Musician's Quarrel
by Rebecca J. Garlock
JoJo the Monkey worked in Central Park with a short little guy who played songs for money. The funny thing was that people actually paid him. JoJo wasn't known for being a "great" guy. He had a habit of sneaking some of his owner/partner's money and spending it at a local pub. So, that's where Iggy headed first.
Iggy found JoJo dressed up in his costume with a cup in his hand. He appeared to have a hangover. The owner/partner was busy looking around at the people and playing his box, so Iggy had the perfect opportunity to question JoJo.
"Hey, JoJo. Name's Iguana. Iggy Iguana. Mind if I ask you a few questions?"
"Okay, but only if you don't talk so loud," the monkey answered. "I've got a humdinger of a headache."
"Were you in attendance at a party given by Big Kahuna a couple of nights ago?" asked Iggy.
JoJo turned hostile. "Yeah, what's it to you? Can't a guy go out once in a while? Oh." He moaned and clutched his head.
"Sure, JoJo, sure. I was just wondering if you knew the piano player. Sammy Squirrel."
"Maybe I do, maybe I don't. Why are you askin' me this?" JoJo waved his cup at Iggy.
"It's just that Sammy ended up on the other side if you know what I mean," Iggy told the monkey.
"I don't quite get your drift, Mac. What exactly are you gettin' at?"
"Sammy was murdered, JoJo. Somebody pulled the plug on him! Did you have anything to do with it?" Iggy pushed for answers.
"Alright, alright. So I knew Sammy. We were pals, why would I kill him?"
Iggy continued, "Oh, I don't know. Maybe you were jealous. He was a much better musician than you. He got all the nice gigs, had lots of money, a rich wife. He didn't have to work in the park for a living. Maybe you got tired of continuously being shown up by him? Didn't you have a fight with him that night at the party? Didn't you?"
"I didn't kill him! Yes, we did have an argument that night. It wasn't because I was jealous. I needed some cash because I was running low. Sammy didn't want to give it to me. He may have been a thief, but he didn't like the fact that I drank. Don't ask me. He was my friend, though. Maybe he was better than me. So? That didn't matter. He was the best pal I've ever had. No one else treated me so well. Now if you don't mind, I'd like to get back to work." JoJo crossed his arms and turned back to the little man with the musical box.
"Fine," Iggy turned away. "Well that didn't get me anywhere. Or did it? Hmmm. Maybe I should head over to Granny Tirtree's for some donut's. I'm hungry, and I need to think things over."
Iggy decides to