"A friend of mine stopped a teenage male fora speed violation, and found a can of red spray paint. The kid lives near Dr. Core.We're holding him now.He's got a record for vandalism"

"That's great!

"The only problem is that he's lawyered up."

"What's his name?" I sighed.

"Randy Lane" she said.

"I'll see if Natalie has heard that name." I promised, then added" Thank you for calling me."

So, I called Natalie at the office. Dad had given me that number. A receptionist answered, and she transfered me to Natalie.

"They're questioning someone!" I told her. "by the name of Randy Lane. Sound familiar?"

"no..." she answered after thinking for a minute or two. "Thanks for the update!"

"Dad told me about the psychic cat. I'm looking into it after work"

"Thank you!"

"No problem."

We did some small talk, then the conversation ended.

"Were you talking with Natalie?" Charlie asked.

"Yeah. The cops found a suspect on the obscene banner, so I called to tell her, and I gotta check out a place for her"

"What kind of place?"

"Some guy claims that his pet is a psychic"

"The things people will do for money" Charlie shook his head.

"Natalie believes it's a con, and hopes that I can do something about it." I explained.

"Like arrest him for fraud?" he suggested.

"Like I said, I need to check it out."

After work, I went to the house and gingerly knocked on the door. An older woman in her eighties, wearing a blue jogging outfit opened the door.

"I'm with the F.B.I" I showed my badge. "I was told that there was a psychic cat here?"

"Would you like help with a case?" the woman offered happily,then yelled. ."Mark! A Fed is here to see you!"Did she actually believe this? Natalie's observation showed that this was all a fake

"Hi!" he seemed a little nervous. "What can I do for ya?"

" I'm here to make sure that people aren't being taken advantage of" I told him.

"I don't charge for Mimi's help!" he said, pointing to the donation jar. "People give what they feel is appropriate; I use it to buy mimi, toys, food, and other stuff."

"Like that rolex on your wrist?" I asked. "Or the brand new T.V?"

"I'm a freelance writer." he told me.

"May I see the cat?"

"Mimi?" he called it.

Soon, a tabby arrived, sniffed me, and sat on its haunches.

"Could I ask for a demo?"

"Uh...sure..."

"I'd like to find a Fred. McFerguson." It was the name of a fugitive.

"Let me get the map" he said.

Suddenly, my cell phone rang. I answer it. Turns out that I'm needed at work for matters more urgent than a psychic cat.

"Never mind! I gotta go." I told him, sensing the relief. Soon, I was on my way back to work, but I would return and see about the psychic cat.

99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999

Don called me and Alan at home to tell us,that while he had gone to see about the Psychic cat, the visit was cut short by a call from work. While disapointed, I told him that I understood, which was true. Alan and I played scrabble after dinner, and talked.

"I hope that Don can do something about that con man!" I said, while waiting for Alan to make his move.

"He will, don't worry!" Alan assured me. Soon enough, he put in a word that got him thirty points. Damn it!

Lamely, I got rid of some of my pieces, and got new ones, in a vain attempt to get some consonents. During my next turn, I put in a fifteen point word.

99999999999999999999999999999999999999

Some days passed before I could check out the psychic cat again; I was in for a big surprise.

"Mimi's been stolen!" the owner told me. "Last night"

"Really?" I raised my eyebrow in doubt.

"Look around the house if you want!"

"I did, and there wasn't a sign of a cat. My gut told me that it had been stolen by Natalie. Why? It wasn't my fault that I was busy. Would it have killed her to be patient?As soon as I could, I said goodbye to the owner and left the house.

999999999999999999999999999

I returned from lunch to find Don sitting in a half full waiting room. He didn't look very happy.

"We need to talk" he told me, and added. "It's not about Dad"

"Let's go to my office" I said, and we did.

"Where is the cat?"

"What?"

"I went back to where the pyschic cat was, and it turns outi t was stolen"

"Stolen? Are you sure?" I asked suspiciously.

"I looked."

"Cats are very good at hiding" I told him. "Maybe he got gave it to a friend, fearing that you would come back. Your badge scared the bejeezus out of him, probably."

"Again, where is the cat?"

"You think I stole the cat?" I looked at him in disbelief.

"Did you?"

"No!"

"Natalie, please don't do this. No animal is worth going to jail !"

"For the last time! I did not steal that cat!" I insisted. It was the truth.

From the look in his eyes, I could tell that Don didn't believe me. This was going to be a very long afternoon.

TBC