File M For Murder

Sean glanced at me and rolled his eyes. I suppressed a smile. I wanted to know a lot more about Frank before I would feel truly comfortable with him as serious son-in-law material, though my early impressions of him were favorable. For now I gave him good marks for the way he made my daughter smile and perk up by his mere presence.

When Laura and Frank detached themselves, Frank pulled a chair close to hers and sat. Diesel came around from Laura’s other side and warbled at Frank, who laughed and patted the cat’s head. “Hey, buddy, have you been taking care of my girl for me?”

Diesel meowed several times, as if giving Frank a report on Laura’s well-being, and we all laughed. Diesel glanced back and forth between Laura and Frank, and I would have sworn that, for a moment at least, he smiled. Then he rose and trotted over to me. He head-butted my right leg, and I figured I’d finally been forgiven for leaving him at home earlier.

I beckoned for Sean to join me, and we moved into the hall to give Frank and Laura some privacy—not that they seemed to realize we were still in the room. Diesel came with us.

Sean glanced at his watch. “Wonder what’s keeping the deputy? Thought she’d’ve been here by now.”

I checked the time also. It had been almost half an hour since I’d talked to Kanesha. “Something else popped up to claim her attention, I’m sure.”

As if on cue, the phone rang, and I walked back into the kitchen to answer it. I figured it was Kanesha, and I was right.

“My apologies for not calling sooner but something came up that demanded my immediate attention.” Kanesha’s tone was brisk as ever. “I’m probably going to be detained an hour or so. I’d still like to come by.”

“That’s fine.” I wondered whether she could hear the relief in my voice. “See you then.”

After I hung up the phone, I saw that Laura, Frank, and Sean were watching me. I shared the contents of the call, and Laura visibly relaxed as Sean and I exchanged glances.

Frank frowned as he gazed at Laura. “Are you sure you’re up to talking to the cops, darling? You should get some rest.” He turned back to me. “Don’t you agree, sir?”

Laura regarded Frank fondly. “I’m okay, sweetie. I’m going to have to talk to her sooner or later, and it might as well be sooner. I want to get it over with.”

“If you’re sure you’re up to it.” Frank didn’t look happy.

“If you’ll excuse us, Sean and I have something to take care of.” I smiled at the doting couple. “Give a shout if you need anything.”

Sean followed me out of the kitchen along with Diesel. We paused in the hall near the foot of the stairs.

“What do you want me to do?” Sean asked.

“Before Kanesha arrives, I want to determine whether someone broke into the house while we were at the hospital. Check all the windows and doors on the ground floor and even on the second floor, I guess.”

Sean’s eyes narrowed. “It infuriates me to think that someone might have been in this house.”

“Me too, son.” I grimaced. “Maybe it’s time I thought about an alarm system.”

“Might not be a bad idea.”

“I’ll look into it,” I said. “Meanwhile, let’s get on with the inspection. You take the second floor, and Diesel and I will check down here.”

Diesel meowed when he heard his name. He was sitting in what I call his sentinel position, like one of those ancient Egyptian cat statues.

Sean grinned at the cat before he headed upstairs.

“Come on, boy, might as well start in the living room.” Diesel padded along behind me as I began to check the windows.

Since most of the windows in this room faced the street, I didn’t think it likely an intruder would choose one of them for a point of entry. I checked anyway. The side windows were more likely entry points because there were high shrubs and trees on that side of the house that could screen a person bent on mischief from view from the street.

From the living room I moved on to the rest of the rooms on the ground floor. I found not a sign of forced entry anywhere. The door to the porch was secure, and its lock hadn’t been tampered with.

I realized I hadn’t checked the front door, so my assistant and I walked back to it. I opened it and squatted to examine the lock. Diesel stuck his head up beside mine, as if he too were checking the lock, and warbled.

“That’s right, boy,” I said with a smile. “No signs here either.” I stood and stepped out the door, pulling it shut behind the cat and me. “Let’s check the windows from the outside.”

Diesel rarely went out into the front yard without his halter and leash, but I trusted him not to bolt. He was, like many of his breed, timid about some things and preferred to stick close to me outside. He stayed with me as we made the circuit around the perimeter of the house.

I was sweating profusely by the time we reached the front door again. I pulled out my key to unlock the door, and when Diesel and I stepped inside, Sean was coming down the stairs.

“Did you find anything?” I pulled out my handkerchief to blot the sweat on my forehead.

“Not a blessed thing. What about you?”