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We were in Uncle AlecÆs office, discussing the case and trying to come up with a strategy on how to move forward. Chase and Odelia were studying their notes while Uncle Alec had taken a phone callà from his mother!

ôUh-huh,ö he was saying. ôUh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh. No way.ö Finally he hung up, and sat staring before him for a moment, then finally looked up. ôMy mom went undercover in the Duck Liberation Front. Did you know anything about this?ö

ôYeah, she told us,ö said Odelia.

ôWell, looks like she changed her mind,ö said OdeliaÆs uncle. ôShe and Scarlett were just driven out of a meeting and pursued half a block, just because they brought in Harriet and Brutus, concealed in a pair of bags.ö He tugged at his bulbous nose. ôWhy would they take cats to a meeting of duck fans? That doesnÆt make any sense.ö

ôIÆm afraid thatÆs my fault,ö I piped up. ôI suggested that Brutus and Harriet keep a close eye on LitaÆs outfit. Find out what theyÆre up to.ö

Odelia relayed my words to the others and Uncle Alec frowned.ôMa is also convinced that one of LitaÆs group is behind the murder of Eric Blandine. Though when she said that whoever killed Blandine deserves a medal, Lita kicked her and Scarlett out of the group.ö

ôYeah, Lita is in the clear,ö said Chase. ôShe and Tobias Pushman are an item, and they were together the night Eric was killed.ö

ôOkay,ö said Uncle Alec, clapping his hands. ôGive me a rundown of the case. What have we got so far?ö

ôWell, if we assume that the killer was actually targeting Cotton and not Eric,ö said Odelia, ôthen weÆre looking for a person or persons who held a grudge against Cotton.ö

ôAnd the list of people who hated Cotton is long,ö Chase warned. ôThereÆs his ex-wife Dawn, who wasnÆt happy when Cotton left her for a younger woman, though she was with her daughter Inari that night, or so they claim. ThereÆs Inari herself, of course, who canÆt have liked the fact that her dad hurt her mom. Then thereÆs Diedrich, the family patriarch, whoÆs seriously displeased with his sonÆs romantic shenanigans that have caused perhaps irreparable harm to the Karat Group. And of course thereÆs CottonÆs younger brother Jared, who claims heÆs not interested in taking over as CEO, but who could be lying.ö

ôAlibis?ö asked the Chief.

ôDiedrich was home aloneùhis wife died a couple of years ago. Though there are servants, Diedrich could easily have snuck out and killed Eric Blandine.ö

ôHe didnÆt know about this whole switcheroo business?ö

ôOh, yes, he did. It was TobiasÆs idea, but they worked it out together, hoping to save the company.ö

ôWhat about the brother? WhatÆs his story?ö

ôHome with his wife Susan. And yes, I checked and Susan confirmed his account.ö

ôOkay, so what weÆre left with is these duck nutters andàö The Chief grabbed for his reading glasses, which were perched atop his head. ôElvis Diamond? WhoÆs he?ö

ôMajor shareholder of the Karat Group,ö said Odelia. ôStands to lose the most if Cotton keeps up his losing streak.ö

ôRight. And you mentioned something about a competing farmer?ö

ôZak Lemanowicz,ö said Chase, nodding. ôHe used to be one of the Karat GroupÆs suppliers, until they decided to switch to Merle Poltorak. According to several people I spoke to Mr. Lemanowicz is one very unhappy duck farmer.ö

ôOkay, so you better have a chat with both this Diamond character and the duck farmer. Now how about this supermodel Cotton was dating? Did you check her alibi?ö

ôWe did,ö said Chase. ôShe was indeed in a conference call with theVogue people. TheyÆre featuring her for the twentieth time and theyÆre doing something special.ö

ôSo thatÆs a bust, too,ö said the Chief, mussing up his thinning mane so he momentarily looked like a crazy scientist. Then he carefully flattened it again against his skull. ôRight! Well, off you go, then. And bring me something good this time. I want results, peopleùresults!ö And to emphasize his words, he glared in my direction for some reason.

I gave him my best smile, which was completely lost on him, then we all skedaddled.

ôTough case,ö said Dooley as we walked out. ôEverybody seems to have an alibi. ItÆs not fair, Max. Why do they all have an alibi?ö

ôBecause theyÆre all innocent?ö I suggested.

ôBut innocent people donÆt have alibis, Max. Innocent people donÆt bother with that kind of stuff. They simply go about their lives and donÆt care if a person is murdered or not. But this lot, they all have carefully constructed alibis! Conference calls, and wives and husbands and television programs they were watchingàö He frowned. ôHow do we know that Dawn and Inari Karat were watchingBedazzled? They could be making it up.ö

ôOf course,ö I said. ôJust like JaredÆs wife Susan could be making it up. Or Tobias and Lita Fiol. All these people giving one another alibis, itÆs all highly suspect, Dooley.ö