Jamie Quinn Cozy Mysteries Collection

Chapter 9

CHAPTER 9

I woke up way too early because the cat, all twelve pounds of him, jumped on my head, yowling and demanding to be fed. He was always demanding something. I didn't mention that I have a cat before because I'm in denial. Mr. Paws was my mother's cat and I promised her I'd take care of him, even though we despised each other. That is, Mr. Paws and I despised each other, not my mother and I, just to clarify. Naturally, we don't get along any better now that it's just the two of us. I did take the liberty of changing his name from Mr. Paws to Mr. Pain in the Ass, but he never answers to anything anyway, except the sound of food being poured in his bowl.

After feeding his royal highness, I took a quick shower and got dressed. I poured my coffee into a to-go cup and grabbed a granola bar before dashing out the door. As you can tell, I'm not big on breakfast. Before I fired up the old Mini Cooper, I texted Grace.

"Morning, Sunshine! I'll be at the main courthouse later, you free for lunch?"

"I wish! How about I meet you over there for a quick visit?"

"Great! Lots to tell you. What time?" I texted back.

"10.00? Cafeteria?"

"Perfect, see you there. I'll be the one with the black cloud over her head."

"I think I'll recognize you…"

The line to enter the courthouse was snaky and long, like it was most mornings. That’s because all the judges schedule their motion calendars for 8:45 a.m. These non-evidentiary hearings are supposed to last only five minutes, but they never do, which causes crowds of people to spill into the hallways. It makes me feel claustrophobic and crabby. I knew it had to be a Tuesday because that's when the bearded preacher man with the wire glasses graces us with his presence. There he was, standing on his crate by the courthouse doors, yelling advice he got straight from Jesus. Deep sigh. I was in no mood to hear proselytizing...

I had no problem checking out Spike's probate file from the clerk. What I hoped to glean from the will was a clue that would point to someone other than Adam as the killer. But that didn't happen…

"You're kidding me! I can't believe it. Tell me again what the will said," Grace was buttering her everything bagel. We were in the courthouse cafeteria and I was catching her up.

"You heard me. Spike left his entire estate to a German Shepherd Rescue organization. The only other bequest was that he left his dog, Beast, to Marian Wolinsky, with $10,000.00 for his care." I was shaking my head, amazed by Spike's generosity. Maybe he wasn't as big a jerk as I'd thought.

"Go figure!" Grace said. "So, that's pretty interesting stuff you found, that lawsuit the Zombies filed, and the music teacher with the domestic violence problem. What's your next step?"

"I have a million questions for Marian Wolinsky, so that meeting needs to happen. Also, I have to find a PI who walks on the dark side, according to my new best friend Susan Doyle, and I have no idea how to find one…"

"Jamie! I thought I was your best friend. I'm going to let that slide. Do you remember my favorite Zen saying? You already have everything you need." Then she looked at me expectantly.

"What are you saying? That I know a dirty PI?" Maybe I was too tired to understand…then it came to me, like a flash. "Duke? You want me to call Duke Broussard? No way! He's a creep."

"Exactly!" Grace laughed. "And he owes you, big time. You saved his skin when you handled his divorce. Right?"

"Oh, my God! His wife was so furious when she caught him cheating on her--she reported him to the IRS, the Better Business Bureau, the PI licensing board, the newspapers, and Angie's List. She trashed him all over f*******: and Twitter too. Talk about a woman scorned!" I laughed.

"Didn't she also buy a billboard on I-95?" Grace glanced at her watch and started tidying the table.

"Yes, she did! I forgot about that. Not the bimbo he thought she was, huh? Don't worry, Grace, I'll clean up. You get back to work," I said.

She gave me a peck on the cheek and turned to go. "Call him, Jamie. You know I'm right."

"Yeah, you usually are." I said.