The Purrfect Murder

Northeast.”
    “No one told Folly. I’d like to know how she vacuumed this cash out of pockets.” Tazio smiled. “Big Mim had no idea what she’d unleashed when she handed over this charity to Folly.”
    “She is overcommitted,” Harry replied.
    “Big Mim could run the country.” Susan laughed. “She thought she was adding new troops by allowing Folly the glory of spearheading the Poplar Forest fund-raiser and ball. Little did she know she gave her rival a plum.”
    “But she didn’t know Folly’s ambitions at the time.” Harry appreciated how intelligent Big Mim was, how subtle and political, too.
    “And there we have to give the nod to Folly. She shrewdly kept her ambitions under wraps. Even now she’s not saying anything. Her deeds speak for her. She’s become a power, one that isn’t going to bow before Her Highness,” Susan said.
    “Majesty,” Harry corrected.
    “For Great Britain,” Tazio replied. “Later wasn’t it ‘Your Imperial Majesty’?” She paused. “Let’s not get off on that. Here’s my problem. Every person that Folly placed on the steering committee is a new person and someone for whom I have designed a house.”
    “That’s why you had to take the decorating committee. Everyone knows that, Taz, especially Big Mim.” Harry petted Tucker, sound asleep, as was Pewter.
    “But Folly has invited Little Mim and Blair to join her at her table,” Tazio told them.
    “What!” Harry sat bolt upright again, which disturbed the two sleepers.
    “Bother.”
Pewter dropped her head back on Tucker’s flank.
    “I wanted to see if I could hold my tongue until we were halfway to Poplar Forest.” Tazio smiled.
    “You succeeded,” Harry dryly commented.
    “Little Mim and Blair at Folly’s table”—Susan counted couples—“along with the Paulsons, the Steinhausers, obviously, the Lattimores, and who else?”
    “Elise Brennan,” Tazio added.
    “Who’s her date?”
    “Major Chris Huzcko.” Tazio cited a very attractive blond marine, who would dazzle in his “ball” uniform.
    “Are they an item?” Susan was curious.
    “I don’t know. At any rate, they’ll need a marine at the table if Big Mim launches artillery fire.” Tazio smiled.
    “Chris can handle it,” Harry said confidently. “And you know that Tracy Raz can handle it, too.”
    Tracy Raz, in his seventies, had seen combat in Korea. After his army career, he served in the CIA, and when he finally retired, he came home to Crozet and wooed his high-school sweetheart, Miranda Hogendobber. Both had married others and had lost their spouses. When Tracy returned from living in Hawaii, the embers reignited. For a man in his seventies, he was in better shape than many a forty-year-old, plus he was bull-strong.
    “I assume Miranda and Tracy will be near Big Mim and Jim’s table?” Harry said.
    “Yes, so we’ll have one tough army guy at one table and one rugged marine at another. Maybe the two men can keep the peace.” Tazio sighed. “Meanwhile, I’ve got Folly on one hand and Big Mim on the other. Of course, my loyalty is to Big Mim. After all, she gave me the commission to design her steeplechasers’ stable, and that was my ticket in, truly. I feel I owe her a great deal.”
    “In our own way, we all do. For all her ordering us about, she does a lot of good.” Susan slowed again as she noticed everyone else doing the same. “And if you’re really worried, go talk to her, Taz. She really will understand. She knows these people have been clients, are clients. She knows you have to make a living. Go talk to her before the ball. Don’t wait until something ugly happens, and remember that she didn’t know this challenge was coming.” Susan made a sensible suggestion.
    “I will.”
    “What about Little Mim’s statement this morning?” Harry had heard on the six o’clock morning news that the vice mayor of Crozet stated she would do everything she could to help the authorities find and prosecute Dr. Will Wylde’s killer. She said nothing about abortion, which meant her mother would not be satisfied.
    “Slight progress.” Susan noticed another cop car ahead.
    She didn’t mind cars slowing to the speed limit, but it irritated her when they crawled below the limit as though that made them a better driver in the cop’s eyes.
    “Wonder if they have made any progress.” Harry worried, as did they all. “Coop has worked day and night. She can’t tell me much, but I do know Rick had the presence