57aacbcd9598439b495cce0c68035a7c

“Nope. But I think it’s safe to say your services will no longer be required.”

“You know what? That’s actually a relief,” said Luca. He then gave Chase and Odelia a pleading look. “Please find Ray’s killer. He was a good man. He didn’t deserve to die.”

Chase clapped a hand on the man’s shoulder. “We will find his killer, Luca. You have my word on that.”

They watched as Roulston escorted him out. The moment the two men were gone, Chase turned to her.“How did you know he was the one?”

She shrugged.“Like I said. Just a hunch.”

“Just a hunch, huh? You’ve got some great hunches, Poole.”

“Thanks for trusting me, Chase,” she said, and she meant it.

“You know what your uncle told me when I first came to town?”

“No, what?”

“If my niece tells you something, you better listen.”

“Is that why you gave me such a hard time?”

He grinned.“I’ll admit, I was an idiot.”

“Yes, you were.”

“He was right, though. You’re something else, Odelia Poole.”

She placed her hands around his neck, and they shared a quick kiss.

They still hadn’t found Ray Cooper’s killer—in fact they were nowhere near solving this case—but somehow she had a hunch they were finally getting somewhere.

Chapter 16

Dooley, Brutus and I were on our way home, and when I told them about my little chat with Odelia, and how she’d assured me once more that she wasn’t secretly planning to get rid of us, they were happy as clams.

“See? I told you,” said Brutus. “Diego is a liar. That’s all there is to it. No way would Odelia or her folks ever kick us out. They adore cats! They love us!”

“I’m so glad,” said Dooley. “I feel so relieved. In fact I think I’m going to cry.”

I patted his little head.“It’s okay, Dooley. Let it all out, buddy. Don’t hold back.”

“Now all we need to figure out is how to dislodge Diego from the house,” said Brutus.

“And from cat choir,” I added. “I don’t take being kicked out of cat choir lightly.”

“We need to get that cat out of town, out of our lives, out of existence!” Brutus said.

“But how?” asked Dooley, sniffling and licking his nose. “Clarice won’t help us.”

“Yeah, that’s a serious setback,” Brutus agreed. “A very serious setback indeed.”

And we were so busy contemplating ways and means of getting rid of Diego that we didn’t even notice that a white stretch limousine had approached us from behind and had come to a full stop right next to us. The door opened, a hand stole out, and quickly grabbed me by the neck and hauled me inside! Next were Brutus and Dooley, and we found ourselves staring at none other than… Charlie Dieber!

He was smiling at us, sucking from a vape.“Hello, lovely ladies. Have we met?”

For a moment there I thought he could talk feline, but when I said,“Yeah, we met. You told me you don’t do dudes, dude—only babes.”

He grinned like an idiot, then had a fit of the giggles.“It’s almost as if you’re actually talking to me!” he said between two snorts.

“What is this guy smoking?” asked Brutus.

“I don’t know but it’s not nicotine,” I said.

“News flash, cats,” said the Dieber, having recovered slightly. He was now lying on his back, staring up at the limo ceiling, which, to my surprise, featured a large picture of Dieber’s face. Huh. “I’m going to adopt you,” he continued. “Add you to my squad. I think you three lovely ladies will fit right in. You,” he added, sticking a finger in my belly, “are a big fatty, and big fatties are usually not my style, but on you it looks kinda cute. And I dig it, girl!”

“Yeah, I dig you, too, buddy,” I said. “But here’s another news flash: I already belong to someone.”

“We all do,” said Brutus.

“Guys, I don’t think he speaks cat,” said Dooley.

“And he seems to think we’re female,” I said.

“Hey, driver!” the Dieber called out. “Plot a course for Dieber Castle, my faithful retainer!”

The driver glanced back, and when he saw the three of us did a double take. The car swerved across the road for a moment before he took control again.“Um, boss?”

“Speak now or forever hold your peace!” Charlie cried and giggled again.

“Those cats?”

“Real beauties, aren’t they? I love it when I can save a few strays.”

“They’re males, boss.”

“Good one, driver. You are a very funny individual.”

“For real, boss. I know cats, and those cats are definitely male. Just look at the faces.”

Charlie did his utmost to focus on my visage, blinking a few times in the process. He clearly had a hard time clearing the mist his suspicious vape had caused.“I like her face,” he said. “Good, strong features. Nice coloring, too. Orange.”

“Blorange,” I said.

“Nother face,his face,” the driver insisted. “Male cats have broader features than females, whose faces are more narrow. And look at the size of that cat. The sucker’s huge!”

“I know, right? And normally I don’t go for the chubby ones but there’s something about this one that holds a certain appeal to me. No idea why that would be the case.”

“And look at the black one. If that’s not a male I’m eating my hat, boss!”