“He bought her an expensive coffeemaking machine. And he brought a big wicker basket full of fancy food.”
“What kind of food?‘“Pewter’s mouth watered.
“Uh—liverpclte1, crackers, jellies, scones. Stuff.”
“Oh, I wish I’d been there. Liverpte”. My favorite.”
“Any food is your favorite.” ,
“Strawberries. I hate strawberries,‘“Pewter contradicted her.
“You know, Mom was on the phone with Susan over the weekend, and then this morning she talked to Mrs. Hogendobber about Fair and Blair, in particular; men, in general. She likes them both, but she’s… “Mrs. Murphy shrugged.
“Burned her fingers. What’s that expression? Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Guess it haunts her.”
“Here comes Coop. She already picked up her mail.”
Cooper pulled into the lot and saw the cats. “Hot outside, girls. Let’s go in.”
“Okay.“The two cats scooted inside when she opened the door.
Miranda glanced up. “Forget something?”
“No. Just a question for you and Harry.”
Harry walked up to the counter. “Shoot.”
“Oh, Harry, don’t say that.” Cynthia grinned. “What I want to know is did you notice anyone paying special attention to the bike when it was parked here?”
“Every man that walked by except for Larry Johnson.” Larry was the old doctor in town. He hardly ever used his car. He hated machines, walked everywhere, did his own wood chopping and other chores, and enjoyed robust health.
“Names.”
“Gee, Cynthia,everyone. Rob Collier, Ned Tucker, Jim Sanburne. Hogan Freely, Fair, Market, Blair—Danny Tucker about died over it and, uh, did I forget anyone?”
Miranda piped up. “Herbie and, let’s see, oh, yes, Norman Cramer.”
Cynthia furiously scribbled away. “Women?”
“Barely a glance except for me, of course.” Harry added, “Why are you asking?”
“I went over that machine with a fine-toothed comb. Then I decided to go over the saddlebags. I was so busy worrying about what was in them—nothing—that I didn’t scrutinize the outsides. Couldn’t see much anyway since they’re black, but I sent them to our little lab, just in case.”
Tucker and Mrs. Murphy pricked their ears. Pewter was playing with a cricket in the corner.
“There was a small quantity of blood on one of the bags.”
“I told you!” the cat yowled.
“Mrs. Murphy, get a grip,” Harry chided her.
“Considering how the man was shot,” Mrs. Hogendobber said, “wouldn’t blood have splattered everywhere?”
“We know how he was killed, Miranda, but we don’t really know where he was killed. We only know where the body was found. And the blood isn’t his. The tests came back on the corpse. He had a rare type, AB negative. The blood on the bag was O positive.”
“You mean—” Harry didn’t finish her sentence.
“There might be another body.” Miranda finished it for her.
“Don’t jump to conclusions,” Cynthia warned. “We’ve got a team up in Sugar Hollow. If there’s anything there, they’ll find it. Especially if it’s…” She delicately left off.
“Flesh and blood, “Tucker barked.
16
Harry, Miranda, and Susan combed the forest in the early evening light, the pale golden shafts illuminating spots here and there, the scent of moss and fallen leaves rising around them.
Although Cynthia had told them to keep out of it, they’d do more harm than good, once the sheriff’s team left Sugar Hollow, the three women zipped in.
Mrs. Murphy somersaulted as she tried to catch a grasshopper. “Spit, spit tobacco juice and then Til let you go.”
“Gotta catch him first.” Tucker thought grasshoppers beneath her attention.
“/will, O ye of little faith, and when I do I’ll say, ‘Spit, spit tobacco juice and then Til let you go.’”
“Grasshoppers don’t understand English. “Tucker put her nose to the ground again. She wanted to assist the humans, but any trace of scent other than the smell of rot still hanging on the ground was gone. The humans could no longer smell die decay. “There’s
nothing here. We’ve been walking in circles for an hour and I don’t know why they want to stick their noses in it anyway,” growled Tucker, who stuck her nose in everything.
“A dull summer. Besides, when has Mother everbeen able to sit still?”
“Isure can. “And with that Tucker plopped down.
The grasshopper or a close relative flipped by Murphy again, and she shot straight up in the air, came down with the insect between her paws, and rolled on the ground.
“Gotcha1.”
However, she opened one paw slightly for a close look at her quarry and the grasshopper pushed off with its hind legs, squirting free. Murphy pounced, but the grasshopper jumped high and opened its wings to freedom. In a rage Murphy clawed at the leaves on the ground.
“Ha-ha, “Tucker tormented her.
“Oh, shut up, stumpy.” She batted the leaves once more in disgust. “Tucker—”
“What now?”
“Look.”
The corgi reluctantly rose and walked over to the cat’s side. She looked at the small clearing Mrs. Murphy made. “A ring.”
“More than that. A wedding ring. “Murphy touched it with one claw. “There’s an inscription inside. You stay here. I’ll get Mom.”
“Good luck.”
“I’m going straight for the leg. No meowing and brushing by.”
“Like I said, good luck.”
The leaves crunched underfoot, a fallen tree trunk emanating a dry and powdery aroma blocked her path. The cat soared right over it. She blasted into the middle of the humans.
“Busy bee.” Mrs. Hogendobber noticed Murphy’s antics.
” ‘You ain’t seen nothing yet.’ “Mrs. Murphy parodied Al Jolson’s line. She fixed her gaze on Harry, then turned, ran straight for her leg, and bit it.
“Ouch! What’s the matter with you?” Harry swatted at her. Murphy expertly avoided the clumsy hand and bit the other leg.
“Rabies! That cat has rabies.” Mrs. Hogendobber stepped backward into a vine and fell right on her large behind.
“Miranda, are you all right?” Susan hurried over to help up the older lady.
“Fortunately, yes. I have ample padding,” she grumbled as she brushed off her bottom.
“Come on. “Mrs. Murphy ran around in a tight circle, then sat still in front of Harry. “Okay, Tucker, how about the National Anthem?”
“‘O say can you see—’ “Tucker warbled.
“What an awful racket.” Miranda held her hands over her ears.
Susan laughed. “She doesn’t think so.”
“Come on. Follow me. Come on. You’ll get it. Watch the pussycat.” Mrs. Murphy backed up a few steps.
“She’s yakking away as well.” Susan watched Murphy.
“Might as well see what it is.” Harry got the message. “For all I know, Tucker has her foot caught in a root or something. I never know what these two will get into.”
“As long as it’s not a skunk.” Mrs. Hogendobber wrinkled her nose.
“We’d know by now.” Susan crawled over the rotted trunk, which Murphy again cleared in one bound.
Mrs. Hogendobber negotiated the obstacle at a slower pace. By the time she was over, Harry had reached Tucker, who didn’t budge.
”’—at twilight’s last gleaming, whose broad stripes and—’ *
“Tucker, “Mrs. Murphy interrupted this outburst of patriotism, “you can stop now.”
“I was just warming up.”
“I know. “The cat reached down and touched the ring. “How long do you give them?”
“A minute. There’s three of them, and unless one of them steps on it, someone will see it.”
Harry knelt down to pat Tucker. “You okay, girl?”
“Willyou look here!” Mis. Murphy fussed.
Susan did. “Jeez O Pete. Look.”
Miranda bent over. “A wedding ring.” She reached for it, then withdrew her hand. “Better not.”
Harry snapped offa twig from a low branch, slipped it through the ring, and brought it up to her eyes. “M M 6/12/86.”