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The main offices of the Karat Group looked like any other office building the world over: a bland block of glass and concrete, absolutely devoid of personality or individuality. In other words: a joyless mass created by an uninspired architect who, like most captains of industry, seemed to believe that in order to be productive, one must also be miserable.

Chase parked his car in the parking spot reserved for Cotton Karat himself, correctly assuming that the man wasnÆt in need of it right now, and we entered the soulless complex.

We were soon greeted in the lobby by Tobias Pushman, and I must say I found myself looking at the lawyer in an entirely different light.

ôI really canÆt see him with Lita Fiol, Max,ö said Dooley. ôThey just donÆt seem to fit.ö

ôNo, theyÆre worlds apart, thatÆs for sure,ö I said. ôThough you know what they say about opposites, Dooley.ö

ôTheyÆre sworn enemies?ö

ôNo, they attract, apparently.ö

ôI donÆt see it, Max. I really donÆt.ö

Tobias led us into his former bossÆs officeùthough it was in actual fact his current bossÆs office, since his real boss was actually still alive. It was his fake boss whoÆd been murdered.

EricÆs laptop had already been removed by the tech people, whoÆd also processed the office for possible clues as to the manÆs late-night meeting with his murderer.

ôWe interviewed Lita Fiol just now,ö said Chase, and I think we all watched the lawyer closely to see how heÆd react. He didnÆt flinch. Not even a squint or a grimace.

ôCool customer,ö was DooleyÆs estimation of the man.

ôOh?ö said Tobias. ôWho is she?ö

ôYou know very well who she is, Mr. Pushman.ö

A smile spread across the lawyerÆs face. ôOf course. The Duck Liberation Front. So what did Miss Fiol have to say for herself?ö

ôShe claims she couldnÆt have killed Mr. Blandine, since she was in bed with you at the time.ö

This time the lawyer did flinch. He even blanched, then tucked a finger between neck and collar and tugged.ôIs that what she said?ö

ôOh, yes.ö

ôA case of opposites attract, Mr. Pushman?ö asked Odelia with a fine smile.

The lawyer coughed into his fist, clearly buying himself some time.

ôWhat do you talk about at night, I wonder,ö said Chase. ôDucks?ö

ôNo, we avoid the topic,ö said Tobias, then sank down onto the edge of Cotton KaratÆs desk. He rubbed his face. ôLook, I never asked for this, you know. It just happened. I still donÆt know why. Cruel twist of fate, maybe? And IÆve asked Lita a million times to stop badgering my employer. But she believes in her cause. And I can only admire her for it.ö

ôWhat did you think when that box arrived with a letter from LitaÆs action group?ö

ôI was hoping sheÆd have an explanation for me,ö said Tobias. ôWhich is why I tried calling her this morning, but of course I couldnÆt reach her since she tends to switch off her phone when sheÆs at work.ö He held up his hands. ôLook, I know Lita. SheÆs the ultimate nature lover. In that she would never harm anyone, man or beast.ö

ôYouÆre not covering for her, are you, sir?ö asked Odelia.

ôNo, of course not!ö

ôWhy did you say you were home alone last night?ö

ôBecause I want to keep my relationship with Lita Fiol a secret, of course! Can you imagine what it would look like if people knew? The lawyer of one of the biggest foie gras producers in the country dating the leader of the Duck Liberation Front? It wouldnÆt look good, I can tell you that. Notfor me, and not for her.ö

ôOkay, so how do you explain the DLF connection?ö asked Chase.

ôI canÆt! ThatÆs whatÆs so infuriating. Look, Lita is harmless, all right? Apart from a couple of dry-cleaning bills the extent of her actions are some bruised egos and maybe a raised awareness that the way this industry has been treating animals is something we need to look at.ö

ôSheÆs a big threat to your bottom line.ö

ôSheÆs not. No, really,ö he added when Chase quirked a skeptical brow. ôWe all know that we need to make sure that animals are treated in a more humane way, and I can assure you that the Karat Group is well aware of this, and that steps are being taken in that direction. In that sense Lita and I are both on the same sideùabsolutely. No, all I can think is that one of her members has decided to take matters into their own hands.ö

ôBehind LitaÆs back?ö

ôOf course,ö Tobias agreed. ôA lot of people have signed up recently. In fact Lita told me only yesterday about two members she felt were a little overzealous.ö He took out his phone. ôI even wrote down their names. Ah, here they are. Vesta Muffin and Scarlett Canyon. They actually wantedto use real blood yesterday, instead of the usual red paint.ö

ôWeÆll look into them, sir,ö said Chase, exchanging a look of amusement with Odelia. ôNow can you take us to the person who received that tin containing BlandineÆs liver?ö

Tobias nodded and picked up the phone on Mr. KaratÆs desk. A moment later, he hung up. ôIÆve asked her to come up.ö

ôHave you decided how to handle the death of Mr. Blandine?ö asked Odelia.