“Is that why you killed her?”
She gives a hard blink. “Killed her? I didn’t kill Holly.” She gives an incredulous laugh. “But I was close.” Her chest pulsates with a dry laugh. “That woman was a monster.”
“Kaila, I know that you have access to Holly’s Insta Pictures account. And I have a feeling it was you who posted those bizarre messages. You can’t deny it. I have proof.” I’m not sure if Jessie Teasdale counts as proof, but she could help me get to the evidence, and that’s enough for now.
Kaila’s fingers fly to her lips, her eyes growing twice their size.
“Okay, fine. I posted those messages.” Her breathing becomes erratic as she takes a full step back. “But only because she threatened to turn my life upside down. She was going to have my animals taken away. She was going to start spreading rumors that it was me who broke up Beauford’s marriage. I had to make her look unstable. It wasn’t a far cry from the truth!”
I shake my head. “She had something else on you.” King lets out an egregiously loud meow, and a thought hits me. “You’re an animal lover. She was threatening to take your pets…”
She glances toward the ballroom as if plotting her escape, and I shake my head over at her.
“Kaila, you’re a good person. I’m guessing you don’t abuse your animals. Your dogs are gorgeous and look well-cared for. And you have the cutest little cat. It’s so unusual looking, I’d bet good money it’s related to a fox.” I suck in a sharp breath. “That note I found in your file! Canadian fox! “That’s no black and white cat. It’s a Canadian fox, isn’t it?” King belts out another meow as if congratulating me on putting the killer pieces together—although I’m not feeling the satisfaction I thought I would when bringing down Holly’s killer. “You’re keeping a Canadian fox as a pet, aren’t you?”
A horrible moaning sound evicts from her. “You can’t tell anybody. I could go to jail for this! Please, just forget about everything you’ve just said. I’d hate for something to happen.”
That vision I had the night that Shep might have confessed his love for me comes back, and I moan myself.
“So you didn’t kill Holly Wright?” I ask with a twinge of disappointment in my voice.
“No.” She shakes her head with an incredulous look on her face. “And you can’t tell anyone about Seymour. He’s my special friend. And not only that, but my dogs all love him.”
“Believe me, I’m not in a position to rat anyone out, least of all over someone’s beloved pet.” I close my eyes a moment too long. “Then who killed Holly?” I all but shout in the void of the corridor, and my voice comes back to me as an echo.
“Sorry, Bowie.” Kaila gives King another healthy scratch over his back. “I hope you find your answers.” She takes off just as a black cat slinks by, doing his best to blend in with the shadows, and I recognize that rust-tipped tail and that left eye that remains sealed off to the world. It’s the exact cat who just might have all the answers.
“Lucky!” I shout, all but startling him into racing right down the hall and straight into the ghostly arms of a certain not-so spooky specter. “Hazel! Perfect timing,” I say, taking a moment to admire the tiny sprays of white miniature stars emanating off of her. Hazel’s crimson locks have a purple tint to them in this dull light, and her skin glows as if she had swallowed the moon. “Hazel, I’ve hit a dead end. You mentioned Carol Bransford was holding Lucky the night of Holly’s murder. Honestly, if I don’t get another lead, I’m going to have to throw in the towel. And believe me, that won’t be easy. I’m stubborn and a little unstable. And that combination has never boded well for me.”
Hazel holds Lucky up a moment. “Here’s hoping this little guy has a few answers that can turn this case on its ear. Go ahead and put your hand over his back.”
I do so, and King looks as if he’s struggling to reach out and touch his furry friend as well, so I hold him close so he can do just that.
“Lucky”—I whisper, and the ebony-colored sweetheart looks right up at me with his single glowing green eye—“that night of the tree lighting, did that woman who picked you up say anything to you?”
He lets out a solid rawr as if he understood me completely.
Hazel nods. “Lucky says that Holly mentioned she was cold and needed him to keep her warm.” His tiny furry head twitches as he looks to King as he bleats out another meow. “He says when Holly took him across the street, he was afraid he’d never see the manor again.”
King mewls over at him, and Lucky nods.
“Aww,” Hazel coos. “Lucky says, ‘I realize now that King would never let one of us be gone too long before he sent the calvary out looking for us.’” Lucky jerks his head up my way and mewls again. “He says, ‘Thankfully the woman became preoccupied with the bank across the street. She kept standing underneath the sign, then to the left of it, then to the right.’”
I look to Hazel and shrug. “I’ve got nothing.” I give Lucky a stroke over his back. “Did Holly happen to say anything else at all?”
His whiskers twitch as he belts out another meow, and Hazel nods.
“He says, ‘Holly did mention something about doing right by the girls at Alpha Pi.’”
“‘Doing right by the girls of Alpha Pi…’” A heavy sigh comes from me. “Thanks, Lucky. I appreciate it.”
No sooner do I say the words than he leaps from Hazel’s arms.
“Since you’re here.” I hold King her way, and she touches her ghostly hand over his back. “King, I just want to wish you a merry Christmas. How are
