Karen Anne Golden - The Cats That 03 - The Cats That Told a Fortune (9 page)

“Hi, Colleen
,” he said cheerfully.  Colleen took him by the arm and said, “I’ve got to show you something that’s really cool!”  She then led him upstairs.  When Daryl turned on the first stairwell landing, he gave Jake a look of curious wonderment.

Jake winked.  Katherine nudged him in the ribs.  Then Cokey and Margie entered, holding hands. 

“Look at you two,” Katherine teased. 

Margie said, “Yep,
kiddo, tonight is date night.  The kids are at grandpa and grandma Cokenberger’s, being spoiled rotten.”  Margie hugged Katherine, “Gee, you’ve really decorated up the place.  Good show!” she complimented.  “All this really goes with the gargoyles out front.”

“Come in the living room,” Jake directed. 

Cokey asked Jake, “Where’s the cats?”

“Oh, Katz locked them upstairs.  With people coming in and out, she didn’t want them to get out.”

The doorbell sounded “You rang?”  Katherine hurried to open it.  It was her two students, Michelle and Glen, on their first date. 

Michelle said, “I think the library
needs an Addams Family doorbell.  Kids would love it.”

Glen reached over and hugged Katherine and kissed her cheek.  Katherine thought it was a little too friendly, and was speechless for a moment.  She finally said, “Please come into the living room.  We’ve got the bar set up there.”

As they walked in, Katherine observed a pretty young girl with dark hair pulled back in a ponytail; she was passing out appetizers.  Glen made a beeline for her and said, “Hey, Tiffany, I didn’t know you were working here tonight.”  He gave the young woman a big hug, and she nearly dropped the tray.  He then used the most cheesy chat-up line of the century:  “If I told you that you had a nice body, would you hold it against me?”  The young woman’s face turned beet-red, and she moved away.  But Glen followed her, totally ignoring his date.

Colleen and Daryl walked in.  Colleen was smiling.  Daryl joined Jake and Cokey, who were loading up on the puffy cheese pastries.  Katherine advised, “Beware!  They explode at will
.”  She pointed at the wet stain on her blouse.

Katherine whispered to Colleen, “What gives?  What did you have to show Daryl?”

“My spirit hunting equipment.  Last night at the fish fry, he said he was interested.  Later, we’re going to explore the attic.”

“But what about the bats up there?”
Katherine reminded.

“I’ll let Daryl handle that part of it,” Colleen smirked. 

“Just make sure when you conjure up a ghost, you tell it to leave when you’re finished with it.  Oh, and keep the attic door closed,” Katherine advised.

Katherine stepped over to the front turret wind
ow and looked for Misha’s motorhome.  He still hadn’t arrived.  He was very late.  Since he was the entertainment for the cocktail hour, Katherine searched for the party planner and found her in the kitchen.  She was exchanging recipes with Vicky. 

“Mary,” Katherine interrupted.  “Where’s Misha?”

“Oh, I just talked to him.  He’s almost here.”

“Great!  Could you meet him at the door and tell him to come to the living room and start his gig
?” Katherine directed.  “You did remind him we weren’t doing the pickpocket part until I’d okayed it with the guests?”

“Oh, yes,
” Mary assured her.

The doorbell rang.  Katherine started to answer it, but couldn’t resist another puffy cheese pastry, which once again exploded on the front of her blouse.  “Dammit!” she said. 

“Take this,” Vicky said, handing a damp rag to Katherine. “It’s got your name on it,” she said in jest.

“No, I’m going to take the back stairs and go up to my room and change.  The entire front of my blouse is wet.”  Katherine opened the kitchen stairwell door and ran up the rickety steps.  She walked to her great aunt’s old bedroom, which she
had converted into a dressing room.  She changed into another blouse and then walked back down to join the party.  By the time she got to the living room, Misha had arrived and all hell had broken loose. 

Daryl had Misha in a chokehold.  When Misha saw Katherine, he gasped in a hoarse voice, “
Katsee … help?”

“Oh, my
gawd!” Katherine yelled.  “Daryl, please let him go.”

Daryl protested.  “He stole my wallet!”

Katherine tried to explain.  “It’s part of his close-up magic.  I’m so sorry.” 

Daryl released his grasp.  Misha brushed the front of his purple velvet jacket more out of embarrassment than if any bodily harm had been done. 

Katherine began to explain, “Misha didn’t read the memo about not doing this act until I’d talked to you all about it.  We’re going to have a scavenger’s hunt.  The person who finds the most items will win a gift card worth fifty bucks.”

“
Yay,” Michelle said.  Glen was at her side, but he was still eyeing Tiffany. 

Katherine said to Misha, “Did you pickpocket anyone else?”

Misha wore a guilty expression and put his hands in his roomy pockets.  Extracting stolen objects with both hands, he placed them in a large Imari bowl nearby on the marble-top coffee table.  He drew out a rabbit’s foot, a gold bracelet, a USB thumb drive, a hair clippy, a set of keys, a calculator, a Claddagh ring, a diamond ring, and Lilac’s bear. 

The guest
s began talking a mile a minute. 

“Hey, give me
Hewie back,” Wayne demanded, as he pointed at his calculator.  Leslie piped in, “That’s my hair thingy.”

Cokey said, “That’s my rabbit’s foot!”  Margie added, “I’ll need those keys!”

“The thumb drive is mine,” Michelle said, giggling.  “How did you do it?  It’s amazing.  I didn’t feel a thing.”

Katherine said, “I had Lilac’s bear in my pocket.  Misha, she’ll want it back.”

“That’s my Claddagh ring,” Colleen accused.  “My Aunt Eileen gave it to me.”

Jake moved over to the Imari bowl.  “The diamond ring is mine.”  He fished the ring out and swiftly put it in his pocket. 

Katherine gave Jake a curious look, but he only smiled.  Glen started to step forward but Katherine darted ahead of him.  She snatched the bear out of the bowl and put it back in her pocket.  Then, she announced to the group, “These were the items to be hidden in the scavenger hunt.  My party planner was going to create a map of where the items would be hidden in the house.  After dinner we were going to search for them, but – ”

Cokey interrupted, “Sounds like fun, as long as we get our stuff back.”

“Definitely,” Katherine assured him, as she wondered why on earth she’d thought the scavenger hunt would be a fun idea.

Margie clapped her hands.  “I want to win the gift card!”

Daryl said in a firm voice to Misha, “My wallet isn’t part of the game.  Hand it over.”

Misha slowly handed it to the deputy.  Daryl searched its contents to make sure everything was there.

Tiffany walked in carrying another tray of appetizers.  The group gathered around her.  Michelle moved to Frank’s station for another cocktail, while Glen hung around Tiffany. 

Katherine picked up the Imari bowl and headed to the back office.  Misha followed her and apologized, “
Katsee, so sorry.  Got confoosed.”

“No problem,” Katherine answered, but wondered if he’d been confused or not.  Maybe he’d been ripping off guests and Mary didn’t know anything about it.

Mary was at the keyboard typing instructions; she was completely oblivious as to what had just transpired.  She asked Misha, “How many items did you snatch?”  Then noticing Katherine, “Oh, hi, Katz.”

Katherine handed her the Imari bowl with the stolen items in it.

“Seven stay,” Misha said in his thick Russian accent.

“Okay, I’ll make up seven envelopes.”

Katherine said, “I’ll leave you two to do your thing.  Oh, and Misha, word of advice, don’t go near Daryl again.”

“Da,
Katsee,” Misha said rubbing the back of his neck.

Katherine went into the kitchen.  Vicky said, “We just unloaded the van.  Dinner can be served at any moment.”

“Was that the last of the appetizers?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, we’ll probably sit down to dinner in ten minutes.  Thanks.” Katherine started to leave and then walked back. “Vicky, not that I’m being nosy or anything, but Glen seems to be paying loads of attention to Tiffany.  He’s Michelle’s date, but he can’t take his eyes off Tiffany.”

Vicky put her hand on her hip and said matter-of-factly,
“Glen hits on
all
the gals who work at the Hotel.  Tiffany’s engaged to a student at the university.  She’ll be helping me in the kitchen, if that’s okay with you.”

“Oh, that’s fine,” Katherine said evasively.  She didn’t want the rest of the evening spoiled for Michelle by her flirtatious date-from-hell.

“Frank will take Tiffany’s place and serve.  By the way, do you know who Tiffany’s uncle is?”

“No, who?”
Katherine asked.

“She’s Chief London’s niece. 
His brother’s daughter.”

“That’s good to know,” Katherine said.  “I really appreciate your helping out tonight.” 

“We aim to please,” Vicky said. “Oh, a question.  Is it all right if we leave through the basement?  I thought after we’d cleared the table and washed the dishes, the three of us would leave.  Frank’s doing the eleven-to-seven shift at the diner.  Don’t know what Tiffany’s doing, but I’m all tuckered out.”

“Sure, that’s fine.”

*              *              *

As the guests left the party, each expressed thanks and said how much fun they had.  Jake stood next to Katherine at the front door.  The scavenger hunt had been a huge success, but no matter how much
the guests searched the pink mansion, following Mary’s precise map, they couldn’t find the last item.  Katherine tried to call the party planner for more information, but she wasn’t picking up, so she left a voice mail.  She’d look for the seventh envelope later and return it to its rightful owner tomorrow.  The guests counted the items they’d found.  Michelle discovered the most and was the happy winner. She quickly pocketed her fifty dollar gift card.  Then the guests exchanged items until each had his or her own.  Cokey thought it was a hoot that his old rabbit’s foot was lifted by the magician, but Margie wasn’t amused.  She said she was concerned because the key belonged to the yellow brick house next door.  But it all turned out as just old-fashioned fun.  While Michelle headed for the door, Daryl and Colleen were exchanging email addresses.  Katherine said to Michelle, “Sorry about Glen having to run out.”

“Me, too,” Michelle said.  “Some date.  He got sick right after dinner.  Hope he’s going to be okay.  He promised to call me tomorrow,” then she whispered, “I hope he doesn’t.  Did you see the way he was hitting on Tiffany?”

“Sorry to say,” Katherine sympathized.  “See you Monday.”

Michelle walked to the door. “Thanks for inviting me.  I had a fun time,” she said as she left.

Daryl came over and hugged Katherine.  He said, “It was fun. I had a great time.”  Then he whispered in Katherine’s ear, “Jake is lucky to have found you.”  He then smiled a big Cokenberger grin and left.  He called back to Jake, “See you tomorrow.”

“Sure thing,” Jake said,
then to Katherine, “Daryl is coming out to my place to help with the leaves.  It’s a mess out there.  If you’re not doing anything, why don’t you bring Colleen.  I bet she’s never seen a Hoosier windmill.”

“Sounds like a great idea.”

Wayne and Leslie walked out together, saying that they had a fun time.  “I nearly had a heart attack when that magician stole Hewie,” Wayne said, patting his front T-shirt pocket.  “Hey, next time you have a scavenger hunt, let me know in advance so I can bring my detector.”  Leslie poked him in the arm and they left, heading for Wayne’s car. 

Colleen excused herself and said she was heading upstairs.  She said to Jake, “I couldn’t help but overhear, and I can help rake leaves.”

“Cool, then it’s a done deal,” Jake said with a smile.

Colleen walked upstairs singing the Irish folkso
ng.  “And, he won the heart of a lady … .”

Jake took Katherine in his arms and kissed her tenderly.  “The party was a huge success. 
I give it five stars.  I think everyone had a great time.  I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said, opening the door and leaving. 

Chapter Seven

Katherine stood at the door and fondly watched Jake get in his Jeep and drive away.  She had just engaged the thumb turn on the deadbolt when Colleen flew down the stairs.

“Katz, there’s something wrong with the cats.  They’re making all sorts of noise.”

“What’s going on?  I can hear them,” Katherine tensely answered.  She lunged up the stairs with Colleen close behind. 

Standing outside the bedroom door, Katherine and Colleen could hear the cats shrieking inside; the caterwauling was deafening.  Katherine hurriedly turned the key and opened the door.  Scout and Abra shot out and thundered down the hall.  Abby was on top of the headboard pediment, cowering.  Her tail was three times its normal size.  “Chirp,” she peeped in a frightened tone. 

“What the hell?” Katherine said, then gasped.  “Oh, my God!  The window’s open.”  Katherine rushed over and closed it.

“Oh, for the love of Mary,” Colleen said, shocked. 

“We’ve got to find Iris and Lilac.”  Katherine fell to her knees and peered under the renaissance-revival bed.  “Colleen, hand me that flashlight hanging on the door.”

Colleen found the light and turned it on.  Handing it to Katherine, she said, “They’re probably in the bed lining like that
time at the hotel in Pennsylvania.”

“Come here, babies,” Katherine said in a calming voice.  “Where are you, my darlings?”

Lilac flew out from under the bed and leaped into Katherine’s arms.  “Me-yowl,” she cried nervously. 

Katherine held her close. “It’s okay, sweet girl.  Calm down.  It’s okay.  Where’s Iris?” 

Lilac continued me-yowling in a shrill Siamese voice.  When Abby jumped down from the headboard, Colleen quickly picked her up. 

“Let’s move them to the front of the hall and put them in my great aunt’s old bedroom,” Katherine said.  “When we catch Scout an
d Abra, we’ll put them in there too.”

“But where’s Iris?” Colleen asked worriedly, holding Abby securely while following Katherine down the hall. 

“I’m praying she’s in the bed lining.  The worst case scenario, she dove out the bedroom window.  She could be out there right now on the damned carport roof.”

Katherine opened the front bedroom door and gently put Lilac down.  Colleen set Abby down next
to her.  Shutting the door, Katherine raced back to her bedroom, calling Iris’s name in a soft tone. 

Colleen rushed after her and said, “Katz, I don’t want to freak you out, but why would the window be
open?  It’s on the second story.”

Katherine didn’t answer, but opened the window again and shone the flashlight around the perimeter.  “I’m going to climb out there.”

“What?  No way!” Colleen said uneasily.

“Grab that small step ladder behind the door.”

Colleen found the ladder and handed it to Katherine.  Katherine took the ladder, passed it through the window opening, and opened its legs.  She placed it on the metal roof of the carport.  She then heaved herself through the window opening, one leg at a time, and stepped down to the flat roof.

Colleen worried.  “But isn’t it dangerous?  What if you fall?”

“Not likely.  This once was a sleeping porch,” Katherine explained.  “Years ago someone replaced the door with a window.  Now it’s just the carport roof.”  Katherine beamed the flashlight along the wood balusters.  “Colleen, Margie’s been painting these, so I unlocked the window so she could climb in to use the bathroom.”  She carefully walked to the center of the metal roof.

Colleen leaned out.  “Do you think Margie left the window open?”

“It was shut when I put the kids in here, but I don’t remember locking it.  I guess I was just too wrapped up in the party.”

Katherine took one last look outside and then saw a folded envelope immediately underneath the window.  “What the hell,” she said.  Reaching down to pick it up, she was startled to see it was the missing scavenger hunt envelope
.  The number seven was written in bold on front. 

Wondering how the envelope wound up in such a strange place, she thrust it in her pocket. 
Climbing back into the room, Katherine said, “She’s got to be under the bed.  I’ll check again.”  She fell to her knees and shone the light back-and-forth underneath, as well as along the perimeter.  “Miss Siam, it’s okay.  You can come out now,” she coaxed.  “Treat!  Treat!” she called, to no avail.

Colleen asked, “Why did you leave so much money on the dresser?  There’s quite a bit of cash sitting there.”

“What do you mean?” Katherine said, getting back up and moving to the dresser.

“Look,
it’s hundred dollar bills,” Colleen said, handing the money to Katherine.

“I didn’t put it there,” Katherine said apprehensively.  “What’s this?” she asked, picking up a nearby party invitation.  “I didn’t put that there, either.”  Inside someone had drawn a cartoon outline
of a Siamese with a smiley face below it.  A thousand thoughts flashed through Katherine’s mind.  She remembered the front porch incident with Barbie and her brother, Bobby, discussing Scout and Abra in the window.  She could hear Barbie’s voice in the classroom, “How much would they sell for?”

“No-o-o-o,” Katherine screamed
.  “I think that freaking Barbie woman stole Iris.” 

Colleen opened the invitation and read it.  She looked at Katherine skeptically.  “Katz, why would you think that from a cat drawing and a smiley face?”

“I know it’s her.  I’ve got to call Chief London,” Katherine said as a tear slid down her cheek.  She yanked out her cell, scrolled down her contacts list, then tapped on the chief’s number. It rang and rang and then went into voice mail.  “Chief, it’s Katz Kendall.  Someone broke into my house and stole my cat.  Please call me as soon as possible.” 

Colleen was standing close to the door.  She was startled when Scout and Abra came back in, brushing past her. 

Scout sprang from the windowsill to the dresser and began licking the glossy photo front of the invitation.  “Gimme that,” Katherine said, snatching it away from her and tossing it in the top drawer.  She picked up her resident drug addict and gently hugged her.  “Scout, if only you could talk and tell me who took Iris.”

“Ma-waugh,” Scout cried at the mention of Iris’s name.
 

Abra jumped
and walked across the bed, leaving a trail of bloody paw prints on the white comforter.  “Katz, she’s got blood on her paws!”

Katherine didn’t hesitate.  “I’ve got to check both of them to make sure they’re not hurt.”  Katherine picked up Abra, who trembled and collapsed against her.  “Raw,” she cried.  Katherine
hurried to the bathroom and set Abra on the counter.  She examined her, but found no cuts or wounds.  Then, Katherine spread one of Abra’s front paws and noticed that two of her claws were broken to the quick.  Katherine called to Colleen, who was still in the bedroom.  “Could you come in here and grab something for me?”

“Sure. 
Where?” Colleen asked, hurrying in.

Still holding Abra, Katherine pointed with her nose. 
“Top drawer on the left.  There’s a plastic box with cotton swabs in it.  There’s a cat on the label.”

Colleen opened the drawer and removed the container.  “What do I do now?” Colleen asked, grimacing when she saw Abra’s broken claws. 
“Oh, you poor darlin’.”

“Take out a swab and flick it.  It’s got antiseptic in it.  I’m going to hunker over Abra and put some of that stuff on her broken claws.”

“But Katz, that might hurt like hell,” she said with concern.

“I know.  I can’t help it.  I don’t want her to get an infection.”

Colleen snapped the swab and handed it to Katherine.

Abra was a wonderful patient because she didn’t move, flinch or struggle while Katherine applied the antiseptic.  “You’re such a good girl,” Katherine cooed, kissing the Siamese on the head.

“Raw,” Abra said sweetly, then escaped Katherine’s arms and sprang to the floor.  Surprised, Katherine said, “Dammit!  I was going to put her in with the other cats.”  They could hear Abra scamper down the hall.  “Scout, your turn.”  Scout didn’t want any part of it and chased after her feline sister. 

“This is really gross, Colleen, but I think I saw bits of human skin in-between Abra’s claws.  I’m
banking whoever took Iris suffered some pretty deep scratches.”

“Katz, forget about the chief returning your call.  Let’s just call 9-1-1.  We can tell the police your suspicion.  Maybe the Erie police can check the local hospital to find out if anyone came in with animal wounds.
  It’s worth a try.”

“It had to have been Barbie
.  And her brother, Bobby, probably helped her,” Katherine accused.

“How did they get up here?” Colleen asked.

“That damn scaffolding is still set up.  They climbed up to the carport roof, then just opened the window.  Now I’m worried about how they carried Iris down.”  Katherine brought her hand up to stifle a sob.

“Oh, Katz,” Colleen said, moving over.  She put her arm around her shoulder.  “We’ll find her.”

Katherine cried, “Have you ever climbed scaffolding?  It takes two hands.  How could she hold a Siamese as feisty as Iris and climb down at the same time?  It’s impossible!”

Colleen shook her head and said in a low voice, “Katz, maybe that Russian guy stole her.  You’ve
gotta remember.  He
really
liked her.”

Katz looked up, startled.  “Remember when I first met him and he kept trying to buy things from me? ‘Make a
bizz-ness,’ he kept saying.  I guess he did make a business because he left money on the dresser.”  Counting it, Katherine said, “It’s the three hundred dollars I paid him for his gig.”

Colleen got up and grabbed her cell phone.  She dialed 9-1-1.  The Erie dispatcher picked up immediately.

“9-1-1.  What’s your emergency?” the woman asked.

“I want to report a burglary or maybe a home invasion. 
Katherine Kendall’s house.  Yes, yes.  The pink one on Lincoln Street.  Okay, we will.”  Colleen ended the call.  “We’re supposed to stay put until the police come.”

“Okay,” Katherine said, fishing out her cell
and calling Jake.  He answered right away.

“Jake, can you come back?  Something terrible has happened.  Someone climbed the scaffolding and broke into my bedroom where the cats were.  They’ve taken Iris,” Katherine said
, her voice breaking.  “Colleen just called the police.”

“Who the hell would do such a thing?  Katz, I’m literally stuck in traffic.  I’m just a few miles from the turn off road to my house.  There’s some sort of police action going on up ahead.  Flashing lights everywhere.  It’s probably another
bust at the Sanders trailer court.  I’m going to put the Jeep in four-wheel drive and take the shoulder.  Maybe that way I can get out of this jam and head back to the mansion.  Hang on a minute while I do that.”  There was a pause, then Jake came back on and said firmly, “Katz, lock the door to the room you’re in and stay there until the police get there.  Usually, burglaries involve two or more people working together.  Someone else might still be in the house.”

“I can’t,” Katherine cried.  “Scout and Abra are loose.  Lilac and Abby are in another room.”

“Then you need to get Colleen and the cats and get the hell out of the house.  Go to the bungalow.  I’ll try my best to get there as soon as possible.”  He hung up. 

“What’s going on?” Colleen asked anxiously.

“Jake wants us to get out of the house.”

“But what about the police?
  They’re coming.”

“Colleen, it’s a small town.  Jake said there’s some kind of police action.  He’s stuck in traffic. 
That means the chief and officers are tied up with that.  He wants us to go to the bungalow.”

Scout and Abra were outside the door, growling and hissing.

Katherine and Colleen both heard a floorboard creak in the hall.  Colleen brought her hand up to block a scream.  Katherine lunged for the tall armoire and opened a drawer to her gun safe.  She touched the keypad and then yanked out a Glock.  Flipping the safety off, she ran into the hall.  A man or woman – she couldn’t tell which – was turning toward the stairwell.  Dressed in black, complete with pulled up hoodie, the figure was chased by Scout and Abra. 

“Stop right
there,” Katherine shouted. “Or I’ll shoot you dead!” she threatened.

The intruder ran down the stairs, taking four or five steps at a time.  Katherine was close behind, but wasn’t fast enough to see who it was, or to catch up. 
The trespasser fumbled for the door lock, found it, and ran out the front door.  When Katherine got to the foot of the stairs, she could see Abra dash to the back office; her tail was puffed up.  Scout flew out the opened front door with Katherine chasing her.  The person in the hoodie had vanished into the night. 

Katherine was terrified that Scout would run out into the street, but Scout stopped on the sidewalk just in front of where
Misha’s motorhome had been parked during the party.  She began swaying back and forth.