Page 19 of No One’s Daughter

Marlette crouched slightly, her attention shifting.

“Well, aren’t you a pretty thing,” she murmured, her voice softening.

The cat blinked slowly in response.

I watched the interaction for a moment, then exhaled. “You’re talking to it.”

“Yes.”

“It won’t answer.”

“That’s not the point.”

I glanced back towards the room, then to her again. “We’re here to investigate a kill, not make furry acquaintances."

Marlette reached out, letting the cat sniff her finger before giving it a light scratch beneath the chin. It leaned into her touch without hesitation.

“Animals notice things,” she said simply.

“That doesn’t make it a reliable witness.”

“No,” she agreed. “But it doesn’t make it useless either.”

I studied the animal briefly. It remained entirely at ease, unbothered by our presence, by the scent, by anything that should have unsettled it.

Interesting.

“You’re assuming it lives here,” I said.

“I’m assuming its owner lives here,” she replied. “Which means sooner or later, whoever left that scent behind will return for this one.”

A fair point.

I said nothing further.

The cat gave a short chirp, as if satisfied with our conclusion, before settling back into its place on the sofa, eyes half-lidded but still watching.

Marlette straightened, her expression returning to its usual composure as she glanced around the flat once more.

“Does this look like the home of a rogue to you?” she asked.

I followed her gaze—taking in the small, careful details again. The normalcy. The evidence of an ordinary life.

“No,” I said.

And that was the problem.

Who are you Ailsa Delaney?

But there was no point stewing over it any longer tonight.

“Right, I’m tired so I’m calling it a night,” I said, already heading back to my bike. “But I think it would be wise to keep eyes on the place. See if she does come back.”

“You think she will?”

“You saw the place, she clearly left in a hurry. She’s bound to come back for some belongings or at the very least to feed that cat.”

Marlette smiled, that dumb cat no doubt on her mind. “I’ll make some calls.”