Catch As Cat Can

                "Wasn't on the Weather Channel. I watched it with her. This is one of those wild storms that comes out of nowhere." Mrs. Murphy knew how swiftly weather could change in the mountains."People are lucky their crops aren't high enough to beat down but this will tear the dogwood blossoms right off the trees."

                The sound of Harry's truck coming down the driveway sent hem all to the back door. She floated through the door heedless of tie weather."Hello, babies."

                "I'm glad you're home," Pewter confessed.

                Tucker, thrilled that Harry was home, followed her human closely."I hate this." Pewter decided to follow Harry, too.

                Mrs. Murphy scampered ahead of them as the hail sounded like artillery fire."Let's be glad we're inside tonight, safe and sound."

                That was the same feeling Cynthia Cooper had when she finally lulled back into department headquarters. At four-thirty in the morning her eyes burned, her mouth was dry. It had been one fender bender after another.

                She pushed open the heavy swinging door. The odor of fresh coffee greeted her.

                Rick smiled."Doughnuts right here. Krispy Kremes."

                "I could eat a bug." She poured coffee, grabbed a glazed doughnut, and slumped into her desk chair."Where is everybody?"

                "Out. I called Krispy Kreme and told them to give everyone doughnuts and coffee. I'd pick up the tab. Mercifully, things are slowing down. Next shift comes on at six. Hey, want a jelly doughnut?"

                "No. You don't fool me. You bought those for you."

                "Uh-yes. I even bought a carton of cigarettes, which I am stashing in your desk."

                "Why?"

                "Because if my wife comes in she'll check my desk."

                "Little lies lead to big ones." Coop rolled her eyes.

                "It's my one vice. I've tried to give it up and I finally decided, to hell with it. I might as well enjoy it."

                "Yeah." She reached for another glazed doughnut."My problem is I enjoy the first two puffs, then I can't stand the taste. Lot of money to spend for two puffs. I'm hungry. I think I'll call Miranda and ask her to make her orange-glazed cinnamon buns tomorrow."

                "It is tomorrow."

                "Oh-well, the next tomorrow." She licked her fingers."Mim threw another grand party. She was afraid it would be subdued because of Roger O'Bannon's death but it wasn't. Not really Roger's crowd."

                "I wouldn't think so. What happened?"

                "He keeled over in his chair. Pretty much like you heard over the radio." She mentioned the radios in the squad cars."Makes you think. I mean about stuff like smoking and eating doughnuts and greasy hamburgers."

                "Coop, when your number's up, it's up." Rick folded his hands over his chest as he leaned back in his big chair."And Sean won't agree to an autopsy?"

                "No, unless he's changed his mind. He was, well, you can imagine. Held it together but what a shock."

                "People have strong feelings about autopsies. If it were my brother I'd do it. In case it's something hereditary, something I could attend to."

                "Now wait a minute. You just said you're smoking, to hell with it and when your number's up, it's up."

                He grinned."Me?"

                "Wasn't it Emerson who said, 'Consistency is the hobgoblin of small minds'?"

                "You're the reader but it sounds good to me." He cocked his head."Christ, the storm is getting worse."

                She polished off the last of her doughnut."Who's back in the Taj Mahal?" she said, referring to the jail.

                "A full house. Students. People who should know better and Din Marks, the jerk who smashed Yancy."

                "Din? Well, I suppose it's better than Spirit-Moves-Us. Remember him?"

                "Easy wardrobe. Bedsheets." Rick laughed."And people give money to guys like that. Religious nuts. I'm in the wrong business. I'll shave my head, put a dot in the middle of my forehead, wear bedsheets, and chant 'Om'-instant riches. Tell people they're stressed out and need to find inner peace."

                "Spirit-Moves-Us did, with prepubescent girls."

                Rick grimaced, shaking his head."Said it was part of his religion. He won't be out of jail for years."

                "Is the guy's real name Din?"

                "That's what his driver's license said. Oh, can't really hold that Partlow kid on hubcaps. I'll let him go later. Actually, I ought to release him now. Kick his sorry ass right out in the storm. I'll run him by the salvage yard first."

                "I think I'll pay him a visit." She glanced at the clock."A five o'clock wake-up call ought to bring a smile to his face." She walked .into the cell block, Rick with her. The arrested were sprawled in :ells, dead drunk, sleeping it off. Wesley, though, sat straight up, listening to the storm."Good morning, glory," Cynthia said teasingly.

                "Sounds like a tornado."

                "They're louder," Rick answered him."We're going to take you over to O'Bannon's Salvage later this morning. If Sean makes a positive I.D. your ass is grass. If not, you're free."

                "I didn't steal nothin'. He'll tell you." Wesley listened as the hail intensified.

                "Okay." Rick shrugged.

                "Wesley, if you cooperate things will go easy."

                He glared at her."Nothin's easy."

                "Fine." She turned and walked out, Rick with her.

                Once outside the cell block they paused for a moment.