Cat's Claw (A Pecan Springs Mystery)

the
Enterprise
. Last spring, as an intern, Jessica had scored a big story when she foiled her own abduction and helped to solve a murder, gaining national notoriety as the Seven Iron Slugger. Now, she’s finishing grad school and working part-time at the newspaper. I wasn’t surprised to see her here. She shows up whenever anybody whispers the words
breaking news
.
    “China!” Jessica exclaimed. “And Ruby! So great to see you again!” She put out her hand to Ramona. “Hi. I’m Jessica Nelson. I write for the local newspaper. You’re Ramona Donahue?”
    Ramona nodded wordlessly.
    “I understand that you discovered Mr. Kirk’s body.” Jessica flipped her steno pad to a new page. “Can you tell me about it?” She glanced down at the shredded knee of Ramona’s pants. “Gosh, I hope you’re not hurt. I heard that you fell down the back steps.”
    “That’s right.” Confronted by the possibility of media attention, Ramona forgot that she hadn’t wanted to talk about it. “What would you like to know?”
    “Stop.” I put up my hand. “Jessica, you know better. Ms. Donahue isn’t talking to you until Chief Dawson says she can.”
    “Aw, come on, China,” Jessica wheedled. “Mr. Hibler says we’re going with a front-page story on this. All I want is a little human interest. I’m not asking for state secrets.”
    Ramona frowned at me. “Really, China, I don’t see why you’re being so mean. It’s not—”
    “I’m being mean in order to keep Jessica out of Sheila Dawson’s doghouse. She can have all the human interest she wants,
after
the police release.” I smiled at Jessica. “Check back tomorrow, Jess. And in the meantime, check with the chief.”
    Jessica sighed. “You’re a hard woman, China Bayles.”
    “You think I’m hard?” I chuckled wryly. “Try crossing Sheila Dawson.”
    “Actually, I’ve already got quite a few nice little bits,” Jessica said defiantly. “I talked to the next-door neighbor who was picking her squash when Ms. Donahue discovered the body. That’s human interest, don’t you think? She said she was going to make a casserole for her nephew, who was coming over for supper.” She flipped a page. “I also talked to the old lady who heard the gunshot. That’s what she thought it was, anyway.”
    “A gunshot?” I asked sharply. This was news to me. “Who? When?”
    Jessica peered at her notes. “Mrs. Wauer,” she said. “Ethel W-a-u-e-r. A sweet little old thing. She says she heard it just before two o’clock.” She began to read. “‘I was giving Oodles a bath—I have to wear my raincoat because he shakes water all over me, and of course then I have to mop the floor. The bathroom window was open because when Oodles is wet, he doesn’t always smell real sweet, which was how come I happened to hear it.’” She frowned. “I guess I should have asked Mrs. Wauer about Oodles.”
    “He’s a miniature white poodle,” Ruby volunteered. “I know, because Ethel Wauer lives next door to me. Between me and the squash lady.”
    “Oh, really?” Jessica was scribbling. “So it’s you, Mrs. Wauer and Oodles, Mrs. Jessup and her squash, and the Kirks, in that order. Right?” Ruby nodded and Jessica paused, looking back at her notes. “Mrs. Wauer said she thought at first that the noise was a car backfiring or maybe adoor slamming, so she didn’t think anything of it. But Oodles began to bark like crazy and—”
    “Oodles barks like crazy at everything,” Ruby said. “Oodles barks at cars, skateboards, airplanes, lawnmowers, and the garbage truck. I’m sure there are people on this block who wish somebody would shoot
him
. That’s off the record, Jessica,” she added hastily.
    “Oh, pooh,” Jessica pouted. “But I’ll leave it out if you insist, Ruby.” She turned back to Ramona. “Now then, Ms. Donahue. How did you happen to go to the Kirks’ house this afternoon?”
    I intervened. “That’s enough, Jessica. Why don’t you give Ms. Donahue your card? She can call you when this conversation is appropriate.”
    “China, you are such a spoilsport.” With a disappointed sigh, Jessica took out a card and handed it over.
    “Thank you, Ms. Nelson.” Ramona flipped an icy look in my direction. “I’ll be glad to talk to you whenever. You can bring a photographer, too.” She touched her hair. “Just be sure to give me a little notice.”
    “Thanks, Ms. Donahue,” Jessica said with a grin. “I really appreciate it.” She