Ник Сайнт - Purrfectly Deadly

“That’s all right,” said Chase. “Odelia already made arrangements with Miss George, and Mr. Rubb.”

“She did?” asked the Commissioner, surprised. “You’re some reporter, Miss…”

“Poole. Odelia Poole.”

He frowned. “The name sounds familiar. Why does the name sound familiar?”

“Perhaps because Donovan Rubb called you to complain about being arrested?” she asked. “At which point you pressured the mayor into getting Chase fired. Again.”

“Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah,” he said, looking appropriately contrite. “Look, all that stuff wasn’t my idea in the first place, all right?”

“Oh, now you’re blaming me?” asked Mrs. Putin. “Nice. Real nice.”

“I’m blaming your husband, that’s who I’m blaming. Boyce set this up.”

“Look, I don’t care who set up whom,” said Chase now. “All I care about is that my name is cleared and that you put an end to those rumors.”

“Sure, sure, Chase. Whatever you want, son. I’ll get you your job back, I’ll even throw in a nice promotion and a nice big fat pay raise, all right?”

Odelia looked at Chase. Being reinstated as an NYPD detective was all Chase had ever wanted. But it would also mean leaving Hampton Cove, and she wasn’t sure how she felt about that. She was surprised when she heard him say, “That’s all right, Commissioner. I’m fine out here in Hampton Cove.”

“Are you sure?” asked the Commissioner.

“He said he was sure, didn’t he? Now delete those pictures already.”

“Can you just shut up for one minute? I’m handling this.”

“You can’t even handle your way out of a paper bag,” she grumbled.

“Yes, I’m sure,” said Chase now. “I like it out here. A lot less hassle.”

“Suit yourself,” said the Commissioner. “If you want Hampton Cove, Hampton Cove is what you get. I’ll talk to the guy in charge here, um, what’s his name…”

“Chief Alec,” Odelia supplied.

“That’s right. I’ll tell him to take you back. Now about those pictures…”

“I think I’ll hang on to those for now,” Odelia said. “Just until I’m sure you’re keeping your end of the bargain.”

“Oh, I’ll keep my word,” said the Commissioner. “I’ll get you sorted out.”

“That sounds great, Vernon,” said Chase, and Odelia was surprised Chase was on a first-name basis with the Commissioner. He’d never told her.

“Look, I’m sorry, all right? I should never have made that damn deal.”

“Especially since you knew damn well I wasn’t going to talk,” said Chase.

“It wasn’t just me,” said the Commissioner. “When Boyce found out…”

“I understand,” said Chase. “It’s all about politics, right?”

“It is,” said the Commissioner with a shake of the head. “Back when your father and I were still walking the beat, me as a rookie and he as the seasoned vet, things were different. Once you get to my level, it’s all about politics, son.” He eyed Chase ruefully. “I’m sorry. I’m going to set the record straight.”

Chase nodded once, and then promptly turned around and walked away.

“I’m just gonna, um…” Odelia said, and then quickly followed Chase.

“You’re not gonna let that guy off the hook so easy, are you?” cried Malka Putin. “He’ll talk, I told you. All cops talk. Jabbermouths, the lot of them.”

“Not Chase Kingsley,” grunted the Commissioner. “And now will you just shut up for once and listen to me?”

Odelia smiled to herself as she rounded the lodge. Those two made a great couple. They should have their own show. She quickly caught up with Chase.

“How did this happen?” Chase asked when she fell into step beside him.

“How did what happen?”

“How did we get out here just when the Commissioner and Malka Putin were holed up in there?” He eyed her suspiciously. “Are you with the NSA? CIA? FBI? Did you put a tracking device on Vernon’s car or something?”

She laughed as they reached the clearing and descended the few steps to the parking lot. “Yes, I used a tracker, but no, I’m not with any agency.”

“How did you plant a tracker on Vernon’s car?”

She wondered how much to tell him, then decided the less he knew the better. He’d never believe her, and would probably think she was nuts.

“I put a tracker on Max, as he has a habit to wander off and get lost. A tracker and a panic button, actually. So when he triggered the alarm I knew we better come out here and get him before he started to panic.”

He stared at her. “So you had no idea Vernon would be here?”

“Nope,” she said, trying her darndest to keep a straight face. “Complete coincidence. Pretty amazing, huh?”

He shook his head. “You’re something else, Odelia Poole, has anyone ever told you that?”

“Yes, they have, but I don’t mind hearing it again.”

“Well, you are,” he said, leaning against the truck while he studied her intently. “So you’re saying your cat just so happened to be out here when Vernon and Malka Putin were going at it, and he just so happened to trigger the alarm, putting you in the perfect position to snap those shots?”

“Yep,” she said blithely. “That’s cats or you. They will amaze you.”

“They sure will.” He stared at her, and she noticed for the first time that his brown eyes were flecked with gold. He was pretty amazing himself. Then he shook his head and smiled, flashing those dimples at her. “You should have been a cop, Odelia. Are you sure you don’t want to join the force? I bet we’d make one hell of a team.”

“What would Dan do without me? I’m the only reporter he’s got.”

“He’ll find someone else.”

“Why don’t I stay a reporter and we can still be one hell of a team?”

He grinned. “Teaming up with the world’s nosiest reporter, huh?”

“Why not? This is Hampton Cove, Detective. We do things—”

“—a little differently out here. Yeah, I got the memo.”

He was leaning in now, and for a moment she thought he might kiss her. But then a sharp voice sounded from behind them. “How long do I have to sit here in this stinking truck?! I have rights! I demand to see my lawyer!”

Chase patted the truck and moved away. “Duty calls, Poole.”

“If I’m not mistaken it’s the black widow calling.”

He cocked his index finger at her and lithely rounded the truck and slid behind the wheel. “This time you follow me, Poole. No more surprises.”

“Yes, sir,” she said, tipping an imaginary cap.

She climbed into her own pickup and let the four cats in behind her. They jumped up onto the backseat and she slammed the door shut, then put the car in gear and drove off in Chase’s wake.

“You guys did great,” she told the fearsome feline foursome.

“Is Chase staying?” asked Harriet eagerly.

“He is.”

“Oh, thank God,” said Brutus.

“Thank Max,” said Odelia. “He’s the one who got us out here.”

“Thank you, Max,” said Harriet.

“Yeah, thanks, Maxie, baby,” grunted Brutus, then held up his paw. “Hit me, bro.”

“Oh, God,” muttered Max, rolling his eyes, but then he did as instructed and gave Brutus a high five.

Odelia, watching the cats through the rearview mirror, noticed that Dooley was the only one who wasn’t smiling. “What’s wrong, Dooley? Cat got your tongue?”

“Ha ha. Very funny. Max scratched my nose. It hurts.”

“All for a good cause, Dooley,” said Max.

“Yes, you’ll get over it, Dooley,” said Harriet.

“It’s called taking one for the team, Dooley, baby,” said Brutus.

“I’m not a baby!”

“Oh, yes, you are, you big baby,” Harriet cooed, and gave Dooley a peck on the whiskers. It perked him up considerably and he touched the spot reverently.