Free Deadly Diamond: A Murfy the Cat Mystery by Anna Kern

mind’s eye, I saw the man dressed in business clothes: brown slacks, white shirt, conservative striped tie, and brown shoes with tassels. When he saw me in the alley, he started acting strange; he seemed to lose interest in the other man. The altercation didn’t last long. The large man drove away in his car, and the other man started walking down the alley. Out of curiosity, I followed him.
    He kept looking over his shoulder, and at first, I thought he was watching for the other man, but when he started walking faster and I kept pace with him until we were both running, I realized that he was running away from me! The poor man must have had ailurophobia––fear of cats! I slowed down and he ducked in the back door of the last building on the block.
    After thinking about the incident in the alley for some time, it suddenly came to me–– brown shoes with tassels and no socks–– Alyx would certainly recognize that and I started working on a plan.

“Cats always know whether people like or dislike them. They do not always care enough to do anything about it.”
    –– Winifred Carriere

    CHAPTER FOURTEEN : What the Neighbor Saw

    Alyx and Maggie parted company after they returned from their client’s home. Alyx didn’t tell Maggie where she was going; only that she’d see her back at the store later. As usual, I was ready to jump in the truck. The way I figured, it wouldn’t hurt to try, and she could always say no if she didn’t want me along; there are always other ways to get information. Luckily, she let me tag along and we ended up at Althea’s condominium.
    Bill Emmett, Althea’s next-door neighbor, was outside working on his little pocket of a garden, a planting area in front of his townhouse-style condominium.
    “Hi, Bill. Do you remember me? I met you earlier this week. My name is Alyx,” she said.
    “Oh, sure, I remember you. I never forget a young, pretty face,” he grinned.
    “Thank you; but I’m not so young.”
    “When you’re ninety, anything less is young.” He laughed; Alyx smiled. “Brought your kitty again, I see.” Alyx ignored his comment but I snuggled up between the two of them so I could hear their conversation.
    “Bill, I know the police have asked you questions as to what you saw or heard the night Althea was killed. I wonder if there’s anything you might have remembered since.”
    “Funny you should ask me that because I was discussing it with the wife the other day. She’s eighty-nine; doesn’t get out anymore, only for doctors’ appointments, and she likes to get her hair done once a week. Someone commented on the expense of getting her hair done and I said it’s cheaper in the long run if it keeps her happy, if you get my meaning.”
    Alyx nodded and tried to get him back on the subject. “What were you and your wife discussing?”
    “Because we live on a cul-de-sac, we get a lot of people turning around when they realize they’ve reached the end of the street and there’s no exit. I usually don’t pay much attention, except the day you came by with the delivery. I happened to be looking out the kitchen window and I remember I saw a car following you. It didn’t come this far; it parked in the visitor parking lot across the way,” he said, pointing in that direction. “It caught my attention because no one got out of the car. My wife called to me from the couch to bring her a glass of water; she doesn’t walk much anymore. You see how it is. When I went back to the kitchen and looked out the window, the car was gone. I forgot all about it until yesterday. I told Jo-Jo––that’s my wife––that I should tell the police. She didn’t agree because my vision isn’t so good anymore, and she says maybe I was wrong.”
    I thought his vision might surely be good enough to see a vehicle, if not the driver. Alyx must have thought the same thing, and she asked him about the driver.
    “I didn’t see his face; it was hidden by some sort of cap and