The Telltale Turtle (The Pet Psychic Mysteries) (28 page)

"From your background, I would've thought an opportunist. Self-centered, egotistical."

"I'm glad I don't have to use that personality profile at Match. com. It might make it hard to get a date" She scooped the rice onto the plate and set it down in front of him with a little unnecessary force. Opportunist indeed!

He sipped his coffee and made a face. "Who taught you how to make coffee?"

"I'm really a tea maker, along with being self-centered and egotistical;" she said. "But I guess you couldn't tell that from my profile."

"Profiles can be wrong." He shrugged. "I'm sorry. Would you rather me be honest or tell you what you want to hear?"

She was tempted to ask for the latter but she knew it wouldn't be true. The conversation was too personal. She needed to get it back on track. "I want to hire you to help me." "

"You don't have to. I owe you. Like I said, I think I led this guy to you. I think your cousin is responsible for what happened to you.

I spoke to his attorney. Why do you think he's responsible for what happened?"

"It all makes sense. I think he was looking for the deed to the property when you caught him there. He was probably the one who called your show and trapped Baylor. I don't know about your car, but that could've been him too."

Mary Catherine explained about capturing the psycho caller at the convenience store. "I suppose my cousin could've hired him. Is there pirate gold hidden in the basement or something? Why would anyone go to those kinds of lengths to get that old building? Obviously he's never paid an electric bill there."

"Some people get a bug about doing things. I think he's angry about not inheriting the building. He wants it. That's enough if you have the right personality."

"But we can't prove any of that." She tapped her fingernail on the tabletop impatiently. "Do you think I'm in danger if I go back?" She told him about Angellus' offer of police protection for the next few days.

"If it helps any, I don't think he set out to kill you or anything. Like any other thief, he reacted badly when you caught him." "

"What do you suggest?"

I think you should call his lawyer and set up an appointment. If he believes you're suddenly willing to negotiate about the building, I think the other stuff will stop. We can meet with him and if he's all scratched up, we'll know he's responsible. Angellus can get his fingerprints and tie him to the breakin."

"Good plan," she complimented. "Any theories on who killed Ferndelle Jamison?"

"Maybe. But they all involve your friend Colin. I know you don't like it, but he looks guilty from where I'm sitting. He had everything to gain from her death. I don't know how much money is involved, but their feud over it has been pretty public."

"What about it being the result of a thief she caught?"

"It's always possible, but most thieves will do what they have to and run away. Whoever did this stuck around and killed her. I think her death was the intent."

"What about the person who called Colin to have him show up at the crime scene and put him in the middle of the investigation?"

"The truth?" He looked at her over the rim of his cup. "I don't think there was a call. Killers like to come back and take a look at what they've done. Firebugs are the same way."

"I can't believe Colin did this. I know everything is against him right now, but there has to be another answer."

Charlie ate the last of his rice. "If there is, we'll find it."

Mary Catherine wasn't sure if he was serious about that commitment until she looked into his eyes. She knew what she saw there. He might be down on his luck right now but he was a man of his word. She knew she could trust him. She should've believed Baylor. "I'll never hear the end of it."

"Excuse me?"

"Baylor told me from the first that I should trust you. I hate when he's right. You have no idea how obnoxious that cat can be when he's right and I'm wrong."

He laughed. "I'll have to remember to thank him. Where is he? Usually he's wherever you are. They had a heck of a time with him in the hospital."

"I made him stay outside with Danny. Neither one of them were too happy about it."

"You seem to attract a devoted following. No wonder you're so popular on the air."

There was a moment or two of awkward silence until her cell phone rang, startling them both. Danny and Baylor were back and threatening to come upstairs. She calmed them down and hung up. "I guess that's my ride."

"I'll set up a meeting with your cousin. His name is Bernard Caldwell, by the way. I'd rather go it alone but I'm afraid at this point we'll need your validation for Angellus to investigate anything we find."

"I'd rather be there and face Cousin Bernard anyway. I might bring Baylor along. He'd like a chance to get even with the person who tried to trap him."

"That could work." He smiled at her. "Thanks for coming up. I'll let you know when I've talked to him and his lawyer."

Mary Catherine knew she was weak when she looked at him, freshly shaved and smelling of soap and aftershave. Her knees quivered. She didn't know why she was so attracted to him. Maybe this was the bad-boy stage of her life.

"Thanks" She leaned forward and touched her lips to his. "Never mind the dark parts, Charlie. I think we could find some light together."

"I should warn you I'm not any good at relationships." He pulled her closer.

"At least your past efforts are probably still alive," she whispered in a husky voice. "I can't promise you won't die in some horrible accident if you're with me too long."

"Not a problem. My longest try so far has been about two weeks. Maybe I can stay alive that long."

Mary Catherine put her arms around him and welcomed his kiss. There would be nothing else between them then, at least. She was past the kind of passion that could ignore old Chinese food on the table. She had a perfectly good, reasonably clean apartment that would be much better. But that would be later.

"You're unbelievable, Ms. Pet Psychic." He opened his eyes as they parted and smiled at her. "Can you read my mind?"

"Yes I can, Mr. PI. And it's not gonna happen." She winked at him. "At least not right now."

She left him there, finding Baylor and Danny on the front steps of the building as they tried to figure out a way in.

"What took you so long?" Danny asked when he saw her.

Baylor didn't need to ask. He meowed at her, then ran back to the taxi. The cat told her he advocated trusting the man, not mating with him. She hushed him and lied to Danny about what had happened upstairs.

"And what happens now?" Danny opened the taxi door for her.

"Right now, we go home, take a nap, and wait for Charlie's call. I think you should work for a while. I don't want to be the cause of you getting in trouble."

"Okay. But you'll call me before this meeting, right? I don't " want you going with this guy alone."

I will if there's time. And Baylor has said all along that we should trust Charlie. I think we should take his advice."

Jenny and Buck were cozy in the back of the clinic when Mary Catherine stepped out of the foyer. Fred the toucan was graphic about what had been going on between the couple while she'd been gone. Waldo the goat didn't care about the couple; he just wanted to go outside.

"There you are." Jenny looked up, an attractive pink blush settling over her features. Her hair, usually drawn tightly back from her face, was a loose cloud of curls. She almost looked pretty. "I was wondering when you'd drag in."

Mary Catherine considered it might take more time with Buck to change Jenny's attitude. Then again, love could only do so much. She told them about her meeting with Charlie and the possibility of trapping the person responsible for what had been happening at the clinic. "If Charlie's right, we might have our thief and saboteur."

"That sounds good." Buck actually seemed nervous. "We've been working on the new Meaty Boy formula. Jenny's a whiz at this stuff. She's going to be the Meaty Boy spokesperson once we finish. Imagine that!"

Bruno was barking from the back of the clinic. He was impatient to start his new life with the adoptive family who were picking him up today. He told Mary Catherine he'd miss her, but was anxious to be with children again. He'd stay if she asked him, but he hoped she wouldn't mind if he left.

She assured him he could visit and that she was happy he'd be with a family again. She didn't tell him she wouldn't miss his food bill. They might only be able to rescue small dogs for a while until they started receiving some larger donations for the clinic.

"Taste this." Jenny held out a morsel of dry dog food. "Too salty?"

"That's your job," Mary Catherine told her. "I'm sure you and Buck would rather feed each other dog food. Thanks anyway."

Jenny followed her back out into the foyer. "What's wrong with you? Are you mad because I took Buck away from you?"

"Took him away? Are you serious? I was hoping not to have to hurt his feelings."

"Whatever. You wanted him. I understand that. He wants me. I hope this won't affect our working relationship."

"Believe me, I never wanted him. You're welcome to him." Mary Catherine started up the stairs with Baylor at her heels.

"You're setting your cap for that private detective, aren't you?"

"If you're talking about Charlie, I guess you could say there's something between us."

Jenny laughed. "Bad choice, Mary Catherine. Buck is a much better catch."

"If you say so. I'm going up to take a nap. I hope you two can taste test Meaty Boy quietly down here."

Her apartment was in such a mess, she felt guilty calling Charlie's place bad. Of course, this wasn't her fault. Between getting hit in the head and the police looking though everything, there wasn't much left where it belonged. She sat down heavily on her red velvet sofa and called her housekeeper, who wasn't due for two more days. She convinced her to come early with the offer of a bonus.

"Well, that's done." She yawned and looked at Baylor who'd already settled down between the velvet and the chenille throw. "I need to feed Tommy."

She took out the turtle food and looked for the bowl on the kitchen table. It was gone. She tried to contact the turtle. There was no answer. She finally found the bowl on the floor but Tommy wasn't in it.

She looked around the room as much as she could with its war scene devastation. She couldn't find him anywhere. "I guess I'll put the food on the floor over here, Tommy. If you get hungry, I know you'll find it." She put a big platter with some water on it beside the food in case he started feeling too dry. She supposed she shouldn't be surprised that his bowl was overturned with everything that had happened.

Before she could get comfortable on the sofa (she wasn't going in her room again just yet) the phone rang. Charlie had already set up an appointment to meet with her cousin. "Can you be ready to go in twenty minutes? I'll swing by and pick you up."

She wanted to get this over with. She knew she needed to examine Cousin Bernard for Baylor's scratches as soon as possible. On the other hand, she really needed a nap and something to eat. Putting an end to what was wrong in her life won out and she told him she'd be ready. There was bound to be a blueberry muffin left and she could eat lunch later.

Mary Catherine put on a flowing pink caftan and matching sandals. She was careful with her makeup, mindful of the marks on her face. The large gouge in her forehead she left under a bandage. It was too terrible looking to show the world.

If she was right and her cousin was responsible for her pain and possibly permanent disfiguration, the man deserved to see the worst. She wasn't happy going out like that, especially with the new understanding between her and Charlie. She smiled at herself in the mirror. "I guess you've still got it."

Baylor had something to say about that. His comment wasn't something she cared to dwell on. Naturally he was jealous. He'd been the only important male in her life for two years. He'd get over it. No matter how close she and Charlie became, they'd never have the bond she shared with Baylor.

The cat jumped up on the sink, rubbed up against her and meowed. She kissed his nose. "You have nothing to fear there. You and I are together forever."

Finally dressed, Mary Catherine waited outside for Charlie. He was right on time and helped her into the truck. "You look great," he said. "Are you ready for this?"

"Yes. You notice I left Baylor here. I don't want him howling and screeching like a mad thing. I don't know how he'll react when he sees my cousin."

Charlie agreed with her assessment. "I called Angellus to let him know what we're doing. He can't exactly offer backup, but he promised to be close by in case we need him. I've got him on speed dial."

They drove up Chestnut Street past the New Hanover Public Library. Her cousin lived on Third Street, about two miles from Thalian Hall. Mary Catherine and Charlie talked about visiting the hall, which was a favorite place for musical productions and other community events.