Claws For Concern

Hearing his name, the cat meowed loudly. I always suspected he understood the word alone. He wouldn’t be happy left in the house by himself. I wouldn’t be happy, either. I knew I spoiled him terribly, but he was a member of the family.

“I’d just as soon stay at home for dinner,” Helen Louise said. “I thought I might run home, have a quick shower and change. I have the ingredients for what I’d like to cook, and I’ll bring them back with me.”

“Wouldn’t you rather cook at your house?” I said. “Diesel and I can come to your place if you’d prefer.”

“I’d rather come back here.” Helen Louise gave me a kiss before she picked up her purse from the counter. “I’ll be back in an hour.”

The muffled sounds of a cell phone ringtone emanated from her purse. Helen Louise dug the phone out and frowned when she saw who was calling. “The bistro,” she said to me before she answered.

I heard only her side of the conversation, and it didn’t take long to figure out that one of her employees had injured himself and was out of commission for the rest of the day. Helen Louise ended the call after promising to be there in about half an hour. She put the phone away.

“Sorry, love.” She grimaced.

“Who’s hurt?”

“Henry cut his left hand pretty badly, and a friend who was in the bistro when it happened has taken him to the emergency room. They’re shorthanded now, so I’m going to have to go in and work. Probably tomorrow, too, because I don’t imagine Henry will be able to do much.”

“You get going. I’m sorry your day away ended like this, but even sorrier for poor Henry.” I slid my arm around her and pulled her to me for another kiss. After several highly satisfying seconds she pulled away.

“Talk to you later,” she said. Diesel followed her to the door, warbling all the way. She rubbed his head quickly before she walked out the door. He stood there for at least thirty seconds, but when she didn’t come back through the door he returned to my side.

Time to call Jack Pemberton. I poured myself a glass of ice water before I settled at the table. Diesel stretched out by my chair.

Jack answered right away. “Hi, Charlie. What’s been going on?”

“Hey, Jack,” I said. “Interesting developments involving Bill Delaney. I’m curious to get your take on everything.” He listened while I told him what had happened today and didn’t comment until I finished. That pleased me because I really hated having my train of thought interrupted while I was trying to make sure I didn’t leave out any details. “So what do you think?”

“First off, I think you’re right. He has some idea of who might want to put him out of the way permanently. Now, whether it’s an old enemy with a score to settle, or the killer in the Barber case trying to get rid of him before he tells what he knows . . .” He paused. “Could be either situation.”

“True,” I said. “It could also be a vigilante type who thinks he got away with murder and decided to see justice done. I’m inclined to think it’s got to be related to the murders in some way.”

“Hadn’t thought of the vigilante angle,” Jack said. “I agree that it’s related to the Barber case. That’s what my gut instinct tells me, and it’s hardly ever wrong.”

“So we’re agreed on that,” I said. “Now, about getting together. I’m available all day tomorrow. If you don’t mind, why don’t you come here? In the afternoon we can go to the hospital to talk to Bill Delaney.” My children would be visiting their respective in-laws with their spouses tomorrow, so my usual Sunday family dinner was canceled. With Helen Louise busy at the bistro, Diesel and I would be on our own.

“That sounds good. I’d like to meet Delaney. Maybe between the two of us we can encourage him to trust us,” Jack said.

“Yes, whether he’s guilty or innocent, we need to get him talking to us,” I said.

“Would ten o’clock work for you?” Jack asked.

“That’s fine.” I gave him the address.

“I’ll e-mail you the files I have on the Barber case,” Jack said. “If you have time to look them over before tomorrow morning, that would be great.”

“No problem,” I said. “I’ve nothing else to do this evening.”

“Great,” Jack replied. “See you in the morning.” He ended the call.

I put my phone aside and gazed down at the dozing cat by my chair. “We’re going to have company tomorrow, Diesel. It’s going to be a busy day.” He roused long enough to offer a sleepy meow in acknowledgment before going back to his nap.

“Uh-oh,” I said as I suddenly realized something. With most of my usual cat-sitters otherwise occupied tomorrow, I had no one to keep an eye on Diesel while Jack and I went to the hospital. I couldn’t remember what Stewart might have told me about his and Haskell’s plans for tomorrow. If they weren’t going to be at home, I’d have to send Jack to the hospital by himself.

I picked up my phone to send a text to Stewart.

Hey there. Hope you’re enjoying your day. Are you and Haskell going to be home tomorrow morning?