A Twist In The Tail

Nero’s gaze drifted to the cove as the cats considered the question. A red and white lobster boat bobbed in the waves. Inside, the lobsterman in his rubber apron was pulling up his pots. Nero watched as he snagged the blue and white polka dotted buoy and put the rope on the wheel that would dredge up the pot. He recognized from the buoy colors—each lobsterman had his own color scheme—that it was Buddy Turner.

Nero liked Buddy because he was kind to the cats and usually tossed them his bait scraps. He hoped Buddy had a good haul. A few minutes later the wooden slatted lobster pot appeared. Inside, he could see the succulent little creatures, some sitting contentedly, others with claws flailing. Nero felt momentary pang of sympathy for them, being dragged out of their environment and boiled alive, but it soon passed. They did taste good.

Finally, Juliette said, ‘Maybe the footprint is from someone other than the killer.’

‘Why would someone climb out the window?’ Poe said. ‘It does not make much sense.’

‘I was merely considering all possibilities,’ Juliette hissed.

‘What have you heard on the streets? Has anyone heard or seen anything?’ Nero asked quickly to keep things on track, and also avoid a fight between the two cats.

Juliette fluffed her tail. ‘Unfortunately no one has come to Father Timothy to confess about the murder.’

‘Yeah, that would be too easy,’ Harry said.

‘I did, however, notice some unusual activity from some of the Guesthouse guests up on the cliff. The belfry offers amazing views.’ Juliette preened her tail. Nero suspected it was more to draw out the attention of her discovery than for actually grooming purposes.

‘Who was it?’ Nero asked.

‘That older couple. The one with all the cameras,’ Juliette said.

‘The Weatherbys,’ Marlowe said. ‘What were they doing? It’s a steep and treacherous climb up to those cliffs, and they are old.’

‘Tell me about it.’ Juliette’s blue eyes narrowed in concern. ‘I was quite worried that I would witness them plunge to their deaths as they were bandying about on the edge of the cliff with their cameras out. They are actually quite adept for older people.’

‘Seems awful risky but I guess you can get some good pictures up there on the cliffs,’ Harry said.

‘Yes, it’s a lovely view. Great backdrop for gull pictures,’ Juliette said.

Nero though about this new wrinkle. Perhaps it meant nothing. The Weatherbys had said they were avid birdwatchers, perhaps they would go to great lengths to get pictures of baby gulls, if there were any up there. With the gull situation going on, Nero wondered if they would be reproducing at all.

‘So, the victim was seen up there. And the Weatherbys were seen up there.’ Boots’ whiskers twitched.

‘But if it was the Weatherbys, how does the chef’s clog footprint figure in?’ Marlowe glanced at Nero.

Nero simply tried to look wise. He had no idea how the two could be related. He didn’t recall the older couple wearing clogs. He was sure he would have noticed and equally sure he’d only ever seen them in sneakers. But he supposed they could have a pair in their closet. Perhaps he should investigate. He didn’t answer though. He didn’t want to seem like he had no clue. Part of his job of mentoring Marlowe was to appear as the wise teacher.

‘What about the rest of you? Has anyone seen or heard anything?’ Nero asked to avoid answering Marlowe’s question.

Everyone shook their head except for Stubbs. ‘I might’ve seen something. I put a tail on the skirt. You know, the one you said was having an affair with the victim? In my line of work, you always follow the dame.’

Nero’s brows shot up. ‘And did she do something suspicious?’

Stubbs’ shoulder sagged. ‘Not really. I spotted her downtown and that’s when I started the tail. She did a little shopping. Bought a purse. And then she went to The Marinara Mariner. I couldn’t follow her in of course, so I lost the trail.’

‘Why didn’t you wait outside?’ Harry asked.

‘I did. I sat out on the sidewalk for more than an hour, but then the wife came out and shooed me away with a broom. She’s a shrew! The owner Tony is nice, but that wife. Yeesh.’ Stubbs shook his head. ‘Anyway, I waited around back at the dumpster after that, but I never spotted her again. You can’t see the front door from the dumpster and I didn’t dare go back on the sidewalk with that wife around.’

‘Is it possible you were too busy looking at the contents of the dumpster to notice?’ Juliette’s voice was tinged with friendly sarcasm.

Stubbs drew himself up to his full height. ‘No. I kept watch the whole time.’

‘Perhaps you should’ve been tailing the Weatherbys,’ Poe said with an annoying air of superiority. He could be that way.

Stubbs made a face at him. ‘Maybe. I didn’t know Juliette had seen them on the cliff and I was going on my instincts. What did you find?’

Poe simply pretended to preen his whiskers.