0aeaa1e36e6f2e625b6ba8d48f773062

“We were out helping Odelia,” said Harriet. “She’s on a very important case and—”

“Oh? So you’re saying my time isn’t important? Is that it?”

“No, of course it is, but a man is about to die, Shanille,” said Harriet, now also adopting a markedly chilly tone. “And tell me I’m wrong but if a life or death situation crops up I think this wedding prep stuff of yours takes a backseat wouldn’t you agree?”

“Life or death situation? What are you talking about?”

“Randy Hancock,” I said. “He only has three more days to live.”

“Two and a half,” Dooley said blithely.

“And we’re trying to figure out who wants to kill him and get him the antidote he needs.”

“Antidote? This sounds like one of those silly Hollywood blockbusters, Max. Are you sure you’re not making this up as you go along?”

“No, I’m not! Randy is staying at our place, and he is going to die unless we save him.”

“Mh,” said Shanille doubtfully. She clearly wasn’t believing a word I said. “Okay, fine. So do you want to prepare for the wedding ceremony or not?”

“I do,” said Dooley, a little shakily.

“Though what we’d much rather do is stop that wedding,” said Harriet. “Wilbur obviously isn’t the right person for Gran, and our focus should be on stopping the wedding.”

“We have a lot of weddings to stop,” said Dooley. “There’s Marge and Randy’s wedding, and now Gran and Wilbur’s wedding. And meanwhile Brutus is still missing.” He hung his head. “It’s all getting a little bit much, don’t you think, you guys?”

“It’s all right, Dooley,” said Shanille, patting my friend on the head. “Weddings are joyful occasions. They shouldn’t be stopped but encouraged and celebrated. Now let’s practice, shall we? You’re going to be the first flower cat, of course, since the bride is your human, and I was thinking Harriet and Brutus could go next. As for you, Max,” she said, eyeing me critically, “I was actually thinking that you better sit this one out.”

“What do you mean?”

“We want people to enjoy the wedding. It should be a feast for the eyes and a pleasure for the soul. Dooley is simply adorable, and Harriet and Brutus are both gorgeous specimens. But as far as you’re concerned…” She tsk-tsked lightly. “Let’s just say you wouldn’t win any prizes at a cat show, Max.”

“But… why?”

She shrugged.“You’re what us professional wedding planners call too chunky for your own good. And chunky, even though it may have been fashionable in the seventies, along with weird facial hair, is out. And so are you, I’m afraid. Out of the picture.”

“But…”

“Stay out of sight would be my advice. Maybe don’t even bother to show up.”

She turned to my friends, and her smile returned.“Now for you, Dooley, I was thinking daffodils. Maybe a lace bodice? And Harriet, how does the word ‘tiara’ sound?”

And as the wedding preparations continued, I decided to follow Shanille’s advice and take a backseat. In fact I decided not to attend the wedding prep at all, and slouched out of the church. She was right. Nobody likes to see a chunky cat when they’re attending a wedding. People expect beauty and grace, not a flabby tabby waddling along.

I sighed deeply when I exited the church. The only consolation was that Kingman, too, would probably get vetoed by Shanille for being too fat. In fact Wilbur’s cat is even more voluminous than me.

And as my eyes adjusted to the brightness of the day, I suddenly thought I saw two familiar figures driving past the church.

They were Johnny Carew and Jerry Vale. The career criminals were driving a van with a decal that read,‘Pete’s Pet Paradise. We have a heart for pets.’

Chapter 30

Randy Hancock was strolling through town, taking in the sights and sounds of the bustling little town. He liked Hampton Cove, and was glad even after all these years that he’d left the big city and had moved there. It wasn’t exactly where the action was, but people were friendly and life was lived at a slower pace, which suited him just fine, after having lived life in the fast lane for far too many years.

He was dressed in a dark wig, and makeup, and a pink pantsuit, and even though people gave him the occasional curious glance, he was satisfied that no one recognized him and that’s what mattered.

He’d perfected this look over the years, dodging paps and his most fanatic fans, and had never been recognized before and didn’t expect to be recognized now.

He was glad he’d had the idea to knock on Odelia’s door and ask her to take on his case. It gave him some respite from his hectic life, which had become even more hectic of late. And poking his nose into the lives of the Poole family certainly agreed with him.

Maybe he should have become a family therapist instead of a fitness instructor!

He passed by a pet shop and glanced in the window, admiring the large fish tank on display there, the colorful fishes flitting around and strutting their stuff for all to see. He smiled, and for the first time in months felt that maybe, just maybe, his future was safe.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_3]