by Jinty James
“We can go to the police station and explain everything,” Lauren said.
“Yeah.” Zoe stepped toward Janice. “Come on, it probably won’t be as bad as you expect.” She held out her hand. “And you’ll be getting away from your aunt.”
“Let me just fix my shoe.” Janice indicated her brown sensible lace up shoes, ideal for winter weather.
“Okay.” Zoe nodded.
“Brrt,” Annie said warningly, staring at Janice.
Janice bent down, but instead of her fingers touching her shoelaces, they curled around the gravel stones at her feet.
“Hey!” Just as Janice’s hand picked up the gravel, Zoe flung the cigarette case straight at her hand.
“Ow!” Janice dropped the gravel and nursed her hand. “Ow! You broke my hand!” She plonked her behind on the gravel. “It hurts!” Her eyes filled with new tears. “What have you done?”
“You were trying to get us!” Zoe sounded indignant.
“Brrt!” Annie leaped into the air and landed on Janice’s chest.
“Oof!” Janice fell backwards, lying flat on the ground. “Your cat is heavy.” Her voice was muffled.
“Annie is a normal weight for her breed.” Now it was Lauren’s turn to sound indignant. She advanced toward the girl.
“Yeah.” Zoe came up on Janice’s left side, while Lauren was on her right.
Virginia just stood there, gaping.
“Don’t try anything else, or we’ll sit on you as well,” Zoe promised Janice.
“Brrt!”
CHAPTER 11
“Then I threw the cigarette case at her hand,” Zoe told Chris that evening.
“And Annie pounced on her,” Lauren added.
“Brrt!” Annie said proudly.
“Lauren called Mitch while Annie sat on Janice.”
“And Virginia just stood there.”
“I think she was in shock.”
They were gathered in the cottage kitchen that evening. Mitch had arrived a few minutes ago, and Zoe told Chris exactly what happened that morning, with additions from Lauren and Annie.
In the living room, Mrs. Snuggle watched a cartoon about fairies. They’d told her about their exciting morning, but she hadn’t seemed very interested.
“I thought the cigarette case was in the drawer at the café,” Lauren said.
“It was,” Zoe admitted, “but it intrigued me. It looked just like the one in that old movie Mrs. Snuggle watched. So I brought it home with me on Saturday and somehow it found its way into my pants’ pocket on Sunday.”
“Please tell me you’re not thinking of taking up smoking.” Lauren looked at her in surprise.
“Of course not.” Zoe shook her head.
“It’s just as well you did have it on you,” Mitch spoke. “Otherwise—”
“Otherwise, we would have come up with another way to nab her,” Zoe informed him.
“Brrt!”
“Did Zoe really break Janice’s hand?” Chris asked.
“No,” Mitch replied. “Apparently it’s just soft tissue damage. But I’m told that can really hurt.”
“But how could Janice afford a fancy silver cigarette case?” Lauren asked.
“Yeah, especially when she has student loans to pay,” Zoe added.
“She said she found it in a thrift shop,” Mitch replied. “She thought it was more elegant to keep her cigarettes in it than in the cardboard box.”
“Maybe she does have a touch of her Aunt Virginia in her,” Lauren said thoughtfully.
“Brrt.”
THE NEXT MORNING, LAUREN received a phone call from Father Mike.
“That’s wonderful!” She smiled at Zoe, who stood next to her. “Yes, we’ll be here. I’m sure Mrs. Snuggle will be happy to see you.” Ending the call, she high-fived her cousin.
“Father Mike should be here around seven tonight. He’s about to board the plane. The pilots have gone back to work.”
“Awesome!” Zoe grinned. “Should we tell Mrs. Snuggle now?”
“Or should we let it be a surprise?” Lauren suggested. “Just in case the pilots strike again at the last minute?”
“Good point.” Zoe nodded.
Since it was Monday, the café was closed. After a quick dinner last night with the guys, she, Zoe, and Annie watched TV with Mrs. Snuggle, while Mitch and Chris went home. Mitch explained he had a ton of paperwork to do the next day, and Chris had an early shift.
“Is Mitch coming over this evening?” Zoe asked.
“Yes. Since our lunch date was cancelled yesterday—”
“Because we caught Gavin’s killer,” Zoe interrupted.
“He said he’d cook for me tonight – here. Is that okay with you?”
“Sure.” Zoe nodded. “I can have a burger at Gary’s, and I’ll ask Chris if he wants to have dinner with me.”
A short while later, the trio got ready to visit Mrs. Finch, leaving Mrs. Snuggle alone with the television.
“We won’t be long, Mrs. Snuggle,” Zoe told her.
The fluffy white cat gave a little grunt, and returned her gaze to the screen, watching a blue butterfly flitter around a lavender bush.
“It’s not that bad here, is it?” Zoe asked her hopefully.
A barely discernable grunt.
Zoe gave a little sigh, and joined Lauren and Annie.
“We’ve got a lot to tell Mrs. Finch,” Lauren said, hoping that would cheer up her cousin.
“Yes.” Zoe brightened a little. “Let’s go!”
“I WONDER WHAT WILL happen to Janice,” Zoe mused that evening. They were waiting for Father Mike to arrive. Zoe had arranged to meet Chris at the burger diner at seven-thirty.
“Mitch called this afternoon, to let me know we were still on for tonight,” Lauren informed her. “He thinks she’ll go to jail, even though she and her grandmother were financial victims.”
“In a way, that doesn’t seem fair.” Zoe tapped her cheek. “But you can’t go around killing people.”
“No, you can’t.”
The doorbell chimed.
“Oh, that’s the doorbell,” Zoe said in a loud voice, glancing at Mrs. Snuggle reposing on the sofa. “I wonder who it could be?”
“Let’s go and find out.” Lauren mimicked her cousin’s cheery tone. She felt like she was on stage.
“Brrt!” Annie scampered down the hall.
Lauren and Zoe followed.
When Lauren opened the door, she held her breath.
“Father Mike!” Zoe beat her to it.
“Hi.” He smiled at them, looking a little travel-stained and weary. “I hope Mrs. Snuggle wasn’t too much trouble.”
“Come in,” Lauren invited.
“No, of course she wasn’t,” Zoe replied. “She—”
“MEOW!”
Mrs. Snuggle thundered down the hall, launching herself at Father Mike. He staggered back, clutching her against his torso.
She buried her head in his chest, making a strange noise that sounded like scolding.
“Brrt!” Annie’s mouth tilted up into a smile.
“My goodness.” His voice was muffled. “She’s never greeted me like this before.”
“I think she really missed you,” Lauren said.
“Definitely.” Zoe nodded.
“Brrt!” Yes!
They urged him to take a seat in the living room. Mrs. Snuggle wouldn’t let him go, so he sank down awkwardly onto the pink sofa, still holding her.
“Wait until you hear all about Gavin, the supply priest.” Zoe filled him in.
“I can’t believe Gavin wasn’t who he said he was.” Father Mike shook his head. “Or maybe I did have an inkling. I wondered if he was trying a little too hard, but I put that down to being new at his job and eager to please.”
Mrs. Snuggle muttered something against his chest that still sounded like scolding, and wriggled her body into a comfier position.
“I’m sorry I had to leave you,” he crooned to her. “I promised I
’d come back, and I did.”
Mrs. Snuggle muttered something, still not lifting her head from his plaid sweater.
“Annie took good care of her,” Lauren assured him.
“So did we,” Zoe added. “When she let us.”
Lauren patted her cousin’s shoulder.
“Oh, we haven’t told you the best part – when Mrs. Snuggle attacked Gavin’s ankles!” Zoe gave him the details.
Father Mike tutted at himself.
“I’m afraid that was my fault. I’d forgotten to tell Gavin where I kept the spare key. I had so many things on my mind, including Mrs. Snuggle, that I clean forgot. But I know I told him to visit you at the café if he had any questions.”
“He didn’t come in,” Lauren replied.
“Nope.”
“Poor Janice.” Father Mike sighed. “And her grandmother, Doris. They’re nice people. I’ll visit Janice tomorrow and see if she needs anything. I don’t know how Virginia is going to take this, either.” He shook his head. “If I hadn’t gone to the convention, then this wouldn’t have happened.” He looked regretful.
“You don’t know that,” Lauren said. “Since Gavin was the priest at Zeke’s Ridge, Janice might have bumped into him one day and—”
“The same thing would have happened,” Zoe jumped in.
“You may be right,” Father Mike accepted. “Well, I won’t take up any more of your time. I really appreciate you looking after Mrs. Snuggle for me, and I’m sure she does, too. Don’t you, Mrs. Snuggle?” He looked down at the cat still nestled against his chest.
A little grunt that could have meant yes.
“Brrp.” You’re welcome.
Father Mike clambered to his feet, the feline not letting him go.
“Mrs. Snuggle likes watching this movie about a princess who discovers her whole life is a lie,” Zoe told him. “She might want to watch it again.”
“Maybe we can watch it together, hmm?” Father Mike peered at her fluffy white face buried in his chest.
“Meow.” It was a softer sound.
“I think she’d like that,” Lauren said.
“Brrt!” Yes!
A SHORT WHILE AFTER Father Mike departed, Mitch arrived.
“I think that’s my cue to skedaddle.” Zoe dug out her phone. “I’ll text Chris I’ll be right on time at Gary’s, and I’ll bring Annie a burger later.” She waved goodbye to Mitch, passing him on the porch.
“Hi.” Mitch held a paper sack. “I brought dinner.”
“What is it?” Lauren ushered him in.
“It’s a surprise.” His smile was warm and loving.
She told him about Mrs. Snuggle’s reaction to Father Mike’s appearance.
“Maybe this has made her see how much she actually likes Father Mike,” he commented.
“I hope so.”
“Brrt?” Annie followed them to the kitchen.
“I brought some sirloin for you, too, Annie,” Mitch said. “Should I give it to her now?” He turned to Lauren.
“That would be great.” Lauren sat at the table and watched him cut up the meat into bite sized pieces.
“Brrt!” Thanks! Annie dived into her bowl as soon as Mitch set it down.
“Have you got any news about the counterfeit money?” Lauren asked.
“Yes. Castern has just discovered that it’s connected to the motorhome thefts. Apparently, the thieves passed the money while they were checking out which vehicles would be the easiest to steal.”
“So he’s solved two cases at once.”
“Yes.” Mitch nodded. “And now that we—” he glanced at Lauren and Annie “—have solved Gavin’s death, I’ll be able to take a few vacation days once all the paperwork is wrapped up.”
“That’s great.” He deserved a break.
Mitch cooked the steaks and got out the salad fixings. Lauren offered to help, but he waved her away.
“I brought some wine.” He pulled out her favorite bottle of Zinfandel. “I know you like this.”
“I do.” She smiled at his thoughtfulness.
Once the meal was ready, Mitch set it on the table. Annie jumped up onto the chair next to Lauren, while he sat across from them.
The steak was cooked medium well done, just how Lauren liked it.
“You’ve thought of everything,” she praised.
“Not quite.” A stain of crimson hit his cheeks. “On Saturday night, I realized our lunch date at the winery on Sunday would be the perfect place, but then—”
“We confronted Janice.”
“Yes.” He captured her hand across the table.
Annie watched them keenly.
“I’m glad you and Annie are safe. And Zoe.”
“Me too.” She smiled softly at him.
“That was why I made that quick phone call Saturday night. I wanted everything to be just right and I was going to ask the winery to make a special dessert—” he drew in a breath. “Yesterday I realized there’ll never be the perfect time to ask you this.”
“What?” Lauren held her breath.
“Brrp?” Annie asked softly.
“I was going to wait until dessert tonight, but I can’t. I’m sick of stalling. I even went to a jewelry store in Sacramento last year but I didn’t buy anything. I realized you might want to choose your own ring.”
Lauren’s eyes widened and her heart felt like it would burst out of her chest.
“It’s best like this, so I can include Annie. I know you two are a package deal, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.” He inhaled sharply.
“Lauren, I love you with all my heart.” His dark brown eyes were filled with tenderness. “I certainly never expected to meet someone like you in Gold Leaf Valley, and I can’t believe I did. You’re all I want.” He looked at Annie. “And Annie, I wasn’t used to cats when I met you. But you showed me how important you are to Lauren, and in your own right. Now I can’t imagine my life without either of you in it.”
He took a deep breath.
“Lauren Crenshaw, will you marry me?” He glanced at the silver-gray tabby. “Is that okay with you, Annie?”
“Brrt!” Yes!
Lauren parted her mouth, but for a second, no sound emerged. The rest of her life was waiting for her to claim it.
“Yes!”
THE END
Book 14 will hopefully be available September 2021.
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