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offering on the throw rug. Then he’d be demonstrably proud. Cats seemed to think that way. At least cats like Boomerang.
    â€œHe’s probably out doing it to the lady cats in the neighborhood,” Craig said.
    â€œCraig!” Ida warned.
    Craig smiled. Maybe he and Boomerang weren’t all that different from each other.
    â€œTrash pickup happen yet?” he asked.
    Ida gave him a stern look. They weren’t supposed to talk about this in front of Eloise. Craig’s brother Jack was going to make the switch of the Hoffermuth bracelet for cash to one of the sanitation workers. Over $240,000. A bargain for the fence, Willard Ord, considering he would remove the bracelet’s jewels and sell them separately for more than twice that much. A steal for Willard. Except for the fact that Jack was going to give Ord’s emissary the remaining duplicate paste bracelet patterned on the Sotheby’s catalog illustration.
    Jack was supposed to call brother Craig on his cell phone when the switch was completed.
    Only he hadn’t called.
    Craig stood up from the sofa. “Goin’ out for a smoke.”
    â€œDon’t let anyone see you,” Ida said. “The mayor’s given the cops orders to shoot smokers to kill.”
    â€œFunny, hah, hah,” Craig said. He picked up Alexis Hoffermuth’s purse and folded a sheet of newspaper over it. “Might as well drop this in a mail box.”
    â€œNot one too close. And bring that damned cat in if you see him.”
    â€œHe’s not a damned cat,” Eloise said.
    Ida pulled a face. “No, honey, he’s not. I’m sorry I said that.”
    â€œAnyway, he won’t go far. And nobody’ll think he’s a stray, ’cause I put his collar on him.”
    Craig looked at Eloise. “Collar?”
    â€œThat pretty collar with the jewels in it you brought for him,” Eloise said. “The one you left on the table. I put it on him and fastened the clasp. It fits perfect.” She grinned. “Makes him an even handsomer cat.”
    Craig and Ida stared at her, comprehending but not wanting to believe, stunned.
    â€œGood Christ!” Craig said. He walked in a tight circle, one foot staying in the same place.
    â€œYou put the bracelet on Boomerang?” Ida asked.
    â€œCollar,” Eloise corrected.
    Craig doubled his fist.
    â€œEloise, go to your room!” Ida said.
    Aware that something horrible was going on, and somehow she was the root of it, Eloise obeyed without argument.
    â€œI wasn’t going to hit her,” Craig said.
    â€œWe knew that, but she didn’t.”
    Craig sighed. “Yeah ...” He stared helplessly at Ida. “What are we gonna do?”
    â€œCats don’t like playing dress up. Especially tomcats. But if Boomerang didn’t work the col—bracelet off right away, it probably doesn’t bother him and he’ll leave it alone. When he comes home, he should still be wearing it.”
    â€œSo we do nothing?”
    â€œSeems the thing to do.”
    â€œYou mean not to do.”
    Ida looked slightly confused. Still in character from earlier that day.
    Craig strode toward the door. “I need a cigarette.”
    Ida would have gone with him; she could use a cigarette herself. Only there was Eloise. Ida didn’t see herself as the kind of mother who’d leave her guilt-stricken kid alone for a cigarette. “Don’t light up till you get outside,” she said to Craig. They’d gotten the landlord’s notice that smoking was no longer allowed in the building.
    â€œI’m not going out only for a smoke,” Craig said. “Jack was supposed to switch the other fake bracelet for cash with the sanitation guy, then call me. I wanna find out why he never called.”
    Ida told Craig good-bye and counted to ten. She knew she wasn’t as ditzy as the role she played. And she understood what had to be done in this