The Devil's in the Details Read Free Page B

rarely left this apartment. I was old and alone. I had come to believe my days of adventure were finished. My friends and colleagues were dead, my old pins unsteady, the days were long and the nights endless. I was safe but of no use to anyone. Then I met you and Young Ferguson, and now life is full of adventure. I wouldn’t retreat to my miserable former existence for anything.”
    I smiled noncommittally.
    â€œMs. MacPhee. This will be a magnificent moment for Young Ferguson and for me as well. I do not know if I will get another chance such as this. I feel rejuvenated being airborne again. Even if you keep your feet on the ground, your participation would contribute greatly to the esprit de corps.”
    â€œViolet has never let you down, Camilla,” Alvin said.
    â€œI know that.”
    â€œEven when she ended up in intensive care.”
    I hate it when they turn up the guilt burner.
    â€œI get the point.”
    â€œYoung Ferguson has always been there for you.” Mrs. P. inhaled deeply.
    â€œFrequently getting arrested while following your instructions,” Alvin said.
    â€œYes, dear boy, that is true. Injured as well. And there was the loss of your home last summer.”
    â€œHold on,” I said. “You can’t blame that on me. It wasn’t my family member whose life was in danger. I was the one helping out.
    â€œNot a question of blame, Ms. MacPhee. Merely making the point one can count on Young Ferguson, regardless.”
    I sank onto the other end of the leather sofa. Lester and Pierre ruffled their feathers and shrieked in triumph. “No balloons,” I said.
    â€œAccepted,” Mrs. Parnell said. “There is one other thing.”
    I closed my eyes and rubbed my temples. “What?”
    Mrs. Parnell said, “We want you to be our official photographer. To record the adventure, from the ground. I’ll get the aerial shots.”
    A couple of photos didn’t sound too demanding, although there were a few stumbling blocks. “I don’t have a camera.”
    â€œYou can use one of mine, Ms. MacPhee. I have an auto focus digital. Nikon. You’ll have no trouble with it.”
    â€œWe’re asking you to take pictures, not donate a kidney,” Alvin said. “You don’t have to invent excuses.”
    Mrs. Parnell laid a hand on his bony shoulder. “She needs time to reflect.”
    â€œShe needs a certain cop from Sydney to call her soon, so she can stop being miserable.”
    Unfair! First of all, Sgt. Ray Deveau, of the Cape Breton Regional Police, was on a three-week intensive course somewhere else in Nova Scotia, away from his base in Sydney and apparently out of phone communication. Second, I did not need Ray Deveau or anyone else to call me. Third, it wasnone of their beeswax.
    â€œOnward and upward, Ms. MacPhee?”
    â€œOnward anyway,” I said. “Then will you leave me in peace for the rest of the weekend?”
    Mrs. Parnell said. “We’d better synchronize our watches. The first mass launch is this evening.”
    â€œWait a minute. I still have to shower and eat and walk the dog, which Alvin should really be looking after, and feed the cat, which I believe is yours, Mrs. Parnell.”
    â€œYou know my new landlord won’t let me keep Gussie,” Alvin said.
    I figured Gussie’s habit of stealing food and non-food objects, such as carrots, candles, smoked salmon, chewing gum and the subsequent impact on the dog’s digestion had figured into the landlord’s decision.
    Mrs. Parnell seemed ready for any objection. “The initial launch is going to be spectacular. We’d like a record of that. And as you are aware, the feline terrifies poor Lester and Pierre.”
    I heard a small but evil shriek of agreement from the lovebirds’ cage.
    â€œWhatever. The weekend traffic to Gatineau is going to be hellish.”
    â€œWe’ll head over now,” Mrs. Parnell