Ник Сайнт - Purrfectly Hidden. Purrfect Kill. Purrfect Boy Toy

She sank down onto a chair. “Incredible. Usually we don’t have any suspects and in this case we have too many.”

“Hasn’t your uncle made an arrest?”

“Yes, but I’m not entirely convinced he’s the person we’re looking for.”

“Looks like you’ve got your work cut out for you, then. What about your cats? Are they all right?”

“Yeah, they’re fine. They must have been dozing on top of the ambulance when it took off.”

He chuckled. “Funny little creatures.” He lifted his hands. “Well, if there’s nothing else, I need to write my report. Your uncle is waiting, and I’ll bet a great deal of other people are, too. She was quite the celebrity, wasn’t she, this, um…” He frowned.

“Chickie Hay.”

His face cleared. “That’s right. Chickie Hay. I’m not into her style of music, I have to confess. Pop singer, was she? I’m more of a jazz man myself. This pop music…” He indicated a hand flying right over his head to show her what he thought of pop music. “Here today, gone tomorrow, whereas jazz will always survive the test of time, whether its performers are alive or have been dead for years. Now that’s real music for you.”

She got up. “Thanks, Abe, for giving me the scoop on this.”

“Oh, that’s all right. I know you’re not one of those annoying reporters who are always ready to screw up an investigation by printing stuff they have no right to. Well, good luck with your investigation, and let me know what you find.”

“Will, do, Abe,” she said, and raised a hand in farewell before leaving the office.

This case was quickly proving a real head scratcher. Usually they had a limited number of suspects but in this case they seemed to multiply the longer she worked on it. There was Laron Weskit and his wife Shannon, Charlie Dieber and his girlfriend Jamie, Nickie Hay and Yuki Hay, Hortense, Tyson, Olaf Poley, and a dozen others, members of Chickie’s staff and security team. And then there was the worrisome fact that anyone could have scaled the fence that morning and snuck into the house to commit murder.

For a person who was as universally beloved and popular as Chickie Hay, the pop star had collected a surprising number of enemies.

What she needed to do, Odelia thought as she reached the car, was make a list of all possible suspects and their motives. Maybe then she’d finally start making some progress.

She got into the car and turned to the four cats anxiously waiting in the backseat.

“And?” she said. “What have you guys discovered so far?”

“Not much,” said Max.

“Except that a coroner’s office smells like a hospital,” said Dooley, “and that it’s full of dead people kept in a very big freezer.”

“I’m sorry you had to see that.”

“But where do all these dead people come from?” asked Harriet.

Clearly Max and Dooley had been regaling the others with the story of their eventful trip.

“This is the medical examiner’s office for the entire county,” Odelia explained, “so all the suspicious deaths, all the suicides, and all the murders are brought here to be examined. And if you know that nine hundred autopsies are performed in Suffolk County every year, you can imagine Abe and his team have their hands full processing them.”

“Creepy,” said Brutus, who looked a little freaked out.

“Yes, it’s a very particular profession,” said Odelia, turning back to face the front and inserting her key into the ignition, “and personally I don’t have the stomach for it.”

“Me neither,” said Max. “I wouldn’t want to do what Abe does. No way.”

“Well, that probably goes for a lot of professions out there,” she said as she started up the car and put it in gear. “There’s lots of people who wouldn’t want to be a doctor, or a baker, or a plumber, or a painter. That’s why it’s important to choose a profession you know you’re passionate about. Like me. I love being a reporter. It’s more than just a job for me. It’s something I enjoy, and would probably even do if no one paid me to do it.”

“So what professions do you advise for us to take, Odelia?” asked Harriet.

“Um…”

“I’ll start,” she said. “When I grow up I want to be a singer. Like Celine Dion. And tour the world with my band, and play in big arenas for thousands of people. I think I’m an entertainer at heart, and I think people would pay good money to watch me perform. Your turn, Brutus. What do you want to be?”

“Uh…” said Brutus, who clearly had never given this a moment’s thought. “I guess… I could come and watch your show?” he said tentatively.

She slapped him on the paw. “That’s not a job, silly. You could do my backing vocals, though. All good artists have people to do their backing vocals and you could do mine. That way we get to travel together on my tour bus and fly around the world on my jet.”

“Yeah, I’d like that,” said Brutus, scratching his nose. He didn’t seem overly excited about the prospect of singing backing vocals. Not for Harriet or anyone else.

Odelia had swerved out of the garage and was now cruising along the highway.

“What about you, Max?” asked Harriet, who clearly loved this game. “What is your greatest passion?”

“Well, I love to eat,” said Max. “Especially now, being safe and sound and on my way home, I suddenly feel very hungry.”

Harriet grimaced. “Max, you’re not paying attention. We’re talking about the kind of work we want to do when we grow up. A job that is aligned with your greatest passion.”

“But I’m already grown up,” said Max, “and so are you, Harriet. And since we’re cats and not humans we don’t need a job. We have humans looking after us, and providing us with food and shelter and love and affection. The only job I see myself conceivably getting passionate about is helping Odelia solve the occasional mystery, which I already do now. But apart from that I don’t have a job, I don’t need a job, and I don’t want a job.”

“I’m disappointed in you, Max,” said Harriet, making a face. “I thought you were a cat who was going places, like me and Brutus. But instead you’re simply another deadbeat. Shame on you.” She now turned to Dooley. “What about you, Dooley? And don’t tell me your ambition in life is to eat, too.”

“Oh, no,” said Dooley. “I also like to drink. It’s very important to stay hydrated. And sleep, of course. It’s very important to get plenty of rest.”

“Oh, Dooley,”’ said Harriet with a shake of the head. “Looks like you’ve got two deadbeats on your team, Odelia. I’d say cut them loose and replace them with cats that show some spunk. A sense of initiative. But I know what you’re going to say: you can’t simply kick out Max and Dooley. And you’re probably right, from a charitable point of view, but at least try to talk some sense into them. Try to make them see that there’s more to life than eating, sleeping and drinking, will you? Because frankly it’s frustrating for two ambitious cats like myself and Brutus to have to deal with this nonsense.”

And after this long harangue, she lapsed into silence, causing Odelia to smile before herself and wisely keep her tongue.

Chapter 16

“How much longer is it, Jer?”

Jerry checked his watch. “Well, the party starts at nine. The show starts with a performance by some unknown local artists, and The Dieber and Jamie Borowiak are scheduled to perform at eleven, so that’s when we’re going to hit their rooms.”

“Are you sure the coast will be clear? What about security?”

“I told you a hundred times already—security will be downstairs, protecting the stars, not their rooms.”

“And how do you know all this, Jer?” asked Johnny, looking slightly mollified.