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“I’m not sure. Tell him something.”

“Hello, Chase!” Dooley said with emphasis. “Do you understand what I’m saying?”

Chase laughed.“I must be going crazy. Talking to a bunch of cats.”

“I don’t think he can understand us,” I said.

“No, I don’t think so either.”

“Oh, God,” said Chase, glancing up at the sky. “You know? I don’t know about you guys, but there’s something really funny going on with this family. The way all the women keep chatting with their cats, as if they can actually understand a word they’re saying. And how Odelia keeps dragging mysterious witnesses from her hat.” He shook his head. “If I put my detective’s cap on, I’d say she does actually… talk to you guys. Which, as we all know, is impossible.” He glanced over to us. This time we just stared at him, without uttering a word.

Was Chase onto Odelia’s secret? That wasn’t good. Or was it?

Chase laughed.“See? I’m doing it again. Talking to a bunch of dumb animals. Let me just make one thing perfectly clear.” He leaned in, and lowered his voice. “This family may be weird, but I love the hell out of them. All of them—even Odelia’s pain-in-the-ass Granny. And I know that you do, too. So let’s make a deal, all right? I’m going to promise to take good care of you guys, if you promise to take good care of Odelia. Deal?”

“Deal,” both Dooley and I said in unison.

I’d always liked Chase, and now I was liking him even more, if possible.

Chase stared at us.“Well, I’ll be damned,” he muttered. “You little dudescan talk.”

“Of course we can talk,” said Dooley. “What do you take us for? Dumb animals?”

“That’s exactly what he takes us for, Dooley,” I said. “He just said so.”

“I know, but he was probably kidding, right? Weren’t you kidding, Chase?”

But the cop was shaking his head.“Holy crap. This is some weird shit right there.”

“I resent being called weird shit,” I told him.

I liked Odelia’s boyfriend, but not if he was going to start calling us names.

“Okay. Let’s try this again,” he said. “Max.”

“Yes, Chase?”

“Can you understand me?”

“Of course I can understand you. Now ask me a real question.”

“Holy mackerel. You cats can hear me! And talk back at me!”

I gulped and turned to Dooley.“Did we just reveal Odelia’s big secret?”

“I think we did,” said Dooley, looking equally stricken.

Chase then pressed his index finger to his lips.“Let’s keep this between us for now, you guys.” He then got up, and muttered, “Holy moly. This is big. This is, like, huge.”

Holy moly was right, and so was huge. Huge trouble. For us!

11. PURRFECT BETRAYAL

Prologue

The taxi pulled up at the entrance and Camilla got out. The driver darted a curious glance at the gate and cocked an eyebrow in Camilla’s direction. “Are you sure about this, honey? Doesn’t look like they’re expecting you.”

He was right, Camilla thought. The gate was closed and the place looked less than inviting. But she’d always known her ex-husband was an eccentric, and it was just like him to invite her to some weird destination for their big reconciliation.

“No, I’ll be all right,” she said, suppressing a little giggle.

“I guess you know best,” said the driver dubiously.

As he drove off into the dark night, she suddenly felt giddy. Nervous, yes, but also excited about the prospect of finally seeing Jeb again. So much had happened in the past couple of months, but if Jeb’s texts were to be believed, he considered all of that just water under the bridge.

And she had to admit that when she got those texts, she’d been both surprised and relieved. Surprised that Jeb, after the things she’d accused him of, and the acrimonious battle in the divorce courts, wanted to meet. Relieved that he wasn’t holding a grudge, and knew she’d said all of those things simply to get his attention and to make him change his ways. And how else could she have done that than by dragging his name through the mud?

The important thing was that her plan had worked.

He’d finally realized he needed to make a change or lose her forever.

And now she was ready to throw herself into his arms and love him again.

She took a deep breath and stepped up to the gate. And as she did, it swung open with a little click and she directed a smile at the camera mounted on top. Jeb had been watching her. He’d anticipated her arrival as eagerly as she’d anticipated this fated reunion.

She straightened her shoulders, tugged at her silk Donna Karan blouse, and stepped through the gate.

As she did, the gate noiselessly closed behind her and she paused for a moment, getting her bearings.