Braun, Lilian Jackson - The Cat Who 009

Koko blinked innocently, and Yum Yum yawned.

“I’d also like to know, young man, why you reacted to Russell Simms in such an ungentlemanly manner. You embarrassed me! It’s true there was something weird about her; she moved like a cat and had eyes like a cat, and she seemed to have a sixth sense … Hey, where are you going? Come back here!”

Koko had jumped down from the desk and was walking from the room with that particular stiff-legged gait that denoted supercilious disapproval. He paused in the doorway only long enough to switch his tail contemptuously-twice- before completing his haughty exit.

“I guess I offended him,” Qwilleran said to Yum Yum. “He’s temperamental, but we have to make allowances for genius, don’t we? Koko was obsessed by the trap door long before Iggy was murdered and even before Clem disappeared, and it wasn’t because of mice in the crawl space; he knew something abnormal was going to happen down there. Koko could teach Mrs. Ascott a thing or two.”

Yum Yum purred delicately.

“That rascal made a fool of me when Arch and Amanda were here. He’s developing a mischievous sense of humor.

But I still maintain that his tail-tapping had something to do with the serial killings.”

“YOW!” Koko reappeared in the doorway, standing on his hind legs and pawing the air.

“I said s-e-r-i-a-l,” Qwilleran told him. “Not c-e-r-e-a-l.”

Both cats stared at him with expectation in every whisker.

Qwilleran looked at his watch. “Okay, you guys, it’s time for your bedtime treat!” He gave them a handful of Mildred’s crunchy breakfast food.