“Oh, fine,” said Brutus. “I can see that my arguments are landing on deaf ears. But for once in my life, I would like the roles to be reversed, and for us to get some of the appreciation and respect that we’re due.”
But before Brutus could continue laying out his argument, there was a sort of hush that descended upon the room, and all eyes turned to the entrance, where Chase and Odelia had just appeared. They were talking to Brian, who quickly led them out again.
“It’s happening!” Liz said excitedly. “The police are ready to make an arrest!”
We watched on as conversations all around us started up again, and it wasn’t difficult to guess the topic of discussion: Henry’s death and the arrival of the constabulary.
And as I watched, I saw that Olivia quickly snuck a bread roll and dropped it into her purse. And when she thought no one was looking, she added a pat of butter.
“Gran does that all the time,” Dooley commented. “When she travels? She likes to sneak bread rolls into her purse for later.”
“Silly thing,” said Harriet. “She could simply ask for a picnic basket. Most hotels don’t mind.”
“It’s a habit,” said Brutus. “Like stealing bars of soap and shampoo from the hotel bathroom. It’s a regular curse with some people.”
“I would never steal a bar of soap,” said Dooley.
“That’s because you don’t use soap,” Harriet pointed out with a smile. “But you would sneak a pawful of kibble if you could, wouldn’t you?”
Dooley’s hesitation told us that he would, and he grinned. “You got me, Harriet. You really got me!”
“Let’s go, you guys,” I said when I saw that Gran and Scarlett made to leave. “Our humans need us!”
So we hurried out, followed by half the residents, who were all eager to find out what was going on as well, but I like to think we arrived in front of the pack, since no human can outrun a cat when we’re going well.
It didn’t take us long to locate Odelia and Chase. Using our excellent sense of smell, we tracked them to the office Desmond likes to use. It’s in the same part of the building where Brian has his office, and when we arrived a search was already underway.
Suddenly Chase said,“Got it!”
And when we approached, unhindered by Odelia, or the police officer who stood sentinel at the door, Chase showed his wife a piece of paper. And when Odelia’s eyes fell on the document, we could tell it was something important, for she exchanged a knowing look with her husband.
“What is it?” I asked, burning with curiosity at this point. “What’s happening?”
Odelia glanced to the door, and when she was reassured that the officer couldn’t overhear us, she crouched down and showed us the document.
“It’s Henry’s real will,” she explained. “Chase just found it in a drawer of Desmond’s desk, where he must have hidden it after he exchanged it for the fake will he planted in Henry’s room.”
“So… Henry was murdered?” asked Harriet.
“Yes, he was,” said Odelia, but since more people arrived—this time crime scene investigators—she couldn’t say more.
“Looks like Desmond is our guy,” said Brutus. “Which is exactly what I always told you!”
I didn’t remember Brutus having told us anything about who he thought had killed Henry, but I decided not to argue. Finding the real will was a very important piece of evidence, and it showed that the case against the nursing aide was building.
Brian, who had just walked into the room, was held at the door.“What’s going on?” he asked anxiously.
“Where is Desmond?” asked Chase.
“I don’t know,” said Brian. “I haven’t seen him since before breakfast. Why? Is he in any trouble?”
“You could say that, sir,” said Chase.
“Could you please find him?” asked Odelia. “It’s very important that we speak to him.”
Brian nodded nervously, and took out his phone. Placing it to his ear, he shook his head.“Straight to voicemail,” he said. “What do you want to talk to him about?”
“We have a warrant for his arrest,” said Chase with a touch of gravity.
“His arrest!” Brian cried. “But why?”
“We have reason to believe that he killed one of your residents, sir. Henry Kaur.”
“My God,” said Brian, his hands flying to his face. “Murder? Are you sure?”
But Chase merely nodded. He wasn’t going to give Desmond’s employer the details of the case they were building against the man. “His address, please, sir?”
“Of course,” said Brian, and provided Chase with Desmond’s particulars. “But he must be here. I saw him just before breakfast, so he must be in the building.”
“Unless he realized the game was up and he fled,” said Chase with a grim expression on his face. “But trust me, sir. He won’t get far.”
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