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“I needed to get it somewhere safe. Somewhere I could find later if needed but that Vinnie wouldn’t be able to track. Understand?”

“Stop upsetting the lady,” Jinx hissed. “Can’t you see she’s crying now?”

Bonnie assumed the hiss was meant for her and lowered the cat to the ground, then glanced up at me with shimmering eyes full of tears.

“So he killed Max for the coat,” I said softly. “How did he know?”

She sniffed, much like Max had so many times in my presence.“He’s smart. I’m not surprised he figured it out. I should have known better. But a girl can hope, right?”

“You need to turn yourself in,” I urged. I didn’t want to upset her, but she had important information that needed to be shared. Whether or not I’d liked Max, his killer needed to be brought to justice. “Tell the police what you know. Help them capture Vinnie.”

She nodded.“I know. I know. I will. But…” Her eyes cut into mine like steel. “Your name’s Angie, right?”

“Yeah.” Honestly I was surprised she’d picked it up. I thought she was just another silly woman who used her body to attract the attention of whatever man she wanted. I hadn’t given her enough credit—either for her intelligence or the tough situation she’d found herself tangled up in.

“Angie, I’m really scared. Now that Vinnie knows I was trying to blackmail him, he’s not going to let me go. I had a small chance before, but now I’m basically a dead woman walking.”

I flipped the blade closed and dropped my hand to the side.“We’ll find him. We can protect you until he’s behind bars,” I promised. Even as I spoke the words, I knew I’d do whatever it took to help this stranger find peace.

“You’d help me?” Her voice cracked on that last word, and I could tell she was moved by my offer.

I shook my head.“Not me. I’m definitely not qualified to take on some big city mobster, but the police… They’re good here. They can help. I’m sure of it.”

“If you trust them, then I trust you,” she said, reaching a hand toward me. This time I grabbed it and held it in mine, and we marched around the front of the house to talk to Officer Bouchard together.

“Wait,” I said right before we rounded that last corner. I turned, and sure enough that one-eyed black cat was trotting after us.

“What?” he mewed at me when he caught me staring at him with a huge smile.

“Wherever you go next, I’m sure you’d like to have a friend,” I told Bonnie, squeezing her hand before letting it go. “Take him with you. Oh, and consider naming him Jinx. It fits him.”

Jinx strode over and rubbed his head against Bonnie’s leg. “No more of that Captain Blackbeard nonsense,” he said with a smirk. “I owe you one.”

Bonnie scooped him up and smiled.“That’s a really good idea,” she told me. “I left everything behind to get away from Vinnie. It’s been real lonely. I thought I could hide from him on my own. I should’ve known better.”

“Stop beating yourself up, and stop doing it all on your own,” I urged.

“Witness protection,” she murmured. “I can testify. Help put Vinnie away.”

“Yes. You’ll finally be safe and free.”

She smiled at me through tears.“The leverage probably wasn’t the best idea, but I didn’t know what else to do. I thought he’d follow me no matter what I did, and at least with the leverage I’d have a chance.”

“It’s okay. It’s going to be okay.” And deep in my heart, I knew it would be. “I don’t know where you’ll end up next, and I’m probably not supposed to, but just know… You’ve got a friend in Glendale, Maine, if ever you need one.”

“Bye, Angie,” she said, giving me a quick hug and squeezing Jinx between us.

I watched as she strode up to Officer Bouchard and began telling him everything. She would be all right, and at least one of the shelter cats had found a home tonight.

Now it was up to me to help the others find their perfect matches—just like Bonnie and Jinx had found in each other.