Kitty Confidential. Terrier Transgressions. Hairless Harassment. Dog-Eared Delinquent. The Cat Caper. Chihuahua Conspiracy

ďHold on,Ē I said calmly, doing my best to be the voice of reason. ďWe have a long drive ahead of us. Maybe we can reconsider all the facts we already know about the case in light of this new information and try to figure out what possible motive Sandra Lynn could have had forÖĒ I stopped, remembering Mitch with was us now. ďWell, you know.Ē

ďSure,Ē Charles answered, sending a sly grin in my direction. ďJust so long as everyone stays awake this time.Ē

ďHardy harhar,Ē I shot back. ďThis isnít a time for making jokes. Itís a time for finding answers.Ē

ďLetís get you caught up, Mitch,Ē Nan mumbled from the backseat, then placed a hand on the side of Charlesís seat and mine. ďWhereís that briefcase of yours?Ē

ďI have it here,Ē I said, reaching down to grab it from my footwell. ďGive me a minute to do someÖ um, tidying up, and then itís all yours.Ē I grabbed each of the photos and the written reports describing the crime scene and stashed them in the glove box, then handed Charlesís bag back to Nan.

Nan began to explain what we already knew to her rapt audience of one.

ďSo are we done now?Ē Octo-Cat asked from the cushion on my lap. ďCase closed?Ē

ďWeíre almost there,Ē I assured him with a gentle pat on his head.

ďHow do we go from almost to all the way?Ē he asked with a growl. I tried not to take it personally since I knew how much he hated car rides, and I hadnít thought to bring him any Benadryl for our return trip home.

ďI need to go home and sleep for the next six or seven days at least,Ē he informed me with a weary sigh.

ďBased on what Yo-Yoís told us, we have a very strong case against Sandra Lynn,Ē I explained. ďThe only problem is that wonít be enough for the other humans.Ē

ďBecause heís a dog?Ē Octo-Cat asked.

I rolled my eyes.ďI think you know why. Donít be such a smart aleck.Ē

ďSo what now?Ē he insisted.

ďNow we need to find evidence theyíll accept without questioning our sanity in the process. So we already have the answer. Now we need to work backward to find the clues that support that answer. Make sense?Ē

ďYeah, but it sure seems like a lot of work.Ē Octo-Catís posture grew more rigid as Charles took a sharp turn. ďYou know you have another option. Right?Ē

ďOh, really, and whatís that?Ē I challenged, placing a hand on his back to help steady him.

He flicked his tail with one giant movement before revealing,ďGet a confession.Duh.Ē

Finally, all the TV heíd been watching lately seemed to have paid off. I was very glad heíd graduated fromDora the Explorer toLaw& Order, which was no doubt what inspired this little nugget of wisdom.

Charles turned to study me briefly before training his eyes back on the road.ďWhat did he say?Ē

Well, this created quite the conundrum. While I didnít want to lie to Charles, I also knew he wouldnít be a big fan of the forced confession plan.

On my last case, Iíd headed into trouble all my own and just barely managed to escape with my life. Well, this time I definitely wouldnít be making the same mistake.

Nope.

This time, Iíd be sure to bring the cat with me when I marched straight into Sandra Lynnís office and demanded an explanation.

Chapter Eighteen

By the time we got back to Glendale, the noon sun already hung high in the sky. Nan invited everyone over to her house for lunch while they once again reviewed the evidence, this time trying to prove what Yo-Yo had revealed to us that morning.

I excused myself from the shindig by providing the very valid excuse of needing to take Octo-Cat home to use his litter box. They didnít need to know what I had planned after that quick pit stop.

ďOkay, so what now?Ē Octo-Cat asked after visiting his little kitty box and wiping his paws off on the new mat Iíd purchased expressly for his use.

ďWhat do you mean?Ē I asked, searching the fridge for some food I could quickly inhale to calm my growling stomach.

He regarded me with a piteous look.ďWhat do you mean Ďwhat do I mean?íI mean weíre going to get that confession, right? I assumed we didnít talk about it in the car because you didnít want Upchuck to know the planónot because youíd given up on it already.Ē

While he made his harangue, I found an old but not yet expired package of string cheese shoved into the back of my vegetable drawer and grabbed a couple of pieces to tide me over. After tearing into the first with great aplomb, I peeled off a thick piece and shoved it in my mouth.

Then I attempted to answer my catís concerns by saying, ďOf course weíre going to get the confession. I figured we could start with me pretending to be an interested client, and you hiding in your wicker bag.Ē

Octo-Cat wrinkled his nose.ďI hate that bag.Ē

ďGot any other ideas?Ē I challenged, putting another thick string of cheese into my mouth.

He paced back and forth on the table in frustration as he talked.ďI do have ideas, but none that donít put at least one of my lives at risk. Iíd be willing to make that sacrifice for the team, but something tells me you wouldnít.Ē

ďI only have one life, remember?Ē I probably should have been insulted that he kept forgettingóor at least completely disregardingóthis very important fact, but right then I was too keyed up to care.

ďAhh, yes.Ē Octo-Cat plopped his rear down and shook his head. ďSo fragile.Ē

I inhaled the final stringy thing from my first cheese and opened the second package, rolling my eyes as I did.ďFine, Iím fragile, but I still think putting you in the bag for half an hour is preferable to the possibility of me dying. Donít you?Ē

Octo-Cat responded by lifting a rear leg over his head and licking his kitty bits.

ďUm, excuse me? Iím talking to you!Ē Suddenly I had less of an appetite.

ďWhat? Iím still thinking. Give me a minute here,Ē he mumbled while continued to groom himself. It was so nice to see that protecting my life held comparable importance to avoiding a perfectly normal smelling wicker bag. That whole superior sense of smell was a total excuse, and I knew it. The snobby cat claimed it stunk mostly because he hated that Iíd picked it up at a charity thrift store.

ďFine,Ē he said at last, dropping his leg back to the floor. ďIíll get in the bag, but you owe me.Ē

ďI already owe you from the harness,Ē I pointed out, regretting my big mouth instantly. I shoved another bite of string cheese in with the hope it would keep me from saying something else Iíd come to regret.

What could only be described as an evil smile crept across his furry face.ďYes,Ē he answered with a malicious laugh. ďAnd the size of that favor just grew. Keep going, sweetheart. Daddy needs a newÖ well, everything.Ē

Uck.I didnít know whether to me more afraid of the threat or disgusted by the manner in which heíd made it. I gulped down my anxiety and with it the too-large piece of unchewed cheese. It only took a millisecond to realize I was choking on the stupid thing.

Octo-Cat sat by and watched as I gestured wildly to my throat. He didnít so much as move a paw as I coughed and pounded on my chest, finally dislodging the misplaced morsel.

ďWhat would you have done if I died?Ē I demanded, my voice hoarse. ďI was choking, and you didnít even try to help!Ē

He yawned.ďOh, is that what that display was all about? I thought you were just stalling for time. You know, if we donít hurry, Upchuck and the gang will come looking for us. Is that what you want?Ē

Ugh. I hated that he was right even more than I hated the complete lack of sympathy.

ďFine, letís go,Ē I said after filling up my water bottle at the sink.

Octo-Cat followed me hesitantly.ďNo harness this time?Ē

ďNope,Ē I said, grabbing my prize from the coat closet and holding up for him to see. I looked forward to knowing he would suffer just a little bit. Such was the nature of our relationship. ďBag instead.Ē

He raised his paw in a gesture I hadnít seen from him before. He must have learned that from one of his many kidsí TV shows. ďUm, I have a question.Ē

I raised my eyebrows and motioned for him to go ahead.

ďWhat is my role in all of this?Ē

ďIf anything bad happens, use your iPad to call for help. And if anything really bad happens, use your claws and attack. Can you do that for me?Ē

He nodded.ďAs long as you remember to bring my iPad.Ē

I groaned and traced back to the bedroom to retrieve his favorite toy.ďGood?Ē I asked, tucking it into the rear pocket of the bag. This was such an odd way to prepare for what could be a risky situation, but it was a fair representation of what my life looked like now.

ďOne more thing,Ē I told him as we made our way to the car. ďIím calling my mom.Ē

ďWhy? Arenít I enough for you?Ē

ďTrust me,Ē I said with a laugh. ďYouíre more than enough most days, but I did promise my mom a scoop. And Iím going to make sure we get it.Ē

He still appeared confused.ďWonít she try to stop you? Isnít that why you didnít let Charles or Nan know?Ē

ďYes, thatís why I didnít tell them, but Mom doesnít worry the same way they do. She understands the need to do whatever it takes to get the story.Ē

Octo-Cat climbed onto my lap and dug his claws into my thigh as I started the engine.ďItís your life,Ē he said.

What a great attitude for a wingman. If the time really did come to save my life, I hoped he would take the necessary actions. I felt less sure, though, after the brief choking incident.

I couldnít focus on that right now. I needed to save an innocent man from spending the rest of his life in prison. Last time Iíd gotten caught because I hadnít realized I was walking into a dangerous situation. This time I knew and was prepared, too.

After buckling my seatbelt, I connected Octo-Catís iPad to the carís Bluetooth and placed a voice-only FaceTime call to my mom.

She answered so fast, I didnít even hear it ring. ďHey, Angie. Any luck today?Ē

ďAs a matter of fact,Ē I announced, speaking loudly to make sure she could hear me over the sound of the carís engine. ďIím on my way to Misty Harbor now. Think you can join me with a film crew?Ē

ďIt may take a little bit to get everyone together. Weíre not used to breaking news in Glendale. But I will be there as fast as I can. Any particular place?Ē

ďLighthouse Realty& Brokerage,Ē I told her, rattling off the address.

ďIím impressed. Howíd you find out who really did it?Ē she asked.

My daughterly heart swelled with pride, but still, I hesitated. She didnít know the truth about my abilities yet, and this didnít seem like the right time or the right method by which to tell her.

ďItís a long story. Letís get it on camera,Ē I said, knowing full well I would never, ever reveal my quirky powers on the local news. It would be hard enough just to tell Mom, but I knew that Iíd be doing just that before the day was through.

ďThereís my smart daughter. That associate degree in communications really paid off. I still think you should go back for journalism. Weíd make a great team, you and me.Ē

ďIíll think about it, Mom,Ē I said, knowing full well the newsroom held zero appeal to me. Iíd hate to be in direct competition with my ambitious mom, and Iíd hate even more to have to work at her side every day. We definitely loved each other, but mostly in small doses.

She chuckled good-naturedly.ďI know what that means, but youíre right. Letís just focus on the story in front of us for now.Ē

There was still one more thing I needed to say, and it was the hardest part.ďMom?Ē

ďYeah?Ē

ďIf you get a call from me within the next hour, even ifóespecially ifóIím not talking on the other end of the line, call the cops. Okay?Ē

She sucked in air through her teeth then asked,ďAre you doing something dangerous?Ē

I sure hoped not.

ďNo. Itís just a precaution,Ē I lied. Of course, I knew that Sandra had killed beforeótwice!óand that there was no guarantee she wouldnít turn on me once she found out Iíd uncovered and planned to expose her crimes.

ďI guess itís always good to have a backup plan,Ē Mom said resignedly. ďIíll be up there soon.Ē

ďOkay,Ē I responded. ďCall me when you get there. My phone may be off, but Iíll call back as soon as I can. And Mom?Ē

ďYeah?Ē

ďI love you.Ē

ďLove you, too.Ē

I took a deep breath and turned to Octo-Cat.ďThere,Ē I said. ďNow my momís cell is the last number in your call history. Call her if thereís any trouble, okay?Ē

His face looked grim. Whether he was finally beginning to see just how dangerous this situation could be for me or simply upset about the car ride, I couldnít say for sure.

The only thing I could say for sure was that we were going to catch a killer today.No matter what.

Chapter Nineteen

ďItís go time,Ē I muttered from the front seat of my car, which now sat parked in the small lot outside Lighthouse Realty& Brokerage. My hands shook as I grabbed my striped wicker bag from the passenger seat floor well and held it open for Octo-Cat to climb inside.

He growled but otherwise complied without too much complaint.

ďRemember, your iPad is tucked into the back pocket,Ē I informed him. ďIíll keep your bag on my lap. If thereís an emergency, jump out and knock the bag off my lap. That should make the iPad fall out onto the floor so you can use it.Ē

ďUnderstood,Ē he said. ďBut what if it ends up upside down?Ē

ďLetís pray it doesnít,Ē I said, wishing I would have seen this flaw in my plan earlier. But we were here now, and I had to take action.

ďJust put it in the bag next to me,Ē he said, popping his head out of the bag to study me.

ďBut you donít like things touching you,Ē I pointed out.

ďItís an inconvenience, yes. But it would be much more inconvenient if you died and I had to train another human on my likes and dislikes.Ē

ďAww, so you do love me, after all!Ē I cooed, slipping the iPad out of the back pocket and into the main compartment of the bag.

ďEnough with the mushy stuff. Get in there and catch the bad guy,Ē he said, lowering himself back into position.

Right. I took another deep breath and clambered out of the car, adjusting the bag carefully over my shoulder as I approached the front door. Hopefully Sandra would be in. I hadnít called ahead, preferring to play things by ear. Yes, I didnít have much of a plan, but hoped the acting genes in my family would come in handy.

When I pushed through the glass door, a little bell chimed to announce my arrival. The office smelled pleasant like warm vanilla, and the waiting area was flanked with two overstuffed couches and an inviting array of magazines. It even had a mini cooler filled with bottled water, several kinds of soda, and coffee shots.

Seeing that no one was waiting at the front desk, I took the opportunity to snag one of the cold coffee shots. Maybe I could buy these for myself at home. I popped the can open and took an appreciative swig, downing the entire thing in three big gulps.

Liquid courage?

I sure hoped so.

ďHello, and welcome to Lighthouse Realty& Brokerage,Ē a womanís voice greeted me from across the room. ďHow can we help you?Ē

I glanced over and immediately recognized Sandra Lynn with her unmistakable curly red hair and that huge smile that I now knew hid dark secrets. I grabbed the straps on my bag, needing the connection to Octo-Cat to keep my wits about me and stay on task.

ďGood afternoon,Ē I said with what I hoped was a pleasant smile. ďIím here because Iíd like to buy a house.Ē

Sandra laughed, and the sound was startlingly shrill. I wonder if I would have been so put off by it without the knowledge of her after-hours criminal activity.ďWell, I can certainly help with that. Why donít you come on back to my office?Ē She began taking sure, steady strides down the hall, and I followed after.

ďYouíre in luck,Ē she prattled on over her shoulder as we walked. ďUsually walkins have to deal with one of our junior agents, but I just so happened to have a cancellation this afternoon. As the owner of this realty and the most experienced agent, Iíll make sure you have the house of your dreams in no time at all.Ē

She simpered at me as she stopped and waited for me to enter the small, dimly lit office ahead of her.

ďThat is lucky,Ē I said with a polite smile of my own.

ďWhatís your name, dear? And will this be your first time purchasing?Ē Sandra took a seat behind her desk and leaned forward slightly as we spoke.

ďIím Angela,Ē I said, reaching forward to shake her hand. It wasnít quite a lie, but it wasnít quite the truth. Nobody called me Angela except Octo-Catóand even then he only did it on occasion. ďYes, itís my first time,Ē I finished.

ďWell, let me give you a run-down of the basics,Ē Sandra said, launching into a lengthy monologue that gave me time to search the office with my eyes. Nothing stood out as being particularly incriminating, but I hadnít exactly expected to find a bloody hammer sitting on top of her desk, either.

Sandra finished her speech and waited for me to say something, but I hadnít been paying close enough attention to figure out what.

ďWhat are you looking for, dear?Ē she repeated. Her smile faltered somewhat as she waited for me to keep up my end of the exchange.

ďUmÖĒ I thought back to all the mental gymnastics Charles, Nan, Mitch, and I had done of the car ride home to Glendale. They all centered around the question:What reason could a realtor possibly have to kill her clients? Money seemed the safest bet. I didnít understand what all that entailed but decided to broach the subject delicately.

ďIíd really like a nice three bedroom, but Iím worried I may not have enough money to make my dream house a reality.Ē

She frowned briefly before shaking her head and bringing back the smile.ďThatís okay. We can work around it. Whatís your credit like?Ē

ďItís pretty bad.Ē Unfortunately, that part wasnít a lie.

She pressed her coral-colored lips together in a flat line.ďHmm.Ē

ďIs there anything you can do to help?Ē I asked, calling up my best impression of a desperate aspiring homeowner.

Sandra stiffened, taking a moment before answering.ďThere are government programs that may be able to help get you into a house. Your interest rate probably wonít be that good, but thatís the case for a lot of first-time buyers.Ē

ďOkay,Ē I said helplessly.

ďWhy did you decide to buy now if money is so tight?Ē she asked.

I had to think fast to avoid suspicion, so I said the first thing that popped into my head.ďWell, with my current rental, it feels like me and my cat are living on top of each other. We need some more space. Oh, and I have a dog, too. A Yorkie.Ē

She blanched at this and swallowed before letting that shrill laugh loose again.ďSounds like you have your hands fall,Ē she said.

Iím not sure if I imagined it, but she definitely faltered upon the mention of ďmyĒ Yorkie. If I could push this topic a little further, maybe I could unsettle her enough to trick her into a confession.

ďAre you a dog person?Ē I asked, hugging my bag tight on my lap to reassure Octo-Cat, who no doubt hated not being able to join this particular conversation. After all, one of his favorite pastimes since meeting Yo-Yo was pointing out how superior cats are to dogs.

ďI watched a dog for a friend once,Ē Sandra answered, turning away from me to organize some papers. ďIím not sure Iím cut out for a dog companion myself, but since you are, letís get you a place with a fenced-in yard.Ē She handed me a printed-out list triumphantly.

I puzzled over her words while pretending to review the listing. Watched a dog for a friend? Was she talking about Yo-Yo? Is that why heíd disappeared for a few weeks before turning back up at the Hayesís door where Charles then found him? And, if so, why hadnít Yo-Yo told us?

I thought his traumatic memory loss had been resolved once we reunited him with Mitch, but perhaps heíd still chosen to forget some of the other details that werenít directly pertinent to remembering whoíd done it.

ďIím not sure this one is for me,Ē I said, pushing the listing back across the desk. ďThank you, though.Ē

ďHave you done any shopping around online? Those listings arenít always the most up to date, but if you have an idea of what you like, it could help me to refine our search.Ē

She was very good at staying right on topic and pushing me closer to buying with each comment. It would take something major to knock her off her game. Luckily, I still had an ace up my sleeve.

ďActuallyÖĒ I said, trying to still my shaking hands by hugging the wicker bag tighter to my chest. ďThere is a place I like out in Glendale. Itís above my price range, but Iím hoping we might be able to get a good deal.Ē

ďIím happy to negotiate with the homeowners to see what we can do,Ē Sandra said with an ingratiating smile. ďIs that the house you want? Are you ready to start putting together an offer?Ē

ďWell, it is a really nice house. I guess we could try,Ē I said, feigning hesitation.

She nodded enthusiastically. Iím sure it must be nice to make a big commission with hardly any work at all. She probably looked at me and saw a giant, sparkling dollar sign now. ďFabulous. Do you have the address?Ē

I pulled out my phone and pretended to search for information before rattling off the Hayesís address, which I already happened to know by heart.

Sandra didnít say anything in responseójust sat there starting at me, so I added, ďLike I said, Iím hoping we can get a good deal, because two people were murdered there.Ē

ďI donít think thatís the house for you, dear,Ē the realtor spat out at last.

ďWhy not?Ē I argued. ďItís in a great location and has plenty of space for me and my pets. Canít we at least put in an offer and see?Ē

ďIíd really urge you to consider a property with a less sordid history,Ē she said, turning back to her files and pulling out another listing, seemingly at random. ďThis looks nice. How about this one?Ē

I didnít even look down at the paper. Keeping my eyes glued to hers, I licked my lips and said, ďYou said we could put in an offer, and thatís what I want to do. Can we get started please?Ē

She shook her head.ďI probably shouldnít be saying this, because it makes me look a little, well, like Iím not all thereÖĒ Sandra paused to laugh, but I kept my face neutral, waiting.

ďBut that place you mentioned?Ē she continued. ďItís very, very haunted.Ē

ďOh? Just a sec.Ē I placed my bag on the floor right in front of her oversized desk so that she wouldnít be able to see what I was doing unless she chose to stand up. I grabbed the iPad and motioned for Octo-Cat to creep out as well. Once both were settled on the floor and I confirmed that the tabby was indeed placing a call to my mom, I straightened back in my chair and returned my focus to an increasingly nervous-looking Sandra.

ďItís haunted, huh?Ē I asked, shaking my head. ďWell, how about that?Ē

She nodded eagerly; relief flashed across her face.ďI know some people donít believe in ghosts and all, but they are there and very angry. Itís best not to get involved with that mess.Ē

ďWow. Hmm,Ē I said, pretending to think this over carefully but only to buy us a little more time. If Octo-Cat could get Mom on the line before I showed my hand, sheíd be able to hear what happened next. I heard a little murmur sound from the floor. That had to be her.

ďWhat was that?Ē Sandra asked, shifting her gaze around the room to find the source of the speaker.

ďWait. I have a question,Ē I blurted out to draw her attention back to me. ďYou say the ghosts are angry. Is that because you murdered them?Ē

Chapter Twenty

ďWhy, Iíve never been so insulted in all my life. Go! Get out of my office!Ē the realtor cried. All traces of her earlier smile completely wiped clean from her face, which now pinched in rage. Sandra popped to her feet so quickly, I instantly recoiled in fear.

And, in my attempt to stumble to a standing position, I stepped on Octo-Catís tail.

He let out a terrible yowl and jumped onto the desk between us, hissing up a storm.

ďWhat? Where did he come from?Ē Sandra demanded, turning redder and redder as each moment passed.

ďWhy donít you answer my question first,Ē I shouted at her. ďI know you killed the Hayeses, and I can prove it!Ē

ďYou canít prove anything,Ē she spat. ďNow get out of here!Ē

I crossed my arms over my chest and stared straight into her eyes, hoping she couldnít see how afraid I was in that moment. ďIím not going anywhere until you admit what you did.Ē

ďI didnít do anything,Ē she said, taking care to enunciate each word, but I was not convinced.

ďYou killed the Hayeses in cold blood. You bashed out their brains with a hammer and framed the handyman,Ē I said. ďHey, if I agree to work with you, will you kill me, too?Ē

Sandra let out an enormous huff and lunged for me, but I was too fast for her.

I ran out of her office and back into the main waiting area.ďHelp!Ē

ďNo one else is here,Ē Sandra told me, approaching slowly, deliberately.

I saw my chance, so I took it. Squeezing past her down the hall, I bolted back into her office and locked the door behind me.

ďYouíre going to regret that!Ē she screamed, pounding furiously on the door.

I tuned her out and began pulling open drawers and cabinets in search of evidence.ďHelp me find proof!Ē I told Octo-Cat, who sat licking his wounded tail.

Soon we were both tearing through the office.

Surely something had to be here.

ďI called your mother just like you said,Ē my tabby informed me.

ďIím calling the police!Ē Sandra screamed from the hallway.

ďGood, that will make it easier for them to arrest you!Ē I shouted back, calling her bluff while shooting the cat an appreciative smile.

ďThanks for your help,Ē I told him. ďYou did good.Ē

We searched frantically for another couple moments, my desperation growing by the second.

ďWhatís this? The words look familiar,Ē Octo-Cat said, nudging a pile of mail from on top of the filing cabinet until it fell and scattered to the floor. He still didnít know how to read, but he was beginning to recognize familiar patterns of numbers and letters.

Sure enough, I combed through the pile and found a sealed envelope addressed to Charles at the firm.

ďOh! Think you can get away with blackmailing my colleague, do you?Ē I called to Sandra, waving the letter around wildly even though she couldnít see it. ďBut why threaten him when you know perfectly well that Brock Calhoun didnít kill Bill and Ruth Hayes?Ē

She didnít come back at me with an angry retort. In fact, Sandra said nothing at all as the entire office fell silent. The only sound in my ears was my own blood as it flew through my veins at a rapid tempo. My heart went crazy as I sent up a silent prayer that Sandra hadnít someone gotten her hands ona gun or some other weapon she could use to attack me through the closed door.

A moment later, the front door burst open, sending the greeting bell into a violent jangle.

ďLaura Lee, Channel 7 News. Do you care to tell our viewers whatís going on here?Ē my motherís voice rang out, loud and clear, and I could just picture her there with her probing microphone that she swung around like a sword when she was really on the warpath. I imagined now would be one ofthose times.

Feeling safe enough to exit now that I had backup, I swung the door open and stepped back into the main area just in time to see Sandra Lynn make a run for it.

ďMom! Stop her!Ē I screamed as I began to run after the fugitive. I had absolutely no idea what I would do if I caught her, but I at least had to try.

ďWait here,Ē my mom said, dropping her mic and wrapping her arms around me. Her cameraman gave chase, but his gait was mired by the giant apparatus on his shoulder.

I watched through the glass door as a police car squealed to a stop and two armed officers jumped onto the scene.

ďIíve got her!Ē Charles called from somewhere I couldnít see.

My mom let go, and I raced outside to extend my view. Sure enough, Charles stood with the very distraught murderess in his embrace.

ďYou donít have any evidence!Ē she screamed.

ďActually, I have this,Ē I said, waving the envelope in the air. ďIt was in her outgoing mail,Ē I explained, handing it to the nearest officer.

ďThreatening letters, huh?Ē the officer said with a smirk after scanning the letter. ďThanks for this,Ē he told me as he slipped it into his pocket. ďBut the mass collusion and double homicide should be more than enough to put this one away for a long time.Ē

ďI have rights!Ē Sandra shouted pathetically.

ďThatís right,Ē the other officer said. ďLet me read them to you now. You have the right to remain silentÖĒ

Charles ambled over to me with a bit of limp, which made me think Sandra put up some kind of fight when he subdued her.ďAre you okay?Ē he asked, checking me over.

ďIím fine.Ē

Once he realized that was true, his handsome features contorted in an angry mask.ďWhy did you come out here on your own?Ē

ďI had to find a way to prove Brockís innocence, and this seemed like the most surefire way.Ē

ďWell, it was the most ridiculous way,Ē Charles said. ďThe most unsafe way, too.Ē

I shook my head, going back over what the officer had said.ďDid you find another way to prove she did it?Ē

He ran a hand through his hair and sighed.ďYes, and if you would have come back to the house, I couldíve told you that in person.Ē

ďHow?Ē I insisted. I still couldnít figure out why the realtor had turned on her clients, and that was driving me crazy.

ďMitch,Ē Charles said simply. ďShe set everything in motion by texting a few key people during our drive.Ē

ďBut she said her phoneóĒ

ďShe used Nanís,Ē he cut me off. ďAnyway, you were on the right track with the Bayside Printing Company, but you didnít have the right access. Billís former employer, Mr. Weber, was able to do a system restore to recover previously deleted files. Once he knew to examine Lighthouse Realty& Brokerageís past jobs and records in particular, he found exactly what he was looking for.Ē

I was so happy weíd found the answer, but it still didnít make sense to me. ďWhich was?Ē

ďThe motive,Ē Charles said with a winning smile. ďIt was small and easy to miss, but on her latest print job, Sandra provided one page too many.Ē

ďMeaning?Ē I asked, motioning for him to hurry up and answer the question that had plagued me all week long.

ďMeaning she gave Bill a financial document, which showed some illegal activity involving false documentation and offshore accounts,Ē he explained.

ďAnd so she killed him over that?Ē I asked. ďBecause she was worried heíd turn her in?Ē

ďHe blackmailed me!Ē Sandra screamed. ďHe said since I already knew how to skirt the rules that it shouldnít be a big deal to get him a new house free of charge, the selfish jerk! I didnít just have half a million to throw around. What was I supposed to do?Ē

ďNot steal in the first place,Ē one of the officers said as he pushed her head down and shoved her in the back of the cruiser.

ďYeah, and you definitely shouldnít have killed him or anybody else,Ē the other said.

ďWell, there you have it,Ē my mom announced, coming to stand between me and Charles. ďBrock Calhoun is innocent, and the real murderer has now been apprehended. And you saw it all unfold live, only on Channel 7.Ē

As my mother began to interview Charles, I quietly slipped out of the frame and went to retrieve my cat and his iPad from inside the brokerage.

I found Octo-Cat curled up on Sandraís desk chair. Somehow heíd actually managed to fall asleep despite all that excitement.

ďHey.Ē I nudged him awake gently. ďWe did it.Ē

He blinked up at me, yawned, and then said,ďGreat. So what now?Ē

ďHow about a lobster roll from the Little Dog Diner?Ē

[ ŗūÚŤŪÍŗ: img_3]

Charles joined us for lobster rolls and he even paid for everyone, including Mitch, Nan, and Yo-Yo who all joined us shortly after Sandraís arrest. I let him recount all the gritty details while I focused on the delicious meal before me.

Toward the end of his explanation, Nan hit me on the back of the head, almost causing me to choke again.

ďWhat?Ē I cried, my mouth still stuffed with food.

ďIf you do something that stupid again, Iím going to kill you,Ē she said, fixing me with a scowl.

ďSorry,Ē I muttered. ďDoes Brock know yet?Ē I asked in an effort to change the subject to happier outcomes.

Charles licked a bit of mayo from his thumb.ďTheyíre processing him for release now. Heíll be a free man by nightfall.Ē

This news made me so happy I couldnít help but smile as I devoured a second lobster roll.

Mitch finished eating first, then picked Yo-Yo up and sat him on her lap. That reminded me of something that still didnít sit well with me.

ďWhen I was talking with Sandra,Ē I said, waiting for a beat to make sure everyone was listening, ďshe mentioned dog-sitting for a friend once. Do you think itís possible she meant Yo-Yo?Ē

ďDo you really think she stole him, kept him hostage for a few weeks, and then let him go? That seems kind of improbable,Ē Charles said. ďWhat reason would she have for doing that?Ē

ďLetís ask the dog,Ē Octo-Cat said before taking a giant hunk of shrimp into his mouth.

ďWould you?Ē I said, adding ďpleaseĒ when he didnít immediately comply.

ďWhatísó?Ē Charles began, but I shushed him while I waited for the animals to finish their exchange.

ďAffirmative,Ē Octo-Cat said a moment later. ďShe took him that night when he wouldnít stop barking, but he got away and came home. It took him a while to find his way back from Misty Harbor, but he was determined to get home, no matter what.Ē

I quickly relayed this information to the rest of the group.

ďSo, why didnít she kill him, too?Ē Charles asked, stating the obvious.

ďI guess even evil has its limits,Ē Nan said with a pert nod.

ďHe says heís sorry for not remembering everything sooner,Ē Octo-Cat informed me. ďAnd he said thank you for helping his family.Ē

ďWhatís going to happen to Yo-Yo now?Ē I asked the others.

ďCharles is helping me petition the school to keep him with me on campus as an emotional support animal,Ē Mitch answered with a sad smile. ďI just couldnít imagine losing him again. Heís the only family I have left now.Ē

ďAnd until then, heíll stay with me,Ē Charles said. ďBut we should have no problem getting our petition approved, in light ofÖĒ His voice trailed off, but Mitch picked up the thread for him.

ďMy parents being recently murdered.Ē

ďWhat a day,Ē Nan said with a giant sigh. ďLetís take a break before investigating our next big case, if thatís okay with you,Ē she said, turning to me.

ďWhat makes you think there will be a next case?Ē I asked, surprised.

ďBecause, my darling, you might not always go about things in the safest way, but I think youíve finally found your true calling.Ē

ďWhich is?Ē

ďYouíre the best private eye in all of Maine,Ē she said with a proud smile.

ďIíll drink to that,Ē Charles said, raising his glass of soda.

ďMe too,Ē Mitch said.

Thatís when Mom came swooping into the restaurant to join us. ďIím here!Ē she cried. ďWhat did I miss?Ē

ďNothing,Ē Nan said, sending a wink my way. ďNothing at all.Ē

Well, I guess I could tell Mom later. Iíd had more than enough excitement that night already.

Octo-Cat nudged me with his paw.ďNow that thatís over with, Iím ready to collect on my favor.Ē

Mom was busy giving her order to the waitress, so I bent down and quietly hissed,ďWhat is it?Ē

ďI want you to buy me a house,Ē he said with a Cheshire grin.

ďA house!Ē I exploded.

He nodded excitedly.ďAnd not just any house.My house. I want to go home.Ē

My jaw hung open as I searched for the appropriate response. Nothing came to me, though.

ďDonít worry, youíre coming, too,Ē Octo-Cat added in a futile effort to answer my objections. Heíd learned a lot about human society latelyóIíd give him thatóbut there were certain things that still went way over his head, money being a prime example.

ďYou want me to just buy Ethelís house?Ē I hissed again. ď Thereís no way I can afford that huge place.Ē

ďWeíll figure out the details later,Ē he assured me, returning his attention to his meal.

When I glanced back at my human dining companions, I saw Mom staring at me with a look I instantly recognized.

She knew.

3. HAIRLESS HARASSMENT

Chapter One

Hi, Iím Angie Russo, and my pet cat never ever stops talking. Not just mews and meows, but actual words that I can understand. So far, Iím the only one who seems to have this ability, and I still have absolutely no idea why.

It all started when I got zapped by a faulty coffee maker at the law firm where I work as a paralegal. Since then, Octo-Cat and I have used our special connection to solve two murder investigations together. Yeah, even I have to admit, we make a pretty great team.

Only a few weeks have passed since our super sleuthing earned the local handyman Brock Calhoun aget-out-of-jail-free card. And already my feline sidekick is begging for another case. Apparently, napping and complaining all day isnít an exciting enough life for him now.

All my life Iíve been on the search for that one amazing talent that would make me special and give me purpose. My nan starred on Broadway in her prime, and my parents both work for the local news station and love what they do.

They were all so sure of their talents early in life, but Iíve really struggled to pinpoint mine. I couldnít even figure out my passion well enough to nail down a bachelorís degree, racking up seven associate degrees instead.

I definitely never expected to find my true calling as a paralegal, especially considering how much Iíve always hated lawyers. But now that I have Octo-Cat and my special ability, I find that working at the offices of Thompson, Longfellow& Associates provides the perfect way to use my newfound abilities for goodóespecially considering that the newest partner knows all about my ability to speak to animals.

Oh, yeah! Charles didnít get fired. Instead, he got promoted. I was so proud of him that I even suggested we go back to the Little Dog Diner in Misty Harbor to celebrate with the worldís best lobster rolls. He told me it would have to be some other time, though, because he already had plans with his new girlfriend, Breanne Calhoun.

Yeah, I donít get that, either.

The news that heíd started dating the cold and snippy realtor weíd very recently suspected of murder was enough to extinguish my crush on Charles once and for all, though. Iíve also decided that the next time Octo-Cat refers to him as ďUpchuck,Ē Iím not going to correct him.

The thought of him and Breanne together makes me sick, too.

Itís for the best, though, I suppose. I really need to focus on understanding my new pet-whispering abilities, and Octo-Cat and I both need to get better at investigating cases without raising the communityís suspicions. That pretty much means I have no time left for love or infatuation or whatever it was I once felt for Charles.

Anyway, who needs a boyfriend when you have a talking cat?

Not me. Well, at least not for right now.

Lately Iíve been spending a lot more time with my mom. Ever since she helped us catch the real murderer in our latest case, sheís been on this kind of career high. She got the exclusive scoop and even managed to record our showdown with the murderer live and on camera. The feature was picked up all over the nation, and she and my dad have received job offers from clear across the country.

The latest was from San Antonio, I think.

Sheís not saying yes to any of them, though. At least, not unless I agree to move with them, too. But I would never leave Nan, and Nan would never leave Blueberry Bay.

So weíre all staying put exactly where we are.

Sure, if enough people learn my secret, I probably will have to leave eventually. Right now, a total of five people knowóNan and my parents, who I told on purpose, along with Charles Longfellow, III and a college student named Mitch, who both figured it out by accident. Hopefully I can keep that number from growing any larger, but it seems like several people are on the verge of figuring things out already.

And that definitely worries me.

Especially since my mom just invited me to help her with her newest investigative journalism assignmentÖ

[ ŗūÚŤŪÍŗ: img_3]

Iíd finally switched to a part-time schedule at the firm, and today was one of my days off. And by off, I meant I got to stay home and pack up my tiny rental house under the supervision of one very demanding tabby.

Not only did I have to discard a number of my belongings that he found to be inadequate, but he was also the reason I had to move in the first place. Granted, Iím the one who said Iíd owe him a big favor if he allowed me to put him in a harness to take him outside. I hadnít counted on that favor amounting to more than six-thousand square feet, though.

As it turned out, the favor he wanted was for me to purchase the old manor house he had lived in with Ethel Fulton before she was murdered and, through a truly unbelievable series of events, he came to live with me. Now a twelve-dollar harness was costing me the better part of my five-thousand-dollar monthly stipend, and Iíd learned to be more careful about promising my kitty companion open-ended favors.

Yes, my former boss, Richard Fulton, did offer me a generous break on the price. Also, there were fewer interested parties once the greater populace found that the former homeowner had been murdered, but stillóstill!óowning Fulton Manor would require a pretty penny from me not just to keep up with the mortgage, but also to carry out the many repairs that seemed to be more or less essential for safety purposes.

At least thatís what the home inspector said.

Hardly any time has passed at all, and yet somehow the sale is final and the house is ready for me and Octo-Cat to move in. Itís funny how bureaucracy can either slow things way down or speed them way up depending what side you approach the red tape from. Around Blueberry Bay, the Fultons owned the spool from which the red tape was unraveled, which meant I bought myself a manor house with very little effort on my part.

Nan, who adores both me and my cat in equal measure, decided to help out, too. Even though sheíd owned her little Cape Cod style home for more than thirty-five years, she decided it was time to sell and move in with me at my new Eastern seaboard mansion.

ďThe difference is,Ē she explained, ďthis time Iíll be living with you and not the other way around.Ē That was how she justified kicking me out of her house less than a year ago, only to move in with me now.

Honestly, Iím more than a little thrilled to have an added buffer when it comes to Octo-Cat. I love him more than anything, but he also infuriates me on a regular basis, constantly finding new and exciting ways to push the poorly constructed boundaries Iíve tried to erect.

And so all of us are moving in this weekend, even though Nan hasnít even had an offer on her house yet. Breanne says it will be easier to sell without a current resident. Yes, I couldnít believe Nan hired Calhoun Realty to list her house, either. She and I needed to have a serious talk about family loyalty.

But first we had to survive the big move.

ďSomeone just pulled up outside,Ē Octo-Cat informed me, hopping onto the end of the bed where the better part of my wardrobe was laid out for evaluation. I took packing as a good opportunity to downsize, even though my living space would increase nearly ten times.

A moment later an urgent knock sounded on the front door and my momís voice called out, ďAngie? Angie, are you here?Ē

ďComing!Ē I yelled, letting the half-full box in my arms fall to the floor.

I flipped the deadbolt and my mom immediately pushed her way inside.ďYouíll never guess what happened!Ē she told me, reaching into my closet and grabbing one of my jackets, which she thrust at me excitedly.

ďWhat?Ē I asked, still a bit sleepy and not quite ready for this level of enthusiasm.

She followed me into the kitchen where I grabbed a can of Diet Mountain Dew and flipped the tab. It was my latest attempt at a suitable coffee replacement, and so far, so good.

ďLou Harlow was murdered!Ē she squealed with delight.

ďUm, Mom. How about a little less bliss over someone dying, please?Ē Lou Harlow wasnít just some random local, either. As one of the two senators appointed to represent the great state of Maine, she was one of the most famous people to reside in our little corner of Blueberry Bay.

And now she was dead. And for some reason, my mother was terribly excited about it.

ďIím sorry. I know itís sad she died and everything, but guess whoís been asked to cover it?Ē She bit her lower lip and pointed both thumbs toward her chest while widening her eyes to a comical degree.

ďCongrats,Ē I murmured, still feeling icky about her reaction to this whole thing.

ďThank you,Ē she said with an airy smile. ďTurns out I did such a great job covering the Hayes murders, the station would like me to do another investigative piece.Ē

ďIím really happy for you, Mom.Ē And I was. Sheíd worked hard to get here, and at last everything was coming upÖ bodies in the morgue, I guess.

ďGood, because I need you to do it with me.Ē

ďWhat? No, no, no, no.Ē Yeah, Iíd done the legwork to find the Hayesís real killer and clear Brock Calhounís name, but that didnít mean I wanted to jump straight into another murder investigation, especially one as prominent as this one would no doubt prove to be.

ďAngie, I donít really think you have a choice.Ē

I groaned and shook my head.ďOh, yeah, because thatís the way to win me over.Ē

ďThe senator was killed in her home,Ē she revealed. ďDo you know where that home is?Ē

ďSomewhere in Glendale?Ē I guessed with a sigh.

ďNot just somewhere,Ē my mom corrected with a new light dancing in her hazel eyes. ďRight next door to your new house.Ē

Chapter Two

Well, this was exactlynot what I needed on moving day. My new home had already been tainted by murder, and now the place next door had become an active crime scene as well.

My mom stared at me with wide, sparkling eyes.ďWell?Ē She nudged me with her elbow as if we were doing something as harmless as discussing reality TV gossip. This wasnít reality TV, though. It was actually real life.My life.

ďI know that look,Ē Octo-Cat proclaimed from his seat beside me. ďItís the same one you get right before you decide to do something stupid.Ē

ďWell, good luck on the investigation,Ē I mumbled, hoping to silence them both so I could get back to packing.

It didnít work.

My mom grabbed both my wrists and attempted to drag me from my chair.ďCome with me. I need you,Ē she whined, drawing out each word dramatically. No wonder sheíd become Blueberry Bayís go-to newswoman. Even I found myself both wanting and dreading to know what would happen next.

I yanked my arms away and wrapped them around my waist defensively.ďIn case you forgot, itís my moving day, and I still have lots to do before the movers get here in a few hours.Ē

Mom balked at this excuse as she moved behind my chair and put a hand on each of my shoulders, causing me to flinch.ďA few hours? Why, thatís way more than enough time to take a quick glance. Besides, arenít you curious?Ē

I bit my lip and tried really hard not to say anything. The truth was I had, in fact, begun to enjoy the thrill of the investigation. And despite my better judgment and bigger priorities, I was definitely intrigued by the newest murder in town having happened right next door to my new place.

A fresh corpse next door. What a housewarming gift!

Seeing that she had me on the hook, Mom began to reel me in. She put her face beside mine and tipped my chair back.ďTell you what. How about you come with me now and, after we take a quick look-see, Iíll come back to help you finish packing. Deal?Ē

I groaned and pressed my forehead to the table. The chairís front legs landed back on the floor with a jarring thud. ďDeal,Ē I murmured into the cold wood.

ďRight back into the thick of it. Why am I not surprised?Ē Octo-Cat commented drolly before trotting off without so much as a glance my way.

ďYay!Ē My mom clapped her hands several times and began to yank on my arm again. Sometimes I felt like the most grown-up person in my entire family, which was saying something since Mom was in her early fifties and Nan had already hightailed it well past seventy.

ďLetís go,Ē Mom said, tugging at my arm once again. This time I got up and followed. ďIíll fill you in on what I know on our drive over.Ē

True to her word, the moment the car doors closed beside us, my mom jammed her key in the ignition and started to talk.ďI know you were never interested in politics too much, but Lou Harlow was a four-term senator. She won every term by a huge landslide and was probably going to be reelected the next time, too. Everyone around here loved her, which makes her death all the more shocking.Ē

I chewed on my thumbnail as she spoke, a bad habit that had gotten more and more out of control lately.

My mom swatted me with one of her perfectly manicured hands.ďStop that. Itís gross!Ē

ďSorry,Ē I muttered, running my index finger across my jagged thumbnail as I switched my focus back to the matter at hand. ďSo, a political rival wanted her seat and it was easier to murder her than to try to win fair and square?Ē

ďMaybe,Ē my mom said, bringing both hands back to the steering wheel now that sheíd decided she didnít need to hit me a second time. ďWeíll definitely work that angle and see what we come up with.Ē

I sensed abut.When Mom didnít provide it, I decided to give her the lead in. ďBut?Ē

ďWhy kill her at home when she spends most of her time in Washington?Ē she asked as if I might actually have the answer.

I shrugged.ďMaybe it was more convenient.Ē

ďItís too obvious, though. Donít you think?Ē She frowned as she considered this.

ďWell, maybe our killer isnít very smart. How did the senator die, anyway?Ē In my experience, killers usually were pretty smart, actually. Smart, but vain. Combine those two traits with their lack of a moral compass, and it often spelled troubleóboth for their victims and for me, the fiery upstart who did my best to help bring them to justice.

Well, lately, at least.

Would I continue chasing killers around Blueberry Bay forever?

Only time would tell, but I had a sneaking suspicion that the answer just might be a resoundingOh, heck yeah!

Mom pulled up to a stop sign and switched on her blinker, then turned to look at me. Once again, her expression was filled with utter joy as she revealed,ďSomebody pushed her down the stairs!Ē

Oh, for the love ofÖ

ďThen how do they know it wasnít just some stupid accident?Ē It looked like we might have both gotten ahead of ourselves, and here I was considering myself the sleuth of the centuryóat least as far as Glendale, Maine was concerned.

Mom seemed flustered.ďThey? Whoís they? We are the ones investigating this, and we donít know for sure, but we definitely suspect foul play.Ē

I bit my tongue to keep from mentioning that the police were still the true detectives here and that I was too new to the case to be a part of her royalwe. It seemed I still had to learn this lesson for myself, too.

Shaking off my disappointment, I turned my head to watch the scenery flying past my window. Greenery stretched as far as the eye could seeótrees, flowers, grass, everywhere life. Well, except at Lou Harlowís manor house.

Gulls drifted on the breeze, reminding me that gorgeous Blueberry Bay was just beyond the horizon. We lived so close to the ocean that the air always tasted slightly of salt. My new house sat so close to the shoreline, in fact, that I could walk there in ten minutes flat.

ďI really wish people would stop turning up dead around here,Ē I told my mom with a sigh. We were a small town to begin with. If the murders continued at their current clip, weíd be down half our population by the end of next year.

ďDonít you think itís just a little bit exciting?Ē my mom said as she navigated us down the private drive that served all the most elite homes in Glendaleóincluding now, rather inexplicably,mine.

I understood where my mom was coming from, though. For years, sheíd wasted her journalistic talents on puff pieces and human interest stories. This new dastardly turn of events in our small town made for big news and a far more interesting job for her.

Still, people were dying, and that was definitely a problem.

I was saved from answering her question by the appearance of red and blue flashing lights on the top of the hill. My mom drove one turnoff past my new house and pulled right up to the late Lou Harlowís estate. Cops were everywhere, definitely more than technically worked for our sleepy little town. It seemed as if the whole county had arrivedówhether to help investigate or merely to gawk remained to be seen.

A few officers stood by the entryway chatting over takeout coffees. Others paraded around the property talking into their radios and trying to look important. Somebody else worked on stretching that jarring yellow crime scene tape around the porch.

I hated it. I hated it so much. The good senator deserved better than this. We all did.

Mom pulled straight up behind the nearest cop car and shut of the engine.ďReady?Ē she asked with a quick glance my way before charging out of the car and right over to the group of officers who had gathered by the house.

ďQuite the scene youíve got here,Ē she said jovially while I struggled to catch up. Even though I was taller than my mom and should have had a quicker stride, sheíd always buzzed around like a hummingbird, sometimes moving so fast you could scarcely keep track.

ďYeah, and itís a private one at that,Ē a county officer informed us both, making a little shooing gesture with her hand.

ďLaura Lee, Channel 7 News,Ē Mom answered proudly, shoving a hand forward in greeting.

The officer sneered and refused to take the proffered hand.ďOh, then we definitely donít want you here.Ē

One of our local boys spotted us from across the yard and shouted,ďItís okay. Sheís with us.Ē Officer Bouchard jogged over to join us. ďSheís got the needed clearance,Ē he told the others.

ďThank you,Ē my mom said, simpering at the county officer who had tried to deny our access. ďNow, be a dear and catch us up, please.Ē

I sighed and made a mental note thatHow to Win Friends& Influence Peoplewould be the perfect gift for my mom on the next holiday that required such things.

ďOfficer Raines?Ē my mom read from the angry lady copís badge. ďI just want to help.Ē

ďLike heck you do,Ē the other one spat back.

I tried to block their bickering out as I studied the massive stone fa?ade before us. Just like my new houseóFulton Manoróthis one was at least five-thousand square feet and probably about as old as the state of Maine itself. Gorgeous bay windows stuck out at odd intervals around the second floor in what appeared to be a recent remodeling job. I wondered if you could see the ocean from up there. Whatever the case, they seemed like nice little nooks to hang out with a good book. Maybe I could add a window seat as part of my own remodel as well.

Iíd almost fully immersed myself in this bookworm fantasy of mine when a flash of something caught my eye. I squinted to try to make out what was up there, but was met only with the fluttering of drapes. Whoever or whatever was looking out upon the chaotic scene below had now disappeared.

I left mom to continue her battle with Officer Raines and inched slowly toward the entry. Her preferred method of investigation may have been talking, but Iíd always preferred to jump straight in with both feet and see what I could discover.

At least if I found trouble waiting for me on the inside, I knew there were a dozen-odd officers loitering nearby. Any of them could offer up some help in a pinch.

See?

I had nothing to worry about as I tiptoed right into the middle of this fresh crime scene.

Chapter Three

Despite the flurry of activity outside, the inside of the manor house sat emptyóeerily so. As soon as I entered, I came face to face with the grand staircase. It had been cordoned off and the area was already scrubbed clean, though the recent disturbance was obvious.

One of the lower steps had caved in on itself, calling into question the soundness of the entire structure. A few feet from the landing, the body position had been marked in a shining white outline.The poor senator.Sheíd been a huge force in life, but the outline marking her death seemed impossibly small.

As much as my mother assumed I didnít know about the political scene or about current events in general, Iíd actually voted for the senator in her two most recent elections. Sheíd fought hard to protect the natural beauty of our great country and the citizens within it. Even though I liked to think of myself as non-partisan, Iagreed with Senator Lou Harlowís stances more often than not.

Plus, from the few televised interviews or online news articles Iíd managed to catch, I liked her. She reminded me of Nan, but in a tailored pant suit instead of a flowy silk kimono.

Sheíd done so much tireless work on behalf of the people, and now one of those people had killed her. I bowed my head and said a quick prayer, hoping that her death had happened quickly and without pain, and that the killer would soon be brought to justice.

Iíd been around murder a lot lately, but somehow this one felt more personal. Lou Harlow wasnít a stranger. She was someone Iíd seen on the TV, the Internet, and even the odd newspaper that still found its way into the firm where I worked.

ďThere you are,Ē Mom shouted after me, disturbing the sanctity of the moment as she flew in through the open front door.

I kept my eyes fixed straight ahead. Was there some important clue Iíd missed because emotions were clouding my judgment with this one?

ďSuch a shame,Ē Mom clucked, finally showing a blessed bit of remorse.

We stood side by side, studying the scene. A glint of yellowish green at the top of the stairs drew my eye and I stepped forward to get a better look.

ďWhat is it? What do you see?Ē Mom asked in an excited whisper.

I still hadnít figured out what was up there, but I pointed anyway.

We both craned our heads and shifted our angles until finally I saw a scary, mummy-looking face watching me from above.ďItís some kind of animal, I think.Ē Although it looked like none Iíd ever come across before. Maybe in a zoo, but in the wilds of coastal Maine? I think not.

ďThe senator did have two pet cats,Ē Mom pointed out, still struggling and twisting in an effort to discern the animal for herself.

ďWhateverís up there, Iím not really sure itís a cat.Ē I took another step forward, bending my neck straight back to achieve a fresh perspective. All that did was hurt me, though. ďUgh. I wish it wasnít so dark in here,Ē I moaned.

Mom lifted her phone high and then snapped a picture of the area using her flash. The burst of light was more than enough to fully illuminate that same little animal that had first caught my eye. A second larger one of the same kind also sat farther back away from the bannister. They still looked like something that had come straight out of a horror movie, but now at least I could clearly tell they were cats.

Cats with no fur and lots of wrinkles.Eww.

I shuddered as I pictured Octo-Cat shorn down in a similar fashion, and that particular mental image was even scarier than the two odd Sphynxes sitting before me.

Mom showed me the picture sheíd managed to get on her phone. ďTheyíre hairless cats,Ē she said matter-of-factly.

I shivered again.ďWhy would anyone want a cat without hair?Ē

ďAllergies? Attention?Ē Mom guessed and offered me a casual shrug. ďCould have been either with the Senator.Ē

A growl sounded above, and I swear the little hairs on the back of my neck shot straight up. I was a newly branded cat person, so why did these two freak me out so much? Was it that they were hairless or that they were staked out at a murder scene? Both?

After another emphatic growl, the larger of the two cats appeared at the top of the stairs, peering down at us like a dissatisfied overlord. Or a prison guard. Or a killer.

ďHi,Ē I said, even though I knew he couldnít understand me without Octo-Cat here to translate.

He opened his mouth wide, then let out a terrible hiss before turning tail and stalking off with the smaller cat in pursuit.

ďI am officially terrified of those things,Ē I said.

Mom shoved her phone back into her bag and turned to me with that same excited expression sheíd worn most of the morning. ďKnow what Iím thinking?Ē

ďIím not sure I want to know,Ē I admitted. I should have been at home packing the last of my boxes for the big move, not shaking in my flip flops at the sight of these two bizarre felines. There was absolutely no reason this little investigation of ours couldnít have waited.

Mom grabbed my hand and gave it a squeeze. Obviously, we were not thinking the same thing here.ďIím thinking,Ē she revealed with a happy squeal, ďthat this looks like a job for Pet Whisperer, P.I.Ē

ďPet Whisperer? P.I.?Ē I shook my head and tried very hard not to roll my eyes. Of course, sheíd given me a special headline-worthy moniker. Sheíd probably already written and rewritten my featured story in her head several times over.

ďThatís your new name,Ē she said, squeezing my hand again. ďDo you like it?Ē

ďUm, Iím fine just being Angie.ĒMust not encourage this. I wanted my special ability to remain a secret, not become front page news.

ďNot for you,Ē Mom said with a sigh. ďFor your business.Ē

ďI donít have a business,Ē I pointed out. I still didnít like where she was headed with all of this.

ďWrong again,Ē she crooned. ďYouíre already doing the work. You might as well hang out your sign and get paid for it.Ē

ďInteresting idea, but I donít want people to know I can talk to animals,Ē I reminded her. Besides, I still had my part-time salary from the law firm and my full-time stipend for being Octo-Catís official guardian and the overseer of his trust fund.

ďEveryone will think itís a gimmick,Ē Mom countered with a wink. ďBut only weíll know the truth. Besides, it will give you an excuse to bring your cat with you while investigating, which is what you need anyway, right? I mean, if heíd been here this morning, we could have cracked the whole case wide open by now. Those cats definitely know what happened. I just know it.Ē

ďWhy do you have to be so excited about this?Ē I asked, resigned to the fact that I was apparently opening a business nowóand, worse still, that my cat would be my new business partner.

ďThatís branding, baby,Ē Mom answered with a glamorous flip of her hair.

Oh, brother. Or ratheróoh, mother.

I took a couple big steps back, careful not to upset the crime scene as I walked away from the crazy lady who just so happened to be my mother. Turning to the door now, I said,ďOkay, great. So, Iím just going to go make sure the police know the cats are up there. With the stairs cordoned off, it might not be easy to get them down.Ē

Mom followed after me as I returned to the bright world outside. I squinted from the sudden onslaught of sunniness and swept my eyes over the premises in search of the one officer I knew well enough to approach. Once my eyes adjusted to the light again, I spotted Officer Bouchard at the edge of the property examining a small copse of evergreens at the edge of a much larger deciduous forest that divided Harlowís property from mine.

I jogged over to him, knowing my mom would have no trouble keeping up if she wanted to.

ďDid you know there are cats inside?Ē I asked him, embarrassed by the fact my breaths came out labored from that short burst of exercise.

ďThat would be Jacques and Jillianne,Ē he said with a chuckle. ďUgly little things, arenít they?Ē

ďTheyíreÖ cute. Um, in a different way,Ē I insisted. In avery different way. Still, even though Iíd just had the same thought myself, I suddenly felt defensive on their behalf.

My mom joined us then, having chosen to stroll elegantly across the field rather than run like I did. I guess it was now part of her persona or something.The news waits for no man,sheíd often told me, but for a woman, it just might.

Officer Bouchard smiled kindly at Mom.ďYeah. The senator picked them up from a breeder in France, thus the fancy names. Theyíre slippery little buggers, too. Iíve been trying to catch them all morning, but so far, no luck. Figure with the next of kin on the way, the cats can be his problem when he gets here.Ē

ďNext of kin?Ē Mom inserted herself between me and him. Sheíd already pulled out her phone and started the recording app, which she now held up to him like a microphone. ďAnd who might that be?Ē

Officer Bouchard stared at the phone, then cleared his throat and answered in a crisp, clear voice,ďHer son, Matthew Harlow. Lives in Chicago. Should be here by nightfall.Ē

ďAnd who do you think killed Lou Harlow?Ē Mom asked, pressing the phone even closer to his face.

He sighed and pushed her hand aside.ďI think itís too soon to say. We havenít even ruled out the possibility of it being an accident yet.Ē

Until today, Iíd only seen one crime scene beforeóBill and Ruth Hayes, who were murdered in their own home. I saw it long after the fact, but Iíd had the same feeling today as Iíd had then.

Call it my gut.

Call it intuition.

Or maybe even just a lucky guess.

Whatever the case, I knew it had been no accident that killed Lou Harlow. Someone had wanted her dead and decided to take matters into his or her own hands.

Now we just had to figure out who.

The Pet Whisperer P.I. was officially on the case.

Chapter Four

As promised, Mom stuck around to help me finish my packing and, as much as it pained me to admit, I almost wished she wouldnít have. For starters, she had an opinion oneverything.

Iím not exaggerating either.Everything.

As she picked up each of my possessions one by one, she frowned and turned them over in her hands. Apparently she believed that if she studied my things from all angles, they might suddenly transform into something that would match her expectations.

Growing up, I had often wondered if she felt the same way about me, but now I knew better. Mom was a nice lady and I know she loved me as best she could, but she had most definitely not been cut from the divine maternal cloth.

ďDo you really need to take this with you?Ē she asked me now. ďI can get you a newer one. A better one.Ē

After about an hour of this same conversation over and over again, sheíd basically promised to buy me a new life as part of my housewarming gift. I know our tastes didnít match upóMom was far more sophisticated than Iíd ever beóbut still, it would have been nice for her to give it a rest.

The other problem I had just then was that I desperately wanted to discuss the crime scene and those weird Sphynx cats with Octo-Cat. Yes, even though Mom knew I could talk to him, it still felt weird to carry on a conversation right there in front of her.

Our tastes werenít the only thing that differed. Mom was all cold, hard facts and evidence. Sheíd ask a million and one questions, including many I wouldnít know how to answer. Namely,how come you two can talk to each other?

I still had no idea why Octo-Cat and I had formed this connection or even really how it worked. One day Iíd love to figure all that out, but I was too busy with my move at present to sit around and speculate all the many possibilities with my mom.

ďYou know,Ē Mom said as she studied the plates and bowls stacked in one of my kitchen cupboards. ďYouíre going to be living in a manor house now. A lot of your things donít really match that aesthetic. It may be jarring for visitors.Ē

ďItís fine, Mom,Ē I said, nudging her out of the way with my hip and packing away the offensive dishes myself. ďI donít really plan on having a lot of visitors, and Iím not really the hoity-toity type. You know that about me.Ē

She stepped to the side and opened another cabinet.ďMaybe thereís a middle ground here,Ē she insisted. ďNan has a nice set of dinnerware. You could throw yours out and stick with hers instead. Oh! Or you could donate yours. You love those charity shops, right?Ē

ďMaybe,Ē I said to acknowledge the topic so that we could both move on. I did like the thrift shops, but I much preferred buying from them over donating my own things.

Mom frowned, and I hugged one of my cheery red plates to my chest. I liked my plates, and I liked my life, too. Why couldnít Mom just accept that she and I were never going to see eye to eye on certain issues? So what if most of the things in my kitchen came from the dollar store? They all worked just as well as the things Mom bought for a hundred times the price at her fancy chain boutiques.

ďOh, I like these,Ē she said, staring into the next cupboard over as she grabbed a floral-patterned Lenox teacup and studied it with wide eyes.

ďI donít want her messing with my stuff,Ē Octo-Cat informed me, hopping up onto the counter and giving Mom such a startle, she dropped the much admired teacup right onto the ground.

The three of us watched what followed in slow motion, but it was already, regrettably too late. The delicate cup burst into smithereens and Octo-Cat let out an ear-piercing cry.ďMy Evian vessel!Ē

Mom took a step back.ďIím so sorry,Ē she told me, and I could tell she genuinely meant it. Maybe she picked at me not to be mean, but just because she sometimes had a hard time thinking of other things to discuss. Maybe that was why she got so excited over sharing the Lou Harlow murder investigation with me.

ďIíll get you a new set, I promise,Ē she said, blinking back tears. Suddenly, I felt like the absolute worst daughter in the world. Why did I have such difficulty spending more than a few minutes at a time in my momís company? Iíd need to try harder.

Of course, I didnít have the heart to tell her that this particular set was irreplaceable. Theyíd belonged to Octo-Catís previous owner, the late Ethel Fulton, and they were one of the few things he still had left of her. Granted, weíd soon be moving into her mostly furnished manor home, but still. This teaset had been special to Octo-Cat. It was the only way heíd take his food or water, and now that he was down a cup, Iíd have to increase my dish-washing schedule to boot.

ďLook,Ē I said, trying to be as gentle as possible. ďI think I can handle things from here. Why donít you go see what else you can find out about the Harlow murder?Ē

She twisted her hands anxiously.ďAre you sure?Ē Despite her hesitation, I could tell she was just as eager to go as I was to have her leave.

Did I feel guilty?Sure.Iíd probably never stop feeling guilty when it came to my strained relationship with her and Dad.

Still, Mom and I had always gotten along best in brief bursts. I loved that we were becoming closer these last few weeks, but we needed more time to navigate our new relationshipóand this really wasnít the best day for us to put in the work, as calloused as that sounded even to my own ear.

It just couldnít be a priority with all the other things I needed to do.

I side-stepped the broken teacup and gave my mom a tight hug.ďIím sure. I can tell youíre dying to get back on the case. Iíll be fine here.Ē

Mom sighed happily.ďMmm,you know me so well,Ē she said before quickly gathering her things and racing toward the door. ďIíll text with any updates. Bye!Ē

And just like that, she was gone again.

Octo-Cat resumed his agonized mewling. Even though we could understand each other, sometimes he still reverted to the classic cat soundsóusually in periods of intense emotionólike now.

ďIím sorry,Ē I told him, carefully stroking his head. I hoped it would offer comfort and also that the kindly gesture would not result in me getting bitten, but you kind of never knew with Octo-Cat.

ďItís like Ethel just died all over again,Ē he told me. His ears twitched then fell flat against his head. His tail swished back and forth like a metronome. His eyes grew so wide and dark that I was sure he would have cried, were such a trait in his biology.

ďIím really sorry,Ē I told him again, unsure of what else I could do.

He stared at the tiny fragments of Lenox that lay scattered across the kitchen floor. Whites, pinks, gold-trimmed, all nothing more than broken pieces of the life heíd once known. Great. Now I was tearing up, too.

ďIíll just go get the broom,Ē I mumbled, not wanting him to see how moved I now was on his behalf.

But before I could turn away, Octo-Cat shot out in front of me and screamed,ďNo!Ē

My heartbeat ratcheted up a few notches, thumping wildly as I wondered what crazy thing my cat might do next.ďWhoa, what happened?Ē

ďIím just not ready yet,Ē he informed me. ďI need some time with it first.Ē

ďWith the broken teacup?Ē I asked gently. Heíd gotten better at detecting sarcasm and punished me whenever he heard it in my voice or saw it on my face. He was allowed to talk to me however he pleased, of course, but I had to maintain the utmost respect at all times.

Even times like this.

Octo-Cat sniffed and lifted his nose high as he did whenever he wanted to appear superior.ďYes,Ē he answered simply.

ďUnfortunately, we donít really have time.Ē I kept my face placid, understanding. ďThe movers will be here in an hour or so. And we canít keep stepping around the mess. Itís dangerous. One of us could cut a foot on those sharp shards.Ē

He let out a mournful meow, then turned away.ďDo as you must.Ē

I resumed my journey to get the broom and dustpan, feeling like the worst cat owner in the world. That made me the worst daughter and the worst cat owner all within the span of about ten minutes. My stock would not be rising anytime soon.

When I returned, Octo-Cat still stood frozen in that dramatic pose of his. Normally, his antics bugged me, but at that moment, I truly felt sorry for him and his loss.

ďWould it help if we said a few words?Ē I suggested.

The morose tabby turned his head slightly and peered at me from the corners of his eyes.ďLike a funeral?Ē

ďYeah,Ē I said with a shrug. ďLike a funeral.Ē

He shifted the rest of the way out of his pose and faced me straight on. Already he looked better, like his heart had started to piece itself back together.ďWhere will we bury it?Ē he wanted to know.

ďOh.Umm.ĒI did not have time for this, but he also seemed sincere and in need of closure, so I suggested something I hoped would suit us both.ďWe should bury it tonight at Ethelís.Ē That would buy me the time I needed to pack at least, and hopefully it would make him feel better about this whole episode, too.

ďGreat idea, Angela,Ē Octo-Cat said with one of his hard-earned smiles.

I glowed in the light of his rare and wonderful praise. He was a diva, sure, but it did feel good to make him happy, especially considering that most of the time every little thing I did disappointed him greatly.

ďTonight,Ēhe shouted merrily.ďThat also gives me time to work on what Iíll say.Ē He then trotted off, leaving me to tidy the mess and prepare it for burial.

Ugh. As glad as I was that he felt better, Iíd planned to talk to him about Lou Harlowís murder and the strange cats sheíd left behind.

Well, that would just have to wait.

Why was my to-do list only getting longer the harder I worked today?

Chapter Five

All of Octo-Catís previous sorrow evaporated the moment we pulled into the long, winding driveway of Fulton Manor.

ďHome!Ē he yowled, even being so brave as to detach his claws from my thigh so he could prop himself up and look out the window. ďOh, it feels so good to be home!Ē

I parked and opened my driverís side door, and he immediately jumped over me to get to the ground outside. ďHome!Ē he continued to cry as he rolled back and forth in the grass like a crazy kitty.

I was just about to ask him to rein it in when he raced up the porch steps and through his specialty cat door, which slid open in response to a special signal his collar emitted. All this time Iíd never replaced his collar and heíd never asked me to. He probably always knew weíd end up here someday. After all, heíd engineered the entire thing.

Octo-Cat had clearly found a way to keep himself occupied. Meanwhile, the movers were still packing things up at my old rental, which gave me a little bit of time alone with my new mansion now.

A mansion! And it belonged to me!

Ridiculous.

But, okay, also super cool.

My eyes moved up the three stories all the way to the turret rising up beyond the far side of the roof. Iíd already decided to make my bedroom there in the tippity top tower just like some kind of weirdo modern-day princess. Nan had claimed the master bedroom, which had belonged to Ethel before she died. It was also where she had died, and I just felt icky about being in the same house, let alone the very same bedroom.

Nan simply laughed and said,ďOh, sweetie pie. Death is a part of life.Ē I figured at her advanced age, it must not bother her as much as it did me. Personally, I hoped I never reached the point in life where I was comfortable sleeping in the same spot a dead body had lain only months before.

It was eerie enough moving into a house that had served as the scene of a murder. In fact, I was still working on coming to terms with it. By now, I felt pretty sure my first electric bill would be many hundreds of dollars, seeing as I planned to sleep with every single light on until I no longer felt afraid of my own house.

Had it been my choice, Iíd never have picked a dwelling so grand. But Octo-Cat had insisted upon it. Even Mr. Fultonómy former bossóseemed happy to be unloading the house quickly, even at a substantial loss to himself and the other heirs.

As I watched Octo-Cat run back and forth through the cat door, moaning with delight each and every time, I really did have to admit the place suited him. So what if he was a common housecat? Looks could be deceiving, and his heart was definitely bourgeois to the max.

I left him to his merriment and grabbed one of the lighter boxes from my trunk. Inside, a thin veil of dust clung to almost every possible surface. I probably should have cleaned it out before moving in, but I didnít exactly have the cash to hire someone. Besides, the move had happened so suddenly, I barely had time to pack, let alone do much of anything else.

Weíd get to it. Eventually.

Just add it to the bottom of my never-ending to-do list. Or maybe somewhere in the middle.

My goal was to have the place at least livable before Nan joined us at the end of the month. She needed more time to pack up the entire life sheíd lived in Blueberry Bay as well as all her mementos from her time on Broadway.

I understood that, so I didnít tell her how the thought of sleeping in this giant place alone frightened me to the very core. I had Octo-Cat, who may or may not protect me in the event of danger. A fifty-fifty shot was still better than having zero help, if the need for it were to suddenly occur.

Another unsettling thing?

Fulton Manor and Harlow Manor next door had almost the exact same blueprint. Although they were both built well before the rise of the McMansion, I guess somebody had liked the first so much, theyíd decided to build a second almost exactly like it.

Somehow, I found myself drifting toward the grand staircase time and again. It looked so much like the one next door that it made me shudder each time I passed. I was like a deranged moth drawn right into the middle of the flame.Burn, baby, burn.

ďWhatís wrong with you?Ē my cat asked, eyeing me wearily after his ten-millionth time through the cat door.

I shrugged.ďJust a bit weirded out by the murder next door.Ē

He stopped dead in his tracks, not even putting his front left paw all the way down as he stared at me.ďWait,what?Somebody killed that nice old lady? When?Ē

Oh, that was right. We hadnít gotten the chance to talk yet, given the entire teacup episode. ďThis morning,Ē I told him, watching him carefully to see how heíd react once he had more information. ďOr, probably last night, actually.Ē

He gasped and stomped his paw down onto the hardwood floor.ďAnd you didnít tell me?Ē

ďThere was that whole thing with the teacup, and IÖ Iím sorry.Ē I apologized, knowing that it was the most surefire way to avoid an altercation. Octo-Cat loved fighting and hated losing, which meant I was constantly on the bum end ofthat deal.

He shook his head in dismay and stared at me for an uncomfortably long time before trotting up a few stairs and positioning himself just so.ďGo on. Tell me now,Ē he demanded. ďI need to know exactly what happened.Ē

I felt nervous under the spotlight of his scrutinous gaze but did as I was told. For as much as he was supposed to be my pet, it really felt as if I were the one whoíd been trained. ďThe senator was killed. Someone pushed her down the staircase,Ē I explained.

ďThe staircase!Ē Octo-Cat exclaimed, lifting one paw and then the other while he stared at the stoop beneath him.

I nodded dumbly, unable to form words just then.

ďJacques and Jillianne,Ē he somehow managed to hiss between clenched teeth. ďIíll skin them alive, those good for nothings.Ē He jogged down the steps and was just about to dart out the cat door again before I stopped him.

ďWait!Ē I cried. ďYou know Jacques and Jillianne?Ē I felt so stupid every time I said their Frenchified names. Why did cats need such fancy names? Octo-Cat was bad enough with his eight names, but at least all of them were in English. Wait. They were, right? It was honestly kind of hard to remember, thus his new and improvedóand much, much shorterómoniker.

He sighed but kept his back to me. His tiny kitty shoulders heaved with the weight of his obvious disappointment in me.ďOf course I know them. We used to live next door andówill you look at that?ónow we do again.Ē

ďAre you friends?Ē I asked eagerly, running a half circle around him so that we were once again face to face.

He looked like he was about to sneeze. He didnít. Instead, he said, ďWith those weirdos? No way.Ē

ďI mean, they look a little different, but thatís not a reason toóĒ

ďItís not their looks, Angela. Itís the way they talk.Ē He growled at me, much like the big hairless cat had that morning.

I wasnít sure what game we were playing here, but I hated to be left out. I shook my head and scowled at him. ďYouíre not sounding any less racist here. Or is it breedist? Whatever the case, not a shining moment from you.Ē

He simply chuckled.ďOh, youíll see what I mean. Give it some time. Shouldnít take too long.Ē

He trotted up a few steps and then turned back to me, something I couldnít quite interpret shining in his eyes. ďBy the way,Ē he said as if a sudden thought had just occurred to him.

ďDeath by staircase? Yeah, classic cat move.Ē

ďWhat do youó?Ē I started.

He cut me off with a villainous laugh he liked to trot out whenever he wanted to be particularly theatrical. Apparently, this was one of those blessed times.

ďI mean,Ē he said, between manic gasps for air. ďJacques and Jillianne killed your senator. The cats are guilty. Case closed.Ē He sulked slowly away, still laughing to himself.

I took two giant steps back, feeling like Iíd just looked into the void and saw my death play out before my very eyes. Whatever happened next, Iíd make sure to watch my step when it came to the grand staircase Iíd once considered the crowning feature of my new home.

Octo-Catís laughter echoed through the halls. Why was this so funny to him? Why was he still laughing, and about this?

Apparently, he and my mom shared the same morbid fascination with the senatorís death. Too bad they both talked to me instead of each other.

Itís just his way, I reminded myself.He likes being the center of attention. Heíd never actually hurt you.

But then I thought of all those little old cat ladies who died in the city only to be devoured by their most beloved pets and shuddered againÖ

Well, at least I knew Octo-Cat would only eat Fancy Feast.

Chapter Six

Even though I needed to take some items upstairs, I decided to stick to the main level of the house while the movers hauled all my heaviest belongings in through the front door. Iíd need just a little bit more time to come to grips with what Octo-Cat had just revealed about feline-on-human homicide and the preferred method for it.

Here I hadnít even known such a horror existed.Silly me.

Truth be told, I hadnít brought much from my old place, and so my preliminary unpacking was quick. Since I still felt queasy every time I passed by the staircase, I decided to head outside and take a walk around the property.

Gorgeous, intricately kept flowerbeds surrounded the house on three sides, and the back opened up to a lovely two-tiered deck, complete with a fire pit and twin porch swings. Farther out, a thick forest rimmed the property, giving it all the privacy you could want and more.

Okay, so half my week would probably now be spent on yard maintenance going forward, but even I had to admit it would be time well spent.

A soft rumble in the distance along with a flash of red between the trees caught my eye, and I tromped through the grass to check it out. Apparently, if I angled my head just right, I could see straight through to the late senatorís yard. A bright red sports car had just pulled up the drive, and it was one I recognized instantly. After all, there were only two fancy red sports cars in all of Glendale; Nan drove one while Thompson owned the other.

I watched in horror as my boss, the senior partner at our law firm, Mr. Richard Thompson, clambered out of his car and up the steps toward the house. Uncharacteristically, he came without the briefcase that was usually attached to him like a boxy extension of his left limb. He also appeared nervous as he loosened his tie and glanced around the estate to see if anyone else was nearby. The police had mostly cleared out by thenóor at least taken their get-together elsewhere. And, thank goodness, he didnít know to search for me on the other side of the forest.

I remained rooted to the spot as Officer Bouchard stepped out of the house and strode forward to greet Mr. Thompson. His badge reflected the sunshine like a polished nickel.ďRichard, can I help you with something?Ē

I craned my neck to try to make out Mr. Thompsonís expression, but a low-hanging branch blocked my view.

ďI heard the news,Ē Thompson said. His deep voice projected through the forest. ďThought Iíd stop by to pay my respects.Ē

Officer Bouchard jogged down the steps and motioned for the other man to follow.ďIím sure you donít need me to tell you that this isnít the appropriate time or place.Ē

ďI know,Ē my boss agreed. He seemed unsure of what to do with his hands. ďIt was just soÖ so unexpected.Ē

The policeman sighed and raised one of his arms high to run a hand through his hair.ďYeah, weíre all pretty beat up about this one. It doesnít change the rules, though.Ē

They exchanged a few quiet words that got lost before they reached my ears, and then Mr. Thompson climbed back into his car and left.

ďWhat wasthat about?Ē Octo-Cat asked, choosing that exact moment to rub up against my leg and giving me the fright of my life.

ďI have no idea,Ē I told him honestly, still very much suspicious as to how both me and my firm at large now became tangled up in every single murder around town. Granted, there werenít any murders until Ethel Fulton earlier this yearóor at least none that I knew about.

ďI hope somebody without any pets moves in next,Ē he informed me with a bored yawn as we both stared vacantly through the trees.

This surprised me enough to risk a glance toward him. Itís not like anything was happening at Harlow Manor anymore. Even Officer Bouchard had disappeared from view now.

ďDonít you like other cats?Ē I asked him.

ďInmy territory?Ē He made a sarcasticpsshaw noise.ďIíd much rathernot share, if given the choice. This is my land. These are my trees to climb, and in their branches? Those are my birds to devourÖ or at least deliver to the foot of your bed when youíve been a good human.Ē

I shuddered at the memory of his most recentgift.ďI guess Iíll make sure not to be a good human then.Ē

He nipped at the blades of grass in front of his paws, swallowed a few bites, and then snickered.ďJust for that, now my puke will be green.Ē

ďUm, okay,Ē I said with a shrug. Honestly, his punishments often werenít much worse than his rewards, and this one seemed especially tame.

ďIt will throw off your whole day,Ē he explained with a smirk. His laughter became sinister, and I knew heíd gone full-on into evil genius mode. The only problem with that is our definitions of the wordgenius varied substantially.

When he stopped laughing, he took a deep breath and glanced up at me.ďYou donít get it, do you?Ē he said with a frustrated groan that was also part growl.

I shook my head, just as Officer Bouchard popped into view outside of the Harlow place. Why was he there? What was he doing?

ďYouíll have to clean up green puke,Ē my cat explained between laughs that seemed to be losing their steam. ďNormally, you start your day by cleaning up brown puke. You see? It will make everything different right from the start of your day. You wonít be able to stand it!Ē

ďYou got me,Ē I said with a resigned sigh. It would be better for us both if he thought heíd found a new means of punishing me. He derived such great pleasure from trying out new training techniques, that I didnít have the heart to correct his misunderstandings when it came to what did and didnít work for disciplining humans.

ďGot it out of your system now?Ē I asked, turning back to study him with a skeptical smile.

ďFor now,Ē he answered. ďBut just you wait until tomorrow morning!Ē

ďOkay, great.Ē I glanced back toward Officer Bouchardís immovable form and my curiosity continued to grow. Who would kill a four-term senator when she was so liked by her constituents? Why did the police find it necessary to guard the crime scene? And what, if anything, did her weird, hairless cats have to do with it all?

ďHey, are you busy right now?Ē I asked my cat when I realized he might be able to sneak through the woods for a closer look.

He just turned his nose up and said,ďYes,Ē then turned around with his tail also held high in the air, flashing me an unnecessary view of his kitty butt.

ďWell, thanks for that,Ē I shouted after him.

With one more glance though the trees, I decided to give it a rest. At least for now. Maybe the cops had already identified the culprit and thatís why they were guarding the scene. Even if I had an official title now as part of Momís impromptu branding session this morning, I was still inexperienced and new at this.

The police were the experts, and I had to trust them to do their jobs right. Even as I thought those words, however, I knew it would only be a matter of time before I found myself creeping through those trees to investigate the scene of the murder firsthand.

Chapter Seven

Night was fast approaching by the time the movers left. They not only helped me move my meager belongings in, but they also stayed to help reorganize the existing furniture within the manor and to pack some of the unneeded pieces into their truck for a quick stop off to the local charity shop.

Okay, maybe not so quick, considering they ended up moving more out than they moved in. But I definitely wasnít keeping the bed Ethel had died in, or any of her bedroom set for that matter. I didnít care that Nan was just fine repurposing the furniture for her own use. It creeped me out and I refused to keep any part of it in my home. It was already bad enough that Octo-Cat absolutely refused to part with the formal dining room set that had hosted the poisonous dinner party. I did not need to top that off with my Nan sleeping in some other old ladyís death bed.

ďIím glad theyíre finally gone,Ē Octo-Cat said, standing with his forepaws on the low window frame as he watched the moving truck pull away. ďThey smelled bad, like human body odor.Blech.Ē

I rolled my eyes, but luckily he was too distracted to notice.ďThatís probably because they were moving heavy things for us the better part of the afternoon.Ē

ďStill gross. I have a very delicate olfactory operation up here,Ē he said, twitching his nose demonstratively. Well, I couldnít really argue with him on that point.

ďAre you good?Ē I asked, hoping he would go easy on me, though I half expected him to make me move his belongings from one place to another all night long until he came up with the winning arrangement.

ďIím good,Ē he answered. His complacency gave me a wicked shock to the system. Would living here be like living with a different, less demanding cat? One could only hope.

ďIím ready for the funeral when you are,Ē he said, plopping his butt on the worn oriental rug and staring up at me with large, probing eyes.

The teacupóright. ďOkay, Iíll go get the box,Ē I said, trying to remember if Iíd left it in the car or tucked it away somewhere in the kitchen.

Octo-Cat raced ahead and blocked my path.ďI said when youíre ready.Ē

ďI am ready. We can do it now.ĒAww, he was being so sweet to consider my needs for a change. Maybe the loss of his teacup made him value the friends he had left. Maybe we really had reached a turning point in our relationship.

He shook his head and took on a condescending tone.ďNo, Angela. You arenot.I wasnít going to say anything, because I assumed you already knew, butÖĒ He paused to take a deep, dramatic breath. ďYou smell like human body odor, too.Ē

ÖOr maybe nothing had changed at all.

I threw a hand on each hip and stared down at him.ďSo what? You want me to take a shower first?Ē

ďNot want,Ē he corrected, studying his paw nonchalantly. ďRequire.Ē

I so badly wanted to call this whole ridiculous teacup funeral off, but instead I turned on my heel and headed toward the bathroom. Man, he really did have me trained.

As much as it irritated me to be told what to do by my cat, the hot water did soothe my aching muscles, and I felt more like myself after slipping into my favorite jeans and rejoining Octo-Cat downstairs.

ďReady!Ē I trilled, going once more to retrieve the teacup.

His furry form appeared at the top of the stairs, giving me quite the fright in the process.ďNo,Ē he said simply. ďThis will not do.Ē

ďWhatís wrong now?Ē I asked, tapping my foot impatiently. That was one bit of body language he understood well since he often did the same thing by flicking his tail.

ďIsnít it customary for humans to wear black when attending a funeral?Ē He tilted his head to the side as if it pained him to have to explain such a simple concept to me. After all, I was supposed to be the human expert around here.

ďYeah, butóĒ

He held up a paw to silence me.ďThatís what I thought. So, chop chop, you.Ē

I sighed but went to find the dress I had worn to Ethelís funeral a few months back, anyway. At this point my annoyance was such that my cat was lucky we werenít headed tohis funeral.

Heís grieving. Heís grieving,I reminded myself over and over again. But the truth was, he could be having the best day of his life and would still treat me this way. Most people had a sense of catsí haughtiness and entitlement but didnít know how deep it ran due to their inability to hold a conversation with their beloved animal overlords the way I could. Still, no matter how much he complained, Octo-Cat did forgive me for most of my flaws, so I did my best to put up with his.

The next time I came back down those stairs, I clung tightly to the handrail in case the tabbyís agitation matched my own.

Octo-Cat gave me a purr of approval as he took in my black maxi dress and swept back hair.ďFinally. Now come,Ē he trotted through his electronic cat door and waited on the porch for me to join him. Once outside, I grabbed the tiny makeshift coffinówhich had once been the box for a pair of flipflops Iíd purchased from the discount shoe storeófrom my carís glove box and followed him to the side of the house.

He stopped at the end of a retaining wall that had beautiful pink azaleas spilling over the sides.ďI chose this spot,Ē the cat informed me, ďbecause these remind me of the pretty little flowers that once lined our dearly departed teacup.Ē

When I squinted at the flowers and then down at the remains of the Lenox dishware in my hands, I realized that he was absolutely right. It was really quite sweet that heíd put so much thought into this. I wondered if heíd be so discerning when planning my farewell, should he outlive me. A morbid thought, it was true, but with all the murders around here lately, it was also a valid one.

ďShould I go get a shovel?Ē I asked when he made no move to dig into the soft earth.

ďThat would be for the best, Angela.Ē He bowed his head reverently. Was he praying? If so, what deity did cats pray to? Did he have the same God as me? And how did one send off a soulless object to the great beyond? So many questions when, honestly, Iíd always just assumed my cat worshiped himself and expected me to join his strange religion as well.

I left him to hisÖwhatever he was doing. There would be time for questions later. Now I had to respect the strange ritual I didnít quite understand but knew enough to see it was of vital importance to him.

Luckily, it didnít take me long to find a small hand shovel among the supplies in Ethelís gardening shed. As I jogged back to the scene of our interment, I wondered if Ethel had ever tended to the landscaping herself or if sheíd always hired it out. I also wondered how long it would take for me to learn the specific care for each of the many types of plants that lined the property. Hopefully not so long that I killed some of them in my ineptitude. I really didnít want to have any more funerals for inanimate objects. Sure, plants were technically living, but I still didnít think they deserved to have funerals in their honor. Obviously, the teacup was a special case; I hoped this was obvious to my cat as well.

Returning to him, I settled onto my knees and began to dig in the spot Octo-Cat had pointed out. While I did this, he stood by and started a lengthy eulogy about the life and times of his friend teacup.

ďIt always gave me water when I was thirsty,Ē he moaned. I decided not to point out that this was because he refused to drink from any other vessel.

ďAnd unlike itís brother,Ē Octo-Cat continued. ďIt was never contaminated by letting a fly into my Evian.Ē His voice quivered as he continued, ďNo, siree. It kept the water in and the flies out, just like a good teacup should do. Iíll miss you, teacup. Breakfast just wonít be the same without you. Nor will my dinner.Ē

I worked very hard to keep my face straight, and thank goodness for that, because he turned toward me in complete seriousness and said,ďNow itís your turn to say a few words.Ē

Well, shoot. Why hadnít I prepared anything? I shouldíve seen this coming from miles away. Still at a loss, I said the first thing that came to mind, hoping it would please him. ďIt was a good teacup. Pretty. Matched the others in its set.Ē

ďIt did! It did!Ē Octo-Cat cried, and when he drew quiet again, I heard the unmistakable sound of a crash on the other side of the woods.

ďWhat was that?Ē I whispered to my tabby.

He stood quietly, staring down into the open grave Iíd dug for the teacup and its coffin.

ďDid you hear that crash?Ē I asked again, more frantically this time. What if the murderer was back? What if he was coming for us and we were just sitting right out in the open, unmoving, not even looking?

My palms began to sweat. Thank goodness I was no longer holding onto the teacup, because Iíd have dropped it to a second death.

Octo-Cat kept his eyes cast downward, still serious, still reverent, completely unmoved by my fear.ďI think weíre just about done here,Ē he said sorrowfully. ďAngela, will you please shovel in the dirt?Ē

I nodded and carefully pushed the dirt around the shoe box as Octo-Cat sang a mournful song with no words, only mews. It would have been beautiful, if I wasnít worried that it was leading a killer straight to us. Luckily, he closed his eyes as he sang, which enabled me to glance over my shoulder and keep an eye on the woods.

It took about five minutes to finish his wordless song. Our weird ritual now finished to his apparent satisfaction, he bowed his head one more time and said,ďOkay, time to go play detective,Ē then ran head-long into the woods.

Chapter Eight

I could scarcely keep up as Octo-Cat tore his way through the dense forest. Branches slapped into my chest as I wove my way deeper and deeper. The woods that joined the two properties didnít run more than fifty feet wide at the most, but with no clear path to guide me through, they felt much deeper and darker than they had by the light of the afternoon.

Even treading carefully, I managed to snag my foot on a knotted root, which sent me careening face forward into the dirt. Of course, Iíd needlessly been wearing open-toed dress shoes for the teacup funeral, which made for a particularly painful toe-stubbing experience.

I moaned and rolled over onto my side, clutching my poor injured toes and I searched the darkness for Octo-Cat. Heíd probably made it all the way to Harlow manor by now, which meant I was alone in the creepy forest, sporting an injury that would make it difficult to escape quickly should trouble come calling.

An ominous crunch sounded a few yards away as something took slow, deliberate steps toward me over the bed of dried leaves that clung to the forest floor like a thick carpet.

Please donít be a wolf. Please donít be a wolf,I begged inwardly. Would wolves be brave enough to come so near a residential area? I had no idea, but the forest that linked our houses stretched far and long throughout the posh neighborhood. It was totally possible that some bigger animals had made their homes nearby and had now spotted me as an easy post-supper snack.

ďHello?Ē I called into the darkness, because it felt more terrifying to remain silent. Perhaps Officer Bouchard was still standing guard at Harlow Manor and would come running into the forest to rescue me. Hopefully heíd be at least a touch more careful than I had been.

The crunching leaves silenced, leaving me alone with the eerie howl of the wind sweeping through the trees. Well, I was never ever coming out here at night again. Nope, wouldnít do it, no matter how curious something made me.

And tonight seemed like a really good time to start myďno woods at nightĒ rule, just as soon as I could get out of here.

I shifted onto my back and pulled myself to a seated position. Everything hurt, and Iíd definitely be needing another shower. Thankfully, nothing appeared to be broken, so I pressed my already dirty hands deeper into the dirt and pushed myself to a standing position. My injured side had a hard time taking the weight, so I hobbled like a zombie, moving very slowly through the growth.

Iíd only made it a few feet when the crunching started up again.

I wanted to run but knew attempting to move faster with my injury would only lead to another wipeout. So, I plodded slowly along with some unknown animal following in close pursuit. Iíd reached the halfway point between the senatorís house and mine when I heard Octo-Cat shout, ďOh, if youíre looking for trouble, youíve found it, all right!Ē

ďOcto-Cat?Ē I called, turning behind me to search the trees for his tiny striped body. Iíd never been so happy to hear his demanding, little voice in all my life.

Unfortunately, it wasnít him I found standing before me now. Rather, twin pairs of yellow-green eyes blinked into view, moving closer and closer until we were only a few feet away from each other. The white spots on the smaller cat made him easier to pick out, but the large black Sphynx remained mostly shrouded in theshadows, save for those large, glowing eyes.

Octo-Cat broke through the tangled limbs of the forest a few seconds later and looked me up and down.ďWhat happened to you?Ē

ďI fell,Ē I said flatly, unwilling to take my eyes off our two strange visitors. Although, I supposed these woods belonged to them as much as it did us.

ďDid they trip you?Ē He put himself between me and the other cats and growled, making me feel slightly safer and a lot more loved.

ďI donít think so,Ē I said, searching the forest floor for the nasty root that had caused my fall but coming up short in the expanding darkness.

ďWell, I wouldnít put it past them,Ē he mumbled.

The larger Sphynx stepped forward and let out a string of deep meows.

ďOh, jeez, not this again,Ē my cat hissed in response.

ďWhat did he say?Ē I asked, hobbling over to the nearest tree and extending a hand to rest on its trunk so that I wouldnít be stuck standing on one foot for this entire exchange.

As much as heíd hated working with the traumatized Yorkie on our last case, he seemed even angrier about having to speak to the Sphynxes. Octo-Cat took a deep breath before translating. ďHe said, Ďat night the owl sounds in such a way our curiosity compounds.íĒ

Well, that hadnít been what I expected. ďUm, what?Ē I asked, shifting my weight to give even more of it to the tree.

ďNot what,Ē Octo-Cat corrected with a heavy sigh.ďWho?Ē

ďHuh?Ē I brought my free hand up to scratch at my head, completely baffled now.

He sighed again.ďRemember how I told you I donít like their kind?This is why. Itís not because they look funny. Itís because they talk funny. Everything they say comes out as a riddle. Itís why theyíre called Sphynx cats. Get it now?Ē

ďYou mean like the mythical creature that guarded the secrets of the gods?Ē I found it both crazy and fascinating that an old story I barely remembered actually had bearing on our modern world.

ďOh, it wasnít as selfless as that,Ē Octo-Cat spoke as if heíd personally known the Sphinx of ancient Greek mythology. ďIt was a nasty demon, tormenting everyone just because it could.Ē He spat toward our two hairless visitors and raised the hairs on his back menacingly.

ďWow,Ē I said, hardly above a whisper.

Octo-Cat turned back toward me, somehow even more agitated than before.ďSo now you can see why I wasnít too keen to go chatting these guys up. The big one is Jillianne, by the way, and the little one is Jacques.Ē

ďI know youíre a little uncomfortable right now,Ē I said placatingly. It didnít escape me that each of the three cats had four good, strong legs, and I only had one. Despite his frustration, at least Octo-Cat had stayed by my side. ďBut we could really use their help,Ē I continued. ďCould you please just tell them that Iím their new neighbor and that Iím thrilled to meet them?Ē

ďYou know the ancient Sphinx enjoyed killing people, too?Ē Octo-Cat licked his paw while talking, perhaps because he didnít like sitting in the dirty forest, or perhaps to show off that he had fur while our two conversants did not.

After a little back and forth, he informed me,ďThey say, and I quote,ĎWhether written on note or banner or mat, this is our greeting, to human from cat.íĒ

ďHa, theyíre saying welcome!Ē I cried, having far more fun now than my poor, long-suffering cat. ďHow do they come up with those so fast? They must be geniuses.Ē

Octo-Cat growled. Once again, it seemed, our definitions differed.ďI donít have to sit here and take this, you know. If you want my help, youíll refrain from encouraging their unwieldy behavior.Ē

I thought heíd said they always talked like this, but correcting him now would just send him scampering off toward home, and I still had so much more I needed to find out from our two hairless wonders. ďCan you ask them if they know who killed their owner, please?Ē I said instead.

Octo-Cat kept his eyes firmly on mine, a challenge.ďThis is getting old real fast, so I suggest you think over each question carefully, because I am definitely not doing this all night,Ē he warned.

ďFine, fine,Ē I groused. ďNow, tell me, what did they say?Ē

He pressed his ears back against his skull and shook his head.ďYeah, youíre enjoying this way too much, but Iím telling you right now, we arenot adopting them.Ē

I was just about to yell at Octo-Cat again, when he delivered the next riddle in a bored monotone.ďWhat we say to confirm, even if it makes one squirm.Ē

ďYes!Ē I shouted gleefully.ďThat means yes, right? They know!Ē This case really could be open and shut, seeing as we had two key witnesses right here and more than happy to talk to us.

Octo-Cat let out a dreadful groan, then turned tail and disappeared between the tree branches.

ďHey, wait!Ē I cried, slowly attempting to follow after him. I hoped the Sphynxes would follow, too. I was dying to ask them the next question. It would be the only one we needed to find the murdereróoddly my question would be the same as the answer to their first riddle:Who?As in, who killed the senator? How was Octo-Cat not getting this?

ďThey know who killed the senator,Ē I shouted after him. ďNow you just have to ask one more question and weíll have solved this one in record time!Ē

I couldnít see him anywhere. Had he really just run off and abandoned me? And here I was starting to think he cared. Well, two could play the punishment game, and I suspected Iíd have a much easier time annoying him than he had bugging me.

ďOh, Octo-Cat!Ē I called in one last ditch attempt to lure him in with kindness. ďWhere are you?Ē

Nothing.Even the wind had stopped howling through the trees.

Well, this was just great. Heíd run off and left me injured and alone in a scary forest. UnlessÖ

I turned around to search for the Sphynxes behind me, but instead bumped into a large, barrel-shaped chest. A human chest.

I didnít even bother to look at his face as I twisted around and made an attempt to run. Hurt foot or not, I needed to get back to the relative safety of my house. Needed to get out of these twisted woods now. My very life might just depend on it.

Iíd only made it a single step, when he grabbed my arms and pulled me back into his chest.

ďHey, what are youó?Ē I yelled as I struggled to get away.

He brought one sweaty hand up and clamped it over my mouth before I could finish my cry for help.

Well, this was it. This was how I diedónot on the stairs but lost in the woods just a couple dozen feet away from my new palatial home.

This was not turning out to be a very good moving day.

Not at all.

Chapter Nine

This was it. Fight or flight. Preferably both.

Iíd been detained by a murderer before. Iíd been pitched into the wharf and left for dead. I could survive this. Summoning all my strength, I bit down on the fleshy palm that covered my mouth.

Yes! That did it.

My attacker cried out in pain. He pulled away at once, clutching his injured hand.ďOuch, whatíd you do that for?Ē his voice came out a bit high-pitched for a manónasally, too.

ďHey, youíre the one who attacked me!Ē I corrected, studying his red face and matching red flannel pajama pants. He was far less scary now that I got a good look at him, but it didnít change the fact that he could easily overpower me with his size and strength.

ďWho are you?Ē I demanded. ďWhat are you doing in my woods?Ē He didnít need to know Iíd only just moved in that afternoon. In fact, Iíd probably be safer if he didnít.

At least he had the decency to look properly chastised. Still clutching his wounded hand, he rushed in with an explanation.ďI heard talking, so I came out to see what was going on, and then you ran straight into me.Ē

I scoffed and crossed my arms over my chest. It must be nice to be a man, to be able to wander into the dark woods with no worries for your safety beyond the normal serial killer with a chainsaw type of thing. Then again, I often found myself charging into dangerous situations with little more than my temperamental tabby to back me up. I guess that meant I couldnít judge him too harshly. ďThat still doesnít tell me who you are.Ē

ďIím Matt Harlow,Ē he said, thrusting his uninjured hand toward me in greeting.

ďI bit the first. Do you really want to trust me with the second?Ē I asked, widening my eyes in challenge just like my cat so often did to me. I wouldnít feel safe until we got out of the forest. I was at way too much of a disadvantage here in the dark unknown with a much larger man before meand an injury slowing me down.

Matt jolted back and offered up a nervous laugh. At least he was scared, too.ďGood point,Ē he said. ďSo youíre okay, right?Ē

ďIím fine,Ē I said, even as the throbbing in my toes intensified.

ďThatís all I needed to know.Ē He lifted his arm in a swift wave, then turned back in the direction he came from. ďHave a good night.Ē

I stood watching him go until he ducked out of eyesight, then continued my journey back toward home. So that was Matt Harlow, the senatorís next of kin. Had we met under different circumstances, I could have prodded him for information, see what he knew. As it was, though, Iíd much prefer to wait for the light of day and a reliable cell signal before possibly accusing him of murder.

Okay, so he seemed like a nice enough guyótall, chubby, not unlike a teddy bear, but that didnít change the fact that his inclination upon meeting me had been to grab hold of me and cover my mouth. That was way creepier than those hair-lacking, riddle-smacking cats would ever be.

ďIím home,Ē I called when at last I trudged through the door. Iím not sure why I even bothered announcing myself when clearly my feline roommate wasnít too bothered about my safety.

Octo-Cat intelligently remained hidden. Otherwise, I definitely would have given him a stern talking to about abandoning me in the woods right when the Sphynxes were about to reveal something crucial to our case. Well, if he wanted to hide from me, he could go to bed without dinner for all I cared.

I stomped through the house just to make sure he knew how angry I was with him. On my third pass through the open floor plan of the lower level, I stopped off at the kitchen to plop a fresh serving of Fancy Feast into Octo-Catís bowl. As much as I wanted to teach him a lesson, I also didnít want to have to deal with an entire nightís worth of his yowling.

But I got my jab in anyway, because I served him his least favorite flavoróthe chicken we had only because it was part of the multi-pack I got from our local warehouse club store. Normally I saved up several dozen, then dropped them off as a donation for the local animal shelter, but I figured it would be okay to use one for a very necessary revenge.

Not satisfied, I marched up the stairs to my tower bedroom and wedged the door shut behind me. The cable company would be coming by tomorrow to connect the Internet, so for now I had to depend on my phoneís mobile connection to surf the web before bedtime. Although the pages loaded painfully slow due to our proximity to the woods, I wanted to do some quick research into the senatorís recent activity to see if anything jumped out as a possible clue to her murder.

While I was at it, I looked up Matt Harlow, too. From what I could tell, he was just a normal middle-aged guy from the city whoíd recently gotten divorced and worked a job in sales. Nothing jumped out at me as serial killerish, but it was possible heíd only killed once to date, provided that Louís untimely demise could be pegged squarely on her sonís shoulders.

Honestly, I was stumped here.

An impatient scratching sounded outside my door.

ďGo away!Ē I called, not wanting to deal with my diva cat just then.

Octo-Cat murmured a few soft words to himself that I couldnít discern, although it sounded like he was having some sort of argument. ďIím sorry!Ē he called to me after a slight bit of hesitation.

I was so shocked I dropped my phone onto the bed beside me. I donít think Iíd ever heard that particular combination of words cross his lips.ďYouíll be sorry,Ē sure, but never a genuine, heartfelt apology.

I smiled to myself, ready to milk this moment for all it was worth. Just like Octo-Cat, I had to get my victories somehow.ďWhat was that?Ē I asked, pretending I hadnít heard.

Whether he was here to demand a better flavor of Fancy Feast or because he genuinely felt bad, I didnít know. At least it was something, though.

When his voice came out strained, I could tell this moment was punishment enough.ďYou know what I said. Youíre justóaargh! Iím sorry, all right? Iím sorry!Ē

I raced toward the door as if in slow motion. Honestly, the moment wasnít that different from all those times the heroine runs in slow motion through a field of bright flowers to reach her hero. Yes, I loved my cat, and this moment was special to me, so donít judge.

Swinging the door open, I smiled down at him and said,ďI forgive you.Ē

ďGreat,Ē he said with a sly smile. ďBy the way, thereís some nice green puke waiting for you at the bottom of the stairs.Ē He trotted away, swinging his hips triumphantly. Honestly, I couldnít even remember what the green puke punishment was about, but I had bigger fish to fry.

Leaving my door open in case he wanted to come back for some apology cuddles, I snuggled back on my bed and returned to my research on the late senator and her next of kin.

First I read all the news articles pertaining to her from this past month. That bored me out of my mind, so I shifted my focus to what I personally knew already.

With the notes app on my phone open and ready, I typed in everything Iíd discovered so far:

Served four terms, likely to be reelected.

Died by falling down the stairs.

Bottom stair smashed in.

Mom asked to investigate for the news.

Icky gut feeling at the crime scene.

Two Sphynx cats from breeder in France.

Officer Bouchard stood guard outside for the better part of the day.

Mr. Thompson came to visit and was turned away.

Next of kin is Matt Harlow. He ran into me in the woods and covered my mouth when I tried to scream.

There, that was everything so far, right? If I considered everyone mentioned in the list that meant my first round of suspects included Officer Bouchard, Matt Harlow, Mr. Thompson, my mom, and some cat breeder in France. And, oh yeah, also her two cats. I should have probably added any person who was rumored to be running for the senatorís seat in the next mid-term election, too. We were still more than two years away, which made me think a political opponent was rather unlikely.

That led me back to another very important question: how did the senator know Mr. Thompson? Sure, I could just ask him the next time I showed up at the firm for work, but would he be willing to tell me the truth or just send me further astray?

I Googled for close to an hour, searching for any connection between Harlow and Thompson, but came up short. Since I was still off work for the remainder of the week, I decided to call in a favor from a friend.

ďHello?Ē Charles, the junior partner at our firm and my former crush, answered in a hushed whisper.

ďCharles, I need a favor,Ē I told him.

ďIím at the movies with Breanne. Just a sec.Ē I heard some angry groans from his fellow movie-goers, then a minute later his voice came back loud and strong. ďIn the lobby now. Whatís up?Ē

ďThe senator was murdered today,Ē I told him in case he didnít already know.

But he did. Of course he did.ďThey havenít ruled out the fact it could have been an accident,Ē he corrected.

ďButI have,Ē I said, and he knew better than to argue. ďAnyway, interesting fact: Thompson showed up this afternoon and tried to gain entry to the house, but the cops turned him away.Ē

ďThatís weird. Wait, how do you know that?Ē

ďI live next door now. Remember?Ē I answered matter-of-factly.

ďYou just canít keep away from a good mystery, can you, Russo?Ē he said with a laugh, even though we were talking about a murder here. It made my heart melt for him a little all over again. Seeing as he was spoken for, though, I swallowed back that particular feeling and returned my focus to the facts before us.

ďCan you look into Thompson for me?Ē I asked. ďFind out how he knew the senator? Why he showed up today?Ē

ďWill do,Ē he said. ďThat all?Ē

ďYeah, get back to your date, lover boy.Ē I hoped he couldnít detect the sarcasm in my voice. Whatever the case, he quickly ended the call, leaving me alone in my giant house once againóand possibly with a murderer next door.

Maybe I could convince Nan to move in early? Then I would have a temperamental cat and a feisty old lady to protect me, should trouble come calling.

Chapter Ten

Despite another couple hours spent researching the late senatorís life, history, and political stances, I didnít feel any closer to solving her murder the next morning. Sure, it could have been a big inheritance grab as had been the case with Ethel Fultonís murder, but somehow I doubted it.

As frightening as Iíd found him last night, her polite and pudgy Midwesterner son didnít strike me as a killerójust a bit socially inept. Still, I couldnít rule him out completely. Otherwise Iíd be left primarily with the two cats and possibly my boss as suspects.

Hopefully Charles would be able to find out what I needed to know about Thompson by the end of the day. Iíd been there for him when nobody else was willing to support his ďunwinnableĒ double homicide case. Against all odds, we won that time, and I knew we could win again. There was no case attached, but we at least owed the world the truth about Lou Harlowís death.

After a quick breakfast of dry Cheerios, I pulled back my hair and threw on a bold retro sundress, then climbed into my car. I wanted to solve this thing as quick as possibleónot just for the senator, not just for the world at large, but for myself, too. Sleep had not come easily last night, and I doubted it would again until I knew I was safe in my new home.

ďWhere do you think youíre going?Ē Octo-Cat demanded, jumping on top of my hood and staring daggers at me straight through the windshield.

ďNext door,Ē I informed him. I wasnít risking those woods again, whether or not the sun was now shining brightly. ďNow get off my car so I can start the engine.Ē

ďIím coming, too,Ē he said, then sprinted toward the forest. Not surprising in the least. He had his preferred method of travel, and I had mine.

I navigated down my long, twisting driveway, down a small stretch of road, and then back up Harlow manorís long, twisting driveway. Yeah, once my poor foot made a full recovery, it probably would be faster to traipse through the woods, but sometimes fast wasnít the most important part of getting somewhere.

Like when it came to solving a mystery.

Iíd learned that my first time out of the gate. There Iíd gone, galloping toward that finish line without even taking the proper time to prepare myself for the race. And it had nearly gotten me killed.

Come to think of it, Iíd put myself in mortal danger as part of solving my second case, too. This time Iíd be real glad if bringing Harlowís murderer to justice didnít involve any flirtations with death on my part. It would certainly make me feel more professional if I could solve a crime without endangeringanyoneís life in the process.

Maybe today would be my big dayóan important turning point for Ms. Pet Whisperer P.I. I chuckled at the notion, but admittedly my Momís nickname had started to grow on me.

When I pulled up to the Harlow estate, I was surprised to see no police cars or sports cars in sight. Instead, a rusty old truck sat parked just before the main entrance. The door hung wide open, but I couldnít see anyone insideónot even the esoteric cats that I knew for a fact still lived here.

ďIím here!Ē Octo-Catís muffled cry broke through the woods. ďAnd I come bearing gifts,Ē he added as he appeared carrying a dead rodent in his mouth.

ďGross,Ē I said, already accepting that tomorrow morningís cat puke would be extra disgusting.

ďIs someone there?Ē a deep voice called from within the house.

I hung back near my car and waited for the speaker to emerge onto the porch. When he did, I squealed for joy and ran forward to throw my arms around him.ďBrock! Itís so good to see you out in the wild.Ē I hoped he wasnít offended by my choice of words, but it felt better to not directly mention that the last couple of times Iíd seen him heíd been in either court or prison.

ďAngie, right?Ē he asked, returning my giant grin. ďThanks for helping with my case.Ē

Oops. Of course, he didnít know me as well as I knew him. Iíd spent the better part of an entire week obsessing over his case, whereas heíd only ever seen me for brief periods in the middle of what had to be the most stressful time of his life.

ďHey, any time,Ē I said with a playful fist bump against his shoulder.

ďWell, hopefully never again,Ē Brock corrected with a laugh. ďBut I appreciate the sentiment.Ē

He looked good. Real good. His long, dark hair had been cut into a shorter style with just enough length left to it that someone could run her fingers through it.

What? Me?No.My last crush had ended horriblyówith him dating someone else. And here dear Brock could scarcely remember my name. I didnít need to go fantasizing about the romantic possibilities between us.

Then again, his smile came easy and genuine. I couldnít believe that vile redheaded realtor was his twin sister. Other than their shared last name, they had almost nothing in common. At least not that I could see.

Brock motioned for me to join him in the house, then crouched back down in front of the stairs and returned to work.

Those pants. That shirt. His muscles. And the way he handled that hammerÖGah.

It seemed my crush on Charles Longfellow, III, was all but forgotten. Falsely accused or not, I wondered if Nan would approve of me dating an ex-con. Heck, sheíd probably find it even more exciting than I did.

No, no, no. Bad Angie!I didnít have time to dateóor even to really think about datingówhen there was a murderer on the loose.

ďSo they hired you to fix the stairs?Ē I asked, just so that I had something coherent to say.

His dark, sparkling eyes were so pretty as he turned to study me.ďSure did,Ē he said. ďAnd Iím grateful for it, too. Even though I was acquitted, a lot of people around here still feel weird about hiring me.Ē

ďOh, I could think of a few things for you to do.Ē I grew hypnotized by the swell of his muscles beneath his jeans once more. Wait, had I said that aloud?

ďWhatís that?Ē he asked, turning to me and running a forearm across his head.

ďUhh,Ē I stumbled here, honestly unable to remember what Iíd been thinking. Then it hit me. As handsome as I found the man standing before me, this wasnít about him. It was about my own personal kryptoniteócoffee. Suddenly, I remembered that I hadnít had any caffeine before coming over. No wonder my brain was applesauce. I needed to be way more careful about that going forward.

Pinching the inside of my arm to reinvigorate my senses, I finally smiled and said,ďI have some jobs around my new place if you have the time. I live right next door, actually.Ē

He stood and glanced toward my house as if he could somehow see it through the solid stone walls of Harlow manor.ďYeah, Iíd love that.Ē

Octo-Cat appeared in the doorway with traces of fresh blood on his furry face, but the carcass of his mid-morning snack thankfully nowhere to be seen.ďNo wonder you donít have a boyfriend,Ē he muttered as he set to grooming himself.

Oh my gosh, my game was so bad even my cat could tell. Not a great start to my day. Not at all.

Octo-Catís rude arrival reminded me that I had come for a very specific reason, and that did not include flirting with the help. ďActually, I just stopped by to see Matt Harlow. Is he here?Ē

Brock fished through a container filled with nails until he found the ones he wanted.ďNope, he left almost as soon as I got here. Will reading,Ē he explained, keeping his focus now on his work. ďWant me to tell him you stopped by?Ē

ďSure, thanks.Ē With nothing else to do here, I turned back toward the door, shooting Octo-Cat a dirty look as I passed by him. He still claimed that all humans looked the same, but he had about a ninety percent success rate when it came to discerning a personís gender. I wondered if the Sphynxes had the same shortcomings he did. If theyíd seen the killer but wouldnít be able to identify him.

ďOh, wait. There was something I forgot,Ē Brock called after me.

I turned around so fast, I practically spun in a full circle. My dress twirled around me like some kind of old-timey movie, and Brock chuckled.

ďI just wanted to let you know that we have an official offer on your nanís house. Looks like your new roomie will be joining you in no time.Ē

Oh, yeah. He and his sister were the ones in charge of selling Nanís house. The world did exist outside the two of us and my rude kitty commentator.

ďThanks,Ē I told him. ďThat is good news.Ē

I walked slowly back to my car, careful not to put too much weight on my injured foot. Now that Nan had a buyer for her house, she could join me much sooner than weíd originally anticipated.

I had zero shame in admitting that I was a scared little girl who needed her grandmother to tuck her in at night. At least until Glendaleís newest murderer was caught and reprimanded. Maybe I could invite her over today to celebrate her pending sale and beg her to stay the night.

When she found out I had a mystery right next door, I knew she wouldnít be able to resist.

Chapter Eleven

Sure enough, Nan agreed to stop by later that afternoon toget the goods on our newest investigationóher words, not mine. Maybe I should have called my mom instead, seeing as she was already involved. But Nan had been a ready and willing partner the last time around and I liked her less direct approach when it came to questioning witnesses.

Had Mom not built a career for herself in journalism, I have no doubt that she could have made a fantastic prison guard. Nan, on the other hand, was an actress through and through. Even though her time on Broadway had ended almost fifty years ago, she still liked to don costumes and dive straight into whatever new character we needed to aid our investigations.

Me? I guess I was the brains behind our little operation. Whatever it was. Right now, we were still just impromptu vigilante detectives with a knack for finding both clues and trouble. Of course, if my mom had her way, Iíd soon be hanging out myPrivate Investigator for Hire sign on the front lawn.

Nan was the actress, the good cop. Mom was the dogged reporter, ala bad cop, and I was the one who did all the research and then charged straight into battle without any regard to my own personal safety.

So maybe I wasnít really the brains, after all.

I unpacked some more boxes as I thought this overóas if any of it mattered, as if I were writing a novel or casting a TV show about our exploits. That would be the day! And it would be one both Mom and Nan loved. For now, I just wanted to get my clothes all hung and organized in my new closet.

Iíd chosen the smallest bedroom in the entire manor not just because I loved the idea of living in a tower, but also because it felt more like home. Despite her flair for the dramatic, Nan had raised me to be humble and to find happiness right where I sat, and as such, the whole owning a mansion thing would definitely take some getting used to.

I let out a frustrated sigh when less than half of my wardrobe fit in the tiny tower closet. It may have been comprised mostly of thrift store and charity shop finds, but I loved every single article of clothing I owned and was loathe to part with any of it. They just didnít make clothes like they used to in the eighties and nineties. True, Iíd hardly been alive during those decades, but it didnít mean that I couldnít adore the bold pops of color and fun patterns in the here and now.

ďWho pooped in your litter box?Ē Octo-Cat asked, choosing that exact moment to creep out from underneath my bed. I hadnít even known he was there, the sneak.

ďYou have some really weird sayings,Ē I told him with a frown before returning to the much bigger problem at hand. ďAnd my clothes donít all fit in the closet.Ē

ďFirst of all, so do you.Ē Octo-Cat sucked in a deep breath as he ventured into the closet to check things out. Coming back, he said, ďAnd second, I really donít see why you humans need so many outfits, but you do realize we have six bedrooms in this house, right? Six! Thatís one more than the number of lives I have left, which seems more than enough to me. Just choose one of the other rooms and put your stuff in there.Ē

I shook my head, wondering if I should ask more about how heíd lost his first four lives and what exactly that even meant. As far as I knew, I only had one life to liveóonly one to lose. Thatís why, even though our sleuthing was exciting, it could also prove to be very dangerous.

ďCímon,Ē Octo-Cat said with a breathy exhale. ďI think I know the perfect room for this, if youíll follow me.Ē

I kept hold of the stack of hangers in my hands as I followed him down the spiral staircase and across the second floor of our new home. Well, new for me, at least. My cat had easily settled back in as master of this domain. Iíd never seen him this at ease in my old rental, but then again, it seemed this particular tabby was born for greater things and more extravagant surroundings.

ďThis one,Ē he said, stopping outside a closed door at the end of the hallway and pawing at the light streaming from beneath.

I opened it up and gasped, dropping my pile of hangers to the ground in a clattering mess. Somehow Iíd forgotten about this room entirely. Sure, Iíd toured the house a couple times before signing on the dotted line, but back then I was still enamored of the general luxuriousness that I had a hard time noticing the finer details.

And, oh, this room was fine.

First of all, it had a big window seat like the ones Iíd coveted at Harlow Manor. The gorgeous piece of architecture stretched at least six feet long, which meant I could even nap there if I wanted. Heavy blackout curtains flanked it on either side. They must have been closed the other times Iíd seen this place; that must have been why I didnít remember it. I liked that explanation much better than choosing to believe that I had either overlooked or forgotten such major details.

From the vaulted ceiling hung an antique crystal chandelier, which caught the sunlight and cast tiny rainbows all around the room. Most of the bulbs had burned out, but that didnít lessen its opulence one bit. The honey hardwood floors were scratched up but still sturdy. It wouldnít take too much work to sand them down and polish when I had the cash and the timeóor maybe just the sexy local handymanóto do so.

ďSo, will this work as your new closet?Ē Octo-Cat said, hopping up into the window seat and taking a quick look outside before turning back to me. ďItís small, so I figured youíd like it.Ē

ďCloset?Ē I gasped again. ďNo way! This is going to be my new library.Ē

Iím pretty sure tears had formed in my eyes and were falling down my face and soaking my t-shirt, but I simply did not care. Octo-Cat could make fun of me all he wanted, but Iíd finally found true, unreserved excitement when it came to our new digs.

How could I feel any other way, considering I now slept in a tower like Rapunzel and would have my own personal library like Belle? Iíd stepped into a living fairytale. Sure, it turned into the Haunted Mansion ride when the lights went out, butÖ butÖ

Now I had my own personal library!

A loud rap sounded on the door downstairs, bringing our special moment to an end. Had it not, I could have stood there all day, sketching out plans for what the vacant room would one day soon become.

ďDo we not have a doorbell?Ē I asked Octo-Cat, begrudgingly shutting the door behind me and heading toward the stairs to the first floor.

He shrugged and raced away to find out who had come calling.

As loathe as I was to step out of this beautiful daydream, I figured it might be Nan and she did not like to be kept waiting.

ďHello?Ē a nasal, masculine voice called.

A second series of knocks sounded, a bit more urgent this time.

Instantly, I recognized Matt Harlow as I spied his familiar shape through the stained-glass panes on either side of the front door. I flung the door open and stood blocking the inside. True, I had paid him a visit earlier that day, but I was still incredibly nervous around himóand nervous is exactly how I would remain until I could fully clear him as the killer.

ďHi,Ē he said, tucking one hand in his pocket and using the other to offer me a friendly wave. I wondered if that was the same one Iíd bitten the night before. ďYou stopped by earlier?Ē

I felt in my pocket to make sure I had my phone on me as an added security measure, then stepped back and gestured for him to come inside.ďWould you like to join me for some tea?Ē I asked, seeing as it was the neighborly thing to do.

Octo-Cat ran across the foyer, making terrible, ear-splitting noises.ďToo soon! Too soon!Ē he cried.

ďIs your cat all right?Ē Matt asked, craning his neck to get a better view.

I shrugged.ďEh, heíll be fine. Tea?Ē

ďSure, thank you.Ē A genuine smile stretched right across Mattís face, and for the first time I saw the resemblance he bore to his late mother.

I led him to the formal living room and motioned for him to sit on the old Victorian couch trimmed in dark cherry wood. There were lots of different woods throughout the house, and I wasnít sure whether that was the result of poor planning or a decades-old decorating style I didnít quite understand. Halfway to the kitchen, I turned back, sensing I had the perfect opening to ask Matt a couple very important questions.

ďYou have cats, too. Right?Ē I hoped my eagerness to discuss the Sphynxes wasnít too obvious. Provided Matt wasnít the murderer, I would need him on my side.

He steepled his fingers before him. It seemed he was unsure of what to do with himself while he sat in my house.ďMe? No, but my mom has always had them ever since I can remember.Ē

ďWhatís going to happen to the two that are there now?Ē I asked casually.

He shrugged and tried to get comfortable on the overly firm sofa.ďIím not sure,Ē he admitted. ďTheyíve been hiding from me ever since I arrived. I thought maybe I could take them back home and give them to my kids, that way theyíd be my ex-wifeís problem instead of mine. But I worry those two might give my kids nightmares like the ones I had growing up.Ē

ďNightmares? Why?Ē I asked, even though I already understood. Anything to keep him talking.

ďHave you ever seen a hairless cat?Ē he asked with a shudder. ďIt looks like their brains are on the outside.Ē

I laughed, and so did he. The description was pretty accurate. Even still, Iíd begun to like Jacques and Jillianne now that Iíd gotten the chance to talk with them a bit. Sure, they were a bit different, but they were also really stinking cool. ďYou mentioned having nightmares growing up. Have you always been afraid of cats?Ē

He cleared his throat and coughed into his fist.ďI am not afraid of cats. I used to like them, but then Mom met that breeder in France and since then itís only been the finest purebred Sphynxes for her.Ē

It seemed I had an opportunity here, one that seemed so fortuitous I hadnít thought it could ever happen. ďIf you wanted me to look after them while you decide what to do with them, Iíd be more than happy to help out,Ē I offered with an ingratiating smile.

ďWhat?Ē Octo-Cat demanded, running back through the room and jumping up onto the couch beside Matt.ďYou canít be serious! There is no way Iíll allowóĒ

ďSure,Ē Matt said, interrupting my felineís tirade even though he didnít know it. ďThat would be great. That is, if you donít mind.Ē

ďOh, I donít mind at all,Ē I said with a huge smile, enjoying the expression of horror on my tabbyís face.

ďTraitor,Ē Octo-Cat muttered under his breath.

Matt reached out to pet Octo-Cat but was summarily clawed by my very cranky kitty.ďOuch,Ē he cried. ďAnd that was my good hand, too.Ē

The cat hissed and ran to hide in another room, shouting kitty curses at the top of his lungs.

ďSorry,Ē I said, feeling a swell of embarrassment. I hoped heíd still trust me to watch his motherís cats after seeing how crazily the one under my care behaved.

ďSo, how about that tea?Ē I asked, scurrying away to the kitchen before he had a chance to refuse. This would give me a few private moments to plan my questions. If I asked the right ones, I just might find the missing pieces I needed to solve Lou Harlowís murder once and for all.

Chapter Twelve

I brought Matt a cup of plain Earl Grey teaóno cream, no sugar, no good, really. It would have to do, though, seeing as I hadnít had time to go to the store since moving in yesterday afternoon. Honestly, it was kind of a miracle that I even had this.

ďThanks,Ē he said with a friendly smile, accepting the warm mug and holding it between his hands. ďLook, about last night, I just wanted to apologize forÖ Well, Iím sure you remember.Ē

ďWater under the bridge.Ē I waved off his apology, even though I was happy it had been given. I needed to keep him on my side if I were to learn what he knew about his momís murder.

ďYouíre just being so hospitable and then offering to take the cats, too. I feel really bad about how I acted. Itís justÖĒ He sighed heavily and turned the mug around in his hands so that the artwork faced me. It was mycrazy cat lady mug. Nan had gotten it to celebrate my official adoption of Octo-Cat a few months back, and it had quickly become my favorite.

Matt sighed and cast his eyes toward the floor.ďIt may not be the manliest thing to admit, but I was terrified.Ē

ďItís understandable,Ē I assured him. ďAfter all, someone did just kill your mother.Ē

ďExactly!Ē Matt lifted the tea to his lips, took a small sip, then set it on the coffee table. There werenít any coasters, but the old piece of furniture already had lots of wear, so I figured this wasnít a problem I needed to worry about at this precise moment. ďIím staying in her house, too. Granted, it was my house growing up, but it just gives me the creeps.Ē

ďMy thoughts exactly.Ē I reached forward to offer him a fist bump on the subject of staying in creepy houses. He didnít seem to know what to do with it, so we shook hands instead.

ďSo, you grew up around here?Ē I asked, taking a sip from my own mug. I couldnít stand tea without at least two spoonfuls of sugar mixed in, so Iíd secretly filled mine with plain hot water. At least this way I could accompany Matt, make my questions seem more like a conversation than an interrogation.

ďNot around here.Ē He stopped and shook his head. ďHere. Right next door.Ē

ďIf you donít mind my asking, why did you leave?Ē I was really pleased with how things were going so far. Matt was opening up to me without even the slightest hesitation. How much more would he be willing to tell me before he reached the bottom of that tea cup?

ďLove.Ē Matt snorted and rolled his eyes.ďLot of good that did me.Ē

I winced sympathetically. Even though Iíd never been in anything more than puppy love, I felt for the recent divorcee. Everything must have still been so fresh and new, and now heíd lost his mother on top of it all. ďSo, why donít you come back? Iím assuming your mother left the house to you.Ē

ďShe did, but I donít know.Ē He drummed his fingers on the side of his mug and frowned. ďIt would be hard to live there without constantly thinking of her.Ē

ďWas she a good mom?Ē I asked before taking a casual sip from my mug of hot water.

If Matt thought my questions were coming too fast and close together, he made no indication of it. Rather, he seemed happy to share, or at least happy to have someone to talk to. The poor guy.

ďShe was the best,Ē he said with a nostalgic sigh. ďEverything you read about her in the papers is true, by the way. She really had the kindest heart. Even before she got elected, she was always volunteering somewhere. In fact, we spent more of our Christmases serving up hot meals at the soupkitchen, then opening gifts at home.Ē

ďThatís incredible. Iím sure a lot of people will miss her dearly. I know I will.Ē I already knew this about her, of course, but hearing it from her sonís lips made me that much angrier that someone had brought her life to an early and violent end.

Mattís eyes lit up with true warmth. ďDid you know her well?Ē

I smiled.ďWell, I voted for her every time I was able, and I could always tell she believed the things she said. It was refreshing.Ē

Matt picked his tea up and took a long, slow sip.ďI have no idea who would want to hurt her,Ē he said, shaking his head. ďIt just doesnít make any sense.Ē

ďIt could have been an accident,Ē I pointed out, even though I didnít believe it myself.

ďMaybe,Ē he conceded.

We sat in silence for a few moments. He didnít say anything else, but I could also tell he wasnít ready to go, so I asked another question.

ďWhen I stopped by earlier, you were at the will reading. Did everything go okay there?Ē I thought back to the first and only will reading Iíd attended. It was the same one where Iíd nearly died at the hands of an old coffee maker, where Iíd discovered my powers and met Octo-Cat for the first time. As far as my experience told me, will readings could be a real riot.

ďIt was fine,Ē Matt answered passively. ďNo real surprises. I got the house. My kids both got trusts set up for when they turn eighteen. Most of the rest of it went toward a scholarship fund sheíd talked about setting up for years but had never got the chance to follow through on.Ē

ďA scholarship? Thatís nice,Ē I said, nodding along. ďFor students who want to study politics?Ē

Matt scoffed.ďNo way. Mom always hated politicians. Even more so after she became one. Said they were smart people with good intentions that got twisted along the way. But hers never did. God bless her soul.Ē

ďMay I ask what the scholarship is for?Ē I asked, hoping it wasnít insensitive to track back after his tender words. ďI mean, Iím thinking about going back to school, so maybe Iíll apply for it.Ē I wasnít really considering more school at the moment, but knowing me and my insatiablelove of learning, it was really just a matter of time.

Matt glanced around my swanky manor house, his implication obviousówhy wouldyou need a scholarship? He didnít say that, though. Despite our rough start, I could tell he was kind, exactly the way his mama had raised him to be. ďBiology. Or, more specifically, marine biology,Ē he told me, and it was not the answer Iíd expected.

Seeing the confusion on my face, he jumped in to explain.ďI know, it seems weird for a senator, right? But back in the 70ís, sheíd just had me and my dad wanted her to stay at home to raise me. I guess that never suited her and she divorced him eventually, but before she did, she became involved with the newSave the Whales movement. It gave her that first taste of political activism, and she was hooked.Ē

He paused and took another sip of Earl Grey before continuing.ďItís why she stayed in that big house by herself all these years. She didnít want to leave the ocean and all it meant to her. I guess I take after her a little bit myself because I made sure to get a place that overlooks Lake Michigan back in Chicago. Even now, I canít imagine looking out my window and seeing anything other than water.Ē

ďSo, she wants to continue saving the whales through her scholarship fund,Ē I summarized with a dreamy smile. ďThatís beautiful.Ē

Another knock sounded at the front door, this one fast and light.

ďComing!Ē I yelled, jumping to my feet then squealing with happiness when I saw Nan through the stained glass.

ďOkay, Iím here,Ē she said as she stepped inside. She was wearing bright green galoshes and leggings patterned with rainbows. Up top, she wore an old T-shirt that had lost much of its original color from having gone through so many wash cycles. ďNow catch me up on these riddle-speaking cats.Ē

I turned toward Matt and made a funny face.ďItís this book weíre reading together,Ē I explained quickly. Books really made the best excuses because few people would ask follow-up questions. It was sad but convenient nonetheless. ďAnyway, this is my nan. Nan, this is Matt. Senator Harlow was his mother.Ē

ďOh, you poor dear,Ē Nan said, rushing over to sit beside him and pressing the back of her hand against his forehead. ďHow are you feeling?Ē

ďFine,Ē Matt answered, though it sounded more like a question.

ďI voted for your dear mama each and every time,Ē Nan announced proudly. ďThey didnít come any better than her.Ē

Matt raised his mug.ďIíll drink to that.Ē

I returned to my spot in the wingback chair across from them.ďMatt was just telling me a bit more about his momís legacy. Also, Iíve volunteered to watch the senatorís cats while Matt gets the rest of the estate sorted out.Ē

ďOne can never have too many opinions or too many cats,Ē Nan said with a nod and a chuckle. Neither of these seemed true to me, but I let it pass.

Matt took another long drink of tea, then set his empty cup back on the coffee table.ďI should probably be going,Ē he said, rising to a stand. ďThank you again for the hospitality and the kind words about my mom.Ē

Nan stood, too, and gave him a warm hug. She looked so tiny wrapped around his big, bear-like form. Even so, I could tell he appreciated the gesture.

After Nan let him go, I got up and followed Matt to the door.ďLet me know when you want me to come by for the cats,Ē I said as we lingered at the doorway.

ďOh, right,Ē he said in a way that suggested heíd already forgottenóor was pretending to have forgotten after Octo-Catís little hissy fit from earlier. ďAre you sure it isnít too much of an imposition?Ē

ďIím sure,Ē I said, perhaps too quickly. The truth was I needed those cats. They held the key to busting this murder mystery wide open, and I really wanted to know what they would say. ďIn fact, maybe I should just come with you now? Give them some time to settle in before nightfall.Ē

I couldnít risk him changing his mind, and now that I had Nan here, she could help keep Octo-Cat in a good enough mood to actually be useful. Even though I was supposedly his best friend, he clearly preferred her company to mine. I tried not to let that hurt my feelings.

Mattís brows pinched together as he studied me. ďAre you sure youíre sure?Ē

ďThe more, the merrier!Ē Nan said, slinging an arm around each of our waists and pulling us closer. ďNow letís go get our guests.Ē

Matt didnít say anything more as the three of us exited onto the porch. I searched around but didnít see any extra vehiclesóother than Nanís souped up sports coupeówhich meant Matt must have chosen to walk through the woods to pay me a visit.

And, even though heíd been a perfectly lovely companion for afternoon tea, this realization did not sit well with me. If he felt comfortable traipsing through the woods after our mutual scare last night, might he be willing to come through them again by the cloak of night?

Maybe I wasnít as safe as Iíd hoped after all.

Chapter Thirteen

At the Harlow manor, Matt begged off to take a call, leaving Nana and me to locate and load up the two Sphynx cats. Despite our best efforts to be quick, it still took nearly an hour for us to find Jacques and Jillianne, catch them, and then get them back to my house. Apparently they were every bit as adept at hiding as they were at telling riddles. So that we wouldnít risk them slinking off again, Nan and I carried them straight up to the room I had dubbed my future library and closed the door tightly before letting them out of their carriers.

Iíd also brought Octo-Cat in to join us, and I had the fresh scratches to prove how verynot thrilled he was to be there.

ďI object!Ē he cried, hurling himself at the closed door in protest.

ďOh, hush, or Iíll give you something to object about.Ē I had no idea what that might be, but luckily my mostly empty threat worked.

ďCímere, my sweet kitty!Ē Nan cooed, tapping her fingers on the hardwood floor where we both sat with our legs crossed.

Octo-Cat hated being calledkitty but he loved Nan, so he traipsed over and climbed into her lap. She immediately fussed over him and began to scratch that special spot right beneath his chin. I could see the rage melt right out of him. Thank goodness.

ďLetís make this quick,Ē he said, eyeing me with obvious disappointment. Luckily I was used to his theatrics and his disappointment, so this didnít thwart my plans in the least.

The two Sphynx cats had retreated to the far corner of the room and sat shivering near the central cooling vent. They looked so miserable that I almost felt bad confining them here. Still, they had intel that we needed, and they were the ones whoíd chosen to sit right beside the cold air pouring into the room.

The little one let out a croaky meow, and Octo-Cat sighed. Like heíd suggested, Iíd do my best to make this as quick and painless as possible. If not for him, then at least for our two visitors.

ďLetís go,Ē Nan said, her eyes sparkling with excitement. ďI canít wait to solve some riddles.Ē Iíd already told her everything she needed to know on the phone that morning, and now she was primed and ready to see some action.

ďOkay.Ē I focused my gaze on Octo-Cat, who did not return the eye contact. ďOcto-Cat,Ē I said again to get his attention. ďIf you want this to be quick, you have to pay attention.Ē

He turned toward me with ears back and tail poofed.ďFine. What do you want me to ask the two hairless wonders?Ē

ďAsk them who killed their owner,Ē I said with the same impatient attitude Iíd perfected as a teen.

Nan giggled gleefully, and Octo-Cat remained seated on her lap as he shouted toward the Sphynxes.

They remained in their dark corner, almost as if theyíd been glued there. It took much longer for his back and forth with them than it had with our former terrier witness, and Iíll admit I started to get a bit bored as the minutes passed by without any further answers.

Then, suddenly, Octo-Cat snapped his eyes toward mine, his whiskers twitched, and he did not look happy.ďI knew it!Ē he cried. ďYou thought I was being breedist or whatever, but my first instincts were absolutely right.Ē

ďWhat do you mean?Ē I asked, rubbing my hands on my legs to awaken the sleepy nerve endings.

Nan glanced down at Octo-Cat with the dearest admiration as he revealed,ďThey killed the senator.Ē

ďOh, címon!Ē I shouted. Was he really coming back to me withthis?

He remained steadfast in his insistence of their guilt.ďNo, really. They just admitted it.Ē

ďYeah? Then tell me what they said,Ē I demanded, wishing I didnít have to rely on him to be my translator when there was a clear bias at play here.

ďIt would be a whole lot easier if youíd just take me at my word, you know? But fine.Ē He sighed then recited back their latest riddle.ďĎExcuse us while we provide this breakthrough, for the guilt lies with the ones you see before you.íĒ

He was right, of course. The answer was obvious, butÖ

ďThatís not even really a riddle,Ē I said glumly. ďItís just a rhyme.Ē

ďGood gravy. They just gave you a confession, and itís pretty direct as far as their type goes. What more do you need?Ē

ďAsk again in another way,Ē I demanded, then whispered to Nan to fill her in while Octo-Cat talked with the Sphynxes some more.

Another several minutes passed before Octo-Cat addressed me again.ďWell, Angela. They said,ĎYou didnít believe us the first time, but you already know who committed the crime.íĒ

Octo-Cat thumped his tail hard against Nanís leg, and she abruptly stopped petting him. ďGood enough for you now?Ē he demanded with wide eyes.

ďNot quite,Ē I answered to his great dissatisfaction. ďThey say we already know, but I have a whole list of suspects. It could be Mr. Thompson or Matt or even Officer Bouchard.Ē

ďOr it could be the two freakazoids who literally just confessed to murder,Ē he spat, shooting them a cold look, which he followed up with a hiss.

ďWhat do you think, Nan?Ē I asked after relaying the latest clue.

ďPhooey,Ē she moaned, rubbing her temples in little circles. ďI was never very good at riddles. Either of you could be right with your interpretations.Ē

I chewed on my bottom lip while thinking about what to do next.ďOkay, how about this?Ē I said, waiting for Octo-Catís attention to snap back to me. ďAsk them how they killed her. Not how she died, howthey killed her.Ē

ďWe already know that,Ē he said, condescension dripping from each syllable.

I shook my fist at him and growled, which was enough to get him to cooperate for a little bit longer.

When he returned to me with their message, he stated it plainly with no commentary.ďĎUp it goes and at the same time down, it is here that the answerís found.íĒ

ďStairs,Ē I said, recognizing a version of this riddle from my school days. ďOkay, so that waswhere. I still need to knowhow.Ē

He batted a paw in my direction.ďYouíre insufferable. You know that?Ē

I could tell his patience hung on by a single frayed threadómine did, tooóbut we werenít done yet. ďOh my gosh, please just ask them already!Ē I exploded. Iíd wrongly assumed that his fondness for the senator would make him more cooperative this time around. Then again, this whole time heíd been certain that heíd already single-handedly solved the case. Who needed facts and testimonies when you have an ego the size of our entire home state?

Octo-Cat groaned and said,ďYou owe me. You owe meso bigfor this.Ē

ďBigger than the mansion you requested after that last favor?Ē I shot back, refusing to be bested by a catÖ again.

He rolled his eyes but revealed the Sphinxesí next riddle despite his protests.ďĎSure of foot and light of heart, this is how she fell apart.íĒ

ďNow I feel like theyíre just volleying my question back at me. This is going to take forever,Ē I whined, resettling myself on the uncomfortable floor. I couldnít wait to fill this room with comfortable furniture and wall-to-wall shelves of books. I would have sat in the window seat for this exercise had Nan not settled on the floor first. Seeing as I was more than forty-five years younger than her, I shouldnít have been having this hard a time.

She reached forward and put her hand on my knee.ďHoney dear, if you trust your cat, just let him do all the talking. It seems that might be easier for everyone involved.Ē

If I trusted him. That was a hugeif. Colossal.

Octo-Cat had clearly made up his mind before heíd heard even a single detail about Harlowís death. But still, I couldnít deny that the Sphynxes did seem to be confessing to the crime in their own special round-about way.

ďYouíre right,Ē I told Nan with a small smile, and then to Octo-Cat, ďYou donít need to translate for me. Just talk with them and then catch me up later.Ē

He eyed me wearily, then hopped out of Nanís lap and joined our two hairless witnesses in the corner. After several minutes of mixed meows, he trotted back and took up his spot in Nanís lap once more.

ďThey did it. They killed her by tripping her when she was on the stairs. They are sorry and say they feel really bad about it. As much as I despise them, it doesnít seem like they did it on purpose, but who knows?Ē

ďThanks,Ē I murmured. I felt a little better, seeing as heíd conceded one point. Earlier he had been certain that they murdered their own in cold blood. Now he was saying that they did it accidentally. Could this whole investigation really been all for naught? Were my instincts that wrong? I was supposed to be getting better with each case, not worse.

Just then, the phone in my pocket buzzed. I fished it out and read the new text message from Mom that popped up on my screen:

Police ruled Hís death an accident. Iím coming over.

Well, that answered that.

I passed my phone to Nan so she could see the message, too.

ďYou donít really believe that, dear,Ē she informed me, setting Octo-Cat to the side so she could push herself up from the floor in one smooth, fluid movement.

I struggled to a stand with far less grace.ďI donít know what to believe any more,Ē I admitted. The last couple days had passed in a dizzying whirl, from moving to snooping and everything in between. Both my mind and my body were exhausted. Was it possible I was seeing clues where none existed?

One look at Nan told me she hadnít given up on this yet.

And that was enough for me to keep going, too.

Chapter Fourteen

Mom arrived about ten minutes later. That was the thing with small towns like Glendaleóit never took long to get where you were going. I was a bit removed from the main village action, now that I lived on the swanky East side, but everything remained incredibly close and the traffic was generally light.

Nan pranced through the foyer to let her in, a fact which Mom did not seem happy about.

ďAngie?Ē she asked, charging into the living room where she found me sitting with my smart phone. ďWhatís she doing here?Ē

Not her politest moment, but my mom and Nan also preferred each other in small doses. Apparently personality types in my family skipped a generation, so if I ever had a daughter of my own, Iíd find myself with a little girl who was both too garrulous and too ambitious for her own good. Nan and I had gotten the weirdo gene, and that suited me just fine.

ďWe were discussing the senatorís death,Ē I answered, hating the way the corners of my motherís mouth dipped even further.

ďI thought we were working on the case together?Ē she said, her usual confidence strained. She glanced back toward the door as if debating whether she should make a run for it.

ďWe were,Ē I said gently, hating that Iíd hurt her feelings yet again. ďI mean, we are, butÖĒ

Nan breezed past Mom and plopped down onto the couch.ďOh, come off it now, Laura Jean. Weíre all in this together. Right?Ē She patted the seat beside her and motioned for Mom to join us.

ďRight,Ē I said, offering my mom a quick hug to lift her spirits. ďBesides Nan hasnít been here long. Right?Ē

ďRight,Ē Nan answered with a wink that I doubt my mother missed.Sigh.

ďWell,Ē Mom said, shaking her head and tilting it to either sideóa nervous tic sheíd picked up during my toddler years, or so Iíd heard. ďAs long as Iím still part of the club, I have some news to share.Ē

She reached into her purse and pulled out a notepad.ďFirst off, the death was ruled an accident. They think she may have had too much to drink at a charity fundraiser and then tripped and fell down the stairs.Ē

Tripped over her cats, I thought, but didnít say anything. I still wasnít ready to talk to Octo-Cat in front of my mom and didnít want to invite questions that would require either doing so or telling herno when her feelings were already very clearly hurt.

ďThe next of kin came in last night,Ē Mom continued. ďMatthew Harlow, a divorced salesman from Chicago.Ē

I nodded along mutely.

ďThe county has assigned a police detail to guard the place whenever heís not at home,Ē Mom continued.

ďA police detail. Why?Ē I remembered seeing Officer Bouchard there yesterday afternoon and how unsettling Iíd found it. Nobody had been there this morning, though, when I stopped by. Well, except for Brock the handyman.

She set her notepad down and fixed her eyes on me.ďBecause the senator was such a prominent person in the area, theyíre worried that people might come by to loot or take souvenirs. It certainly doesnít help that she has one of the nicest homes in all of Glendale.Ē

Mom widened her eyes at me.And so do you, her body language yelled loud and clear.

ďSo, what now?Ē I asked, that familiar sense of disappointment creeping up on me again. I should have been happy that the death was solved, but something still didnít feel right. ďCase closed?Ē

ďHa!Ē Mom shouted.ďHardly! They can call it an accident all they want, but I know something fishy is going on here.Ē

I grinned and gave Mom a high five. I was so glad we agreed on this vital point.

ďAnd when the cops wonít do their duty, it becomes the reporterís responsibility to find the truth. Right, dear?Ē Nan said with a placating smile.

ďRight,Ē Mom said, although she seemed less sure of herself now.

ďI agree,Ē I said, grabbing my phone and handing it to Mom. ďThese are my notes. Granted, I have a few things to add after talking with Matt this afternoon.Ē

ďYou met Matt? Without me?Ē Mom shook her head and kept her focus on the phone, but I could tell it really hurt her feelings.

ďIím sorry, Mom.Ē And I meant it. I needed to try harder, now that the two of us had started spending more time together, now that we shared this interest. ďIt wasnít exactly planned.Ē

ďShe ran into him in the forest last night,Ē Nan said, leaning forward and clasping her hands together.

ďNan,Ē I cried.ďWould you please just stop helping?Ē

I caught my mom up on all that she had missed in the past day and a half.ďSorry for not calling sooner. Itís just been one thing after the next,Ē I said when Iíd finished.

ďThanks for filling me in,Ē she said a bit too cordially for my liking. ďBut I should probably be off. Bye, Mom,Ē she told Nan, who remained seated in her chair as I walked my mother to the door and said goodbye.

ďWhy do you do that?Ē I asked my grandmother when I returned. ďYou know it bugs her.Ē

ďThatís why I do it,Ē Nan said with a chuckle.

I placed both hands on my hips and stared down at her.

ďWhat? She does the same thing to you!Ē Nan insisted, and she was right about that.

ďMaybe letís all work a little harder on getting along.Ē I fell back into my chair with a sigh. ďI mean, weíre all grown-ups here.Ē

ďAs you wish.Ē

ďGreat.Ē Now, that Nan was properly chastised, this brought us to our next matter at hand. ďSo, will you please stay the night?Ē

A naughty expression crossed Nanís face as she laughed and asked. ďTo protect you from the monsters under your bed?Ē

I just glared at her, refusing to play these games.ďYou know why.Ē

ďI do,Ē she said, nodding thoughtfully and appearing completely somber as she did. ďI just had to get one last jab out of my system. I promise Iíll play nice from now on.Ē

ďAnd youíll stay?Ē I asked, making no attempt to hide how important this was to me.

Nan nodded.ďIíll stay.Ē

I let out a giant sigh of relief just as Octo-Cat returned from wherever heíd been during my motherís visit. I assumed this was because he still hadnít forgiven her for the teacup incident yesterday.

ďUm, hello there. Hi. What are we going to do about the two murderers you invited to live with us?Ē he demanded, nodding his head toward the upstairs.

ďOh, Jacques and Jillianne!Ē I cried. ďI guess I should let them out of the library now.Huh?Ē

He took several steps back and squinted angrily, not unlike the expression Iíd expect him to make if I ever dared punish him by spritzing him with a water bottle. That is something I would never in a million years do, thoughóespecially now that I knew he could murder me with ease, should the inclination arise.

ďAbsolutely not,Ē he said emphatically.

ďBut you said it was an accident,Ē I reminded him, making slow work of rising to my poor, tired feet.

Octo-Cat flicked his tail so crazily that it looked like one of those giant, wavy armed blow up guys outside of an auto dealership.ďYeah, and do you want them accidentally killing you? You only have one life, right?Ē

ďOkay, you have a point.Ē Iíd give him that. As much as I felt for the two Sphynxes, I really didnít feel like dying today.

Nan watched with amusement as my cat and I talked, even though she only understood one side of the conversation.ďIf those two Sphynxes are staying in there, we should probably take them food and water. And a kitty box,Ē she added.

ďGood point.Ē They were our guests. The least I could do was make them a bit more comfortable. ďOcto-Cat, where did we put your spare litter box?Ē

ďOh, no. No way. No how. You have absolutely got to be kidding me. You give them my litter box, and Iíll make extra sure I use your bed for all my kitty business going forward.Ē Well, that wasnít what I wanted, but it also felt wholly unnecessary to need to head to the store to buy new supplies when we had everything we needed right here.

I sighed and asked a question I was almost certain I would regret.ďWhat do you want me to do?Ē

ďI want you to send them home. I donít like having them here.Ē He remained tense, standing between me and the stairs.

ďBut donít you want to find out who killed the senator?Ē I asked, taking several steps closer.

ďUh, hello? We know who killed the senator.Ē

I thought about this. Perhaps there was still a way I could get through to him.ďThen shouldnít we keep them locked up until they canÖ um, stand trial?Ē I was reaching, I knew. I had no idea what animals normally did to mete out justice, but I knew Octo-Cat was a big fan of legal television shows. Hopefully appealing to his fondness for all things crime and punishment would convince him to start seeing things my way.

ďOh, Angela, youíre absolutely right,Ē he ground out, as if this possibility shocked him to the core. ďIíll go stand guard.Ē

ďHeís going to keep watch,Ē I explained to Nan, wondering how Iíd just managed to add kitty prison warden to my resume and if it would ever even come in handy.

Well, at least Octo-Cat was occupied.

For now.

Chapter Fifteen

I slept better with Nan staying the night. I still locked the door to my tower, but at least we were making progress in turning the giant manor house into a home. Soon my boxes would all be unpacked, Nan would officially move in with all the colorful old knick knacks that reminded me of growing up, and weíd hopefully catch Harlowís killer, too.

Lately, that was the stuff of dreamsóor at least my deranged ones.

Feeling wonderfully rested, I awoke the next morning to the most glorious smell in all of human history.

Coffee!

Taking the stairs two at a time, I bolted toward the kitchen. There, I found my dear, sweet, beautiful Nan standing with a polka-dotted apron tied around her teeny waist and a giant, steaming pot of coffee in her hand.

ďGood morning,Ē she trilled.

Iíd have given her the hug to end all hugs if I wasnít worried that doing so might spill the coffee. In my huge rush to get everything moved in time, I hadnít even thought of what having Nan as my roommate would mean. So what if I was terrified of coffee makers after my near death experience? I still longed for that delicious, life-giving brew, and now, thanks to Nan, I would actually have it.

ďThank you, thank you, thank you,Ē I cried as she grabbed my freshly washedcrazy cat lady mug and poured me a cup.ďWhereíd we get the coffee maker, anyway?Ē I asked, after that first glorious sip of heaven on my tongue.

ďI brought it with me,Ē she explained, bending down to check on whatever she had in the oven. I hadnít initially smelled anything over the intoxicating aroma of the coffee, but now that Iíd adjusted a bit, the scent of banana bread became unmistakable.

ďYouíre still afraid of coffee makers, right?Ē Nan turned back to me with a bright smile. Sheíd always been a morning person. Me, not so much.

I nodded anyway, too deliriously happy to be embarrassed as I took another gratifying sip.

ďWell, then I guess Iíll just have to be in charge of breakfast from here on out,Ē she declared as she continued to move about the kitchen like she owned the place. I guess, in a way, she now did.

ďHey,Ē I said after Iíd consumed enough caffeine to perk up my brain. ďWhere did you sleep last night?Ē Iíd had Ethelís old bedroom set hauled away, and Nan hadnít officially moved in yet, which meant her bedroom set wasnít here yet, either.

ďI roomed with our two hairless visitors,Ē she said her eyes aglow as she squeezed my bicep. ďThat window seat was so comfy.Ē

ďNan,Ē I scolded. ďYouíre not supposed to sleep there.Ē

She brushed off my concern by waving a dish towel in my direction.ďI slept perfectly well, thank you.Ē

ďRegardless, I should probably call someone to at least get your bed moved here.Ē I drained the rest of my coffee as I thought.

Seeing Iíd finished, Nan immediately plucked the mug from my hands and topped it off.

ďOh, I could ask Brock,Ē I realized as my brain continued to wake up. ďHeís already planning tp come by today to offer me some quotes on a few rennos around here. Iím sure heíd be happy to haul whatever you need over in that truck of his.Ē

Suddenly, I remembered another thing we hadnít yet discussed. ďWhen I ran into him yesterday, he said you had an offer on your house?Ē

Nan gloated at this news.ďThatís right. And I bet youíll never guess who.Ē

Normally I didnít like guessing games, but I was still so happy from the coffee that I became a willing participant. ďMom and Dad?Ē

ďHa!Like theyíd ever leave their place by the bay. Guess again.Ē She wiped at the counter distractedly as she watched me try to puzzle out an answer.

ďIs it somebody I went to school with?Ē I guessed. I couldnít think of anyone I knew in town who was looking for a new place, so I was completely stumped here.

Nan smiled and shook her head.ďNope, but it is someone we both know. Someone whoís quite handsome.Ē

I leaned back against the counter, mug still in hand.ďHmm.ĒNan was a shameless flirt and found half our town handsome by my most recent tally. I knew her latest crush was on the much younger Officer Bouchard, but he didnít strike me as the type to appreciate a retro, cozy Cape Cod in a landlocked neighborhood.

Unable to control her excitement anymore, Nan burst out with her big reveal.ďWhy, itís our very own Charles!Ē

I laughed at her joke, but Nan just kept staring at me with that earnest look in her eyes.ďWait. Youíre serious?Ē I squeaked.

She bobbed her head enthusiastically and did a happy, little twirl.ďDead serious. He said it was time he put down some roots now that heíd made partner.Ē

ďNan, thatís wonderful!Ē I cried, dancing with her now. ďSince weíre all friends, you may even be able to visit your old house from time to time.Ē

ďOh, Iím counting on it,Ē she said, her eyes glinting with untold mischief as she transitioned into a fast foxtrot that I had no hopes of replicating. ďA happy ending for everyone.Ē

A gentle rap sounded on the front door, drawing both of our attention.

ďIíll get it,Ē I told Nan, placing a hand on her shoulder as she stilled her movements. ďYou stay with the banana bread. I want a piece as soon as itís out of the oven.Ē

ďRoger that,Ē she said, offering me a salute for reasons I didnít understand. Then again, if I understood even half of Nanís schemes, I counted it a good day. So far we were off to a great start.

I padded toward the foyer with bare feet, messy bed-head, and a half-full mug of coffee. When I spied who was on the other side of the stained-glass windows, my heart screeched to a stop. Okay, not really, but it may as well have, given the absolute shock and horror I felt in that moment.

Brock saw me before I was able to duck out of view and gave a friendly wave. There would be no retreating now.Oh, poop.

I turned my back and wiped the sleep from my eyes, then put on my best closed-mouth smile and opened the door.ďGood morning.Ē

ďI hope itís not too early,Ē he said, looking me up and down as he assessed my hot pink pajama pants and spaghetti string tank top.

ďNope, youíre right on time. Come on in. Nan!Ē I called back toward the kitchen. ďBrockís here and weíre going upstairs.Ē

ďOkay, boss!Ē she shouted back.

Brock frowned and pressed his hand to the stair bannister, stopping in place.ďYeah, about thatÖ Could you please not call me Brock anymore?Ē

This surprised me so much I forgot about my desire to keep my mouth closed until Iíd had the chance to brush. ďWhat? Why not? Isnít it your name?Ē

He sucked air through his teeth before saying,ďIt is, but that name is so associated with the trial now, I kind of cringe every time I hear it.Ē

That definitely made sense. The man had been accused of a double homicide, and for months everyone in Glendale was convinced of his guilt. I didnít blame him for wanting some way to mark a fresh start.

ďOh, of course. What should I call you instead?Ē I asked with another closed-mouth smile.

He let out a giant sigh of relief.ďHow about Cal? Short for Calhoun, so itís still my name, but itís not tainted like the longer version.Ē

ďYouíve got it, Cal,Ē I said, then made a dorky, little clicking noise and pointed my finger at him like a fake gun. Really not cool.

He seemed to find it endearing, though, because he laughed.ďThank you, Ang.Ē

We headed upstairs to the room that served as both my future home library and the makeshift kitty prison. Octo-Cat stood stationed outside the door, appearing as if he hadnít slept a wink all night. That would be like eschewing sleep for several days, had he been human. I shuddered to think at just how cranky he would be until our Sphynx visitors were releasedóor at least transferred to another prison.

ďGo get some sleep, you,Ē I told him in a cutesy voice, the kind a normal cat owner might use when talking to a normal cat.

He yawned and stumbled off.

After entering carefully to make sure no Sphynxes escaped in the process, I turned to Brock and explained,ďThis is my favorite room in the whole house. I want to build shelves right onto the walls, spruce up the floors, add some more lighting, and turn it into a library. What do you think?Ē

ďThis is the perfect place for that,Ē he said, turning in a slow circle in the center of the room. ďHey, arenít those the senatorís cats?Ē he asked upon spotting Jacques and Jillianne shivering in their favorite icy corner.

ďItís a long story,Ē I said, moving back toward the door. ďCould you maybe grab some measurements for me real quick? Iíll be back in five.Ē

Once he agreed, I latched the door behind me and then raced to the bathroom to run a brush through my hair and a toothbrush through my mouth. I also splashed some cold water on my face, but decided doing anything more would probably be overkill.

ďIt shouldnít be too much for me to do the work youíre looking for,Ē Brockóoops,Calósaid when I returned. Heíd been standing by the window seat that looked out onto the beautifully landscaped backyard. You could just barely see the ocean beyond the tips of the trees, and it was a lovely sight to behold.

ďThatís great,Ē I said, joining him at the window and feeling a little shiver of excitement overtake me. Even with caffeine rushing through my system, I still found myself a bit tongue-tied with this gorgeous man so near. ďHow much, and when can you get started?Ē

Cal told me a figure that made me a little sick to my stomach until he explained that this would include the custom-built shelving I needed to line my walls. After that, it seemed like a steal. I couldnít believe that this prince would be building me my fantasy library.

Dreams really did come true.

We shook on it, and then he said,ďItís early enough that I can actually get started today. Like I said, not a lot of folks are lining up to hire me, given my recent history.Ē

ďYouíve got yourself a deal, Cal Calhoun,Ē I said with a huge smile, thrilled that weíd be spending more time together. Partially because heíd be nearby in case of danger, and partially because I most definitely had the hots for him now. ďNan and I will both be around unpacking some boxes today. Just holler if you need anything.Ē

ďWill do.Ē

ďOh, and Cal?Ē I had to keep saying his new name to get used to it. The more I said it, the more I liked it. It was uncomplicated and appealing, just like the man himself.

ďYeah?Ē He removed the measuring tape heíd brought with him and let its long yellow tongue snap back into place.

ďDo mind the Sphynxes. Theyíre slippery little buggers,Ē I said, parroting the words Officer Bouchard had said to me just a couple days ago.

And with that, I slipped out of the room and ran up to my tower to find the perfect outfit for casually running into my new crush later that day.

Chapter Sixteen

My phone started ringing aggressively while I was mid-shampoo. I shut the water off, grabbed my towel, and jumped out just in time to catch Charles before his call got routed to voicemail for a second time.

ďHello?Ē I asked, dripping onto the cold tile floor. I pushed open the old window with a creak. At least that would let some warmth in here.

ďAngie, itís me,Ē Charles said as if he somehow didnít know that caller ID existed and was standard on all phones these days.

ďWhatís up?Ē I asked, hugging my towel tighter around myself. Of course weíd be having this conversation while I was wet and naked. Knowing my luck, Iíd slip on one of the many puddles forming below me, hit my head, get knocked unconscious, and then BrockóI mean, Calówould have to bust through the door to save me. Maybe Iíd even wake up with a second secret super power while I was at it.

Okay, now I was wet, naked, and in a panic. I carefully lowered myself to sit on the edge of the tub while Charles explained the reason for his call. At least, if I fell from here, Iíd have a shorter way to go before hitting the floor.

ďSorry I didnít call back yesterday.Ē I heard the unmistakable sound of a door shutting on his end of the call. He paused before explaining further, ďThompson took a couple days off for bereavement.Ē

ďFor the senator?Ē I asked, not expecting this news about my workaholic boss.

ďYup,Ē he said, sounding every bit as surprised as I felt. ďApparently the two of them were closer than any of us knew.Ē

I gasped, almost losing my balance and scrambling not to fall.ďWere they having an affair?Ē

ďOh, címon,Ē Charles ground out. ďThompson and Harlow, really?Ē

ďWell, anythingís possible,Ē I mumbled defensively.

ďThatís not what was going on,Ē he said with obvious irritation.

That didnít stop me from continuing my line of questioning. He had information, and I needed to know it sooner rather than later. ďThen what was?Ē I demanded.

ďGet this,Ē Charles said, and I could just picture him smiling as he paced around his office. He so loved revealing shocking twists, the smoking gun. I wondered if that was what we had here now. ďHarlow was planning on stepping down. She was grooming Thompson to run for election as her hand-picked successor.Ē

ďThompson?Ē I exclaimed. ďBut heís awful with people.Ē Not only did he insist on calling everyone by their last names, but he often openly criticized me and the other people at the firm. I knew it was all to protect our stellar reputation, but still. The thought of him as an elected politician representing my state made my stomach churn.

ďMaybe,Ē Charles said, apparently unwilling to badmouth the senior partner the way I was. ďBut thereís no denying heís smart and, believe it or not, he and Harlow share a lot of the same political views, too.Ē

ďLike what?Ē I cried, still unable to believe what heíd just revealed.

ďTheyíve been friends for a long time. In fact, they met more than thirty-five years ago when they were both doing grassroots work for theSave the Whales movement. Thompson said those were some of the best years of his life.Ē

There was thatSave the Whales thing again. Could it be important? Important enough to cost the good senator her life? And, if so, did that mean Thompson might be targeted next?

ďCharles?Ē I said, knowing I could trust him with this. ďDo you think the senator might have been murdered for something to do with her environmental activism?Ē

ďThen or now?Ē he countered, and I could tell that big, beautiful brain of his was already thinking hard.

ďEither,Ē I said. ďIs there anything you know that could give some insight into why somebody might have wanted her dead?Ē

He sighed.ďYou know the police ruled her death an accident.Ē

ďYeah, but I doubt you buy that, either.Ē

ďIt is suspicious.Ē He thought for a moment before saying more. ďHow closely do you follow national politics?Ē

ďNot very,Ē I admitted. ďI did some Googling on the senator and any recent pieces mentioning her, but nothing jumped out at me.Ē

He chuckled.ďWell, hereís a quick recap. Last week it was announced that a major oil company had petitioned to put in an access pipeline. Itís a new proposal, but people are worried about it. Most of it would run right through our state, even cutting off the corner of one of our national parks.Ē

That sounded awful. I loved my home state for its natural beauty and proximity to the ocean just as much as the senator had. Some giant oil operation would take part of that away, and for what?

ďI can see why the senator wouldnít have wanted that, given her deep love for the environment,Ē I told Charles.

ďItís still got a while before it goes to vote, but Big Oil is lobbying hard to make it a reality. Their argument is that it would create jobs and bring us another much-needed local energy source, thus lessening our dependence on foreign oil.Ē He explained everything pedantically without a hint of how he felt about the proposal. Seeing as he was a recent transplant from California, I found myself wondering whether Charles sided with Big Oil or the national parks. I knew where I stood.

ďBut the senator wouldnít have been okay with the destruction of one of our national parks, I take it.Ē

ďShe definitely wouldnít have been, though itís only about five-thousand acres and the pipeline proposal includes building a new protected park farther upstate.Ē Was he playing devilís advocate for the sake of argument, or did he truly believe the pipeline was anything other than a disaster waiting to happen?

I grew frustrated and let out a massive groan.ďWhatís the point of protecting it, though, if anyone with enough money can destroy it on a whim?Ē

ďI see what youíre saying, Angie. I do.Ē Charles sighed and paused for a moment. ďBut you have to understand, our checks and balances are put in place for a reason, and they work, too. Itís not a whim. If the pipeline is going to get approved, a majority of the senate needs to vote in itsfavor. And, as you know, Harlow was just one out of a hundred.Ē

I ran my fingers over the soft edges of the towel. My skin was quickly moving toward dry as this conversation carried on, but my hair was still a shampoo-y mess.ďSo then why would the murderer single out Harlow?Ē I asked.

Charlesís voice grew quieter, leading me to believe someone might be passing outside his door and that, for whatever his reasons, he wanted to keep this conversation private. ďLet me once again remind you that we donít know whether there was any foul play involved, but if there was, then thereíd be a lot of reasons one might single out Harlow.Ē

Oh, this was getting good. Maybe Charles had the smoking gun after all.ďSuch as?Ē I asked, my curiosity reaching a fever pitch.

ďFor one, as one of the two senators representing the state where the proposed pipeline would be built, her opinions hold a little more sway,Ē he started, paused, then raised his voice back to its normal volume. ďAdd to that the fact she was a mostly conservative politician who could be pretty much guaranteed to vote with the Democrats on any issue that even touches the environment. With a split senate like we have, she could very well end up the deciding vote when the issue goes to vote. Or at least, she could have been.Ē

A knock sounded on the other end of the line.

ďJust a sec!Ē Charles shouted, then said to me, ďI need to go.Ē

ďThanks, Charles,Ē I said. ďThis has been hugely helpful and given me lots to think about.Ē

ďAngie, wait.Ē He paused. When he spoke again, his voice sounded lower and far more serious than before. ďPlease be careful. If youíre right and thereís some huge political conspiracy underfoot, then you could find yourself next on the hitmanís list. Let it go. Iím begging you. Let the authorities deal with whatever did or didnít happen. Okay?Ē

ďOkay,Ē I said agreeably, crossing my fingers just in case. I didnít want to worry Charles, but at the same time, I was so close to having this thing solved it just didnít make sense to back out now. ďThanks for the call. Bye.Ē

I hung up before he could offer any further argument, finished my shower, got dressed, and went to find Nan.

With any luck, weíd have this case wrapped by nightfall.

And maybe for once, luck might actually be on my side.

Chapter Seventeen

For the better part of that afternoon, I thought about all the locals who might benefit from that proposed pipeline. How much did one need to get out of the situation to consider murder a viable option?

I suppose someone unemployed could want a job bad enough to take such drastic measures, especially if he had a family to provide for. But the proposal was still very new, which meant the news hadnít stretched too far about what could be coming our way. Even though I didnít follow current events as much as I probably should, I still learned about most major stories via my various social media accounts.

This one hadnít made the rounds yet. At least not within my network.

Harlowís murderer had to be somebody on the inside. Someone who paid close attention to the news, or made it even.

Pondering this further, I put a call in to my mom. Unfortunately, it went straight to voicemail.Boo.

I spent some quiet time researching on my laptop but continually came up short. Iíd talk to Nan about my conversation with Charles soon, but she had a hard time keeping quiet when she got excited. Her voice would echo like crazy through this giant house, and with Cal still here working in the library, our talk would just have to wait.

After another hour passed, I tried calling Mom again. She would never give up on a story before it reached its satisfying conclusion and, seeing as she was the one who reported the news, she most definitely would know more about the pipeline and even its possible beneficiaries.