He groaned. “That fall made your sense of humor get even worse.”
Although the paramedics had cleared us to leave, I didn’t want to drive home. Besides, I had zero desire to be alone. I asked an officer take me to my parents’ place.
When the patrol car approached the house, the lights inside my childhood home glowed bright, like a friendly beacon guiding me to safe haven. The door flung open even as we eased onto the driveway.
Three faces peered into the car’s headlights from the doorway. When I got out and placed Marshmallow onto the paved ground, Ma rushed to check on me.
She inspected me at arm’s length to make sure everything was okay and then hugged me. Alice soon ran over and added to the huddle. Finally, Dad lumbered over and crushed us all in his signature bear hug.
They spoke at the same time:
“Make me worry to dead. Sei-ah,” Ma said.
“Glad to see you safe and sound, Princess One.”
“Mimi, what happened?” Alice asked.
Dad ushered me inside and insisted I sit at the dining table. Ma brewed me a mug of strong oolong tea.
I sipped it as I figured out how to answer Alice’s question. With my family crowded around me, I tried to summarize my experience at Hollywoof. Of course, I downplayed the danger.
I rushed over the details of Tammy’s attack and sped straight to the police arriving on the scene. Everyone stared at me, aghast. Why had a customer tried to threaten me?
I didn’t tell them about the murder case or how I’d gone snooping to clear my name. Why had Tammy come after me, then? I spun a story about how she’d entered my shop to chat. Overwhelmed with taking care of her sick dog and angry about her looming divorce, she just snapped. They shook their heads at me.
Finally, Ma tutted and said she’d fix me some herbal chicken soup to restore my scattered energy. Dad slung a comforting arm around my shoulder. Alice held my hand.
At my sister’s gentle touch, I said, “Alice, why are you here, anyway? Was Ma so worried that she called you when I didn’t answer?”
A sweet smile appeared on my sister’s face. “Oh no, I was already here. I came over to tell Ma and Dad some good news from Roosevelt Elementary.”
“Tell me, too.” It’d be nice to hear something positive for a change.
“Principal Hallis resigned.”
I squeezed my sister’s hand. “It will be a less toxic environment for you to work in now. I don’t understand, though. I figured she’d want to rule the school a long time with her iron fist.”
Alice wrinkled her button nose. “Somehow the school receptionist convinced her to leave. Said Principal Hallis and her pet hedgehog might enjoy life better in a different state.”
I thought back to when I’d threatened Principal Hallis in her office. I’d deposited the exotic pets brochure in the recycling bin in full view of the receptionist. She must have picked it up and read it. Then she had continued the good fight. Well done, her.
Ma deposited a bowl of soup before me. “Drink.” Then she wagged her finger at me. “If no help, you no go back store.”
CHAPTER
forty
I THOUGHT ABOUT MA’S semiserious condition for my returning to work. Like she said, it would be nice and probably feel safer to have another pair of hands around. Especially if trouble sprang up again at my store.
I even had a willing applicant. But I also needed someone whom I could trust. What had Nicola been hiding in her apartment that she hadn’t wanted me to see?
In the early morning, I called her up to find out. “Why were you so cagey during my last visit? What are you hiding in your apartment?”
She sighed. “I thought you might notice I was acting suspicious. Don’t worry, I returned it.”
I recalled the banging noises I’d heard from the backyard when I’d discovered the plastic cap. “Did you happen to go into Russ Nolan’s the day I talked with Shirl to retrieve the bracelet?”
“Yes.” She hesitated. “I stole a memento from his old house. But I gave it back to Henry.”
Nicola seemed to be on the up-and-up. After all, how else would she know the new renter’s name unless she’d met him?
I should check out her story, though. I’d already taken the day off to recover, so I could fit in a visit to Henry.
With my car still stuck at Hollywoof, I asked Alice to drop me off at Henry’s house. It would be on her way to school, so my sister agreed.
When I knocked on Henry’s door, he answered right away.
I shuffled my feet. “Hello again. I’d like to check on something, Henry. I have a job applicant who took something from your house . . .”
Henry nodded. “Young Nicola? She came and apologized to my face. Turns out this was her old boyfriend’s home. Can you wait here a minute? I want to show you the item.”
He rummaged inside the house and returned with a fancy domed night-light. “This is what she brought back. I didn’t even notice it when I moved in. She found it in the bedroom closet. It’s a light that projects constellations onto the ceiling.”
In a soft tone, I said, “Nicola must have wanted to keep it as a reminder of her boyfriend.”
“A natural sentiment. I told her she shouldn’t have bothered to bring it back. I wouldn’t have minded if she kept it, but she said it was better for her to start fresh. She mentioned wanting to do the right thing from now on.”
The theme of beginning again, Nicola’s philosophy, echoed back at me. She was trying to be a better version of herself.
I heard a zooming from behind me. Looking over my shoulder, I saw a news van hurtling down the street. “Is something happening around here?”
Henry scratched his chin. “That’s right. I talked to that dog walker the other day. She told me her uncle had some interviews today. Something about rescued dogs.”
“Exciting.” There must be another puppy getting adopted. “Thanks for letting me know about Nicola,” I said.
He touched my shoulder. “Give the girl a break. She seems to want to turn over a new leaf. Goodness knows I did a lot of stupid things in my youth.”
“Ha. You seem like you were born a gentleman.”
He scoffed. “You’re seeing me in my current state. Trust me, I’m making up for lost time.”
I waved goodbye to him before jogging over to Magnus Cooper’s house to catch the breaking news. Journalists lined the street, but I managed to use my small stature to slip past people.
Magnus had just finished passing over a puppy to its grinning new owner. Reporters took turns asking Magnus questions. Some covered the adoption on live air. A few focused on the feel-good features story, while others emphasized the introduction of the groundbreaking technology used in PetTwin’s 4-D experience booths.
As Magnus answered, his eyes roamed the crowd before him. Spotting me nearby, he stopped in midsentence and waved me over.
“This is Mimi Lee,” he bellowed. “Owner of Hollywoof, the finest pet grooming studio in the Southland. Actually, she orchestrated the adoption of these puppies and handled the technology side of things.” Cameras clicked at me. Shocked at the sudden attention, I tried to grin and not look like the dazed zombie I felt.
After the hoopla had subsided, Magnus clapped me on the back. “Wonderful publicity event. Zel contacted the local TV stations. Said media coverage would help get the word out about my breeding business. And now maybe your business, too.”
My cell phone rang right then. I picked it up to hear the irritated voice of Detective Brown speaking. “Did I just see you on live news?”
“I have a free day, and I wanted to see the rescue dogs getting adopted.”
“You never rest, do you, Miss Lee?” But his voice held a note of admiration. “Well, if you’re done hamming it up for the cameras, I’d like to give you a ride back to Hollywoof so you can
collect your car.”
* * *
• • •
Detective Brown picked me up from Magnus Cooper’s house in his unmarked car. On our way to Hollywoof, he summarized what had transpired in the police station the night before. Tammy had given the police her full cooperation, like she’d said she would, and had confessed to everything.
Relief flooded my body. Justice would be dealt, and my life could return to normal.
When we arrived at Hollywoof, Detective Brown placed a hand on my arm to stop me from getting out right away. “One moment of your time, Miss Lee.”
I froze. Was I in trouble again? But the detective handed me a small wrapped gift.
An enormous amount of tape kept the shiny paper on the box. “Let bygones be bygones. I’m sorry I pursued you relentlessly in the Nolan case.”
I nodded and ripped the sloppy wrapping. Opening the box revealed . . . my favorite mug, the one that said “Stay PAWsitive.” The detective had nestled it in soft tissue paper.
“Thanks for returning this, Detective.” I pulled the mug out, already dreaming of brewing a hot cup of tea. “Wait, what happened to the crack? There’s beautiful gold paint covering it.”
“Kintsugi,” he said. “I wrote down that term you mentioned when I searched your place.”
I’d first admired kintsugi at a local Asian museum. The art of ceramic repair revived broken pottery through lacquer and gold pigment. Detective Brown must have used his precious time, and possibly police contacts, to locate an artist skilled enough to create this ceramic transformation.
“Detective, I’m floored.” I fingered the gold line. “Thank you.”
He scratched behind his ear and nodded in the direction of my car. “Okay. You’re all set.”
I turned to go, and he spoke up again. “And, Miss Lee, try to stay out of trouble in the future.”
CHAPTER
forty-one
MARSHMALLOW DRAGGED HIS paws when it came time to go into Hollywoof the next day. He’d been acting strange ever since I’d broken the good news to him about the murder case being wrapped up. Did he miss the excitement of investigating?
When we arrived at the store, I expected to see Nicola, whom I had hired to satisfy Ma’s condition. Instead, I found a line of people and their pets waiting outside the door. Were these new customers?
“What’s up with all the pup-arazzi?” I whispered to Marshmallow.
Instead of his usual snarky comeback, he stayed quiet. He didn’t even let out an irritated grumble.
The customers gave a collective cheer and greeted me by name. Every single one said invariably the same thing: They’d seen me on TV.
Swamped with customers, I soon filled up the seating area—and more. A lot of them squeezed together on the benches, but others stood to wait.
A few milled around, checking out the merchandise. When they swept up all of Indira’s pooch pouches without a second glance at their price tags, I knew I’d be partnering with her for a while. Maybe I needed to negotiate a fifty-fifty split.
I also finally got the chance to use the side room, taking several dogs and placing them in crates to wait their turns. While grooming, I heard the business line ring multiple times. Thank goodness Nicola had arrived by then. She managed the front while I handled the direct pet duties.
Hollywoof was an overnight success. In fact, Pixie even had a fancy potted orchid delivered to me. The note in her elegant cursive read, Heard the media hype. Congrats! Let’s meet up soon. XOXO.
Grooming tasks kept coming without end. I couldn’t close up like usual for my lunch break, but I did manage to nibble on the “sweet wishes” chocolate-dipped fortune cookie Josh had given me for returning to work.
Around three in the afternoon, I felt exhausted and told Nicola I needed a quick breather. I leaned against the grooming table in the back room and stretched out the crick in my neck.
Marshmallow sidled up to me and said, “Heard you insist on a break. Guess it’s finally time. Well, I’m ready to go.”
“And where exactly are you going?”
“Don’t be a smart aleck, Mimi. I know you’re taking me back to the shelter.”
“What are you talking about?”
He looked at me with doleful blue eyes. “Our deal, remember? You said you’d keep me around only until you found the killer. And now the case is closed.”
“You can’t be serious.” I cupped his furry face in my hands. “Marshmallow, you saved my life. I wouldn’t give you up for the world.”
“Not ever?”
“Nope. You’re family now, Marshmallow Lee.”
He groaned. “Marshmallow-y? Again with the silly name.”
I let go of his face and tsked at him. “That kind of cat-itude is why you don’t get to come along on tonight’s date. That, plus I don’t think they allow pets.”
* * *
• • •
Josh and I went to an elegant restaurant called Montagne, located inside a skyscraper, for our first official fancy date. The upscale dining establishment offered French-Asian fusion dishes with names I couldn’t even begin to pronounce.
Plus, the restaurant provided a superb vantage point for admiring the city lights. Sitting together at a cozy table on the building’s highest floor, we took in the gorgeous view. I felt like we were perched at the top of the world.
Josh adjusted his dark blue tie and ordered champagne from the waiter.
“Lavish,” I murmured when the waiter came back to pour the bubbly into handmade crystal flutes.
The waiter retreated, and Josh turned to me with sparkling eyes. “You’re worth any extravagance. Besides, thanks to you, I can afford it with my new promotion at work. The partners loved how I handled the deal with PetTwin.”
“Let’s toast to your success at the firm.”
“No.” He gripped my hands with both of his. “We’ll celebrate you being alive—I know I could have lost you the other night . . .”
“How about to Life, then, with a capital ‘L’?”
He lifted his glass but cocked an eyebrow at me.
I raised my flute and said, “Because Life capitalized is full of wonders. Things we work hard for, like amazing dream jobs. And also unexpected joys, like my two handsome fellows.”
His hand wobbled. “Two?”
“Charming you . . . and feisty Marshmallow.”
He laughed and clinked my glass. “Cheers, Mimi.”
We sipped our champagne and held hands across the table. Turning my gaze to peer out the large glass window, I took in the view. The lights of Los Angeles dazzled me with their shimmering brilliance, reminding me that Hollywoof-size dreams really do come true.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
First off, thank you to sassy cat supporters everywhere! I love to stay in touch with readers through my newsletter or on social media. Find ways to connect with me at jenniferjchow.com.
If you enjoyed M&M’s adventures, please leave a pawsitive review on Amazon and Goodreads. (Marshmallow says a steady diet of praise keeps his ego well fed.)
I’m blessed that Mimi got a chance to live out her Hollywoof dream and shine in mine. Special thanks to Lily Choi for the initial inspiration.
A huge thank-you to agent extraordinaire Jessica Faust for supporting me and other diverse writers. Props also to James McGowan for his hard work and to the rest of the BookEnds team, including Buford, the literary hound.
Revising under the professional eyes of Grace House and Martha Cipolla was an absolute pleasure—thank you for making insightful additions and smoothing out the story. Heartfelt gratitude to Angela Kim for her enthusiasm about this series. Much appreciation for the marketing and publicity efforts of Brittanie Black, Jessica Mangicaro, and Natalie Sellars. I continue to be amazed by Lindsey Tulloch and the whole publishing team at Berkley for their bookmakin
g magic.
Love to my extended family, particularly the Ngs, the Chows, and the Lims. Hugs to my critique group (Lisbeth Coiman, Robin Arehart, Sherry Berkin, and Tracey Dale), who keep my creative juices flowing. Sweet wishes to my sixth-grade teacher, Mrs. Okada, who delighted in my first mystery story.
Finally, I’m indebted to my husband, Steve, for believing in my dreams and helping me persevere. And to my kids, who tagged along on my research outings, including doggie readings and cat cafés.
Photograph of the author copyright © 2019 by Julie Daniels
JENNIFER J. CHOW grew up reading Garfield comics and adores creating sassy kit lit. She also writes the Winston Wong mysteries, which feature a regular meowing cat. Her other Asian American novels include Dragonfly Dreams (a Teen Vogue pick) and The 228 Legacy. She’s involved in Crime Writers of Color, Mystery Writers of America, and Sisters in Crime.
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Mimi Lee Gets a Clue Page 27
