Purr M for Murder Read online

  Will picked up the note gingerly and turned it over. “Are these teeth marks? What were you doing? Chewing on it?”

  “Ah, no. Not me. A cat.”

  He cocked a brow at me. “A cat? Littleton kept a cat in the shop?”

  “No, I don’t think so. I think it might have been a stray that got in somehow.”

  Will squinted at the note. “The writing’s cramped, and the note’s kinda soggy. Hard to read what’s here.”

  “Do you think you can get prints off of it? Or DNA?”

  “Doubtful.” He folded it carefully and slid it into his pocket. “It’s probably nothing, but I’ll check it out.”

  He started to move forward, but my hand shot out, pressed against his chest. “You won’t tell your partner, will you?”

  He stared deeply into my eyes for a few seconds, then gave his head a quick shake. “Somehow, Syd, I don’t think a soggy note was the sort of thing Bennington had in mind. No, this is just between us.” His lips parted in a smile. “Your secret’s safe with me.”

  * * *

  Kat rang my bell promptly at seven. She stepped inside, and her eyebrows rose as she saw the pizza box on the living room coffee table. “That’s the best you could do?” she said.

  “It’s a long story.” I waited until Kat had seated herself on the sofa, then I plunked myself down next to her and cut right to the chase. Fixing her with a stern look, I said, “I knew you were holding something back. Why didn’t you tell me that Littleton owned the shelter building?”

  My sister paused, a slice of pepperoni and onion halfway to her lips. Her face paled slightly. “You found out, huh? How?”

  “Natalie told me earlier. She also told me he wanted to raise everyone’s rent 30 percent—and that included the shelter.”

  Kat slid the slice onto a paper plate and set it on the table. “I didn’t mention it because it wasn’t a done deal yet. He’d approached the mayor a while ago, said that he was considering doing that and wanted to give everyone fair warning.” Her gaze was troubled. “I won’t lie—if he’d decided to increase the rent 30 percent, there’s no way we could have kept the shelter going without a large injection of funding. That’s why I’ve been trying so hard to get more donors.” She worried her lower lip. “Frankly, I was hoping the whole thing might blow over.” She sighed. “If you found out all this, then I suppose Will and that horrible Bennington can too. And it won’t make me look good, will it?”

  “Probably not.” I picked up one of the throw pillows and started to toy with the tassel on its end. “Did Littleton say why he wanted to raise everyone’s rent?”

  “The usual—expenses, taxes, we’ve had that dirt-cheap rent forever, yada yada. We figure the real reason was that his lovely wife was bleeding him dry, and he was using any means he could to recoup some of his losses.”

  “Hmm. That tallies with what Devon said,” I murmured.

  “Devon McIntyre? You talked to her?”

  “Oh, yeah.” I tossed the pillow off to one side. “Did you know that Devon and Littleton were—ah—a little more than just landlord and tenant?”

  Both Kat’s eyebrows went straight up. “She admitted it? Wow! I mean, we all suspected for some time, but . . .” Her face arranged itself into a frown, and she perched herself on the edge of the coffee table across from me. “Just what happened tonight? You said it was a long story.”

  I sighed. “Yes. First, let me apologize for the pizza. I’d planned on fish and chips originally, but by the time Will drove me back to the shelter to get my car—”

  “Whoa!” Kat held up one hand. “Will, huh? And just what were you doing with Will? Reinvestigating the scene of the crime?”

  “Something like that. I’ll tell you everything, but let’s eat first. Suddenly I’m famished.”

  In between bites of pizza and sips of sweet tea, I recounted the evening’s adventures. When I finished, Kat gave a sigh and regarded me with narrowed eyes. “My, you have had a busy night. You’re not planning to keep on doing this, are you?”

  I set down my glass of sweet tea and reached for my third slice of pizza. “I’m sorry. I’m not sure what you mean.”

  “Oh, yes you do. You’re planning to investigate Littleton’s death on your own, aren’t you?”

  “Who, me?” I turned my finger inward and pointed at myself. “Would I do anything like that?”

  “Yes, you would. I know how much you love a good puzzle and how much you always wanted to be a PI . . .”

  “Actually, I wanted to be a homicide detective, but that’s neither here nor there. You know me well, sister dear.”

  “Darn straight I do. And I always promised Mom I’d try to keep you out of trouble. That’s why I want you to promise me that you’ll stay out of it and leave it to the police.”

  “Oh, really,” I sat back and rolled my eyes. “It’s not like I’m going to go out and deliberately confront a murderer. What I want to do is try to get us out of the spotlight Bennington’s got us in—especially you.”

  “And I appreciate the gesture, but your safety comes first. Please, Syd.”

  “Okay, fine. I promise.” At her black look, I thrust out both my hands and waved them under her nose. “Satisfied?”

  Kat set the spoon down and shook her fist at me. “I’m serious, Syd.”

  “So am I. I promise—no investigating.”

  And thank God I was sitting down, so she couldn’t see I had my ankles crossed.

  Chapter Eight

  The rest of the week passed rather uneventfully—thank God! Saturday morning found us at Dayna’s Sweets and Treats bright and early, cats in tow. Kat and I helped Maggie, Viola, and Sissy set up the cages in the pop-up café. There were eight cats in all—besides Toby and Karma the Siamese, there was Jinx, a black female with the greenest eyes I’d ever seen; Elmo, a black-and-white male who had a meow like a locomotive; Pumpkin, a ginger female; Magnolia Blossom, a beautiful calico; and Ralphie and Norton, brothers who’d been named after the characters in The Honeymooners. It was easy to see why: Ralphie was a gray cat definitely on the tubby side—a decided contrast from his brother, Norton, a gray-and-white who had a much more slender physique.

  “We’d really like to see Ralphie and Norton adopted together, if possible,” Maggie said as I helped her arrange the brothers’ cage near the jungle gym. “Of course, it’s not a requirement, but they’ve been together since birth, and they absolutely love each other. I’d hate to see them separated.”

  I peered inside the cage. Ralphie had Norton in a headlock and was sinking his teeth into the other cat’s neck. Norton had his eyes closed and actually looked as if he were enjoying this. “Is Ralphie part vampire?” I joked.

  Maggie gave a soft chuckle. “It looks a lot worse than it actually is. That’s how they play.” She gave my elbow a soft nudge. “Your favorite has deigned to make an appearance today, by the way.”

  My gaze strayed over to Toby’s cage, all the way at the other end of the room. Toby sat in the corner, his paws folded beneath him. He appeared to be studying the other cats. I walked over to his cage and stood looking at him.

  “I wonder if he gets lonely,” I murmured. I hadn’t realized I’d spoken aloud until Viola laid a hand on my arm.

  “Cats are basically solitary creatures,” she said, her hands running down the sides of the printed maxi dress she wore. “I doubt they’re ever really lonely.”

  “Oh, I know that,” I answered. “But Maggie said that Toby sometimes wanders away. I thought maybe it was because he might be . . . searching for companionship? A nice female cat, maybe?”

  “Either that or he’s just a tom with wanderlust in his DNA. Maggie likes to say he’s searching for that perfect human, but to be honest, I think she’s romanticizing. It’s just hormones kicking in.”

  “Oh,” I said. I couldn’t keep the disappointment out of my tone. “To be honest, I kinda like Maggie’s version better.”

  Viola ran a hand through her short crop of l
ight-brown hair. “Who knows? Maybe she’s right. One day he’ll get paired with just the right human, and then his vagabond days will be over.”

  Toby rolled over on his side and stretched out his long forepaws. “So he’s pretty social, then?” I asked.

  “He hasn’t bitten anybody yet,” Viola laughed. “Cat, dog, or human.”

  “Maggie did say he was good at discouraging potential adoptees.”

  “That he is. One woman was nuts over him, but every time she went to touch him, he’d hiss, and all the fur on his tail would stand on end. Another young couple with a baby took a liking to him, but he went and jumped on top of one of the newborn kittens, and the woman was afraid he might do that to the baby.” Viola shook her head. “It’s like he knows just what buttons to push. Spooky. And as far as interacting with the other cats . . .” She inclined her head toward Toby. “Don’t worry, he gets in plenty of playtime with them. Not so much the other males as the females. He’s quite the ladies’ man. He loves to chase the girls around the playroom at the shelter.”

  Viola moved off, and I walked over to the cage, knelt down, and wiggled my fingers through the slats of the cage. “Hey there, little man. I hear you like the ladies.”

  Toby lifted his head and fixed his green stare directly on me. A loud purr rumbled deep in his throat.

  I leaned in closer. “Do you like me, Toby? Because I definitely like you.”

  Toby cocked his head.

  “I think you do like me,” I whispered. “I saw you outside the shelter window one night, and I’m pretty sure it was you in Littleton’s office the other day. How did you get in there, and where did you find that note? I wish you could talk and tell me.”

  The cat rose, stretched, and ambled over to where my face was pressed up against the cage. He sat down right in front of me and cocked his head to one side. And blinked those wide green eyes twice.

  I felt a tap on my shoulder, and I looked up to meet Maggie’s gaze. Her eyes twinkled behind her glasses. “They say receiving a blink from a cat is like getting a kiss,” she said.

  “Mer-owww!” said Toby.

  Maggie shook her head. “Darned if that cat doesn’t understand English.” She brandished a stack of flyers. “I’m going to put these out on the entrance table. It’s almost time to start. Isn’t it exciting?”

  As Maggie and her crew hurried out to the front of the shop, I lagged behind. I looked around to be sure no one else was within earshot and then whispered to Toby, “You be good today—but not too good, okay? I think I might want to take you home with me.”

  Toby blinked twice, and the corners of his lips tipped up a tad. I wondered if he had indeed understood what I’d said.

  * * *

  The line outside Dayna’s shop for the cat café adoption event stretched around the block. Some were just curious, but others were genuinely interested in the cats and hopeful that their personalities would click. There was a separate line for the people interested in participating. They bought a separate ticket and paid the fee, which entitled them to a maximum of two hours inside the playroom. Kat and I had set up a small treat station in the far corner, where folks could purchase coffee, tea, and the human snacks that Dayna had put on the special menu. Maggie and Sissy were currently manning the station, which also included a section of edible cat treats and small toys that the patrons could use to entice the animals. Viola and Sophie, another volunteer, let the cats out of the cages and walked around the perimeter of the room to ensure that everything went smoothly. Within the first two hours, three of the cats had firm applications for adoption. Karma was the first to go, no surprise there. Edith Maxwell, the high school principal, fell in love with her at first sight. I was pleased to learn that Doug and Ida Charles had put in an application to adopt both Ralphie and Norton. Doug was a lawyer who’d just started a new practice, and Ida worked as a telemarketer out of their home. I had no doubt that they would all pass with flying colors. The other cats received their fair share of oohs and aahs, and the people loved playing with them while they noshed on pastries and fresh-brewed coffee and tea. Around noon, Leila stopped by and interviewed several of the volunteers and prospective “parents.” She glanced up and gave me a thumbs-up sign.

  I grinned at her as she passed me. “So I take it you approve of Toby as a roommate?” I asked.

  “Well, he certainly seems more docile than some of the humans I’ve dated recently,” she chuckled. “Handsomer, too. But seriously, Syd, I told you, if you want to adopt him, I’m cool with it. Just let me know so I can order that pet-hair attachment for the vacuum.”

  I made a face at her. “Very funny.” I glanced over toward the far wall. Toby was huddled against it, and two young girls were leaning over him, giggling and wiggling their fingers at him. Toby looked as if he could care less. He flopped over on his side, facing the wall. A few seconds later, the sound of loud snoring reached our ears.

  “That’s one way to discourage a potential adoption,” chucked Leila as the two girls turned toward some of the other cats roaming around. She shot me a mischievous grin. “Maybe he’s waiting for you, Syd. Go on over and see if he perks up.”

  I resisted the urge to stick my tongue out at my friend, but once she breezed out the door, I did amble over toward where Toby lay. I leaned down and wiggled my fingers at the supposedly sleeping cat.

  “Hey Toby,” I said. “Is Leila right? Are you waiting for me?”

  Toby’s tail suddenly flicked to and fro, and he twisted his head slightly so that he was facing me. Then he opened his eyes and blinked twice.

  “Two kisses,” I laughed. “Maybe you were playing possum after all.”

  “Looks like our rogue cat has his eye on you.”

  I jumped and whirled around to see my sister standing behind me. She grinned. “Isn’t it great, though? Everyone seems to love this event, and the cats are going like wildfire. I think we should have brought more.”

  “We’ll know for next time,” I said. “There will be a next time, right?”

  “I think so. The seating area outside in the café is full, and Dayna’s got a long line. She had to pull Sissy back outside to help out.” She glanced over at Toby, who was now sitting up. “He’d certainly make a good mouser,” she said. “But how do you feel about his habit of wandering?”

  I shrugged. “Maybe if he were in his very own home, with his very own humans, cat bed, and toys, he might be persuaded to stick around.”

  “You could be right. Maybe you are that special human Maggie’s always talking about,” Kat laughed.

  I grinned at her. “From your lips to God’s ears.”

  * * *

  The afternoon passed swiftly. Dayna got really busy in the café, and her other part-timer called in sick, so I went over to lend a hand. By the time it slowed down enough for me to return to the playroom, a welcome sight greeted my eyes. All the tables we’d set up in there were still filled with people. I noticed that Magnolia Blossom was at one table with a gray-haired woman who was petting her soft fur and whispering to her and that Pumpkin was twining around the ankles of Mr. Petrie, the grammar school custodian who’d lost his wife two months ago. I walked up to Mr. Petrie’s table and smiled down at the man. “Looks as if you’ve found a friend.”

  He reached down to stroke Pumpkin’s head. “She’s a sweet little thing. I’ve been sorta lonely since Marjorie passed on. I thought—now don’t think I’m foolish or anything, but—I kinda thought maybe Marjorie led me here today. Maybe led me to this sweet girl.”

  “I’m sure she did. I think the two of you make a splendid pair.”

  He nodded in agreement, lifted his coffee cup to his lips. “That settles it. I’m going to fill out the application—just as soon as I finish this coffee and apple tart.”

  “Don’t wait too long,” I cautioned. “There’s still another hour left on the event. You don’t want someone else to put in an application for Pumpkin.”

  Mr. Petrie gulped down the last of his cof
fee, scraped back his chair, and swooped Pumpkin into his arms. “Absolutely not,” he said, then started striding toward the volunteer table. I looked around for Toby and finally saw him curled up in the far corner of the room. Viola was waving a catnip chili pepper at him. Toby appeared less than interested. I hurried over. “Everything okay?” I asked.

  Viola looked up with a smile. “Oh, yes. Just more of the usual.”

  “The usual?”

  Viola pointed to a young couple with a little girl at a table in the far corner. Jinx sat complacently in the little girl’s arms. “They took a shine to Toby—especially the little girl. But when she tried to pick him up, he hissed at her and smacked her with his tail! Then he took off for this corner and hasn’t budged since.”

  I looked over at Toby. Once again, he gave me a slow blink. Then he rose, stretched, and padded right over to me. He twined himself around my ankles, looked up with an almost beseeching look, and said, “Merow.”

  Viola shook her head. “Well, imagine that! He’s never done that before—not to any prospective owners, and certainly not to any of us volunteers.” She grinned at me. “You know, Syd, you must have something special.”

  “Maybe you’re right.” I exhaled a deep breath. “I’m going to do it, Viola. I’m going to fill out an application to adopt Toby.”

  I looked down at the cat. He met my gaze, then reared up on his hind legs and held out one paw.

  “Mer-oooow.”

  “Well, what do you know?” Viola called over to Maggie. “I think we finally have a winner in the Toby adoption sweepstakes.”

  * * *

  I filled out the required papers and wrote out a check for the deposit. Maggie tucked them into her portfolio. “I hope I qualify,” I said as Maggie snapped the portfolio shut.

  “Well, I can’t see why you won’t.” She inclined her head over toward Kat, who was talking with some people over by the door. “It’s not like you won’t have good references.”