Ник Сайнт - Purrfect Rivalry

“But Harriet!” Dooley cried.

She turned at the door, held up her paw and snapped, “Talk to the paw, Dooley!”

And then she was gone.

“Talk to the paw?” Dooley asked. “Why do I have to talk to her paw?”

“It’s an expression,” I said. “It means she doesn’t want to listen to you.”

“Oh, I’m used to that,” said Dooley. “I just didn’t see what her paw had to do with anything.”

“Oh, Dooley, Dooley,” said Clarice. “You are a sweetheart, aren’t you? Let me just say it’s her loss if she chooses Diego over you. The cat is a moron, and I don’t say that lightly.”

“Harriet is not a moron,” said Dooley, coming to Harriet’s defense even under these circumstances. “She just has a strange taste in cats, I guess.”

“That’s an understatement,” I said.

And just as we were about to walk out and return home, Brutus sailed into the room, moving at sixty miles an hour. “Where is she? I heard her voice! Where is Harriet?!”

“Tough luck, macho,” said Clarice. “Harriet and Diego are back together and she’ll scratch out the eyes of anyone who dares to come between them.” She shook her head. “That’s it,” she announced. “This is the straw that broke the camel’s back. I’m out.”

“But you’re not a camel, Clarice,” said Dooley. “Are you?”

She smiled and gave his cheek a tender stroke—no claws involved. “See you around, Dooley. And you, Max and Brutus. And if you see Diego, kick him in the rear from me, will you? Don’t hold back.” She held up her paw and dropped something. “Clarice out.”

After she’d stalked from the room, tail held high and head up, we stared at the item she’d dropped. It was a piece of Diego’s fur that must have gotten stuck in her claws.

“What a cat,” said Dooley admiringly. “What. A. Cat.”

“Is it true what she said about Harriet?” asked Brutus, a pained expression on his face. “Is she back together with Diego?”

“Yes, it’s true,” I said. “She was in here ready to pick a fight with Clarice over Diego, accusing her of trying to steal him from her. Nonsense, of course, but Harriet bought it.”

Brutus plunked down on his haunches, a haunted look in his eyes. “That’s it. I’m out, too. This is the end, you guys. I’m done fighting.”

“Good,” I said.

“Why is that good?”

“Because we’ve got something to show you,” I said, and led him into the bathroom.

Chapter 27

It was late in the afternoon when Odelia pulled up to the arts center in downtown Hampton Cove. The Seabreeze Music Center was usually reserved for local artists showcasing their talents, the occasional concert, ballet or musical performance, but today hosted perhaps the biggest star of the moment. Charlie Dieber was preparing to go on tour again, to promote his upcoming album, and had picked the Seabreeze for a tryout slash surprise gig. The venue chosen, he’d dropped clues on his social media accounts, and W-AWOL5 had also been spreading the word in the days since his appearance on their show.

When Odelia learned about the show from her uncle Alec, a tightness had spread across her chest, and she knew she had to be there to ward off whatever that little voice inside her head kept telling her. Not that the little voice was particularly intelligible, or even made any sense to her, but she knew something was wrong, and she had to try and stop it.

So she’d called Chase, who agreed to meet her at the Seabreeze, and now she stood scuffing her toe on the pavement and biting her lip as she waited for the cop to show up.

Dozens of highly excitable girls stood giggling and gibbering animatedly, all wearing Charlie Dieber T-shirts, Charlie Dieber caps and some of them even sporting Charlie Dieber temp tattoos on their cheeks. One girl, who couldn’t have been older than twelve, started singing ‘Will You Love Me Forever?’ and the rest quickly chimed in. It was one of Charlie’s biggest hits, but for some reason it annoyed the heck out of Odelia now. She’d been such a big fan, but since she’d taken a peek behind the curtain and gotten a good look at the kid hiding there, she’d lost all respect. She felt like Dorothy, only Charlie was even worse than the Wizard.

Chase arrived and darted a curious glance at the dozens of kids now singing another Dieber hit. ‘I want to be your boyfriend, will you be my girlfriend, baby?’ they were yelling.

“I knew you were a fan, babe. I just didn’t know you were such a big fan,” Chase said with a grin. “Are you sure this is your crowd? You seem kinda old to be a Bedieber.”

“Ha ha. Very funny. We’re here on official police business, Chase. Not as fans.”

“Official police business, huh? And you’re not even a cop.”

“You’re the cop. I’m just here to make sure you arrest the right people.”

Uncle Alec also joined them, looking slightly out of breath. “Damn. I had to park a mile away. This Dieber kid is popular.”

“You figured that out now?” asked Chase, clapping his superior officer on the back.

“Yeah, I had no idea,” Alec said, extracting a big white handkerchief from his pants pocket and wiping his brow. “Now what’s all this about a security threat?” he asked.

“I don’t think Toby committed suicide,” Odelia said.

“You told me already. And I’m telling you he did. Gunpowder residue on his hand, position of the body, fingerprints on the gun. He did it, Odelia. He killed Ray Cooper and then he killed himself when he realized you were onto him and he wasn’t getting away with it.”

She was shaking her head. “I don’t buy it. I just…”

Chase and her uncle exchanged a glance. “Those hunches again, huh?” asked Alec.

“I thought you told Chase I was always right?”

“Yeah, but that was before you decided to ignore solid evidence. Did, um…”

“Did what?”

He darted a quick look at Chase. “Did one of your informants tell you something?”

“No. Not this time. This time I’m trusting my own gut.”

This didn’t seem to inspire her uncle with a great deal of confidence. If her cats gave her inside information from the feline world, he was fully on board. Now? Not so much.

But finally he shrugged. “You know? I’ve never been to a Dieber concert before.” He frowned at the braying crowd of teenagers. “I’ll bet it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

“Look at it this way, Chief,” said Chase. “It’ll help you stay young.”

“Or deaf,” he grumbled as he covered his ears.

The doors to the center opened, and the braying intensified, turning into a roar. As one girl, the troupe stormed the door, and practically flattened the man who’d opened it.

Once inside, Odelia was surprised to find the theater as big as it was. It had been ages since she’d been in here, last time for a Christmas show, and she hardly remembered.

They walked on through to the front, and proceeded to climb up to the stage, which was loaded with equipment ranging from guitars, synths, drum set, amplifiers, and even a baby grand piano, where, presumably, Dieber would play ‘Girlfriend,’ his breakthrough hit.

They were met backstage by Carlos Roulston, who gave them a curious look.

“When I got your phone call I honestly thought it was a prank,” he said.

“Better safe than sorry,” said Chief Alec.

“So there’s been a threat? Is it credible?”

“Very credible,” said Chase as he shot a look at Odelia.

Roulston nodded. “I hired some extra people so we should have everything covered. Appreciate the heads-up. Let’s just hope your source was wrong and things go smoothly.”

He walked off, barking some orders into his phone, and Odelia, Chase and her uncle watched from the wings as people milled about, and the theater quickly filled up.