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

You see, I got electrocuted and knocked unconscious. I woke up with a wicked fear of coffee makersóoh, and also the ability to talk to animals. At first, I could only talk to this one cat named Octavius Maxwell Ricardo Edmund Frederick Fulton. He was one of the primary beneficiaries of his late ownerís estate, and I now call him Octo-Cat for short.

Long story short, he told me the old lady was murdered and begged me to help him catch the killer. We did, and we pretty much became best friends in the process. Now he lives with me, and I oversee his care and also his generous trust fund.

And because I accidentally made an open-ended deal with him when I needed to get him to wear a pet harness, we now reside in his former ownerís exquisite manor house. Yes, a ten-dollar neon green harness ended up costing me a cool million.

At least most of the money was my catís, anyway.

Yeah. A lot has happened over the last year. My cat and I solved three more murders together. He got catnapped. I finally quit my paralegal job so we could open up a private investigation firm together, and oh, yeahÖ I got a boyfriend!

My nan might be even more excited about that one than I am. Sheíd been trying to matchmake me for years, and now that sheís finally succeeded, sheís not quite sure what to do with herself.

Yes, she continues to bake up a storm in the kitchen and take her community art classes, but lately sheís also been flipping through new hobbies like theyíre going out of style. Thereís been flamenco dancing, learning Korean as a second language, even Pok?mon Go. She claims Pikachu understands her on a spiritual level. Personally, I donít get it.

My mom and dad are busy with their jobs as Blueberry Bayís local news anchor and designated sports guy. Nan and I have them over once per week for a nice home-cooked meal. Did I mention my grandmother and I live together?

Itís not weird. Sheís not just the woman who raised me, but sheís also my best friend and the most amazing person I know. She even helps with Octo-Catís lavish demands and rigorous schedule.

And between the two of us, we keep him dining on only the seafood flavors of Fancy Feast and drinking Evian from his favorite Lenox teacup.

Most recently, heís demanded a brand-new iPad Pro. His reasoning? That he needed a professional upgrade to go along with our new business venture. Never mind that he uses his tablet primarily to play various fish tank and koi pond games.

Heís given his old device to the president of his fan club, a raccoon who lives under our front porch. His name is Pringle, and heís a pretty all right guy most of the time. Octo-Cat definitely enjoys having a fanboy to support every single decision he makes, including his regular criticism of me.

Itís true. Octo-Cat complains a lot, but I also know he loves me tons. Thatís why Iím planning a special evening to celebrate our petaversary. Iím not sure he remembers, but after tonight he will.

I canít wait to see the look on his little kitty face when he sees what I have planned for him. Let the games begin!

[ ŗūÚŤŪÍŗ: img_3]

It wasnít easy hiding my party preparations from Octo-Cat, but so far he hadnít managed to catch on. Rather than cooking something myself, I asked Nan to pick up some grilled shrimp and lobster rolls from the Little Dog Diner in Misty Cove. Itís a bit of a drive, but worth every mile.

Nan would be returning any minute, which meant it was time for me to wake the guest of honor. I found him sleeping in his five oíclock sunspot on the western side of the house. ďWakey, wakey!Ē I cried in a sing-song voice he loathed.

ďAngela,Ē he groaned, ďhavenít you ever heard that you should let sleeping cats lie?Ē

ďIím pretty sure the expression isóyou know what? It doesnít matter. Címon, I have a surprise for you.Ē

Whoa, close one. I almost used the word dog in a sentence. That little slipup would have ruined our whole night, but I caught myself just in time.

ďA surprise?Ē he asked, yawning so wide that his whiskers overlapped in front of his nose. ďWhat is it?Ē

ďYouíll see. Címon.Ē I patted my leg and motioned for him to follow.

But he sat his butt back down on the hardwood floor and flicked his tail.ďTell me, or Iím not coming,Ē he demanded.

ďOcto-Cat, canít you justóUgh, fine. Today marks one year since we first met. Do you remember that day?Ē

ďSo you mean itís been one year and one day since Ethel died?Ē he asked, raising his eyebrows and staring me down.

Oh, I didnít think of that. I hoped he wouldnít be too sad to celebrate.

ďIím just giving you a hard time,Ē he said with a cruel laugh, trotting over as he shook his head. ďHappy anniversary, Angela. Iím glad youíre my human.Ē

Footsteps sounded on the porch. I hadnít even heard Nan pull up, but now she was here, and we could officially begin our little party. Iíd asked my boyfriend, Charles, to wait a couple hours before he turned up, since he and Octo-Cat didnít get along particularly well as of late.

I secretly loved that my cat was jealous of my boyfriend but hoped that heíd eventually get over it.

ďNan?Ē I called when Octo-Cat and I reached the bottom of the stairs, but she still hadnít entered. Padding over to the door, I twisted the knob andó

A wagging ball of black fur pounced into the house.

ďIím here! Iím home! Oh, boy. Oh, boy. Oh, boy!Ē the little dog cried, then immediately squatted and peed on the welcome mat.

I turned to Octo-Cat, who stood on the last stair with his back arched and his tail at full-blown puffball status.ďAngela, what is this?Ē he screamed, unwittingly drawing the dogís attention over to him.

ďA cat! A cat! Oh, boy! Oh, boy! Oh, boy!Ē The dog, who upon closer examination appeared to be a Chihuahua, bounded right up to Octo-Cat and pressed his nose to the catís butt.

Octo-Cat hissed, growled, swiped with his claws, and sent the little dog shrieking away.

Yipe! Yipe! Yipe!

ďWhatís all this commotion?Ē Nan asked, charging into the house, spotting the little black dog and scooping the poor, whimpering baby into her arms. ďOkay, fess up. Who hurt my Paisley?Ē

ďNanÖĒ I pinched the bridge of my nose to stave off the rapidly building headache. ďWhy is there a dog in our house?Ē

ďThis is Paisley. Yes, she is,Ē Nan cooed in a baby voice, and the Chihuahua licked her cheek, the horrible, scary cat and the pain heíd inflicted apparently forgotten. ďShe lives here now.Ē

ďOh, heck no!Ē Octo-Cat shouted from his spot on the stairs. ďI thought we were celebrating me tonight, not taking a visit to the ninth circle of hell!Ē

ďNan,Ē I said trying to make peace before everyone lost their cool. ďWe canít have a dog here. Octo-Cat hates dogs.Ē

ďHatesssssss,Ē Octo-Cat hissed, then growled again.

ďHe hates me?Ē the shivering little dog asked. ďHe doesnít even know me. Iím Paisley, and Iím a good girl.Ē

Nan continued to talk in a goochie-goo voice, keeping her eyes glued to the mostly black tricolor Chihuahua in her arms.ďWell, I saw this little girl at the shelter and right away she stole my heart. What was I supposed to do?Ē

She looked up and narrowed her eyes at me.ďWas I supposed to let her stay in that cage all by herself? Or, Heaven forbid, let them put her down when the shelter got too full?Ē She covered Paisleyís oversized ears and frowned at me.

ďNo, I meanÖĒ I sputtered. ďNo, of course you couldnít do that.Ē Ack, I was such a softie.

ďOctavius is just going to have to get used to his new housemate, because Iím not taking her back,Ē Nan said in a way that made it more than clear that this topic was not up for discussion. ďCímon, baby, letís go outside and meet the forest creatures.Ē

Once Nan and Paisley were safely outside, I searched around for Octo-Cat so I could both explain and apologize on Nanís behalf.

But he was nowhere to be found.

Crud, he was never going to forgive me for this one.

Chapter Two

I found Octo-Cat at last in my bedroom, where he was crouched under my bed, his wide amber eyes glowing in the darkness. When I flopped down on my belly to get a closer look, he emitted a low growl that made me jump in my skin.

ďGo away,Ē he added in a rumbly, somewhat terrifying voice.

ďThatís not fair,Ē I enunciated as if scolding a petulant child. ďMight I remind you that I was just as shocked by that as you were.Ē

I searched my brain for the right way to spin things, the way that would make him understand. Unfortunately, all logic tended to go out the window whenever Octo-Cat was unhappyóand todayís unhappiness had already reached a record-breaking level.

With great difficulty, I managed to put a happy-go-lucky smile on my face as I said,ďBut, I mean, if you think about it, it kind of makes sense. Right? We have each other, and now Nan has a best fur friend of her own, too. Isnít that nice?Ē

ďNo,Ē the tabby replied stubbornly and turned his face toward the wall.

I hated that he was this upset, but there was nothing I could do without him being willing to at least meet me partway.ďWill you at least come out for our petaversary?Ē I begged, practically whined.

Octo-Cat turned toward me again; his eyes still held that eerie glow as he considered my request.ďIím not coming out,Ē he said at last. ďBut if you bring my shrimp and my Evian here and promise not to let that dog in, I shall consider sharing the celebratory meal with you in our private quarters.Privately.Ē

I couldnít help but sigh. ďAre you really not going to leave the room at all?Ē

He flicked his tail, waking a cloud of dust and pet hair that rose from the carpet in a sickening flurry. Wow, I really was not a good housekeeper.

If Octo-Cat noticed the filth, he didnít seem to mindónot when he already had much bigger fish to fry. ďNot until that interloper is gone,Ē he informed me with another hiss. ďNeed I remind you that this is MY house?Ē

ďNo, you neednít.Ē It felt strange using Octo-Catís overly refined language, but he often listened better when I did. And right now, I needed him to understand that controlling Nan was every bit as difficult as trying to control him. Both were so stubborn about the things they wanted that we would have no choice but to find some kind of compromise to the Chihuahua situation.

I sighed again.ďHowever, given your stance, it would probably be best if I brought your litter box up here as well. Iíll be back in a little bit.Ē

After pushing myself back into a standing position, I left my tower bedroom, careful to latch the door fully behind me. As much as I didnít want to trap Octo-Cat inside, I was also incredibly worried about what might happen to Paisley if she nosed her way in there. She was half his size at most and clearly didnít have an aggressive bone in her whole body.

My cat on the other hand?

He had a whole skeletonís worth.

I found Nan in the kitchen setting out a pair of dog bone-printed ceramic bowls for Paisley in a spot just to the left of the pantry.ďSorry about Octo-Cat,Ē I muttered, ignoring the fact that he would be upset that the dogís bowls were so near his stash of Fancy Feast.

ďThat cat was mean,Ē the Chihuahua whined as she rubbed at the fresh claw wound on her nose.

ďHe didnít mean to hurt you. Heís just difficult sometimes,Ē I offered with what I hoped was a reassuring smile.

The little dog jumped up and pawed frantically at my leg, wiggling her whole body as she cried,ďHey! Hey! Hey! Did you just talk? Do you know how to talk? Youíre a very good, very smart girl!Ē

I bent down and scooped her up, and Paisley immediately set to licking my face as if it were covered in gravy or bacon grease or some other irresistible treat.ďYes, I can talk to both animals and people,Ē I explained. ďI donít know why, though. Itís kind of just the way things are. Would it be okay if I talked to you?Ē

Paisley wagged her tail so hard her entire body shook, then she broke apart into a shivering fit. Whether she needed a sweater or some anti-anxiety medicine, I couldnít say for sure. The shivering continued as she jumped into an excited monologue. ďIíve always wanted my own humans, and now I even have one that talks! The other dogs back at the shelter wonít believe it! When are they coming for a visit? Or, oh! Maybe they could move in with us, too. Thishouse is plenty big, and there are lots of dogs that need homes.Ē

I laughed at her enthusiasm, even though her reminder of all the homeless pets that had remained behind following Nanís impromptu adoption of Paisley made my heart feel heavy. ďIím sorry, Paisley. I wish I could adopt all your friends, but I already made a promise to take care of my cat the best I can, and he would be very upset if we filled our house up with dogs.Ē

As soon as I set Paisley back on the floor, she curled up against my foot and pouted.ďHeís a very mean kitty.Ē

ďYeah, he kind of is, but heíll grow on you, I promise. And I bet youíll grow on him, too. He just needs time to get used to having you here. Itís a very big change.Ē

ďItís a big change for me, too.Ē The little dog ran in a circle to indicate the giant manor in which she now lived. ďAt the shelter I had to share a cage with two other dogs. It was very crowded. Thatís why I thought we could give some of the others a home, too.Ē

Three to a cage?

I hadnít spent much time at the local animal shelter, but from what I remembered, weíd never had an overcrowding problem in the past. Maybe things had just been a bit different for Paisley than the others due to her extremely small size.

I already felt guilty about not being able to adopt more animals. Thinking of them now all cramped together made me feel that much worse. Maybe a few volunteer shifts or a small donation were in order, both to help them out of a potentially tough spot and to ease my guilty conscience.

ďHey,Ē I said, crouching down so that Paisley and I were at closer to the same level. ďHow would you like to visit the shelter with me tomorrow? You can say hi to your friends, and Iíll see if thereís anything we can do to help them find new homes.Ē

Paisley let out a high-pitched cry and began to shake furiously once again.ďYouíre not making me go back. Are you?Ē the dog yelped. ďBecause Nan said this is my home now.Ē

This poor thing. No wonder Nan had been charmed enough to bring her home.

ďOh, sweetie. I promise I wouldnít do that to you. Nanís right. This is your home now, and nothingís going to change that.Ē

Paisley stood on her hind legs and reached her paws up my leg.ďI love you, new mommy,Ē she said. ďThis is the best day of my entire life.Ē

My heart swelled at the Chihuahuaís confession of love. It had taken me almost dying at the hands of a gun-toting psychopath to get Octo-Cat to even admit he liked me. Yet Paisley had only needed a single short conversation to forge the deepest of bonds. As much as I adored my Octo-Cat, it sure felt nice to be appreciated ratherthan insulted.

Hmmm. Maybe Iím not as much of a cat person as I once thought.

Of course, I immediately felt guilty for thinking that even in passing. It was our petaversary, after all, and Iíd promised my feline overlord freshly grilled shrimp by way of celebration.

It was time to leave Nan and Paisley to celebrate their own adoption day together while I did my best to ease the poor, put-out kitty that sat waiting for me in my bedroom tower.

I closed my eyes tight and wished that one day we could all be one big happy family. I didnít have a candle to blow out and it wasnít anyoneís birthday, but I hoped the special wish magic Iíd grown up believing in could save us now.

Honestly, we were going to need a miracle to get my stubborn cat to change his heart when it came to the poor, shivering dog that needed us.

Just in case, I said a quick prayer, too.

One way or another, we would find a way to all live peacefully together.

After all, we didnít have any other option.

Chapter Three

When I returned to my room with grilled shrimp and Evian for both Octo-Cat and myself, I found him sitting on my pillow flicking his tail pensively.

The moment he saw me, he popped to his feet and began to pace the length of the mattress.ďWell, did you talk some sense into Nan about the unappreciated monstrosity she has wrought on our house? On my house?Ē He didnít even look at me as he spat each word. If he had, Iím sure my face would have given away everything he needed to know.

ďUmm, a little,Ē I hedged, trying hard not to sigh yet again. ďMostly I talked to Paisley, though, and she is really happy to be here.Ē

Octo-Cat stopped pacing and stared at me with open disdain.ďAnd Iíd be really happy for her tonot be here.Ē

I let out a groan and sunk down onto the bed beside him.ďI know change is hard, butóĒ

The tabby diva lifted a paw and shook his head.ďIíll stop you right there. If youíre not for me, then youíre against me. And thusÖĒ He paused and sighed heavily. ďI bid you good night, Angela.Ē

I watched helplessly as he hopped off the bed and crawled back beneath it.ďHey, I didnít ask for any of this, either,Ē I called after him.

But Octo-Cat refused to respond.

ďWe canít just send her back. From what Paisley told me, the shelter is already pretty overcrowded, and thatís not a very nice way for her to have to live, especially when thereís a family who wants her.Ourfamily.Ē

He still said nothing to acknowledge me or my arguments.

ďYou canít just ignore me,Ē I huffed, throwing myself back onto the bed in resignation. ďHow are we supposed to solve our cases if weíre not talking to each other?Ē I asked while studying a smudge on the ceiling.

Octo-Cat didnít answer, which was probably for the best regarding this last point. The truth was even though weíd opened Pet Whisperer P.I. for business more than one week ago, we still had yet to book our first case.

If I could do it all over again, I might have rejected the kooky name that Mom and Nan had saddled us with. Around Blueberry Bay, calling yourself a pet whisperer pretty much guaranteed that folks thought you were crazyóor worse, a fraud.

And I was neither, thank you very much.

Maybe if I started a website or took out an ad, business would pick up a bit. My boyfriend Charles had already offered to refer business from the firm our way when he or one of the associates needed extra help. Iíd originally rejected his offer, preferring to either succeed or fail totally on my own. Now, however, I was starting to wonder if I was being too stupid, too proud. If I could help people, do what I loved, and get paid for it, then who cared how I came about my clients?

ďCan we please talk about this?Ē I begged my still fuming cat.

ďYou already know where I stand on the matter. When you decide to join me, then Iíll decide to talk to you,Ē Octo-Cat mumbled in that horrible patronizing tone I loathed.

ďFine, then you can spend our petaversary alone.Ē Even though I knew he wasnít going to answer me, I still stormed off and slammed the door.

Of course, I hated to leave my kitty companion like that, but being together at that moment was, unfortunately, creating more problems than it was solving. Maybe with a good nightís sleep, weíd be able to start this conversation fresh in the morning.

Maybe.

But until then, I just couldnít take any more fighting.

And so I set his food and water on the floor, went to retrieve his litter box, and then moved my bedding to one of the spare bedrooms so we could both have a bit of time to cool off. Once Iíd settled in, I shot Charles a quick text to let him know not to come over that night and went to bed several hours earlier than Iíd planned.

Happy Petaversary to me!

[ ŗūÚŤŪÍŗ: img_3]

The next morning, I woke up feeling refreshed and much less irritated than Iíd been the night before. The moment I left my temporary quarters, Paisley raced over to lick my ankles and tell me about the great adventures sheíd had touring the estate with Nan.

ďThere are so many great places to pee! So many!Ē she gushed as I reached down to scratch her between her adorable oversized ears. ďI love it here! Itís like a paradise for dogs! I canít believe I get to live here now! I love my new life! I love you!Ē

I chuckled to myself while she zoomed off again. She ran in such fast, tight circles that soon she was almost completely out of breath from the exertion of it all. When Paisley slowed down and approached me again, her tongue lolled from the side of her mouth and she panted heavily, smiling up at me with unmistakable affection.

ďIím glad you like it here,Ē I told her. ďNan and I will do everything we can to make sure you love everything about your new life. Hey, by the way, do you still want to go to the shelter with me for a quick visit today?Ē

ďOh, boy. Oh, boy! Oh, yes! Yes, please!Ē the little dog trilled, running another manic lap before returning to me once more.

I laughed again, something I could tell Iíd be doing lots of now that Paisley was a part of my world. ďI donít think theyíre open yet, but let me check their hours online and find out when they do.Ē

Paisley followed me up the stairs and toward my bedroomóthe bedroom where I just happened to know that one very crabby tabby would still be sitting by his lonesome and bemoaning his bad luck.

I stopped so abruptly that the eager Chihuahua bumped into my lower leg.ďUm, Iím sorry, but Octo-Cat is going to be upset if you come in with me. Would you mind waiting outside for me? I promise to come back very soon.Ē

The little tricolor dog plopped her butt down on the top stair and wagged her tail furiously.ďI will be a good girl and wait, because thatís what you said to do!Ē

Well, that was an entirely different response than I ever would have received from Octo-Cat. Oh, a pet owner could most assuredly get used to this. I wiped my face of the smile that had just spread from cheek to wicked cheek and quietly let myself into my catís self-imposed prison.

ďOctavius?Ē I called out, using his preferred name in the hopes it might earn me some sorely needed brownie points. ďAre you in here?Ē

ďOf course Iím in here, Angela,Ē he growled from beneath the bed. ďBut I also smell that the dog is out there.Ē

ďOh, Paisley? Sheís not coming in. IóĒ

Just then, the door burst open and an exuberant Paisley bounded through the door and rushed straight under the bed.ďI heard you call my name. Iím a good girl. Iím coming to you!Ē she called as she shot past me in her renewed pursuit of her new cat roommate.

ďBetrayal!Ē Octo-Cat cried, shooting past me and bolting down the stairs in a whirlwind of fluff and attitude. ďBetrayal of the highest order!Ē

Even from all the way up here, I heard his electronic cat flap beep and pull open from the foyer.

Paisley at least hadnít given chase. Instead, she stood proudly at my heels, beating a steady drum with her small black tail against the floorboards. ďDid I do good, Mommy?Ē she asked.

I didnít have the heart to tell her no. ďYou did good,Ē I hedged. ďBut next time, wait until I saycome. Can you do that?Ē

ďYes, Mommy. I surely can do that! Youíre my best friend, and I love you!Ē With this said, she began licking my toes and didnít stop for at least three whole minutes.

Okay, fine. So maybe I was starting to find her enthusiasma little annoyingÖ

Chapter Four

Paisley and I trotted into the Glendale Animal Shelter around lunchtime. A pudgy older woman greeted us from behind a battered oak desk tucked into the corner of the entryway at the very moment we arrived.

ďWelcome! Welcome!Ē she crooned. Then, shooting her gaze toward Paisley, she cleared her throat, dropped it a few notes, and said, ďHey, I recognize you, little dog. You arenít bringing her back. Are you? Was something wrong at home?Ē

Paisley scuttled back to cower behind my leg, shivering violently as Iíd already come to realize was her way whenever anything either upset or excited her.

ďNo, of course not!Ē I assured them both. ďWeíre just here for a little visit is all. Actually, is there someone I can speak with about maybe putting in some volunteer hours?Ē

The other womanís entire countenance lit up at this. ďOh, how lovely! Yes, yes, let me just take you back to our Community Outreach Coordinatorís office so the two of you can have a little chat.Ē

I nodded my agreement, then followed her through a set of double doors into the behind-the-scenes area of the shelter.

Paisley pranced alongside me, stopping frequently to sniff at the air or press her quivering nose to the floor.ďIt all smells exactly the same as it did yesterday,Ē she mused. ďOh, can you believe it, Mommy?Ē

I could believe it; I could believe it very easily but chose not to say anything that might dampen the little dogís spirits. Instead, I held my tongue as our guide led us down a long, narrow room filled wall-to-wall on each side with floor-to-ceiling kennels. Sure enough, many of the dogs were housed several to a cage, just as Paisley had described the night before.

ďHey, Chihuahua! What are you doing back in this awful place?Ē a black Labrador mix called after us, then pushed his snout through the metal caging and whined.

ďHaha. Just visiting!Ē Paisley cried happily. ďI have two new humans. This one even talks,Ē she added, referring to me as we continued to follow the front desk volunteer deeper and deeper into the shelter.

ďIt talks?Ē a fluffy little dog asked in a high-pitched voice. ďReally?Ē

ďReally.And itís a girl, so say she. Thatís the polite thing to do.Ē Paisley followed up her answer by nudging my leg with her cold nose. ďHey, Mommy. Say something to our friends!Ē

I coughed and widened my eyes at Paisley, giving my head a subtle shake that I sincerely hoped she would understand. She was still very new to our home and didnít yet seem to understand that I couldnít exactly out my ability in front of unknown humans. Iíd have to explain how everything worked once the two of us had some privacy. Hopefully, she wouldnít be too embarrassed by my unexpected unwillingness to perform my neat human trick for the other shelter dogs.

ďHere we are,Ē our guide said brightly, rescuing me from that disappointed look on my sweet doggoís face. ďYouíll find Mr. Leavitt straight through that door.Ē

ďThank you,Ē I said, reaching out to shake the womanís hand.

ďMy nameís Pearl,Ē she offered with a friendly smile. ďAnd itís my pleasure to assist. Iíll be just up front, should you have any questions for me before you go. Good luck!Ē

I watched Pearl zoom away, somewhat confused by the fact that sheíd wished me good luck. Didnít places like this always need a steady stream of volunteers?

The dogs behind us began to bark in earnest. I tried to understand what they were saying, but too many voices mixed together for me to make out any single thread. Suddenly, I felt very anxious as I raised my fist to knock on the office door before me.

ďCome in,Ē someoneópresumably Mr. Leavittócalled.

I scooped Paisley into my arms, then pushed the door open. At the same exact time, the fluorescent lights overhead flickered on, off, on, and then at last off again. The long room filled with kennels fell completely dark and silent, but the small office before me had a steady stream of sunlight wafting in from the large row of windows along the back wall.

ďHello,Ē I said shyly. ďIf this is a bad time, I can come back later.Ē

The man behind the desk glanced up at me with a welcoming grin. Shockingly, he appeared to be about my ageólate twenties, maybe early thirties. For some reason, Iíd expected someone far older. Maybe it was the fact that the gray-haired woman Iíd just met had chosen to refer to him as a Mr.

He stood and extended a hand in my direction.ďYou mean the lights? Nah, that happens all the time. Come on in all the way, take a seat, and tell me what I can do for you.Ē His blue eyes shone as our hands made contact, and I swear I felt a tiny spark jump from his skin to mine.

I didnít find Mr. Leavitt particularly attractive, but there was something about him that was inescapably alluring. If this whole Community Outreach Coordinator gig fell through, Iím sure heíd have a long and prosperous career in Hollywood, D.C., or even the boardroom. Heíd fit in easily anywherecharisma was valued and rewarded.

ďI know this guy,Ē Paisley said from atop my lap after Iíd taken a moment to get settled in one of the padded chairs opposite Mr. Leavittís desk. ďHeíd play with us sometimes. And he brought lots of people by to visit. Sometimes they would play with us, too.Ē

I patted the dogís head instead of answering her directly. Keeping my hand there, I directed my attention back toward the only other human in the room. ďAs you can see, my Nan and I adopted this sweet little girl from your shelter. And, well, weíre just so happy to have her that I wanted to pay it forward somewhere.Ē

Mr. Leavitt nodded and folded his hands on the desk before him.ďPay it forward? How so?Ē

ďCould you use any volunteers? I kind of have a way with animals.Ē Of course that was the understatement of the year, but there was no way I was telling this guy the truth about my hidden abilities.

ďThatís very kind of you, MissÖ?Ē He paused and flashed me a disarming grin.

ďRusso,Ē I offered, hating that heat was now rising to my cheeks. ďAngie Russo. Hi.Ē

He winked and leaned back in his chair, putting me at ease once more.ďAs I was saying, thatís very kind of you for wanting to help. You probably noticed weíre a bit overcrowded at the moment.Ē

I nodded again.ďYes, thatís why I thought I could help.Ē

The lights flickered again, illuminating a small lamp on the edge of Mr. Leavittís desk. He studied it for a moment, then frowned thoughtfully. ďWeíre just as overcrowded with volunteers as we are animals. But Iím afraid it may not be enough.Ē

My heart dropped straight onto the linoleum floor beneath my chair.ďIs everything okay?Ē I whispered, wishing the sensitive little dog in my lap didnít have to be here for whatever came next in our conversation.

Mr. Leavitt offered an even wider smile than before.ďOf course, everythingís okay. At least it is for now. Just a bit of growing pains, if you will. You see, at present, we have more animals and more staff, but not more money. It makes covering all our expenses a bit tricky, but weíll manage. We always do.Ē

Was I actually being dismissed? Had Mr. Leavitt somehow decided that my help wasnít good enough? That rankled me and suddenly made me desperate to contribute in any way I could.

ďThatís good to hear, but still Iíd like to do something,Ē I argued, giving him my best, most placating smile. ďWould a donation be better than volunteering right now?Ē

He shook his head and let out a low sigh.ďOh, no, no, no. You donít have to do that. I wasnít trying to suggestóĒ

I chuckled as I fished around in my purse for my checkbook. Mr. Leavitt was obviously a proud man, but this was a community shelter, and I was part of said community. I owed it to the animals to make sure they had enough to eat, drink, and keep a roof over their heads.ďI know you werenít, but Iím already here anyway and I want to help,Ē I said with a shrug.

ďWell, if you insist, then it would be wrong of me to say no. Thank you so much for being willing to help these wonderful animals.Ē

Mr. Leavitt told me the information I needed to fill out my check and then accepted it with an outpouring of gratitude.ďYouíre a good woman, Angie Russo. I can tell this little one is very lucky to have landed a place in your home,Ē he said, scratching the mostly black Chihuahua in the center of her forehead.

And for once I didnít argue. Paisley was lucky to have us. I knew that better than ever now that Iíd seen the alternative. Now, if only there was something more I could do to help the others who hadnít yet found their forever homesÖ

Chapter Five

After writing out the check for my donation, Mr. Leavitt showed me around the shelter and detailed how my gift would help the residents there. I left that afternoon about a thousand dollars lighter and feeling fantastic about it.

It was nice to use my money for something good. Not that it wasnít great to keep Octo-Cat stocked on all the specialty water, gourmet cat food, and new Apple technology his little kitty heart desired, but this time I was helping dozens of animals in need rather than catering to the spoiled whims of a single pampered pet.

I couldnít stop smiling the whole way home.

During that drive, Paisley and I also had a little talk about what I could and could not do in front of other people.

ďSo you canít talk to animals when other humans are around?Ē the Chihuahua summed up from her precarious perch on the passenger seat.

ďBingo,Ē I sang with a huge smile of confirmation, then added, ďUnless, of course, itís Nan, Charles, or someone else weíre close to. Got it?Ē

ďGot it,Ē she barked, taking a quick moment to stare at me in admiration before putting her front paws up on the windowsill and basking in the fresh breeze blowing through our tiny vehicle.

Back at home, we found Nan listening to showtunes while slathering a tall layer cake with light pink buttercream.ďIs that the Hamilton soundtrack?Ē I guessed, suppressing a laugh when I drew close enough to hear my seventy-year-old-plus grandmother rapping about the founding of our nation.

ďThat Lin Manuel Miranda is so talented, and so cute, too! If I were thirty-five years younger or he were thirty-five years older, Iíd have a half a mind to take off half his clothes andóĒ

I was quick to shove an index finger in each ear so that I wouldnít have to listen to the rest of that sentence. ďNan, thatís way more than I ever want to hear about that.Ē

She chuckled and shook her head.ďHey, I may be old, but Iím not dead yet!Ē

I simply gave her a hug and changed the topic.ďYeah, um, right. So, uh, anywayÖ Has Octo-Cat come out at all today?Ē

Nan shrugged as she continued work on her towering bubblegum-colored confection.ďNot that Iíve seen. How did things go at the shelter?Ē

A vision of all those poor caged animals sitting in their dark cages flashed through my mind, eliciting a sad sigh.ďI made a donation, but I wish there was something more we could do to help. Itís really crowded in there, and they even lost power while I was visiting.Ē

ďYou donít say,Ē Nan remarked, biting down on her lip and then spinning the cake before her to make sure it had been fully frosted.

ďI wish I hadnít,Ē I admitted. ďWhat brought you into that place to begin with? Did you know they were struggling when you went in to adopt Paisley yesterday?Ē

Nan took off her apron and washed her hands in the kitchen sink, then dried them on an embroidered tea towel.ďI sure didnít, and the lights at least stayed on while I was there, but I did notice the fact that they had more dogs than kennels to put them in.Ē

ďSo what made you decide to adopt a dog yesterday then?Ē I took advantage of her quiet thoughtfulness by grabbing a spoon from the drawer and snagging a spoonful of buttercream to taste.

Nan rolled her eyes playfully and followed me out toward the living room where we both claimed our favorite spots in the large sitting area filled with uncomfortable antique furniture.ďOh, I didnít decide,Ē she revealed once we were both settled in our seats. ďI just did it.Ē

ďYup, that sounds about right,Ē I said with a chuckle. I loved my nan dearly, but it was true that she did first and thought lateróif at all. ďWell, you picked a good one in Paisley. Sheís a real sweet girl.Ē

ďOf course I did. And of course she is,Ē Nan clucked like a proud mother hen. ďWas there ever any doubt?Ē

ďNot at all.Ē

We made some tea, then chatted for a bit about our plans for the week. Nan was hard at work developing new recipes for her upcoming book. It wasnít a cookbook, but rather a memoir that would be enhanced with half a dozen of her favorite custom recipes. She was also working on some kind of secret art project that she planned to convert into the bookís eventual cover, but I wasnít allowed to see that until it was ready.

I had originally planned to work on rustling up some new business for Octo-Catís and my new private investigation firm, but now it seemed Iíd be spending every waking hour serving as mediator for our two pets as they learned to live in harmony.

ďWould you be okay with chicken parmigiana for dinner?Ē Nan asked with a quick glance toward her new Apple Watch. Octo-Catís zeal for all things iTech had spread to me and Nan, too. ďWe have another couple of hours yet, but it wouldnít hurt to thaw the meat a bit first.Ē

As a proud American of half-Italian descent, I was always up for a hearty pasta dishóand everything Nan cooked tasted like Heaven to my untrained taste buds. ďYou know I love your chicken parmigiana,Ē I answered without hesitation as I stretched my arms overhead and let out a happy moan in anticipation of that nightís meal.

A loud crash followed by the sound of something fragile shattering on the ground sent us both scrambling to our feet.

ďWhat was that?Ē Nan shrieked.

ďSounded like it came from the kitchen. Címon.Ē

We both rushed in and found little Paisley sniffing a broken pile of china. No, Lenox! Oh, this was not good!

ďWas that one of Octo-Catís teacups from Ethel?Ē I shouted, a wicked headache already brewing beneath my temples.

Nan bent down and picked up a shard.ďJudging from the floral pattern around the rim, why yes. Yes, it is.Ē

ďDid you do this, Paisley?Ē I asked after kneeling down to speak with the dog at her level. ďDid you accidentally knock this down?Ē

ďNo way. I would never do that!Ē she barked, wagging her tail affectionately. ďI would never break Mommyís or Nanís things.Ē

I believed her. Not just because I knew she wanted to keep us both happy, but also because it didnít seem possible that sheíd be able to jump onto the counter, push off the teacup, and then jump back to the floor without managing to hurt herself.

ďDo you think Octavius broke his own cup in protest?Ē Nan asked, shaking her head in disappointment.

ďIt seems like something he might do, but heís been locked in my bedroom the whole day. Remember?Ē

Nan reached one hand up to scratch her head.ďAre you sure you didnít leave a window open or something?Ē

ďPretty sure,Ē I said, even though I couldnít really be sure of anything at the moment, at least not as far as he was concerned. ďBut letís go check and see if heís still in there.Ē

ďCan I come?Ē Paisley asked, trailing after us excitedly.

ďNo, he doesnítóĒ I began, but then quickly amended my answer. ďYou know what, Paze? Yes. Yes, you can come.Ē

ďOh, joyest of joys!Ē the Chihuahua sang, racing up both flights of stairs as fast as her diminutive paws could carry her.

ďYou do realize that the cat is going to be furious with you,Ē Nan pointed out with a naughty grin.

I shrugged.ďYeah, well, maybe Iím furious with him, too,Ē I muttered, then took a deep breath and pushed the door open.

Chapter Six

We found Octo-Cat sitting on the corner of my bed and staring unhappily into the void. A flurry of striped hairs danced in the sunlight that filtered in through the nearby window. Just looking at the scene made me have to sneezeÖ and so I did.

ďWhy so loud?Ē my cat moaned in response to myachoo, turning toward me with a sneer on his scrunched face.

ďKitty friend!Ē Paisley cried as she charged toward the bed and took a giant leap upward. All that momentum wasnít enough to propel her tiny body onto the mattress, however, and she rammed into the side of the bed head-first.

Matters also werenít helped by Octo-Catís decision to take a clawed swipe at her. ďHey, you punk! Letís get one thing straight. I am not your friend,Ē he growled and flexed his claws, ready to take a fresh shot at the poor, misguided pup.

ďThatís enough, you two!Ē Nan hurried across the room and grabbed an animal with each arm. ďLetís play nice here. After all, weíre a family.Ē

Paisley strained to reach Octo-Cat across the short distance, barking happily as she cried,ďBrother, brother, brother!Ē

Octo-Cat mewled demonically, twisting furiously until he at last wriggled free of Nanís embrace.

As for me? I laughed and laughed hard.

Which only made my cat that much more livid with the lot of us.ďWhy are you bothering me?Ē he whined. ďGo away.Ē

ďWe were wondering if you knew anything about what happened in the kitchen.Ē I studied him carefully for any glint of recognition.

If Octo-Cat knew anything, though, he didnít give it away. His face remained an unreadable maskówell, at least behind the thick layer of disdain. ďWhat happened in the kitchen?Ē he asked with a yawn that smelled like two parts Fancy Feast and one part cat butt.

Oh, boy.

Maybe he actually didnít know. Maybe I was about to break his poor, aggrieved heart all over again. I thought back to the first time one of Ethelís heirloom teacups had broken, remembering his utter despair and the touching funeral that had followed.

ďAre you going to tell him about the broken teacup, or should I?Ē Nan asked me with one raised eyebrow.

So much for putting things delicately.

ďWhat broken teacup?Ē the tabby asked after a sharp gasp, struggling to speak each word with his crackly, suddenly oxygen-starved voice.

ďIím sorry,Ē I said, and I really did mean it. ďIt was one of Ethelís. We were all in the living room, whenóĒ

ďEnough!Ē he shouted, turning on me so quickly, I took a reflexive step backward. ďIt was the dog, and you know it!Ē

I shook my head, unable to tear my eyes away from the enraged feline.ďWe thought that at first, but she canít reach the counters.Ē

Paisley yelped.ďIím sorry about your teacup, brother!Ē

ďYou know, sheís not that much bigger than a rat. It wouldnít be so hard to snap her neck,Ē Octo-Cat said through gritted teeth.

ďThatís a very bad cat!Ē I yelled. ďHow dare you say that about your new sister?Ē

ďShe is not my family, and she never will be. Get her out of here if you know whatís good for herÖ or for you.Ē

Paisley let out an ear-piercing chain of shrieks and wouldnít stop.

ďThere, there, dear one,Ē Nan sang softly while I glared at my cruel cat companion. It was one thing to be upset, but quite another to threaten such violence.

ďStop looking at me like that,Ē he rasped with a weighty flick of his dark tail. ďYouíre the one whoís forcing my paw, and canít you see Iím grieving my poor, sweet teacup here?Ē

Nobody said anything as we all stood around my tower bedroom awkwardly. Paisley at least stopped crying, though.

ďGet out of here! Go! Leave me in peace!Ē the distraught tabby shouted at last.

I knew he was upset, but I still couldnít believe how quickly heíd gone from simply irritated to threatening murder. It was moments like this that made me question whether my life was really better with him in it. Of course, I knew it was silly and that hunting was part of a catís nature, but stillÖ How could he be so cold-blooded about it all?

ďFine. Weíre going,Ē I mumbled, then led Nan and Paisley from the room. ďNext time we see you, I hope youíll be a bit more welcoming.Ē

ďWell, that didnít exactly go as planned,Ē Nan whispered in my ear once weíd shut the door firmly behind our small party.

ďNo, it really didnít.Ē

We trod down the stairs side by side.

Nan carried Paisley in her arms, not unlike a little baby.ďWhat now?Ē she asked.

ďIt looks like weíll be adding to our teacup cemetery in the backyard. Other than that, I donít know. We both know he can hold a grudge for a long time, and we also know that Paisley isnít going anywhere. I guess the only thing we can really do is wait the situation out. And maybe keep a close eye on Paisley while we do.Ē I hadnít repeated Octo-Catís murmured threats to Nan, and I didnít plan to, either.

Nan hummed to herself now as she thought about what we might do next. After a few moments, her face lit up and she said,ďThat may be the only thing we can do about this particular problem, but thereís more than one way toÖ Oh, dear, that is a terrible expression, especially in light of current events. What I mean is thereís more than one problem that needs solving.Ē

ďThe shelter?Ē I asked, my voice cracking on the first syllable of that second word.

My grandmother nodded.ďYou mentioned how much theyíre in dire need, and I just so happen to have some extra money left over from selling the old house to Charles. Perhaps itís time I made a donation of my own.Ē

She was right. Donating had made me feel so much better earlier that day, and at least the shelter wanted to be helped, unlike Octo-Cat.ďHmm.How late do they stay open? Itís almost dinner time now.Ē

This didnít stop Nan, however. ďIíll run down now and give it a try,Ē she said. ďIf theyíre already closed for the day, Iíll head over again first thing in the morning.Ē

I stopped walking and put an arm on Nanís shoulder before she could head down the grand staircase to the main floor. ďOh, no you donít! Thereís no way Iím letting you go on your own. Remember what happened last time you visited the animal shelter unsupervised?Ē

ďOf course I do,Ē Nan said with an impish grin, lifting Paisley in her arms and giving the little dog a kiss on her nose. ďBut was it really so bad? I mean, look at this sweet girl!Ē

ďDepends on who you ask,Ē I said, then motioned back toward my room with a beleaguered sigh.

ďBe right back,Ē Nan informed me as she turned away from the staircase and shot down the hall to her bedroom. ďI need a quick change of costume.Ē

When Nan joined me downstairs a few minutes later, she was wearing a hot pink T-shirt that readDog Mom across the chest. BothOs had been fashioned to look like paw prints.

ďWhen did you have time to get that?Ē I asked with a chuckle.

ďOvernight shipping, dear,Ē was her reply as she rummaged about in the coat closet and extracted a matching pink leash for Paisley along with aÖ

ďA spiked collar? For your five-pound Chihuahua? Really?Ē Now I was laughing in earnest. Just because I was never surprised by my grandmotherís antics didnít mean they werenít hilarious.

Nan lowered herself to the floor and patted her lap.ďWell, why not?Ē she mumbled while she worked on sizing the collar appropriately for Paisleyís thin neck. ďFor all we know, the heart of a warrior beats within this tiny body.Ē

I blew a raspberry.ďUm, I can talk to her. Remember?Ē

ďIím a warrior!Ē the dog exclaimed enthusiastically, lapping up all the attention. ďIím a big, brave dog!Ē

I just shook my head. These two were clearly perfect for each other, and I was so, so happy for them.

Chapter Seven

I felt like the odd one out, given that my two companions had decked themselves out in a vibrant matching shade of pink while I wore a black polka-dotted blouse and flippy yellow skirt. On the way out the door, Nan had decided to pair her T-shirt with silver sling-back kitten heels, and Iíd thrown on my favorite battered combat boots. As usual, we made quite the interesting pair. Throw in the Chihuahua, and we were practically a walking fashion showóor at least a reality TV show.

We reached the shelter a few minutes before six and were greeted with a firmly locked door.

ďCrud,Ē I muttered, rattling the handle just in case.

I looked toward Nan just in time to catch her ducking around the side of the building and out of view.

ďWhat are you doing?Ē I whisper-yelled, chasing after her.

ďWhy, looking for another way in, of course,Ē she said, tapping a long fingernail against the window and then turning to me with a devilish smile.

ďThis isnít one of your spy movies, Nan. We can just come back tomorrow. No need to sneak about. Now címon. Letís go,Ē I hissed as I attempted to yank her back toward the parking lot.

Nan shook me off, then raised a finger to her lips and sank to the ground, motioning for me to get down, too.ďWait. Someoneís in there.Ē

Despite my better judgement, I did as Nan instructed.

We both carefully peeked our heads over the brick ledge and peered through the window. Inside, a thin blonde woman riffled through a tall stack of papers. She muttered something to herself, but I wasnít able to make out the words.

Nan pinched me.ďWill you look at that? I knew there was something fishy going on here.Ē

Sure she did. Really, she just got lucky this time and every other time she wanted to have herself an adventure. These days, Nan was never disappointed when it came to uncovering crime and drama in our once sleepy small town.

We both watched as the blonde woman inside pulled a sheet of paper from the middle of the stack with shaking hands and pushed it through a desktop shredder. For a brief moment, she glanced up as if sensing that someoneóor rather, someonesówas watching her, then cursed under her breath and hurried out of view.

ďCímon,Ē Nan said, duck-walking toward the next window.

I waddled after her, and Paisley pranced after me. What a merry band of spies we made.

We didnít see the girl again until we reached the very end of the building and the room I easily remembered as Mr. Leavittís office. Once there, the blonde pulled open the bottom left drawer of his desk and shoved the remaining papers inside, took another quick look around, and fled.

ďShoot. Is she leaving?Ē I asked, short of breath from the excitement of our discovery coupled with the grueling physical task of the duck-walk. ďSheíll see our car in the parking lot and know that someoneís here.Ē

ďOoh, youíre right.Ē Nan popped up and sprinted back toward the main entrance, beating the blonde girl by a solid thirty seconds.

If she was surprised to see us waiting outside the doors for her, she did a great job hiding it.ďOh, hello. Can I help you?Ē the girl asked.

ďYes, dear. Thank you,Ē Nan answered in her over-the-top grandmother voice that she took on whenever she wanted to appear extra frail or needy. ďIíve come to make a donation, but Iím afraid I may not be in the right place. Is this the Glendale Community Animal Shelter?Ē

The blonde smiled with what appeared to be relief.ďYes, thatís us, but Iím afraid weíre closed now.Ē

ďOh, bother,Ē Nan chirped, sounding far too upbeat given the words sheíd just spoken. ďWell, thatís what I get for nodding off during my stories.Ē

ďAww, itís okay,Ē the girl said, shooting Nan a placating smile. ďWe open again tomorrow at eight. Or, if you prefer, I can take your check now and make sure it gets into the right hands tomorrow.Ē

ďOh, bless you, dear,Ē Nan said with a gracious smile. ďThat would be wonderful. Now whatís your name? I want to make sure I can mention to my followers on the Facebook how helpful you were to me this evening.Ē

ďIím Trish,Ē the girl introduced herself with a laugh. ďAnd thank you. We can use all the volunteers and all the donations we can get.Ē

ďWell, Trish.Ē Nan extracted her checkbook from her purse. ďIt isnít much, seeing as Iím on a fixed income, but I hope it gives you the help you need.Ē

ďNo amount is too small. Believe me. I donít have an extra two pennies to rub together, which is why I donate my time instead,Ē Trish explained as she shifted her weight from one foot to the other.

ďTheyíre very lucky to have you,Ē I said, when Nan didnít.

Trish and I watched in silence as Nan wrote out a check for one hundred dollars and tore it from her checkbook with a flourish.

ďOn behalf of the animals, thank you very, very much for your generosity,Ē the girl said, holding Nanís donation close to her heart.

ďOh, it was nothing,Ē Nan responded with a dismissive wave. ďI just wish it could have been more.Ē

ďEvery small donation makes a huge difference.Ē Trish folded the check in half and stuck it in her front pocket. ďIíll be sure this gets added to our coffers tomorrow. Good night, and thank you again!Ē

We returned her goodbye, waited for Paisley to take a quick potty break, then headed back to the car.

ďWho was that?Ē the little dog asked. ďIíve never seen her before.Ē

ďTrish,Ē I explained. ďSheís one of the volunteers. Are you sure you havenít seen her before? Sheís obviously not new if sheís in charge of closing up.Ē

ďNope, never,Ē Paisley answered without the slightest hesitation. ďShe was really pretty, though. I like her.Ē

ďWait,Ē I said with a creeping grin as I thought of the early days with Octo-Cat back when he was simply upset about me providing him with the wrong brand of bottled water as opposed to threatening to murder a Chihuahua. ďDo you maybe not recognize her because all humans look the same?Ē

Paisleyís long pink tongue lolled from her mouth as she panted in amusement. ďWhy would you say that? Humans donít look the same at all, and you smell very different, too! Nope. I definitely would have remembered seeingóand smellingóher before.Ē

I quickly caught Nan up on the dogís and my little side conversation.

ďHmm,Ē she said with a dramatic huff.ďThatís a bit odd.Ē

ďIt is,Ē I agreed. ďWhat do you think Trish was doing in the shelter all by herself? Does she actually volunteer there, or no? And what did she secretly shred?Ē

ďGood questions,Ē Nan answered as she navigated the roads that would lead us back toward our home. ďOne thingís for sure, Iíll be keeping a close watch on my bank account to see where that check actually ends up.Ē

I nodded to show my agreement.ďSmart.Ē

ďMaybe tomorrow night we can go back and try to break in,Ē she added with a completely serious expression on her wrinkled face.

ďNan,Ē I scolded. ďWeíre trying to stop someone else from breaking the law, not break it ourselves.Ē

ďWell, youíre no fun,Ē she groused.

Maybe I wasnít fun compared to my wild grandmother, but one of us had to be the level-headed one in this investigation.

And with Octo-Cat out of commission, apparently that job would fall to me.

Chapter Eight

We returned home to find my boyfriend Charles waiting on the front porch. As soon as I parked the car, I ran up the short set of steps and straight into his outstretched arms.

ďWhat are you doing here?Ē I asked after a quick peck hello.

ďWell, I missed seeing you yesterday when the petaversary celebration got cancelled. And when we talked earlier today, you just seemed so down. You know I had to come by and cheer up my best girl.Ē His eyes held mine as he spoke, making me feel weak in the knees. Even though weíd been dating for a few weeks now, I still couldnít get over the fact that we were finally together. Iíd crushed on him for so long, and now? He was my honest-to-goodness boyfriendóand a really great one at that.

Once I had my strength back, I pulled away and studied his handsome features.ďYour best girl?Ē I asked with a giggle. ďThat sounds an awful lot like something Nan would say.Ē

ďOkay. Fine,Ē he confessed with a breathy laugh. ďSo maybe she did call and put me up to it, but the important thing is that Iím here now and I have something special planned for us tonight.Ē

I hugged Charles tight and pushed my face into his chest in an attempt to hide my nervous expression. I was still pretty new to this whole relationship thing and terrified Iíd do something to mess it up at any minute. We were especially tricky, too, given that weíd become such good friends before ever getting romantically involved.

Because of our unusual timeline, I feared we were dangerously close to theďI love youĒ stage even though weíd only been dating for a little less than a month. I also feared the ďWill you marry me?Ē stage might quickly follow once the first three little words were out of the bag. And as much as I adored Charles, the thought of becoming somebodyís wifeóof living with anyone other than Nanómade me break out in goose bumps and a cold sweat all at once.

One day at a time, I reminded myself as I so often did. The now was very good indeed, and I needed to take some time to enjoy these early puppy love days of my first real adult relationship.

Swallowing down the last dregs of my anxiety, I asked,ďAm I allowed to know what you have planned, or is it another one of your famous surprises?Ē

Charles kissed my forehead, then released me from his embrace.ďThis time, Iíll tell you,Ē he answered with a smirk. ďBut next time, Iím keeping whatever I plan for us a surprise until the last possible moment.Ē

I nodded, still focused on the now and eager to find out what weíd be doing that night.

Charles put both arms around my waist and pulled me close.ďThereís a new day spa that just opened up on the edge of Dewdrop Springs, and theyíre running a special on coupleís massages. I figured we could go check it out. What do you say?Ē

ďI say,sign me up for that!Ē I squealed and gave a happy little leap into the air. Iíd never had a massage before, but Iíd heard good thingsómostly from my grandmother. Truth be told, the whole idea made me a bit nervous, but I appreciated Charlesís gesture too much to let him in on any of the hesitation or worry swirling through my mind.

ďBye, dear,Ē Nan called after us as Charles led me to his waiting car. ďDonít do anything I wouldnít do!Ē

I laughed so hard at that I almost choked. Nan would do just about anything with hardly a momentís thought first, definitely not the model for chaste behavior. Then again, maybe that was the point she was trying to make here.

ďThanks for getting me out of there,Ē I told my boyfriend as he backed us out of the long driveway.

ďAny time,Ē he promised me with a smile that made me want to kiss him right then and there. ďIs Octo-Cat still pouting about the new arrival?Ē

I sucked air in through my teeth.ďThat would be putting it mildly.Ē

He chuckled at this.ďRemember Yo-Yo?Ē

Ahh, Yo-Yo the Yorkie, the only witness to his ownersí double murder. That was the case where Charles and I had first become good friends, even though the whole thing started with him blackmailing me and threatening to expose my secret to the world.

ďOf course I remember Yo-Yo,Ē I said with a smug grin. ďI also remember how Octo-Cat never quite got used to him for that whole time they were together.Ē

ďThat was only the better part of a week. Paisley will be around for the rest of his life. Even he canít wage his silent protest for that long.Ē

ďOh, ye of little faith,Ē I quipped, then rolled my eyes for good measure.

We drove for another half hour before reaching our destination. The swanky new spa was part of a run-down strip mall, which didnít inspire much confidence on my part. Once we pushed through the doors, however, we were greeted with a beautiful office space, painted in a tranquil green with a large stone fountain bubbling near the welcome desk. Soft classical music piped through hidden speakers, and the woman waiting to greet us wore all white from head to toe.

Her red hair shone even in the dim lighting, and her pale skin appeared flawless to my untrained eye.ďWelcome to Serenity,Ē she said melodically. ďHow may we improve your world today?Ē

I fought back any number of sarcastic comments that were teetering right on the edge of my tongue and gave this would-be world-improver a tight-lipped smile.

Charles, however, seemed far more in his element. Perhaps because heíd grown up in California. He forged right ahead in the direction of the woman and the desk, grabbing one of my hands and tugging me along as he went. ďWeíre here for a seven oíclock couples massage,Ē he informed her.

ďAhh, last spot of the day. Excellent.Ē She paused for an unnaturally long time before adding, ďYouíll rest well tonight.Ē

Another awkward pause.

Charles and I glanced at each other questioningly, then back toward the woman.

ďStone is just finishing up with his previous appointment, if youíll please have a seat.Ē She floated out from behind the desk and guided us toward a pair of giant exercise balls set around a small area rug.

ďUm, thanks.Ē I sank awkwardly onto the dark green ball, leaving the tan one for Charles.

The welcome desk lady smiled at us for slightly longer than was comfortable, then let herself into the back room, leaving Charles and me by ourselves. Well, Serenity was certainly a strange place, if the greeter was any indication. This made me more nervous than Iíd been before. Of course, Nan would like this whole dog and pony show. She liked everything, the weirder the better. Me? I preferred to stick to what I already knew and loved.

ďYou donít think Stoneís that guyís real name?Ē Charles asked, making a funny face.

I was about to ask him the exact same thing, but instead I hit him playfully and giggled.ďIt all contributes to theambience.Ē I over pronounced that word so much it sounded like it belonged to another language. French, maybe.

ďItís all part of improving our world,Ē he added with a quiet chuckle as he bumped his giant exercise ball seat into mine.

I rolled back to gain some momentum, then nudged his even harder than heíd bumped mine. A flirtatious game of bumper balls followed, each of us making up the rules as we went along.

We didnít even notice at first when the attendant returnedónot until she cleared her throat loudly and stared unforgiving daggers our way.

ďStone is ready for you now,Ē she alerted us, forcing a smile for Charlesís benefit, I would guess.

Just then, the door to the back swung open and a lithe, blonde figure emerged.

ďTrish?Ē I asked, unable to believe Iíd managed to run into the shelter volunteer twice within the span of about an houróespecially considering the distance weíd all had to travel to arrive at the shopping center from Glendale.

Trish blinked over at me, then smiled.ďOh, you came with your mom today to make a donation. Right?Ē she asked sweetly, so sweetly that it seemed very, very fake.

ďMy nan, actually, butóyeahóthat was me.Ē I smiled graciously to show I meant her no harm. ďWhat are you doing here?Ē

ďN-n-nothing,Ē came Trishís shaky reply. ďJust headed home.Ē

And before I could ask anything else, she flew out the door.

Well, so much for making small talk.

Chapter Nine

Iím not exactly sure what Iíd expected from Stone, but it wasnít the new-age Irish lumberjack who greeted us a short while later.

Though he wore all white like the front desk attendant, he had a completely different vibe. A gigantic toothy smile peeked out from behind his thick red beard.ďGood evening,Ē he said as he pushed through the room, his long arms dangling as he moved toward the cabinets that lined the back wall. On his way, he turned up the music track; the soothing sounds of an exotic stringed instrument filled the room, adding to the otherworldliness of this whole experience.

ďIíll return in five minutes to begin your massages.Ē Stone handed us each a fluffy white robe, then left to give me and Charles the chance to change into them privately.

Whoa. Heíd hardly exchanged five words with us before instructing Charles and me to take off our clothes! Itís not that I was a prude, but Iíd always been modest about my body.

Iíd never even been naked in front of Charles before, but thankfully he was a gentleman about the whole thing. He turned his back to me and promised not to look until I told him it was okay. Still, I tore off my clothes and yanked on that thick robe with record speed. The unfamiliar garment seemedto swallow me whole, but at least it was comfortable against my bare skin.

ďYou can turn around now,Ē I called sheepishly. In fact, I felt like a sheep, too, as I stood swaddled in that overly fluffy cotton robe.

And if I was a sheep, then Charles was definitely that cartoon wolf, sizing me up. He let out a low whistle and remarked,ďYou look extra cuddle-able right about now.Ē Closing the short distance between us, he then wrapped his arms around me and swayed to the meditation music in a ridiculously misguided romantic gesture.

ďIím naked under here,Ē I whispered, embarrassment setting in.

He just laughed and continued to dance with me until a soft knock sounded on the door.

ďCome in,Ē Charles called as I clutched my robe even more tightly.

Stone had returned with the front desk attendant in tow.ďThis is my colleague, Harmony. Weíll be massaging you together. Please make yourselves comfortable.Ē

Charles widened his eyes playfully and rubbed his hands together, then made his way to the first of the leather massage tables, slowly lowering himself and lining his face up perfectly with the hole at the top.

ďNow you, Angela,Ē Harmony coaxed. Her voice sounded different than it had upfront. Perhaps it was the different acoustics, or maybe she truly had a different voice for working the front desk versus working on a client. Whatever the case, it seemed mighty weird to me.

Apparently sensing my discomfort, Charles reached out and touched my arm as I passed. He was such a good boyfriend, and so much more cultured than me.

I took in a deep breath, vowing to give this whole experience a fair chance before deciding it wasnít for me. After shooting quick smiles to Stone and Harmony, I at last positioned myself on the tableófar less gracefully than Charles had, but at least the deed was done.

ďLavender for relaxation,Ē Harmony said, spraying something all around the room.

ďOur own proprietary blend,Ē Stone added fondly.

The two took turns speaking to us in quiet, even-tempered voices. Their words blended together perfectly, and I imagined this whole opener had been rehearsed many times to get it just right.

When they had finished, Harmony placed a soft, warm hand on my neck and began to tug gently on my robe.

My heart sped to an uneven gallop. Werenít massages supposed to be calming? Because my anxiety had officially been kicked into overdrive here. ďCan I keep the robe on?Ē I mumbled, hoping it was loud enough for her to hear me.

ďNo,Ē she said in a voice that brooked no argument, lowering the robe farther and farther until at last she stopped at my hips.

ďItís okay, Ange,Ē Charles said from beside me. ďItís normal to be nervous the first time. Just keep talking until you relax.Ē

The first time? Had Charles done this before? Had he done it with his ex, Breanne? Yuck, I sure hoped not.

Still, by the time my masseuse had begun to rub oil into my upper back, Iíd decided to take Charlesís advice. At least talking would make the time go by a bit faster.

ďNice place youíve got here,Ē I mused. ďOf course, I can only see the floor right now, but the stuff I saw when coming inside was nice, too. Haha.Ē

ďRelax,Ē Harmony cooed, sweeping her hands gently along my spine. ďRelax.Ē

That did not help me relax.

ďSo, you guys are new around here? Right? What made you decide to set up shop in Dewdrop Springs? And why is it called Serenity? And are your names really Harmony and Stone?Ē

ďRelax,Ē Harmony said again, a sharp edge working its way into her previously calm voice. What would happen if I didnít relax? Would they call the whole thing off? I didnít want to do that to Charles, especially knowing how hard he worked as the only partner at Glendaleís most infamous law firm.

ďSorry, Iím just nervous.Ē I took several slow, shaky breaths, trying to match my breathing to Harmonyís, hoping thatís what would ultimately help me get into the right headspace for this experience.

ďYouíll enjoy our work more if you let your tension go,Ē Stone suggested rather unhelpfully.

ďThis is her first time,Ē Charles explained. ďCan we all just talk a little to help her ease in?Ē

ďWe wonít be going over the allotted appointment time,Ē Harmony warned. Each time she spoke, her voice lost some of that ethereal quality. I wouldnít be surprised if she worked her way up to screaming at me before long.

ďWe donít need to,Ē Charles was quick to respond. ďBut sheís not going to have a good experience if we donít help her relax.Ē

ďFine,Ē Harmony spat while Stone just chuckled good-naturedly. Of course, I got the ice queen masseur, but I suppose it was better than having the unknown manís hands all over me while I lay there exposed and helpless.

ďWeíre called Serenity because thatís the aura we try to create for all who pass through our doors,Ē Stone said.

ďWhat about Trish?Ē I asked, unable to help myself as I thought back to the startling encounter with the lithe blonde. ďShe didnít seem very serene when she ran out of here in a hurry.Ē

ďWe donít discuss other clients,Ē Harmony said, giving me a little pinch as she did.

ďClients? Was she here to get a massage?Ē I asked innocently.

ďYes,Ē Stone answered definitively. ďYes, she was. And donít worry about her. Her experience definitely wasnít typical. She at least left us with less stress than she brought in with her.Ē

Harmony let out a frustrated groan but said nothing more.

ďWhy is she so stressed?Ē I asked.

Although I certainly hadnít expected an answer, Stone provided one anyway. ďBecause the city cut funding to the animal shelter, and theyíre having a rough time over there.Ē

ďStone,ĒHarmony hissed.ďRemember our code of ethics, please!Ē

Everyone fell silent for a few minutes.

ďHey,Ē Stone said, forgetting to use his soothing meditation voice. Rather than sounding irritated though, he came across more like a friend. ďYou know what helps me when Iím feeling nervous? I like to list all the things Iím grateful for. Letís all take turns as we focus on the positives in our life. Iíll go first. Iím grateful for being able to do what I love for a living.Ē

ďMe, too,Ē Charles piped up.

ďMe, too,Ē I said. ďWell, sort of. I havenít been doing much of it lately, butóĒ

ďNo explanations,Ē Harmony snapped. ďJust state your thought, release it, and move on.Ē

ďFine,Ē I snapped back. ďThen I guess Iím grateful for my cat.Ē

But was I grateful for this experience? Certainly not.

Maybe next time Charles would let me plan date night.

Chapter Ten

ďDid you enjoy your massage?Ē Charles asked after Harmony and Stone left us to change out of our spa robes and back into our street clothes.

ďYes,Ē I said definitively, hoping that he would believe me. I appreciated the gesture but didnít find the actual act of getting touched all over by a stranger very relaxing at all. Iíd much rather pet Octo-Cat or Paisley until all my troubles melted away. Or get in a few snuggles with my boyfriend. Or go on a sugar binge with Nan.

Basically anything other than being poked and prodded by an angry person fake-named Harmony.

ďYouíre such a bad liar,Ē Charles said with a chuckle. ďAnd even though I couldnít see you, I could still tell your wheels were spinning that whole time. You were thinking about the shelter. Werenít you?Ē

Okay, he knew me eerily well, but I guess that was just part of his charm.ďDonít you think itís weird that city hall would cut the shelterís funding when itís already struggling?Ē

ďMaybe the shelter isnít the only thing struggling,Ē Charles suggested. ďThis past year weíve had a pretty high murder per capita. It could be that people are moving away, houses are sitting empty, and the local government has less money to spend overall.Ē

ďMaybe,Ē I agreed halfheartedly. His logic made good sense, but my gut was telling me something else was to blame here. ďBut I donít think thatís it. It seems like something fishy is going on with the shelter in particular.Ē

Charles played right along. He, too, had learned to trust my instincts, and he never made me feel bad about needing to investigateóor obsessively discussóa hunch. ďAnd you think that woman we sawÖ TrishÖ is at the center of it all?Ē

ďOf course I do.Ē I accidentally turned around before Charles had finished getting dressed and caught an eye full of his bare legs and chest. ďOops, sorry.Ē

ďDonít worry about it. Iím not nearly as shy as you are.Ē

I waited for that tell-tale sound of pants zipping up before turning around again.

When I did, Charles greeted me with a grim expression.ďBut I canít help worrying about you. Are you going to at least be careful about inserting yourself into a potentially dangerous situation this time?Ē

I shook my head and let out a sarcastic huff.ďIím always careful.Ē

Charles laughed so hard he had to cough.ďYeah, we both know thatís not true, so letís try again. Can you at least be more cautious than you usually are?Ē

ďFine,Ē I acquiesced and let him wrap his arms around me. ďAlthough you know I no longer work for Longfellow and Associates, which means youíre not my boss anymore, either.Ē

ďYeah, but you mean more than ever to me now. You think Iím only warning you off because Iím your boss? That hurts.Ē

ďNo, Iím sorry. Youíre right. Any other demands, oh great and powerful boyfriend?Ē

ďNow that you mention it.Ē He placed a kiss on my forehead first, then my nose, and finally finished up with a lingering kiss on my mouth. ďI do have one tiny request.Ē

Even before Charles said anything more, I already knew Iíd grant him any wish he wanted. I was a big pile of cotton fluff in his hands.Literally.

ďLet me swing by city hall to see what information I can gather about the budget cuts. Once I do that, youíre free to investigate to your heartís content.Ē

ďFair enough.Ē I pulled his face back down to mine and gave him another enthusiastic kiss.

ďWhat was that for?Ē he asked with a smile once weíd pulled apart.

ďFor trying to make me feel better, and then actually doing it.Ē

ďSo, you mean I shelled out for this fancy coupleís thing when all I had to do was wave my lawyer card around a little?Ē

We both chuckled and then kissed again. Even if I kissed Charles every day for the rest of my life, I doubted Iíd ever grow sick of it, sick of him.

Still, we had things to do, so I reluctantly pushed him away.ďNow turn around and face the wall so I can get dressed in peace,Ē I instructed, happy to put this whole experience behind me and get back to the real world where people went by their given names and spoke in their actual voices.

Buh-bye, Serenity.

Hello, mystery at the shelter.

[ ŗūÚŤŪÍŗ: img_3]

I returned home to what could only be described as a war zone. Nan wore pink camo sweatpants to go with her pinkDog Mom shirt, and even her adorable sidekick Paisley had undergone a costume change. The shaking ball of sleek fur now wore a skull and crossbones tank top with a glittery pink bow affixed to one side of the skull.

Oh, brother.

In the dining room, a giant map of the Blueberry Bay region took up most of our large table. Nan had also brought out a fresh piece of poster board and a rainbow array of all her favorite Sharpies.

ďWhatís going on here?Ē I asked, not entirely sure I wanted to know the answer.

Noticing my arrival at last, Nan marched straight across the room and put a hand on each of my shoulders.ďThe check was cashed,Ē she informed me, eyes flashing with glee.

I frowned. This seemed like a ridiculously over-the-top way to celebrate a check being cashed. Of course, my head was all fuzzy from Harmonyís massage, so maybe my synapses were still slow to fire.

ďAnd you turned our house into a war room, becauseÖ?Ē I asked, anyway.

Nan pointed toward the desktop computer she kept set up in the far corner of the living room for her occasional use and said,ďRemember how you taught me to pay all my bills online?Ē

ďYessss,ĒI answered slowly, not sure I liked where this was going. It was one thing for me to take risks for a case, but I hated the thought of ever putting Nan in harmís way.

ďLook at this.Ē She thrust a piece of computer paper at my chest.

Although the image was grainy, I could clearly make out the scan of Nanís check from earlier that day, along with the sloppy signature and the stamp that read First Bank of Blueberry Bay.

ďCheck out the address,Ē Nan urged me with an eager smile.

ďDewdrop Springs,huh,Ē I read aloud.ďBut why would the Glendale Animal Shelter be cashing checks in Dewdrop Springs?Ē

ďThatís what I was hoping to learn from you. You were just over there, after all.Ē She grabbed the paper back and waited for me to explain everything.

I didnít have the answers she was looking for, but I did have a bit of information that could help us get there. It was my turn to make a big reveal, and I relished it. ďNow that you mention it, Charles and I did run into Trish at the massage place. Do you think sheís the one who cashed the check?Ē

We both studied the messy scrawl of the signature, but it was impossible to decipher without knowing Trishís last name.

ďWeird,Ē I said at last.

ďDefinitely weird,Ē Nan agreed with a nod.

ďSo what is all this about then?Ē I motioned around at the giant mess that had exploded in our normally pristine home during my brief absence.

ďItís easier for me to think with all my supplies close at hand,Ē Nan answered with a shrug.

This made me chuckle.ďAnd what have you thought of?Ē

ďThat we definitely need to be investigating that shelter more for a start,Ē she said without a secondís hesitation.

ďYeah, I kind of have the same feeling, too. Ooh, let me catch you up on what I learned while I was out.Ē

ďExcellent, but first, tea,Ē Nan declared.

She scurried toward the kitchen with a plucky Paisley in tow, then let out a sharp gasp.ďOh, dear. I think weíve had another attack!Ē

I raced after her only to find a pair of coffee mugs shattered against the hard floor.

What in the heck?

Who was breaking all our things?

And how had Nan not heard all this racket from the next room over?

Sigh.

It seemed that we now had more than one mystery to solve.

Chapter Eleven

Despite my niggling dislike of Harmony, even I had to admit sheíd gotten one thing very right: I slept like a log that night. It could have been the massage, or it could have been the fact that Iíd decided to stop tiptoeing around my angry cat and had actually gone to sleep in my own bed when the time came.

I hadnít laid eyes on Octo-Cat before tucking myself in but knew he must still be somewhere in the tower bedroom. Not that I cared all that much at the moment. Honestly, I was so done with this tantrum of his. He could either learn to live with Paisley or he could make himself a prisoner in my bedroom until the very last day of his very last life.

I hoped it wouldnít come to that, but heíd made it quite clear that he wasnít willing to negotiate when it came to our new doggie family member.

Beyond exhausted, I didnít rouse that morning until my angrily ringing cell phone forced me out of bed.

ďUgh, what time is it?Ē I groaned in the general direction of the phone instead of saying hello outright.

Charles laughed on the other end of the line.ďWake up, Sleeping Beauty. Your prince charming has some news!Ē

ďSleeping Beauty has Prince Phillip,Ē I corrected, wiping the sleep from my eyes.

ďAnd you have Prince Charles. Oh,hmm, maybe not.Ē He chuckled to himself, but I was still too groggy to join in.

ďAnyway, Iíve got news,Ē Charles continued. ďAnd itís almost ten oíclock by the way, you should really get up and greet the day.Ē

I groaned again, which only made my boyfriend laugh harder.ďWhatís your news?Ē I asked, searching my nightstand for the gummy multivitamin I took each morning.

ďWell, I started my day at city hall as promised. You can really learn a lot when you know the right people, I might add.Ē He sounded quite proud of himself. Did this mean he had found something good? Something that would help Nan and I figure out what in the heck was going on with that shelter?

ďAnd what did you learn today?Ē I asked with a smirk before popping the sugary vitamins into my mouth.

He sucked air in through his teeth, then explained,ďThat the animal shelter funding hasnít been cut like Stone said. In fact, itís increased year over year beyond inflation.Ē

I yawned and tried my best to refocus. It was way too early for words likeinflation.ďWhich means?Ē I asked, hating how stupid I must sound to Charlesís educated ear. Granted, my seven associate degrees were nothing to shake a stick at, but they still werenít nearly as impressive as his one law degree.

Charles took a deep breath, then revealed,ďIt means that if the shelter has a money problem, itís not due to lack of funding.Ē

ďDo you think someoneís stealing?Ē I asked, unable to think of any other possibility given the way that evidence had been stacking up the past couple of days.

ďStealing from a businessóor in this case a nonprofitóis calledembezzlement.And, yes, it does seem like that might be a possibility here.Ē The fact that Charles had shifted into full-on attorney mode told me that whatever was going on, it was very, very illegal. I sincerely hoped the culprit would not only be caught, but also punished to the fullest extent of the law.

Rage flew through my veins, waking me up better than any form of caffeine ever could.ďBut itís not just money,Ē I argued. ďItís these animalsí lives! Theyíre already three to a cageÖ What happens if the shelter has to be shut down?Ē

ďMaybe another shelter would take them in.Ē Charlesís whispered words betrayed his true beliefs. He felt just as hopeless as I did in this situation, and it didnít do anyone any good skirting around the issue.

ďOr maybe theyíd all be turned loose on the streets. Or worse, eu-eu-euthanized.Ē I shuddered at that last word. It represented one of the most awful things I could imagine. Those poor sweet animals.

ďThatís not going to happen,Ē Charles assured me. His voice came out stronger now, surer.

ďBut how? How can you know that for a fact?Ē Hot tears stung at my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. I needed to stay angry. Angry got things done.

ďBecause I know you, and I know you would never let that happen,Ē my boyfriend told me.

ďI gotta go,Ē I mumbled into the phone, already halfway to my closet and ready to throw some clothes on in a hurry.

ďI know you do,Ē Charles said, and I could hear the smile in his words. ďStay safe and call me if you need anything. Got it?Ē

ďGot it,Ē I said, then pressed to end the call.

Never had I been so determined to solve a caseóand to solve it quickly. Dozens of lives depended on it.

[ ŗūÚŤŪÍŗ: img_3]

By the time Iíd clambered down the stairs in my hastily assembled outfit, Nan was already dressed and waiting for me at the front door. ďFinally,Ē she said with a huff. ďMs. Paisley and I have been waiting all morning.Ē

ďHi, Mommy!Ē Paisley cheered, wiggling her butt in merriment. ďWeíre going for a car ride!Ē

ďTo the shelter?Ē I asked, just to be sure.

ďTo the shelter!Ē Nan called in a rallying battle cry, then flung the front door open so that the three of us could march into battle.

This time, we took Nanís little red sports car instead of my old clunker. ďWe want them to know we have money and that we arenít afraid to use it,Ē Nan offered as an explanation.

ďIs that the whole plan?Ē I wondered aloud. Once again, I was worried that Nan had chosen to view complex problems far too simplistically. The world inside my grandmotherís head and the world as it actually was didnít always line up perfectly. God bless her.

Nan shot me a warning look as she twisted the key in the ignition.ďOf course not!Ē

ďThen fill me in already.Ē

ďYouíll see when we get there,Ē she said with a wink and then pushed down hard on the gas pedal.

Whatever happened next, I was ready for it.

Although I hoped Trish wouldnít be there this morning; otherwise, Nanís whole feeble retiree on a fixed income act from yesterday evening would fall apart the very moment she was spotted pulling up to the shelter in an expensive sports car. It seemed unlikely weíd run into Trish, given that Paisley had sworn up and down that sheíd never seen the mysterious volunteer once in her entire life.

But, still, I had to wonderÖ

We got there quickly, thanks to Nanís penchant for driving at least ten miles above the speed limit wherever she went. And it wasnít Trish, but rather Pearlóthe kindly, older volunteer Iíd met on my own yesterdayówho greeted us upon our arrival.

ďBack so soon?Ē she asked with a warm grin. It took me a moment to realize that her smile wasnít intended for me, but rather Nan.

ďYou know me,Ē my grandmother crooned. ďI just canít stay away.Ē

Turning to her side, Nan motioned toward me but continued to address Pearl.ďThis is my granddaughter, Angie, and of course you already know Ms. Paisley.Ē

Paisley barked in acknowledgement.

I simply nodded and forced a grin.

ďHello, Angie,Ē Pearl said as she regarded me with a blank expression. Did she really not remember meeting me only yesterday? ďNow, what can I do for you, Nan?Ē

I found it downright hilarious that this old woman was calling my grandmotherNanof all things, but I at least managed to keep a straight face throughout their exchange.

Nan brought a hand to her heart and sighed.ďI canít stop thinking about these poor animals and the trouble you folks are having.Ē

ďOh, donít worry about us,Ē Pearl answered with a sad shake of her head. ďWeíll find a way. We always do.Ē

ďSurely, there must be something I can do,Ē Nan pressed.

Pearl rose to her feet and placed a placating hand on Nanís arm. ďI promise weíre doing all we can. Itís just the fundingís been cut, and weíre still trying to find a way to work within our new budgetary constraints.Ē

Nan chewed her lip. Whether she was honestly disheartened or just putting on a good show, even I couldnít say for sure.

ďI understand, I do,Ē she mumbled, ďbutóhey, Iíve got it!Ē

Pearl and I both waited to hear what Nan would say next, and she, of course, kept us waiting to heighten the anticipation.

ďWell? Whatís your big idea then?Ē Pearl prodded.

Nan flashed a toothy grin before revealing her grand idea.ďWhat if I were to put on a big fundraiser to help save the shelter?Ē

ďWeíre not really at the point of needing saving, but your heart is in the right place. Tell you what, Iíll take you to Mr. Leavitt, so the twoóĒ She paused and glanced back toward me with a nervous smile. ďóI mean, the three of you, can discuss this in private.Ē

Nan gave a single affirmative nod.ďThank you, Pearl. That would be lovely.Ē

The other woman smiled and led us toward the door that led deeper into the shelter. As we followed her back through the long room of kennels, Nan reached out and squeezed my hand. I was still flying blind here as far as her plan went, but at least we seemed to be making forward progress.

I only hoped that would continueÖ

Chapter Twelve

Mr. Leavitt welcomed Nan, Paisley, and me into his office with huge smiles for everyone. And unlike Pearl,he remembered meeting me the day before.

ďWelcome back, Angie,Ē he said, clapping a hand on my shoulder as I passed through the door and into his office. ďIím starting to suspect you may be our own personal angel here at the Glendale Community Animal Shelter. You not only wrote us a generous donation of your own, but you came backthe very next day with a new donor. Please, both of you, come right in.Ē

Thatís right. I had given him a check. Had that really been less than twenty-four hours ago? And was it cashed at the same time and place as Nanís donation? So much had happened in that short span, Iíd forgotten to look into it.

ďIím going to do so much more than write a check,Ē Nan told him, lowering herself into one of the chairs opposite Mr. Leavittís desk. ďIím going to put together a fundraiser so lots of people can write checks. How about that?Ē

Mr. Leavittís eyes grew wide with the promise of a large cash infusion. ďWell, now, I love the sound of that,Ē he chortled. ďNow, tell me. How can I offer you my assistance?Ē

ďIím glad you asked,Ē Nan chortled right back. ďI wonít need much, I promise, but Iam going to need some time to get a feel for the facility and the animals who live here. That will help me make sure Iím planning the right type of fundraiser. After all, why throw a bake sale when what you truly need is a gala?Ē

ďToo true, too true,Ē Mr. Leavitt said, bobbing his head as his eyes grew wider still. ďIt would be my privilege to give you a tour of our facilities. If youíll just give me a few moments to finish a few things first, IíllóĒ

ďActually,Ē Nan interrupted. ďIíd much rather walk around by myself, if you donít mind. Iím sure you understand. I need to feel the place out, not listen to a speech about its history.Ē She crossed her legs and sat straighter, spoke more commandingly.

And Mr. Leavitt immediately fell under her spell.ďOh, of course. If you need anythingóĒ

ďThen I know who to come and find. Thank you,Ē Nan finished for him, then rose back to her feet and walked out without waiting for me and Paisley to follow.

I had to power walk to catch up.ďNow what?Ē I whisper-yelled as she strode confidently through the kennels.

ďNow weíre going to chat with some of the animals and see if they know anything.ĒWe. Yeah, right. It was my neck that was on the line here.

ďNan, what if someone catches us?Ē I asked fearfully, silently adding,What if they overhear our suspicions and decide to hurt us to keep us quiet? It had happened before. It could most assuredly happen again. One thing Iíd learned well during all my months of sleuthing is that criminals hated being caught. Obviously.

Nan didnít seem worried in the slightest, however. ďIíll stand guard, and if anyone catches us, you can just pretend you were talking to me or to Paisley,Ē she explained with a no-nonsense expression. ďBut be quick, I doubt weíre going to get another opportunity like this one.Ē

Paisley, right.

I sure missed having Octo-Cat as the Watson to my Sherlock.

The little dog was nice enough, but I still didnít know how much Paisley actually understood about the mystery weíd uncovered.

Guess it was time to find out.

ďHey there, Paisley,Ē I cooed, lifting the dog into my arms. ďWanna help me with a little game?Ē

ďA game!Ē the Chihuahua barked. ďLike fetch? Or keep-away? Or, or chase the cat? Yes! I love those games!Ē

ďNot exactly,Ē I hedged, biting my lip for a moment as I thought. ďThis game is calledDetective. We play by trying to figure out a secret.Ē

Paisley rearranged her face so that one of her lower canines overlapped her upper lip. She looked so stinking cute as she said,ďI donít have any secrets. Can I still play?Ē

ďOf course you can,Ē I assured the tiny black dog. ďIn fact, we already know what the secret is, but we donít know who it belongs to. Do you think you can help me figure that out?Ē

ďI will try my best, Mommy!Ē Paisley promised, shaking with newfound glee.

ďGreat, thatís the spirit!Ē I gave the doggo a wet kiss on her forehead followed by an enthusiastic scratch between the ears. ďOkay, the secret is that someone is stealing money from the shelter, but we donít know who is doing it.Ē

ďWhatís money?Ē Paisley asked, quirking her head to the side in interest.

ďForget the money,Ē I said, backtracking fast. ďWhat I meant to say is that someone at the shelter is being very bad, and itís up to us to figure out who.Ē

ďHmm,Ē Paisley said, her ears twitching like miniature satellite receptors.ďI bet it was a cat!Ē she shouted after a few momentsí thought. ďWhen these things happen, itís usually a cat.Ē

This made me laugh.ďActually, Iím pretty sure a human is to blame this time.Ē

The little dog whimpered.ďBut all the humans here are so nice,Ē she argued. ďThey feed us and walk us and play with us and help us find homes. Nobody is bad, and definitely notvery bad.Ē She actually shuddered at the thought.

Oh, dear sweet Paisley.

She really did see the best in everyone. Even the cat at home whoíd threatened to kill her and the people at the shelter who were stealing resources from the animals in need. As much as I wanted her help, I doubted Iíd get her to see the truth even if it happened to come out and stare straight into her soul.

ďOkay, tell you what,Ē I said, changing tactics. ďYou keep Nan company, and Iíll talk to some of the other animals and see what they have to say. Sound good?Ē

ďOkay, Mommy!Ē Her tail wagged so fast it became a blur. Oh, to be that happy!

I set Paisley down, and she immediately bounded over to Nan and stretched her tiny paws in the air, begging to be picked up and cuddled.ďKeep an eye out,Ē I mumbled, then jogged to the last cage at the very farthest end of the room. Might as well be organized about my investigation.

An enormous wrinkly dog stared up at me with sad eyes. At his side sat a much smaller hound mix whose sole focus was biting and chewing one of his hind feet.

ďHey, there,Ē I cooed, absolutely hating the air of sorrow around this place. These two at least seemed older and wiser than Paisley. Perhaps that would be to my benefit. ďMy name is Angie, and I was hoping you could help me. A very bad human is stealing from the shelter. Any idea who that could be?Ē

ďAll the humans here are nice,Ē the big dog informed me with zero hesitation.

ďYeah,Ē the hound added around a mouthful of foot. ďIf anyone is being bad around here, itís probably a cat.Ē

ďOh, yes. Thanks for your help,Ē I said, forcing a smile. Weíd only just begun and already it was abundantly clear that I wouldnít be able to learn much from the dogs here. Still, I spoke to several more before finally giving up and heading to speak with the cats as suggested.

The cat area of the shelter was much smaller and offered no privacy, which wasnít a problem since every set of kitty eyes and ears fixed on me from the very moment I entered.

ďHi,Ē I said nervously, even though I fancied myself a cat person. I loved Octo-Cat when he wasnít being needlessly cruel and dramatic, but the thought of twenty of him in one place scared the living daylights out of me. ďMy name is Angie, and Iím trying to find a very bad human who worksat the shelter. Do you knowó?Ē

ďDarling,Ē a flat-faced fluffball drawled, cutting off my question at the quick. ďLook around. All humans are bad.Ē

ďTheyíd descend into chaos without us cats around to keep an eye on things,Ē an orange tabby with an angry face insisted.

No wonder cats and dogs disliked each other so much. They were as different as two creatures could come. Still, at least they didnít blindly trust everyoneís motives. Maybe theyíd be able to offer some kind of clue if I asked my questions right.

I cleared my throat and tried again.ďIs there one human thatís worse than the rest? Maybe someone who is stealing money from the shelter?Ē

ďThatís like asking if thereís one blade of grass thatís greener than the rest,Ē the flat-faced cat spoke again. ďThere are just so many of them, and theyíre all green besides.Ē

The other caged felines meowed their agreement, and I officially gave up on finding any leads via the shelter animals.

It was time to do things a little differently.

Unfortunately, I didnít have any idea how.

Chapter Thirteen

Octo-Cat sat waiting for us in the living room when Nan and I returned home. Iíd left the bedroom door open before we headed out just in case he might want a change of scenery, but I hadnít exactly expected him to take advantage of it.

Luckily, Paisley was already tucked securely into Nanís arms, so she couldnít be tempted to make a run for the ornery feline. Couldnít Octo-Cat see how much she already loved him? How much she wanted to be his friend?

Judging by the tabbyís furrowed brow and tense posture, that was a hard no.

ďWell, look what the cat dragged out,Ē I quipped, part relieved to see him and part worried about what he might demand next.

ďHardy har har,Ē he said dryly and then, ďI see youíre still playing house with that imposter.Ē

Well, as it turned out, weíd made no progress at all. ďYou saw right. Now donít you think itís time for you to stop your pouting and rejoin the living?Ē

Had I made a mistake by kowtowing to his demands about the Fancy Feast and the Evian and the exquisite manor house? It had been easy to do regarding mere things, but now another life was involved. I refused to send Paisley back to that overcrowded shelter, especially when its future was so uncertain.

I knew it wouldnít be so easy, but still my heart ached when Octo-Cat responded with, ďBad things happen when good cats remain silent.Ē

ďBut thatís exactly what youíre doing!Ē I argued. ďGiving me the silent treatment. Havenít you had enough?Ē

ďHavenítyou had enough?Ē he shot back in a deep, ominous voice. Something told me there was no right answer here.

ďMr. Octopus Cat,Ē Paisley squeaked, drawing both of our attention to her big black eyes and tiny pink mouth. ďI know you donít like me, but I promise Iíll do anything to make things right. I want to be friends.Ē

ďAww, how could you say no to this face?Ē I cooed, scratching Paisley under her tiny, quivering chin.

Her whole body squirmed in response, and Nan had to make quick adjustments to avoid dropping her.

ďEasily,Ē Octo-Cat spat, unmoved by the show of love. ďVery easily, indeed.Ē

ďAre they finally playing nice?Ē Nan asked, a hopeful sparkle in her eyes.

ďUm, not exactly,Ē I answered with a sigh. ďBut this is progress, nonetheless.Ē

ďSay, dog,Ē my cat lisped, rising to all four paws. ďWill you really do anything to make me happy?Ē

ďOh, yes!Ē Paisley cried, her shaking thus renewed. ďYes, I will do anything!Ē

I waited in silence for the big reveal. Would Octo-Catís demand be one we could meet? Iíd do almost anything to bring peace to our divided house.

The catís large, amber eyes narrowed, and he spoke very, very slowly. ďThen run far, far away and donít ever come back.Ē

The Chihuahua whimpered, which made our evil feline overlord laugh.ďDo I really have to, Mommy?Ē Paisley asked, a pathetic whine lacing each of her words.

Oh, that cat! He made me so angry sometimes!

ďNo, of course not. Heís just being mean!Ē I scowled at my unruly pet, but he didnít look the least big apologetic.

ďHey, I know what I want.Ē Octo-Cat flicked his tail in one direction and then the other. ďAnd also what I donít want. The dog needs to go.Ē

ďHush up, Octo-Cat. Youíve been outvoted,Ē Nan said, even though she couldnít understand any part of the conversation other than mine.

Paisley wriggled and licked Nanís hands, whether to derive comfort or to agree with what had been said in her defense, I couldnít be sure.

ďUnbelievable,Ēmy cat mumbled as he hopped to the floor and skulked out of view. A few moments later, we heard his electronic cat flap lift open and admit him into the outside world.

ďAnd stay out until youíve had an attitude adjustment!Ē I shouted after him.

ďDonít worry about him, you sweet girl.Ē Nan kissed the Chihuahuaís head and then set her on the floor. ďLetís go make ourselves some lunch. Huh?Ē

We all moved to the kitchen, where Nan took out three chicken breasts to grill on the stovetop and I began working on the fixings for a Caesar salad.ďIím making one for Paisley, too,Ē she explained with a grin.

Oh, the little dog would definitely love that.

Weíd almost finished our lunch preparations when a loud crash sounded from the foyer. I glanced toward my feet and found that Paisley had left us some time ago.

ďWhy does everything keep breaking around here?Ē Nan grumbled as she removed her pan from the burner and marched out to locate the source of the disturbance.

I spotted the mess before she did. One of Ethel Fultonís antique Tiffany lamps lay in pieces by the entryway. A priceless heirloom.Great.

Paisley stood beside the mess, howling.ďIím so sorry,Ē she cried. ďI donít know how it happened. I was just minding my own business, andócrash!Ē

ďItís okay, sweetie. We know you didnít mean to,Ē I coaxed as Nan began to sweep up the mess.

ďUnbelievable,Ē Octo-Cat mumbled and then ran up the grand staircase, presumably back to his self-imposed prison in my bedroom tower.

Funny, I hadnít heard the electronic pet door buzz open even though we were standing directly beside it.

[ ŗūÚŤŪÍŗ: img_3]

ďCan you watch Paisley for me this afternoon?Ē Nan asked once the three of us had finished our mid-day meal. ďIíd bring her with me, but I have a lot of errands to run and donít want her to get lost underfoot.Ē

ďSure,Ē I answered absentmindedly while logging into the bankís mobile app on my phone. I had to click around a bit to find exactly what I was looking for. When I did, I handed the phone to Nan and asked, ďHey, is this address the same as the one on the check you had cashed?Ē

Nan studied the tiny screen for a moment, then handed the phone back my way and rummaged around her desk until she found the printout sheíd made the night before. ďThe very same,Ē she said, holding the paper beside the phone screen so the two of us could compare.

I glanced between them a few more times, feeling more and more confident that weíd made a match with each new look. ďThe signatureís a little different on this one, but it looks like it belongs to the same person. I think maybe it starts with aD or anO. Hard to say for sure.Ē

ďBut thatís not how you spell Trish,Ē Nan said with a sigh.

ďNo, itís not,Ē I agreed, feeling more confused than ever as I logged out of the app and set my cell phone back on the table.

ďIíll think on it while Iím out,Ē my grandmother promised.

ďWhere are you going, by the way?Ē Iíd only half paid attention when she said she was leaving and was curious now that sheíd brought it up again.

ďTo begin work on the charity fundraiser for the shelter, of course. Iíve decided to go with a gala. That will bring all the key players out better than any bake sale or car wash ever could.Ē

ďGood thinking.Ē Or was it? I hated contradicting her, but had she really thought this whole thing through before deciding to jump into action?

ďNan, a gala takes a lot of prep work, though. What if itís too late for the shelter by the time youíve finished the planning?Ē

She waved her hand dismissively.ďStop being such a negative Nancy. You know better than to doubt your nan. Now, you two be good. Iíll be back in time to rustle up some dinner. Ciao.Ē

And just like that, she was into her shoes and out the door. Man, she moved fast. I often felt like a slouch next to my fit and active grandmother. Maybe one day Iíd actually do something about itóbut today was not that day.

ďWhat would you like to do this afternoon?Ē I asked, searching the floor for Paisley. Normally, she clung to the closest human like a bur, but at the moment, I couldnít spot her anywhere.

ďPaisley!Ē I called. ďCímere, girl.Ē

ďI donít wanna,Ē came the muffled reply.

It took a few minutes, but I finally found her hiding under our antique Victorian loveseat.ďWhy so sad, sweetie pie?Ē I sat down on the hard, uncomfortable floor and waited for her to show herself.

ďThe cat doesnít like me,Ē she sniffed while remaining firmly in place beneath the old couch.

ďOh, donít worry about him. He doesnít really like anyone.Ē

ďHe doesnít like mea lot, though. And at the shelter, I couldnít help you win Detective. And now Nan left and didnít want to take me with her. What if she never comes back?Ē

The poor dear! I hated that she felt this way and that there was very little I could do about it.

ďPaze, please donít cry. You did a great job helping with Detective, andóheyóthe gameís not over yet. We still have time to win. And I promise Nan will come back just as soon as she finishes her errands. We all love you very much.Ē

ďEven Octopus Cat?Ē she asked, raising her head slightly.

ďEven Octo-Cat,Ē I assured her with a chuckle. ďHe just doesnít know it yet.Ē

Chapter Fourteen

Seeing as both Paisley and I could use a change of scenery, I leashed her up and drove us downtown to enjoy a bit of window-shopping.

ďHave you been here before?Ē I asked my doggie companion as the two of us strolled down the narrow sidewalks that flanked the commercial heart of our small seaside town.

ďNope,Ē Paisley answered, then stopped to squat beside a young tree that had just begun to change colors for the fall. ďBut I like it very much. So many excellent smells!Ē

Although I was sure our definition ofexcellent varied substantially, I smiled and nodded my agreement. Paisley was happy again, and thatís what mattered most.

ďWhich smell is your favorite?Ē I asked conversationally.

ďOh, definitely all the pee!Ē she squealed, happier than a pig in number two as she enjoyed the apparently intoxicating aroma of number one.

I didnít ask any more questions after that. Instead, the two of us continued on our way, stopping frequently to allow the Chihuahua to sniff anything that caught her fancy.

ďOh, hello there, Angie!Ē Mr. Gable, the owner of the nearby jewelry store, called from the spot where he was idling with a steaming mug of coffee. The old man had become something of an institution here in Glendale, and it was no wonder heíd recently been voted head of the downtown council.

ďHello, Mr. Gable,Ē I called, quickening my pace to join him.

ďAnd who might this little fella be?Ē The smiling, white-haired man carefully lowered himself to the ground and let Paisley sniff his hands. His coffee, too.

ďThis is Paisley,Ē I announced proudly. ďNanís and my newest addition.Ē

He laughed good-naturedly.ďOh, I bet the cat doesnít much care for that.Ē

ďYou bet right,Ē I answered with a laugh. Hopefully, Mr. Gableís well-meaning comment wouldnít turn the dog into a nervous, shaking mess all over again.

In the end, she appeared too taken by the kindness of this new friend to worry about the unkindness of the hostile feline back home.

Mr. Gable and I chatted amiably for a few minutes about the upcoming holiday spectacular. We were a good three months off, but it was widely known that the downtown businesses started planning on December 26 of the previous year. The yearly festival got bigger and grander with each run, and I couldnít wait to see how it would look this Christmas.

Mr. Gable, however, refused to give anything away.ďItís better as a surprise,Ē he promised with a Santa-like wink.

Just as I was about to press a little harder for details, an unexpected movement down the street caught my eye. Mind you, we were in downtown Glendale, which meant lots of people, dogs, and vehicles came and wentóeven in the middle of the day.

Somehow, though, I knew the sudden pale blur wasnít a part of all that. I guess you could say my kitty sense was tingling.

Paisley felt it, too, because she nudged my foot with her nose and said,ďItís that nice lady we smelled the other day. Remember at the shelter?Ē

And she was right. Suspicious Trish had made yet another appearance in my life, and I wanted to know why.

ďWell, nice chatting,Ē I told Mr. Gable with a brief wave goodbye. ďWeíll see you soon.Ē

I picked up Paisley, even though I knew sheíd probably rather walk, and hurried back in the direction from which weíd come. I needed her close so that I could whisper to her about what would happen next.

ďWe have to be very, very quiet,Ē I told the little dog, channeling my inner Elmer Fudd. We werenít hunting wabbits, though, we were stalking suspectsóand that was way more dangerous.

ďIf we can stay quiet and hidden long enough, I think we might just win Detective,Ē I promised with a quick grin.

Paisley gasped but said nothing in response. Good dog.

Trish cut through an alley, and I raced faster to catch up, making sure I remained far enough behind to avoid letting her spot me. She stopped in a parking lot and stood, waiting.

Paisley and I hid ourselves behind a nearby dumpster. Neither of us spoke a word.

Then I spotted it, a giant, beat-up Cadillac crunching onto the gravel lot. The driver was most definitely male, but I couldnít make out much more than his wispy frame and deep voice. He and Trish spoke for a few minutes and then he hopped out of the car and popped the trunk open.

Inside, the spacious trunk was filled to the brim with pet supplies, still in their packaging. If the mysterious man was here to make a donation to the shelter, he was sure acting shifty about it.

I didnít have long to puzzle over this, because the very next thing I knew, Trish had pulled a wad of bills from her front pocket and handed it to the driver.

And that was more than enough to make me finally spring to action. First, I grabbed my phone and zoomed in on the license plate, so Iíd have it for later. Then I placed a call to my good friend Officer Bouchard and told him he needed to come down straight away.

ďDid we win Detective?Ē Paisley asked, staring up at me with glistening dark eyes.

ďYeah, I think we did,Ē I told her, offering an enthusiastic petting for the job well done. ďBut we need to be quiet just a little longer before we can know for sure.Ē

We watched as Trish and the man had some kind of argument, and then he drove off with both the cash and the pet supplies. Trish groaned and stalked back toward the alleyway, where Paisley and I still stood crouched behind the dumpster.

Uh-oh.

I needed to think fast, so I set my dog on the ground and cried,ďOh my gosh, Paisley! There you are! Iíve been looking everywhere for you!Ē

ďYes, Iím right here, Mommy!Ē the little dog barked, not quite catching on to the ruse.

Trish walked by us without so much as a nod of recognition, so I called after her.ďHey, Trish. Is that you? Three times in less than twenty-four hours! What are the chances?Ē

She grimaced but stopped moving at least.ďIím sorry, I canít really hang around and talk. Nice to see you, though.Ē Without waiting for my response, she quickened her pace again and continued down the alley.

Oh, no you donít. Youíre not getting away that easily.

She must have had an awful lot on her mind, because Paisley and I easily trailed her without her discovering us. She moved fast, and I wished for the second time that day that I was in better shape. Somehow I managed to keep up, though, as Trish led us to a second parking lot on the other side of downtown Glendale where the same man from before sat waiting in his idling car.

ďBingo,Ē I whispered, then sent a quick text to Officer Bouchard to let him know weíd relocated to the north parking lot.

Trish unlocked a dirty white sedan and popped its trunk, then together she and the man began to move the contents of his vehicle into hers. Theyíd managed to clear about half of the goods by the time Officer Bouchardís police cruiser joined us on the scene.

My excitement mounted. My cop friend had made it on time, and now this was it. Somebody was going to be in big trouble.

Chapter Fifteen

The man pushed his trunk closed, but not fast enough to escape the notice of the officer whoíd just arrived on the scene.

I took this as my cue to come out of hiding. This time there hadnít been a dumpster, so Iíd had to resort to pressing myself flat against the brick wall in the alley. I strode into the parking lot with confidence I didnít quite feelóand wouldnít until I knew for sure weíd caught the crook who was embezzling money from the animal shelter.

Officer Bouchard saw me first and reached his hand overhead in a wave.

Both Trish and her accomplice spun in my direction, and the moment she spotted me, her eyes filled with disdain.ďYou followed me!Ē she cried.

ďNow, now,Ē Officer Bouchard said peaceably. ďWe donít want any more trouble than is already here. Go ahead and open up the trunk, young man.Ē

I was close enough now to make out our mystery manís features. He was tall and lanky with light skin and even lighter hair. As far as I knew, Iíd never seen him before in my entire life.

ďHey, wait just a minute,Ē Trish argued, pointing a shaky finger my way. ďShe followed me. Isnít stalking, like, illegal?Ē

ďNotlike illegal. It is illegal, but something tells me thereís something even more illegal in that there trunk, and that Ms. Russo was just doing her civic duty by calling it in and keeping an eye on you until I could show up to officially handle things. Now open that trunk.Ē

Trishís accomplice did as he was told, once again revealing the trunk filled with brand-new pet supplies.

ďAnd that one, too, please.Ē The cop pointed to Trishís filthy white car and waited until she complied with his order.

ďWell, well, well,Ē Officer Bouchard said with a chuckle. ďThese wouldnít happen to be the pet supplies a shop in Dewdrop Springs reported missing earlier today.Ē He raised an eyebrow and glanced at the younger blond man. ďOr would they?Ē

ďWhatever, man. Iím just the go-between. Sheís the mastermind.Ē

If he was sorry, he didnít look it. I had to wonder if perhaps this man was from out of town, if heíd thought no one would notice some missing pet supplies. Apparently he hadnít counted on the fact that everyone notices everything in a small town like ours.

Trish stamped her foot on the ground.ďHow dare you try to pin this all on me!Ē

ďEnough bickering,Ē the officer warned. ďWhoís stealing and why?Ē

ďI didnít steal anything,Ē Trish ground out. ďI bought these supplies fair and square.Ē

The policeman crossed his arms and stared down the bridge of his nose at both culprits.ďWell, Iím not buying it, little miss. Why buy pet supplies from the back of some guyís trunk when itís just as easy to go to the store and purchase them there? You know, like youíre supposed to?Ē

ďHe was giving them to us at a discount. We needed the savings. The shelter isnít doing so good, andÖ And I was just trying to help the animals!Ē

ďLetís go,Ē Officer Bouchard said, uncrossing his arms and making a sweeping gesture toward his waiting car. ďIíd love to hear more about this down at the station. And youíre both invited.Ē

Trish scowled at me as Officer Bouchard nudged her toward the police cruiser. He hadnít cuffed either her or the man with the trunk full of stolen goods, but he had called for backup to come clear the scene while he dealt with the suspects.

ďThanks, Russo,Ē he said, returning to my side. ďBut Iíve gotta ask, what made you decide to follow her?Ē

I quickly caught him up on Nanís and my suspicions, ending with a dramatic, ďAnd she doesnít even actually work there. At least I think she doesnít.Ē

ďOh, you and your nan. One of these days we should formally hire you to work for the county. I can promise you this, though. Weíre going to find out whatís going on at that shelter. Stealing from animals in need is a level of despicable I donít like seeing in our town. Both of my cats were adopted from that very shelter, come to think of it.Ē

ďOfficer Bouchard,Ē I said with a grin, bumping my shoulder into his. ďI had no idea you were a cat person.Ē

He put his tough cop face back on and sniffed.ďYeah, well, donít let word get around. I already get more than my fair share of guff from the other guys at the station.Ē

ďYour secretís safe with me,Ē I promised, loving this new detail about him. I was a cat person, too, after all. Well, most days at least.

ďIíve got things from here,Ē he informed me. ďNow go try to enjoy the rest of your day.Ē The cop gave me a firm nod, which I took to mean I was formally dismissed from the investigation. Hopefully, the county would be able to finish strong from here, which meant Nan and I could focus on our little mystery at home. Namely, why so many fragile things kept breaking.

ďDid we win?Ē Paisley asked as the two of us headed back down the alleyway.

ďYes, the bad guys have been caught, and all is right with the world again,Ē I assured her. I missed having Octo-Catís assistance, but Paisley hadnít been such a bad crime-solving companion this time around. With time, she could learn. The three of us could work togetherÖ That is, if Octo-Cat ever got over his ridiculous aversion to dogs.

Then Paisley asked a question I hadnít been expecting. ďThey seemed really nice to me. How do you know that theyíre bad?Ē

ďBecause they did bad things,Ē I answered simply, honestly.

She appeared to think about this for a moment, then asked,ďSo if I do bad things, am I bad?Ē

ďNo, thatís not the same.Ē

ďWhy not?Ē Paisleyís ears lowered, giving her an even more puppy-ish appearance than usual.

Clearly, I had a choice to make. I could let the Chihuahua keep believing the best of everyone, or I could destroy her innocence by explaining how mean the world could be sometimes.

At the end of the day, I liked my new dog daughter exactly as she was, so I said,ďYou know what, Paze? Youíre right. It was just a game. Now letís go see if Nanís back home yet, huh?Ē

ďOh, yes! Weíve been apart forever! I miss her so much!Ē Paisley cried, our deeper conversation about ethics and morals all but forgotten.

Maybe it was time for me to go back to Blueberry Bay Community College and grab an eighth associate degree. This time in Philosophy. Next time Paisley hit me over the head with questions like this, I wanted to be ready.

I sent Nan a quick text to let her know we were on our way home and to ask if she could meet us there, then I let my sweet little dog take all the time she needed enjoying her scenic scenting tour through downtown.

And she made sure to tell me each time she found a new one, too. Especially if it was pee.

Dogs were so weird.

Chapter Sixteen

Nan beat me and Paisley home, which was probably a good thing considering what we found when we got there.

ďThereís poop everywhere!Ē I cried with a disgusted groan.

ďYou should have seen this place before I started cleaning up.Ē Nan squirted another shot of all-natural cleaner on the rug and gave the smelly stain a good, solid scrub.

ďThis is gross.Ē I crossed my arms and surveyed the damage with a frown. ďDo you even think it will come all the way out of the area rug? This was original with the house.Ē

Nan paused and studied me with a furrowed brow.ďWhat worries me more is that one of the animals has to be very sick to make such a huge mess.Ē

Paisley kneaded her front paws against my leg and begged for me to pick her up.ďIt wasnít me,Ē she said in a soft, sad voice. ďHonest.Ē

ďIt couldnít have been Paisley,Ē I relayed to Nan, setting the dog back down and then slipping on a pair of thick yellow rubber gloves to help clean up the mess. ďShe was with me the whole time you were out, and this mess wasnít here when we left for our walk earlier.Ē

ďEven still.Ē Nan moved to another spot on the carpet and scrubbed vigorously. ďWe should take both of them to the vet. Maybe sheíll have some tips on helping them adjust to their new living arrangements.Ē

ďBut Paisley isnít the problem,Ē I reminded her. ďOcto-Cat is just being stubborn.Ē

ďWell, we have to do something.Ē Nan frowned at the spot and sprayed some more cleaner. ďWhat if Octavius isnít just being mean for meannessís sake? What if heís seriously ill?Ē

That thought hadnít occurred to me before, but now that Nan had mentioned the possibility, it was all I could think about. As much as Octo-Cat had irritated me the last few days, he was still my best friend and I couldnít picture life without him.

ďI grabbed a doodie sample before I started cleaning up, so the doc will have that to test. Iíve already called and let her know weíll be coming in shortly.Ē

ďThen letís go,Ē I said, peeling my gloves off, then picking my purse back up from the coffee table. ďWe can clean the rest of this up after.Ē

Nan followed suit.ďIíll wash up real quick, then grab the sample and get Paisley and myself settled in your car. You go on upstairs and get Octavius.Ē

Right.

My cat didnít like car rides under the best of circumstances, but now that he was sick and expected to take todayís ride with his sworn nemesis, it would be downright impossible to convince him to come willingly.

I briefly considered my options as I jogged upstairs to collect him. I could try asking nicely, but that would alert him to my intentions and ultimately make catching him so much harder after he refused to come peacefully. I could also try forcing him into his walking harness, but I knew well enough from experience that this was more of a two-person job. That left only one option, and it was the one I knew he would hate most of all: the cat carrier.

I hadnít ever used it before, but the very fact I kept it in the house for emergencies was a constant source of discontent for Octo-Cat.

Well, at least weíd finally have the chance to make use of the thing.

I grabbed the greatly despised carrier from storage and blew off the thin coat of dust that had settled on top of its plastic shell. Climbing the stairs to my tower just as quietly as I could, I let myself into the bedroom while attempting to hide the bulky carrier behind me.

It didnít work.

ďI see you,Ē my cat hissed from beneath the bed. ďAnd whatever you want from me, the answer is an emphatic no.Ē

ďIím sorry about this,Ē I answered, pulling my bedframe away from the wall with a series of grunts and tugs. ďBut I canít let you waste away in here any longer, especially seeing as youíre sick.Ē

Octo-Cat moved with the bed, remaining dead center, which made him incredibly difficult to reach. Even when I dropped to my belly and extended my arms at full length, my fingertips just barely brushed the tip of his tail.

ďIím not going, and you canít make me.Ē

Ugh. Why did he have to be so difficult?

I didnít want to manhandle him given his upset belly, but bribing him to come out wasnít exactly a possibility either. Some things about our relationship were easier because of our ability to talk to each other, while others were infinitely more difficult. This was one of those infinitely more difficult things.

Think, Angie. Think!

And then I had an idea that I was about ninety percent certain would work. I moved to my desk and grabbed the small keychain I kept in my top drawer in case of an emergency, then I gathered my comforter from the bed and bundled it up in my arms. Holding tight to the wad of blanket with one hand, I used the other to activate the keychain light.

And the red dot came to life on the carpet before me.

One of our past acquaintances had used the power of the red dot to trick two unwitting cats into doing something very bad. At the time, Octo-Cat had explained to me that while most cats logically knew the dot was just a result of a laser pointer, they also couldnít resist pouncing whenever that little sucker made an appearance.

Thatís precisely what I was counting on now.

The dot danced when I wiggled my handóand when I flicked my wrist, it jerked wildly to the side.

This sent Octo-Cat shooting out from beneath the bed at lightning speed.

Thankfully, I was just fast enough to toss the blanket on top of him as an impromptu net, andógotcha!

He was captured and spitting mad about it, too.ďI will never forget this betrayal, Angela. Never. Not in all my lives.Ē

ďIím sorry,Ē I muttered again, picking up the blanket with him in it and then releasing him into the plastic carrier.

There.

Iíd done it, and by some miracle neither of us had managed to get hurt in the process.

ďDonít worry,Ē I cooed softly even though my breathing was now labored from this whole debacle. ďWeíre going to get you all patched up at the vet. Youíll be feeling like yourself in no time at all.Ē

ďBut Iím not sick,Ē he argued before coughing up a hairball right inside the carrier.

Chapter Seventeen

Our usual veterinarian wasnít at the office that day, but the newest member of her practice was able to squeeze us in for an emergency visit. From the looks of her smooth skin and perky posture, Dr. Britt Lowe had only finished veterinary school quite recently. If her supposed lack of experience caused me to worry, though,her friendly demeanor and knowledgeable speech instantly put me back at ease.

ďOn the phone you said one of the animalsóprobably the catóis experiencing a bout of diarrhea. Anything else to add?Ē she asked looking from her chart to the place where Nan and I sat in twin bucket seats inside the cramped exam room.

Octo-Cat growled in the carrier that Iíd set on the floor beside me.

ďOh, he does not sound happy,Ē Dr. Lowe added with a frown. ďDo you mind if we take him out while we talk? When animals get this worked up, itís best to get things over with as quickly as possible. Poor guy.Ē

ďSure, if thatís how you want to do it.Ē I lifted the carrier onto the metal table between us, then allowed the vet to open the latch.

Octo-Cat immediately tried to make a run for it, but she caught him without much trouble and used her hold on the angry feline to examine his eyes and teeth.

ďThereís a good man,Ē she said soothingly. My guess is the only reason she managed to avoid getting bit was the fact she hadnít referred to him as kitty. Something about the vetís skilled hands calmed him a bit. Perhaps he knew that she was on his side in all this. That she just wanted him to be happy and feel better.

Not that I didnít want those same things, butÖ

Dr. Lowe set him on the table, keeping one hand on Octo-Catís back as she motioned for me to join her. ďNow hold on tight to him. Most cats donít like this next part.Ē

Before I could ask any questions, she stuck a thermometer up his backside.

Octo-Catís eyes widened to a comical size, but he didnít make a single peep until sheíd finished. ďI feel so violated,Ē he moaned.

ďYou can let him go now,Ē the vet informed me, and as soon as I did, Octo-Cat hurled himself back in the carrier he had loathed only minutes before.

Dr. Lowe frowned.ďHis temperature is normal, and he seems very healthy. Are you sure it wasnít the dog who made the mess?Ē

ďWeíre sure,Ē Nan piped up. ďBut I did bring a sample in case it helps.Ē She handed Paisley off to me and then fished around in the disposable shopping bag sheíd brought with her until she found the triple-bagged fecal sample.

ďOh, dear,Ē the veterinarian said with a laugh. ďI think I see the problem.Ē

ďDonít you need to test it first?Ē I asked, unable to see what was so funny about this disgusting situation.

ďNo, I donít think I do. Thatís not cat feces. Itís not dog, either.Ē

ďI told you Iím not sick,Ē Octo-Cat pouted from inside his carrier.

ďThen what is it?Ē I asked, completely at a loss for ideas.

Dr. Lowe held the sample up to the light, and we all stared at it as she explained,ďThis definitely came from a wild animal. Judging from the size, Iíd guess a raccoon.Ē

Raccoon!

Now it all finally came into focus. Octo-Cat had been able to be in two places at once by employing the help of his biggest fan, the raccoon that lived under our porch. His name was Pringle, and he worshipped the ground my spoiled cat walked on.

ďCould you maybe give us a moment?Ē Nan asked politely. It seemed she too had figured out exactly who was to blame for all the strange happenings around our house as of late.

ďOf course.Ē Dr. Lowe nodded, then let herself out through the back door.

Once we were alone again, I bent forward so I could look Octo-Cat straight in the eye.ďPlease tell me you didnít really hire your raccoon fanboy to frame Paisley for your bad behavior.Ē

ďI didnít,Ē he said, but even he didnít seem to believe it.

Placing both hands on my hips, I narrowed my gaze and waited.

My cat came to the edge of the carrier and laid back down with a sigh.ďFirst off, hire would imply that I paid him. He did it for free. Secondly, itís not my bad behavior. I didnít do anything.Ē

ďBut youíre the mastermind,Ē I pointed out.

And then it occurred to meÖ ďWhy would you break your own teacup?Ē

He let out another heavy sigh.ďPringle isnít the best at following instructions. He grabbed the wrong cup by accident. Believe me, Iím quite upset over it. We havenít even had the funeral yet.Ē

ďHow could we have when youíve been either hiding or scheming all day?Ē I asked, shaking my head with fury.

ďYou make a decent point,Ē Octo-Cat conceded. ďBut my point also remains. I donít want the dog to live with us.Ē

ďWhy not?Ē I demanded.

ďI donít like dogs,Ē he groused.

Oh, no. He was not pulling this one again. If he really hated Paisley, then he needed to be able to tell me why. I doubted he could, and I was more than ready to call him on that bluff.

ďBut why donít you like her, specifically?Ē I asked, raising an eyebrow in suspicion.

ďBecause sheís a dog. Duh.Ē

ďMommy, can I try talking to him?Ē Paisley asked from my arms. She was so light Iíd almost forgotten I was holding her.

At the Chihuahuaís request, I gently set her on the exam table so she and Octo-Cat could sit face-to-face. It struck me then that sheíd never once had this kind of opportunity with him. The cat had always yelled, complained, and then run away to hide. But would he actually have a conversation with her now thathe was stuck inside this tiny room?

ďHello, Octopus Cat,Ē Paisley began with a reverential dip of her head.

ďMy name is not Octopus Cat,Ē the tabby growled. For a moment I worried that he would take another swipe at her, but he kept his claws under control.

Brave little Paisley either didnít know that she was talking to an animal on edge or she was ready for whatever consequences she reaped as a result of this conversation. ďOh, then it seems I might have misheard,Ē she said, blinking slowly. ďWhat is your name?Ē

ďMy nameóand you better remember this, because Iím only going to say it onceóis Octavius Maxwell Ricardo Edmund Frederick Fulton Russo, Esq. P.I.Ē He rolled each of the Rs as if doing so were required to pronounce the monstrous moniker properly.

I put a hand over my mouth to keep from laughing. Every time Octo-Cat gave out his full name, he added something to it. I was starting to doubt heíd ever been given any middle names at all.

ďItís very nice to meet you, Octavius Maxwell Ricardo Edmund Frederick Fulton Russo, Esq. P.I.Ē The Chihuahua said, carefully mimicking the catís pronunciation and causing my mouth to fall open in shock. Iíd known this cat for over a year and still didnít have all his names memorized. Had the young dog really picked the entire train wreck of a name up after hearing it just once?

ďMy name is Paisley Lee,Ē she informed him with another slight bow of her head. ďWhen Nan adopted me, she gave me her last name, so I guess we arenít really brother and sister. Iím sorry if my calling you brother upset you. I know now that I was wrong.Ē

ďItís all right,Ē Octo-Cat mumbled, obviously charmed by the little dogís impeccable manners even though he most certainly wished that he wasnít.

ďI really would like us to be friends, but if you donít want that, I understand,Ē Paisley squeaked. Tears lined each of her large black eyes, but she continued on bravely. ďI will try my very best not to chase you anymore or to make you unhappy in any way, but please can I stay? This is my family now, too.Ē

ďI guess that would be okay with me,Ē Octo-Cat said and then retreated deeper into his carrier.

The conversation had reached its natural end, and somehow everyone had managed to survive.

We really were going to be all right, after all.

Chapter Eighteen

True to his halfhearted words, Octo-Cat quit hiding in my bedroom non-stop and started to rethread his life with ours. He didnít even leave the room when Paisley entered anymore, which I considered a huge step in the right direction.

Paisley adopted the practice of not speaking to him unless he spoke first, and occasionally he actually would initiate a brief conversation with her.

Several days passed, each better than the last.

Now that weíd solved the mystery of the broken household items and both pets were on their way toward forming a lasting friendship, my thoughts returned to Trish.

The county police had found enough evidence to charge her with Class C Theft after a bank teller in Dewdrop Springs identified Trish as the person who had cashed Nanís and my donation checks the week before. Sheíd then used that money to purchase several hundred dollars in stolen pet supplies. Together, the stolen cash and goods tallied up to just over one-thousand dollars, which marked her actions as a felony in our great state of Maine. She was still awaiting her trial at the moment, but Charles had informed me that the punishment could be both a hefty fine and possible jail time.

I still remembered how kind she had been to Nan and me outside the shelter when we first met her and how sheíd mentioned not having much money herself. But was she really the type to steal from animals in order to line her own pockets? And if so, then why did she use the cashed checks to purchase supplies for them?

Something wasnít sitting right about the whole situation, but I couldnít quite figure out what. At a loss for answers, I let my questions about Trish and the embezzlement at the animal shelter simmer at the back of my mind as I worked on building a website for Octo-Catís and my new P.I. company. Eventuallyweíd have customers, and I wanted to be ready to wow them when they finally came calling.

Maybe someday soon, heíd agree to let Paisley join the investigative team. I, for one, knew the little dog would love the chance to playóand winóDetective again.

That morning, Paisley decided to celebrate her new kind of sort of friendship with Octo-Cat by bringing him a present. Weíd just finished tea when the little dog skittered in through the electronic pet door. Her collar was now outfitted with a coded chip, too, which meant she could come and go as she pleasedójust like her new hero, Octo-Cat.

Our raccoon friend Pringle, on the other hand, had been given a massive lecture and a warning that we were to never, ever see him in the house again, no matter what Octo-Cat said was or wasnít okay.

ďHey, girl,Ē Nan called when she saw the dogís small, dark form traipse through the foyer. ďWhat have you got there?Ē

Sure enough, Paisley had something large stuffed inside her mouth, which she brought straight to Octo-Cat and laid at his paws, her tail a waggly blur of joy. Thank goodness, the tabby had been laying on the floor rather than the couch, because the gift in question was a very large and slightly bloody mouse.

Dead, of course.

Octo-Cat studied the corpse before him, then looked back up at Paisley. His eyes softened as he asked,ďFor me?Ē

She blinked and shivered and wagged.ďCats like mice. Right?Ē

I think Octo-Cat surprised us all with his genuinely large smile.

ďYes, and the deader the better. Good job, kiddo.Ē

The sight made me want to throw up, but I felt too happy to let my roiling stomach stand in the way of this important bonding moment.ďYou know cats are supposed to be the ones to catch mice,Ē I informed them both.

ďThatís old-fashioned thinking,Ē Octo-Cat protested. ďBesides, she caught this mouse for me, which kind of means Iím the one who did it, anyway.Ē

Paisley beat her tail against the ground, hanging on every word that spilled forth from Octo-Catís lips.

ďNice try,Ē I said with a sarcastic chuckle. ďBut you canít just take credit for someone elseísÖĒ My words trailed off, and I looked toward Nan.

ďWhat is it, dear?Ē she asked, then took another sip of tea.

ďTrish,Ē I said, thinking back to how sure I had been that weíd caught the bad guy and put the mystery at the shelter to rest. Too sure. The evidence was too neatly wrapped up in a nice little bow.

ďWhat about her?Ē Nan said as the animals continued to share their gross bonding moment separate from us.

ďWell, what if she wasnít the one stealing money? What if someone else was doing it but let her take the fall?Ē

ďYou think she was framed?Ē

Nanís even tone bothered me. Did she really not believe that I was on to something here?

ďIím not sure, but itís a possibility. All the evidence was too neatly stacked against her,Ē I explained, using the same wild hand gestures my Italian-American father often used while trying to make a point. ďEither sheís a terrible criminal, or sheís not one at all.Ē

ďInteresting,Ē Nan said and dipped a cream-filled cookie into her tea.

ďThink about it. She was the one sneaking around after closing time. Sheís the one who shredded that paper. I saw her in Dewdrop Springs the same night our checks were cashed there, and she wasnít exactly subtle about buying those stolen pet supplies in broad daylight.Ē

ďBut didnít she also tell those massage people that the shelter had its funding cut?Ē Nan pointed out as she stared deep into her teacup. ďCharles checked and said that wasnít true.Ē

ďYesóbut oh! When we went back to the shelter the next day, that old woman, Pearl, also said the funding had been cut.Ē

ďWho you calling old?Ē Nanís voice finally picked up some passion. ďSheís at least fifteen years younger than me.Ē

ďSorry, Nan,Ē I muttered. ďBut how well do you know Pearl? She seemed to know you quite well but couldnít remember me.Ē

ďShe was in my community art class over the summer. Remember that?Ē She finished her tea and set the cup and saucer on the coffee table, then leaned back in her chair.

ďWould you say sheís the type to steal money from the animal shelter and then lie about it to others?Ē

ďCertainly not. She was always on and on about her volunteer work with the shelter. She loves those animals as if they were her own.Ē

ďThen who else would have the means, opportunity, and motive to take that money?Ē

ďTrish did mention being short on cash when we bumped into her outside the shelter,Ē Nan reasoned. ďThen again, money is its own motive, whether you have it or not.Ē

ďIt has to be somebody inside. Somebody with access to the finances.Ē I picked at a hangnail as I thought, a bad habit Iíd thought Iíd seen the last of. Apparently not.

ďAnd somebody who could weave a narrative about funding cuts that others would willingly believe.Ē Nan nodded and bit her lip. What a pair we made.

We both thought a little while longer, and then suddenly we had it.

ďMr. Leavitt!Ē we cried in unison, turning toward each other in excitement.

ďOh, he is going down,Ē Nan promised the universe.

ďWe need to get him to confess somehow,Ē I said, because apparently it was up to me to state the obvious here. ďAny ideas?Ē

ďExcuse me,Ē Octo-Cat said, still beaming proudly from behind his unsettling gift. I hadnít even realized he was paying attention. ďI think I might have an idea,Ē he said and then let out a contented chuckle.

He was back, baby!

Chapter Nineteen

One week laterÖ

My mom held a microphone to Nanís face, beaming at her with daughterly pride. ďAnd to think, it only took you two weeks to plan this gorgeous affair.Ē

My grandmother wore her hair in a French twist and sported a bold red lip. Sheíd even commissioned a special gown to wear to the gala. Silver beaded pawprints lined the neck and sleeves of her pink satin dress, creating a stunning effect.

Despite the quick event planning turn-around, it seemed all of Glendale had shown up to support Nanís fundraiser for the Community Animal Shelter. Half the people from our neighboring towns, too. My mother and her cameraman had also shown up to film a human-interest piece for the local news.

Yeah, it was a pretty big deal.

While Mom interviewed Nan, I did another round through the house. Yes, weíd decided to use our own home as the location for the event tonight. Mr. Gables from the downtown council also helped to secure a series of large, impressive-looking tents, which weíd set up outside to expand the venueís workable space.

The charity gala included a catered dinner, silent auction, and the chance for attendees to write generous checks to support our shelter. Weíd arranged to have all the VIP players inside the house so that it would be easier to keep an eye on them. If all went according to plan, weíd be able to oust a weasel before the night was through.

Iíd chosen to wear a little black dress, so I could sneak around if it became necessary. A hands-free communications device had also been tucked into my ear so that Octo-Cat and I could keep each other updated throughout the evening. As long as I made it look like I was discussing something related to the gala, then I could speak freely and without question.

Weíd blocked off the upstairs to discourage guests from exploring the upper floors and also to help hide Octo-Cat where he sat perched near the spindles that lined the hallway. His job was to watch the guests below and report what he saw via our FaceTime voice call.

Heíd actually been the one to come up with the idea for tonightís ambush. Nan and I had just seen to the details. Paisley, too, by keeping everyoneís spirits up with her constant optimism and kindness.

She believed the bad guy would be caught and that we would all win Detective once and for all.

And I chose to believe that, too.

ďThe eagle has landed,Ē Octo-Cat rasped in my ear. Heíd been joining Nan for her spy movie marathons lately and had picked up the lingo quickly. Since no one could understand him but me, I preferred he speak plainlyóbut I guessed whatever made this fun for him was okay by me.

I turned toward the foyer just in time to see our target, the shelterís Community Outreach Coordinator, Mr. Leavitt, enter my home. He wore a very becoming black tux and an enormous grin that stretched from cheek to cheek.

ďHello, stranger,Ē I said after I made my way over to him, hating the taste of those flirtatious words in my mouth. My heart belonged to Charles and Charles alone, but still I needed to get our prime suspect to play straight into my hands and was willing to do whatever it took.

Well, within reason, that is.

ďYou and your grandmother have really outdone yourselves,Ē he exclaimed as I led him toward the cash bar weíd set up in the dining room. ďThis place looks fabulous!Ē

ďIt doesnít just look fabulous. Itis fabulous,Ē I responded right on cue. Nan and I had practiced my role in this charade many times, and while I didnít have an exact script, I knew all the points I was expected to hit as quickly and naturally as possible.

ďWeíve already raised over twenty thousand dollars just from the table reservations alone. By the time the silent auctions and donations come in, we could be over one hundred thousand. Not bad for one nightís work, huh?Ē

There, Iíd said all the most important things. Nan would be so proud if she were here to witness my debut performance.

Mr. Leavittís eyes widened with poorly concealed avarice. If heíd been carrying a drink, I imagine he may have choked on it. Instead, he merely stuttered his next words. ďO-o-one hundred thousand dollars? You donít say.Ē

ďOh, but I do.Ē I placed a delicate hand on his shoulder and laughed. ďIt turns out people are very generous when it comes to saving the animals.Ē

ďYes, Iíve always thought so.Ē

The bartender handed him a glass of white wine and refilled my seltzer and lime. I wasnít much of a drinker under normal circumstances, but tonight I needed all my wits about me. I also needed to redirect Mr. Leavitt to the foyer so that Octo-Cat could keep an eye on things as they went down.

ďExcuse me for just a moment,Ē I said, drawing my phone out of my strapless clutch and pushing send on the message that I had already composed earlier that evening.

Smiling up at Mr. Leavitt, I said,ďThere. Now that thatís done, letís enjoy the party. I have so many people Iíd like to introduce you to. Did you know Nan was a famous Broadway actress back in her glory days? She has many wealthy friends from her time in the city, and several of them came out to support heróto support the shelterótonight.Ē

ďFantastic,Ē Mr. Leavitt said and took another sip from his glass.

A loud tapping followed by a burst of microphone interference filled the room, causing everyone to fall silent.

ďExcuse me, excuse me, ladies and gentlemen,Ē Nan cried into the mic. ďI just wanted to say a huge thanks to a donor who asked to remain anonymous. She just gave us a fifty-thousand-dollar donation, single-handedly putting us over our fundraising goal for the evening. Thanks to her big heart,the shelter can stay open for another two full years and we can help all of Glendaleís stray pets find their forever homes.Ē

Everyone clapped politely. Some even gasped in awe.

What an amazingly generous giftÖ had it been real.

ďOh, this night has already exceeded our wildest expectations,Ē I gushed to Mr. Leavitt, continuing the carefully planned facade. ďNan and I had hoped our little gala would be a success, but we had no idea it would raiseso muchmoney.Ē

Nan snaked through the crowd and joined the two of us in the foyer.ďMr. Leavitt,Ē she enthused. ďI wanted to hand you this check personally. A fifty-thousand-dollar donation. Can you believe it?Ē She pressed the check into his hand, which was my signal.

ďA problem with the vegetarian dinner option?Ē I shrieked into my headpiece. ďNo, no, no. We canít have that, especially not at a fundraiser for animals. Iíll be right there.Ē

I pressed my Bluetooth device to imitate ending a call and then turned toward Nan with a panicked expression.ďCímon, I think this one might require both of us. It was nice seeing you again, Mr. Leavitt. Enjoy the rest of your evening.Ē

ďItís all you, bud,Ē I mumbled into the headpiece as Nan and I rushed outside. ďOperation Red Dot is in full swing.Ē

Chapter Twenty

As much as Octo-Cat had hated being tricked by the red dot when I had to capture him for our vet visit, that little moment of treachery served as the entire basis for our plan to catch Mr. Leavitt red-dot-handed.

ďItís not about the red dot,Ē Octo-Cat had waxed philosophically. ďItís about what the red dotrepresents.Ē

Heíd gone on to explain that, for cats, the red dot itself is irresistible and basically impossible to ignore. My cat then urged us to find Mr. Leavittís red dot, and by that time Nan had already said it best:Money is its own motive, whether you have it or not.

From there, we flew full force into planning the charity gala and, with it, our master plan. So, the fifty-thousand-dollar donation was a total fraud. We had fake checks printed with a fake name and fake address and even a made-up account number, counting on our bad guy to do the bad thing and steal it.

Officer Bouchard had gone undercover in plain clothes to stake out the bank in Dewdrop Springs. At the end of the day, Mr. Leavitt had a decision to make. He could either continue to slowly embezzle funds from the failing animal shelter, or he could grab the big check and make a run for it. Our hope was that the fifty-thousand-dollar carrotóor red dot, using Octo-Catís preferred analogyówas enough to encourage him to do the latter.

ďHeís leaving! Heís leaving!Ē Octo-Cat cried inside my ear while I pretended to be busy examining a tray of broccoli florets.

ďText him,Ē I told Nan, who had a text to Officer Bouchard ready to go on her phone. As much as I hated being left out of the action, my role in this ambush had officially ended.

ďGood work, Octavius,Ē I said before removing my headpiece. After that, I pulled my phone out of my clutch and sent a quick text to Charles.

May I have this dance?

He found me a short while later, and together we swayed on my front lawn until the stars came outÖ

Actually, that would have been incredibly romantic, but we did have to face one minor distraction first.

ďHeís got him.Ē I heard Nanís words only moments before I felt her arms wrap around me from behind. She joined Charles and me in our dance as she whispered in my ear. ďThat fool went to the same exact bank as before. Turns out it had been him the whole time, except for the last two checks, of course. Iíll tell you more when I know more.Ē She gave me a kiss on the cheek and then wandered off.

ďYour nan just pinched my butt,Ē Charles told me with a laugh.

ďNanís gotta Nan,Ē I responded, rolling my eyes. She and I could have a talk about boundaries later. Right now I wanted to enjoy my evening held tightly in Charlesís strong arms.

ďHowíd you know it wasnít Trish?Ē he asked me.

ďIt was too perfect,Ē I murmured, ready to put this whole thing behind me and enjoy the rest of the gala as best I could.

ďKind of like you,Ē he said, giving me a quick kiss on the cheek.

ďYeah, sure,Ē I joked, but snuggled closer to him all the same. If he wanted to believe I was perfect, then I refused to stop him.

[ ŗūÚŤŪÍŗ: img_3]

It was Harmony of all people who finally gave the info that would solve the case. Remember that mean masseuse? Yeah, her.

Turns out Trish had visited Serenity day spa because Stoneówhose real name was Declanóalso worked at the Dewdrop Springs branch of the First Bank of Blueberry Bay. Heíd helped Mr. Leavitt cash his stolen checks and then frame Trish for it.

And Harmonyówhose real name was truly and legitimately Harmonyóheard enough to testify against him. From there, he cracked wide open and confessed everything.

Paisley hadnít seen Trish before because Trish didnít technically work for the shelter. The sweet but forgetful front desk attendant Pearl was her grandmother, and for weeks Mr. Leavitt had been threatening to let her go due to her age and the suspicion she had early onset dementia. Heíd used that threatalong with a few carefully constructed lies to con Trish into carrying out his dirty work.

And when he sensed me and Nan hot on his tail, he set Trish up to take the fall for all of it. Heíd sent her to cash the checks with Stone. Heíd also sent her to buy the stolen supplies, instructing his lackey to purposefully end up in the wrong lot and force her to walk all about town with the hopes someone would discover her suspicious behavior.

And, yeah, Iíd played right into his hand.

If it werenít for my pets and that disgusting dead mouse, I may have never realized that weíd accused the wrong person.

Luckily, my petswere gross, and Mr. Leavittówhose first name is Alex, by the wayówould be going away for a long, long time. Now someone who really believes in the animal shelterís mission will be taking over as the Community Outreach Coordinator.

Pearl.

A doctor quickly dismissed the dementia diagnosis and ruled her completely in good health and of sound mind. So now, she runs things, and her devoted granddaughter Trish has taken over as the first face you see when entering the facility.

Nan and I, for our part, plan to continue organizing fundraisers to help the shelter get back on its feet.

So I guess you can say we all lived happily ever after.

Well, until the next case anywayÖ