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Odelia looked around. The kitchen was sparkling clean. Daphne definitely ran a tight ship. She opened the dishwasher and saw that a large blender beaker had been placed there, along with the other paraphernalia of smoothie-making delight. Everything had been washed. She looked up when Max and Dooley came padding into the kitchen.

“No pets,” Max announced. “Not even a goldfish. So no way of knowing what happened here tonight.”

“Poor girl,” said Odelia as she took a plate from the cupboard and started preparing a cheese sandwich for Rose. “Imagine walking in on your dad like that. Dead at his desk.”

“So did he commit suicide, you think?” asked Max as he idly walked the perimeter of the kitchen, clearly hoping against hope to find a bowl filled to the brim with kibble.

“It definitely looks that way,” she said. “Though I’m sure Abe will be able to tell us.”

“Rose seems to think her dad was murdered?”

“Murdered!” said Dooley.

“I’m sure that’s just her first emotions talking,” said Odelia. “She told me herself that the door was locked and the alarm switched on. Unless Chase or my uncle find traces of a breakin, it’s doubtful that the man was murdered.”

“It could be the sausage,” said Dooley knowingly.

“Sausage? What sausage?”

“The sausage on his daughter’s phone? Max told me all about how someone sent Rose a picture of that sausage and how Chase is going to find out who sent it.”

Max gave her an uneasy look.“I had to tell him. He kept asking me questions.”

“No, it’s all right. Dooley has a right to know.” She crouched down next to the small gray cat. “Look, I only told you that fib about the sausage competition so you wouldn’t worry, Dooley. But you’re right. Someone sent a picture of a sausage to Rose’s phone, and we need to find out who did it. But between you and me? That probably has nothing to do with her father’s death. Nothing whatsoever.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure,” said Dooley. “I think when you examine Rose’s father you’ll find that a piece of sausage got stuck in his windpipe and that’s what killed him.”

Odelia grinned and gave her cat an affectionate pat on the head.“Sure, Dooley. You called it, buddy.”

“I did?” he said, blinking excitedly. He turned to his friend. “Max, I solved the case!”

“Well done, Dooley,” Max grunted, though he didn’t look entirely convinced.

Uncle Alec came waddling into the kitchen. The few remaining hairs on his head were standing in all directions, as if he’d stuck his fingers in a wall socket, and his shirt was buttoned up the wrong way, but otherwise he looked as keen and alert as ever.

“Terrible business,” he grumbled. “At least the girl still has her mom to take care of her.”

“Her stepmom,” Odelia corrected him. “Did you know Dino Wimmer?”

“Oh, sure. I didn’t bank with him but I met him a couple of times. Decent fellow. Runs the local branch of First Financial Crest over on Downing Street.” He shook his head. “Killing himself with his kid in the house—knowing she’d be the one to find him. What was he thinking?”

“Clearly he wasn’t thinking straight.”

“Tell him about the sausage, Odelia,” said Dooley. “Tell him to look in the man’s throat.”

Uncle Alec smiled as he listened to Dooley’s meows. He bent down to tickle the Ragamuffin under the chin. “What are you all worked about, little fella?” he said.

“He thinks Dino’s death was an accident. That he choked on a piece of sausage.”

Uncle Alec frowned.“Choked on a piece of sausage? That’s very specific. How does he figure that?”

Odelia smiled.“I’ll tell you some other time.”

Rose walked in and took a seat at the kitchen table.“I called Daphne. She’s coming home immediately. She totally freaked out when I told her what happened.”

“Who’s Daphne?” asked Uncle Alec.

“My stepmom,” said Rose.

“Oh, right.”

“What’s going to happen now?” asked Rose. “Are you going to look for my dad’s killer?”

“Well…” said Uncle Alec, placing his hands on his voluminous belly and giving the young girl a slightly sheepish look.

“You don’t believe me, do you? I should have known.” She turned to Odelia. “You believe me, don’t you? You believe my dad would never take his own life.”

“Of course,” said Odelia. “Of course I believe you.”

“Then I’ll hire you. I’ll hire you to look for his killer.”

“Well, I don’t know if—”

“I’ll hire you right now. How much do you need? I’ve got savings. I’ve been working weekends at Denny’s for two years now, ever since I turned sixteen. I’ve got money.”

“Look, sweetie, I’m not a private detective. I’m a reporter. And right now the best thing would be for us to wait and see what the police investigation uncovers. I can assure you that my uncle and his team are very professional and dedicated to finding the truth of what happened here tonight.”

“No, they’re not,” said Rose, an edge to her voice. “I know they won’t look for the truth. They’ll say he killed himself and that’s it. I want you to find out who murdered him, Odelia. Just like you’re looking into those pictures.”

Uncle Alec looked up with a frown.“What pictures?”

“Some creep has been sending me pictures of his—”