Murder of the Cat's Meow: A Scumble River Mystery by Denise Swanson Page A

we can conduct the search.” Wally laced his fingers behind his neck. “As a matter of courtesy we’ll notify the local authorities and we usually request that a county deputy accompany our officers.”
    “I see.” Skye nodded, then said, “Although Elijah’s message sounds damning, I can’t see Alexis ever being willing to go somewhere alone with him. Or meet him in the basement and hide out with him until the bowling alley closed.”
    Wally rubbed a hand across his eyes. “But you and the others couldn’t come up with
anyone
she
would
agree to meet in the basement.” He pursed his lips. “And the medical examiner said that the body wasn’t moved. She was killed where you found her. Using liver temp, the ME puts the time of death between eleven thirty and twelve thirty last night.”
    “Great.” Skye tucked an escaped curl back behind her headband. “People won’t be able to remember if a particular person was present when everyone was getting their coats on and leaving. That means a lot of our suspects won’t have verifiable alibis.”
    “True,” Wally agreed. “But right now I’m more interested in Jacobsen. From what I’ve read, he sounds Looney Tunes. What’s your impression of the guy?”
    “He’s a damaged soul who seems to have found arefuge in his cats. Bunny said he told her that he applied to her dating site to find a woman who was like him.” Skye shifted in her seat.
    “Like him in what way?” Wally dragged a legal pad toward him.
    “My guess is he meant someone who finds it hard to cope with everyday life.” Skye struggled to express her thoughts. “Someone who loves cats for their serenity.”
    “That makes sense.” Wally nodded. “Nothing like petting a cat to lower your blood pressure and calm you down.”
    “Exactly.” Skye leaned forward. “So when Alexis both dissed his favorite cat and let Princess escape, it was as if she was attacking his best friend.” Skye considered all she had witnessed and overheard. “Then, to top it off, Alexis taunted Elijah about his past. She really seemed to enjoy making people squirm.”
    “Hmm.” Wally clicked his pen and made a note, then asked, “After the initial altercation in which he assaulted Alexis, did you witness any other incidents between them?”
    “No.” Skye reran yesterday’s events in her mind. “I never saw them together again, and the few times I ran into Elijah he seemed fine.” She closed her eyes, trying to remember. There had been something unusual she’d noticed about the ex-doc’s behavior, but what was it?
Shoot!
Nope, she couldn’t dredge it up to the surface.
    Wally interrupted her concentration. “Can you think of anything more about him? Anything that might explain his weird behavior?”
    “While Frannie and I were doing the dishes after the dinner last night, she said that Elijah told her that twenty years ago, he was an extremely successful surgeon, but he was in an auto accident that resulted in his fiancée’s death and in which he suffered a traumatic head injury. It ended his career.”
    “Why’s that?” Wally looked up; he’d been taking down all Skye said. “Did it mess up his fine-motor skills or vision or what?”
    “I didn’t notice any of those concerns.” Skye shook her head. “But significant brain trauma can impair cognitive functioning.”
    “In what way?”
    “Memory, reasoning, problem solving, speed of mental processing, concentration, organizational ability, decision making, judgment.” She shrugged. “Pretty much every skill needed to be a good doctor can be compromised.”
    “Could a head injury cause behavioral issues?” Wally gazed intently at Skye.
    “Definitely.” She nodded vigorously. “It’s very common to see difficulties in socializing, and with self-control, mood swings, irritability, dangerous actions, and physical outbursts.”
    Wally narrowed his eyes. “Like attacking someone and killing them?”
    “In the heat of the moment, yes,”