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He gave her a perfunctory kiss and an equally perfunctory hug, his eyes still riveted on the mouse.

“Are you seeing what I’m seeing?” he asked.

“Oh, that’s Elsa,” said Odelia, as if it was the most natural thing in the world to have a mouse napping in the family room. “Max and Dooley met her over at Maria Power’s place. She’s promised to help us get rid of Hector and Helga.”

He swallowed.“Hector and Helga being…”

“The mice family in our basement,” said Odelia. She waved the piece of paper. “All Elsa needed was this power of attorney, absolving her of all responsibility in case something goes wrong with the eviction.”

Chase stared at his girlfriend.“What could possibly go wrong?” he asked, his voice a little hoarse. “When one mouse decides to evict another mouse?”

“Yeah, it’s a brave new world, isn’t it?” asked Odelia with a grin.

He nodded automatically, then shook his head.“Sometimes I feel as if I’ve landed on a different planet.”

“I’ll bet there’s plenty of other people that talk to their cats,” said Odelia as she took a seat next to Chase on the couch. “Only we haven’t met them yet.”

“Maybe you could start a Facebook group,” he suggested, only half in jest. “Or even a WhatsApp group.”

“Wouldn’t that be something?” said Odelia, directing a dreamy look at the ceiling. “If all the people who can talk to their cats got together, just imagine what we could do.”

“I’m not sure I want to imagine,” Chase murmured. The mouse stirred, and he scooted a little further away from the critter. “I think it’s waking up,” he said.

“Max!” Odelia bellowed. “Can you tell Elsa I’ve got the paperwork ready?!”

Max came trotting up, in through the pet flap, and looking decidedly antsy, Chase thought.

The big orange cat meowed something, and Odelia meowed right back. For a moment, they‘talked’ back and forth like that, until finally Max gently shook the mouse. The tiny creature woke up, yawned and stretched. Odelia handed it the piece of paper, she scanned it quickly and finally nodded. Actually nodded!

There was more meowing after that, but Chase felt he’d had all the animal interaction he could stand for one evening, so he got up from the couch and decided to pay a visit to his future father-in-law next door.

Tex was seated on his porch, staring into the distance with a strange look on his face. When Chase came walking up, he started.“Oh, hey, Chase,” he said.

“Hey, Dad,” said Chase, and Tex grimaced. Tex still wasn’t used to Chase calling him Dad. “So how are things with the gnomes?”

“Oh, don’t ask,” said Tex with a frown. “I made a damn fool of myself by accusing Ted of being a thief. Turns out there’s actual professional gnome thieves on the prowl. We almost caught them at it, but they managed to skedaddle.”

“Gnome thieves, huh? I didn’t even know that was a thing.”

“Yeah, looks like.”

Chase joined Tex on the porch swing and for a moment neither man spoke.

“So do you want me to look into this theft?” asked Chase finally. It would be a nice change from the double homicide he was investigating.

“No, that’s all right,” said Tex. “Ted doesn’t want to involve the police. So he’s asked Vesta instead.”

Chase scoffed a little.“Vesta? I didn’t know she was a detective.”

“Her and Scarlett both. They’re starting a neighborhood watch, and they’re very eager to make their mark.”

Chase groaned.“Oh, dear.”

“Say that again.” Tex smiled and clapped his son-in-law on the knee. “You can still back out, son. It’s not too late.”

“Not a chance in hell, Dad. I’m in this for the long haul.”

Tex gave him a sideways glance.“Yeah, I think you are. More power to you. It’s not easy negotiating the family ties in this particular family.”

“I think I can handle it. I just saw Odelia negotiate with a mouse, so I have a feeling I’m just about ready for anything.”

The doctor laughed.“A mouse?”

“Yeah, apparently Max has recruited a mouse to evict the other mice that have taken over our basement. But first Odelia had to sign a document absolving it of all responsibility in case anything goes wrong with the eviction.” He shook his head. “I swear sometimes I feel like Alice in Wonderland.”

“You’ll get used to it. In fact I think you’re handling yourself amazingly well. I remember when Marge told me about the cat thing. I thought she was pulling my leg, until I saw Vesta scolding a cat about something. It took me a long time to get over my initial shock.”

“Vesta is an acquired taste,” Chase agreed.

They both stared out across the backyard, where Tex’s gnomes were once again dotting the landscape and spreading their particular brand of apple-cheeked delight.

Suddenly, from behind a bush near the back of the yard, Vesta popped up, immediately followed by Scarlett. Moments later, they sank out of sight again.

Tex heaved a deep sigh.“Like I said, you can still back out now, son.”

Chase swallowed, then said,“Nope.”

Tex patted him on the shoulder.“Brave man.”

Chapter 33