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The cat simpered a little at this, and I could tell that Dooley was doing a good job at breaking the ice. A much better job than I was doing, at any rate. So I decided to keep my trap shut. Some cats are intimidated when they come into contact with a, letÆs say, big cat like me. They see my heft and bulk and think IÆm probably some bruiser type. Whereas IÆm as far removed from the bruiser type as you can get. A pussycat, really, thatÆs me.

ôSo do you eat meat?ö asked Dooley.

ôOf course, silly,ö said Pris. ôWhat cat doesnÆt?ö

ôI donÆt,ö said Dooley. ôYou see, IÆm a vegetarian.ö

This was news to me, but I refrained from comment.

ôA vegetarian!ö Pris cried, clearly amused. ôYouÆre pulling my paw.ö

ôNo, IÆm not. IÆve seen how they treat ducks, and itÆs not pretty.ö

ôYouÆve met a duck, have you?ö

ôYes, up close and in person. His name was Fred, and he wasnÆt happy, there in his little cage, being fattened up so he could be served up as food for some meat eater.ö These last words were spoken with a touch of scorn, as befitting your true vegetarian.

ôWell, I donÆt know about that,ö said Pris. ôYou see, IÆve never set paw outside of this apartment. So IÆve never met a duck, or any other living creature, really.ö

ôOh, you poor thing!ö Dooley cried with heartfelt pity.

ôItÆs all right,ö said Pris. ôYou get used to the cloistered life. And itÆs not as if I can complain, really. Elvis really spoils me. The best food, and the best toys. And it is pretty dangerous out there, as he keeps reminding me. So itÆs probably all for the best.ö

ôIt can get dangerous out there,ö Dooley agreed. ôTwo friends of ours were chased by duck people today. They almost didnÆt make it out alive.ö

ôWhat are duck people?ö asked Pris, interested.

ôPeople who love ducks,ö Dooley explained.

Pris laughed.ôYouÆre so funny, Dooley.ö

Meanwhile, IÆd engaged in a close inspection of the kitchen, and had hit upon the jackpot: three bowls filled with the most delicious food a cat can hope to find. I was salivating, and my tummy was rumbling, reminding me it was past my feed time.

ôCould I trouble you for a few nuggets of kibble?ö I asked finally.

ôGo ahead,ö said Pris. ôEat as much as you like.ö

She didnÆt need to tell me twice, and for the next couple of minutes I was dead to the world as I gobbled up as much as I could in as short a space of time as I could manage.

When Pris finally returned her attention to me, she laughed an incredulous laugh.ôHow did you do that?!ö she cried.

I gave her a guilty look.ôToo much?ö

ôNo, itÆs fine. I just wonder where you put it. Usually a bowl like that is enough to last me three days.ö

ôThatÆs because you donÆt get out much,ö I said.

ôItÆs also because Max is much bigger than you,ö said Dooley reverently. ôHeÆs probably five times your size, Pris, so he also needs to eat five times as much as you.ö

ôHey,ö I said. ôIÆm not five times her size.ö

They both studied me for a moment, then Pris said,ôNo, youÆre right. YouÆre probably ten times my size.ö

God. EveryoneÆs a critic.

ôIs it true that your human didnÆt leave the apartment two nights ago?ö I asked, deciding to make sure this visit paid off in more ways than could be measured in kibble.

ôOh, absolutely,ö said Pris. ôElvis rarely leaves the apartment.ö

ôAnd is it true that he didnÆt mind one bit that Cotton Karat lost him half his investment?ö

ôMax!ö said Dooley. ôYou canÆt interrogate Pris like that. SheÆs not a suspect.ö

ôIÆm sorry,ö I murmured. I guess that nasty crack about my weight still stung.

ôBut Max has a point,ö Dooley said. ôYou see, a man was murdered, and weÆre trying to find out who did it. I personally think it was the duck people, but Max thinks thatÆs too obvious. So now weÆre trying to figure out where everyone was when this man was killed, and if they had a good motive for killing him.ö

ôWellà Elvis has been in a bad mood for the past couple of days,ö said Pris. ôHe watched something on television the other day, and it must have upset him a great deal, for he threw his remote across the room, and then he spent the rest of the day on the phone shouting at people. He seemed very anxious to get rid of a man named Cotton and to get a man named Jared to take his place. In fact he talked to this Jared person a lot.ö

ôJared Karat, huh?ö I said, exchanging a knowing glance with Dooley. ôInteresting.ö

ôYou really shouldnÆt stop eating meat, Dooley,ö said Pris now. ôItÆs not good for you. Us cats canÆt afford to be vegetarians, you know. In fact we might die if we go that route.ö

ôDie!ö Dooley cried, fully aghast.

ôOf course. Cats are carnivores, Dooley. We need meat. If we donÆt, well, itÆs the end.ö

ôThe end! Oh, no!ö

ôOh, sweet Dooley, I didnÆt mean to upset you,ö said Pris, as she nudged my friend. ôBut itÆs true. Whoever told you to become a vegetarian was doing you a disservice.ö

Dooley directed a look at me, and Pris gasped in shock.ôYou told him! But Maxùyou could have killed him!ö

ôWhat are you talking about? I didnÆt tell him to become a vegetarian!ö I said.