by Sonia Parin
“Sorry.” Lexie lifted her chin. “I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
Still scowling at her, Jonathan reached down behind the counter and produced a red Santa hat. “Everyone wears one. ‘Tis the season to be jolly,” he muttered.
Whether she liked it or not? “You’re not wearing one. Hats flatten my hair. That’s why I could never be a princess.”
Both Luna and Jonathan looked at her.
“What? It’s true. Check out any magazine and you’ll see them all dressed up and wearing stylish hats.”
Luna purred. “We’re actually mystified over the idea that you might consider the possibility of ever becoming a princess.”
“Hey. I’m good enough.”
“You seem to be flying high in your delusional state,” Luna said, “And I really don’t wish to be the one to clip your wings, but the closest you could ever come to royalty is if you played the role of a wicked, evil witch enchantress. You’ll just have to settle for being an incoming High Chair, which in itself, carries a great deal of prestige.”
“I don’t recall discouraging you when you wanted to become a feline companion to a princess.”
“My apologies,” Luna purred. “As I said, I can’t go against my nature and I suppose part of my job is to keep you grounded.”
Jonathan sighed and wiped the counter in front of her. “Aren’t you supposed to be busy hunting down a killer?”
“You heard about that?” Lexie asked.
He nodded.
“I’ve actually been hired to find a missing cat.” Lexie grinned. “But as the two appear to be connected, we might have to multi-task. Have you heard anything about an Ashera cat? Someone could be trying to sell it.”
“Are you suggesting I fence stolen goods at O’Connor’s?”
Luna’s little head tilted in thought as she studied Jonathan. “Let’s give him a few moments to deny it and defend his integrity with fervor.”
“I thought you might be in the know.” Lexie leaned over the counter and reached for a basket of peanuts.
“Shouldn’t you focus on the dead man you found and, specifically, on how you were lured to his office?” Jonathan asked.
“You know about that too? Is it any wonder I come to you for answers. You know everything. Would you care to tell me exactly how you do that?”
“I think you have bigger problems to deal with right now,” Jonathan said.
A hand clamped on her shoulder. Lexie slanted her gaze and caught sight of a Mickey Mouse watch.
Chapter Three
“One out of two,” Lexie mused. “That’s quite good.” She hadn’t managed to change Gunner’s watch back, but his purple suit had changed back to... something else.
In her defense, she hadn’t been able to remember if his suit had been blue or gray. He had both. A gray sleeve and a blue sleeve. As for his trousers...
They had blue polka dots on a gray background.
“I rather like it,” Luna said. “It makes him less rigid.”
“Whatever you do,” Jonathan warned, “Do it out of sight.” He nudged his head toward the back room.
Lexie hopped off the barstool. “Okay, follow me. At a discreet distance, please.” She needed to figure out how to undo whatever she’d done. Being new at something didn’t excuse her ineptitude. She had skills and the more she practiced, the better she’d get at using them, or so everyone kept telling her. Now, if only she could remember the color of his suit.
“Dark blue,” Luna said. “And he wore a fancy Patek Phillipe watch.”
“Thank you.” Although, she had no idea how that information would help.
“Would you like me to walk you through your meditation?” Luna asked, “It might help to clear your mind first. Lately, it’s been rather cluttered.”
“Thank you, Luna. I’ll let you know if I need help.” Lexie spoke without really having a plan of action. In fact, she had no idea where her confidence had come from. Yes, from somewhere deep within her—the part of her that had been born a witch. It all remained a mystery to her. Shrugging the thought away, Lexie closed her eyes. As soon as she did, a thought swept through her mind.
Restore all that was to exactly how it was. Leave no trace of fun and games and make this man... dull again.
That sort of rhymed.
Had it worked?
“Why do you still have your eyes closed?” Luna asked.
Lexie nibbled her lip. “Is it safe to open them?”
“It depends on what you were hoping to achieve.”
Lexie had a peek and smiled. “Happy now?” she asked Gunner.
He tugged the sleeve of his dark blue suit and adjusted his tie, his dark blue eyes delivering a silent warning.
“That’s it,” Lexie exclaimed. She’d always managed to give the other O’Rourke detectives reason to be annoyed with her, but they’d remained good humored about it. “He doesn’t have a sense of humor.”
Gunner crossed his arms. “You have a problem with that?”
“You actually take yourself seriously.” Lexie laughed and strode back to the bar.
“I guess that went well for you,” Jonathan said.
“Yeah, better than expected. I now have ammunition to use against him.”
Jonathan leaned across the counter. “In your place, I’d tread with care. He doesn’t have a sense of humor.”
“Now you tell me.” Lexie growled and sat down at the bar again.
“What are you doing?” Gunner asked, his tone hard.
“I’m trying to find a cat and you are supposed to be solving a murder. Off you go.” She waved. “Bye, bye.”
Annoyingly, Gunner O’Rourke didn’t move.
“Okay, if you won’t leave, I will.” She strode off thinking she’d walk around the block and come back later when the coast was clear.
“Sorry to be the bearer of bad news,” Luna said as they turned a corner. “He’s behind us.”
Lexie crossed the street.
“He’s still tailing us.”
Swinging around, she pointed her finger at him. Gunner stopped abruptly.
“Oh, that’s interesting. I think he’s afraid of your finger. Try turning him into a monkey.”
Lexie frowned at him. “Stop following us. I’ve told you everything I know.”
Gunner slipped his hands inside his pockets and shrugged. “You’re going to help me solve the crime.”
That’s not what Lexie had expected him to say. “In what universe do you see us working together?”
“You must give him some credit for even considering it,” Luna said.
A light breeze swept around Lexie. Instead of making her shiver, it reminded her of the strange sensation she’d felt in the park.
Recently, she’d made a tentative effort to connect to the elements and had managed to conjure enough power to battle an evil presence. If she’d known the elements could turn on her and control her, she might have left well enough alone.
Luna purred deeply. “I suspect it is give and take.”
“Silly me. I assumed they were at my disposal to do with as I pleased. I wonder if they’d be willing to give a little in return for me being under their control?” She called on the breeze to ruffle Gunner’s perfectly combed hair. “I guess the answer is yes,” Lexie murmured as she watched Gunner struggling to keep his hair in place.
“It’s a mini tornado.” Luna snickered. “Well done.”
“Okay, enough fun. He has a murder to solve and I have an expensive cat to find.” She took a step only to find herself pulled back and toward Gunner. “Hey. Stop,” she told the breeze, but the breeze refused to listen.
“Have you changed your mind?” he asked.
Lexie tried to turn but she was being compelled to walk toward him. “What did you do?” she demanded. Again, she tried to swing around and stride off, to no avail.
Luna purred. “I think that breeze of yours is trying to tell you something.”
“This is a
ll your doing,” Gunner said.
And she had no way of stopping it. “Okay, it seems we have no choice in the matter.” When she headed back to O’Connor’s, Gunner followed.
“Look what the wind blew in,” Jonathan said.
What did he know about it? While she didn’t really expect him to break his habit of not divulging any pertinent information about himself, she went ahead and asked. Not surprisingly, Jonathan clammed up. Turning to Gunner, she asked, “How did Mimi Hargreaves take the news about her husband?”
Gunner was still trying to get his hair under control. “Not well. She went into hysterics.”
“I guess you have your people looking into the Hargreaves’ finances. I need to know if they were having financial problems. What about his business dealings? Did he have any enemies, perhaps someone he outsmarted, someone who held a grudge against him?”
Gunner looked confused.
“Well, if this is going to work, you have to treat me as an equal and you have to share information. It seems we don’t have a choice, so we might as well make the best of it. Let’s eat something and figure out how to go about solving our crimes.” She ordered lunch. “This is a business expense,” she told Jonathan. “Gunner is picking up the tab.”
While she ordered a burger with the lot, Gunner had a chicken salad with no dressing.
When Jonathan set her burger in front of her, Gunner gave her a lifted eyebrow look that spoke of disapproval.
Lexie said, “My body is my temple and I like to give it offerings.”
“I’m sure I didn’t say anything.”
She nudged him with her elbow and watched his look of surprise. “But you were thinking about it. Go on, admit it.”
Ignoring Lexie, Gunner inspected his knife and fork and gave them a wipe down.
“He is fastidious.” Luna licked her paw. “Perhaps he does have some redeeming qualities.”
“Is he growing on you?” Lexie laughed. “No, don’t answer. I think you’re merely identifying with everything you find familiar.”
Luna blinked. “Are you, by any chance, suggesting I am like him?”
Jonathan chortled. “I love it when you two bicker. It means you’re not bickering with me.”
Lexie took the last bite of her burger and eyed the coffee machine.
“Coming right up,” Jonathan said.
“His mood has changed,” Luna remarked. “I wonder what that’s about?”
“Jonathan is probably grateful for the entertainment we’re providing.”
“I think you might be right. ” Luna craned her neck and said, “Have you noticed how Gunner eats? He cuts a portion of everything, and then he arranges it on his fork. You tend to start at one end, and work your way to the other, regardless of the food you have on your plate.”
“Let me guess, I remind you of a pig sticking its snout in the trough.” Lexie fixed her attention on Gunner who appeared to be having a conversation with himself. At first, she thought she’d imagined it, but then she saw him nodding, as if agreeing with himself.
“He must be conversing with the O’Rourke detectives,” Luna said. “It shows how conscientious he is, treating this as a working lunch.”
Jonathan set a cup of coffee down in front of her.
“I think Luna is about to tell me off for not knuckling down and solving my case.” She shrugged. “I’m stuck.” And mystified. Why had the elements nudged her into action?
“Perhaps because you recently connected with them and, without realizing it, opened the channels for dialogue. You should call Octavia,” Luna suggested. “She’s a fount of knowledge and is bound to have a ready explanation.”
Lexie patted Luna on the head. “Who needs a thinking cap when I have you.”
Within seconds of Lexie mentally calling Octavia, she appeared at the door leading to the back room. She peered around her and, straightening her jacket, she strode casually toward them.
Jonathan smiled at Lexie.
“Yes, yes. That’s how to make a discreet entrance.”
“I came as soon as I heard you calling me,” Octavia said. She took the barstool beside Lexie and mouthed, “Who’s he?”
Lexie rolled her eyes. “Gunner.” To her surprise, Octavia curled her lip. Her personal assistant had a pristine record for performing admirably in her job and always maintaining her professionalism.
“What’s wrong with him?” Octavia whispered. “He’s like Dodge... yet, he is nothing like him.”
Octavia’s recent encounter with another O’Rourke detective, Dodge, had been intriguing to watch. They’d both hit if off and while Lexie hadn’t pushed Octavia for information, her personal assistant appeared to be happier than ever before.
“He has no sense of humor.” Lexie shrugged and wondered if she should ask Octavia about Dodge...
“Oh, I see. How odd.”
“I believe he’s about to give us an update. Meanwhile,” Lexie filled Octavia in on everything that had happened. “Do you have any idea why a gust of wind would intervene and lead me right to a murder scene?”
“You recently engaged with the elements,” Octavia said, “Now they’re at your disposal.”
“That’s what Luna said. Am I likely to hear from the elements every time there’s a crime in the city?”
Octavia sat back and tapped her chin. “That’s unlikely since you’d be facing a hurricane every day. This must have happened in response to your search for the cat.”
That made sense. “Hang on. So why didn’t the gust lead me straight to Frederick?”
“His disappearance and his owner’s death must be connected.” Octavia gave a small nod. “Find the killer and you’ll find the cat.”
Lexie tried to play around with the idea of one person being responsible for both crimes, but she failed to come up with a reasonable explanation. She drummed her fingers on the counter. “That’s your cue to suggest something, Gunner.”
He looked at her and straightened. “I’ve just received a report about the Hargreaves’ finances. There are no unusual activities and no sudden loses. Oscar was an astute investor.”
“Okay. I guess we need to look at who gets to benefit from his death. Maybe someone killed him for his money. Or, if we’re going to tie in the murder with the missing cat, maybe someone wanted to use Frederick as leverage to force Oscar’s hand... Help me out, people. I’m fresh out of ideas.”
“There are no children,” Gunner said.
“So his wife stands to inherit everything.”
Gunner shrugged. “It would be a safe assumption but we won’t know for sure until the will is read.”
“We’ll have to speak to the office staff. They might have some useful insight about the Hargreaves.”
Gunner shook his head. “It’s already been done. They were a happily married couple. Every Monday the personal assistant took care to organize a dozen red roses for Mimi Hargreaves. Oscar Hargreaves personally handwrote a card for his wife, which was then delivered to the florist to be included with the roses. If he worked late, he always called ahead to let her know. Every other night, they dined out and every other day, they met for lunch. Weekends were spent at home, and once a month they trekked out to their beach house.”
“And all that is supposed to convince me Mimi is innocent?” Lexie asked.
Gunner checked his watch. Noticing the way he rested his hand on it, Lexie suspected he wanted to make sure it was still there.
“The only way you’ll find Mimi Hargreaves guilty of anything is if you frame her,” Luna murmured.
“I’d like to know how the husband felt about Frederick.” To the outside world, Oscar and Mimi might have come across as being blissfully happy, but Frederick had gone missing on the day Oscar Hargreaves had been killed. “Hypothetically, if Oscar disliked Frederic, do you think Mimi would be capable to killing him?”
Luna tilted her head from side to side. “I believe she could be capable of committing a crime of passion.”
“I’m waiting for you to ask me about the murder weapon,” Gunner said, his voice flat.
Lexie looked at Luna. “In his place, how would you phrase that?”
“My eyes would twinkle with amusement. I’d clear my throat.” Luna gave a feline shrug. “Set the scene and make some sort of snooty remark about you missing the obvious clue.”
Lexie said, “In other words, you’d use the opportunity to banter with me.”
“Of course. Otherwise, it’s no fun.”
She turned to Gunner. “See?”
“Actually, I don’t. Are you suggesting there’s something wrong with the way I express myself?”
“You could try relaxing a little. Also, you might want to stop looking down your nose at us.”
“My eyes are above my nose.”
Lexie chortled. “And what’s with the three piece suit?”
He gave his jacket a tug.
“And that tugging. When Octavia tugs her clothes it’s because she means business. When you do it...” She gestured with her hands. “Help me out, Luna.”
“He is a man with great discerning taste. I suspect he is thinking of the quality of his clothes and bemoaning the loss of good taste.”
“You just took a stab at my preference for denim.”
Luna’s whiskers twitched. “Sorry, I couldn’t help myself.”
Lexie turned to Gunner. “And that’s how it’s done. I know how Luna feels about my poor taste in clothes, but I never feel inferior. With you, however... I get the feeling you’re on a mightier than thou trip.”
“Yes,” Luna said, “He’s a proverbial detractor. If he had to rate you, I’d bet anything he’d struggle to give you a half star.”
“Nonsense.” He checked his watch.
“Relax. I’m not going to tamper with your clothes again.” Lexie rose to her feet. “We should hit the pavement and start pounding on some doors.”
“Aren’t you forgetting something?” Luna asked.
“Oh, the weapon.”
Gunner said, “A cast iron doorstopper in the shape of a cat.”