eb93c43e214c621f9157c05b4b6a6878

“Yeah, it certainly looks that way,” I agreed, also whispering my words.

“Maybe we should run away, Max. At least that way we’ll always be together.”

“I don’t know. Maybe we should wait and see? Odelia hasn’t really been herself lately.”

“It’s like I told you, Max—she’s pregnant with Satan’s spawn! Just like in the movie!”

I’d finally remembered the name of the movie. “You meanRosemary’s Baby?”

“Let’s just call this what it is…Odelia’s Baby!”

I shivered. It had been a particularly scary picture, and we’d all spent half the time underneath the couch, and the other half hoping the movie would be over soon. The only one who hadn’t been bothered was Gran, who had found the whole thing extremely funny for some reason. But then Gran usually laughs when she should be scared, and gets upset when a movie is supposed to be funny. I guess she’s not as attuned to Hollywood’s output as the rest of us. Or maybe she’s just wired differently.

“Max, they’re leaving us behind already!” Dooley suddenly yelled.

I looked up and saw that Chase and Odelia were indeed crossing the road.

We quickly got a move on and hurried after them.

“See? She was going to dump us at the car dealership!” Dooley said.

“Well, she’s not getting rid of us that easily,” I returned, vowing to stick to our humans like a poultice from now on.

Chapter 21

When we arrived on the other side of a fairly busy road, we saw Chase and Odelia enter the Izban Motor dealership, presumably to have a chat with Peter Izban. We arrived just in time to slip through the door, and sat, panting heavily, counting our lucky stars that we’d made it without a scratch on our persons, though it had been a close call.

Peter Izban was a string bean of a fellow of about thirty, with nicely coiffed hair and a face that reminded me of a ferret. I wouldn’t have selected him as salesman of the year even once, but then perhaps he had other assets that trumped his unfortunate outward appearance. And indeed, once he started talking, I knew what these assets were: he had a deep, sonorous voice that inspired confidence and the urge to take out your wallet.

“I think I have exactly what you’ve been looking for,” he said, darting a quick look at Odelia’s belly. “Nice family car of excellent design and with a solid five-star safety rating.”

“We’re not here about a car,” said Chase curtly.

“Oh? But I saw you across the street, visiting my friend Dewey Toneu?”

“Which is what we wanted to talk to you about,” said Chase, flashing his badge.

There was a slight lessening of the man’s warmth, but to give him credit, at least he didn’t get mad, like Dewey had done. “So what can I do for you, Detective Kingsley?”

“You used to work for Dewey, is that correct?”

“Oh, absolutely. Worked there for years. Wonderful boss, Dewey, absolutely wonderful. I learned so, so much from that man. He was my mentor in every possible way.”

“And still you decided to quit and strike out on your own?”

He smiled, and a bucktooth became evident. It didn’t detract from his charm, though. It might even have added to it. One of those perfect imperfections you hear so much about. “You know how it is. At the end of the day we all want to be in business for ourselves. No offense to Dewey, but he did run a pretty tight ship, and I’ve always dreamed of being my own boss one day. So when the opportunity arose, I decided just to go for it, you know. With Dewey’s full blessing, I might add. That’s the kind of guy he is.”

“Is it true that you took half of Dewey’s customers when you… went for it?”

He laughed a sort of careless laugh that didn’t entirely ring true. “Is that what Dewey told you? I’m afraid the truth is more prosaic. I’d built up a close relationship with my customers and once they heard I was setting up my own shop they decided to give me the benefit of the doubt and take my new place for a spin.” He shrugged. “And they must have liked what they got, cause they decided to stick with me ever since. And who am I to tell them they should have stayed with Dewey? I’m simply glad they paid me the greatest compliment a customer can pay any business: by placing their trust in me.”

“So you haven’t been spreading rumors about Dewey being a lousy mechanic, overcharging his clients and being on the verge of bankruptcy, now have you?”

“Oh, absolutely not,” said Mr. Izban virtuously. “I would never do such a thing.” But then he gave us a grin of such dishonesty it was quite obvious that Dewey hadn’t lied.

Chase walked up to the man until he was almost nose to nose with him. Peter Izban, credit to him, stood his ground. More or less.