But Odelia was so caught up in her argument with Ted that she didn’t even notice us. “We are taking that dog,” she said, “whether you like it or not!”

“And I’m telling you that you’re not taking him!” Ted yelled back.

Marcie had also joined her husband in the door opening. She also looked sleepy and had probably just woken up from a pleasant dream. “What’s with all the noise?”

“They want to take Rufus!” Ted cried indignantly. “Just like that!”

“What? You can’t take our dog!” said Marcie, immediately up in arms about Odelia’s request.

“Odelia?” said Dooley. “You don’t have to bother Rufus, you know. We’re perfectly fine.”

“We were abducted,” I said. “But Johnny brought us back.”

“Even though we thought for a moment that he was going to murder us and bury our bodies in the woods,” said Brutus.

Finally, someone in the small entourage must have noticed us, for an officer tapped on Chase’s shoulder. “Sir? Are these the cats that you’re looking for?”

Chase looked down, and when he saw us, did a double take. “But… where did you come from all of a sudden?” He then tapped Odelia on the shoulder.

“Not now, Chase,” said the reporter. “I’m talking to Ted and Marcie.”

“But, babe,” he said.

“I said not now!” she yelled, and I saw that her face was a little red, usually a sign she’s feeling worked up. It certainly was balm to our wounded souls that our human cared for us so much she would be willing to go to bat for us and engage the Trappers in this argument.

“Give me that dog!” she yelled.

“Never!” Ted yelled back.

“It’s our constitutional right not to hand our dog over to the police!” Marcie added for good measure.

“Last time I looked we weren’t living in a police state!” Ted said. “So you can’t have Rufus and that’s my final word!”

And with this, he stepped back and slammed the door in Odelia’s face.

“Babe!” said Chase urgently.

“What!” she yelled and turned to face him and give him a piece of her mind. Which is when she saw me, hoisted up in her husband’s arms, and waving at her from my pleasant vantage point. I always enjoy being picked up by Chase, since he’s so big and strong and he makes us feel safe in his arms.

Odelia’s jaw actually dropped. “But… I don’t understand.”

“We were kidnapped,” I explained. “And then let go again.”

“It’s Johnny and Jerry,” said Brutus. “They’re the ones behind the shootings.” And he told her where the criminal duo had held us captive before setting us free again.

Odelia’s anger morphed into an expression of pure delight, and then all of a sudden she started crying! Big tears trickled down her cheeks and she was sobbing like a baby!

“Odd,” said Dooley. “I thought she’d be happy to see us, and instead she’s sad!”

“She’s so happy she’s sad,” I explained.

Dooley shook his head. “Humans. So hard to read.”

And wasn’t that the truth? Sometimes they cry because they’re happy and other times they laugh when they’re angry or sad. Tough to know what’s going on! But at any rate, Odelia was overjoyed to see us, for she crouched down and hugged us all in turn, then pulled us in for a group hug. Then she rose to her feet and whispered something in her husband’s ear.

His face grew hard. “We’re moving out,” he told his officers. “New information has come to light. The men who shot up the police station are Johnny Carew and Jerry Vale.” He made a circular motion in the air with his fingers, and before we knew what was going on, he was hurrying back to his squad car, and so were the other officers.

Odelia chose to stay behind. She was smiling now, and was holding me so tight I had trouble breathing.

“Can you… ease up on the hug… a smidgen?” I asked. It wouldn’t do for me to escape Jerry and Johnny’s clutches only to be smothered to death by my own human.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” she said. “I’m so happy you guys are safe! I was so worried!”

“They would never hurt us,” said Brutus confidently, even though a short while ago he was sure our final hour had struck. “Johnny and Jerry may be a lot of things, but they’re not cat killers.”

“Whatever they are, we’ll know soon,” said Odelia. “Chase has gone to arrest them. Let’s hope they haven’t fled the scene. And then maybe we’ll know why they tried to shoot Rogelio.”

“And if they’re the ones that killed Prince Abdullah,” I added. I couldn’t believe they would do such a thing, as mostly they’re small-time criminals, not murderers. But then sometimes this kind of criminal behavior is like going to McDonald’s. You start with a bag of French fries and before you know it you’re scarfing down one Happy Meal after another.

“So… are we going to borrow Ted and Marcie’s dog or not?” asked Gran, who hadn’t really been following closely. “I mean, if you want me to go and get him, I can, you know.”

“You don’t have to get Rufus, Gran,” said Odelia. “We’ve got the cats back so everything is fine now.”

“If you’re sure. I mean, I got nothing against Ted and Marcie, but when the police show up in the middle of the night, accompanied by the neighborhood watch, asking their assistance in a matter of life and death, they should comply, you know. Do their civic duty. So if you want me to get Rufus, I will. And if they protest, slap a pair of handcuffs on them. That’ll teach ‘em.”

“It’s fine, Vesta,” said Scarlett. “The cats are back, so we don’t need Rufus anymore.”

“People like the Trappers should be taught a lesson. A night in the pokey will make them think twice about refusing to assist the police and the neighborhood watch in their inquiries. And besides, we’re their neighbors. You should always be neighborly to your neighbors.”

“It’s all right, Vesta,” said Scarlett as she placed an arm around her friend’s shoulder. “Everything is fine now.”

It had certainly been an eventful night, and for Chase the night wasn’t over yet, and neither was it for Uncle Alec. Which is why I was surprised when Harriet said, “Well? Are we going to cat choir or not?”

“You still want to go?” asked Brutus. “After everything that happened?”

“Of course! At least Shanille appreciates my singing. Unlike the three of you—who have revealed yourselves as my worst critics!”

Looked like she hadn’t forgotten about our critique on her singing talent.

And she wouldn’t let us forget it either!

CHAPTER 25

When we finally set out for the park, Rufus came tripping after us, and so did Fifi, our other neighbor’s dog.

“What was that all about?” asked Rufus. “Did Odelia need me for something?”