"And then the raccoon mom came up to me and gave me a little acorn as a thank you for helping her!" Dolly stated. Mitzi chuckled, "Oh Dolly! You are a delight! I'm just sorry you had to grow up on the streets." "Ah, it wasn't all that bad. I mean would you rather be stuck in a house, paying bills, keeping everything all tidy, and not experience the world firsthand?" "When you say it like that, it doesn't seem that bad."

Mitzi looked at her watch "Well, thank you for keeping me company tonight, Dolly." "No, thank you Miss M! No one listens to my stories from when I was little. Not even Suzie, and no one talks more than her!" Mitzi smiled at her new friend, "Well honey, if you are ever considering leaving that stiff little joint you call Marigold, you give me a holler." "Oh, thank you Miss M! But I couldn't leave Jenni and Suzie hanging high and dry like that."

"Tell me, has your icy mitt of a boss talked to you lately?"

"You mean Mordecai? Not recently. And he's really not as bad as everyone says he is." Dolly turned her head and blushed.

"Oh Dolly, you sweet little angel. You don't need to be embarrassed. Back when he was working with us, Mordecai caught the eyes of 10 girls a week."

"Poor Rocky...and Zib...and everyone else."

"Well, they had their share too. Not as much as Stiffy but..."

Dolly laughed, "You really don't like him, do you?"

"Not...really..."

"Well, he is kind of hard to talk to. Oh well, I think as long as you don't bother him when he's 'studying the botany' of plants or standing around watching people, I think you'll be fine."

Mitzi laughed, "Oh you do a great impression of him!"

"Thanks! Well, it's late. I wish I could stay and chat for longer, but I promised Fish I'd meet him at 11 for dinner and a movie."

"Alright baby, drive safe!" Mitzi waved goodbye to Dolly before entering her car. She opened her purse to get some lipstick. "Hello Mitzi." a dark voice said. Mitzi screamed and spun around. She swung her purse in the face of the person in the back seat. "Mordecai?! Good god! I thought you were Myles!" "Good to see you too Mitzi." The tuxedo cat growled as he fixed his glasses, "You almost ruined by new suit." "You and your suits! You're an obsessive little..." Mitzi started saying. "Marley gave me this suit. It was an awfully nice gesture, and it would be rude if I got even a hair on it."

Mitzi rubbed her arms and sighed, "Oh...sorry honey." She took out a handkerchief and wiped her eyes, "Ever since Myles got here, I've been a little on edge. Maybe Rocky was right, maybe you and Howler are related."

"We are not related."

"Could've fooled me. You two have the same appearance, except you're a cat and he's a dog."

"And the eyes."

"Most definitely your eyes. You two also have the same personality, same skills, same interests, similar voices too! Good god! What if you two are related?!"

"I'd rather believe Ms. Egypt's theory on aliens building pyramids."

"What are you even doing here anyway? Last time we met like this, you wanted to talk about Asa."

"I have no interest in him anymore."

"What then? Did your feelings get hurt when Dolly and I were talking about you?"

"No!"

"Poor thing, did you know when she was only a little girl, her mama was shot by police for trying to help her daddy out of a jam with the feds?"

"I did not know that."

"Sweet thing had to live all alone on the streets."

"The only thing I know about Ms. Fisher is that Jen found her at a train station and that she and Fish are dating."

"I don't suppose you snuck into my car...again...to talk about Dolly."

"No, but I do have a person of interest in mind...well...two persons of interest."

"And just who might those be?"

"Mr. Myles Howler and...you."

Mitzi crossed her arms and scowled, "What? Why would you...oh, I see. You think we're dating. Well, we're not."

"You told me last night that you two were talking to each other about Jenni. Marcus and I want to know what about her in detail."

"That's none of your nor his business now, is it?"

"As her fiancé, I have a right to know who has been talking about my future wife! And as a close friend and metaphorical brother, Marcus has a right as well. You saw how he reacted when Myles's name was brought up. If something did happen to Jen, do you really want to go toe to toe with him...or me?"

"Myles just wanted to know where she was. He told he had family issues and Jenni was the only one who could help. The first time he sounded genuine in years. Now, get out!"

"Why so quick to dismiss me?"

"Because you're weirding me out."

"What did Myles say about me?"

"Nothing. He didn't even mention you."

"He and I talked earlier tonight and he knew I switched over to Marigold."

"Well, I'm not in on that circus. I also told him about Atlas and..."

"Wait, you told him about Atlas?"

"Yes, why?"

"He said he didn't hear about Atlas's death until Jen brought it up."

"I swear, Mordecai. I told him about Atlas."

"Then someone's lying. It's either you or him."

"Well, what does Jenni think about all this?"

"Jenni and I aren't speaking right now." the tuxedo cat looked at the ground with a sorrowful expression.

"Hmm, y'all had a fight? Not even married yet and already you two are having problems. Well, most marriages end in divorce."

"Enough! Can't you just put aside your sarcasm for 3 seconds? Maybe I should have let Marcus come."

Mitzi suddenly looked startled, "What?"

"Marcus wanted to help me interrogate you. You should be thanking me for not letting him come."

Mitzi looked out the side door with a terrified look. "No one out there will save you." Heller growled. "I'm not looking for a rescuer." Mitzi hissed. She finally turned back to him,

"Alright, Myles did mention that his father was killed a couple weeks ago."

"What?"

"Yes. He wanted Jenni's help to find the killer."

"Why not give him Leslie's number? She's a private investigator."

"First off, I don't have Leslie's phone number. Second, her father's a cop. Myles is a wanted criminal. One thing that I learned from this business that's actually useful is that 'Snitches get Stiches'. And third, I wouldn't put Les in that kind of danger."

"But, you would put Jenni in that kind of danger." Heller's eyes narrowed.

"Not to put Leslie in the dirt but Jen's far more advanced in skills and smarts than...anyone I've ever known...except you."

"Still, I don't appreciate you giving information about someone who I'm close to, to someone like Myles Howler. Even if it is for a personal issue."

Mitzi thought hard about a crusher to deliver but saw a glint of sadness in her companion's eyes, "Are you afraid, Jenni's going to cheat on you? Is that what this is really about?"

"What?! No! That's ridiculous! I'm just worried something will happen to her. I've lost a lot already, I don't want to lose her!"

"Well, your recent losses are your fault."

"Not Atlas."

"No, but...oh...those kinds of losses. Oh, sweetie. You really do love her, don't you?"

The cat slunk back and closed his eyes, "I do. It's just...she's the only person who actually understands me. Understands who I am. Atlas did too."

"Oh baby." Mitzi looked at the black cat with empathy, "Don't cry. It'll be ok. Jenni's a big girl who can take care of herself. However, I understand your concern." Mitzi turned around again, "To tell you the truth, I wish Atlas loved me just as much as you love Jenni. I know I did...You'll make a great husband, sweetie." The two sat in silence for a few minutes.

"Well, thank you for talking with me Mitzi. I better go see if Jenni is alright. Hopefully, Marcus didn't kill Myles while I was gone."

"What's even the story between those two?"

"One of Marcus's grandfathers was a confederate and his partner, who was a Howler, defected to the Unionists. Stabbed him 6 times."

"Sounds like someone I know."

"Now's not the time."

"I can't place his name. Maybe you might've remembered him." Mitzi laughed as her friend sighed. "Sorry honey. I couldn't."

"One more thing before I go...don't go behind mine or Jenni's back again...ever."

"And I would appreciate it that you would stop sneaking in my car every time you want to talk to me."

"Deal."