A Paw-sible Theory

“Cats are intended to teach us that not everything in nature has a function.”

––Garrison Keillor

CHAPTER EIGHT: A Chilling Implication

I looked out and saw that Ethan hadn’t left yet. His car was still in the driveway and he was sitting in it writing on a notepad. Mrs. Leary, the next-door neighbor, was trying to get his attention as she slowly shuffled her way towards the car, all the while her dog, Smooch, was pulling on his leash in another direction.

Mrs. Leary, who had trouble outlining her lips with the red lipstick she always wore, was a genuine Florida native, and since she had lived and taught school here for most of her eighty years, she was a fountain of information about the area and its politics. She knew everyone and could tell you anything you wanted to know about what went on at City Hall, and often did.

“Hi, handsome; I’m glad I caught you. How is your mom?” she said loud enough to be heard across the street.

She didn’t wait for his answer but went on to tell him that all the neighbors were talking about what happened, the older neighbors concerned that someone had targeted the neighborhood for robbery and that they might be next. He gave her a brief update on his mother and told her that since the police didn’t know if this had been an attempted robbery or something else, they would be keeping an eye on the neighborhood for a while.

“I had Eddie Smarts in my class two years in a row in high school, you know. Who’d ever have thought he would one day be a detective?”

“Why is that a surprise?”

She laughed. “He was the class clown, always in trouble about some silly thing or other egged on by his best friend, our new Commissioner, Jack Shultz.”

I found it hard to believe that Detective Smarts even knew how to smile. I certainly hadn’t seen any evidence of it and the man’s behavior toward me bordered on rudeness.

“As a matter of fact,” she continued, “this is Smart’s first case since his promotion after twenty years of service with the department.” She moved closer and lowered her voice a notch. “I hear there’s talk among the ranks that his promotion had more to do with his friendship with the Commissioner than it did with his investigative skills.”

“Well, I sure hope he’s done clowning around and gets busy catching the one who put Mom in the hospital.”

Before Ethan could politely leave, they chatted for a few more minutes about some other kids she’d taught who now held important positions, including Everett Bixby, the District Attorney.

“I imagine Smarts is under pressure to prove himself and eager to put an end to the talk. I feel sorry for the poor soul he sets his sights on.”

The implication was chilling.