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“Is this where Walt Disney used to live?” asked Dooley admiringly from the backseat.

“The Disney princesses, more like,” said Harriet, equally impressed.

Several caterer’s vans were parked in the driveway, and white-aproned personnel was hauling stuff into the house.

“Looks like someone is having a party,” said Mom.

“Maybe that’s for us,” said Gran. “I shouldn’t have eaten that last pancake. I should have known these rich folks would treat their guests like royalty.”

“Pretty sure this isn’t for us, Gran,” said Odelia as she got out.

Behind them, another pickup rolled to a stop. Chase was behind the wheel, Uncle Alec next to him.

“Looks like the gang is all here,” said Chase as he ambled up. He bent over and planted a quick kiss on Odelia’s lips, which she happily returned. Since their interrupted dinner date the other night they hadn’t had two minutes together. She hoped that by the time the investigation was wrapped up, the film festival would still be in full swing and she and Chase could finally check out that Cary Grant movie.

“So how are we doing this?” asked Uncle Alec, who seemed to have second thoughts about driving up here en masse. “We can’t all go in there and crowd the poor shmuck.”

“Whatever he is, he’s definitely not poor,” Gran commented as an ice sculpture was carried out of a moving van by four bulky dudes.

“I suggest Chase and Odelia interview the guy,” said Uncle Alec. “While I look around and talk to some of the staff. In my experience staff often know more about what’s going on than the principals themselves.” He cut off Gran, who’d opened her mouth to protest, with, “You talk to thekitchen staff while I talk to the household staff. Marge, you… mingle.”

Mom arched her eyebrows.“Mingle?”

Uncle Alec gestured at a procession of cars that was roaring up the drive. They were all in the high-class category. In other words, the category Odelia couldn’t afford. “Looks like the party is about to get started. Talk to the guests and see what you can find out about the relationship between Ackerman and his publisher.”

“Aye aye, sir,” said Mom with a two-fingered salute.

Uncle Alec displayed a lopsided grin.“We’ll meet back here in an hour.”

“Shouldn’t we synchronize our watches?” asked Gran.

“Only if you’re James Bond and you’re about to save the world,” Alec deadpanned.

Chapter 34

“Mingle,” said Harriet, then sneezed violently. “How can we mingle when we’re standing with one foot in the grave?” She sneezed again, then once more for good measure.

“We’ll be fine,” I said. “It’s just a cold. We’ll be right as rain in no time.”

“Please, Max,” said Brutus with a pained expression. “No mention of water.”

At my mention of the word‘rain’ Dooley had subjected the skies to a critical look. When no dark clouds heralded in the coming apocalypse, he seemed to relax.

“I can’t believe we tried to prevent Brutus from having to visit Vena and now we end up all going to Vena’s,” said Harriet, checking her precious white fur for spots.

“I’m sorry, you guys,” said Brutus. “This is all my fault.”

“Personally I blame Shanille,” said Harriet. “And next time I see her I’ll give her a piece of my mind she won’t forget. Jesus, forsooth.”

I laughed, tickled pink that Harriet would use such a quaint expression. But when she fixed me with a haughty glare, I quickly stopped.“I think we better split up,” I said.

“Yes, I think we better,” Harriet agreed icily.

I had the distinct sensation she blamed me in equal measure as Shanille. She probably figured I should have stopped Brutus instead of encouraging him. Then again, how was I to know that Jesus would smite us with a viral infectious disease that affects the upper respiratory system—if smite is the word I want? Maybe this was a test. But a test of what?

Harriet and Brutus moved off in one direction while Dooley and I moved in the other.

“Do you think Jesus will save us from the apocalypse now that we’re baptized, Max?” asked Dooley.

“No idea, Dooley,” I said. Unlike Shanille I’m not an expert on matters of theology. “Though I can’t imagine he’d let us die in a fiery furnace, considering we went to the trouble of being dunked headfirst in that icy cold water.”

“It was pretty cold, wasn’t it? Father Reilly should use warm water. Much nicer.”

“I’ll tell him when I see him,” I said.

“You will? Super,” he said, greatly gratified. Like I said, Dooley doesn’t do irony.

We watched as Odelia and Chase disappeared into the house, while Uncle Alec, Gran and Marge took the small stone path that led around the house—the same direction some of the caterers had taken.

“Have you noticed how much like Jesus Chase looks?” asked Dooley now.

I hadn’t, but now that he mentioned it, he had a point. If Chase decided to grow a beard, he’d be the spitting image of Jesus.

This gave Dooley an idea.“Do you think Chaseis Jesus?”

“I doubt it, Dooley. I think Chase is just a dude.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“I…” Actually, I wasn’t. How do you know if a dude is just a dude or not?

“What if heis Jesus, Max?” he said excitedly.