“Detective Martinez.’’

His telephone bark was more warning than greeting. I had a fleeting urge to hang up my cell without speaking. Then I remembered: I’m not in junior high.

“It’s Mace Bauer.’’

“Again?”

My resolve to be nice wavered. “You seem busy, Detective. I’m sorry to bother you.’’

“I didn’t mean that the way it sounded.” He backed down a little, allowing a flicker of warmth into his voice. “I’m just about done out here. So, I do have a few minutes to talk. By the way, you left so fast I never had the chance to thank you for calling about Emma Jean’s car.’’

“You’re welcome.’’ We were setting new personal records for polite discourse.

He cleared his throat. “I also appreciate that you knew enough not to disturb anything.’’

“Thanks.’’

Slapping at a mosquito, I wished I hadn’t given him the bug spray before I re-armored myself. Full darkness had fallen. Squadron members of an insect air force were about to pick up the VW and take me to their private lair. Donnie was gone, running late for work at the jail. Even the cat had deserted me, slipping through a pet door into Emma Jean’s house. I sat in her yard in the car, contemplating how to play Martinez. And, if I’m honest, how interesting it might be to play with Martinez. I banished that thought and got down to business.

“Emma Jean is the reason I called again,’’ I said. “Do you think we could meet somewhere, maybe grab a cup of coffee? I want to run some things by you. There’s a lot that doesn’t make sense.’’

A bullfrog croaked in Taylor Slough on Martinez’s end of the phone.

“Things aren’t supposed to make sense to you. You’re not the investigator in the case.’’

Trying not to be offended, I said nothing.

“I’m hot and muddy and all I want is a cool shower after I leave here,’’ he continued. “If you know something I should know, why don’t you just tell me right now over the phone?’’

Because, I thought, you’ll get pissed off and hang up when I try to pump you for information.

“Well, I could do that.’’ I pretended to mull it over. “But what I really want to do is sound out some theories. Some might be useful; others might be useless. I thought it might be nice to sit somewhere cool and relax while we talk. I can hear the bugs buzzing out there through the phone. Wait … was that a big ol’ drop of sweat I just heard, splashing on the mouthpiece?’’

He laughed. I had him.

“Could be,’’ he said. “Dios mío! How do you stand it up here? Miami’s hot; but at least we get a break when the sun goes down. We almost always have a little breeze from the sea. It’s like a furnace here. And it runs on swelter, 24/7.’’

“I’ve got the perfect place,’’ I said. “How ’bout we meet at the Dairy Queen?’’

There was a long silence. A night heron squawked on Martinez’s end. The bird was probably hunting for bream in Taylor Creek.

“I’d think you might be uncomfortable at the Dairy Queen,’’ he finally said. “Since your mother was carted off in a police car from there less than a week ago.’’

More flies with honey, I reminded myself. “Oh, that’s water under the bridge,’’ I said generously. “Besides, I’d be no more uncomfortable than you might be, considering you falsely arrested one of their most loyal customers for murder.’’

“Accessory to murder.’’ I heard a slap and what sounded like a curse in Spanish. “Coño!’’ I hoped it was directed at the mosquito, and not at me. “I thought you said that spray was strong?’’ Martinez said. “They’re eating me alive out here.’’ Another slap.

“The Queen is nice and cool.’’ I was taunting him. “No bugs, either. Plus, you get ice cream. Who doesn’t like ice cream?’’

“I haven’t had any dinner yet,’’ Martinez grumbled.

“There’s no bad time for ice cream. You can pretend it’s an appetizer. I’m pretty close by. I’ll head over, grab a booth, and wait for you.’’

“It’s going to take me awhile to get there,’’ he said.

“No problem. I’ll grab a Himmarshee Times to read. That should kill six or seven minutes. Then maybe I’ll ask around. See if anyone saw anything strange the night Mama found Jim Albert’s body in her convertible.’’

“I wish you wouldn’t do that.’’

“Why not? I’m good at it. How else would I have found out tonight that Emma Jean was cheating on that fiancé she cried so hard over losing?’’

I interrupted his sputtering on the other end. “Wow. My phone battery’s just about to die. See you at the Queen.’’ I immediately turned off my fully charged phone. Mama always says it’s best to leave men wanting more.

The sound of my voice brought Emma Jean’s cat out of hiding to investigate. It jumped onto the VW’s front trunk, staring at me through the windshield.

“Go on, kitty. Get off.’’ I didn’t want to scare the poor critter by starting the car. I tapped on the glass with the keys. The cat batted at the shiny silver on the other side of the windshield. Hitting nothing but glass, it looked at me accusingly—like I’d dangled fish jerky and snatched it back at the last minute. Sitting back on its haunches, it blinked luminous blue eyes.

“Don’t worry. Emma Jean will be coming home soon.’’ Did I believe the reassuring words? “We’ll take good care of you, one way or another.’’

I wondered how Mama’s Pomeranian would adjust to a feline presence. The confident way this cat acted, it wouldn’t give an inch of ground to Teensy.

“Shoo.’’ I hissed, waving my arm out the window. The cat just stared. I finally got out and lifted it from the car. “I promise, you won’t go hungry.’’ A sweat droplet rolled off the tip of my nose and plopped onto the cat’s neck. “And you definitely won’t go cold.’’

I ruffled the sweat-dampened spot on its fur. A bright red collar with rhinestones encircled the cat’s neck. No surprise, considering Emma Jean’s flashy fashion sense. Looking closer, I saw a name engraved on a silver charm shaped like a heart.

“Wila. Pretty name. Well, I may see you tomorrow.’’

I set her gently on the ground. “Take care of yourself. There are wild creatures in these parts.’’ I flashed on the feeling of being stalked by who knows what near Ollie’s pond. Just thinking about it raised the hair at the back of my neck. I slid back into the car. The cat still sat and stared.

If Wila could speak, what would she say? Would she echo my warning to her?