Body in the Book Drop

by Lynn Cahoon

  Body in the Book Drop

  Cat Latimer novella

  Lynn Cahoon

  Contents

  Body in the Book Drop

  Foreword

  The Cat Latimer Mysteries

  Acknowledgments

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Recipe Time:

  More Cat Latimer -

  The Cat Latimer Mysteries

  Legal bits

  Body in the Book Drop

  A Cat Latimer Novella

  * * *

  Lynn Cahoon

  Foreword

  In this Cat Latimer mysteries prequel: Cat must prove her mom isn't a killer -- before the real culprit decides curiosity really does kill the Cat.

  The Cat Latimer Mysteries

  A Story to Kill

  Fatality by Firelight

  Of Murder and Men

  Slay in Character

  Sconed to Death

  A Field Guide to Homicide

  * * *

  And coming soon

  A Killer Christmas Wish (Fall 2021)

  To all my college professors. Thanks for trying to show me the right path, even if I wasn’t able to see through the mist at the time.

  Acknowledgments

  Big thanks to Megan Kelly of MKBooksEditing for her close eye and insightful questioning. Thanks to members of Cahoon’s Crazy for Cozies group for your help as well in helping get this novella out for readers’ enjoyment.

  1

  Cat Gibson loved sitting in her mother’s cozy robin’s egg blue kitchen. White curtains framed the window, and under the window stood a four-chair white table. Cat sat in the same chair where she’d done homework for years. Now that she’d rented an apartment closer to the campus, she missed the warm kitchen which always smelled like cookies or bread baking. The view of the mountain range had been her touch base for years. The mountain had been a part of her life for as long as she remembered. A part of her and her ex-boyfriend’s life if she were honest. But no crying over Seth. Not today.

  “So, what has you here so early?” Her mother, Loraine Gibson, set a plate of warm from the oven banana bread on the table and refilled Cat’s coffee cup. “Don’t tell me you’re worried about your old mom being alone in the house?”

  “No, I just wanted to see you.” Her dad had asked her to stop by more often during the month he was in New Jersey for a business trip. His company was instituting a new computer system that he’d be responsible for but he missed home. She sipped her coffee, hoping her mother didn’t see the lie.

  “Whatever. I know how you and your father think.” Mom sat at the table and glanced at her clock. “The library doesn’t open until ten today, so I’ve got some time to chat. How are your studies going?”

  “I’ve been doing some creative writing this week. Something my fiction professor is going to hate because it’s all paranormal and young adult. But I’m having a great time writing it. I might have to write a second, more literary project before the end of the semester, but I’m not worried about it now.” Cat took one of the slices and spread some butter over the warm bread. “Writing genre fiction is considered slumming by the college crowd. Yet, everyone who’s reading for pleasure on the quad has a romance or mystery in their hands.”

  “You have to find out what makes you happy. Like me. I went to school for accounting, but I love working at the library so much more than when I did people’s taxes. I earn so little. Thank goodness your father makes a good wage so we can eat.” She took a bite of the bread. “I put dried cranberries in it this time. Do you like them?”

  Her mother’s gaze took in Cat’s face and hair. Cat self-consciously tucked a loose lock of hair behind one ear. “I always love your banana bread.”

  Mom’s banana bread had been one of Seth’s favorites too, a thought that crossed her mind before she could stop it. And it must have shown on her face because her mom reached out and touched her shoulder. “Have you heard from him?”

  Tears filled Cat’s eyes even though she’d tried to stop herself from even thinking about him. Having the same boyfriend for so many years was problematic in itself. Seth was everywhere. In the memories of her high school years. Walking to campus from her apartment. Even here, sitting at her mother’s table. They’d spent their free time here. Playing games. Doing homework. Talking about the future. A future that wouldn’t happen now. “No. He hasn’t called. The Army is shipping him from Germany to Washington sometime this month. I guess he’s too busy to check in with an old friend.”

  “You two were more than friends.” Her mother stroked her arm, a habit she had when life wasn’t working out for her only daughter.

  “Were is the word. I have to admit it, Mom. Our relationship is over.” Cat’s phone buzzed. She glanced at the text. A smile creased her face. Michael Latimer checking in on her. He’d been so understanding when she’d fallen apart during their chat last week. When he’d taken an interest as her mentor last year, his prominence in the Economics’ department had been instrumental in helping her get into the MFA program at Covington College. Now he reached out at least once a week even though his mentor responsibilities were over, just to make sure things were going well with her classes.

  She looked up to find her mother watching her. She gripped her coffee mug in both hands. Her lips were tight.

  “It’s just a friend,” Cat explained.

  “Really? A friend? Male or female?” She picked up the bread, then set it back down. From the look on her face, it was time for a lecture. “Honey, I know you’re an adult and in charge of your own life. I’ve heard rumors that you’ve been seen with one of the professors from Covington lately. You know you can’t get involved with those people. It’s not safe.”

  “Mom, you’ve been telling me that the Covington crowd isn’t our type of people for years. If I get hired there after I finish my graduate program, I’m going to be one of those people.” She turned off the phone. “And why you’d have me be afraid of an economics professor, I don’t know. They’re mostly just eggheads, like me.” And you, she added silently.

  “It’s not the same. Covington is special. I hate to say it because I’ll miss you, but you need to look for jobs outside of Aspen Hills. Denver is nice and still close. They have good schools there.” Her mother forced a smile that even Cat could see was false. Her phone rang, and she looked at it and put it down. “It’s Mr. Hines from work. He can wait until I get in. I’m sure the board’s going to tell me they cut my budget again. Seriously, if people didn’t donate their used books to the library, we’d be down to books the library purchased in the 60’s.”

  “Sorry you’re having funding issues. But you’re right. I’ll start looking for a placement next year when I’m close to graduating. It might be nice to get out of Colorado for a few years. Besides, Covington might not have a place for me anyway.” Cat decided to change the subject. She wouldn’t win an argument with her mother anyway. “So, work is good?”

  “Remember, Denver is close. Work’s fine. We have a homeless man, Charlie, who comes in most days. The kids were a little scared by him at first, but he’s such a kind heart. He’s always opening doors for people, and he reads so widely. I tried to get him to sign up for a library card, but he says he doesn’t want to ruin a book by taking it out with him.” Mom shook her head. “I talked to your uncle about helping him find a place to stay but I guess there’s not a shelter or anything close that has room for him.”

  “I’m surprised Uncle Pete has time to help someone. Isn’t he on speed trap duty until
the town gets a new stoplight?” Cat liked her uncle, but it had been hard in high school when her uncle was always breaking up the parties she and Seth had attended. Finally, she’d stopped going and their group started hanging out at the creek instead. They sometimes snuck some beer or wine with them, but they mostly sat around a campfire and talked about the future.

  And now she’d gone down another Seth story track. She rubbed her face. “I really need to get out of this town for a few years until I don’t see Seth around every corner. Why didn’t you tell me how hard it was going to be when I broke up with my one and only boyfriend?”

  “You and Seth were perfect together. I’m still not sure why you broke up. Maybe you should call him and try to fix this.” Mom stood and dumped her coffee. “I’ve loved your father since the day he asked me to dance at Homecoming freshman year. He had just moved to Aspen Hills with his mother from New York and I thought he was the most amazing boy I’d ever seen.”

  Cat had heard the story many times and it always made her smile. Her parents’ marriage had been solid for almost thirty years. When her friends had all been complaining about their parents divorcing, Cat knew hers wouldn’t. Her father brought home flowers on Wednesdays just because. And they had a date night weekly. Which teenage Cat had used to her advantage, sneaking out with Seth until her parents had found them at the Gas and Go. They’d had to stop to fill Seth’s truck. After that, date night was never on the same night or announced ahead of time. And Cat had a visitor to entertain on those nights. Her Uncle Pete.

  She glanced at the clock and stood. “I need to get going. Have a great day. Do you want to grab dinner at The Diner this week?”

  “I’d love to grab dinner. Let’s say tomorrow night?” Her mother moved the dishes to the sink.

  “I’m getting my first check from my teaching assistant position on Friday, so I’ll pay. And it’s not coming from my college fund.” Cat felt excited about having her own money, finally.

  “Nope, I’ll pay. You need to save that money so you can set up your new apartment when you move to your first real job.” Mom wrapped her arms around Cat. “Have I told you I love you lately?”

  “Every time we talk.” Cat hugged her mother and shrugged into her leather jacket. “I’ll come by tomorrow at six and we can walk over.”

  “Tell your dad hi when he calls to see if you came over,” her mom called from the kitchen when Cat opened the front door.

  The one thing about her mother was she was never wrong. And she never let you forget it, either.

  2

  As Cat walked away from her mom’s house, she wondered how she could keep her promise and leave Aspen Hills. She loved it here. Growing up in the small Colorado college town two hours south of Denver had been a childhood dream. She’d learned to ski on the nearby Rocky Mountains. She’d visited Pike’s Peak at least once a year, just to drink in the beauty. And she’d attended Covington College, a small liberal arts college where most of the students lived on campus giving it a community feel. A lot of kids came from the east coast, taking advantage of the nearby amazing skiing. Cat had gotten scholarships as a town kid that had cut her costs to almost nothing. She couldn’t even go to the state school for the cost of Covington. As a townie, she didn’t really hang with the out-of-towners. Their Boston accents started to fade by senior year, but it never went away. One more difference between the rich kids and the rest of the world.

  Cat thought most of the separation was probably due to the fact local parents had the same fear of the outsiders that her mother had just expressed that morning. Maybe they didn’t like the idea of kids leaving home after college. Or maybe they just didn’t like the college kids.

  Cat turned down Main Street and headed into The Morning Bean. She was the only one in line even though all the booths were filled. She ordered her mocha to go, deciding not to stay long. Especially since he’d chosen a booth in the back. Her mother’s warnings made her feel guilty about even being here. After paying for her drink, she slipped onto the bench across from him.

  “I didn’t think you were going to come.” Michael Latimer looked up from his laptop. His dark hair waved around his ears and his eyes were lady-killer blue. Being over six foot tall and a fitness nut, all the coeds had a crush on the young economics professor. Getting into his classes was extremely hard since he only taught the advanced courses. Economics majors were considered the luckiest girls in the school. “You didn’t text back.”

  “I needed coffee but I can’t stay long. I’m teaching at eleven.” She held up the to-go cup. leaned against the booth, letting her gaze scan the room for anyone she thought her mother might know. Finally, she relaxed. “I was at my folks’ place. My mom is by herself for a while and Dad doesn’t want her to be lonely.”

  “You’re a good daughter.” He leaned back and studied her. “I take it she’s heard about us.”

  Her heart fluttered a bit at the word us. “Well, yeah. She’s heard I’ve been seen with an economics prof. But don’t worry. I told her we were just friends. I can’t believe how gossipy everyone is here at Covington.”

  “Friends, okay.” He pushed a set of tickets toward her. “Well, friend, I got these for a concert in Denver in a couple of weeks. I thought you might like to attend with me.”

  She picked up one of the tickets. It was a pop singer she loved. “I’d heard she was coming to Denver, but the tickets sold out fast. How did you get these?”

  Michael smiled and Cat’s heart did that flutter thing again.

  “I have connections. Which is probably what your mother’s worried about.” He laughed at her confused look at the statement. “Sorry, private joke. I just have a friend who is very good at getting what he wants.”

  She studied the ticket, then pushed it back across the table. “Look, maybe we need to slow this down. I’m just out of a long relationship, and you, well, you’re my professor.”

  “Are you taking economics classes now?” His tone humorous.

  “No, but you know what I mean. I don’t want to be just another coed for your memoir.” She sipped her coffee. “Besides, I’m not looking for a relationship. I’m focused on getting this degree and then finding a job.”

  “How’s the novel coming?” He changed the subject as he sipped his coffee. He’d been served his drink in a real cup, not paper. And the coffee shop suited him. Like he was in a study or something.

  Cat shook her head out of the thoughts she kept falling into. First Seth, now Michael. What was wrong with her? “It’s not a book. It’s just something I’m writing for fun. Professor Henry’s not even going to let me turn it in for a grade. I should set it aside and start working on something more literary before the semester gets away from me.”

  “You should do what you want to do and stop worrying about what other people think.” He tucked the tickets into his pocket. “The invitation is still open. I’m driving up the Friday before and staying over through Sunday. I have access to a townhouse near the stadium if you want to come along. And, because we’re friends, you need to know that the townhouse has two bedrooms.”

  She nodded, blushing a little at the smile he gave her. “I’ll think about it. Anyway, I need to go.”

  “Are you studying in the library tonight? I’ve got some work I need to research so I’ll be on the third floor if you want to work together. I can buy pizza afterwards,” he added, watching as she stood and wrapped the long candy-striped scarf around her neck.

  The scarf had been a gift from her mother at Christmas last year. She’d made Seth a matching one. At least she wouldn’t have to knit two scarves this year. “That sounds like a date.”

  He chuckled. “That sounds like two colleagues grabbing food after a long day of work. Unless you think working in the library together is a date.”

  That was the problem, to her, it was the perfect date. Michael checked all the boxes for a perfect boyfriend. All the things that Seth hadn’t. He didn’t mind sitting next to her while she read because
he was reading too. And hanging out in the library, finding pieces of materials that increased their knowledge base, then talking about what they’d found sounded like heaven. She’d been lying when she’d told her mom that Michael was just a friend.

  She’d been thinking of him as possible boyfriend material for a few weeks now. She realized he was watching her, waiting for her answer. “Of course, not. I’ve got to go.”

  She didn’t wait for his response, just hurried out of the too warm coffee shop and ran right into a man. He steadied her with large, calloused, and dirty hands.

  “Whoa there, little lady. Where’s the fire?” He laughed at his own joke.

  Cat peered up at him. He was in his sixties if his hair color and wrinkles could be trusted. He smelled a little ripe. She smiled, trying to keep the smell out of her nose. “I’m fine. Sorry I almost ran you over.”

  “Charlie don’t care. He’s been bulldozed before.” He nodded and stepped back to his shopping cart. “You have a good day now, you hear.”

  He was halfway down the block before Cat thought about giving him money. This had to be the same person her mom had been talking about. Cat didn’t often see the homeless, not in Aspen Hills. The police chief had a policy of bundling anyone up that didn’t have a permanent address or room at the inn and having one of the deputies dump them outside city limits. Her uncle’s solution was to hide the guy from the police chief until he could find a shelter with a free bed. And hanging out at the library with her mother was a great place for people to hide in plain sight.