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I certainly hadn’t murdered the campground manager. In fact, I didn’t know a thing about her except that she could be a bit lax with the rules.

Still, I’d been under suspicion before. And for a lot less, too.

Now I couldn’t dismiss the nagging feeling that things would get a lot worse be-fore they got any better.

Chapter Ten

“Let’s get this convoy moving! Wait for me,” Pringle shouted right before I closed the door to the RV.

Of course, I had to go back in to explain why I would not be waiting for him.“You have to stay inside,” I said, hoping that would be enough.

He squinted his eyes and spoke in a husky voice not at all befitting of him.“But what if I have to pay the water bill?”

I blinked down at him in utter bewilderment.“What are you even talking about?”

“You know.” The raccoon dropped his voice to a whisper. “The bathroom?”

“You’re smart enough to use the toilet, aren’t you?” I challenged with a smirk. “Either that or you can wait for dark and then sneak out to do your business then.”

His shoulders slumped and he dropped down onto all fours.“Are you really going to make me hide out in this crummy camper the whole weekend?”

I glared down the bridge of my nose at him.“Yes, I really am. I would never have willingly brought you on this trip, but you took that choice away from me when you forced your way on board. The way I see it, you have no one to blame but yourself.”

“Well, I am coming with you,” Octo-Cat called from the kitchenette counter.

I glanced over and found him cleaning his face and paws after presumably licking all the butter off the unfinished side of the grilled cheese sandwiches.

“What? Why do you want to come?” I asked.

“Mostly because ‘The Bandit’ wants to but can’t.” The cat lifted his head and grinned at the raccoon. “But also because I’m your partner, and it sounds like we might have an investigation on our paws. I plan on claiming my share of our payment, so I might as well take on some of the work, too,” he added, licking his chops with glee.

“Fair enough,” I said, not bothering to tell him there wouldn’t be any payment for this particular case.

“Not fair at all!” Pringle cried, throwing his body up against the door so we wouldn’t exit without him.

Goodness gracious! Why did it feel like I was trying to deal with a couple of ornery toddlers here?

I shook my finger at him.“Listen up, good buddy. If I catch your big-rig raccoon butt outside of this camper even once, I’m demolishing your tree house, cancelling your cable TV, and throwing out the Nerf guns, too. Got it?”

He gulped hard.“N-n-not Carla. You wouldn’t.” Yes, the silly trash panda loved his Nerf gun so much, he’d named the darn thing.

I narrowed my gaze.“Care to try me? You know, I also think I heard Nan talking about a beagle at the shelter that needed a new home. Maybe you’d like a new play-mate?”

“You’ll pay for this,” the raccoon muttered as he stepped back from the door and disappeared into the bedroom.

“If I pay, you pay!” I shouted after him.

Octo-Cat chuckled as he leisurely made his way toward the door.“You sure told him.”

“Don’t think you’re off the hook,” I said, spinning toward the cat. “I’m still mad at you, too.”

Octo-Cat gave his best approximation of a shrug.“You may be angry with me today, but I’m angry with you pretty much every day. As far as I see it, we’re even for the time being,” he said, sauntering over.

There was so much wrong with that statement, too much for me to even attempt to address. So instead of trying, I simply opened the door and motioned for my cat to walk out ahead of me.

Charles had grabbed a set of green fabric camping chairs and set them out in front of the RV.

The police had arrived as well. A cruiser sat parked at the edge of the campground, but the officers were nowhere to be seen. Probably already inside Junetta’s home, taking stock of the scene.

A few other visitors to the campground had pulled out lawn chairs of their own and sat watching the scene unfold.

“Ugh, it smells bad,” Octo-Cat said before unleashing a trio of mighty sneezes. “What is that strange yet alluring smell?”

“Charles…” I said, practically collapsing into the seat at his side. “Please let Octavius know that I’m not available to speak with him at the moment.”

“Yeah, yeah, I get it,” the tabby groaned. “Can’t let these unimportant strangers know your big secret. Never mind that you’ll probably never see any of them ever again. I’m sure they’re all watching with rapt attention just in case they catch you talking to a magnificent specimen ofthe feline species rather than—I don’t know—gawking at the police investigation happening right under their noses. No, better you play it extra safe rather than actually discuss the case with your partner. Yeah, no thank you. While you sit here twiddling your thumbs, I’m going to investigate.”

“No, bad kitty!” I called as he trotted away with his tail raised high and haughty. “Come back here right now!”