Paws and Effect by Sofie Kelly

down Marcus was talking to the cat in a low voice, not the first time I’d seen that kind of thing happen.
    â€œJohn is staying out at the Bluebird Motel,” I said.
    Marcus slipped something to Hercules, trying to be surreptitious about it. I let it pass. I could get a hint of the unmistakable aroma of stinky crackers and I knew one or two wouldn’t hurt the little tuxedo cat.
    â€œI texted Maggie,” I continued. “She was planning on taking John out to Wisteria Hill. Don’t worry, I didn’t tell her why I was asking.”
    Marcus pulled a hand over the back of his neck. “Thanks. Hope is looking for Travis.” He got to his feet.
    â€œAre you ready?” I asked.
    â€œNo,” he said. I linked my fingers though his and we left anyway.
    A red SUV was parked in front of John’s room at the Bluebird Motel. There was a rental company sticker in the top right corner of the windshield. The tailgate was open, which told me that John was up, getting ready to start his day. Marcus knocked on the door and then lifted my hand and kissed it before letting it go.
    â€œI should be out of here in about ten minutes and you can—” John opened the door as he stuffed papersinto his messenger bag. He looked up, surprised to see Marcus and me instead of the maid he’d probably been expecting. “Hi,” he said. He looked at us and his expression grew serious. “What did Travis do?” he asked. “Is he all right? I swear I’m going to kick him when I see him. He didn’t come back last night and I had to rent a car this morning so I can get everything done. Lucky for me I found a place that opened at seven thirty.”
    I felt my chest tighten as though a giant hand were squeezing me. This was part of Marcus’s job and I wondered how he did it over and over again.
    â€œMarcus, is Travis all right?” John asked a lot more insistently.
    â€œAs far as we know,” Marcus said. He was in police officer mode. His voice was strong and steady.
    â€œWhat do you mean as far as you know?”
    Marcus ignored the question. “John, it’s Dani.”
    John grinned. “Let me guess. She got nabbed for speeding again.” He looked at me. “Dani has a lead foot.”
    â€œCould we sit down for a minute?” Marcus asked.
    â€œSure.” John took a couple of steps back. “C’mon in.”
    I followed Marcus into the room. It looked just like any other motel room I’d ever been in: bed, nightstand, dresser, flat-screen TV above the desk. There was a large duffel bag on the end of the bed.
    John gave Marcus a puzzled smile. “So what’s up?”
    â€œDani was out looking at the land around Long Lake,” Marcus said.
    â€œYeah, I know. I talked to her yesterday afternoon.She said she might stay in town last night. She didn’t want to run into Travis out here.”
    â€œJohn, she had an accident,” Marcus said. I could see the tension in his shoulders and the stiff way he held his body.
    John’s gaze darted between the two of us. I stuffed my hands in my pockets because they suddenly felt huge and clumsy. “What kind of an accident?” he asked slowly.
    â€œShe fell. There was an embankment not that far from the lake. It looks like she was taking core samples.”
    John swore. “Is she in a hospital here or back in Minneapolis?”
    For a moment Marcus didn’t say anything, and when he did it was just a single word: “Johnnie.”
    John closed his eyes. I could see from the set of his jaw that his teeth were tightly clenched together. He let out a shuddering breath. “When?”
    â€œLast night,” Marcus said. His right hand moved sideways and I caught it, giving it what I hoped was a comforting squeeze before letting go again.
    John opened his eyes again. “This wasn’t supposed to happen,” he said. “Not to Dani.” He looked at me.