The Telltale Turtle (The Pet Psychic Mysteries) (25 page)

No one disabused the psycho caller about Colin's status with the FBI. Mary Catherine called the police, but there was an emer gency on Martin Luther King Junior Parkway and their response time was questionable.

"Let's take him in ourselves," Danny suggested. "MC, you know where Angellus lives. We'll take him there."

Mary Catherine wasn't so sure that was a good idea, but by that time Buck and Teddy were tying the man's hands with plastic garbage ties and escorting him to Colin's car. The men decided that Teddy, Buck, and Colin would take the caller to Angellus' home, with Mary Catherine and Danny leading the way.

"Great" Colin grimaced as Teddy locked up the store. "Buck's gonna be talking about Meaty Boy advertising all the way."

Angellus opened his front door a little after one AM to find all of them on his doorstep. "What are you doing here?"

Mary Catherine smiled at his orange tropical shorts. "We captured the psycho caller for you, Detective Angellus. I think we might be able to find out what's going on now.,,

"I'll tell you what's going on," he replied. "You're all going home until a decent hour or I'll put you in jail overnight."

He started to close his front door when Sallie came up behind him with Moose running and barking behind her. "What's going on, John?" Sallie saw Mary Catherine and immediately opened the door wider for all of them to come inside. "I can't believe you left them standing outside all that time," she scolded her husband. "Would you all like some coffee? I think I have some cookies too." "

I have to pee," the psycho caller said. "And I think these bread ties have cut off the circulation to my hands. I want a lawyer!"

Angellus groaned as they all walked into his house. "Coffee, maybe. But no cookies!"

Mary Catherine appointed herself as spokesperson for the group. She told Angellus everything that had happened from the time she left Buck's house until they all left the convenience store. "He confessed to calling the radio station," she explained about the man they'd taken into custody.

Angellus shook his head. "You got me up at two in the morning to tell me you've arrested someone? You can't arrest people. You're civilians! "

"It's a citizen's arrest," Buck said. "We're allowed to do that."

"Did you witness him committing a crime?" Angellus looked up at the man as Danny escorted him back from the bathroom. "Nothing he told you can be used as evidence. Take the bread ties off him."

"You can't just let him go," Colin protested. "He pretended he had a gun, and tied me and Teddy up. That must be some kind of offense."

Angellus frowned. "Did he rob you?"

"No," Teddy replied. "But it really hurt when that guy took off the duct tape." "

I rest my case." Angellus looked at the psycho caller. "I apologize for this mix-up, sir. If you'd like to file a complaint against these people, I'll take your statement."

"Yeah." The man chafed his wrists with his hands. "I'd like to file something against them. They're all a bunch of loons!"

"But you called the radio station and threatened Mary Catherine, didn't you?" Colin accused him with all the fervor of a rampaging DA.

"What if I did? There's no law against that."

"Technically, that's not true," Angellus added. "Are you confessing to those phone calls at the radio station?"

The man shrugged. "I didn't mean no harm. Someone called me; offered me a couple hundred bucks for each call. I didn't see what difference it made. No one got hurt until this guy," he pointed at Colin, "got all up in my face. And then that other guy with the ball cap and the cat jumped me."

Angellus took a deep breath. "All right. Maybe we can work something out. If you come into the station and talk to us about this person who offered you money to call the talk show, I'm sure you won't be charged with anything and we can keep to ourselves what happened at the convenience store tonight."

The man shrugged. "I just wanted to make some extra money. I don't want no trouble."

Angellus got dressed and took the psycho caller to the station with a promise to talk to all of them later about the incident.

"I think it was really brave of all of you to catch this man." Sallie smiled at them when her husband was gone. "More cookies?"

"No, thank you." Mary Catherine struggled to her feet. "I have to go home and get some sleep. I appreciate you being so gracious with us popping in like this."

"Yeah" Danny yawned. "Some of us have to work tomorrow."

After saying good night to Sallie, Danny offered to take Teddy back to the convenience store.

Buck and Mary Catherine got in Colin's car. "Maybe we should think about what we have in common." Colin pulled the car out into the road and turned back down toward the river.

"Obviously you have the radio station in common," Buck replied. "But I don't see where that matters."

"No, maybe you're onto something here," Colin said. "Maybe whoever is doing these things wants to get Mary Catherine off the air. Or close down the radio station."

"That's stupid," Buck said. "Even if they hated Mary Catherine, not that anyone could ever hate her, why would they want to hurt the station?"

"For obvious reasons," Colin pointed out. "I manage the radio station that produces her show. Anyone can see the correlation."

"We aren't going to accomplish anything arguing about it," Mary Catherine said. "Buck may have a point, but so did Angellus. We aren't going to get anything done tonight. We'll have to take it up again tomorrow."

The group was silent after that as they rode through the nearly deserted downtown area. Colin dropped Mary Catherine and Buck back at Buck's home.

Mary Catherine's cell phone rang as she struggled out of the car. "MC!" Danny said. "If you need me to come get you before morning, call me. I didn't like the look on that guy's face."

She laughed. "Thank you for worrying about me, but I'll be fine. You know what Baylor did to whoever was in my apartment. He wouldn't let anyone paw me but him."

"Okay. I'll be there by eight thirty. Take care."

Mary Catherine was almost too exhausted to walk inside. She focused on finding the stairs that led to her bedroom when Buck stopped her. "What was that about?"

"Nothing. Just lining up my day tomorrow."

"You could have my limo driver for the day, if you need him," Buck offered.

"Thank you, but I wouldn't hurt Danny's feelings that way. And thanks again for letting me stay here. Good night."

"You're entirely welcome." He smiled and started up the stairs. "Say, is that little vet at your place seeing anyone?"

"No one she doesn't have to see. She's not really a people person."

"Neither am I. Thanks."

Baylor wanted to know everything that had happened while he'd been trapped in the car. Mary Catherine undressed and laid her head on her pillow. "We'll talk about it in the morning." She fell asleep listening to the cat complain about being left behind.

Mary Catherine was in high spirits the next morning. Her head didn't feel stuffed with cotton, and it didn't hurt either. She was a little stiff and sore-nothing the whirlpool tub in Buck's guest room couldn't help.

She lamented Danny's choice of outfits: a bright orange and yellow pant suit that had seen better days. She hadn't worn it since husband #2, George Wilson, had died. The incandescent colors seemed inappropriate. That was a different time in her life.

The questionable part of Danny's decision (not that she didn't appreciate a clean outfit) was where he'd looked in her closet to find it. There were dozens of outfits in front of it. She only kept the outfit to remember those long-ago days with George.

In the end, she had no choice but to wear it. Fortunately, it wasn't too tight. Angellus had called her earlier and left a message on her cell phone that the crime scene team would be finished in her apartment by noon. She supposed that meant it would be safe for her to go home and change clothes. That would be followed immediately by the installation of an alarm system and any other security device she could afford. She wouldn't let someone sneak up on her again if she could help it.

Baylor complained he was all the alarm system she'd ever need... if she'd just pay attention to him. Hadn't he warned her that something was wrong in the bedroom?

"Yes you did and I got a chair in my face for it," she reminded him as she brushed her hair.

He meowed and rolled over on the bed, showing his back to her. If she didn't need him, he might as well stay with Buck.

She realized his cat pride was hurt and sat down beside him, stroking his tawny fur. "You know I need you, sweetie. But we'll both be safer with an alarm system. Don't forget; he tried to trap you. We don't want that to happen again."

The cat agreed with that and started purring and flexing on her leg. Mary Catherine got up carefully, mindful of the effect of claws on polyester. "I have to go to work now. Are you coming with me?"

Baylor was at the door before she was. She smiled as she let him out into the hall. She knew he wouldn't leave her any more than she'd leave him. They were together until something happened to one of them. Mary Catherine didn't want to think about that.

"Good morning!" Buck greeted them. "How about some breakfast?"

She shuddered. "I try to avoid that meal, thank you. I'm more of a night person usually, but I appreciate you offering and your hospitality."

"You're certainly welcome, darlin'. I hope that means we'll be talking Meaty Boy commercials by the end of the month." "

I don't think so. You rigged the taste test. You didn't win the challenge."

He frowned. "But Mary Catherine, the dogs ate all of it and told you they liked it. That must count for something."

She patted his cheek. "Until the dogs like the food, without additions, I can't endorse it personally. I'm sorry. Even though WRSC thinks our major audience is people, it's really all the animals out there that trust me to be honest with them and their people. I hope you understand."

Buck shook his head. "I can't say that I do, but I respect you for it.

"Talk to jenny about it. Maybe she'll agree to endorse it. Then you could say veterinarian approved."

He considered that and his face lightened. "Say! That's not a bad idea. I might do that"

Anything to take his mind off having her endorse Meaty Boy. "Good. Come on, Baylor. I think Danny's here."

Mary Catherine picked Baylor up at the doorway and slowly went down the steps. Danny was pulling in to the long circle drive. He jumped out of the taxi before she could reach it and opened the door. "Buenos dias! That's the best outfit I've ever seen you wear, MC! It brightens up your whole face."

"You mean I look like I'm seasick." She carefully got in the car and let him shut the door behind her. "I look like a giant jar of juice.

He laughed. "No! You are mila bella! I don't know why you had that outfit stuffed in the back of your closet. You should wear it."

"Thanks anyway." She glanced at her watch. "We've got some extra time this morning. They pushed my show forward an hour. I'd like to go out to Wrightsville Beach, if you don't mind."

"That's cool with me." He started back down the drive. "Any special reason for the beach trip? Is there a whale washed up or a dolphin headed for the tuna factory?"

"Nothing that dramatic. I want to get a little perspective, that's all."

"The beach it is."

Mary Catherine was quiet as they crossed town and headed toward the beach. Danny talked, and when she didn't talk back, he turned on the radio and started singing. He was a good-hearted soul, but she needed some time to herself. If she were an animal, she supposed she'd find a secluded place to lick her wounds. Going to the beach was her way of finding solace.

When they finally reached the crowded beach area outside of Wilmington, she wasn't sure she'd be able to find an area that wasn't occupied by girls in bikinis and guys in Speedos. Colorful towels littered the beach, while teenagers in ragged jean shorts tried to surf the small waves coming into the shore.