Dominus walked on the shore scrutinizing the footprints in the sand. While boys his age were busy in class, he was engrossed outside it. He found educating himself in the library more entertaining than attending lectures at school. Among his few friends were Dago the dog and Mako the monkey. This evening they were not with Dominus, for they had a peculiar habit of disappearing every now and then. But whenever together, the trio always made sure to sit at the dock watching the only yacht of the mountain town of Glades, belonging to the tycoon Mr Purse, waiting for him take it to the sea. They liked it most when the royal yacht breezed through the waves like an albatross in flight. And though Dominus wished the old man would invite them in one of his sailing adventures, it never happened.

One evening, Purse’s eyeballs popped out to find an empty dock. His yacht was gone. But to his surprise, the yacht was back the following morning, moored at the same spot as usual.

“Damn! What fool would return such a beauty!” mumbled Goober, the chief detective Mr Purse had hired to catch the miscreant, as he examined the yacht.

“Good morning, Goober! May I offer assistance?” said Dominus, doffing his hat.

“Alright, Junior Sherlock. Prove me it wasn’t Lady Luck that cracked it last time.”

“Luck is what you need, I have all I need here!” shot back Dominus, tapping his temple with his finger.

With a magnifying glass in hand, Dominus was soon engaged in solving the mystery. When he found a footmark, he grinned. Then he proceeded towards the steering wheel and scanned it.

“Here’s your evidence, Goober! Now go and catch that thief. Or two! Let’s get this done and dusted.”

“That?” Goober guffawed. “I see you’ve gotten crazier than before, junior!”

“You’re right. It takes a little craziness to solve cases like this.” Dominus smiled in satisfaction.

Goober stopped laughing. “Go home and play with other kids, kiddo...lemme do my job!”

"It is reality that fools people more often than their fancies, Goober!"

Dominus left the scene but when he reached the shore, he shouted, “Friday, 4 AM, same place. Be there!”

The detective hated the idea that a 10-year-old kid could be better than him who had 20 years of experience, although part of him believed the young Sherlock.

Three days later, while Mr. Purse lay snoring in bed, his yacht went missing again. Goober and Dominus positioned themselves at the dock. The thief was going to be caught red-handed.

Just before the sunrise broke on the horizon, they witnessed a macaque steering Mr Purse’s yacht towards the docking bay. Sitting next to him was a labrador whose ears were being blown by the early morning breeze.

Mako maneuvered the yacht as though he had done it many times before. Dago jumped carrying the dock rope in his mouth and wrapped it around the cleat. People had already gathered around; disbelief painted on their faces. Then the two thieves faced them; Dago wagging his tail and Mako showing his teeth in a wide grin. Everyone started cheering.

Then thunderous laughter and clapping silenced the crowd. Mr Purse stood towering before them.

“How the hell did they do it?” he uttered.

Everyone looked at Dominus. He shrugged.

“I bet it’s a mystery Junior Sherlock here cannot solve!” said the detective.

“For once, Goober, I agree with you!”

Mr Purse chortled and said, “I have a proposition, Dominus!”

From then on, the town’s business magnate never failed to take Dago, Mako, and Dominus whenever he went sailing. Afterall, what better company to relax after a hard day’s work than such outrageous buddies!