Felines and Footprints

by Jinty James

  Lauren turned her shocked face to Mitch.

  “There’s no way she’s another Ms. Tobin,” Zoe muttered. “I hope she doesn’t come to the café again.”

  “Shh, Doris and Janice will hear you.” Lauren glanced at them, both staring after Virginia.

  “Stay here,” Mitch ordered, striding after Virginia and the officer.

  “Wow.” Zoe sunk into a nearby chair.

  “Yeah.” Lauren copied her.

  “Oh dear,” Doris’s hands fluttered. “Are you girls all right? Perhaps you’d like some coffee? There’s a pot in the kitchen.” She gestured to the room off the hall.

  “We’ll be okay,” Lauren told her.

  “It’s not our first dead body,” Zoe added.

  Doris flinched. So did Janice.

  “Sorry,” Zoe murmured.

  “Can we get you anything?” Lauren asked.

  “Yeah, what about that coffee?” Zoe half rose.

  “No, no, I’m fine. Janice? Do you want some?”

  “No, thanks.” Janice looked a little wan.

  “Nothing like this has ever happened before,” Doris continued.

  Virginia, followed by Mitch, entered the hall.

  “It’s Gavin.” She sat down abruptly, looking shaken.

  Lauren wondered if the supply priest was the first dead body she’d seen.

  “Poor man,” Virginia continued. “He said he’d try to pop into our scrapbook group today if he could.”

  “I’ll need to take your statements now,” Mitch told them.

  “What about us?” Zoe asked.

  “I’m sorry both of you had to wait around.” He turned to Lauren. “Go home, and I’ll call you tonight if I can.”

  “Okay.” She smiled reassuringly at him.

  “What about the cat food?” Zoe explained why they’d been there in the first place.

  “An officer will go with you, just to make sure you’ll be safe.”

  “Thanks.” Lauren wished she could reach up and kiss him on the cheek, but somehow didn’t dare with Virginia’s disapproving gaze on her.

  They followed the officer out of the hall. When they reached the parsonage next door, Zoe told him not to look while she fetched the spare key.

  The officer looked amused but didn’t turn his gaze.

  “Well, don’t tell anyone where it is,” Zoe said in exasperation, unlocking the front door.

  “I won’t,” he assured her. “Unless my boss needs to know.”

  “I guess that’s okay,” Zoe replied.

  Lauren shook her head, following her cousin inside to the kitchen.

  “Do you think this is enough?” Zoe scooped up six small cans of food.

  “Are you leaving some here for Father Mike when he returns home with Mrs. Snuggle?” Lauren checked.

  “Good point.” Zoe scanned the pantry. “Yes, there’s another six in here.”

  “Father Mike is well prepared.”

  “Maybe they were on sale so he stocked up.” Zoe thrust three cans at Lauren.

  They said goodbye to the officer and got into their car.

  “The officer probably checked your car for damage while we were inside the hall,” Zoe said.

  “Do you think so?” Lauren exited the car park, glad to be going home, yet wondering for an instant if any hit and run evidence would be found on her vehicle. It was ridiculous, but maybe she was still in shock over discovering Gavin.

  “That’s what they do on TV.”

  “I’m glad we have left-over cupcakes for dinner.” Lauren badly needed one – even two.

  “Definitely. By the time we’re through with them, there won’t be any left!”

  CHAPTER 6

  “I definitely need a mocha – or something,” Zoe announced when they arrived at the cottage.

  “Brrt?” Annie ran to greet them when they entered through the kitchen.

  “How is Mrs. Snuggle?” Lauren asked, not wanting to have to tell her fur baby about Gavin.

  “Brrp.” Annie gave a little pout.

  “Oh, no.” Zoe looked downcast. “You can tell her we brought some more food for her.”

  “And you have plenty in our own pantry,” Lauren assured the silver-gray tabby.

  “Brrt.” Good. She trotted to the living room, then returned a minute later.

  “I’m definitely making a mocha.” Lauren didn’t care if it was after six – or even seven – and the caffeine might keep her awake.

  “With lots of chocolate powder.” Zoe grinned for a second, then her face fell.

  “Brrt?” Annie jumped onto a kitchen chair and looked at them inquiringly.

  Lauren explained what had happened, glossing over the gruesome bits. There were some things Annie did not need to know.

  “So maybe we shouldn’t tell Mrs. Snuggle in detail,” Zoe added afterward. “She mightn’t be used to these sorts of things happening, the way we are.”

  “Unfortunately,” Lauren said with feeling.

  By now, she’d made the coffees, and the three of them sat at the table.

  “I wonder what Gavin was doing there,” Zoe mused after taking a sip. “Mmm. Good.”

  “Didn’t Virginia say he might stop by the scrapbooking?”

  “Martha wasn’t there. Huh. I wonder why not?”

  “I guess you’re going to ask her when you see her next.”

  “You bet.” Zoe nodded so vigorously, her brunette pixie bangs bounced against her forehead.

  “Brrt!” Me too!

  “Who could have done it?” Lauren let the warmth of her mocha fill her up – as much as a hot beverage could. She shivered as the scene flashed through her mind.

  “Brrp.” Annie nudged her arm.

  Lauren slowly stroked her, the velvety soft fur soothing against her fingertips. It was as if Annie could read her mind.

  “Someone who didn’t like him,” Zoe replied. “But he was only here for less than a week and only part-time.”

  “Didn’t he say he had his own parish in Zeke’s Ridge?”

  “That’s right.” Zoe snapped her fingers. “Maybe someone from there followed him and BAM!”

  Lauren shuddered, and looked pointedly at Annie.

  “Sorry,” Zoe said. She took a big sip. “Maybe we should have our cupcakes now.”

  “Good idea.” Lauren opened the cardboard box. “But perhaps I should check on Mrs. Snuggle first.”

  “Okay. I’ll make sure to leave you some.” Zoe winked, but it didn’t have her usual jauntiness.

  Mrs. Snuggle reposed once more on the pink sofa, her gaze fixed to the television screen. This time she watched a show about artists painting landscapes.

  “That looks interesting,” Lauren told her.

  Mrs. Snuggle grumbled something she didn’t quite catch.

  “I just wanted to make sure you were okay.” Lauren sat on the sofa, making sure there was plenty of space between them. She knew by now that the Persian didn’t like feeling crowded by them. “We picked up more of your favorite food from the parsonage, but an incident had occurred in the parking lot.”

  Mrs. Snuggle’s ears flickered.

  “Father Mike’s okay,” Lauren assured her. “He’s still in Miami at his church conference, and he’s coming back in two days. This incident happened to someone else. The police are going to handle it all. I just thought I should mention it to you, in case you hear us talking about it and wonder what’s going on.” She thought Zoe would be satisfied with her lack of detail.

  Due to Mrs. Snuggle’s non-response, Lauren felt a little silly. But she didn’t want the cat to worry, and she definitely didn’t want her to think something had happened to Father Mike.

  Returning to the kitchen, she sat back down at the table. Her eyes widened when she saw half the cupcakes had vanished.

  “Lemon meringue therapy,” Zoe mumbled, a speck of fluffy white meringue on her lip.

  The image reminded her of Molly the other day, enjoying the same treat, and Lauren smi
led.

  After fortifying herself with a cupcake, she felt a little better. When her phone rang, she was quick to answer it in case it was Mitch. It was.

  He gave her a brief update, and told her he was going to be working late that night but would stop by the café the next day. She ended the call, a little dazed.

  “What?” Zoe prompted.

  “It seems that Gavin’s car was used to run him over.”

  CHAPTER 7

  “Huh?” Zoe’s mouth parted.

  “I know. It sounds incredible. But Mitch just said that the keys were in the ignition and there was damage to the bumper. And—” she swallowed “—blood.”

  “Hmm.” Zoe thought for a moment. “What about fingerprints?”

  “Nothing yet. They’re going over the car but there’s nothing obvious yet.”

  “Maybe the killer wore gloves,” Zoe suggested.

  “Why would Gavin leave the keys in the ignition?”

  “Yeah, and what was he doing there, anyway? Unless he was going to visit the scrapbook group and the killer got to him before he could get to the hall.”

  They looked at each other.

  “Brrt?” Annie asked.

  “We don’t know who did it,” Lauren told her.

  “Is Mitch in charge of the case?”

  “For now.” Lauren nodded.

  “Oh, good. Then we won’t have to deal with horrible Detective Castern.”

  “I hope not.”

  “Maybe Mitch can solve it in record time,” Zoe said. “Otherwise, we can start sleuthing!”

  “Haven’t we got enough to do right now?” Lauren glanced toward the living room.

  “That’s right.” Zoe sobered. “We’re looking after Mrs. Snuggle.”

  “Brrt!”

  “You’re doing a wonderful job,” Lauren told her fur baby. “Maybe we should wait until Father Mike returns before we even think about what happened this afternoon.”

  “You know that’s not going to happen.”

  “Brrt!”

  THE NEXT MORNING, MARTHA was their first customer.

  “Did you hear what happened to Gavin?” She barreled into the café, pushing her rolling walker.

  “Yes,” Zoe called out.

  “Brrt!” Annie scampered up to her. She’d decided to help in the cafe this morning, and leave Mrs. Snuggle watching a fairytale romance.

  “Want a ride, cutie pie?” Martha winked at Annie.

  “Brrt!” She hopped onto the black vinyl seat of the walker, directing Martha to a table with a series of brrts. Martha pushing them forward slowly.

  “This one?” Martha stopped at a four-seater near the counter.

  “Brrp.” Yes.

  Annie jumped from the walker to one of the pine chairs.

  “How did you hear the news?” Lauren came over to them, Zoe beside her.

  “It’s all over the senior center already.” Martha sank into the chair. “How did you know about it?”

  “We found him.” Lauren’s tone was somber.

  “Oh.” Martha’s expression grew serious. “Sorry.”

  “Thanks.” Zoe nodded. “How come you weren’t at scrapbooking yesterday afternoon?”

  “Is that where it happened?”

  They briefly filled her in.

  “I was planning on going to scrapping,” Martha explained, “but I just didn’t feel up to it. I love catching up with Doris and Janice, but Virginia can be a bit of a pill at times.”

  “We’d noticed,” Zoe said.

  “She can be a real downer, and I didn’t feel like putting up with her. So I decided to stay home.”

  “That’s understandable,” Lauren remarked.

  “Janice is a real doll, just like you two – three.” Martha glanced at Annie, including her.

  “Brrt.” Thank you.

  “So is Doris. It’s a shame they have to live with Virginia.”

  “Why is that?” Zoe asked.

  Martha shrugged. “I’m not sure. But they arrived from Oregon several years ago and moved in with Virginia. I know I wouldn’t want to live with her.”

  “Maybe they’re used to her,” Lauren mused.

  “They’d have to be.” Martha shook herself. “Let’s not talk about Virginia. Did you know there’s a counterfeiter in town?”

  “Yes, and someone passed a fake twenty here,” Zoe told her.

  “Ooh, I hadn’t heard that.”

  “And at the handmade shop,” Lauren added.

  “Yeah. I’m going to buy some wool during my lunch break.”

  “I hope you didn’t lose much money.” Martha seemed to realize the effects of a fake bill.

  “We’ve already made it back with the lemon meringues,” Lauren replied.

  “I’ve got to get one. And my usual hot chocolate with lots of marshmallows.”

  Annie kept Martha company while they filled her order.

  “Do you think there’s enough marshmallows in here?” Lauren showed her cousin the large mug crammed with pink and white treats.

  “Oh, yeah.” Zoe grinned. “It looks so good I want one!”

  “Me too,” she replied ruefully. Too many sweet treats were not good – at least not for her.

  Lauren carried the hot chocolate over, with Zoe following with the cupcake.

  “Am I the only one here?” Martha glanced around the empty café.

  “For now. Ed is in the kitchen.”

  “Yeah, whipping up his yummy pastries.”

  He’d already made honeyed walnut and apple Danish that morning.

  Martha peered at her mug. “Lots of marshmallows – goody.” She took a big sip. “You girls make the best hot chocolate.” She flung out an arm, narrowly missing Lauren. “And everything else.”

  “Thanks.” Lauren smiled at her.

  “Brrt!”

  Soon, more customers entered, until the two of them were slammed with orders.

  Lauren was glad to see so many people, but hoped Mitch would stop by soon, and she’d get a chance to talk to him.

  Finally, there was a lull before lunch.

  Doris and Virginia entered, pausing at the Please Wait to be Seated sign.

  “Brrt?” Annie trotted up to them.

  Virginia looked around the room with a faintly disapproving air.

  “You are a pretty cat.” Doris beamed at her.

  “Brrt.” Thank you. Annie led them to a table in the middle of the room straight away, as if sensing Virginia was impatient. The feline departed for her cat bed after seating them.

  “Look who’s here.” Zoe nudged her.

  “Do you think we should go and take their orders?” Lauren murmured.

  “I did last time.”

  “I guess Janice is teaching right now,” Lauren commented.

  “Too bad. She seems nice.”

  “Yes, she does.”

  When they reached Virginia’s table, she was tutting to Doris about Gavin’s death.

  “Such a shame.” She shook her head. “As I said before, he seemed quite a decent young man. You could tell he was cut out to be a priest.”

  “May we take your order?” Lauren asked.

  “Thank you.” Virginia inclined her head. “I will have a honeyed walnut pastry, and a cup of tea. English Breakfast.”

  “And I’ll have a lemon meringue cupcake and a cappuccino, please,” Doris added.

  “Are lemon meringue cupcakes the only thing you can make?” Virginia queried. “You had them last time we were here.”

  Lauren felt Zoe bristle beside her. But she replied evenly, “No, I usually make three different types of cupcakes each day, but the lemon meringues have been so popular, I’ve concentrated mostly on those.”

  “Then you must vary your offerings,” Virginia informed her. “Otherwise, we will not continue to come here.”

  Doris gave them an apologetic look.

  “That would be a shame.” Zoe made it sound quite the opposite.

  Lauren pulled her away before
her cousin could say anything else.

  “There is no way she is another Ms. Tobin,” Zoe burst out fiercely behind the counter. Lauren was grateful she managed to keep her voice down.

  “No,” she agreed. “But we should try to remember Virginia had a shock yesterday, identifying Gavin’s body. Maybe this is her way of dealing with it.”

  “By being rude to you?” Zoe’s eyebrows climbed up her forehead.

  Lauren shrugged. She made the pot of tea and cappuccino, while Zoe plated the treats.

  “I am definitely going to grill them.” Zoe sounded militant, marching over to the table with her tray.

  Lauren followed, hoping her cousin wouldn’t get too carried away.

  “Are you sure you didn’t hear anything yesterday during scrapbooking, when Gavin – you know?” Zoe began, doling out the baked goods.

  “I’m sure,” Virginia said frostily. “We were very busy cutting out patterned paper.”

  “I love scrapbooking.” Doris sighed in appreciation as she looked at the swan design on her cappuccino. “How pretty!”

  “How many people are in the group?” Lauren asked.

  “Just us four,” Doris replied. “Me, Virginia, Janice, and Martha.”

  “No one else?” Zoe pressed.

  “Sometimes a couple of ladies from the senior center, but they haven’t been for a while, have they, Virginia?”

  “No.” Virginia pressed her lips together. “We don’t need them, anyway.”

  “They said Virginia was a little bit bossy,” Doris confided.

  “Really?” Zoe looked like she was fighting a grin.

  “Just because I show people the correct way to do something doesn’t mean they should take offence,” Virginia said. “It’s important to do things properly – but people these days ...” She shook her head in disapproval. “Like that police detective yesterday.” She looked at Lauren. “He’s taken Doris’s car in for examination.”

  “He has?” Lauren and Zoe glanced at each other.

  “To rule the vehicle out of the investigation. The same with Janice’s. She had to walk to school, and Doris and I had to walk over here.” She tutted.

  “Do you live far?” Lauren asked.

  “A few blocks,” Virginia replied. “But that makes no difference. They had no right to take away the cars. We didn’t kill Gavin.”