“You just made that up," Anthony said.

"No, she actually did that one," Thomas said.

Carla stomped out into the living area.

“Okay, everyone of you wants to talk to Jessica Adler the war hero, but I want to talk to Jessica Adler, five-star chef and favorite guest of Iron Chef America. So back off!"

Jessica looked at each of her family members smugly.

“She asked for it," Heda muttered.

Edgar got a phone call and took into the other room while everyone else wandered in and out of the kitchen to retrieve baked goods and other snacks. When Ed returned, he looked somewhat perplexed.

“Gotta go," he said.

“We found that guy down in Albuquerque, but he's on a job so he can't come up here to talk. He found out we were looking for him and called up."

"That doesn't really sound like a suspect," Madison said, holding her arms and shivering a little.

"No, no it doesn't. As a matter of fact, he sounded really reasonable. I did ask him about the case, but he didn't want to talk long over the phone. He actually sounded pretty on the ball. Anyway, I need to get down there, but I shouldn't be gone more than a night.

I'll be back in town for the hearing."

"What hearing?" Thomas Adler asked.

“Madison's complaint against Alvin Hannity," Heda replied somberly.

“The Council is meeting tomorrow at four."

Madison snorted.

"Fat lot of good it'll do. Alvin already has his alibi bought and paid for."

"I want to go," Jessica shouted from the kitchen over the sound of a mixer.

‘When did we get a mixer?’ Heda thought.

"Why?"

Jessica appeared in the door.

“Because I believe you when you say that you saw what you saw in the woods," she said seriously.

"You may not exactly be a delicate flower in the way you handle people," she added dryly, "but I know you. My daughter is no liar, and I want them to know I'm there if they're going to make any accusations to that affect."

Heda tried hard to suppress the warm flush of pride she felt when her mother was done speaking.

"Mom, they're not going to accuse me of lying. They're just going to say that it could have been another bat-shifter who just so happens to have a group of friends made up of exactly those animals."