A Cat to Kill For

by Greg Miller

  “Thanks,” Gavin said. “We will.”

  They shook hands, and Armando left. Emily got up and moved into his vacated seat, across from Gavin. They watched through the window as Armando got into his car and drove away.

  “So, what do we do now?” Emily grimaced.

  Gavin bit his lip. “I don’t think there’s any point in going back to Peter.”

  “I don’t either,” she said. “If it is him, he’s certainly outsmarted us.” She took a deep breath, looking at the table. “We’ve failed, we’re at a dead end, and we’re never going to find Andrew’s killer.”

  “Maybe Armando will think of something.” Gavin sighed.

  “It could still be Armando for all we know. It’s the same thing again – just because the engine wasn’t in his car doesn’t mean he couldn’t have it hidden somewhere.”

  “You’re right,” he said, rubbing his temples. “We really can’t trust anyone.”

  She gazed out the window at the row of gas pumps. “I don’t think I can deal with the stress. It was different when we thought we were close to catching him, but now … we don’t even have a clue. Whoever it is has won.” She turned back to him with a drawn face. “It’s been over three weeks since he shot at us. He’s sure to try something again soon, and our chances of coming out unharmed are getting very low.”

  Gavin ran his fingers through his hair. “I know. But maybe we’re missing something. It’s been a long day, we’re both tired, and I don’t believe either of us can think clearly right now.”

  Emily started taking short, deep breaths. “Maybe we should just put the car up for sale, like the note said, before he tries to kill us again. Don’t you think?”

  “Probably,” Gavin replied, leaning back on the bench seat. “But it’s your car and that has to be your decision.”

  “It’s our car,” Emily said. “I think of it as our car. And… I don’t know. I feel like I did the first couple of weeks after losing Andrew … before I got to know you. I feel like I’m living in a nightmare.”

  Gavin looked into her distant eyes. He reached across the table to hold her hand but she was digging her nails into her palms.

  “This isn’t good,” she murmured. “This really isn’t good.”

  Gavin was at the kitchen table with his laptop and a cup of coffee, staring solemnly at a photo of Andrew and the others at one of the club’s Christmas parties. He heard the guest room door open and looked up to see Emily making her way through the living room in a bathrobe. Her head was down and, when she noticed him, she stopped short.

  “Hi,” he said. “Feel any better?”

  Emily cringed. “What are you doing here? I thought you’d be at work.”

  “I took the day off,” Gavin replied. “I haven’t done it in years, but I really didn’t feel up to going in today.” He looked at the dark circles beneath her eyes. “I was also a little concerned about you.”

  “Don’t be,” she said, coming closer and leaning against the kitchen doorway.

  “You don’t look very well rested.”

  “That’s because I haven’t slept.”

  “You haven’t?”

  Emily took a deep breath. “No.”

  “We both might feel better if we ate something.” Gavin sighed. “Would you like some bacon and eggs?”

  She closed her eyes. “No. I just wanted a glass of water.”

  “Would you like to talk?”

  Emily’s arms stiffened at her sides as she took another deep breath. “Just give me some space. I don’t want to talk about anything right now. Okay?”

  “Sure,” Gavin said, wrinkling his forehead.

  He quickly clicked onto a news site as Emily went to the cupboard behind him and took out a tall drinking glass. She turned toward the sink but the glass slipped from her hand and shattered on the floor. Gavin jumped up from his chair.

  “I can’t take it anymore,” she shouted.

  Gavin took a step toward her.

  “Stay back. Keep away from me!”

  He raised his palms. “Don’t worry, it’s no big deal.”

  “Ugh. Don’t tell me that! It is a big deal. I can’t take it anymore.” She put her hands over her ears and ran back to the guest room, slamming the door behind her.

  Gavin stood staring out at the living room and the path she’d traversed. He picked up the broken pieces of glass and put them in the garbage. After pouring another cup of coffee he returned to the kitchen table.

  A thud caused him to lift an ear. He listened for a moment, then took a sip of coffee and looked back at his laptop. There was a loud crash. Gavin jumped up again, and rushed to the guest room door.

  “Emily, are you okay?”

  There was no reply.

  “Emily!”

  He heard a rhythmic banging against the wall.

  Gavin grimaced. “Emily? What are you doing?”

  The banging continued. He tried the door, but it was locked. Gavin ran back to the kitchen and took a beer stein from the shelf. He spilled some keys out onto the counter, grabbed one, and ran back. Gavin unlocked the door and, pushing it open, saw that the sheets had been pulled from the bed and there was stuffing strewn all over the rug. A broken lamp lay on the floor, and Emily was sitting in the corner, hitting her forehead against her knee.

  “Emily,” Gavin said softly.

  She looked up, dismayed, then burst into tears. “Go away. I don’t want you to see me like this.”

  “Emily, it’s … I just want to help you.”

  “You can’t,” she said, sniffling. “I feel so guilty and ashamed.”

  He stepped into the room. “Why?”

  “I killed him.” She sobbed.

  Gavin froze. “What?”

  “He’s dead, and I killed him,” she yelled, then rolled over on the floor, writhing and clutching her stomach.

  He took a deep breath. “No. I don’t believe you. You’re not capable of it.”

  Crying uncontrollably, Emily struggled to sit up.

  Gavin shook his head. “You don’t know what you’re saying. Tell me what happened.”

  “I ripped his head off,” she said between sobs.

  He leaned forward, squinting at her. “You did what?”

  “I ripped his damn head off!”

  Gavin ventured further into the room and saw the decapitated body of a stuffed animal beside the nightstand.

  Emily lifted her head, and nodded with tears covering her face. “He’s dead … I killed Mr Bear.”

  Gavin gazed at the ceiling and breathed a sigh of relief. He knelt down on the floor beside her. He closed his eyes for a moment, shaking his head and chuckling to himself.

  “Well, he had it coming, didn’t he?” Gavin smiled. “I never liked the way he stared at me.”

  Emily looked up at him and started laughing, before bursting into tears again. “I broke your lamp too. I didn’t mean to. Do you hate me?”

  “No,” he said. “Of course not.”

  She wiped her eyes. “I would never key your car, though. I could never do something like that.”

  “Oh, God,” Gavin said, tears coming to his eyes now. “I know you couldn’t. I know you couldn’t.”

  “Are you sure you don’t hate me? Because I really hate myself.”

  “I’m sure,” he said, getting choked up. “I actually think I love you. I think I’m really in love with you.”

  Emily wrinkled her tear-drenched face. “For real?”

  Gavin nodded, wiping his eyes. “For real. Can I hold you now? Please let me.”

  “Okay.” She sniffled. “I think I’m in love with you too.”

  Gavin crawled over to her and they embraced, gently rocking back and forth.

  CHAPTER 19

  It was a bleak and gray morning. There we
re puddles on the sidewalk and the dealership’s aged brick exterior was mossy and damp. A few drops of rain fell on Gavin’s face as he climbed out of his Morgan and glanced up at the ‘Campbell Classic Cars’ sign. Looking down, he sighed. Behind the showroom windows, the Alfa Romeo was now squeezed in alongside the other unsold cars.

  Gavin went inside and hung his jacket up in the office. On the desk, beside some unopened mail, he noticed a check for a thousand dollars. He picked it up and proceeded down the hallway to the shop.

  “Hey, look who’s here!” Daryl called from the workbench. “Feeling better?”

  “Yeah. Thanks,” Gavin replied, standing in the doorway.

  Gus turned from his tool chest, giving him a nod and a smile.

  “You really must have been sick to have stayed home yesterday and be late today,” Daryl said. “Emily’s not with you?”

  “No. She still didn’t feel up to it.”

  “So what was it? Food poisoning or something?”

  Gavin nodded, then held up the check. “What’s this?”

  Daryl smiled. “It’s a deposit for the Alfa. He’ll be back later to do the paperwork.”

  Gavin lifted his eyebrows. “You sold it?”

  “Yeah, I sold it.” Daryl frowned. “You don’t have to act so surprised.”

  “What did you get for it?”

  Daryl shrugged. “Nineteen-nine.”

  Gavin squinted at him. “You got the full asking price?”

  “Well, yeah. It wasn’t easy, but I didn’t think you’d be happy if I let it go for any less.”

  Gavin extended his hand. “Good job, Daryl. Good job.”

  “Does this mean I get a bonus or something?”

  “Yes, of course,” Gavin said. “I’ll give you a full sales commission.”

  “Cool.” Daryl smiled. “What are you gonna replace it with? How ’bout a Vette?”

  Gavin closed his eyes, shaking his head.

  “Oh come on,” Daryl whined. “What is it you have against Vettes? I bet I could sell one.”

  Gavin bit his lip. “No promises, but if we can find a good deal on an old one, I’ll consider it.”

  “Okay,” Daryl said. “Sounds good.”

  Gavin lifted an eyebrow. “So, since you seem to have some pretty good sales skills, would you mind covering for me in the showroom next Saturday?”

  “What? Why?”

  “I have this road rally I need to go to.”

  Gus banged a tool chest drawer, glancing over at him.

  Daryl pinched his chin. “I don’t have any plans, so yeah, sure.”

  “I appreciate it,” Gavin said, before going over to Gus who was still rooting through a drawer.

  “Have you seen my long brake bleeder wrench?”

  Gavin shook his head. “Was it in the chest that got stolen?”

  “Damn! I bet it was.” Gus pushed the drawer closed, and leaned back against the tool cabinet. He turned to Gavin. “You weren’t really sick, were you?”

  “No,” Gavin said. “Emily was upset.”

  “She alright now?”

  He nodded. “She just needed some rest.”

  “Are you going to tell me what’s been going on?”

  “We’ve reached a dead end.” Gavin sighed. “We thought we’d found who had the engine. But we were wrong … again.”

  “And you’re still going to that club rally?”

  “I made a commitment to help out, but I doubt Emily will come.”

  Gus rubbed the back of his neck. “Is she finally going to sell that car now?”

  Gavin turned, looking at the Jaguar in the back corner of the shop. “I think so.”

  The lush green trees showed hints of scarlet and gold, and the aroma of ripening grapes blew through the open car as Gavin drove along.

  “I didn’t think you’d come today,” he said, glancing over at Emily.

  “I felt like getting out. It’s my favorite time of the year,” she replied, with a faint smile.

  “Mine too,” he said, inhaling the crisp air.

  Emily gazed through the windshield with sad eyes. “I’ve decided to sell the car. I hope you’re not disappointed.”

  “Not at all,” he replied. “I kind of figured you would.”

  She looked down at her canvas sneakers. “I haven’t had a meltdown like that in years, and I don’t want to have any more.”

  “I understand,” he said. “Although, I did give Peter a call yesterday. I felt like we had some unfinished business with him.”

  “Without discussing it with me first?” Emily frowned.

  “I’m sorry. I thought you needed to be left alone for a while.”

  “It’s okay. That was probably for the best actually. What happened?”

  “Well, I told him the engine wasn’t in Armando’s car. He sounded flabbergasted.”

  “Of course he did.” Emily snorted.

  “You don’t mind talking about this?”

  She shook her head. “I can handle it.”

  “I just thought it was strange that he hadn’t called to see if we’d learned anything. I mean, he seemed absolutely convinced it was Armando, and shouldn’t he have been as curious as us to find out?”

  “One would think.” She looked at the passing scenery. “He should have contacted one of us after Andrew died too – as you said when we first met him.”

  Gavin nodded. “I thought about that as well.”

  “Did anything else transpire?”

  He took a deep breath while negotiating a bend in the road. “Well, I thought of one last thing to do before giving up, so I tried bluffing. I said we knew for certain he was involved, that we were preparing to go to the police, and that he’d better come clean.”

  Emily’s eyes widened. “What did he say?”

  “He got all flustered again, denying it. He said he would talk to us at the rally.” Gavin bit his lip. “I also told him we’d arranged some insurance. So if anything were to happen to us the police would still get the information.”

  “That was smart.” She looked over at him and sighed. “You’re giving me renewed hope. I can feel myself being drawn back into it.”

  Gavin shook his head. “That was my last shot. If Peter doesn’t confess or tell us who he’s involved with, which I’m assuming he won’t, then I think you’re right – we should give up and sell the car.”

  They followed an XJ6 sedan up the gravel driveway to the winery. There were already a dozen or more assorted Jaguars assembled in the parking area. Bonnie and Jay had a registration table set up near the sidewalk. They waved as Gavin drove slowly by and parked.

  “Hey, glad you’re here,” Jay called, walking over as they got out.

  Gavin shook his hand as Emily stared down at the lake.

  “Did we luck out with this weather or what? There should be a good turnout.”

  “It’s certainly a perfect day for it,” Gavin said, glancing up at the clear blue sky.

  “Did you download that rally software?”

  Gavin nodded. “It seems pretty straightforward.”

  “It is,” Jay said, “but call me if you have any questions. Oh, and let me give you your other stuff before I forget.” Jay opened the trunk of his car and took out two yellow reflector vests.

  Emily tipped her head, squinting as Gavin put them in the Morgan.

  “We’re manning the checkpoint for the second leg of the rally,” he said.

  Next, Jay handed him a cardboard box, and a large ‘checkpoint’ sign that Gavin strapped to the tire rack.

  “Sorry – gotta run,” he said. “I promised to take over and give Bonnie a break.”

  Jay left, and Gavin bent down to adjust a pair of small collapsible chairs that were now sticking up behind the seats.

 
Emily knitted her brows. “Is it the checkpoint at the chapel?”

  “Yes,” Gavin replied.

  “I really liked it there,” she said, smiling. “I’m glad we’ll be off on our own.”

  They heard the sound of tires on gravel and turned to see a gray F-Pace drive into the parking area and come to a stop beside them.

  The window went down. “You sure picked a great place.” Dennis grinned.

  Emily turned away.

  “Thanks.” Gavin smiled.

  “Do you know if Armando is here yet?”

  “We just arrived ourselves,” Gavin said. “But I haven’t seen his car.”

  “Since we both missed the trial run we’ve decided to take part, and drive it together. Should be fun.” Dennis chuckled.

  Another car drove up behind Dennis, who was blocking the way.

  “Best of luck,” Gavin said as Dennis drove off to park. He turned to Emily who was now staring at the ground. “You alright? How do you feel?”

  “Numb,” she said. “I think it’s still too soon for me to interact with other people.”

  “That’s okay,” he said. “I can do all the talking. There’s no pressure on you to do anything.” He looked up at the winery. “I was going to see if I could get some coffee. Want to wait in the car, and I can bring something back for you?”

  She thought for a moment. “No, I’ll feel better going with you.”

  He took her hand, and they strolled up the sidewalk to the winery. In the cafe, Gavin got his coffee and an iced tea for Emily. Then they wandered out onto the terrace. Gavin was looking out at the lake when Emily poked him in the side. He turned to see Bill coming toward them.

  “Good afternoon,” Bill said.

  Gavin shook his hand. “Nicole didn’t come?”

  “She sends her regards. Our son and his family are up visiting.”

  “How’s Lacey?” Emily smiled, looking up.

  “She’s fine.” Bill chuckled. “We’ll be closing the house up for the winter soon, but Nicole and I hope you’ll both come back next summer.”

  Gavin nodded. “Thanks. That’s very nice of you.”

  “Well,” Bill said. “I should go check on Bonnie and Jay. I’ll catch you later.”