Ghostly Paws (Mystic Notch Cozy Mystery Series)

by Leighann Dobbs

  The problem was that I didn’t want to leave the shop closed too long. I’d been opening late, taking a long lunch and leaving early a lot lately and I didn’t want to put customers off. Lavinia might have been murdered, but I still had to earn a living.

  I decided to visit the Bates’ during lunch and the church later in the afternoon. I didn’t usually get too many customers after three, so I’d close early and still be able to get to the church before Emma went home for the night.

  I finished my toast, eyeing Pandora who was lounging lazily on the sofa in the living room. It was probably best for me to leave her here, since I’d be in and out of the shop all day.

  I opened the drawer where I kept the catnip and Pandora immediately jerked her head up, her eyes slitting open and zoning in on the drawer. She leaped down from the couch and padded over.

  I took a pinch of dried herbs out of the catnip bag and sprinkled it on the floor. She sniffed, then made a gleeful meow and threw herself on her back, rubbing and rolling in the pile of herbs.

  I stuffed one of her favorite toys full of the catnip and threw it. She sprang up, pouncing sideways and sliding into the wall, then scurried over to the toy, grabbing it in her mouth, tossing it in the air and catching it.

  Satisfied that she was happily distracted, I grabbed the Bates’ photo album and made a run for the Jeep.

  ***

  I got to the bookstore late and the regulars were waiting for me outside. I let them in and we had the usual conversation. Bing stayed behind when Hattie, Cordelia and Josiah got up to leave.

  “I was wondering if you’ve gotten any good books in.” Bing craned his neck to look behind the counter where I usually stacked the new books. “I’m starting up a collection of old leather-bounds. The older the better.”

  “Well, I got some books from Barry and there were a few old ones in there.” I pointed toward the aisle where I kept the older books. “All my older ones would be over there.”

  “Great.” Bing headed in that direction. He was an avid reader and liked to compile collections of antiques and then, eventually, sell them off. I guess it was an interesting way to make money out of a hobby.

  The morning was filled with a whirlwind of customers and Bing must have left without a purchase as I never saw him again. I was distracted, waiting on customers and anxious to close up for lunch and get out to the Bates mansion.

  I took the opportunity of the lunchtime lull to close up shop so I could take the photo album up to the Bates’. We didn’t have drive-thru’s in Mystic Notch, so I had to settle for eating a packet of cheese crackers that I picked up at the gas station.

  I was just finishing the last one when I pulled into the Bates’ crushed gravel driveway. The crackers settled like lead in my stomach as I looked at the foreboding mansion, remembering how Derek had rushed me out the last time I was there.

  Maybe I wouldn’t be welcome?

  Glancing at the photo album on the seat beside me, I realized that was silly. Of course I would be welcome—Derek wanted the photo album. He’d made a special trip to my shop to ask about it.

  Still, I felt the tingle of nerves bloom in my stomach as I walked up the steps. The four-story mansion loomed over me, sucking all the sunlight out of the day.

  It was chilly and grew even cooler in the shadow of the house. A shiver tickled my spine as I pressed the fancy white porcelain doorbell.

  I waited.

  The sound of the bell echoed through the house, but no one came to the door. Where was the fancy butler?

  Maybe I should give him more time. The house was gigantic and if he was at the other end it would take a while to get to the door.

  I waited, tapping my fingertips on the soft leather of the photo album.

  No one came.

  Impatience spread through me. My leg started throbbing. Was no one home? I’d come all the way out here and I hoped it wasn’t a wasted trip.

  I backed down the steps and looked up at the house. No signs of life. Sighing, I turned back toward the driveway when a movement over by the garage caught my eye.

  Was someone there? I remembered Derek liked to tinker with cars. I took off in that direction.

  The gravel crunched under my feet as I approached the garage, which was almost as big as my house. Made from the same granite block as the mansion, it had two stories and four garage bays. Three of them were closed, their green wooden doors blocking what was inside. The fourth stood open, revealing a white 1960s Triumph convertible.

  I approached tentatively, wrinkling my nose at the smell of oil and metal. It was dark inside and I didn’t see a soul. What was that movement I’d seen?

  “Hello?” I ventured.

  Clunk.

  “Ouch!”

  Derek slid halfway out from under the Triumph on a dolly. Rubbing his head, he frowned at me from his upside down position, then recognition lit his face.

  “Willa! What are you doing here?” He slid all the way out, stood up and brushed the dirt from his blue mechanic’s outfit.

  “I thought you might like this.” I held out the photo album and he pulled a rag from his pocket, using it to wipe the grease off his hands before taking the album.

  A smile formed on his lips as he leafed through the book. “Well, I’ll be…”

  A noise came out of the dark recesses of the garage, startling both of us. Derek swung around toward it. Carson appeared, seemingly out of nowhere, a boyish grin on his face.

  He casually crossed the other bays toward us, his hands in his pockets. My eyes had adjusted to the dark and I noticed a car occupied each of the bays. A Mini-Cooper in one, a pickup truck in another, and a long dark sedan, almost like a limousine in the last. I remembered seeing Felicity being chauffeured around by a driver and noticed some dark chauffeur’s coats and caps hanging on knobs at the other end of the garage. Must be nice to have money.

  “Carson, jeez, do you have to sneak up on us like that?” Derek closed the album and glared at his brother. I wondered if they didn’t get along … they always seemed to before.

  “Hi, Willa,” Carson said, ignoring his brother, his gaze falling on the photo album. “What’s that?”

  “An old family photo album I came across in my travels. Thought you guys might want it.”

  Carson came closer.

  “Let’s see.” He held his hand out and practically had to wrestle it away from Derek. “I hope we didn’t rush you out of here the other night … mother can be a little overzealous in her … umm … experiments.

  “What kind of experiments is she doing?” I felt my brows creep up my forehead. Experiments?

  Derek shot a look at Carson, who was busy flipping the pages of the photo album.

  “Oh, yoga and stuff … you know.” Derek waved a hand dismissively.

  “These are great.” Carson held the book up with one hand spreading the pages apart to show the picture of the two brothers with their father and grandfather. “Look at this great picture of us with Dad and and Grandpa. Cripes, this album must be twenty-five years old.”

  “Yes, well, we don’t need to keep Willa. I’m sure she’s busy.” Derek snatched the book away from Carson, who looked hurt.

  “Where’d you get it?” Carson asked.

  “It was in a box of books I acquired.”

  “Were there any other books of ours in with it?” Carson nodded toward the house. “Mother sold off some of our collection of older books and we’d like to get them back.”

  I shook my head. “There weren’t any other photo albums or scrap books in there.”

  “Where’s the box? Could we take a look?” Carson asked.

  I frowned toward my car. “Well, I guess so…”

  “Great!” Carson took off toward the car and Derek and I followed.

  I opened the back hatch and the empty cargo bay reminded me that I’d been in such a hurry to rush out while Pandora was occupied with the catnip that I’d left the box at home. “Oh, sorry guys … I left the box at
home.”

  “That’s okay. We don’t need those old books.” Derek’s eyes darkened as he looked up at the mansion. “We have enough stuff in there. The photo album is one thing, but forget about all those old dusty books.”

  Derek steered Carson back toward the garage and I remembered I wanted to talk to Idris about the bronzes.

  “Hey, I was wondering if I could ask your grandfather about those bronzes,” I said. “I knocked on the door but no one answered.”

  Derek scowled up at the house. “Grandfather is very ill. We’re not entertaining visitors in the house.”

  “Oh, okay.” I felt disappointed about the bronzes, but maybe I could find out more about Felicity. “Maybe your mother remembers?”

  “Mother?” No, I doubt it. She doesn’t take much of an interest in that stuff.” Derek reached into his pocket. “Thanks for bringing by the photo album. What do I owe you?”

  I flapped my hand in the air. “Forget about it. I couldn’t sell it to anyone else, anyway.”

  “Great. Then thanks for stopping by.” Derek turned around, dismissing me, and I watched the two of them walk back to the garage.

  I had no choice but to get in my car and drive away, disappointment following me like a black cloud.

  As the stone mansion grew smaller in my rear view mirror, I got the funny feeling that there was something strange about the Bates family, and it wasn’t just because their house looked like it should be in a horror movie.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  I took a detour on my way back to the bookstore. I wanted to get the box of books I’d left at home so I’d have some new stock for the store.

  Pulling into the driveway, I trotted up the farmer’s porch steps and opened the door, expecting to be greeted by an angry Pandora.

  The box sat on the kitchen table, right where I’d left it. I hefted it up against my hip, noticing the odd silence in the house.

  “Pandora?”

  Silence.

  She must be really mad. I pictured her silently glaring at me from the living room sofa, or maybe hacking up a hairball on my bed.

  I peeked into the living room. No cat, just the sun glinting off the paperweight, which reflected the books from my bookshelf on its curved surface.

  Putting down the box, I went over to get the one thing that would bring her running—a can of cat food.

  I popped open the top. Usually, the sound would entice her from even the most remote part of the house, but this time she didn’t come.

  I made a lot of noise putting the food into a bowl, but still no Pandora. Glancing over at the cat door, I realized she must have gone out.

  “Well, I’m sure she can take care of herself,” I said to no one as I picked the box back up and headed for my Jeep.

  The books shifted in the box on the seat beside me as I drove to the bookstore. I probably should let Derek and Carson look through them before I stocked them on my shelves. I knew there were no more photo albums or scrapbooks, but some of the books were ancient and if they’d had a book in a collection, it should probably go back to the family.

  I didn’t have time to go back there now, though. I wanted to open the shop for the full afternoon and hopefully make up for all the time I’d been taking off.

  I parked in my spot behind the shop and dragged the box inside, setting it down behind the counter. Potential customers were already peering in the windows, so I hurried over to unlock the door and turn the sign to ‘Open’.

  Customers filed in immediately and I enjoyed a busy afternoon with almost record sales. Unfortunately, I didn’t have any time to look at the books in the box or call the Bates’. I’d been so busy, I didn’t even notice it was past five p.m. when the steady stream of customers died down.

  The approaching dinner hour emptied the streets and I closed up shop, taking the chance to sneak away and visit Emma over at the church. I doubted she was the one that killed Lavinia, but she did mention she needed money and she was hiding something. If nothing else, maybe I could find out what secret Lavinia and Ophelia shared.

  ***

  The white doors of the church loomed in front of me. They were big, standing about twelve-feet tall. And they were locked.

  Oversized brass latches adorned the front. I pulled and tugged on them, but the doors wouldn’t open. Did the church close? I thought it was always open.

  I turned away from the doors, my shoulders slumping. I was batting zero in my investigation today—I hadn’t been able find out anything about the bronzes and now I wouldn’t be able to talk to Emma, either.

  “Mew.”

  I turned to my left and recognized the ginger-colored cat Pandora had had the altercation with behind the library. Come to think of it, I’d seen the same cat at Lavinia’s funeral.

  I crouched down and put my hand out.

  “Here, Kitty,” I crooned, trying to lure the cat over.

  The cat looked at me with disdain, then turned toward the woods, walked a few steps, then turned back to look at me again.

  “Meow.”

  The cat swung around and headed toward the woods again, pausing a second to look back over its shoulder at me, almost as if it was trying to get me to follow it.

  Should I?

  I hesitated on the church steps, trying to remember what was in that direction. I knew the church owned a lot of land in addition to the piece I was standing on where the church was built and the large parcel behind it where the cemetery was. The wooded area the cat was heading into was also part of the church property, but hadn’t been developed yet.

  The cat was at the edge of the woods now, looking back at me.

  “What the heck,” I said out loud, and started into the woods after it.

  The dense woods blocked out most of the late afternoon sun and a damp chill settled on me as I followed the cat. Surprisingly, my leg didn’t hurt. I hoped it was finally getting better.

  The cat was following a path and we hadn’t walked far when a rustling sound to my right caused my heart to jerk. I whipped my head toward it. Just another cat. I breathed a sigh of relief as I recognized the gray tiger cat as one that had been behind the library when I’d found the embosser.

  I kept following the orange cat while the gray tiger kept pace over to my right, but at a safe distance. Just when I was starting to wonder if I’d made a mistake, an unkempt building appeared. It looked like some sort of storage building—large, with a door on the front but only one window on the side.

  We were about ten feet away when the door opened slowly. My breath caught in my throat as Emma backed out of the building.

  Emma whirled around, leaving the door open behind her.

  “What are you doing here? This is church property!” Her voice rose in a pitch of anger … and maybe even a little anxiety.

  Stainless steel bowls clanked together in her hands and I leaned sideways to see into the building behind her.

  She stood her ground, legs firmly planted as if she was guarding Fort Knox. What was in there? A stash of crucifixes? Frankincense and Myrrh? What could possibly be so important in a church storage shed … and what was with those bowls?

  Elspeth appeared in the doorway and I sucked in another surprised breath.

  “Elspeth?” My brows mashed together as I stared at my neighbor. What was she doing here?

  “It’s okay, Emma,” Elspeth said sweetly. “Willa is a friend.”

  Emma eyed me dubiously as she stepped aside.

  “Not many people know about this place.” Elspeth held out her arm, beckoning me closer. “We try to keep it secret, because there are some that would do us harm. Your grandma was a big supporter, though.”

  “Supporter?” Apparently, I’d been reduced to one-word questions.

  “Yes,” Elspeth’s radiant smile lit her face as she stepped aside. “Come on in and I’ll show you.”

  ***

  The windows on either end let filtered light into the dim interior. It took a few seconds for my eyes to adju
st. When they did, I stared in wonder.

  “Cats?” I raised my brows at Elspeth.

  The building must have been about sixteen by twenty feet. The entire perimeter was stacked with wooden platforms loaded with straw. Bales of hay were strewn about. An occasional wooden kindling box lay on the floor. A row of stainless steel bowls holding cat food and water lined the far end.

  Cats lounged around the perimeter. Several of them ran off as I entered. Others remained lounging, peering at me warily, coiled to spring up and run if I came too close. A few ignored me altogether. I recognized a couple of them from the day behind the library.

  “These are feral cats,” Elspeth said. “As you can see, we have quite a few that we try to keep warm and fed.”

  I crouched down, trying to coax one over.

  “Most of them won’t go near humans.” Emma crouched down beside me, apparently warming to me now that she knew I had Elspeth’s stamp of approval. She stuck out her hand and clucked.

  A ball of black and white fur darted out from behind a bale of hay. It was the small black and white kitten with the tattered ear. She came over to Emma and licked her hand, then eyed me tentatively. I held my hand still and she ventured over, letting me pet her behind the ear.

  “The friendly ones like her,” Emma nodded toward the kitten as she scampered back behind the hay bale, “we try to adopt out to a good home. The others are too wild to adopt, so we provide shelter and food for them here.”

  Now I knew where Elspeth had acquired her growing collection of cats.

  “Why in here?” I asked.

  Elspeth and Emma looked at each other. Elspeth’s face grew sad.

  “Unfortunately, there are some who would harm our cause,” Emma said.

  “Really? Why?” Being an animal lover myself, I couldn’t imagine who would oppose feeding starving animals.

  “Some people in this town think the feral cats are dirty and will drive away the tourists that come to spend money,” Emma said.

  “So we hide back here.” Elspeth looked around the room. “We’ve had to move the operation to different buildings three times in the past few years.”