She slurped up the last of her chocolate milk and bounced out of her chair. “Ready!”
I helped her into her coat, and the three of us left the café that was conveniently situated two doors down from South Paws Veterinary Clinic.
Outside, Livy ran ahead a short distance, picking up a bright red-and-orange maple leaf that the blustery wind had carried from somewhere other than the treeless street we were on. The gray October day called for a jacket, but I’d left the Mirage with nothing more than a sweater.
In accordance with our text exchange, Theo had met us at the café with her computer so she could try to hack into the vet clinic’s security camera footage to confirm—or shatter—Rosario’s alibi. I’d asked her ahead of time not to mention what she was doing or why when Livy was around. So we’d simply told my niece that Theo was working on a project.
“Any success?” I whispered to Theo while Livy was ahead of us.
“Of course.” She shook her head as we continued along thesidewalk. “Someone should tell the clinic that their system has a whole list of vulnerabilities. Their security is like Swiss cheese.”
“But did you get what we need?” I pressed.
“Rosario was there when she said she was. She wasn’t anywhere near the Mirage when Freddie was killed.”
That was some progress, at least.
I scratched Rosario from my mental list of suspects.
That left Hoffman and Minnie.
“So, about your ex,” Theo said. “If you want, I could hack into his bank account and get your money transferred back to you.”
“You could seriously do that?” I asked, shocked and a little awed. “What are they teaching you at that school of yours?”
Her smile had a mischievous tilt to it. “I learn the best thingsoutsideof school. And, yes, I can totally do it. Tonight, maybe, if my parents aren’t hovering.”
“Not so fast,” I said. “I can’t let you do that. It’s illegal.”
“It was illegal for him to steal from you.”
“Sure, but I’m not having you break the law on my behalf. Thank you,” I added firmly, “but it’s a no.”
As much as I wanted and needed my money back, that was an easy decision. I didn’t want Theo getting into serious trouble for trying to help me. As soon as Hoffman realized that the money had been taken from his account, he’d know that I was somehow involved. He’d probably spin a good story for the police—with him as the sole victim—and Theo and I would end up behind bars while he remained free as a bird.
“Fine,” Theo muttered, clearly disappointed.
Thinking of Hoffman and my suspects in general reminded me of the surprise I’d received earlier.
“A package arrived for me today,” I said. “One I didn’t order.”
“Good.” Her frown morphed into a smile. “Now we’re real detectives.”
I was pretty sure that a badge or license would make us real detectives, not a murder board.
“We can’t keep it in my apartment,” I said, my voice low. “I don’t want Livy seeing it.” Or my mother, for that matter.
“Then we’ll stash it in the laundry room.”
“We can’t leave our murder board where anyone and their uncle could find it!”
“Well, we definitely can’t have it at my grandparents’ place. They’ve got no clue what I do when I’m out of their sight, and I want to keep it that way.” As Livy skipped back to join us, Theo whispered, “Stash it under your bed. She’ll never know.”
Livy held up the leaf for me to see. “Look, Auntie Em. Isn’t it pretty?”
“It’s beautiful, sweetheart.”
She took my hand and continued to skip as I walked and Theo wheeled.
