Catnapped!: A Dead-End Job Mystery by Elaine Viets

Author:Elaine Viets [Viets, Elaine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Group US
Published: 2014-05-06T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 18

Saturday

Helen and Phil weren’t dancing Saturday night—they were facing the music. Nancie demanded to see them both in her law office as soon as Helen came home from the cat show.

Phil waited for his PI partner in the Coronado parking lot, and motioned for her to roll down her window. “Quick!” he said. “Nancie wants us now. I’ll drive if you’re too tired.”

“I’m fine, but what’s going on?” Helen asked, as he climbed into the Igloo’s passenger seat.

“We’re not getting results fast enough,” he said.

On the drive over, Helen updated him on what Jan told her about Judge Lexie. “She didn’t have time to explain what’s wrong with the judge,” she said. “But something’s not right. I’ll find out more on Monday, when I go in early to wash the cats.”

She slammed on the brakes as a young couple talking and carrying longnecks wandered out into the road. Helen lightly beeped the horn to bring them back to this planet. The startled pair waved and boozily stepped back on the sidewalk.

Helen’s heart was pounding. “That was close,” she said. “The Saturday-night celebrating is starting early.” She was relieved to park the Igloo at the law office.

“Brace yourself for a chewing-out,” Phil said.

“I’m wearing so much cat hair, I may not feel it,” Helen said, trying to brush a clump of red fur off her shorts.

“Hurry!” Phil said. “She’ll have to take you as is.”

Inside, Helen felt like she’d been called into the principal’s office. Nancie frowned at them from behind her desk. “So, have you two made any progress?”

“We’re working on some promising leads,” Phil said.

“I don’t want promises,” Nancie said. “I want action. I saw our client today in jail. Trish is unraveling. I’m afraid she’ll crack under the strain. Jail is wearing her down. We have to get her out of there. Between the kidnapped cat and Mort’s funeral, she’s ready to snap.”

“Has Mort’s body been released?” Helen asked.

“Finally,” Nancie said. “His mother claimed it. His memorial service is Thursday, and Trish wants to go, preferably not in handcuffs. Their marriage was over, but she still has feelings for the man.”

“Who’s planning the service and the funeral?” Helen asked.

“His mother,” Nancie said. “She believes her daughter-in-law is innocent. Mort will be buried in New York, where he’s from, but she wants to have a service for him here in Fort Lauderdale, where he lived.

“Now let’s get back to this case. What are those leads, Phil?”

“I’m working on the red medallion found by Mort’s body,” he said. “We believe it may have been a souvenir from the Coventry cat show in England. The woman who can confirm it should be home late Sunday night. It may be Monday before I reach her, because of the time zones.”

“Forget the time differences,” Nancie said. “Wake her up. What’s she going to do? Fly over here and sue you? Get the information and get it fast.”

“I’d also like to talk to someone who worked in Mort’s office,” Phil said. “Can you give me those names?”

“Mort had a one-person office,” Nancie said.

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