Purrfect Roast: A Dragon Cozy Mystery by Verena DeLuca (the giving tree read aloud TXT) 📗

Officer Spencer stepped forward as soon as the words left Linda's mouth. "We will be fingerprinting these trophies so do not touch them when found. Whoever is responsible for this crime will be taking a car ride down to the precinct. If we find any of you harboring information regarding this case, we will also hold you responsible to the full extent of the law. Consider your next actions carefully, whoever comes forward will receive leniency."

A hushed silence fell over the crowd and we all looked at each other.

"What now?" Aubrey said.

"I say we go eat dinner," I said.

Aubrey laughed. "You would be thinking about food."

"No," Skylar said. "She has a point, let's get a table in the dining room before anyone else does."

"Let's go to the dining room," I transmitted to Azure, hoping Skylar was doing the same.

We stood up, and I realized the rest of the tribe was giving us strange looks. Oops. Maybe I was not used to being a leader.

"We're going to get something to eat, y'all can stay here, I wouldn't worry about helping. With all these people, it will probably only be an hour more. Rest, it's been a long weekend." I smiled at each of them, hoping they knew the next meeting would be a hard pill to swallow for a few of them. "Skylar and I are going to get a ride home with Aubrey, so as soon as they release y'all, feel free to head home."

"On our way." Azure walked away from the tribe.

They all chose not to respond. Which was probably for the best because I really did not think I would be able to hold my tongue from my disappointment. I mean, I got that Tori had been there longer, but why on earth would they follow her direction? I did not expect them to find clues. But to spend the entire day relaxing after I told them I wanted their help, well it hurt. More than I would have expected, too.

I shook the thoughts out of my head and focused on getting to the dining room.

"Are you going to wait for me?" Azure transmitted.

"Oh. Right. Sorry," I transmitted, stopping to look around.

"I just realized Azure isn't with us," Aubrey said.

"You know, you're right," I said curiously. As if I did not know where he was for her benefit. "That's strange. It's rare he doesn't follow."

Right after I spoke, he scampered up and rubbed on my leg. I bent down on instinct and picked him up. Shadow followed close behind for Skylar to do the same.

"There you are, mister fluffers," I said, rubbing my face into his silky fur.

"Stop it," Azure transmitted. "I have news."

"I didn't even notice they left," Aubrey said. "Glad we stopped."

"Totally," Skylar said, and turned to lead us to the dining room. She knew exactly how to change the subject from dragon talk, and it made me jealous. I needed that skill.

"What's up," I transmitted as we weaved through more contestants.

"I was over next to Sue before she announced the location of that trophy."

"Okay?"

"She didn't find it," he transmitted.

"What do you mean?" I transmitted, carefully watching the floor as we walked to not step on any kitty tails. There was no telling what a dragon would do if I stepped on their tail. I was not about to find out either.

"I mean," he transmitted in an increasingly frustrated tone. "It was Naomi, from the San Antonio tribe that pointed it out to Sue."

"Wow," I said aloud without realizing it.

Skylar and Aubrey both stopped walking and looked back at me, but I motioned for them to open the dining room doors. I would have to come up with a way to tell them about this.

"Do you think Naomi was avoiding being the finder?" I transmitted to Azure. "If I would have found it, I would have told Aubrey to show the police. No way would I want all these eyes on me."

"Not sure," Azure transmitted. "Sue was definitely excited to make the find. But I don't think she realized who whispered to her. Naomi had a huge smirk plastered on her face. Like she knew Sue was going to announce it."

"Well then," I transmitted as we got in line for the dinner buffet, "that's suspicious."

"You don't say," Azure transmitted with an eye roll.

I am surrounded by sass.

"Now you know how we feel," he transmitted, "dealing with you."

"Touche," I transmitted.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Sunday, May 17th, 6:45 PM

After making sure Azure and Shadow were fed dinner, we dug into another plate full of the best comfort foods the buffet offered. To my dismay, the dining room was far from empty. Many of the contestants followed us in to eat instead of searching for the trophies. While I would have preferred the silence, it just confirmed the fact that too many protectors thought the cat show was a joke.

Why did they choose this event to be a requirement? Were all these people too scared to speak up?

"Did you talk to the tribe about the idea of not holding the meeting at the cat show?" I transmitted to Azure as I stuffed my face.

"No," he transmitted, clearly focused on eating as well. "I enjoy the competition. Why would I want to change the meeting location?"

"Because not everything is about you," I transmitted, along with an eye roll through the transmission.

"Says you," he retorted. "I'm not the only dragon that enjoys the show, you know."

I started to take a bite, but as his transmission came through, I looked down at him with disgust.

"Maybe not, but as a leader you should be considering the thoughts of the majority." I sent it through jumbled and fast. His inability to consider anyone else's feelings drove me crazy.

I took in a deep breath and filled my mouth with food, so the other ladies did not notice my frustrations. I did not want to explain why my