18f44de3c41a3c8943c05e9ff1c1336f

Moments later we were downstairs in the living room, chillaxing on the couch and keeping an eye on our humans as they got ready to start their working day. All of a sudden the doorbell chimed, and moments later Uncle Alec walked in. OdeliaÆs uncle drops by so often Odelia has given him a key to the place. But like the nice guy he is, he rings first.

ôBad news, people,ö said the Chief as he ambled up. ôThereÆs beenàö He sniffed the air. ôIs thatà bacon?ö

ôYeah, want some?ö asked Chase. He had donned an apron and was presiding over the stove, cooking up strips of bacon for himself and Odelia.

ôDonÆt mind if I do,ö said Uncle Alec as he graced a kitchen stool with his bulk. ôCharlene has gotten it into her nut that weÆre going to be vegetarians from now on,ö he explained. ôAnd frankly itÆs driving me to despair.ö

ôShe must have been talking to Vesta,ö said Chase with a grin.

ôDonÆt get me started on my ma,ö said the Chief, holding up his hand. ôDid you know she was arrested yesterday for staging a protest against some foie gras guy?ö

ôYeah, I heard about that.ö

ôI had her released the moment I found out, of course. Otherwise IÆd never hear the end of it.ö

ôDid the foie gras guy file a complaint?ö

ôWell, thatÆs just the thing. HeÆs been murdered.ö

ôMurdered!ö said Chase, the wooden spoon hovering over the pan. ôWhat do you mean, murdered?ö

ôJust what IÆm telling you. Cotton Karat has been found murdered this morning. So you and Odelia better get out there ASAP and see whatÆs going on. Meanwhile IÆll take care of these for you,ö he added, sticking his fork into a glistening strip of bacon.

ôOut there where?ö asked Chase.

ôDuck farm,ö said the Chief, tucking into his bacon with visible relish. ôAnd get this, his liver has been removed.ö

Chase gulped at this.ôHis liver was removed?ö

ôUh-huh,ö said Uncle Alec, chomping his meaty treat with unabashed delight. ôCut out of his body with a carving knife.ö

ôIs that what killed him?ö

Uncle Alec shrugged.ôGuess so. IÆm not a doctor, but IÆd say itÆs probably tough to survive your liver being removed with a carving knife. Got any more of this stuff?ö

Odelia had also arrived downstairs, and as the Chief filled her in on what had happened with Mr. Karat, it was obvious that contrary to Uncle Alec, neither Odelia or Chase had any desire to have breakfast after the gruesome details of the murder had been placed before him. The upshot was that the Chief got to eat their portions of bacon, too.

I guess when youÆre an involuntary vegetarian, itÆs all about those silver linings.

Chapter 9

It was our first murder case in a while, and obviously the killer hadnÆt stinted on the gore. When we arrived, the dead man was lying on his back in what appeared to be a pile of duck muck. Which wasnÆt all that surprising since this was, after all, a duck farm.

Abe Cornwall, the county coroner, sat hunched down over the corpse, and was scratching his head with an air of bewilderment. He looked up when we arrived.

ôHe seems to be missing his liver,ö said the frizzy-haired coroner.

ôYeah, the Chief intimated as much,ö said Chase.

ôOh, he did, did he?ö said Abe as he got to his feet with some effort and a certain creaking of the joints. ôWell, if itÆs true that the killer took the manÆs liver, I think IÆve just solved the murder for you.ö He spread his arms. ôMust be Hannibal Lecter, in need of a liver enjoyed with some fava beans and a nice Chianti.ö

And chuckling unreservedly at his own little joke, he tore off his plastic gloves.

ôSo is that what killed him, you think?ö asked Odelia, ignoring the gallows humor.

ôIÆm not sure,ö said Abe, fingering his fleshy chin. ôHeÆs got a nasty bruise on the back of his head and his throat is slightly engorged.ö

ôKnocked unconscious, then strangled?ö

ôNo, not strangled. More as ifà someone forced something down his throat. Though I doubt thatÆs what killed him. I didnÆt find any other obvious injuries. No stab wounds or contusions. No defensive wounds on hands or arms. Nothing underneath his fingernails. In fact he appears to have been in excellent health before he lost one of his vital organs.ö

ôDid you find the liver?ö asked Chase, glancing around.

ôNot yet,ö Abe said. ôBut if it really was Hannibal Lecter, I wouldnÆt, would I?ö

ôDo you have a time of death for me, Abe?ö asked Chase a little curtly.

ôBetween ten and midnight, IÆd say. And before you ask: judging from the copious amounts of blood and lividity he was killed right here on the spot. Killed and gutted.ö

ôMurder weapon?ö

ôIÆll go out on a limb here and say that youÆre looking for a serrated knife. Long, thin blade if IÆm correct. Though IÆll know more once IÆve had him on my slab.ö He grinned and stalked off, but not before adding, ôYou can expect my report on your desk, Kingsleys!ö

ôItÆs the same man who received that medal yesterday,ö said Dooley as we studied the dead man. ôThe one who got all of that fake blood thrown over him.ö

ôYeah, he didnÆt get to enjoy his medal for very long,ö I said.