Page 35 of A Dash of Wolf

“No. I don’t want to go there right now.” She washed her hands and returned to her stool. “I’ve been thinking about the vandalism.”

Princess Muffin Top looked up from her tuna. “What about it?”

“It has to be someone who knows what’s going on. What we’re protesting, when we’re protesting, when the crew is scheduled to work. Someone close to the situation.”

“Okay. We pretty much figured that out already.”

“And it has to be someone with knowledge of machinery. Specifically bulldozers.” Adeline took another bite of her brownie. “Do you know how to disconnect a battery cable from a bulldozer?”

Princess Muffin Top snorted. “No. Although I feel I must point out that I am a brilliant and beautiful cat, so I’m sure I could figure it out if properly motivated.”

“I’m sure you could,” Adeline deadpanned. “But here’s the thing. Do you remember what Mrs. Abernathy said yesterday at the sit-in?”

Princess Muffin Top tilted her head. “She said a lot of things yesterday. She also sang half the Elvis catalog with me, which I appreciate.”

“She said something about the new-model Cats having the battery tucked up behind the hydraulic reservoir.”

“I don’t even know what those words mean.”

Adeline laughed. “Neither do I. Which proves my point.”

Princess Muffin Top looked up from her tuna and nodded. “Oh, I see now. How would a ninety-seven-year-old knitting witch know where the battery is on a modern bulldozer?”

“Exactly.”

Princess Muffin Top frowned. “Why would she do it? And why would she let you take the blame?”

“I don’t think she meant for me to take the blame. I think she just...did what she thought was right and didn’t think about the consequences.” Adeline rubbed her temples. “She’s been at every protest. She cares about the squish-squids. She cares about the marsh. And she clearly knows more about heavy equipment machinery than a woman who knits tiny squid sweaters should.”

“Only one way to know for sure,” Princess Muffin Top said. “Go ask her.”

Adeline reached for her cell phone. “Maybe I should tell Mason first.”

“Not until you know for sure,” Princess Muffin Top said firmly. “If you’re wrong, you’ve just accused a ninety-seven-year-old woman of vandalism. And if you’re right...” The cat paused. “Well, if you’re right, you’ll need to figure out what you want to do about it before the wolf gets involved.”

Adeline set the phone down. Princess Muffin Top was right. She needed to talk to Mrs. Abernathy first. Face to face. It was the right thing to do.

A knock on the bakery door made them both jump.

“Crap!” Adeline hissed. She could see Mason’s silhouette through the glass. “What do I do?”

“Answer the door,” Princess Muffin Top said calmly. “Act normal.” She snickered. “Normal for you. And then after he leaves, we’ll go talk to the Abernathy witch.”

“Be normal. Right.” Adeline brushed the brownie crumbs off her fingertips, touched her messy knot to make sure it was still secure, and walked to the door. She unlocked it and pulled it open.

Mason stood on the sidewalk in jeans and a dark short-sleeved shirt. “Hey. I was driving past and saw the lights on. Figured you’d at least take one day off.”

She stepped aside to let him in. “Normally I do, but I had an emotional afternoon. Baking helps.”

His eyes went wide as he took in the display case, now overflowing with every baked good she offered. “You weren’t kidding.”

“It was a very emotional afternoon,” she corrected.

He turned to face her, and the humor faded from his eyes. “You okay?”

Adeline wrapped her arms around herself and shrugged. “Nothing new, to be honest. My grandmother summoned me for lunch. Three courses of lecture, followed by a dessert of disapproval.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” He took a step closer. “I’ll ask again. You okay?”