THE CAT WHO SANG FOR THE BIRDS

I’m going to my grandmother’s in California. No one understands me around here. They all try to tell me what to do. I admit I. made one bad mistake, but it was my own decision, and I’d never do it again. I’m ten years older than I was a week ago. But Jake was so good-looking and so exciting, and that red hair really turned me on. I thought life was going to be thrilling. One thing he promised me was a special room for painting and raising butterflies. Also there was some yellow spray paint in the garage, and I was going to paint the inside of it with huge Cleopatras and Sulphurs. But then he saw the caterpillars and freaked! He has a phobia about worms, so … no more butterfly-farming. I felt the same way about his buddies who Came after-hours and partied till daylight. So things weren’t as nice as I expected. One night when he was at work, I was poking around his video collection, looking for a movie, and I found a stack of Daphne’s figure drawings. When I asked about them, he said he bought them to give to the guys for Christmas. Suddenly I realized I hadn’t lost my key to the Art Center. He took it from my handbag! Then he got in the building after dark and helped himself to Daphne’s work - and got bitten by Jasper. He didn’t cut it on a broken bottle, the way he said. So I took them back to the Art Center, and when he found them missing, he blew up! That was the first time he got really rough. Then afterwards he’d be very sweet. Then there was the trouble at the Click Club, and I knew it was Jake’s gang who broke in to watch sex videos. Once he wanted to make a vulgar video of me, and I refused. He threw another fit, and it frightened me. My arms were already bruised, and I was wearing those ugly smocks to cover them up. I wanted to get away, but where would I go? I’d be too ashamed to go home. I thought of my grandmother in California. I had to figure something out. Why am I telling you all this? I guess it’s because you’ve been so kind. Well, anyway, last night after the rehearsal I went to the bar as usual and heard Jake asking Chet for more money. They were in the office upstairs, and I went up to use the phone - too noisy downstairs. I thought I’d call my grandmother collect. The office door was closed, but I could hear them talking. They were both angry. Chet said - You’ve had your payoff. What is this? Blackmail? And Jake said - You’re getting a million-plus from XYZ for the river frontage. I want my cut, Chet, or you’ll be in trouble. And Chet said - Who’ll be in trouble? You lit the match. That’s arson and murder. Then Jake said - You told me to torch the place, and I got it all on tape. Suddenly I felt dizzy and sick, and I rushed out to my car. I didn’t know what to do. Should I go to the police? Chet is an important man. I just couldn’t believe it. So I decided to go home to the condo and play it cool. When Jake came home, he said - What happened to you,Monkey? I said - I don’t feel well. He grabbed me and said - I’ve got a good cure for that. I pulled away from him and said - Get away from me, and don’t call me Monkey. I was furious. I lost my cool and shouted something I shouldn’t have. I said - I know where you got the money for this condo! It wasn’t from your uncle in Montana. I know where you got it, and why! As soon as I said it, I knew it was a stupid thing to do. He hit me with his fist, and I ran out of the house and drove to Sarah’s apartment. That’s where I am now. She’s at work. My eye is black. I couldn’t possibly be in the spelling bee tomorrow night. I called my grandmother, and she told me to catch the morning shuttle plane. She’s making the reservation for me. I’ll stay here until tonight, when he’s at work, and then I’ll go over and pick up my clothes and things. I’m not even telling Sarah. You can tell her if you want to, and she’ll tell my parents: I don’t know about the police. What do you think? Is it better just to forget I ever heard them talking? Chet’s such an important man, you know. I’ll leave it up to you. Thank you again for taking my butterflies. Phoebe

When the attorney finished reading, he said, “This can of worms has to be approached with circumspection. He is indeed a prominent citizen who’s just been honored for twenty-five years of public service. And as I said before, there’s hearsay involved. Could she possibly be a little wacky from being punched? How much of the story can be proved? I want to discuss it with my partners.”

Qwilleran stroked his moustache. “I’d like to do a little discreet snooping myself. Do you remember the Campbell scandal? Or did that happen before you came to Moose County? Ramsbottom paid his way out of a misdemeanor, and he could pay his way out of a felony. I’ll call you, or you call me.”

On the way home Qwilleran stopped at the florist shop for two more carnations.

“Again?” asked the young woman with the limpid gaze. She turned down the volume on the radio that was twanging country music. “What color this time?”