Misty Hollow Cat Detective (Darcy Sweet Mystery) (A Smudge the Cat Mystery Book 1)

by K. J. Emrick

  She narrows her eyes at me in amusement. "Cats are supposed to be stealthy."

  "I thought you were going after this guy on your own," I pant, getting my feet back under me.

  "Are you crazy? I'm not stupid." She jumps past me with a little flick of her tail that's sassy and flirtatious all at once.

  It takes me a second or two to realize I'm staring. "Um, right. Hey, wait, where's the guy?"

  "He went inside already."

  As if on cue, we heard screaming from inside. A little girl. Heidi. Then, the raised voice of her mother calling her name. Something falling to the floor and shattering.

  And then the big guy comes flying out of the back door and jumps over the steps landing hard on the ground not five feet from me and Twist. I got a better look at him this time, in the instant before he ran for the fence line. Dark clothes. Dark, deeply tanned skin. Shaggy black hair sticking out from the bottom of a black knit cap. The guy was dressed like the cover of Cat Burglar Weekly.

  Pun intended.

  Then, just as quickly, he was throwing his feet up and over the picket fence and landing in the neighbor's yard, and he was gone.

  A woman stepped just outside the back door, raised fist waving. "Don't you dare come back here! I'll call the police if you do!"

  She wore a violet covered top and beige khakis. Her long brown hair hung in ringlets past her shoulders, and her facial features left no doubt that this was Heidi's mother.

  I studied the anger and fear on her face. Her lip quivered. Her eyes were wet with tears. It was obvious how scared she was. It was just as obvious that she knew the guy who had just slipped into her house to try and steal Heidi away from her. If I could speak human, I'd just ask her to tell me who it was. Unfortunately, every time I talk to people all they hear is "meow" or "mrowl" or some such thing.

  I wish people would just learn to speak cat. It would make everything so much easier.

  Now I'd have to do it the hard way.

  ***

  Jocko didn't have any idea who the guy was. In that hyper-nervous and incredibly annoying way of his he explained that he'd never seen him before. When I asked him for a description, all I got was "Big! Didn't you see him! He was so so so so big you had to see him!" Which, as descriptions go, wasn't very helpful.

  Heidi didn't know who it was either, according to Jocko. He told us that Heidi had cried after the man was gone, stroking Jocko's fur and asking him to tell her why this was happening to her. Jocko actually stopped talking when he said that, squeezing back into his little plastic igloo until all I could see was his butt. Again.

  When I heard him sobbing, I motioned to Twist that it was time to go.

  To find someone who doesn't want to be found, you need to know where they will be. Once you know that place, you sit there and wait. For as long as it takes.

  We knew that the guy coming after Heidi was going to come back to her house. Neither of us believed he would just give up now that Heidi's mother had scared him off. He'd be back. We'd be waiting.

  I just didn't know we'd be waiting this long.

  After sitting all the next day and all night with Twist, watching Jocko's house, I fell asleep. Hey. I'm only feline. I get tired. I woke up Sunday morning with my head pillowed on Twist's side. She was laying down with me, warm and tender and purring gently. I may have pretended to be asleep long after I was really awake so I could stay just like that.

  "Comfortable?" she asked me at one point, obviously knowing I was awake.

  "Very," was my sleepy reply. "I could get used to this."

  "Down, big boy. We're dating. That's all. I don't let any cat share my pet bed until I'm ready."

  I have to respect a cat who knows what she wants. Reluctantly, I sit up, yawning widely, my tongue curling and my muscles stretching. "Did you see anything last night?"

  "Not a thing," comes the disappointed answer. "Heidi and her mother stayed inside all night. Nobody came close. How long should we keep watching?"

  "As long as it takes. Um. Why don't you go home for a while? I'm sure Benton is missing you."

  Benton LaCroix, Twist's owner, is a nice old man who dotes on her something fierce. He must be beside himself wondering where she is.

  "Yeah, I suppose you're right. You'll come and get me if anything else happens?"

  I rub my face along hers. "Of course. I promise."

  She purred into my ear until it twitched and then she ran off, laughing.

  A long, slow breath helped clear my head and allowed me to focus back on the house across the street. What was going on in there? What could possibly drive someone to steal a little girl and all of her stuff? Who would want to do that?

  This is people stuff. I can't always understand people. I can sense what they're feeling, sometimes. More so with good people like Darcy. Not always with strangers. But I felt something from the big, dark and scary man when he ran out of Jocko's house. Anger. A lot of anger.

  I need help from someone who understands people. I need help from Darcy.

  ***

  Darcy's at home again when I get back there, on the phone with Jon again. I really don't have time for this. It's bad enough that I left Heidi's home unguarded. If I can't get Darcy to pay attention to me then my little jaunt home has been pointless.

  I wait, twitching my tail impatiently while they talk about ordering pizza. That reminds me. When did I eat last? It's been a while. My stomach growls and I ignore it. Still I wait, listening to Darcy talk all cute to Jon. Finally I can't take it anymore.

  Jumping up on Darcy's shoulders, gently balancing myself on her, I lean down close to her phone. "Jon, go away," I say. "I need Darcy for something important."

  Of course, people don't speak cat. So what Jon heard was "meow meow, merrow." Or something like that.

  “Aw,” I hear Jon say through the receiver. “Smudge loves me, too?”

  Oh, for the love of catnip. That is so not what I said.

  Darcy looks over at me and I take the hint. Jumping back down to the floor of the kitchen, I wait while she ends the phone call. “Uh, sure he does. What’s not to love? Look, I'd better go. I think Smudge needs some food. Hm? Oh. I love you too, Jon.”

  After she puts the phone back, she turns to me, one hand on her hip, a stern look on her face. “Well," she says to me, "you’ll just have to get used to him, Smudge. This one is here to stay.”

  She actually sounds annoyed with me. Have I been that hard on her about Jon? I guess I have. Sort of. A little. It doesn't feel good, knowing that I've upset her. As much as it hurts to admit, I know she needs more than me in her life. Just like I need Twist in mine.

  Fine. I'll learn to compromise. Just not right now. Right now, I need Darcy's full attention.

  Mewling, asking her to follow me by dancing closer to her and then away again, over and over until she catches on, I lead her outside and down the road. "What is it, Smudge?" Darcy asks as she keeps up with me through town. People say hello to her and she waves or says a quick greeting as we keep going.

  Darcy understands me really well. How many owners would trust their cats enough to follow them across town to one particular house where I need her to ask just the right question?

  When we get back to Jocko's I lead Darcy up the stairs and scratch at the door. She knocks without any hesitation. That's my girl.

  The door is opened by Heidi's mother. She looks at Darcy, obviously surprised to see her here. Before she could say anything, though, Darcy asks the right question.

  "Hello. I'm Darcy Sweet. What kind of trouble are you in?"

  ***

  I curled into Darcy's lap at the small, square kitchen table. Heidi's mom, Eva, had told Heidi to stay in her room while she chatted with Darcy. If it seemed odd to have someone show up on her doorstep with a cat and ask about her life, she didn't say so.

  "I don't know how you knew about this," she said to Darcy. "And I don't think you can help. I know who you are, Darcy, and I know you're dating that police detectiv
e. It doesn't matter. No one can stop him. Not you, and not the police. Just, please let it go."

  Now we were getting somewhere. I rub my head into Darcy's hand. I don't know what I'd do without her.

  "Look, Eva," Darcy says, "Jon is investigating…something else right now, but he'd definitely take the time to help you. That's the kind of man he is. You need to tell us what's going on, though. You said this man broke into your house, and stole some things. Why? Who is he?"

  I sit up, listening closely.

  Nervously, Eva pulled at her fingers where they rested on the tabletop. "This really isn't your problem. Why are you here?"

  Darcy smiled at her. "I'm here because neighbors help each other. That's how we do things in Misty Hollow. Please, let me help you. Who is this man?"

  Eva closed her eyes tightly for a moment before answering. She looked pale. "It's my husband. He's trying to take my daughter away."

  ***

  Okay. I have to admit that I didn't see that coming.

  Only a few hours after Darcy convinced a shaky Eva to accept her help, she and Jon were watching Heidi and Eva's house from a car parked nearby. I was doing my own surveillance. None of us were sure Eva's husband would try again tonight, of course, but I figure the guy is desperate. Desperate enough to steal a little girl from her own house. He won't be able to wait forever. Or even two days, for that matter.

  Eva had explained how Zane, her estranged husband, had left her right after Heidi had been born. He'd been gone ever since. Eight years. Heidi had never known her father. There were no pictures of him in the house, and there hadn't been any contact from him at all until Eva had filed for child support two months ago. After that, angry phone calls had turned into him showing up in the middle of the night and demanding visitation with a daughter he didn’t even know.

  And then things got worse.

  When items started disappearing from the house, Eva knew exactly who was doing it, and why. Zane was taking the things that were important to Heidi. Then he was going to take her. Eva was terrified of him. She was afraid if she went to the police, Zane would get violent. She hadn't ever asked anyone for help. Until now.

  Sometimes, I really don't understand people.

  I had raced off to Twistypaws as soon as I knew what was going on. When I told her everything, she had her own idea of how to help. I told her it as a bad idea. I argued until my voice was hoarse but she can be very stubborn when she wants to be. In the end, I didn't have any choice. Gritting my teeth, closing my eyes and sighing, I told her to go get her plan ready.

  I just know I'm going to regret it.

  It was getting dark now, the sun falling slowly toward the horizon. This was beginning to look like one more night of nothing happening. I hope not. Jon and Darcy are still trying to figure out a mystery of their own, about a woman who died in a fire. I don't know how much time they'll be able to give to this problem on top of the other. There's only so many hours in a day. Even for a cat.

  Shadows move across the backyard. Aha. Looks like we weren't wrong after all.

  The same hulking man with the big hands slips through the backyard. Zane. I can see him easily enough. I hope Jon and Darcy can see him, too.

  Racing around to the back, I see him throwing his shoulder against the door to break it in. He's not trying to be stealthy anymore. Desperate men will do desperate things. Worse, I sense the same anger from him now that I did before. I have to stop him. Hissing, jumping, snarling, I sink my claws into his leg.

  I am absolutely insane.

  Screaming loudly, Zane spins and almost loses his balance. My sanity returns in a rush and I jump away from him. Cowering back—ahem, I mean, taking a defensive position—I wait to see what Zane will do next. He rubs his leg and mumbles something about how annoying pets are, and then he positions himself to ram his upper body into the door one more time.

  "Don't move! Police!"

  I've never been so happy to hear Jon's voice. Ever. I swear to you.

  Jon and Darcy are coming around the same side of the house. Zane doesn't waste any time in running the opposite way. It looks like he's going to make the fence line again. If he does, he'll escape one more time.

  A brown mastiff dog, the same one who had nearly snapped me in two for taking the neighbor kid's toy away from him, suddenly bursts into view. Snarling and barking loud enough to hurt my ears the dog blocks Zane's path.

  Zane stopped so quickly that his feet went out from under him, landing him on his backside. I don't blame him, really. The mastiff was half as tall as the man, with nasty pointed teeth and an obvious intent to kill.

  Except that I knew he wasn't here to kill anyone. Butch is just here to scare Zane. Thanks to the cute cat at his heels.

  Twistypaws. She winks at me now, very proud of herself. This was her idea, the one I was so completely against. Now that I see Butch standing over Zane, lips peeled back from his teeth, slobbering all over Zane's chest, I have to admit. This was genius.

  I still don't like this dog. But he's maybe not so bad as I thought he was.

  As Jon inches closer to Zane, carefully eyeing big dog Butch, Twist whispers something to the mastiff. He nods once, then snorts out a spray of snot across Zane's face before turning and bounding away.

  Jon stares after him, obviously not believing what he had just seen. Whatever he's thinking it doesn't keep him from putting handcuffs around Zane's wrists and pinning his arms behind his back. He monologues Zane's rights and tells him he's under arrest and I suddenly don't dislike the man as much as I used to.

  Hey. I'm trying. For Darcy's sake.

  Twist saunters up to me, watching me from under lidded eyes. "Not all dogs are bad," she says.

  "Yes, they are," I insist. "But maybe some of them aren't as bad as others."

  I look over at Jon as I say that. Yeah. Sometimes you can't tell who the good ones are until you need their help. Twist knew she could trust Butch. Darcy knows she can trust Jon.

  Maybe I just need to listen to the women in my life more.

  ***

  It was a few days later when I was with Darcy in the kitchen of our house, winding between her legs, hoping she could maybe spare a few scraps of whatever she was making. Or, maybe some tuna fish.

  Love the tuna.

  When I heard the sound of the car horn from the driveway, I knew who it was going to be. Jon Tinker. I sigh, knowing I'm about to lose Darcy's attention again. Jon and I have come to an understanding, of sorts. I still wish he wasn't around quite so often, but I'm learning to share Darcy with him.

  Darcy goes out to meet him. I sniff around on the floor hoping maybe a piece of turkey or cheese might have fallen somewhere, until I hear Darcy squeal. Now what? Running over to the front door, which she left open, I see Jon swinging Darcy around in the air, his hands holding her up by her waist.

  “I have a surprise for you,” Jon says as he puts Darcy back down. “How about we go back to the cabin this weekend to celebrate?”

  “Celebrate?" she asks him. "Celebrate what?”

  Oh, come on. He just waltzes into her life and starts taking her away from me for days at a time? This just isn't fair.

  Darcy laughs, obviously happy. “That sounds amazing. When are we leaving?”

  “Friday," Jon tells her. "I took the day off, we can leave in the morning and get a head start on the weekend.”

  They come back inside the house, already making plans, and I know it's useless to argue. When I catch Darcy's eye, I let out a little sneeze as I shake my head. Darcy is in love with this man, and I'm just going to have to accept that. I want her to be happy, after all.

  If I have to share her with someone, I'm glad it's someone who loves her as much as Jon does.

  —End—

  The Circle of Life

  You know how cats have nine lives? No, really. We do. Well. Most of us do. Me, I only have eight lives.

  My name is Smudge, and I'm a cat. A black and white cat. Or a white cat with black fur. M
aybe a black cat with white fur. I'm not really sure. Anyway, that's where I come by the name Smudge. My owner gave it to me. I kind of like it.

  I live in Misty Hollow, a small town with not-so-small problems. You might say it's bigger than it seems. I've got a good life here, for the most part, and I have everything a cat could want. Except a full nine lives. Wish I had that ninth one back.

  This is the story of how I lost it.

  I remember it was a gorgeous summer day. One of those days in the middle of July that make a cat want to either curl up and take a nap, or go exploring. Ordinarily, I would have gone with the nap.

  Today, I chose to go exploring instead. Biggest mistake of my life.

  I hadn't lived in Misty Hollow for very long at that point so there were lots of things left to explore. My owner, Darcy Sweet, was working at the book store her Great Aunt Millie had used to own, so I had the whole day to myself. I kind of wish that I had known Millie when she was alive. Humans are humans, and some of them are better than others, but Millie is so much fun to talk to now that she's dead. I just know she would have been a great friend when she was alive. She haunts the book store now, a poltergeist making mischief to make the time pass, even though she could have moved on to the other side already. We've talked about her reasons for sticking around. I think the old lady is pretty smart, if you ask me.

  We talk about a lot of things, Millie and me. But that's a story for another time.

  Today, I wanted to explore the trees around the south side of town. Misty Hollow is a rural place. Even though there are lots of people living here, there's also lots of nature. Trees and bushes and other neat places for cats to check out. The trees here, thick and shady, could almost be called a forest. At least, I think they could. I've never been in an actual forest. Only in my dreams.

  Trees have this amazing smell to them. They smell like freedom and wild things. It makes me want to run around them, and jump, and climb this tree with my claws, and jump back down to the ground, and run some more.

  Being a cat rules.