for information.

There were a few scraps of useful info trickling in on the grapevine. A couple of rhesus monkeys had spotted people coming in and out of the now infamous cabin, so recently vacated by whoever had killed Kerchak's niece and the others. There was a man, probably in his mid to late 30's, wore a trenchcoat, fedora and glasses, dark hair, looked like a serious type. There was a slightly younger man, cleanshaven, similarly dressed, well groomed. A third guy, very muscular, looked like a bouncer or a football player, again in the fedora and trenchcoat. And a much younger man, early twenties, very athletic looking, liked to go for walks, blonde and handsome, had a military bearing about him.

There was also a woman. A blonde. She was a real good looker by human standards and a sharp operator. Solly had already spotted her and tried to tail her twice, and she had lost him both times. It was downright embarrassing. Solly didn't think she had even known he was there, she was probably just assuming somebody might be there at all times, and acting accordingly. She was a real pro.

It sounded like the other guys were pros too, except for the young one. He didn't fit in somehow.

One more peculiar thing had come up. Solly got word that a girl had apparently vanished from a bakery/grocery shop while alone on her shift. The cops suspected foul play. The girl's name was Kathryn McConnell, and she had a totally clean record in every respect. Solly wouldn't have given it a moment's further thought except for one thing. Kathryn had been seen several times recently with the young, athletic guy. They'd been dating and he'd been visiting her at work quite regularly. Solly started asking around in the neighborhood. Eventually he came up with a spidermonkey who had been hawking newspapers on the day Kathryn disappeared. This monk confirmed that Kathryn had come out of the store with the young guy on one side and the mug with the glasses on the other, and she'd looked very white-faced. They quickly got in a car and drove away, and she'd not been seen since. Bingo! Solly had no idea what Kathryn had to do with it all, but it was a solid lead. He arranged to meet Chongo at Al's Diner that afternoon. Solly had never had a chance to meet Chongo and he was looking forward to it. The Chimp gumshoe was becoming a bit of a legend ever since that caper with Big Daddy Malone and the mobs. He'd even danced with a human dame once. Unheard of. He had to be one cool cucumber.

- LH