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We were in the store, which was temporarily closed while Kingman’s human was being grilled by the police. Chase had first asked about the Jonagold incident, and had smoothly segued to the City Timpermart topic.

“Did the Timperleys also approach Rudolph?” asked Chase.

“I suppose they did.”

“And isn’t it true that Rudolph owns a fifty percent stake in both the store and the building?”

“Yes, but—”

“So if Rudolph decided to sell, that would put you in a difficult position?”

“Of course it would. Actually Rudolph doesn’t own fifty percent but fifty-one percent. So if the Timperleys bought him out, they’d own the business outright. And it won’t come as a surprise to you that they weren’t going to keep the store running in its present form.”

“What are their plans, did Joel say?”

“He made no secret of it. He wanted to turn the General Store into a so-called City Timpermart. It’s a new concept they’re launching, with smaller stores in city and town centers. The Hampton Cove City Timpermart would have been their pilot project, just like the Keystone Mall was the first mall the Timperleys built.” He tapped his chest again, and raised his chin. “And I was going to have to sell to them cheap, because if I didn’t, they’d buy up the property next door, and open a Timpermart right next to the General Store and drive me out of business with their cut-price tactics!”

“And what are the chances that Rudolph will sell?”

“I don’t know,” said Wilbur, dragging his fingers through his shaggy mane. “He’s in Bulgaria right now, or Hungary, I’m not sure. Touring with his new band, you know.”

“What’s the name of the band?” asked Odelia, amused.

“Um, Satan’s Brood, I think. They’re pretty awful, I can tell you. And not very successful. So there’s every chance that Rudolph will want to sell out. Provided the Timperleys have managed to reach him. When he’s touring, Rudolph isn’t always available for business conferences.” He grinned, his crooked yellow teeth bare. “He lives in a bottle, most of the time, though he likes to refer to it as living with his muse.”

“Where were you last night between ten and midnight, Wilbur?” asked Chase.

“I was here. Well, upstairs. Watching television.”

“Can anyone confirm that?”

“Kingman can.”

Both Dooley and I glanced over to Kingman, who’d sat listening to the conversation intently. He now gave us a nod of confirmation. “Yep, he was right here with me, all right.”

“Are you sure, Kingman?” I asked. “You don’t have to cover for him if you don’t want to.”

“No, but he was here. I’m not going to lie to you about something like that, am I?”

I studied our friend closely, and when I saw no signs of deception, I gave Odelia the nod. She transferred that nod to Chase, and the cop seemed satisfied.

It was probably the first time in the history of law enforcement that a cat had been able to provide his human with a solid alibi, and that the alibi had been accepted. Though if questioned in court, I very much doubt whether Kingman’s testimony would have stood up to cross-examination.

“What do you think will happen now?” asked Wilbur. “With the plans, I mean?”

“I don’t know, Wilbur,” said Chase honestly. “Looks like Abraham Timperley will come out of retirement now that his son is dead. Though from what he told us he seems more preoccupied with a new mall they’re building in New Jersey than your store.”

“I’d still try to get in touch with your brother,” said Odelia, “and convince him not to sell to the Timperleys.”

“Fat lot of good that’ll do me. Rudolph has never been one to listen to me.”

“So maybe you could make him a business proposition? Buy him out?”

“With what? I don’t have that kind of money.”

Chase clapped the small business owner on the back.“I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”

“Not unless I win the lottery,” Wilbur grumbled.

“Or you could reach some kind of arrangement with the Timperleys,” said Odelia. “Go into business with them. In exchange you’ll stay on here at the General Store.”

“And become some local stooge for corporate greed? No, thank you very much. I’ve always been my own boss, and I’m not about to change that.”

Kingman gave us a grin.“That’s my human for you. Stubborn to the last.”

“I hope he’ll be able to save his store,” I said. “Otherwise you’ll have to go.”

Kingman’s face sagged. “Yeah, I know. So you see? Wilbur would never kill Joel Timperley. He’s not stupid. He knows that chopping off one head of the Hydra doesn’t change a thing. It just grows a new head and becomes even more vicious!”

I’d never heard anyone refer to the Timperleys as a multi-headed monster, but maybe Kingman was right. Wilbur was no fool, and murdering one scion of that powerful family wouldn’t make one ounce of difference to their long-term plans. All it might accomplish was to slow down their expansion, buying Wilbur time to think up a solution.

In spite of Kingman’s wholehearted endorsement of his human, somehow I wasn’t a hundred percent convinced he wouldn’t lie for Wilbur. He was that fond of him.