CHAPTER 7

The next morning, Matt and CJ were talking on their way into the office about the case. They decided to dig a little deeper on the other purchasers of black roses. As CJ sat down and brought up Baby the computer, Matt went to the bar and poured two cups of coffee and brought them over to the couch where CJ was sitting.

"Alright, the purchase from Natasha's was made by one Terrence D'Orio for his client, a Goth singer by the name of – get this – TaDi4." CJ exchanged a look with Matt.

"Bet she doesn't sing about whiskers on kittens and such, does she?" Matt shook his head. "What do we know about the manager Mr. D'Orio?"

"He handles a lot of clients like Miss TaDi4. He's married, 41, father of three. Looks to be an upright citizen. No criminal record, unless you want to count parking tickets. He seems to collect them." CJ moved on down the list. "Next we have the purchase made from Blooming Love, a weekly order for a 93 year old widow, Mrs. Henrietta Hawthorne. The account is paid for by her nephew, Horace Hawthorne, 67, an insurance broker over in Silver Lake. Somehow I don't believe Henrietta is sneaking around movie theaters strangling people."

"And I bet she's not the one taking their eyes out either." Matt gave a little smirk.

"So, on to the next florist, Budding Beauties, six dozen roses for a wedding. Black roses in a wedding just don't sound right. Let's see, the bride's name is Anna Prokofiev and the groom is Vladimir Stalin. Hmmm, do you reckon he's any kin to…nah. Probably not. No criminal records on either one. And the last one is from Marcia's Miracles, two dozen roses purchased by a Michael Osterhouse of the Osterhouse Pet Cemetery and Crematorium, used on a funeral for a cat." She looked at Matt. "I'm all for taking care of your pets, but these roses are not cheap. Two dozen for a cat?"

Matt leaned back on the couch and sipped his coffee. "Maybe I should go see if I can dig up some dirt on the dead cat, whatcha think?" He looked over at CJ who fell back on the couch in a fit of laughter. Lt. Hoyt and Uncle Roy came walking into the office, just as Matt followed suit.

"It doesn't sound like these two are working at all, does it, Michael?" Roy and Hoyt exchanged glances. "Ah, young love."

"It's got nothing to do with young love, Uncle Roy. It concerns a dead cat." Matt managed to straighten up just long enough to get those words out, which set CJ on another tizzy of laughter.

"I'm glad you two can find humor in this mess. The captain sure hasn't been laughing." Hoyt walked over to the bar and poured himself a cup of coffee.

"Sorry, Hoyt." Matt looked at CJ and they both straightened up. "We've been looking into the sales of the roses. Not much to go on. But I think I'll check on the dead cat angle. It just doesn't sound right." He got up, held out his hand to CJ and asked, "Want to go help me check out the pet cemetery?"

"Sure." She got up and walked hand in hand with Matt to the elevator.

"You two be sure not to get into a fit of giggles again. It isn't proper decorum, you know." Uncle Roy was trying for a serious look, and was having trouble pulling it off. Matt and CJ nodded and managed to keep straight faces until the elevator doors closed. Then Roy and Hoyt could hear the peals of laughter start up again.

"I swear, you would think they were sixteen again!" Hoyt just shook his head and drank his coffee.