e9c12ac8d703d9a536f23183edf8b22c

“Maybe her dad was a crook?” Dooley suggested. “And he simply never told his family. Just like Tex never told his family that he doesn’t want to be a doctor anymore.”

Odelia winced.“Wait till Mom hears about this.”

“Oh, but it’s a secret, Odelia,” said Dooley. “So you can’t tell your mom.”

“I’ll tell her to keep it a secret,” she said.

“Well, then I guess it’s all right,” said my friend after giving this some thought. “As long as it’s a secret, it’s fine.”

Caroline had returned and handed a piece of paper which held the pictures of the four members of ABBA to Odelia.“This is his number. As it turns out he retired last year, though he still does odd jobs for the company from time to time as a freelancer.” She smiled. “Like I said, guys like Ken never retire.”

Odelia thanked Caroline profusely, and the latter made her promise to let her know if she found out what had happened to that diamond.

“Even if it means that my dad committed a crime,” she said as we were standing in the door. “I mean, I like to think he was an honest man, and I really hope that he was, but how well do you really know a person, right? And this is too much of a coincidence to be ignored.”

“As soon as I find out what happened, I’ll come and tell you personally,” said Odelia, pressing the woman’s hand warmly.

Caroline looked a little discombobulated, which wasn’t surprising. She’d just discovered that her dad, whom she obviously had loved and admired, might have been involved in the theft and smuggle of an extremely precious stone. You’d be discombobulated for less!

24

“I don’t understand what she sees in that guy,” said Harriet as she directed a look of annoyance in the direction of the canoodling couple.

“Like you said, he’s butch and built like a bull,” said Brutus.

They’d been taking a stroll around the neighborhood, wondering where Max and Dooley had gone off to this time, and had ended up taking a breather in a small patch of greenery the town had provided for the weary wanderer on the corner of a nearby street. Only they hadn’t had the piece of downtown greenery to themselves, but rather had discovered they were sharing it with none other than Scarlett Canyon and… Johnny.

The couple—for that was what they apparently had become in the short space of time since their first meeting—were kissing up a storm, and it seemed obvious that they really liked each other. No, make that really,really liked each other.

“He’s big and strong but he’s also a crook, Brutus,” Harriet reminded her mate. “And as far as I know Scarlett is no gangster’s moll.”

“But he’s not a gangster anymore, is he? He’s reformed now.”

“Yeah, that’s why he broke into our house last night, because he’s reformed. No, Brutus, the man is a crook, and all I can think is that this is a way for him to get his hands on that stone.”

“The diamond? But Scarlett doesn’t have it, does she?”

“No, she doesn’t, but she might possess information about how he can get it.”

“Oh, Johnny,” said Scarlett in a soft purr. “You’re such a great kisser.”

“No, you’re the good kisser, Scarlett,” said Johnny.

“So maybe we can take this inside?”

“I wish I could, but me and Jer are staying in a real dump. Not the kind of place I could take a lady like yourself.”

“So maybe we can go to my place?”

“Do you really think we should?” asked Johnny, suddenly reluctant.

“Why, don’t you want to see where I live?”

“Oh, absolutely,” said the former crook. He gazed at her reverently. “This is like a dream come true, Scarlett. It’s just that…”

“Just what, Johnny?” said Scarlett, that purr in her voice having much the same effect on Johnny as Harriet’s purr had had on Dooley. The prissy Persian recognized the technique, and for some reason resented Scarlett for employing it to such great effect.

“I promised Jerry I’d help him find this rock, see, and he’s probably waiting for me.”

“You mean the Pink Lady?”

“Yeah. Marge wants us to find out how it ended up in that safe we burgled a couple of months ago.”

“Oh, Johnny, you lead such a fascinating life,” Scarlett cooed.

“I can promise you right here and right now, Scarlett, that this is all behind me now. I’m done with the life of crime. It’s the straight and narrow for me, I swear.”

“I think it’s kinda sexy to date a gangster,” said Scarlett, eyeing her new conquest from beneath lowered lashes.

“Date?” said Johnny huskily. “Did you say date?” He seemed to have grown a few inches, which made him even bigger than the man mountain he already was.

“Well, do you want to date me, Johnny? Cause you just have to say the word and this girl is yours for the keeping.”

“Oh, Scarlett,” Johnny rasped. “Oh, Scarlett, Scarlett,” he added, in case she hadn’t heard him the first time. “Oh, Scarlett, Scarlett, Scarlett,” he croaked, this time clasping her hands in his. And then he was wrapping her into his arms and more kissing ensued.

“Yuck,” said Harriet. “I think it’s time we left these two lovebirds to themselves, don’t you?”

“Yeah, let’s go.”