Roger pulled his truck into the little neighborhood where Budgie lived. Sure enough, the wrecker had left Trudy’s car parked at the opening to a garage. Budgie could be seen inside, clearing space for the vehicle. Roger slowed and pulled to the side of the road, making certain that a dense hedge blocked Budgie’s view of his pickup.
“How do you want to handle this?” Tabitha asked.
“I’m thinking you should go talk to Budgie while I open the car and let the cat out. We’ll wait here in the truck for you.”
“Talk to him about what?” Tabitha asked.
“Tell him about your date tomorrow. Maybe he could happen into the place while you’re dining. I’d feel a lot better if someone was there, watching out for you. And you have to promise you won’t leave with anyone—for any reason. I’d be there myself, if it wouldn’t blow your cover.” More than anything he felt the need to protect Tabitha. But he couldn’t lurk around like a jealous suitor, even if that was what he was fast becoming.
Tabitha opened the truck door. “I can handle this. Just be sure you get Trouble out of the car. That cat. He really is trouble.”
“I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if he didn’t find a few clues. He’s trouble, but he’s extraordinary. I’ve always appreciated the independence of cats and their ability to survive in tough circumstances. Trouble is so much more than just a cat.”
“If he doesn’t have an owner, I think he’d make a swell New Orleans kitty.”
“Or a Delta cat,” Roger said, and for a moment he allowed himself the fantasy of Tabitha and the cat, with him, in their own place. He loved Long Hall, but if he should ever marry, he would want a place to build a life, his life. Long Hall was where Charline and Samuel lived.
“We’re not going to have a custody battle for Trouble, are we?” Tabitha teased.
“Nope. We’ll have a negotiated settlement.” He put a hand on her shoulder. “Budgie is a good guy, but he’s a stickler for the rules. He won’t be happy if he knows the cat is in the car. He’ll be worried about contaminating the evidence.”
“Got it. I’ll get Budgie to go inside long enough for you to free the kitty.” She slipped out and walked over to where Budgie was stacking boxes.
“Deputy, I need to tell you about something I’ve set in motion. I may need your help, but it could lead to whoever has my sister.” She continued to talk as Budgie led her to his back door and showed her inside.
The minute the door closed against the cold night, Roger was sneaking across the lawn to Trudy’s car. He opened the door and Trouble jumped on the back seat where he had a pile of things—papers and a business card.
“Let’s go.” Roger picked up the cat who frantically tried to grasp the things he’d collected. “Hold your horses, I’ll get that stuff.” He put the cat down to retrieve the things and Trouble jumped to the front seat and began pawing at the dash area. Roger checked to be sure Budgie was still inside, and then used his phone light to check what the cat was after. The strange symbol that he’d seen on Trudy’s calendar had been scratched into the bottom of the dash. Trouble bounced to the back seat and again pawed at the items he’d collected. Roger snapped a photo of the symbol, picked up the items and the cat and eased the car door closed. He hurried back to the pickup with the cat in his arms. “Mission accomplished,” he said as he closed the truck door.
“Me-ow!” Trouble pawed at the paper. “Me-ow!” His cry was insistent.
“Simmer down,” Roger said as he unfolded the paper. The Google map gave directions to Tom’s Big Sizzle, a local restaurant and bar in Drew, Mississippi. Tabitha had said she was meeting her date in Drew. This was the place, and Trudy had been there. He felt the net closing around the people involved in Trudy’s disappearance.
Beside the map was a dead flower—he had no clue if it was important, but the cat seemed to think so. And the last thing he picked up was a business card. Expensive. Financial planning. And the initials T&S. “Fighting for a clean earth.”
While he was waiting for Tabitha to return to the truck, he used his phone to google T&S. A list of possibilities came up, but it was T&S Financials that caught his eye. His mother had said something about Antoine working in finance. Antoine and Hannah had been in the Delta for several weeks. Had they run up on Trudy somewhere? A much darker thought took hold of him. Were his mother and her lover involved, somehow, in Trudy’s disappearance? His mother was selfish and unprincipled, but he’d never considered she might harm another human being. He gripped the steering wheel and tried to figure out the best way to tell all of this to Tabitha. If there was a good way.
He didn’t have long to think about it. Budgie’s front door opened and Tabitha stepped outside, followed by the deputy. Roger was again struck by her easy grace, and the sincere way she shook the deputy’s hand, thanking him for his help. Budgie watched her as she walked to the truck and got in. The deputy went back to his work at the garage.
“I see you found the cat.” Tabitha stroked Trouble’s fur, smiling and shaking her head. “He is truly a source of trouble.”
“Me-ow!” Trouble arched his back under her hand. He nudged the map, the card, and flower toward her, then tapped Roger’s cell phone on the front seat.
“So this is the stash he found in the car?” Tabitha began to examine it. “I’m impressed.”
Trouble pushed the phone toward her. She picked it up and asked, “Is there something on the phone?”
Roger unlocked it and went to the photos. “This was on the dash, just under the driver’s side. Someone scratched it into the leather.”
“That’s the same symbol on Trudy’s calendar.”
“I know.” Roger set the truck in motion. “We have to find out what this is.”
“But how?” Tabitha asked.
“Maybe Budgie can help. He’s a genius at research. We can send him the symbol in an email or message and maybe he can figure out what it is. I’ll try to avoid saying how we got the photo.” Roger sent the email and then pulled away from the deputy’s neighborhood and was about to head back to Long Hall, but Trouble indicated he should head in the opposite direction, toward Zinnia.
“I’m telling you, his person is staying in town,” Tabitha said. “Let’s have a coffee or a drink at the Prince Albert. Trouble will show us who he belongs to. I’m willing to bet you a martini on it.”
Tabitha looked wrung out. Roger could only imagine her emotions with her sister still missing. He nodded. “And we can talk about these clues. Just remember, we have to be back at the house for dinner and the séance.”
“I need to pick up a few things in town,” Tabitha said. “Paper, pens, a chalk board. I learned a few tricks in the French Quarter and tonight I think it might be the best opportunity to use them.”
“Medium tricks?” Roger asked. He liked the idea that Tabitha was all in for helping him with his mother. He had a fleeting moment of guilt that he was about to manipulate Hannah, but it passed quickly. His plan was to make sure his mother—and Charline and Samuel—came out on the best end of things.
“Not really tricks, but opportunities for any spirits to communicate. If the spirits are there and willing to connect, this gives them tools.”
“I trust whatever you decide to do.” They’d arrived in town and he pulled into the parking lot of the Prince Albert. As soon as Tabitha opened the truck door, the black cat shot out, ran across the lot, and was waiting for them to let him into the hotel.
“He sure makes himself at home,” Roger said, but he was impressed with Trouble.
“Let’s follow him.”
Tabitha let the black cat lead her through the lobby toward the hotel bar where several groups of people were drinking, laughing, and chatting. Trouble headed straight into one group and jumped into the arms of a pretty red-haired woman who caught the cat and gave him a big hug and kiss.
“What in the world have you been up to?” she asked the cat.
He gave his signature me-ow and leaped from her arms, going back to Tabitha and Roger. It was clear to Tabitha that the cat intended to introduce them. She followed him to the woman and held out her hand, making introductions. “So Trouble is your kitty,” she said. “I was afraid he belonged to someone.”
“Yes, he’s here with me for a booksellers’ convention. I’m Tammy Lynn of Wetumpka, Alabama.”
Roger ordered a round of drinks and brought them to the small table where Trouble had jumped into Tammy’s lap.
“Tell me what Trouble has been up to,” Tammy said. “He’s something of an amateur sleuth, and yes, I know how preposterous that sounds,” she added. “I knew he was busy with a case, so fill me in.”
For twenty minutes, the three chatted, sharing stories of Trouble’s remarkable abilities to communicate with people.
“He’s helping me find my sister,” Tabitha finally confessed. “Could we possibly borrow him for another day or so?”
Tammy picked up the cat and stared into his green eyes. After a long moment, she nodded. “You can keep him until Sunday, but then I have to head back to Wetumpka. I have a business there.”
“We’ll deliver him back to you no later than Sunday morning at ten,” Roger said. “If that’s agreeable.”
Trouble hopped down and ran to the door of the restaurant. He let out a long, plaintive meow. Tammy sighed and shook her head. “He’s ready to go with you. I’ve learned not to fight him when he’s working a case. If anyone can help you find your sister, it’s Trouble. He has an uncanny ability to solve mysteries.”
“So we’ve discovered,” Roger said. He stood and Tabitha rose with him.
“Thank you,” Tabitha said, shaking Tammy’s hand warmly. “We’ll take care of him and he’ll be ready to travel Sunday morning if not before.”
Tammy put a hand on her shoulder. “Take care. Trouble manages to evade danger, but there are cruel and mean people in the world. Keep yourselves safe, and always listen to Trouble.”
“That’s an easy prescription to follow,” Tabitha said.