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

Skye agreed. “But I can’t see how someone with Elijah’s disabilities could have planned a murder that involved luring someone to a place that person wouldn’t normally go, then having the forethought to bring a weapon—since it certainly wasn’t in the utility closet to begin with. And how did he get away without anyone noticing him?”
    “It could have been just one of those perfect storm kinds of situations,” Wally argued. “The vic could have forgotten something in the basement—you did say the room she’d been judging in was down there.”
    “Uh-huh.”
    “Maybe Jacobsen was still ticked at her from that morning, so he followed her to demand an apology,” Wally continued. “She said something to set him off, and he just happened to have the wire cat toy in his pocket.”
    “Shoot!” Skye bit her lip. “That’s a plausible scenario, but having that cat toy in his pocket would have been really awkward since the handle was so long. And something just doesn’t feel right to me about Elijah being the murderer.”
    “Because you liked the guy and felt sorry for him?” Wally suggested.
    “Maybe,” Skye admitted. “But how about all the other people who disliked Alexis?”
    “None of them ran away to cleanse their souls,” Wally pointed out.
    “How do you know?” Skye asked. “Just because they showed up for the final judging and awards ceremony doesn’t mean they’re still around.” Her voice rose excitedly as an idea popped into her head. “They might have thought that the body wouldn’t have been found yet and reasoned that it would look funny if they didn’t attend the brunch.”
    “That’s true.” Wally stood. “And I never intended to stop the investigation, but like it or not, Jacobsen is our prime suspect.”
    “I understand.” Skye watched Wally step from behind his desk. “What’s next?”
    “Three of my full-timer officers aren’t around—one’s on vacation, one’s sick, and one had a death in the family—so that leaves Quirk, Martinez, Zuchowski and the two part-timers.” Wally pulled the other visitor’s chair closer to Skye and took her hand. “Quirk called all of them in, and, as we speak, they’re phoning the list of participants that Bunny provided to see who has an alibi.”
    “Good.” Skye smiled in relief. “If Elijah killed Alexis, I want him brought to justice. However, I don’t want the fact that he’s peculiar to convince you it’s him before he’s had a fair trial.” She leaned forward and kissed Wally. “But I know you’d never do that.”
    “Thanks, darlin’.” Wally scooped her into his lap and stole another kiss.
    “Anytime.”
    “Now, I need to give my officers your list of possible suspects, so they can make locating those individuals their priority.” Wally nudged Skye to her feet, then stood up. “Any of them who don’t have alibis that check out, we’ll interview in person.”
    Skye started toward the door, paused, and said, “I know Quirk is aware of the vendors.” She explained about Zelda’s cousin. “But did Bunny include their names on the list she gave him?”
    “I don’t know.” Wally put a hand on the small of her back and guided her out of the office. “I’ll have him check that out.”
    “Good.” Skye started down the stairs. “Because it just occurred to me that Kyle O’Brien, the photographer who was supposed to meet me this morning to take pictures of Bingo, never did show up.”
    “Hmm.” Wally led the way toward the cubicles the officers were using. “I’ll be interested in hearing his excuse.”
    “Me, too.” Skye trailed him down the narrow hallway. “And the three other vendors all had a beef with Alexis—they’re among the names we gave you. But to be fair, two of them are tiny eighty-year-old twins who I doubt would have the strength to strangle someone as tall and strong as Alexis.”
    “You’d be surprised what someone intent on murder is capable of doing,” Wally commented,