The Telltale Turtle (The Pet Psychic Mysteries)

by Jim Lavene;Joyce Lavene

  Charlie picked up a small colored dart from the cage floor. "I think someone tranquilized him. This looks like one of those darts zookeepers use."

  She looked at the projectile. "Someone shot that into Baylor? They wanted to trap him out there?"

  Charlie's brown eyes narrowed as he watched her. "Maybe they were trying to trap someone else."

  "What are you talking about?"

  "What's a surefire way to lure you outside?"

  "Why would anyone want to lure me outside?"

  He shrugged. "I don't know."

  She stroked Baylor's fur and considered the possibilities. "The only person out there besides me was you. Is that why you came? To trap Baylor and lure me outside?"

  "Yeah. Sure." He laughed. "Good police work, Mary Catherine, but no deal. I probably didn't get here until after this happened. And I don't have any reason to lure you anywhere."

  "I think you should go now."

  "Be reasonable. The real catnapper might still be out there."

  She took out her cell phone. "Go now or I'll call the police."

  "All right. I'm going. Call me if you need me."

  She took a deep breath as he walked out the door.

  "But I didn't trap your cat," he said before he closed the door. "Think about that."

  She slammed the door hard in his face and locked the dead bolt. She didn't know what had possessed him to trap Baylor, if that was what happened. It didn't make any sense, but sometimes you couldn't see the whole picture right away. Maybe there was something more going on that hadn't shown itself yet.

  Baylor's rough tongue licked her hand as she stroked him, and he reminded her that no one should trust humans.

  Happy he seemed to be recovering, she still questioned him ruthlessly. He had no idea what happened to him or who was responsible. He followed the sounds they'd heard until something sharp hit him in the side. He'd tried to warn her, then blacked out.

  Bruno was barking loud enough at this point to rattle the bricks in the building. Fred the toucan was yelling dire warnings and Waldo the goat was worried about what he was going to eat.

  Mary Catherine took Baylor back to see the St. Bernard, to let him know everything was fine. Bruno was unimpressed with her safeguards and offered to patrol the building for her. She declined his offer of help, but promised she'd call him if she needed him.

  She and Baylor went upstairs, where the cat continued to recover with a bowl of food in front of him while he flexed his claws on the red velvet furniture.

  Mary Catherine tried not to think bad things about people, but Charlie was proving to be a mistake. She'd taken him into her confidence and he'd betrayed Colin and possibly tried to betray her. He'd never told her the name of her relative whom he said he was working for that first day when he'd searched the clinic office.

  She recalled his story about her cousin and that he wanted to buy her building. Now it seemed it might have been a ruse to get in and nose around. She should never have trusted him. "We won't make that mistake again, will we?" She smiled at the orange tabby cat as she ran her hand through his thick fur.

  Baylor purred, but doubted her good intentions.

  "This is Mary Catherine Roberts, the Pet Psychic, and you are live on WRSC Lite 102.5. Do you have a problem with your pet?"

  "Hello, Mary Catherine. My name is Seth. I'd like to tell you how much I enjoy your show. You always give such good advice."

  "Thank you, Seth. What can I do for you?"

  "I was wondering if you've ever talked to dolphins? I live on the coast in the Mobile, Alabama, area, and I frequently feel like I understand the sounds dolphins are making."

  "I've spoken with a few dolphins. I hate to say it, but the dolphins at Sea World are much easier to talk to because they've been around humans. I'm sure you've heard me say a hundred times on this show that domesticated animals understand and respond to humans better than creatures in the wild. I'm sure that makes sense on some level. They learn our speech patterns, I think, and that makes it simpler."

  "I think I understand how that happens," Seth agreed. "My question is: do you think it's possible to keep a dolphin as a pet? I have a large swimming pool and I feel sure that this one particular dolphin would like to spend time with me."

  "I guess my first question would be: how do you know it's the same dolphin?" Mary Catherine looked at Mindy who held her thumb up, approving of the question.

  "The dolphin has a black spot on his nose. He comes up to the shore where I sit every day. I can tell we have something between us.

  "Are you sure this is a boy dolphin?"

  Her question was met by silence before Seth replied, "N-not exactly. Why? Are female dolphins attracted to human men?"

  "I'm not sure about dolphins, but other species are attracted to the opposite sex in humans. I don't know if they'd ever do anything about it, but-"

  "Maybe I should start with some fish," Seth said. "Thanks for your help, Mary Catherine."

  "You're welcome. I hope it works out for you." Mindy was gesturing that the next call would be the last one. "Hello! This is Mary Catherine. Do you have a pet question?"

  "Yes. I was wondering how long you think it would take to smother a cat?"

  She sometimes received strange calls like this. She usually hung up and went on to the next call. But before she could respond, the caller continued, "I think it would only take a minute or two. You just didn't give me enough time with Baylor last night."

  Mindy was making slicing motions across her throat to Cory, the engineer in the sound booth, to cut the call. Normally Mary Catherine would've agreed, but this was different. She wanted this man on tape and she wanted to keep him talking in case there was anything the police could use to identify him. She was definitely calling Angellus as soon as she got off the air.

  "You're the same person who called in about Colin Jamison, aren't you? Why would you want to hurt Baylor? He doesn't even like Colin. What possible reason would you have to call me like this?"

  "You don't know?" The caller laughed. "If you think about it, I'm sure you'll understand. Or maybe you can get your little turtle friend to help you out. You've butted in where you don't belong. Get out now, or I won't be responsible for the consequences."

  The line went dead and Mary Catherine sagged forward to lay her head on the table. The sound booth door opened and Mindy rushed in to see if she was okay. "That was terrible! I can't believe you kept him on the air after that first bit."

  Mary Catherine picked up the phone and called Angellus. "That's why I kept him going. I think he's involved with this thing Colin is going through. I'm sure he's the same caller we had before. He probably read about me being involved with Ferndelle's death and thinks I'm coming too close to catching up with him."

  Angellus' voice mail picked up and Mary Catherine explained why she needed him at the radio station.

  Mindy's mouth opened wide and her eyes narrowed. "You think it was Cousin Bob? Colin ranted about him all night last night. I've been nervous all morning that he tried to go after the man by himself."

  Mary Catherine smiled, thinking about how she almost had to pry Colin out of her car last night with three of them there to protect him. "I don't think you have to worry about that. But it could've been Cousin Bob. The police need to hear this tape and pay Cousin Bob a visit."

  "Do we know where he is? Colin didn't seem very sure"

  "I don't know but the police should be able to find him." Mary Catherine took Baylor and her purse outside the sound booth to the lobby. Baylor had insisted on coming with her even though he was a little woozy from last night. Now he was all claws and teeth, at least in his thoughts, hoping they'd catch the person responsible for trapping him.

  She reminded him that if he hadn't run out like some common street cat, nothing would've happened. "We'll wait out here until Angellus arrives."

  Mindy nodded. "I wish there was another producer here today. I'd like to hear what they have to say. I'm really worrie
d about Colin. He's so depressed and unlike himself."

  "I'm sure he'll be fine, once all this is over." Mary Catherine looked at the pretty, young woman and wondered if Colin had bared his soul to her. It wasn't anything to do with her, but she thought the girl deserved to know the truth about his "fling" before she married him. Marriage was a difficult enough proposition with the tiny lies couples told each other, without dealing with a large, pre-wedding lie.

  Buck Maybelle picked that moment to get off the elevator, all smiles under his Stetson when he saw Mary Catherine. "Just the lady I've been looking for!"

  "Not now, Buck. I'm waiting to speak to the police. I'm sure you won't want to be here when they come. I've heard they're looking for manufacturers of bad dog food."

  "That's not funny." He unbuttoned his suit jacket and sat down beside her on the orange plastic sofa. "Besides, you agreed to the challenge. I'm ready."

  She'd totally forgotten about the Meaty Boy taste test. She'd had far more important things on her mind, but a promise was a promise, no matter how obnoxious. She didn't want to alienate the station owner and she had no doubt Buck had already told him about the taste test.

  "All right. When is it set for?" She hushed Baylor who was hissing at the man.

  "I was thinking three PM today. Does that work for you?" He laughed as he crossed one leg over the other and swung one long arm along the back of the sofa behind her. "All of the TV stations will be there. I think your own reporter, Diana Wilson, will be there too."

  "It's your funeral," she told him. "The dogs aren't going to like it. They didn't like it before. Why would that change now?"

  "Humor me, my little psychic angel. I think you'll see this taste test will settle everything. Then you'll do my commercials. That was the agreement."

  She sighed. "Yes it was. I'll be there. But the dogs are my choice"

  "That's right. You bring 'em and I'll feed 'em." He leaned toward her as though he meant to kiss her, but before his mouth could connect with her face, he jumped up, screeching. "Where's that damn cat?"

  Baylor yawned and posed on the back of the sofa behind Mary Catherine where he'd scratched Buck's hand. He looked at the man in smug satisfaction while she scolded him, at least out loud. "Baylor! You bad cat. Tell Buck you're sorry."

  Baylor's thoughts were everything contrary to telling Buck he was sorry but Mary Catherine made it up for him. "He's really sorry, Buck. I don't know what got into him."

  The Meaty Boy mogul sucked on the inch-long scratch on his hand. "I know what got into him! He's a sneaky little devil."

  Detective Angellus got off the elevator at that point. He smiled when he saw Mary Catherine, then sobered as he approached. "This is getting to be a habit."

  "Can't you do something about that cat?" Buck asked him. "Security in this building isn't what it used to be, I can tell you that. Why are animals allowed in here at all?"

  Angellus flashed his ID. "I'm afraid I'm not qualified to answer that question, sir. I'm here about information pertaining to my homicide case. I'm assuming that's coming from you, Mary Catherine."

  "Yes, it is." She stood up, taking Baylor with her. "I think it might be better if we go down to the coffee shop to talk. It can get a little loud up here."

  "That's fine with me." Angellus looked at Baylor. "Will they let the cat in there?"

  She smirked. "Of course. It's Baylor. They know him."

  "Don't forget about my taste test," Buck reminded her, still nursing his scratched hand. "It's at the Meaty Boy plant at three PM. Don't forget your dogs. But leave that miserable cat at home." "

  I won't forget." The elevator doors closed. "That man is so obnoxious," she told Angellus as they rode down to the ground floor. "I don't know what he thinks he's trying to pull off, but no normal dog would choose his dog food over almost anything else."

  "Does this figure in with Ferndelle Jamison's death in some way?" Angellus responded. "This better not be a wild goose chase, Mary Catherine."

  "Believe me, Buck Maybelle has nothing to do with this. But I might know who does"

  They went into Port City Java, Mary Catherine smiling at Angellus' gallantry as he offered to pay for both their drinks. He brought his latte to the table with her iced mocha and they sat down together, facing the busy street.

  She didn't wait for an invitation to tell him what had happened at the station, as well as what had happened to Baylor last night. "If I hadn't found him, I believe the man would have harmed him."

  Angellus took out his notebook. "And this is the second time the man called you?"

  "We get some crazies, don't get me wrong. But I think this man knows something about Colin's aunt and he definitely knew about Baylor."

  "Why do you think he'd come after your cat? I mean, why not go after Colin?"

  Mary Catherine checked her lipstick, then smiled. "I'm sure it has something to do with my reputation. This isn't the first murder investigation I've been involved in. Once in awhile, animals are the only witness to a tragedy like the one with Ferndelle. I've constilted with police departments in several other states. I think the killer knows I can find him."

  Angellus sipped his latte as he tried to hide a smile. "You're something else. So you think the killer is worried about you using the turtle to find him so he came after Baylor?"

  "That's what I think."

  "Why not come after you? I think the chances are pretty good that with you out of the way no one else would talk to the turtle."

  She considered his point. "It's possible he meant to hold Baylor hostage until this is over. Maybe the threat on the phone today was another effort to keep me quiet."

  Angellus put away his pen and notebook. "I don't think anybody else is going to buy that, Mary Catherine. But no matter what, a phone threat, even to your cat, should be taken seriously. I'll have someone go over the tapes and see what we can find"

  "Thank you, Detective. I know this is hard for you to believe."

  "You could say that." He finished his latte and glanced around the crowded coffee house. "But I have a question for you. This may seem unimportant."

  "No!" She leaned forward, trying to sound surprised. "What is it?"

  He looked uncomfortable. "My wife is a big fan of yours. She made me promise if I saw you again I'd ask about our hermit crab. He doesn't ever come out of his shell, you know? What do you think we should do?"

  Hello Mary Catherine!

  I'm a researcher in Tokyo. I've had many strange encounters with animals, particularly dogs, during the course of my two-year study into animal behavior before earthquakes. All animals react strangely just before an earthquake hits. If we can learn to understand their behavior, I believe we can use their ability to sense these things before they happen and save many human lives.

  Have you ever had a dog predict an earthquake?

  TEN

  MARY CATHERINE WASN'T SURE what to say. She didn't know any therapies for hermit crabs. "I could try to talk to the poor thing, if you like."

  Detective Angellus nodded. "That would be great. My wife gets home about five. Any time after that would be fine. I'll draw you a map while you get those tapes."

  The irony of the request wasn't lost on Mary Catherine. Angellus had made fun of her ability to communicate with animals. Now he wanted her help. It didn't surprise her.

  She didn't mind, especially since he was going to try to help her. She went back upstairs to the radio station with him to get copies of the tapes from Mindy. "When do you think you'll know something? Should I stay away from my apartment until this is sorted out?"

  "I don't know how long it will take to ID the man on the tapes." He shrugged. "It could be anyone. I don't think you have to worry about him trying to hurt you. I think this guy is probably just mouthing off. If he was that close to you last night and wanted to hurt you, he would have. Just make sure you don't give any statements to the police or any media. We don't want to draw this guy out again until we figure out who he is."

&
nbsp; "What about Cousin Bob? Are you going to check him out?"

  "As soon as I figure out who Cousin Bob is. In the meantime, take it easy. Lay low."

  She agreed. "You don't have to worry about that. And I think Baylor and I might check into a hotel for a few nights."

  "Okay. Let me know when you're set up." Angellus sniffed and ran his hand across his forehead. "Don't forget about my wife's hermit crab, huh?"

  "I'll be there after five," she promised as her cell phone rang. He mouthed his goodbyes as she took the call. It was Danny calling from the clinic. He thought he had a family who might be interested in adopting Bruno and wanted to know when she'd be back.

  She told him she was leaving the studio and would be there in a few minutes. She thanked Mindy for copying the tapes and left with Baylor in her arms. She took the elevator downstairs, considering which local hotels allowed pets and wondering if she could sneak in with Baylor if she couldn't find one that did. She didn't know if she should leave her house, but she didn't feel safe there, either.

  She looked up as someone opened the door that led outside. Her head snapped up when she recognized Charlie. "What are you doing here?"

  "You're psychic. You tell me."

  "If you don't leave, I'll call the police."

  "You can't really believe I'd hurt Baylor, can you?" He put his hand out quickly and ruffled Baylor's tawny fur. "We're buddies."

  She was surprised when Baylor didn't scratch him. The cat answered her question with a clear response: this wasn't the human who'd trapped him.

  She wondered how he could be so sure. The cat responded with a yawn, flexing on her arm. The scent was different. He would've recognized Charlie's cologne since he'd smelled it before. It definitely wasn't Charlie.

  You could've told me before I made an idiot of myself. Baylor didn't apologize, refusing to take the blame for Mary Catherine jumping to conclusions.