1 A Paw-sible Theory by Anna Kern Page B

redevelopment. This is a very attractive neighborhood.”
    “The redevelopment only extends a couple of miles around downtown, but I’m sure as more people rediscover the charm of these old houses, it will spread out.”
    “I see why you were being offered more than double what you paid for your property. The area definitely has potential,” he remarked.
    “I agree, and I realize it seems foolish of me to even consider selling our building, but we could have bought or rented somewhere else and made a nice profit.”
    Maggie pulled out a chair and sat down at the kitchen table, inviting him to do the same. Uninvited, I jumped up and sat on the chair next to Hunter, watching every move the lawyer made.
    “I spoke with Ethan and he told me that he stopped at the convenience store around the corner to buy cat treats before you arrived.” Hunter interrupted himself, looked directly at me, and asked Maggie if I was an indoor or an outdoor cat.
    “Oh, they’re strictly indoor cats. Why do you ask?”
    “I thought I saw him or another cat that looks just like him around town.” The lawyer scowled and gave me a puzzled look.
    “Well, Murfy is full of surprises and you never know what he’s up to, but I don’t think it was him.”
    Hunter didn’t look convinced.
    “Getting back to what I was saying. The prosecutor, Everett Bixby has a witness who says he saw an SUV in your driveway ten minutes earlier than the time Ethan told the police he arrived. Ethan explained that he often brought cat treats and half-way up the driveway he realized he’d forgotten to buy any so he backed up and drove to the convenience store around the corner.”
    “That’s true,” said Maggie. “Whenever he forgets, Misty doesn’t leave him alone, pawing at his pockets looking for her treat.”
    “Ethan stated that he had the bag in his hands when he walked in the house and put it on the counter. In your statement, you said you were right behind him. Did you see him with a bag?”
    “I’m sorry; I don’t remember one way or the other. No, wait. I did see the cat treats there,” Maggie said, pointing to the counter next to the stove. “One day when I was here to feed the cats, I noticed one of the cats was missing, and I grabbed the treats from the bag to entice her back into the house.”
    “Did you see a receipt anywhere?”
    “No, I don’t think so.”
    “Is there anything left of the treats?”
    “No, the cats didn’t like them, so I threw them in the trash. Why?”
    “At the very least, it proves that Ethan didn’t lie about going to the convenience store.”
    Maggie’s face was crestfallen. “I didn’t know or I wouldn’t have tossed them.”
    “Not your fault,” said Hunter. “You had no way of knowing. Not much we can do about it now.”
    She gave him a weak smile.
    “Alyx said the pot she was hit with was right up here on the end,” Hunter stated as he stood up. “I always considered the space between cabinets and the ceiling wasted space, but I see Alyx made good use of it.”
    He was referring to the baskets of different sizes and shapes, some with silk plants spilling out; several copper items, and three pieces of pottery––all made by Ethan––that lined the highest reaches of the kitchen. He reached for the copper bowl next to where the pot had been. At six feet one, Hunter was one inch shorter than Ethan, and had no problem bringing it down.
    I had been sizing up the lawyer as I listened to the discussion and sensed his ambivalent feelings towards cats. I didn’t know exactly what lawyers did, but I knew this one was defending Ethan, doing the same thing I was––putting clues together to solve a puzzle.
    I quickly determined that this was the opportune time to act. Although my theory as to what had happened remained unconfirmed, I wanted to get the lawyer thinking in that direction. I jumped off the chair and onto the counter, startling Hunter into reaching out for me, foiling my attempt to leap