“And your researchin’ says?” He knows me all too well.
I did spend some time on the internet trying to figure it out. “Sometimes cats pick up on the emotions around them. What if she’s not meant to be a detective agency’s house cat?”
“She’s a kitten. She’ll bounce back.” Horns honk in the background, drowning out what he says next.
“What?”
“Sorry.” A window motor whirrs and the traffic noise abates. “I said, try a different brand of kitty chow. Maybe she doesn’t like Blue Baby anymore.”
“Huh. I suppose, but it’s the same food she’s had since day one. I wonder if kittens get bored with their diet?”
“Speaking of bored, did you sense Sienna had lost interest in her husband?”
I pull a can of tuna from the cupboard and pop open the top. “Not at all, she adores Andy.”
Catrina blinks at me, then purrs around my leg when I put a small bit of fish under her nose. “Why?”
“Just wondering if there was any truth to the rumors.”
“No way. She didn’t even like Calvin. She said they argued a lot, recently.”
“Did she say about what?”
“She was pissed he tried to steal a song they were working on together.”
“Do me a favor, babe. Find out what you can. Andy wrote us a check. We’re workin’ for him, exclusively.”
“The Case of the Fried Bassist? Sorry, too soon?”
Chapter Six
Suds
Home from the airport, I walk into my apartment, surprised by two strange men sitting at our office-not-kitchen table.
Sam introduces them. “Sebastian? Meet Cam and Nathan. They live next door and want to hire us to investigate their building. They think it’s haunted.”
“No shit.” I congratulate myself on keeping a straight face as the thirtyish-year-old gazes warmly at his bun-headed partner.
“My husband senses an evil presence in our bedroom. We need the history of the land our condo was built on.”
The younger of the two pulls on his long, dark beard, bobbing his head. “I’ve researched as much as I can online but there has to be more.”
“Umm… We’ve got a lot on our plate right now…” Sam glances at me, her blond brows raised.
She’s no doubt looking for me to put the kibosh on their request but I think helping these two out is a great idea. How better to keep her out of trouble?
“Please. You’re our only hope. We love our new apartment but if we can’t resolve this, we’ll have to move.” Cam focuses on Samantha and I grin, shooting her the same puppy dog eyes.
“We can fit them in, can’t we? Huh? Can’t we?”
“Well, I suppose we could do a little research. Here’s our fees.” She hands them a printout and as they study, my lovely, lady sticks her out her tongue at me.
“We’ll do it.” Nathan stands, laughs nervously, and gives Sam a hug. “You probably saved our marriage.”
“Okay but don’t set your hopes too high. What I find may not be what you want to hear.” My partner leads them to the door where the younger man stops, eyes wide.
“Oh, something bad happened. I’m certain of it.”
