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ôIÆm still not convinced Norwell is in the clear,ö said Chase. ôThe man admits he left the house at midnight, drove to the office, claims he discovered his key card gone and couldnÆt get in, phoned Valina at twelve-thirty, who didnÆt pick up, then drove around aimlessly for a while, before returning home around two oÆclock in the morning. Oh, and he was a member at Brookwell, so he knows how to handle bow and arrow.ö

ôEven if he didnÆt do it, donÆt you find it odd that he didnÆt see the killer?ö asked Odelia.

ôHe must have just missed him,ö Uncle Alec said. ôIf Norwell is not our guy, that is.ö He directed a pointed look to Odelia. ôYouÆre a pretty good judge of character, honey. How did the man strike you? Do you think he could be the guy we want for this?ö

ôI donÆt know, Uncle Alec. If he is, heÆs a pretty good actor. He really seemed heartbroken.ö

ôHeÆs heartbroken because Valina dumped him,ö said Chase. ôThat doesnÆt mean he didnÆt kill her out of spite.ö

ôUnfortunately we donÆt have hard evidence to go after the guy,ö said Uncle Alec. ôOnly a lot of circumstantial stuff, which simply wonÆt stand up in court.ö He sighed, then glanced down at me. ôI never thought IÆd say this, but how about you, little buddy? Any bright ideas? Cause now is a good time to share them with the rest of the team.ö

ôIÆm afraid I donÆt have anything for you at this time, Chief,ö I said. ôThough youÆre probably right about Norwell Kulhanek. He does look very good for this: the man has motive, opportunity and means. In fact heÆs the perfect suspect. But no evidence.ö

Uncle Alec turned to Odelia, who shook her head.ôHe likes Norwell for this, but as you say: as long as we donÆt have anything solid on the guy, weÆre totally stuck.ö

ôOkay, peopleùnot what I want to hear. So keep on digging and get me some results. Now get lostùall of you.ö

ôWhat about the two couples in our holding cells?ö asked Chase.

ôJust let them go,ö said the Chief with a weary gesture of his hand. He thought for a moment, then added, ôAnd letÆs pick up Norwell and give him the third-degree. See if we canÆt make the guy talk by leaning on him some.ö

ôYou mean now?ö

ôNah, he can wait until tomorrow. LetÆs call it a night, folks.ö

Chapter 24

That evening, we found our friends disconsolate and glued to the couch.

ôWhatÆs wrong?ö I asked as I hopped up onto that same couch. Odelia had placed a blanket there, to protect the cushions from our sharp claws, and even though the blanket was nice enough, I must say I preferred the original. But then of course I could understand where she was coming from: nobody likes their cushion covers ripped up.

ôDonÆt ask,ö said Harriet without even bothering to lift her head.

ôHarriet has decided to quit cat choir,ö her mate announced, looking equally glum.

ôQuit cat choir!ö Dooley cried. ôBut why?!ö

ôDo you really have to ask?ö said Harriet. ôAfter last nightÆs utter, complete disaster?ö

ôWe went into town this morning,ö said Brutus, ôand were met with snickers, whispers and funny faces wherever we went. WeÆve officially turned into Hampton CoveÆs laughingstock. The butt of every joke. The focus of derision.ö

ôIÆm the laughingstock, Brutus,ö said Harriet. ôNot you.ö

ôIÆm the laughingstock by association,ö Brutus clarified.

ôI donÆt understand,ö I said. ôAll because of that Jack business?ö

ôCats are mocking me, Max,ö Harriet said. ôTheyÆre mocking me and calling me a funny old bird, with the emphasis on bird.ö She raised her voice, regaining some of the old Harriet fire. ôThe absolute worst thing you can call a cat is a bird, Max.ö

ôThey could call you a mouse,ö said Dooley. ôThatÆs probably just as bad. Or a chicken.ö

Harriet bridled.ôOh, Dooley, will you please shut up. IÆm really not in the mood for your jokes.ö

ôI wasnÆt joking,ö said Dooley, slightly taken aback by HarrietÆs outburst. ôKingman called Buster a chicken last week, when he said he was afraid to cross Main Street on account of all the traffic. Buster got upset and said he wasnÆt a chicken, and I told Kingman that Buster was right.HeÆs a cat and not a chicken. Or is he?ö

ôNo, Buster is definitely not a chicken,ö I assured my friend.

ôSee?ö said Dooley. ôThatÆs what I told Kingman, but he just laughed and laughed and laughed.ö

ôOh, Dooley,ö said Harriet with a sigh, and replaced her head on her front paws.

Brutus drew me aside.ôDid you get a chance to talk to Harriet about you-know-what?ö

ôNot yet,ö I said. ôAnd I donÆt think now is a good time.ö

ôNo, I guess not,ö he said, darting an anxious glance at his lady love. ôSheÆs been like this all afternoon, and frankly IÆm worried, Max. Cat choir has always been her thing. ItÆs her life, you know, to be the star of the show. If you take that away from her, what does she have left?ö

ôYeah, I know.ö

ôHarriet needs to shine. Otherwiseàö He gulped, afraid to utter the fateful words.

ôSo weÆll simply have to convince her to go out there again, and ignore the gossipers.ö