And on this note of constructive criticism, she stalked off, then turned. “Let’s go, Brutus.” And Brutus, after waggling his eyebrows at us, quickly traipsed off after her.
“Tough baby,” said Kingman.
“Harriet wants to shine,” I explained. “And it’s hard to shine when everyone shines.”
“I would like to do a solo once,” said Dooley.
Kingman and I both smiled. Now that Dooley had tasted stardom, he wanted more.
“I’ll talk to Shanille,” said Kingman. “Tonight you’ll get your solo, Dooley.”
And Dooley shone, which warmed my heart. The thing is, some cats are pleased when other cats shine. Dooley being a star made me feel happy for him, not jealous. Then again, Dooley was my friend, of course. I doubted whether I’d feel happy if, for instance, Milo ended up being the star of the piece, as I don’t like Milo all that much.
“So are you guys going to the wake?” asked Kingman.
We both stared at him. “Wake? What wake?” I asked.
“Chickie Hay’s wake, of course. Who else? Wilbur is going, and so is half the town. Wilbur said it’ll be the social event of the season.”
Wilbur Vickery, Kingman’s human, is as much a gossip as his four-legged sidekick.
“What’s a wake, Max?” asked Dooley.
“It’s when people get to greet the body of a dearly departed,” I said. “They can sit with the body and remember their loved one, or even share stories about the deceased.”
“Why is it called a wake, though?”
“Because you have to stay awake throughout the thing,” said Kingman. “If you fall asleep it’s a sign of disrespect.”
I doubted whether this was the case, but Dooley seemed satisfied. “I hope I can stay awake,” he said. “I wouldn’t want to be disrespectful to Miss Hay.”
“I’m sure we’re not invited,” I said, “so that won’t be an issue.”
“And I’m sure we’re all invited,” said Kingman. “Chickie loved pets. She would have wanted us to be there.”
“Are you going?” Dooley asked Kingman.
“You bet. Wouldn’t miss it for the world.” He abruptly turned away. Two exceedingly attractive felines had entered the store, and Kingman wouldn’t be Kingman if he wasn’t keen on welcoming them personally, wishing them a wonderful shopping experience.
And as Dooley and I walked out of the store, I said, “Maybe we should go to the wake. Pay our respects.”
“Maybe we should,” Dooley agreed. “And maybe Gran can sing her song again. As a sign of respect.”
“I doubt whether that’ll happen.”
“But why? She’s a very good singer.”
“No, she’s not. She’s a terrible singer.”
“But Charlie likes her, and Laron Weskit. And they are the experts.”
“They like her because of the novelty factor. Once that wears off, they’d have dumped her like yesterday’s trash. It’s like those dancing poodles you see on YouTube,” I explained when he gave me a look of confusion. “We all love to watch poodles dance, but people tire of them very quickly, and then they see a grinning turtle and they all flock to the turtle, giving it likes and follows, until the novelty wears off, and so on and so forth.”
“You mean Gran is like a dancing poodle?”
“Or an elephant who can play the clarinet. Simply a novelty.”
“Poor Gran. I don’t think she knows she’s like an elephant who plays the clarinet.”
“I think deep down she does know.”
“How about Tex? Is he a novelty?”
“No, Tex is a regular musician.”
“Well, it doesn’t matter. Gran makes people laugh and makes them have a good time, and that’s all that matters, isn’t it?”
He was right. As long as people were entertained, it didn’t matter if you were a talented musician or a novelty act. And Gran certainly had a high capacity for providing entertainment.
Chapter 32
Uncle Alec had asked Chase to visit Chickie’s family and give them an update, and Chase had asked Odelia to tag along. Her presence, he felt, would smooth things over with the family after they’d already caught the wrong guy when they arrested Olaf the Stalker. Chickie’s mother had expressed disappointment with the way the investigation was progressing, and Chase felt Odelia had established a rapport with Yuki and Nickie.
“I’m not sure it’s such a good idea to bring Max and Dooley along, though,” said Chase as he drove them up to the house. “Last time Max got stuck inside the coroner’s office and you had to go and bail him out.”
“He won’t do it again,” said Odelia. Max had taken such a fright that he wouldn’t climb a fence or an ambulance for a long time. “Isn’t that right, Max?”
“Absolutely,” said Max. “No stunts from me this time. I promise.”
“Or me,” said Dooley.
“So why are we going back to the house, exactly?” asked Max.
“To give the family an update on the investigation,” said Odelia. “Especially now with Jamie’s arrest.”
“Are you going to tell them I caught Jamie?” asked Dooley.
“Um… I think we better not mention that. Most people think it’s a little strange when cats solve murders and talk to their humans.”
“I guess you’re right,” said Dooley, sounding disappointed. Now that he had solved a crime he obviously felt the whole world should be informed.
“I’ll tell them you helped, though. How about that?”
“You will? Oh, I would love that,” said Dooley, and Odelia laughed.
“He wants to take the credit for Jamie’s arrest,” Odelia explained for Chase’s sake.
“Can’t blame him. He did a great job,” said Chase. “So where are the other two?”
“I couldn’t find them. Max says Harriet walked off on a huff. She wants to sing the solos in cat choir and Shanille told her it’s not fair for one cat always to sing the solos and now she’s upset.”
“Oh, God. Cat drama. You gotta love it.”
Odelia had decided to bring Max and Dooley along because she found it very hard to see Jamie as Chickie’s killer. There was something they were missing, and in her experience it was always best to return to the scene of the crime and start afresh.
Chase parked the car across the road and they walked up to the gate. She recognized Tyson’s voice chiming through the intercom and moments later they were buzzed in.
Yuki was waiting on the doorstep, looking nervous. “So what’s the news?” she asked. “I heard you arrested Jamie? Is it true? Did she kill my daughter?”
“Let’s go inside,” Chase suggested.
They headed in while Max and Dooley stayed outside.
They followed Yuki into the living room and took their seats on a white leather sofa.
“So Jamie Borowiak was arrested this morning,” Chase began. “And we think there’s a good chance she’s the person who killed your daughter.”
Nickie had joined them and now sat, legs tucked underneath her, listening intently.
“Jamie? Are you sure?” she asked.
“Yes,” said Odelia. “We’re sure.”
“You were also sure when you arrested that stalker,” Yuki pointed out.
“He’s been released. And he’s no longer a suspect.”
“Because now you have Jamie. But what makes you so sure she’s the one? Did she confess?”
“No, she hasn’t confessed yet,” said Chase.
Odelia told them about the letter, and Yuki nodded seriously. “Pretty damning evidence,” she said. “But not conclusive, wouldn’t you say?”
“My uncle is interrogating her now,” said Odelia. “He had to wait until her lawyer arrived. I’m sure he’ll get her to confess to what she’s done.” She wasn’t entirely sure that was the case, but she could hardly share her own doubts with the victim’s family.
“I hope so,” said Yuki. “Otherwise you’ll have to let her go and then you still have nothing.”