Hi there, swell girls and boys. Please stop your scrolling for a second ...

... and land me your ears ...or eyes, in this particular case.

I started writing my second Homer Lockshels mystery, and I would really appreciate your opinions and/or criticism in regards to the beginning of the second novel, "Again, it wasn't the Butler! (Nope, still no Butler!)". Thank you. So, ... here goes:

- Good morning, - said Loyde

- Hhuh ... what ? who ? Ah, good morning, mumbled Lockshels, sitting absent at his desk.

- What's up, detective ?

- What do you mean ?

- Well, I see you're kinda ... upset.

- Well, Loyde, if you must know, ... I had a very peculiar dream last night.

- You don't say! - replied Loyd, dragging a chair close to the desk, while displaying the face of one ready to reach for the popcorn.

- I'm having them pretty often, lately. But this one ... this was the cherry on top!

- About our last case ?

- No, Loyde. It involves Quickdraw Homer.

- Quickdraw Homer, eh ? - Loyde was barely hiding his giggles.

- Yes, him. But last night ... well ...

- Yes ... go on ...

- Well, Homer was riding his horse, when he got some ... business to do. So he dismounted and went into the bushes ...

- Bushes ... aha ...

- His horse just casually started walking, and went into a nearby bar. And the bartender said ...

- "Why the long face ?" !

- No.

- No ?

- No. He said "Whiskey ?" - and the horse said "Yeah". Then he said "Ice ?", and the horse responded "Neigh."

- Neigh! Ha ha ha ! Hilarious. I bet you ... I mean Quickdraw was laughing his boots off.

- No.

- Ah, right. He was probably worried, you know, looking for his horse...

- Well, that's the thing, Loyde: I was the horse!

- Aaahhh ... hmmm ... now that's a just a fantasy! You know horses have long... - he felt Lockshels eyes burning him - ... faces!

- Yeah, Loyde, I'm aware of that !

Lockshels and Loyde. What a duo! I told you about them! And now ... What you mean you don't know ? Well, don't be a cheapskate, and buy my first novel ! It's all in there ! Yeah, you bet your bottom I'm plugging my first book ! I need the money, I'm poor !

There was a knock on the door, and the sergeant dipped his head inside.

- Wanna hear something strange ?

- What is it, sergeant ?

- Well, you remember Mr. Sellar, from that case a while back ?

- The one that was ready to sell even the pants off a nudist ? Yes ! What about him ?

- Well, it seems the time has come for him to buy, this time. A coffin, more precisely. He choked while eating in a restaurant.

- Where ?

- Not far from his shop. Me and a few boys are headed that way. Wanna come ?

- Let's go !

---

The Kitchen clock chimed 3 in the night. Yes, it DID chime ! You weren't expecting this, were you ? Well, it seems Sunny put fresh batteries in it not so long ago. The house was soaked in a deep silence, and not even the cat could be heard snoring - he was probably out to his friend's bar mitzvah. A muffled crack could be heard though, coming from the front door, and the curved end of a crowbar slowly forced its way through a small gap.. The door creaked open, and a shadowy figure made its way inside.

Tired and maybe even hurt after a night-long tremendous fight with Colonel Whiskey, Quickdraw Homer was resting in a ditch by the dusty road. His trusty stead silently approached, bowed his head and gently shake Homer. No response. The horse tried again.

- Lockshels !

Lockshels moved a bit, mumbling.

- Lockshels, wake up ! - The horse tried again.

- What ? And how come you can talk ? - asked Lockshels, still half asleep.

- Well, I always talked. Since I was almost one.

His eyes opened wide, and he could see Loyde, slumped upon the bed.

- Loyde, what are you doing here ? How did you get in ?

- I'm sorry, detective. The neighbour noticed the door cracked open, with a busted lock, so he called the police.

- You mean, I've been burgled ? What did they take ? Is my family ok ? - erupted Lockshels, jumping to his feet.

- Don't worry, detective, everyone is alright. And, by the looks of it, nothing was stole either. Very strange. The thief must've been spooked by something before he could take anything.