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Finally, the morning wound down, and she joined the line as people filed out of the conference room. There would be drinks served, and even a light lunch for those who’d signed up on the website, but Odelia frankly had had enough and wanted to leave.

She waved to Jacqueline, and then she was briskly walking to her car, and moments later was on her way back to Hampton Cove.

She was already back at the office when she realized she’d lost her phone.

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I was feeling a little down in the dumps, and I think you probably don’t have to guess why. My human was upset with me, and my home wasn’t really my home anymore.

And so it was with a weary sigh and a very dark mood indeed that I’d taken refuge next door. At least in Marge and Tex’s house things were still the way they’d always been.

And I was sleeping peacefully on a chair when a sort of ruckus or brouhaha suddenly broke out.

The sound of loud screams rent the air, and I thought the noise was coming from next door. I hopped down from the chair and went in search of answers.

Dooley, who’d been sleeping upstairs, on Tex and Marge’s bed—he likes to sleep there of a morning, as the bed is nice and comfy and, most importantly, devoid of people taking up valuable space—came trotting down the stairs with a questioning look on his face.

I shrugged, since I had no idea what was going on either.

Brutus and Harriet emerged from the bushes when we passed through the pet flap. It’s one of their favorite places to take a nap.

“What’s going on?” asked Harriet, annoyed by this interruption of what was probably a most wonderful nap.

“No idea,” said Dooley. “But it seems to be coming from Odelia’s.”

So we all passed through the hole in the hedge, and the sight that met our eyes was one for the books indeed: a long stream of mice was passing through the garden, all of them either screaming or crying loudly, and at the head of this pack of mice were Hector and Helga. They were moving in the direction of Jackson Browne’s field, though I couldn’t understand why they’d undertake such an expedition all of a sudden.

Finally, at the end of the line of mice, I recognized the familiar figure of Elsa.

“What’s going on?” I asked, puzzled.

Elsa gave me a sad look.“I should have known it was too good to be true,” she said. “Your scary friend came into our basement just now, and threatened to eat us all alive. And to show us she meant business, she grabbed a handful of Helga’s babies and actually put them into her mouth! Of course Hector and Helga went berserk, but the cat was not to be deterred. She said that if we didn’t skedaddle on the double, she was going to eat us all with hide and hair! And she wasn’t kidding, that much was immediately clear to me.”

“A friend?” asked Harriet. “What friend?”

“I don’t remember the name. But she’s the scariest cat I’ve ever seen. A real killer. One of those cats that takes pleasure in murdering innocent mice.” She held out a paw and tapped mine. “It was a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Max. I’ll see you around.”

And with these words, she joined the throng as it filed out of our backyard.

We all looked at one another with surprise written all over our features. And then moved into the house as one cat, eager to discover who this wonder-cat could possibly be. I have to confess I had a good idea as to this scary cat’s identity, though, and I soon discovered I’d guessed correctly.

For who would be waiting for us inside but… Clarice!

“Hi, you guys,” the tough feline said good-naturedly. “I took care of your little problem for you. I hope that’s okay.”

“Okay!” I cried. “It’s more than okay! It’s a miracle.”

“Eh,” she said with her customary cool.

“Did you… eat them?” asked Dooley, wide-eyed.

“I didn’t have to,” said Clarice. “Nor was I allowed to, I have to add. Odelia strictly forbade me to tuck in. Pity. But there you have it. Anyway, as soon as I set foot in that basement, it was game over for Hector and Helga.” She spoke these last words with a grim expression on her face, and I could very well see how the mice would have been intimidated to a degree.

“Odelia asked you to come?” asked Harriet.

“Yeah, she thought you guys could use a paw, so I was only happy to lend you one.” She held out her paw, and the sharpness of her claws, and the pleasure she took in watching them catch a lone ray of sunshine, made me gulp a little.

“Too bad I wasn’t allowed to grab a couple of the fat ones,” she murmured. “I’m a little peckish, to be honest.”

“Oh, but by all means, have some of my food,” I said, gesturing to the kitchen.

“And mine!” said Dooley.

“No, take mine, please, Clarice,” said Harriet.

“Clarice will eat from my food or she won’t eat at all!” bellowed Brutus.

Clarice grinned at this, and said,“Thanks. Most kind.”

“One question, Clarice,” I said, as she ambled toward the kitchen. “Why did you come now, and not before, when we asked?”