Free Please Do Feed the Cat by Marian Babson

to get rid of her!’
    ‘I can’t.’ Macho would not meet their eyes. Roscoe gave a protesting squeal as Macho clutched him tighter. ‘Don’t you see? I can’t!’
    He turned unseeingly and blundered into his study. The door slammed behind him, too.

Chapter Seven
    A strong smell of burning greeted them as they opened the back door into Freddie’s kitchen. Had-I and But-Known trotted forward, uttering loud complaints and recriminations.
    ‘Oh, no – the muffins!’ Freddie caught up a pot-holder and swung the oven door open. A dark cloud eddied out and swirled around the kitchen, setting them coughing.
    ‘Ruined …’ Freddie mourned, backing away from the smoke and bending down for a better look. ‘They’re not actually alight, though.’
    ‘You’d better let everything cool down a bit,’ Lorinda warned as Freddie reached for the pan. ‘And find another pot-holder – you’re going to need both hands.’
    Had-I added an observation of her own, which might have been helpful if translatable.
    ‘There are no two ways about it …’ Freddie abandoned the oven and turned to brewing a fresh pot of coffee. ‘No matter what Macho says, that woman has got to go!’
    ‘Well, you heard him. He couldn’t have been more definite that she’s staying.’ Lorinda attempted to change the subject. ‘The muffin tin isn’t ruined, too, is it? It looks a bit warped and out of shape.’
    ‘I don’t know what sort of hold she has over him,’ Freddie would not be diverted, ‘but we’ve got to break it!’
    ‘How?’
    ‘I’m working on that. We’ll think of something.’
    ‘Oh, yes?’ Lorinda noted the shifting pronoun. ‘And doesn’t Macho have any say in the matter?’
    ‘He’ll be relieved,’ Freddie said airily. ‘I don’t believe he even likes her any more.’
    ‘Then why does she still have a hold over him?’
    ‘Mmm, good question. Blackmail, perhaps?’
    ‘Macho?’ Lorinda had to laugh. ‘He’s the most law-abiding person I know. What could she blackmail him about? Now, if it were Dorian …’
    ‘I take your point, but don’t forget that blackout Macho claims to have had the night he and Cressie went out on the town. Something could have happened then.’
    ‘Claims?’ But it was just within the bounds of possibility. Either it was a genuine blackout, or something terrible had shocked him so deeply that he had blanked it out and was in denial. But Cressie remembered … perhaps had evidence …
    ‘You’re getting the picture.’ Freddie had been watching her face.
    ‘No!’ Lorinda shook her head. ‘No, I’m not going to believe that. It’s only one possible explanation.’
    ‘How many others can you think of?’
    ‘You were here at the time. Were there any media reports of scandals or sinister goings-on that they might have been involved in?’
    ‘Not that I noticed.’ Freddie shrugged. ‘But I wasn’t looking. Whatever it was, it happened in London. If it was just one of the usual drunken brawls, it wouldn’t even make the papers. Especially if there were no fatalities.’
    ‘Or it could have been hushed up if there were important people involved,’ Lorinda said thoughtfully. ‘Politicians … or royalty.’
    ‘Politicians, maybe,’ Freddie agreed. ‘But somehow, I can’t quite see Our Cressie hobnobbing with royalty. Much as she might like to.’
    ‘True, they’re not very bookish. She’d have better luck there if she were working with horses.’
    ‘Then there’s the editor Cressie was plotting revenge on.’ Freddie had another thought. ‘Their rocks couldn’t reach the twelfth floor, but perhaps Cressie persuaded Macho to
go back later and set fire to the building. Even if no one was hurt, the charges would be arson and criminal damage, at the least.’
    ‘Mmmm … and that would fit in with those hazy memories of people shouting “Let’s get out of here!” Still …’ Lorinda shook her head. ‘No, I can’t imagine Macho – even dead drunk – doing