File M For Murder

“No sign of any kind of break-in.” I shook my head. “The only thing I can think of is that someone with a key let the person into the house.”

“Do you really think either Stewart or Justin would do that?” Sean leaned against the banister. “I don’t. Azalea wasn’t here today either, and I’m sure she wouldn’t let a stranger roam through the house unattended.”

“You’re right,” I said. “Azalea’s definitely out, but I want to check with Stewart and Justin, just in case.”

“I’ll call them.” Sean pulled his cell phone out. “I don’t think either one of them was in the house when I dropped Diesel off here. But I suppose one of them could have come back to the house after I headed to the hospital.”

“While you check, I’m going to get some water.” Diesel preceded me into the kitchen and disappeared in the direction of the utility room, where I kept his food and water bowls and his litter box.

Frank and Laura were deep in conversation when I walked in and at first didn’t appear to have noticed me. I greeted them, and they both started. I smiled as I filled a glass with tap water and drank it down thirstily.

“Laura’s brought me up to date on everything, sir.” Frank stood and walked over to near where I stood by the sink. “I’m really concerned for her safety, and I want you to know I’ll do whatever I can to help keep her safe.”

“My knight in shining armor.” Laura’s tone was teasingly affectionate.

Frank flashed her a grin. “Sir Frank at your service, milady.” Then he sobered. “Seriously, I can arrange to be with her a lot of the time she’s on campus, and when I can’t, I think I can arrange for a couple of students to help.”

“That’s kind of you, Frank.” I was touched by his offer. “I appreciate your concern for Laura.” Then I had a flash of fear—what if Frank was the one who had attacked Laura? What if his devotion to her was simply a screen for some darker motive?

I tried to keep my expression bland, and Frank didn’t seem to have noticed anything. Then another terrifying thought hit me: What if Frank killed Connor Lawton to make sure he couldn’t woo Laura back?

TWENTY-TWO

For a moment I couldn’t breathe. Diesel must have sensed my distress, because he rubbed against my legs and warbled loudly.

Frank smiled as he looked down at the cat. “He sure is affectionate. I’ve never been that fond of cats, but this guy could make me change my mind.” He bent slightly to rub Diesel’s head, and Diesel meowed at him. When Frank stopped rubbing, the cat butted his head against the man’s leg.

As Frank laughed at Diesel and petted him again, I relaxed. Diesel liked Frank, and I took that as a strong endorsement that Frank was okay. In the time since I first rescued a hungry kitten from the public library parking lot three years ago, I had learned that Diesel had an uncanny ability to judge character.

If Frank noticed any oddness in my manner, he gave no sign. Sean walked into the kitchen then, and I welcomed the diversion.

He brandished his cell phone. “Neither one was here to let anyone into the house.” He slipped the phone into his pocket.

“What does that mean?” Laura asked.

I hastened to explain about the missing thumb drive. “Sean called both Stewart and Justin to ask whether they’d been home this morning while we were all at the hospital. And whether they’d let anyone into the house.”

“Dad and I couldn’t find any signs of forced entry.” Sean threw up his hands. “So if nobody broke in or was let in by someone who lives here, then what the heck happened to that dang thumb drive?”

“You’re sure you left it on the dresser?” I asked. “You didn’t perhaps squirrel it away somewhere?”

“I left it on the dresser. I didn’t even consider hiding it.” Laura shrugged. “It must be here somewhere.”

Diesel meowed and rubbed against my legs.

Four pairs of human eyes slowly focused on one large kitty. Then the humans exchanged glances.

“I never thought of Diesel taking it.” Laura shook her head. “Does he take things?”

“Every once in a while,” I said. “He’s like most kids. He likes toys and shiny things. Did you leave your bedroom door open this morning when you left?”

“I did.” Laura stretched a hand toward Diesel. “Here, sweet kitty, come here.” Diesel chirped and walked over to Laura, who took his large head in both hands and bent to kiss his nose. “Did you take my toy, Diesel?”

Diesel meowed, and we all had to laugh. I felt some of the tension slowly drain away. “The trick now is going to be finding it,” I said. “He likes to hide his toys and then pull them out when he wants to play with them.”

“Why don’t you just ask him where it is?” Sean laughed. “You’re always talking to him, and he sure seems to understand a lot of what you say.”

I caught Frank exchanging a skeptical glance with Laura. Neither of them had of course spent as much time around Diesel as Sean, so I couldn’t really expect them to believe it could happen.