While Hercules and Owen ate, I sat at the table with a cup of coffee. I was having major second thoughts. Maybe I should wait until Ruby was out on bail, then get her to let me check the bag. But what if she doesn’t make bail? a voice in my head asked. Hercules finished his breakfast, walked over to the messenger bag I’d hung over one of the chairs the night before and gave it a swat with one paw. “No,” I said. He hit the bag again. I took it off the back of the chair and set it on the seat. “I’m happy you’ve decided to help,” I said. “I really am. But I can’t take you with me. How would I explain that to Rebecca?” He jumped, landing on the chair seat and sending the nylon bag to the floor. Then he turned and stared defiantly at me. “Oh, like that’s going to work.” I scooped the bag from the floor and set it on top of the fridge. I should have known he wasn’t going to give up easily. He hopped down and headed for the porch. “Where are you going?” I asked.
