Page 19 of A Dash of Wolf

“This is outrageous,” Mrs. Patterson declared, her teacup clattering against the saucer. “That girl wouldn’t hurt a fly, much less destroy property!”

“She chained herself to a bulldozer two days ago,” Mrs. Patterson’s daughter pointed out.

“That’s different!” Mrs. Patterson said. “That was for the squish-squids!”

The bakery erupted into chaos. Customers talking over each other, opinions flying, someone near the back suggesting they form a protest outside the police station. Again. While others secretly took bets on whether or not she’d be arrested. Again.

“Everyone, please.” Chief Wolfe held up a hand. “This is routine questioning. That’s all.”

Emory came running through the archway, her eyes wide. She took one look at Adeline and shook her head. “You have to be kidding me?”

“Afraid not,” Adeline said.

Emory pressed her lips together, then pulled out her phone. “I’ll call Dawnya and have her come in to help cover both shops. Go. I’ve got this.”

Adeline untied her apron and hung it on the hook behind the counter. “Can I follow you in my Beetle Bus?”

“I’m afraid not. You’ll have to ride with me.” He glanced around at the customers still watching and lowered his voice. “Or we could simply walk? It’s just down the street.”

“Let’s walk,” Adeline said.

She’d definitely rather walk the length of Tide Street with the chief of police than ride in the back of his Tahoe like a criminal for the second time in three days.

Princess Muffin Top jumped down from her bed and landed on the floor with a heavy thud. “If you think you’re leaving without me, you’ve both lost your minds.”

The three of them stepped out onto the sidewalk, and Princess Muffin Top took the lead, tail swishing like an angry windshield wiper as she sang at the top of her lungs, “Bad boys, bad boys, whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do when they come for you?”

People stopped on the sidewalk to stare at the sight they made.

“I can’t make her stop,” Adeline said quietly.

“I’m aware,” he said through clenched teeth.

They made it to the station in what felt like the longest two minutes of Adeline’s life. Beulah was already on her feet when they came through the door, fussing and fretting.

“Oh, sweetie,” Beulah said, hurrying around her desk. “Can I get you some tea? Coffee? A scone? I think I have one of yours left over from yesterday.”

“No, thank you, Beulah,” Adeline said. “I’m fine.”

Officers Dixon and Casswell were both at their desks, watching silently.

Princess Muffin Top sailed past all of them and walked through the slats of the cell, hopping up onto the cot and grooming herself as if she owned the place.

“Let’s just sit out here,” Chief Wolfe suggested.

“What?” Adeline teased. “No fingerprints? No strip search?”

Something flashed in his eyes...quick and hot, but gone before she could decide what it meant. He cleared his throat. “No. None of that. Just questions.”

She sat down in one of the open chairs and spread out her hands. “Ask away.”

He pulled over a chair and sat across from her. “Where were you last night after the market?”

“Emory and I took down the booth. That took about thirty minutes. I put the leftover pastries in a box, like I always do, to drop off at the hospital on my way home for the graveyard doctors and nurses, and then after dropping those off, I drove the Beetle home. Got there around nine.”

“And after that?”

“Changed clothes. Put on the latest audiobook from Annabel Chase. Drank some wine. Went to bed around eleven.”