Free Words With Fiends by Ali Brandon Page B

Sonny
.”
    â€œBut what’s wrong with that?” Darla wanted to know. “She’s over twenty-one. If she wants to run away with some totally inappropriate guy, he can’t stop her.”
    â€œI know, but Alex insists that this particular inappropriate guy”—she gave the phrase finger quotes—“is only interested in her money. She doesn’t speak much English, and he’s worried the guy might coerce her into getting married and signing over all her assets. But don’t worry, Alex understands that all I’m going to do is find her and let her know that he’s worried and wants to be sure she’s okay.”
    Privately, Darla suspected that the man’s true motivation was finding his mother’s supposed boyfriend and kneecapping him, but all she said was, “Sounds like a straightforward enough case. Feel free to stop back by if you need to print up any more pictures.”
    â€œI will. Say, why don’t we grab a bite tonight over at the Thai place after you get off work? I’m dying to know what Mr. Cat Whisperer has to say about Hamlet.”
    â€œUh,
feline behavioral empath
, if you don’t mind,” a gentle voice behind them corrected.
    They both turned to see that Brody had left his chair and had wandered up to the register. A glance at the bookshelf showed that Hamlet had vacated his post and was nowhere in sight. Darla wondered if he had finally tired of the stare-down and stalked off, or if the two had parted by mutual agreement.
    â€œOops, sorry,” Jake said, not sounding terribly sorry at all. Turning to Darla, she added, “Okay, gotta fly. I’ve got pictures of Russian bombshells to show around town.”
    The PI departed in a swirl of leather, leaving Darla alone with Brody. Her earlier anxiety returning, she asked, “So, what’s the diagnosis? Did you figure out why Hamlet’s so depressed?”
    â€œHe suffered a terrible trauma a few months ago,” the man began, his expression dismayed. “Not only was he hurt physically, but he was damaged spiritually. He faced the biggest challenge of his many lives, and he fell short. Now, his body has since healed, but his psyche has not. And I believe there was something more recent that distressed him, too.”
    Darla nodded, first recapping the original incident that had traumatized them both, and then relating the closet scare.
    â€œI think being locked in like that brought back all the bad memories, kind of like a flashback,” she told Brody. “He’s definitely been moping ever since.”
    â€œAnd with good cause. Hamlet feels like a failure and unworthy to remain here as mascot.”
    â€œWhat? He told you all that?” Darla asked in wary disbelief, trying to recall just how much detail she had given the man’s assistant when she’d made the appointment. As best she could remember, all she had mentioned was the vet’s recommendation. But maybe Dr. Birmingham had given him Hamlet’s medical history . . . no breach of confidentiality there, since HIPAA didn’t apply to pets.
    If Dr. B hadn’t said anything, however, then that whole man-cat mind-meld thing must actually have worked!
    Brody, meanwhile, was nodding. “He’s most upset over the fact he failed you, since you are his human family. He’s been trying to atone for it ever since.”
    â€œBut I don’t understand. Hamlet was a hero. He risked his life for me!”
    â€œFrom your point of view, perhaps. But from his, things are far murkier. Cats have their own code of honor, you know.”
    Darla hesitated. The situation was rapidly leaving woo-woo land and careening straight into Crazyville. But if Brody knew a way to snap Hamlet out of his funk, then off to Crazyville she’d go with him. “So, how do I help Hamlet, uh, atone?”
    â€œI’m not sure, and he wasn’t able—or willing—to tell