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“Uh-huh.” Even though Rufus had never attended cat choir, he’d heard a lot about it. In fact all of Hampton Cove had. “So?”

“So why don’t we launch a new tradition and start a choir for dogs? Dogs like to sing, too, right? And we sure love to socialize.”

“But… how are we ever going to be able to get away?”

“Easy. We dig a hole under the fence. I’ve already dug my hole.” In fact Fifi had dug many holes. Kurt kept filling them up again, but that didn’t stop his dog from digging another one.

“Dig a hole,” Rufus said doubtfully.

“Sure! It’s easy! You know how to dig a hole, don’t you?”

“Of course I know how to dig a hole,” said Rufus. “What do you take me for? Every dog knows how to dig a hole. It’s what we do. But what if Ted or Marcie find out I’m gone?”

“They won’t find out. They’re asleep, and so is Kurt. And by the time we get back they’ll still be asleep—no harm done. So how about it?”

“I don’t know,” said Rufus. “Where would we meet?”

“At the park, where else?”

“But isn’t that where cat choir meets?”

“Who cares! The park is big enough, Rufus. We’ll simply gather at the other side of the park, far away from the cats.”

“You think?” asked Rufus, giving Fifi a look of uncertainty.

“Look, we have a right to sing as much as cats do, don’t you agree? Or do you want to be your human’s sweet pet all your life, and never set paw outside Harrington Street?”

Fifi could tell that the prospect of seeing something of the wide, wide world beyond Harrington Street clearly appealed to the big woolly dog, then finally Rufus’s furry face displayed a set look. “Okay,” he said. “I’ll do it. What time?”

“How about midnight?”

“Midnight it is,” said Rufus, and held up a big paw. Fifi placed her own tiny paw against it.

“Tonight’s the night,” she said. “The night we bust loose!”

Chapter 7

Odelia wasn’t entirely sure that inviting Randy Hancock to stay with them for the time being was a good idea, but she could hardly turn the man out again after what he’d told them now could she?

While Randy unpacked, she and Chase returned downstairs to discuss the matter.

“Did you see that video?” she said quietly. “Terrible, isn’t it? Who would do such a thing?”

“Yeah, pretty brutal stuff,” Chase agreed, also keeping his voice down lest Randy overhear them talking about his terrifying predicament.

“What do you think we should do?”

“I’ll get on his case straightaway.” He glanced down at the man’s phone. “I’m pretty sure there are ways to find out who’s been sending him these messages. Do you think Randy would mind if I take his phone?”

“I’m sure he’ll be happy to be rid of the thing, at least until this is all over.”

“I’ll head into town tomorrow,” said Chase thoughtfully.

“NYPD?”

“Yeah. An old colleague of mine will know what to do with this.” The burly cop glanced up at the staircase. “Though I wonder why Randy didn’t go to them and came to us instead.” He directed a pointed look at his girlfriend. “Or you, to be specific.”

“I have no idea.” Odelia wasn’t exactly the world’s biggest expert on stalkers. But she hadn’t wanted to ask Randy more questions, as the man looked absolutely knackered. “Let’s give him some space,” she suggested. “We can talk again when he feels up to it.”

She suddenly became aware of a strange noise. It sounded like a kettle going on the boil, but when she looked over, she saw it wasn’t a kettle but Max!

“Hey, buddy,” she said. “Everything all right?”

“What. Was. On. That. VIDEO!” Max practically bellowed.

“Inquiring minds want to know,” Dooley added.

Oh, dear. Of course. Cats being the curious creatures that they are they must have been dying to find out what was going on, exactly.

“Can you access Randy’s phone?” she asked her boyfriend.

“Sure. I asked for his password—wait a minute… here we are. Why?” He followed her gaze and saw two pairs of cat’s eyes eagerly following their every move and smiled. “Of course.” Then his smile disappeared. “Are you sure you want to show them? This is not the kind of stuff they might like to see.”

“Oh, they’ve seen worse,” she assured her boyfriend.

“Yeah, but this is pretty gruesome.”

“You think? So maybe I shouldn’t—”

“SHOW US!” Max cried, and hopped up onto the chair, then onto the table, and practically slapped that phone from her hand!

“Okay, okay,” she said, and started the video that had given Randy such a fright.

The video started innocuous enough with an image of the front of a house. Though to call it a house was probably doing it a disservice, as it was a pretty fancy mansion with two white columns supporting a portico and a white wrought-iron gate out in front.

The person holding the camera panned along the house, and they could see that the lights inside were out. A gloved hand appeared into view and easily and expertly picked the front door lock with a lock picking instrument. It only took the person five seconds, according to the little timer appearing in the left bottom corner of the screen. A message flashed on the screen:‘I can get at you whenever and wherever I want, Randy!’