Traveling with a famous talking cat wasn’t so easy. And this was our biggest case yet.
Now that we were actually on our way to Seattle, I was so excited. I was hours away from meeting the people behind the magic of my favorite cooking show.
Of course, people recognized Persephone on the plane. It wasn’t in the best interest of the case to tell them what we were investigating, but did I ever want to.
Persephone had unmistakable white back legs that had earned the nickname Purry Pants from Margaret and made her recognizable. Buying a cat stroller had been a sound business investment, even though we only had so much time before people figured us out. Even with my baseball cap and hoodie.
But at least it eliminated arguing with Persephone about the leash in public. She happily snuggled into the blankets when I placed her into the stroller. There was a memory foam cushion in there. My cat deserved to travel in style.
“Addie!” Reporters greeted us at the baggage claim. So much for my feeble attempt to go incognito. I couldn’t bring myself to wear sunglasses inside like an eighties song on karaoke night. “Are you here to find out who killed Sig Simpson and poisoned Diana Diamond?”
“Is there another case in Seattle that needs Persephone’s expertise?”
Okay, I liked that someone considered my cat an expert, but it was also a reminder this case wouldn’t be like any of the ones we’d solved before.
“I hope not.” I’d pretty much confirmed their suspicions about why Spy Kitty had chosen Seattle as her next city. But it wasn’t a huge secret, either.
By the time Margaret’s people finished negotiating with Parking Lot Potluck’s people, so much more had come out about the inner workings of the show. Apparently, Diana and George had a rivalry, and each of them had threatened to leave the show if the other one’s contract was renewed. That had happened a couple seasons ago, so I assumed they’d come to some sort of agreement. And I wondered if, somehow, Sig being added to the cast was a result of that compromise.
I hated that George was at the very top of my suspect list. I had to remind myself, these were people on a TV show, not my friends. And now they were suspects.
A young woman holding a sign that simply read “CAT” waved when she saw me. She was wearing a Parking Lot Potluck sweatshirt and ripped jeans, and her hair was doing its absolute best to escape from a messy bun.
“Are you Valerie?” I’d been in contact with one of the producers via email since I’d taken the case. She looked a little young to have that much responsibility, but after seeing what Brooke and Casey could do with Helping Paws when I was away, I would never underestimate someone solely on the basis of their age.
“No, my name’s Kenzie. I’m one of the production assistants on set. Val couldn’t get away from the production office, considering the circumstances.” She gave the stroller a quizzical look. “She didn’t mention anything about a baby.”
I leaned in closer to her so I could whisper, “Persephone’s in there.”
“Oh.” Relief washed over her face. “Good move. These reporters are ruthless. We’ve had to hire security to keep them away from us on set and in the hotel. I can’t wait to meet Persephone. I’ve never met a talking animal before.”
I appreciated her willingness to believe, but… “I’m the only one who can understand her. So far,” I added when she frowned.
Kenzie followed me over to the baggage loop. “That’s okay. We can communicate in other ways. One of my jobs on set is to take care of Chloe, she’s the Great Dane—”
“I know.” I’d decided on the plane, as I rehearsed what I’d say when I met everyone, that it would be better to come clean about my fandom. “I love the show. I think I’ve seen every episode.”
Three or four times, but from the look on Kenzie’s face, I didn’t need to clarify.
“Oh,” she said. I’d managed to keep everything strictly professional in my dealings with Val, but now that I was here, in person, working on Parking Lot Potluck, that was impossible. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but I thought only old people watched Parking Lot Potluck.”
“Old people and me.” I laughed. “My friends give me a hard time about it, too.”
“Honestly, it makes my job easier that you know the gist of the show and who’s who, because Val wants me to show you the ropes. Now, we can get right to work.”
I was grinning from ear to ear. My useless knowledge of every episode suddenly became pretty clutch, although I was worried that meant she might gloss over something that was vital to the case.
But Chloe wouldn’t.
“Tell me more about Chloe.” I reached for a suitcase that wasn’t mine and groaned. I really needed to get a suitcase that wasn’t navy and identical to everyone else’s who traveled to Seattle today.
Kenzie’s face lit up. “I take care of her while we’re on location. She’s George’s dog, but he gets busy, and Danes need attention. She’s a total character. Most of the time, she’s totally chill, like she is on camera, but that dog does not have a poker face.”
I laughed, maybe a little too enthusiastically. But I was getting insider info before we even left the airport. It felt like a good omen for the rest of the case. “Total Dane trait.”
“She’s very protective of people she likes, so she might have some questions about you and Persephone. But once she decides she likes you, she’ll make sure no one messes with you.”
That meant if Chloe had realized she’d witnessed a crime, and it was done by someone in her inner circle, she might not tell us.
A chill went down my spine as my suitcase finally appeared. I really didn’t want the person responsible to be someone I knew and loved from the show.
“What does Chloe think of Sig and Diana?”
Kenzie’s expression darkened. Sure, I was a big fan of the show, but these were her colleagues. Possibly even friends. Maybe I’d gotten too familiar too fast.
“She doesn’t really like either of them.” She bit her lip. “Diana complained about Chloe’s gas, because you know Danes—”
“It can be deadly.” I winced.
“She says it’s enough to knock someone out of the competition.”
“What about Sig?”
“He didn’t think there should be a dog in a working kitchen,” she said, and her tone changed. I’d crossed a line. I was dying to ask Kenzie what she thought of Sig and Diana, but it was definitely too soon for that.
“Where’s Chloe now?”
“Let me take your bag.” Kenzie grabbed it without waiting for me to answer and motioned for me to follow her. “Chloe’s at the hotel.”
Kenzie effortlessly moved through the waves of humanity as they headed to their final destination and let out a sigh of relief when we reached a car at the curb with its hazard lights flashing. “We beat airport security out here. Val told me to make sure I gave you a VIP welcome, which I couldn’t have done if my car got towed.”
“Why didn’t you park in the garage?”
Her cheeks pinked, which could’ve been from the exertion of wrestling my suitcase into the trunk of her compact car. I hoisted Persephone into my arms, and Kenzie folded the carriage and skillfully fit it in the trunk on top of the suitcase. I held my breath as she coaxed the hatchback closed. “I could expense it, but then it takes the show thirty days to pay me back.”
“I would’ve paid for it.” Of course, she had no way of knowing that in advance.
“You shouldn’t have to pay for anything when you’re working for the show.” Kenzie pulled into traffic. “It wouldn’t be an issue for me either, but Val asks me to pay for a lot of things up front and then I’m always waiting for my expense check. I tried to cut a corner this time. I’m sorry.”
“That’s okay. I’m just glad you didn’t get towed.” I had to wonder if one too many IOUs were enough to land Kenzie on the suspect list…
Persephone put her paws on my shoulder, her attention laser-focused on the backseat. I turned around to see what had her attention.
“It smells like dog in here,” she said.
“Does that dog bed belong to Chloe?” I asked.
“Yes. I hang out with her on set and when George travels. He can’t take her with him, and it’s not always easy to find boarding for such a big dog. So I take her. I get to earn a little extra money, too. My mom runs a training center for German shepherds, teaching them how to become service dogs, so we’re used to a big goofy lug like Chloe.”
“Is George traveling now?” I was under the impression everyone involved in the last episode of the show had been sequestered at the hotel until the culprit was found.
“No. Everyone’s here. He’s been working on some projects outside of Parking Lot Potluck, and he asked if my mom and I could help out with Chloe.”
“I’d love to get in touch with your mom. I run an animal shelter, and recently, I’ve had a lot of vets start volunteering with us, which helps me be able to do this.” I didn’t assume Kenzie knew anything about me or Persephone. “We’ve got plenty of great animals that would benefit from that kind of training, and vets that would love to take them.”
“Mom told me not to say anything, but she’s really excited that you’re here. She’s been following you and Persephone online. I’ve worked with tons of Hollywood A-listers, but the thing that finally impressed my mom is getting to meet Spy Kitty in the City.”
“Well, then we definitely have to meet.” Now it was my turn to blush. And change the subject. “What else can you tell me about Chloe? How does she act on set?”
“As long as she gets her zoomies out, she’s pretty chill. She just likes being with everyone. Some people are a little put off by the slobber and, of course, the gas, and others weren’t used to a big dog until they came to work on the show.”
“What’s it like working on the show?”
“The contestants really only have twenty minutes to come up with a masterpiece. Sometimes they pull it off, and sometimes it looks good, and later, we find out things were a little tragic. It’s part of the Parking Lot Potluck adventure.” She grinned. “Of course, you know that, since you watch the show. It’s too bad you probably won’t get to see an actual episode being taped. It’s close to what you see on TV, but there’s a lot edited out. A ten-person camera team captures everything.”
If I was going to solve this case, I’d have to dive deep. Persephone pressed against me, looking for scritches. Maybe she’d picked up on my discomfort. I went straight for the spot because I needed all the good vibrations.
“Will I be able to see the footage from the last episode? As a regular viewer, I might be able to pick up if something’s off.”
What I didn’t say is, as a superfan, I’d be able to pick up geek-level discrepancies, but I was trying to play it cool.
Kenzie slowed the car for a turn, but the road was blocked by a security checkpoint. She waved to the guard, pointed at me, and gave him the thumbs up.
“We can try to get the footage for you, but the police have confiscated it because it’s considered evidence.”