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Teddy pulled into his driveway and saw Detective Combs climb out of the unmarked car parked at the curb. He unfastened his seatbelt when Detective Gonzales pulled in behind him. What had September gotten him into? Again?
Her car was conspicuously absent, though. She’d dumped this mess in his lap, and run off on an errand to get her cat. He understood her reluctance to get involved in another police investigation. Last time she’d nearly died and still managed to save her nephew, but she hadn’t survived unscathed. Hidden injuries hurt worse and took longer to heal, if they ever did.
He got out of the car, and waved at Detective Combs with the folder of notes from September. “Not a reunion I particularly welcome, gentlemen. No offense.”
“None taken.” Combs stepped to meet Gonzales, and the two waited until Teddy unlocked the door. At least September had seen fit to secure his home. That was the least she could do.
“September’s gone.” Gonzales stated the obvious. “Slippery little devil.” He turned at Combs. “No offense.”
“None taken.” Combs frowned, forehead wrinkled with worry. “She’s hard to keep up with, for sure.”
They followed Teddy into the living room, and he waved them to the sofa while he got rid of his coat. “Yep, September’s done it again. No offense.” He couldn’t resist the sarcastic tone.
Gonzales didn’t smile this time. “I wanted Combs to hear this, too, since it’s related to the call we made out to her house. We never found Sly’s notes.”
“These are duplicates of Mr. Sanger’s notes from Humphrey Fish, out at the radio station. Another familiar name. Deja vu, indeed.” He polished his glasses on the hem of his sweater, put them back on, and opened the folder. “She said Mr. Fish enlisted Mr. Sanger to investigate his listener’s concerns about wild animals infecting pets. And possibly people.”
Gonzales nodded at Combs, who took the lead. “Sick how? That’s something the city pound or county extension agent should handle.” He frowned at Gonzales. “As for people illness, that’s the Health Department’s purview.”
“Fine.” Teddy slapped the cover of the file closed, and offered it to the men. “Take it to them. My wife’s not well, and I need to be on call for her, not gallivanting around playing Mr. Marple.” He breathed heavily. “September only gave it to me because Molly’s got Alzheimer’s, and Mr. Fish thinks this is some new variant of the disease.”
“Wait. Alzheimer’s?” Gonzales held out his hand and took the file. “My wife’s aunt has that. Terrible, heartbreaking condition.” He spoke sharply to Teddy. “I didn’t know animals got Alzheimer’s.”
Combs leaned forward. “That’s not something you catch from your pet, or another person. This is bogus.” He stood.
“Don’t shoot the messenger.” Teddy held up his hands, palms out. “Sorry, bad word choice. The fact is: September dumped that in my lap. I’m being the good citizen and turning it over to the authorities. You want to take it to the health department, I’m all for it.”
Gonzales handed the file to Combs, and watched as he quickly scanned the contents, flipping pages. “He’s got names. A lot of them. He’s been careful to avoid anything litigious, but he’s making a case for intentional poisoning.”
Combs paced as he quickly read through the notes.
Teddy hesitated, feeling his heart rate increase. “Do you think someone would poison people intentionally?” Molly had been diagnosed only a year ago. Heat flamed his cheeks.
Gonzales stood. “Too soon to tell.” He turned to Combs. “Take that to the health department. But first make a copy.”
Combs agreed. “With the recent cut in funding and personnel, they can’t move too fast, and with the holidays, it could sit for weeks.”
“It was the pet owners complained first.” Teddy walked them to the door, both relieved and a bit disappointed the puzzle had been handed off. “Bet animal control would have some insight.”
“Yeah, or a veterinarian. Someone who treated the pets.” Combs’s phone buzzed and he searched a pocket for it while he continued to talk. “September told us Sly had a sick cat she took to the vet. Maybe the kitty has some clues.” He added drily, “Just call me the pet detective.” He shoved the file at Teddy to hold while he found the phone. “Combs.” His eyes widened. “Shit. Okay, on our way.” He scowled at Gonzales. “Deja vu strikes again. Or is that redundant?”
Teddy opened the door for them. “What? A big case?”
“Could be.” He spoke angrily over Teddy’s head to Gonzales. “Assault over at a local vet clinic. September fled the scene.”
