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Unfortunately cats aren’t allowed inside police interview rooms, so Dooley and I watched on as Chase and Odelia headed in. But since we’re both very curious kitties, we decided to take up position on Uncle Alec’s windowsill, and hopefully glean a little something about the goings-on from that position.

When we arrived there, we discovered that Ellie Pack was in with the Chief, conducting what was likely her very first solo interview.

“Thank you so much for this, Chief,” the girl was saying.

“You’re very welcome, Ellie,” said Uncle Alec, leaning back in his chair and looking well pleased. It wasn’t hard to imagine why he was so happy: in a box in front of him an assortment of donuts lay, and I had the impression that Ellie was the one who’d placed them there.

“Great interview technique,” Dooley remarked, who’d noticed the same thing.

“Excellent technique,” I agreed. “Ellie is a quick learner.”

“So your dad was a reporter? Is that correct?” asked the Chief as he picked a jelly donut from the box and took a big bite.

“Yeah, he was. Or at least that’s what my mom told me.”

“You never knew your dad?”

“No, he left before I was born.”

“You never met him later on?”

“Mom says they lost touch, and she has no idea where he might be. He could be dead for all we know.”

“But if he’s a reporter, there must be a way to track him down, right? Through the paper he worked for, or maybe some trade association?”

“According to Mom he quit his job so he could write a book. He moved to Alaska and that’s the last she heard of him.”

“So maybe he’s a famous writer and you don’t even know,” said the Chief with a smile.

“Maybe,” Ellie allowed. “And maybe he doesn’t even know he has a daughter.”

“You know what you should do? Go find him. And then you can write an article about how you found your dad.”

“You know, I was thinking the exact same thing. And if I find him, maybe the two of us could write a book together, father and daughter.”

“Wouldn’t that be something?” said Odelia’s uncle as he picked a cream donut from the box and managed to eat it whole in three big bites.

“Uncle Alec is an accomplished donut eater,” Dooley remarked.

“He’s a cop, Dooley. Eating donuts comes with the territory.”

“Do you think they teach donut eating at the police academy?”

“Of course. It’s part of the curriculum.”

He studied me for a moment, then smiled.“You’re pulling my paw, aren’t you, Max?”

“Yeah, I guess I am, Dooley.”

Inside the office, Ellie had gotten up.“I have to go. I have a meeting with the school principal.”

“Oh, you’re not in trouble again, are you?” asked the Chief.

“No, no. She called my mom yesterday and asked me to come in. She wants to discuss my future after my week’s suspension.”

“If you want I’ll put in a good word for you,” Uncle Alec suggested.

“No, that’s all right,” said Ellie. “Odelia has already done that.” She held out a hand. “Thank you so much for the interview, Chief Lip.”

“Just call me Alec,” said the Chief as he wiped his fingers on a napkin then shook the junior reporter’s hand. “And you’re very welcome. I think you did a great job on your first interview all by yourself.”

Ellie beamed with pride.“Thank you, Alec. Well, see you around, I guess.”

The moment she’d left, Uncle Alec turned to us and said, “Did you get all that, you nosy parkers?”

“Yeah, we got all that!” I confirmed.

“Eat another donut, Uncle Alec,” Dooley said, “You’re really good at it.”

Uncle Alec must have understood, for that’s exactly what he did—and with relish!

28

As Odelia followed Chase and the four Hampton Heisters into the interview room, she had to confess she was more than a little curious what they had to say. Only last night they’d attempted another breakin, and yet here they were, turning themselves in!

“This is Odelia Poole,” said Chase, introducing Odelia. “Our civilian consultant. Now tell me what the hell is going on here.”

They’d all taken a seat, and the foursome first exchanged hesitant glances, then finally a girl with long blond hair piped up, “We’re the Hampton Heisters, and we would like to turn ourselves in.”

“You’re the Hampton Heisters, and you’re…” He read from his notes. “Lorie Mitford?”

“Dawn Strain. She’s Lorie Mitford.”

“So you claim to be the Hampton Heisters, Dawn?”

The girl nodded.“At least that’s how the media has started calling us.” She directed a glance at Odelia.

“But why? Why this sudden attack of contrition?”

“Emma,” said Dawn. “We don’t think it’s fair for one of us to end up taking the blame for what we all did.”

“So Emma is the reason you had a change of heart?” asked Odelia.

The foursome nodded in unison.“We read that Emma is being accused of attempted murder,” Dawn continued. “And we want to state for the record that she’s innocent. She never attacked Carl Strauss. None of us did.”

“So who did?”

“I have no idea. But he was already knocked out on the floor when we got there.”