The Mysteries of Max: Books 34-36 (The Mysteries of Max Box Sets Book 12) by Nic Saint

Author:Nic Saint [Saint, Nic]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Puss in Books Publications
Published: 2021-04-28T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

We’d returned to our cabin and entered to find… Ruby Kettering with her nose stuck in the closet, keenly fingering one of Odelia’s nicer blouses.

“Oh, hi,” said the girl, and color immediately crept up her neck, then her face, then all the way to the roots of her hair.

“In spite of everything she seems to be able to feel regret,” Dooley rightly observed. “Which means she’s not a psychopath, Max. Because psychopaths can’t feel remorse, or empathy for their victims. I saw that on the Discovery Channel once.”

“Good to know,” I said, as I gave the young woman a very hard look. Not that this had the slightest effect on her, as her gaze was fixed on Odelia, and she now swallowed with some difficulty. I saw that on her wrist she had on one of Odelia’s bracelets, and if I wasn’t mistaken I could even see she’d put one of Odelia’s hairpins in her hair.

“Ruby,” said Odelia finally. “I think you and I need to have a talk.”

“But… I just came in here to tidy up your cabin,” said the girl. “I, um, I figured you were so busy with the investigation you could use a helping hand. And I just happened to see your cleaner leave, and one glance told me she hadn’t done a good job, and since you were both so nice to me before, I just figured—”

But Odelia held up her hand and said, with a rather hard edge to her voice, “Save it.”

“But—”

“Enough, all right? Enough with the lies and the excuses. Come on. Let’s go.”

“Let’s go? Where?” asked the girl, a hunted look having come into her eyes.

“Out,” said Odelia, and grabbed the girl’s wrist and yanked her along in the direction of the balcony.

“You’re not going to throw me overboard, are you?!” said Ruby. “I can’t swim!”

“I saw you in the pool yesterday and you were doing just fine.”

“I’m—I’m allergic to saltwater!”

“I’m not going to throw you overboard, you silly girl.” She opened the balcony door and stepped out, taking Ruby along.

Almost automatically, Dooley and I followed. I guess by now we’re more or less trained to always go where things are happening, to observe and report. It’s like second nature. Then again, maybe spying on humans is second nature to all cats.

“Take a seat,” Odelia snapped as she indicated a chair. Ruby did as she was told, then removed the bracelet and the hairpin and placed them on the table. “I just wanted to see how they would look on me. You have such a great style.”

“Thanks,” said Odelia curtly. “Now tell me, Ruby. Why do you keep putting yourself in this position? In other words, why do you keep stealing stuff? And don’t give me some lame-ass excuse. I want you to tell me the truth, all right?”

“All right,” said the girl, much sobered. “Um, well, I guess it all started when my mom and dad decided to get a divorce.”

“A divorce? What are you talking about?”

“Mom and Dad are divorced,” said Ruby in a small voice as she massaged her wrist.

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