Purrfect Ghost (The Mysteries of Max Book 71) by Nic Saint

Author:Nic Saint [Saint, Nic]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Puss in Books
Published: 2023-09-22T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 16

We found Mae West in her modest little front garden, rooting out pesky weeds. Of her husband Julio there was no trace, as he had headed into town to do a little shopping. Mrs. West was a cheerful woman of about sixty, with a round face and a pleasant demeanor. She certainly didn’t strike me as the type of person who would go to court over a couple of cherries, but then stranger things have happened, of course. Next to her, an Alsatian lay reposing peacefully, though the moment we approached, he pricked up his ears and became attentive.

“Maybe I should leave my cats in the car,” said Odelia as she gave the large dog a look.

“Oh, nonsense,” said Mrs. West. “Roger Moore wouldn’t hurt a fly. Now what is it you wanted to talk about? The dead man next door, presumably?”

“That, and your cherry,” said Chase.

The woman’s cheeks reddened. “I beg your pardon?”

Chase realized his social faux pas and hastened to clarify, “Your cherry tree. According to several testimonies from your neighbors, you and Mrs. Mitchell don’t get along due to a conflict about a cherry tree?”

“Oh, that,” said Mrs. West with a casual wave of the hand. “That’s all taken care of. Julio and I have decided to cut that tree at the root. Problem solved.”

“You’re going to cut your cherry tree?”

“That’s right. Ever since we planted that tree and it first began to produce fruit, it’s been the same story every year. Unfortunately for us, we planted it much too close to the fence, and so now over seventy percent of the tree actually hangs over that woman’s side. And since she figures that every cherry that falls into her backyard is hers, she brazenly picks them up and eats them! She even bakes cherry pie and then has the gall to offer us a piece.” She shook her head. “She’s the worst neighbor you can imagine. Too bad Mrs. Pecker decided to move, for she was the perfect neighbor. Never had any trouble with her. She also picked up the cherries, but then handed them back to us—to the last one!”

“And now you’re going to cut it down?” asked Odelia. “That seems like such a pity. Can’t you talk things through with Holly?”

“Absolutely not. We have tried talking to her until we were blue in the face, but she will not budge. She’s adamant that those cherries are rightfully hers, and so she will pick them—and eat them!”

As the conversation flowed back and forth between Mae and our humans, we turned our attention to Roger Moore, who was still eyeing us with keen attention.

“Say, have I met you guys before?” he asked now.

“It’s possible,” I said.

“Are you a member of dog choir, Roger Moore?” asked Dooley. “Because we spend a lot of time at the park, which is where we may have met.”

“I’m not a member, unfortunately,” said Roger Moore. “Though I would like to join. But Melvin keeps telling me I don’t have a great singing voice, and apparently that’s one of the major requirements to join up.

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