When I greeted her, I also asked to speak to her mother. That tipped Sophie off instantly and she almost screamed, “Something's happened to Grammy?!"

  "Sophie, Tiger called me, Athena went there immediately, and I called an ambulance. We need to get someone there with keys or they'll break the door down."

  Crying, she screamed, “I have a key! Come get me, Ed!"

  "Sophie, it should be an adult and a family member. Your mother. Go get her."

  "Yes! Okay! I'll get her! Ed, come get us, please?! Dad can bring the car later!"

  "Okay, Sophie. I'll be right there. Meanwhile, put your mother on, please."

  Behind me, Barb said, “I heard. I'm coming with you."

  Standing up, I said, “Good. Thanks much, in fact. This could be a hard night."

  "Yes, it could."

  From the phone came, “Hello? Ed? Are you there?"

  "Yeah, I'm here. You know about Tiger and Annabelle, so I'll keep this short. Tiger called me, I called an ambulance. One of my AI friends is there trying to help. Be ready to fly when I get to your place, okay?"

  "Yes! Okay! Thank you! Uh ... is that all we need to do?"

  "Just bring keys so they won't kick the door in. Bye."

  "Yes! Thanks, again! Bye!"

  Letting the screen dissipate, I thought about linking to Athena for a sitrep, then decided against it. Things would be whatever they'd be when we got there. I wondered if I could rely on Sophie and her mom to go along with a little change of story.

  Barb said, “Boy, the cops are going to love this. Your cat called you about her."

  "Been thinking about that. Athena, can you add a call to Martha's phone records that would show her calling me about the time she collapsed?"

  "No, Ed. That would be completely illegal as well as a lie."

  "Thought you'd say that, but it seemed worth a try."

  Barb said, “Tell it your way. I can take care of it."

  "How's that, ma'am?"

  "I'll find a way to accidentally step on her phone or drop it or something."

  "Too chancy and it wouldn't change phone records.” Something occurred to me and I said, “Wait one. Back in a minute."

  In the fridge I found two nine-volt batteries and in the garage I located the walkie-talkies I'd bought for camping with Doris Burke back in 1997. Inserting the batteries as I returned to the kitchen, I keyed the WTs and they both worked. I led the way outside and we headed across town to Sophie's house on a flitter.

  Sophie and her mom were on their front porch. They boarded quickly and we lifted as Sophie said, “Dad wouldn't wait. He left for Grammy's."

  "No problem. He'll get there late, but he'll get there. Ladies, do I want to try to tell the cops my cat called me about Martha?"

  Sophie's mom said, “Oh, good lord ... No, I don't think so."

  I showed her the walkie talkies. “This could be the answer. I'll key one up and leave it near the couch. We can say she had it as a backup."

  "A backup?"

  "She didn't like cell phones. She said I was probably the only person she knew who likes them even less."

  "Oh. Yes, she didn't like them much. Uh ... okay. I can't see how it can hurt and you are helping us tonight."

  "Thank you. No fancy story. You two don't have to try to remember anything or back me up. I'll take care of all of it."

  "Uh ... okay. I guess."

  Below us, an ambulance on Northcliffe was slowing down to make a turn onto Geranium. We had to land, get in, and place a walkie-talkie. It would be close. Well, maybe. I could park the flitter in front of the steps. That might slow them down a little. We landed smack in front of the porch, then we hurried to the front door and Sophie's mom used her key.

  As we crossed the living room, Athena didn't look up from her ministrations, but she linked to me and said, “I'm sorry, Ed, but I couldn't revive her."

  "Thanks for trying, Athena. Might as well keep pretending, though. It'll look better than if you stopped."

  I hurried to the cats and fed them theta waves as I said, “Sorry guys, no more English for now,” and turned off their collars’ translation function. “I'll put it back later."

  Locking the key on a walkie-talkie in the ‘on’ position, I wrapped Martha's right hand around it before I pushed the little radio off the couch. Its battery cover popped off when it hit and the battery hung out by its wires. I toed it and the battery cover under the coffee table and looked around once. Good as it could get.

  Moving to Martha, I said, “Athena, thanks again, but it's time to go now."

  She let me take over chest compressions and said, “Okay, Ed,” and vanished.

  [Back to Table of Contents]

  Chapter Thirteen

  Flashing lights outside made me say, “Sophie, man the door. Make sure the medics can get across the yard and up to the house easily."

  She didn't move. “Your flitter is in the way, remember?"

  "Tea, move to one side of the door please. There. All fixed."

  Sophie said softly, “I know what you're doing. You just want me out of here because it's too late, isn't it?"

  Giving her a brief direct look, I replied, “Let the medics decide that, ma'am."

  Her tears began, but she nodded and turned to go to the door. I said, “Mrs. Terrence. Do you have any problems with what I'm doing? The walkie-talkies?"

  She shook her head slightly and tightly. “No. We know Tiger and Annabelle can talk. The cops don't, and it would just add a lot of ... needless complication."

  "Yes'm, it certainly would."

  A medic hurried in and took over the situation as two more brought in a gurney. Sophie came in behind them and stood a few feet away, staring at Martha. I stepped back and watched the medics work as deputies arrived. One of them asked, “You again?” but it wasn't the one I'd talked to at the accident scene.

  When it got down to how I'd found out about Martha's collapse, I pointed at the walkie talkie on the floor by the TV. They'd shoved the coffee table out of the way, the walkie talkie had been kicked, and someone had stepped on the battery cover. I picked up the WT and its cover and tried to put them back together, but the cover was cracked. It split. I put the pieces in my pocket and unlocked the send key.

  One of the medics spread a blanket over Martha as I said, “She talked about getting a baby monitor.” True, she had, but for use as a front porch intercom when she wasn't feeling well. Holding up the WT as I disconnected its battery, I added, “But I had these and they're portable.” Also true.

  "Is that your flitter outside?"

  "Yeah. It picked up the ladies and brought them here.” Pointing at Sophie, I said, “Her dad will be here shortly. He wouldn't wait for a ride."

  Indicating the WT, the deputy said, “Don't run off with that. I'll need info off it."

  I handed it to him. He tucked it under his arm and began collecting preliminary info from us and checking IDs.

  Two more deputies arrived, which likely meant two more were outside. I went to the window and saw them studying the flitter and telling neighbors to stay clear of the house. One neighbor managed to get past them to the door and said, “Hello, Sophie. Darlene. I just came over to tell you to let me know if I can do anything, okay?"

  Darlene. I'd known Sophie for almost three years. Why hadn't I known her mother's name? Or had I spaced it because she wasn't really in the first ring of my relationship with Martha and Sophie?

  Mrs. Terrence nodded and said, “Thanks, Evelyn, but I can't think what it would be right now. We'll call if we think of anything, though. Thanks again."

  Evelyn nodded and backed out of the doorway. I looked for the cats and saw them in the kitchen, sitting together on one of the chairs under the table. Annabelle was trembling and Tiger hunkered close to her as if to try to still her shaking. I gave each of them some attention and told them things would be okay, but Annabelle looked up at me as if she'd prefer not to hear such things.

  I heard a car door slam and Darlene's husband, Steve, arrived and seemed momentarily torn between going straight to his wife and daughter or talking to the deputies. He made the right decision and spent his first few minutes with the ladies, letting a deputy come to him.

  A different deputy gestured for me to come back into the living room and I petted the cats again before I left them. The deputy had a few more questions about the timeline of things. I again said, “The flitter picked up Sophie and her mom and brought them here. Sophie's dad didn't wait, he took their car. Just as well, really. They'll need a ride home later if they don't stay here tonight."

  "Will they take those cats? We can't leave them here alone."

  "If they don't, I will. The gray one is mine. He visits here a lot."

  "Do they have tags?"

  "Yup."

  "I'll need the numbers."

  "I'd ask why, but I'd rather just give you whatever will get this over with."

  "Look, sir, we have to cover all bases. People have seen the cats. Other people will ask about the cats. You know how it is. I have to be able to tell them something."

  I didn't argue. Let him get the damned numbers off the tags and get out. We went to the kitchen and he wrote down the cats’ names, descriptions, and the tag numbers, then we went back to the living room.

  The other deputy had just finished taking Darlene's and Sophie's infos at the dining table. Sophie quietly asked me, “What now? I asked mom, but she didn't know."

  "Well, I don't think Martha will be taken anywhere until the coroner sees her."

  "He has to come here?"

  "This is where she died, Sophie. That's how it works."

  "I want to take the laptop home so I can work on Grammy's bio tonight."

  "Wait'll the cops are gone. They'll question anything you do while they're here."

  She subsided and went to sit with her mother. Barb sat down with them and they talked as the cops and medics discussed the situation. One of the medics had been a few minutes from going off duty, wasn't happy, and groused a little too loudly. I glanced at the women, but they seemed not to have heard him. Good.

  I walked over to him, glanced at his name tag, and said, “Take it outside, Davis. Do your bitching where the ladies can't hear you."

  He looked at them and said, “They didn't hear me. And you aren't family."

  Looking at the deputy, I asked, “What'll it cost me to knock him on his ass?"

  He replied, “Too much, sir.” Turning to the medic, he said, “Davis, take a walk."

  "It's cold."

  "You'll be cold in a cell tonight if you don't get the hell out of here now."

  "You can't..."

  Leaning close, the deputy said, “Watch me. He ordered you out and he's here with the family. We can let a judge straighten things out Monday."

  Giving the deputy and me seriously dirty looks, Davis stalked out. The other medics looked at me as if they sympathized with Davis. Too bad. He could sit in the ambulance for a while.

  To the deputy, I said, “Thanks for backing me up."

  "He deserved it. They might have heard him and his attitude sucked."

  I chuckled, “Is that the official police terminology for it?"

  He grinned. “Tonight it is. You don't remember me, do you?"

  "From where?"

  "The Forest Oaks station. I've been there when you went to see Greer."

  "Sorry. Maybe if we'd talked..."

  He shook his head and shrugged. “No problem. Gotta do something before you get remembered. I was just one of a dozen in the main office."

  The other deputy in the room walked over and handed me the walkie talkie, said, “Thanks,” and asked the deputy I'd been chatting with if they had everything. They stepped away and began another discussion and I went to the ladies.

  I said, “It could be a while yet. Should I put some coffee on?"

  Sophie gave me a slightly sharp look, then seemed to mentally shrug and got up as she said, “I'll do it. See who all wants some so I'll know how much to make."

  Turning to the room, I said, “This young lady is about to make some coffee. Will you guys want some?"

  With one exception, the consensus was ‘yes'. Sophie went to the kitchen and I sat in her chair to ask, “Should the cats go home with you or me? Annabelle would probably prefer to be with Sophie tonight."

  Darlene asked, “Both cats? Won't Tiger want to be with you?"

  "Doubtful, but I'll ask later. He and Annabelle are practically an old married couple these days. In fact, if he'd prefer to be with her, you could wind up with two cats."

  She looked dubious. “Two cats? We don't even have one. No dogs, either. Steve and I aren't really into having pets."

  "Think about it. Annabelle is Sophie's link with her Grammy.” I shrugged and added, “Well, so are you, of course, but you aren't furry and cuddly."

  Barb's eyebrow went up and she archly asked, “How the hell would you know whether she's cuddly?"

  Raising an index finger, I replied, “Ah. Damned good point there, ma'am. I stand corrected and perhaps even chastised on that matter."

  Darlene snorted a chuckle and said, “It's too soon for humor. Oh, damn! Why aren't I more upset? My mother just died, for God's sake! I should be in tears. I..."

  Putting a hand on her shoulder, I said, “You should relax and be honest with yourself. Martha was in her mid-eighties and you'll cry when it all sinks in."

  Steve had been outside for some reason. He came back in, froze briefly when he saw my hand on his wife, and crossed the living room with a glance at the couch. Taking a chair at the dining table, he asked Darlene how she was holding up. I stood up to go to the kitchen.

  Steve said, “Ed, I think we need to talk."

  "Is later good?"

  "No, I think we need to talk now. Tonight."

  "Well, come tell me about it in the kitchen."

  Barb said, “I'll come with you. I could use a glass of water,” and got up.

  Sitting at the kitchen table where I could see the living room, I turned the cats’ translation facility on with low volume and said softly, “The deputy who took your tag numbers says you two can't stay here alone tonight, so you'll have to go home with either Sophie or me. Sophie needs Annabelle tonight, Tiger. If you want to be with her, you'll have to go to Sophie's house."

  Annabelle said, “Okay, Ed,” but Tiger asked, “What about you, Ed? Martha was also your friend."

  Hm. How to be tactful, not callous?

  "Tiger, I've lost friends before. I'll be okay."

  Sophie said, “I heard that. Ed, they already know your house and my parents aren't exactly pet people."

  Looking at her, I said, “Sophie, if I take them home tonight, they might never make it to your house and Annabelle might very well need you tonight. You lost your Grammy, but you have your mom and dad. Annabelle just lost her mother and she has no other family but you."

  Tiger said, “She has me. And you."

  "Yes, but we're friends, not family. There's a big difference."

  Annabelle said, “Tiger is also my family,” but I heard her collar's hesitation at tanslating her last sound. She did, too, and eyed the collar. She made her sound again and this time the collar said, “Family,” without hesitation.

  "Tiger,” I said, “I think Annabelle just decided you belong with her."

  Sophie smiled and said, “I think so, too."

  Tiger said, “But she didn't call you family, Ed."

  "No, she didn't. I think that's how we knew exactly what she meant. Annabelle, is that what you meant? Tiger is to go with you?"

  Annabelle looked at me and said, “Yes. Tiger is mine, please."

  "I can't just give him to you, ma'am. He has to agree with you."

  She looked at Tiger, who looked back at her for a moment, then looked at me.

  I said, “We can visit, Tiger. Sophie and Darlene can bring you to me or I can visit you there.” Tapping his collar, I added, “And we can talk anytime."

  Looking at Annabelle, I said for everyone's benefit, “Tiger's been with me since he was about this big,” I cupped my hands, “And we've been through a lot together, so this is a very hard decision for him. But I think you need him more than I do right now. He's been with you every day for a very long time, Annabelle. If he couldn't see you every day, I think he'd be very unhappy."

  I'd emphasized the word ‘very'. It was one of the words Tiger used most often to express the importance of something. I shrugged and added, “Besides, if he had to, he could come back to my house any time."

  Patting the cats as I spoke, I felt Tiger relax a bit. He asked, “You would be ... okay ... without me?"

  "I think so. As I said, I can come see you, Tiger. And we can talk anytime."

  That seemed to make up his mind. He looked at Annabelle and said, “Then I will go with Annabelle. She needs me.” Looking at me, he asked, “Okay?"

  I nodded, a positive gesture he recognized, and said, “Yes. It's okay, Tiger."

  "Good. Very good."

  Annabelle regarded me quietly for a moment, then said, “You are also family, Ed."

  Petting her, I replied, “Thank you, Annabelle. You're family, too."

  Looking almost like her usual serene self at last, she said, “Yes. Okay. Good."

  Behind me, I heard someone rip a paper towel off a roll and blow her nose. Sophie abruptly knelt and hugged the cats with tears running down her face. Barb tore another towel off the roll and held it out to her until she noticed it and took it.

  Activity in the front room caught my attention. A man in a county-issue jumpsuit came into the house and was rather unnecessarily directed to the couch by one of the medics. I tapped Sophie's shoulder and pointed and she nodded, then went to be with her parents. The coroner spent several minutes examining Martha, then nodded to the deputies and Martha was loaded onto the gurney. The family was given a few more moments with her, then she was wheeled out of the house.

  [Back to Table of Contents]

  Chapter Fourteen

  A few minutes later, Darlene came to stand in the doorway. She looked at me, then Barb, and then her gaze fell on the cats.

 

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