Officer Richardson perked up at Miguel’s instructions. “Yes, sir.”
Leaving the police to search the house further, Rosa and Miguel drove back to the Police station, and Rosa couldn’t keep from apologizing about Diego.
“It was very unprofessional of me to let him out of my sight. He contaminated evidence.”
“It’s possible the glass had already been tipped over,” Miguel said. “At any rate, no real damage was done.” He gave her a warm sideways glance. “Let’s maybe just keep this little tidbit from Delvecchio.”
Rosa appreciated the grace he extended to her, and was quite sure none of the other members of his team would’ve gotten off so easily. It helped that Diego was frightfully adorable.
“Two murders in one week.” Miguel blew air out of his pursed lips. “You would think this was south central LA! I’d wager a guess the post mortem will reveal that we have two victims who died from the same poison. There’s someone out there with motive who knows them both.”
Rosa hummed in agreement. “And we already know there is a connection between the two victims. I saw them together on the beach.”
“Exactly.” Miguel kept his eyes on the road. “Shirley Philpott remains our prime suspect, but then there’s Vanessa Forrester as the possible spurned lover in a love triangle. What possible motive would either of them have to kill Jason Brewster?”
Rosa had the same question. “The one thing that connects them all is the party at the beach—an event organized to raise money for a specific charity.”
“Why don’t you dig around a bit more on the subject of that CPRF charity? Maybe you can ask your aunt a few more questions. I’ll interview Vanessa Forrester.”
“Do you think it might be a better idea for me to be the one to talk to Vanessa?” Rosa asked. “In my experience, if a detective is going to interview a lady about a possible affair or love triangle, the truth could be more forthcoming if that detective is a woman.”
“Hmm, yes, you’re probably right.” Miguel pulled the cruiser into the police lot. “Or . . . maybe if I took Diego with me to interview the former Mrs. Clarence Forrester, her guard would drop. I mean—” He gifted Rosa with a grin. “—as we have seen already today, women can’t resist a kitten.”
“Diego isn’t ready for police work,” Rosa said protectively.
“He’s got to earn his badge at some point.”
“Nooo.” She pulled Diego closer to her chest.
“Okay, we’ll give him a few days. Then we’ll deputize him.”
“He’s not even house-trained yet!”
“I honestly don’t think Detective Sanchez is either, and yet they let him work here.”
“Pffft,” Rosa said. “C’mon Diego. Let’s get you home before Detective Belmonte tries to draft you into public service before you’re ready! Besides, it’s time to meet your new family.”
13
“Oooh, what do you have there?” Gloria squealed.
“His name is Diego.” Rosa put him down on the grass in the backyard of the Forrester mansion, and the kitten sniffed the surrounding area. Aunt Louisa and Grandma Sally were lounging by the pool, Aunt Louisa worshiping the sun, and Grandma Sally well-covered in umbrella shade.
Gloria knelt to pet him. “He’s so sweet!”
“Do you think you could be a dear and run into town to get some pet supplies?” Rosa asked. “I was on my bike when I found him.”
“Sure. But first, I’ll get him a dish of milk. He looks pretty hungry.” Gloria ran back into the house.
Louisa, her eyebrows furrowed behind her sunglasses, rose from her chair at the pool and glided over to Rosa. “What on God’s green earth is that?”
Rosa had anticipated this kind of reaction from her aunt, but before Rosa could answer, Grandma Sally launched a commentary. “Louisa doesn’t like house pets. She lost one as child and never recovered.”
“I wasn’t a child, mother. I was nineteen.”
“And ready for a husband and children. I told you you’d forget about that cat if you had a baby. And I was right.”
Louisa scowled at her mother, then redirected her angst at Rosa. “Don’t listen to the meanderings of an old know-it-all.”
Grandma Sally’s grin grew smug, and Rosa was relieved when Señora Gomez stepped out of the sliding glass door. One thing Rosa knew about her relatives was that they never aired their dirty laundry in front of the staff.
“Ooh, que lindo gatito!” She caught Rosa’s eye. “Can I hold him?”
Rosa grinned. “Certainly.”
Señora Gomez gently lifted Diego off the grass. “Where did you get him?”
“I found him beside the bakery in a discarded box. I think he was abandoned.”
Señora Gomez cradled Diego in her arms and covered him with kisses while he purred loudly. “Mi pobre pequeño querido. My poor little darling.”
Gloria returned with a dish of milk and put it down on the ground. After Señora Gomez had placed Diego in front of the bowl, the cat hungrily lapped the milk.
Aunt Louisa’s frown deepened.
Thankfully, Gloria defused the bomb. “Look Mom, isn’t he cute? He must stay with us!”
“I don’t remember granting permission for a pet in the house.” Aunt Louisa narrowed her eyes and stared pointedly at Rosa while holding a palm out in Grandma Sally’s direction. Grandma Sally’s mouth had opened to speak, but her daughter’s ultimate authority on all things family had caused her to shut it again.
“Yes, well,” Rosa started, a sudden feeling of defiance rising in her chest. “There are one or two things that I don’t remember giving my okay on recently as well.”
“Oh, phooey,” Aunt Louisa said with a toss of her bouffant. “You’re not still bothered by my chat with the mayor, are you?”
Rosa lifted a brow. The truth? She wasn’t upset anymore and was quite enjoying the challenge.
Resignation finally appeared in her aunt’s expression, and she tilted her chin toward Diego. “The creature can stay, but you
