Lilian Jackson Braun - Cat 17 Who Blew The Whistle

Qwilleran checked the definitions of hermaphrodite. It referred to a two-masted vessel, square-rigged forward, and schooner-rigged aft. It also referred to a vertebrate or invertebrate having male and female organs.

He read no further. He grabbed the telephone and called the police chief at home. "Andy! I've got a far-out idea!"

"Let's hear it - fast. My favorite program's just beginning."

"It's only a hunch, but it might help your colleagues in their womanhunt. First, it's a fact that Nella Hooper's name was shortened from Lionella. It's my guess that this person's name was really Lionel. The bloodhounds are hunting for a suspect of the wrong sex! Impersonating a woman was part of the scam. Now that Nella Hooper is on the wanted list, Lionel Hooper is probably growing a beard.... Now hang up and go back to the tube."

Qwilleran returned to the lounge area and sprawled on the sofa. The Siamese took up positions on the coffee table, where the day's last shaft of sunlight slanted in from a high window to warm their fur and make each guard-hair look like spun gold. It turned their whiskers into platinum. Yum Yum sat comfortably on her brisket like a regular cat. Koko sat taillike an ancient Egyptian deity.

"You've done it again, young man!" Qwilleran said with admiration. "You blew the whistle on the whole crew!"

Koko gazed at the man with a superior cast in his blue eyes, as if he were thinking, What fools these mortals be!

The End