by Diane Meier
Sharon understood that predators killing for food were just part of nature. Even butchers and slaughterhouse employees were working to produce food. Randolph and his thugs weren’t producing food. They shoved needles full of poison into dogs and cats for their own twisted reasons.
Sometimes people argued that killing shelter animals could not be avoided because of “overpopulation.” It wasn’t true. Most Americans didn’t realize how much needless killing was happening at shelters. The sad fact was that all too many shelters killed all but the most “adoptable” dogs and cats despite the fact that at least 90 percent of the animals could be saved. Some no kill shelters achieved save rates of 98 percent.
Sharon felt that some of the people doing the killing at shelters did it for pleasure. Sociopaths often start out by torturing and killing animals. They had no capacity for remorse or empathy. It was that kind of person killing shelter animals.
Sharon had to admit that she wasn’t completely above killing, of course. She was always happy to kill flies and mosquitoes. Matt and Henry had teased her before she died about how the vegetables were shrieking in pain when she was cutting them up. She was so grateful that Matt and Henry had come into their lives. Matt would get Clara out of jail.
It was hard to bring herself to go back in the house. She didn’t want to see Snowflake and Smokey lying dead on the floor but forced herself to go inside and cover them. Sharon wanted to spare Clara from coming back to their bloody corpses. It was horrible enough to have seen them be massacred.
Sharon was digging in the kitchen cupboard under the sink to get cleaning supplies so she could clean up the mess. Suddenly she felt wet noses on her hands.
“My God, you’re alive,” she cried throwing her arms around Snowflake and Smokey as they licked her face excitedly.
After a moment of hugging, Snowflake spoke. “Sharon, we’re ghosts, just like you.”
Sharon was astonished. “You’re talking. How absolutely wonderful.”
“We always could talk with each other but not with our people,” said Smokey. “Now you can hear us.”
“Are you okay? Did you feel pain?” asked Sharon.
“Just for a second,” said Smokey. Snowflake nodded.
“I’m so relieved,” said Sharon. “So dogs and cats become spirits, too.”
“Well, why wouldn’t we?” Snowflake chuckled. “It’s so strange that humans think that the afterlife is only for them.”
Sharon laughed. “You’re right. It’s ridiculous, of course. I’m just so happy to know it. I think everyone hopes their pets live after death, but western religion doesn’t allow for it. That’s one reason that I don’t bother with church.”
Smokey said thoughtfully, “I don’t know about religion. That’s human stuff. We’ve heard the discussions on your radio show about whether or not animals have a consciousness. We find it humorous actually. Although humans can’t understand us, animals communicate to each other.”
Sharon nodded. “I’ve always believed that. It’s wonderful to know it for a fact.” She hugged them both.
“We talk with the cats out back sometimes,” said Snowflake.
Sharon’s face lit up. “What do they say?”
“They like the food and their little houses that you made. They’re also glad that you stay away from them. They don’t want to be house cats.”
Sharon laughed. “Well, they certainly made that clear.”
“We didn’t want them in the house anyway,” said Smokey. “We like being the only indoor pets.”
“Smokey, you are too much,” laughed Sharon. “I have enough love for all of the cats and both of you. I respect that the cats want to be out on their own. Can you interpret for me?” asked Sharon.
“I don’t see why not. Let’s go out and talk to them,” Smokey said.
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
Aidan knocked and put his head into the interview room. “Can I talk to you, Matt?”
When she saw Aidan, Clara’s fury returned.
Matt gave her hand a squeeze. “I’ll be right back.” He joined
Aidan outside the interview room.
“She has every reason to hate me and Watkins,” said Aidan.
“Especially if she’s innocent. My guess is that you’re right about all
of this. Sasso added fuel to the fire by making a report that she
assaulted him”
“It’s his word against Clara’s. He’s probably in on Tina’s plot to
frame Clara. I asked you to wait for me before making the arrest,
and you didn’t listen.”
“I know, and I’m sorry as hell. I should have waited. That’s
on me. I will never forget seeing Clara’s dogs shot. It was a nightmare. If I had seen Watkins raise his gun I would have done something. At least I hope I would have. I was watching her command
the dogs to stay and they obeyed her. Watkins had no reason to shoot them. When I yelled at him afterwards he just said Pit Bulls
are vicious.”
“It’s not true. They’re no more vicious than any other dog.
They fight because they have been trained that way and they obey
their owners’ commands. Smokey and Snowflake were the best
dogs I have ever known. They loved my son. I just can’t imagine
how I will tell him that they were shot by a cop. He thinks cops are
the good guys.”
“I am so sorry. I know I keep saying that and it doesn’t bring
the dogs back.”
“It doesn’t. I read something on the blog about how there
should be training for cops, so they don’t resort to shooting dogs
when there’s no danger.”
“My boss is big on training. I’m going to talk to him about this,”
said Aidan. “And I’ll get the shooting investigated seriously. Not
just a paper exercise. Let me buy lunch. What can I get you? It’s
going to be another hour or two before we get the DNA results.” “Thanks. Can you get us a pizza? But before you do that, I
want to talk about what happens after Clara is released. I am confident that Tina is the killer.”
“I’m not sure about enough of that to go arrest Tina. I need
to be careful not to screw up. Especially if arresting Clara was a
mistake and I think it was.”
“I have a plan for that.”
“Don’t do anything that will screw up the case, Matt.” “Oh, you mean like making a false arrest and shooting dogs
who have obeyed a command to sit?”
“Dammit, Matt, I said…..”
“Yes, I know. I’m just busting balls a little. It was irresistible,”
laughed Matt.
“I’m going to get enough crap from the boss for making a false
arrest. Take it easy on me. Feel free to go after Watkins of course.” “Will do,” said Matt. “One more thing. There’s a way you can
atone for all this. Let’s arrest the dog fighters. Don’t start giving
me reasons why it can’t be done, I have a plan for catching them
in the act.”
“Jesus, Matt. You realize that I have to get a SWAT team
authorized.”
“Yes, of course. And you realize that you’ll get drug and gambling busts, too. You’ll be a hero.”
“Jesus,” said Aidan.
“Yeah, you already said that,”
“What are you going to do with all the dogs that are taken
away?”
“I’ve got that all figured out. Trust me.”
“Dammit, Matt, you have made my life difficult from day one,”
chuckled Aidan.
“Really?” Matt asked with mock concern. “Ask me how much I
care about that? Now, I’m getting hungry as hell. Can you make
that a deep dish pie with lots of sausage?”
Matt went back into the
interview room and told Clara that
Aidan would get them some pizza and drinks.
“He’s not going to eat with us, right? I am not in a forgiving
mood,” said Clara who was still angry.
“ I’m sure he understands that. He’s truly sorry about Watkins
shooting them.”
“A lot of good that does,” Clara sighed. “It happens so often in
this country.”
“I remember cases in Baltimore when I was on the job there.
The cops always said the dogs attacked them. I’m sure that sometimes the cops are scared regardless of what the dogs are doing.
Aidan saw that Snowflake and Smokey obeyed your command to
sit.”
“They did obey me,” said Clara, with tears in her eyes. “They
were good dogs. I just can’t believe it happened.”
“I wish I had been there.” Matt pulled her to him. “I’m so
sorry.”
“You were saving the cats. I’m grateful for that. You couldn’t
be both places at once. And I don’t think you can fly and stop bullets like Superman. Actually, I’d like to see if Watkins can. Kind
of a William Tell thing. Except I would aim for his head not the
apple.”
“Yup. You’re the violent type,” Matt laughed. “Sasso reported
that you attacked him. I told Aidan that it’s Sasso’s word against
yours. Once I get Sasso arrested, that little problem will get lost in
the shuffle.”
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
A
fter Clara and Matt finished the pizza, Aidan knocked again and said through the door, “Matt, we’re releasing Clara.”
Matt opened the door. “Did the DNA came back already?” “No, but I’ve talked to the Captain. Clara, you’re free to go.” Clara stood up and walked past Aidan without speaking to him. “Aidan, I’m taking her home. I want you to stand by for my
call.”
“I’ll be here.”
Clara signed a form and walked out of the building. Matt followed. “We’re going back in this van. I left my car up in New Castle.”
“You stole that woman’s van. Good job.” Clara laughed. Aidan had never been more relieved to hear somebody laugh. As they drove home Clara peered out the window. Matt knew she was thinking about Snowflake and Smokey. “Do you want to bury them in the yard?”
“Yes, I guess so. I can’t stand to see them, Matt.”
“I’m sure that your mother covered them up. Should we bury them inside the fence or outside it in the meadow where the cats hang out?”
“I don’t know. Let’s ask my mother.” When they arrived, Matt took her hand. Sharon opened the door. Smokey and Snowflake bounded out.
“They’re alive,” Clara gasped. She jumped out of the van. Crying and laughing, she hugged them close.
“They’re ghosts, Clara,” said Sharon.
“We’re like your Mom,” said Snowflake, wagging her tail.
“You talk!” Clara laughed. “How wonderful.”
Matt watched the reunion in amazement. “I am so damned happy that you guys are here.”
“The cats are so grateful to you, Matt,” said Sharon.
“The cats talk, too?” Nothing would surprise him now.
Sharon smiled. “No, they told Smokey and Snowflake. They all talk. It’s just that we humans are too stupid to hear them.”
“Maybe not stupid,” said Snowflake. “Just not as advanced as animals. We learn your language but you don’t make much effort to understand ours.”
“I’m going in and shower the jail off me,” said Clara. “The bodies are covered?”
“Yes, love,” said Sharon. “And I cleaned the floor up.”
“I’ll get started on digging their resting place,” said Matt, trying to be sensitive since the dogs were right there.
“You can call it a hole,” said Snowflake. “In fact, I’ll help. I love to dig holes although it’s generally frowned upon around here despite the pleasure that I get from it.”
“Dig all you like,” laughed Sharon. “I didn’t mean to curtail such a favorite activity. Since you always dug next to the fence I was worried you would get out.”
Snowflake did what seemed to be a dog chuckle. “Do you think I’d ever leave my family? And besides I got a taste of what it’s like out there for dogs like us. I did not like being in that evil place where the dogcatchers took us. And I’m so grateful to you for getting me out. I know that a lot of our kind didn’t make it.”
“I tried, Snowflake, I really did,” said Sharon.
“I know. We hear you talking about the killing at shelters. Smokey and I hope that one day the humans will get the message and allow all homeless dogs and cats to be adopted.”
Matt and Snowflake were still digging when Clara came back outside.
“I’d help dig,” said Clara, “but I just am exhausted. You should know that I was a champion hole digger at the beach as a child. I challenge you and Henry to a contest next Saturday. So this is good practice for you.”
“I accept the challenge and look forward to beating your butt, lovely though it may be,” said Matt as he dug.
“I don’t understand the big thrill of digging,” said Smokey. “Matt, I should tell you that the cats did seem very grateful to you for rescuing them. Edgar told us to thank ‘the man who sits on the balcony with the boy and watches us.’ Ricky complained it took you too long to get there and they all agreed. But that’s cats for you.”
When the hole was dug, Matt placed the bodies, which were wrapped in old quilts, carefully in place. Clara came over and helped fill the holes.
“Should we say something?” asked Matt.
“Who let the dogs out? Who, who, who?” Snowflake sang.
Smokey sighed. “Snowflake, that’s totally inappropriate and ridiculous. You are always doing things like this. You need to act your age.”
Matt, Sharon and Clara laughed and joined Snowflake in singing it again.
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
“H
ello?” Tina picked up the phone. She was irritated at having her soap opera interrupted. “Tina, this is Officer Matt Thomas with the Rehoboth Police. I wanted you to know that we have a suspect for Gary Randolph’s murder.”
“That’s terrific,” said Tina, excited that it was working out the way she had hoped.
“Since you were with the animal control officers when the Freddy brick was found, we wondered if you could come to Town Hall and give us a statement.”
Tina was furious. She thought those idiot animal control officers had agreed not to mention that she was there. “Yes. Of course. Does it have to be now?”
“We would greatly appreciate it. Then we can arrest our suspect.”
Tina couldn’t stop herself. “That brick was behind Clara Butler’s house, as you know.”
“Yes, we know that. And we have traced the blog to that house,” said Matt.
“Is that right?” asked Tina, as if she hadn’t guessed that already.
“We know the blog is still being written, so clearly the motive was anger at Randolph for shelter operation, as shown by the message Dog Killer written on the whiteboard.”
Tina was delighted. Everything she had done had pointed the cops to Clara Butler. It was the ultimate revenge on the Butlers for attacking the SPCA. She had the crazy thought of how wonderful it would be to tell Gary but then remembered that wasn’t possible.
“I’ll come over in an hour,” said Tina and hung up.
“Well, you certainly are counting on the DNA to prove that she’s the killer.” Clara said uncertainly.
“Of course, she’s the killer,” Sharon said.
“I’ll get a hair out of her head and test the DNA. She’s the murderer. I am certain of it.”
“But what if there’s no DNA match? Won’t they come after me again?” Clara didn’t like this at all.
<
br /> “We know that your DNA doesn’t match, Clara, even though the results aren’t back yet. There is no risk here. This is not some TV show where they lie about the DNA to convict somebody. And even if somebody wanted to do that, I am directly involved in this case so it will not happen. I can assure you of that. And Aidan knows that I would kill him first if somebody tried any more bullshit.”
“Okay,” said Clara, but she was still anxious. “I’ll have to trust you on that.”
“It’s a sure thing,” said Matt. “Please, I’m asking you not to worry.”
“We forbid worrying,” said Sharon. “Right, Snowflake? Right, Smokey?”
Both of them happily nodded. They licked her hands so seriously that Clara finally laughed.
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
J
ay and Mayor Riley listened to Matt and Aidan describe what had happened. Then Matt told them his plan for getting Tina’s DNA.
“We know that the hair we’re going to get from Tina this way
can’t be used in court. This is just to ease Aidan’s mind about arresting Tina,” Matt explained. “Aidan has seen that video of Tina
peering into the Butler’s house on the night before the brick was
found behind their property. I’m just indulging his concerns about
making another false arrest.”
Aidan laughed. “Hey, you’re the one who had been pushing
the idea that the blogger was a suspect. When the brick was found,
the test showed it was the murder weapon, and I was able to get the
warrant to trace the blog to Butler’s address. I figured that was
good enough to arrest Clara. So actually Matt, it’s your fault that
she was arrested. And as soon as she’ll speak to me, I’m going to
tell her so.”
“Thanks a lot. Just when I had a chance of getting back together with Clara by saving the poor cats and getting her out of jail. I guess I’ll have to buy you a pizza to bribe you not to do that,”
said Matt.
“You guys are laughing, but what if Tina’s DNA is not a match?”
asked Jay.