The Pink Sneakers Club: Sometime Around Midnight. Christian Bertoni

you Mrs. Myers. I’ll let you know as soon as we find out.”

      “Please. Sam was Mr. Myers’ cat. He named her. Although I don’t know why since she’s really Samantha the fourth.”

      “The fourth?” I asked.

      “Your other cats were named Samantha as well?” Deirdre asked.

      “Yes.”

      “Weird.” Kaye said.

      We left and were heading back to my house when I turned to Natalie, “what are you doing?”

      “What are you talking about?”

      “You’re taking advantage.”

      “How? By asking for the money you were willing to forfeit because you feel bad for her?”

      “Yes!”

      “It’s not like she can’t afford it. Didn’t you guys see those rings on her fingers? Wow, that’s a lot of bling.” Caren said.

      “Are you saying that we should work for free when it comes to people we know? Cause the way I see it we now know everyone.” Natalie said.

      Kaye jumped in. “Randi, she’s right.”

      “The second pretty one is right.” Caren said.

      “We need- wait, what do you mean second pretty one?” Natalie questioned.

      “I thought it was clear. I’m pretty. You’re almost as pretty but second only to me. That’s all. It was a compliment.”

      “Listen –“ Natalie started in.

      “You’re both pretty. Now shut up!” Kaye shouted.

      “Okay now you’re just being rude.” Caren said sounding offended.

      I said. “Can we get back to the subject at hand? Since when do we get paid up front for services we haven’t done?”

      “Look, it takes money to do an investigation.” Natalie said.

      “But you’re taking advantage of her.” I said.

      “How? We’re going to do the investigation.”

      “We haven’t done anything and you want to get paid.”

      “Why not? I’m not taking advantage of her. I plan to find out who killed her cat. Are you?”

      “Yes!”

      “Then nobody’s taking advantage. There’s nothing wrong with asking for the money upfront.”

      “She’s right again.” Kaye said.

      “Whose side are you on?”

      “No one’s. But if we’re going to be a business then we have certain things we need in order to start an investigation and sometimes that requires money upfront. That’s all.”

      I looked at everyone. “Do you all feel this way?”

      There was a resounding, “yes.” from everyone.

      “Okay,” I raised my hands in defense, “fine. So where do we start?”

      “You tell us.” Kaye said.

      “Me? Why me?”

      “Really? This is your field.” Deirdre said. “Mine is science . . . yours is police work. We follow your lead.”

      “Okay. Let’s go inside and we can brainstorm.” I said.

      My mom made her special chicken salad with big chunks of chicken, cabbage and pine nuts. We ate while discussing what to do. Oh, before I forget right now my mom is our bookkeeper. She handles all the money. Right now including what Mrs. Myers paid us we have $370. We are moving up!

      “Where’s your brother?” My mom asked.

      “I don’t know. He’s not here?”

      “No. He went to play with some friends.”

      “Eh, no biggie he’ll come home when he’s hungry. He always does.”

      “I’ll let you girls talk.” She left the room and went to watch T.V.

      “Okay where were we?” I said.

      Deirdre said. “We were trying to figure out who could’ve killed Sam.” She continued, “what kind of person would kill a cat?”

      “Something I’ve been processing.” I hesitated.

      “Go on.” Natalie pushed.

      “I think Mrs. Myers knows who killed her cat. I think she doesn’t want to admit it.”

      Natalie chimed in. “So why bother asking us to find out?”

      Deirdre answered. “I think she wants a second opinion.”

      “Exactly.” I agreed.

      “Or she’s being nice.” Kaye said taking a bite of her chicken salad sandwich she made.

      “So who do you think it is?” Caren asked impatiently.

      “Jackson Davis.” I said.

      “Who?” Caren asked again.

      “Jackson Davis.”

      “Who’s that?” Kaye asked with a mouth full of chicken salad.

      “Her grandson.”

      “Her grandson? Why?” Deirdre asked.

      “I’m guessing, without more evidence . . . I don’t want to make the same mistake as last time.”

      Kaye said again her mouth full of bread and chicken salad. “Actually if memory serves, you didn’t make any mistakes. You were pretty much right about everything. Go with your gut. By the way this is really good.”

      “Uh you’ve had my mom’s chicken salad before.”

      “Yeah but it’s been awhile.”

      “Ya’ might wanna chew your food.” Natalie said.

      “Bite me.” Kaye spat back. She took another big bite, “what’s your gut telling you?”

      “That it’s him.” I said.

      “Okay so where do we find this Jackson Davis?” Caren asked.

      “Mom! What’s Mrs. Myers phone number?”

      “It’s in my address book on the counter!”

      Natalie picked up the address book and handed it to me. I looked up her number and called her on my cell phone. That’s the other thing I forgot to mention my dad got me a new iPhone.

      I hung up the phone. “He’s out by the quarry. C’mon we’ll take my car.”

      We drove out to the Forbrin Quarry, which was an active limestone quarry that operated from the early 1900’s until it was shut down in 1935. The quarry area had an abandoned warehouse and even a quarry plant.

      God not another plant! At least this one’s shut down.

      Anyways, there was also a crusher, a train shop and a boxcar loading hopper. I don’t really know what that is, but it’s all on a descriptive plaque on some trail. I don’t know where that is either.

      At the edge of the quarry was Jackson Davis, a couple of his homies and – Jaime?!?! Jackson was dangling a black trash bag over the edge and laughing with his idiot friends! His other two friends I didn’t recognize, but they seemed older than him.

      We all jumped out of the car and ran over to Jackson and his friends.

      “Jaime!