Purrfect Match: The Mysteries of Max 54 by Saint Nic

Author:Saint, Nic
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Puss in Books
Published: 2022-04-20T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 20

We were all gathered in Uncle Alec’s office. I’d told Odelia that a credible witness had confirmed Madison was murdered, which put a completely different spin on things.

“It’s tough,” said the chief of police as he placed two beefy arms on his desk blotter. “A badger is not a good witness. A judge is not going to accept his statement. And neither is a cat. So frankly we got nothing.”

“We know it was murder,” Odelia argued.

“I know we know it was murder. But not officially we don’t. Not with a badger as a witness.” He frowned darkly in my direction, as if I was personally to blame for this dilemma.

“But we have to investigate,” said Chase. “If the guy was murdered, there has to be a murder investigation.”

“You know as well as I do that there needs to be a reasonable suspicion. What am I going to tell the DA? That a badger talked to my niece’s cat, who told my niece, who told me? He’s going to lock me up in the loony bin and throw away the key.” He shook his head. “No, we have to tackle this thing differently. We need to approach this from a different angle. An angle that leaves us out of it entirely.”

“And with us you mean the police,” said Chase.

Uncle Alec eyed his niece keenly. “You’re going to tell people you’re working for Madison’s insurance company. Investigating a life insurance claim.”

“That might be difficult,” said Odelia. “Since a lot of these people know me as a reporter for the Gazette.”

“You could them you’re moonlighting as an insurance investigator?” But when Odelia gave him a look that said, ‘Are you kidding me?’ he relented. “Yeah I guess that wouldn’t fly. So what do you suggest?”

Odelia shrugged. “I’m a reporter, so why not use that as my cover?”

“Excellent thinking,” said her uncle, pointing a stubby finger in her direction.

“And since Gran and Scarlett are already undercover,” Odelia said, “we should be able to cover all of our bases.”

Her uncle rubbed his face. “I hope they don’t mess it up, like they usually do.”

“And what do you want me to do?” asked Chase.

“You’re going to coordinate the investigation, check alibis, ask around.”

“But not officially.”

Uncle Alec shrugged. “Just tying up loose ends. You know the drill.”

“Absolutely, Chief,” said Chase.

“So there’s going to be an investigation, only there’s not going to be an investigation,” Odelia summed things up.

“Exactly,” said the Chief. “And I hope this thing won’t come back to bite me in the ass. So the sooner you can crack this case and find me Madison’s killer, the better, you hear? Before people start asking questions, and the DA starts breathing down my neck or, God forbid, the Mayor.”

“I thought the Mayor was Uncle Alec’s girlfriend?” asked Dooley.

“She is, but she’s also his boss.” When Dooley stared at me, I added, “It’s complicated.”

“Human affairs always are,” he said, and not unjustly so.

“One thing I don’t understand,” said Chase, “is how the killer got in and out of the building without using a badge.

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