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This was definitely not good.

“Can’t you just make something up?” I asked, but before I’d even gotten the full question out Mr. Gable began shaking his head.

“I wish I were that creative, but I’m worried I’ll get my story crossed, and they’ll start to suspect something.”

“Charles,” I said at once knowing the answer to this one problem, at least.“He was born for this. Can you go outside and get him to switch places with you? You can help the police, and he can keep the guests occupied.”

“I’m on it,” Nan’s boyfriend assured me with yet another thumbs up. His overuse of the gesture was starting to irritate me, but at least he meant well. And he was buying us all the time we so desperately needed.

I peeked into the adoption room and saw Scarlett herding the cats into their cages… It was not going well. “Is Jinx back yet?” I called to her through a small crack in the door, unwilling to open it fully.

She looked up at me with a confused expression.“Who?”

“Oh, um, the cat who escaped,” I muttered quickly to cover my tracks. “The one with one eye.”

“His name is Captain Blackbeard,” she corrected me with a tired shake of her head. “And no, he’s still at large.”

“I’ll go find J—the Captain for you. Be right back,” I promised, shutting the door carefully and completely to avoid any other great escapes.

By the time I returned to the main floor, Charles was just returning from outside. I drew close and put a hand on his shoulder.“Is everything going okay out there?”

He sighed but still managed a smile for me.“Not really.”

“Any ideas as to who did it?” I whispered.

“I have lots of ideas, but no proof to go with them.”

“That’s what I’m working on finding. The proof. And also a one-eyed black cat that escaped. Any chance you’ve seen him?”

Charles squinted at me as he thought, then his entire face relaxed and he said,“Yes, actually. I believe Bonnie had him outside.”

“He’s with Bonnie? Why would she have him? And why was she outside with you when you were supposed to be alone?”

He raised his hands in self-defense.“It’s not like that. She was telling me about her case and asking for housing recommendations. She’s hoping to move to Glendale soon and needed a few tips.”

“Oh, I’ll give her a tip, all right,” I muttered under my breath.

Charles gave me a peck on the cheek.“It’s cute that you’re jealous. You have nothing to worry about, though.”

I nodded and forced a smile, because actually I had lots to worry about. There was a killer on the loose, a crowd of charity guests who could find out at any moment, and a gorgeous stranger who seemed to have far more than a professional interest in my boyfriend.

I’d solve all these problems before the night was through, mostly because I had no choice in the matter.

First, though, I was going to retrieve that naughty kitty.

Chapter Nine

I watched as Charles went to retrieve the event microphone from Nan. Once he had it, he jumped straight into a fascinating tale of murder and intrigue that I knew for a fact he was making up on the spot to appease our curious guests.

I listened for a few minutes to make sure the audience was buying it—they were—and then made my break.

Just in case anyone was paying attention to me, I chose to creep into the kitchen rather than heading straight through the front door. Beyond the kitchen, situated just past the pantry, a modest-sized mudroom lay tucked out of view from the main rooms. Inside were two doors, one that led into our garage and one that went straight out into the back garden.

I chose the latter, proceeding with slow and quiet movements until I was outside on the small stoop. The screen door clattered behind me, startling a willowy figure with sandy hair in the process.

He flinched and froze in place, as if doing so would somehow keep me from noticing him. Instead it gave me an even clearer view of his features, allowing me to recognize him in an instant.

“You’re Doug,” I said, a fact and an accusation.

Doug attempted to relax into a more casual pose, but his jaw remained tense.“Guilty as charged. Shoot! I mean… Yeah, I’m Doug.”

Wow, this guy did not know how to play it cool. At least it should be easy to walk him into a confession, because right now he looked incredibly guilty. I crossed my arms over my chest and stalked closer.“I thought you went home. At least that’s what Scarlett said.”

“Oh, yeah.” Doug shoved both hands in his pockets and forced a cough, bending at the waist as he did. When he straightened back up, his eyes looked wild and desperate, like an animal that knows it’s about to become prey. His hands moved beneath the denim fabric of his jeans as he spoke. Definitely hiding something.

“I’m on my way now. See ya.” He kept one hand in his right pocket and took off in an awkward loping run.

“Wait,” I called before he could make it very far across the back lawn. “What’s in your pocket?”

He paused for long enough to mumble,“Nothing. Sorry I’ve gotta go.” Then removed both hands from his pockets and broke into a full-on sprint.