“Why is it any of your business?” She leaned against the hard bench’s back, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. Her penetrating stare was on me.
My heart sped up. Was this another mistake? Had my gut feeling about this woman been wrong? I’d sensed she’d be honest and open, but now she was suspicious—and with good reason.
“I was in the Longworth house yesterday,” I said. “I went there with some simple questions and soon discovered that Miss Longworth seems ill. Something isn’t right, and I feel obligated to find out what’s going on.”
Gertrude looked at her daughter and said, “She’s a good one, Becky.” She raised a crooked finger to one eye. “It’s right there in her eyes. What’s your name again, sweetie?”
“Jillian,” I said.
“Pretty name, just like you. And a sight better than Gertrude any day,” she replied.
Rebecca smiled and took her mother’s hand. “I should talk to her? Is that what you’re saying, Mama?”
Gertrude nodded. “That’s what I’m saying. Miss Ritaestelle made sure we got the mortgage for our first house. Told the banker we’d always be good for the payments. Did you know that, Becky?”
“No, I didn’t,” Rebecca said. The younger woman’s face had brightened; she was probably thrilled about these precious lucid moments.
“If Miss Ritaestelle is in trouble, then you need to help Jillian. Now, I need more peanuts. Did you forget to bring them again?” Gertrude said.
“They’re in your pocket, remember?” Rebecca said.
Gertrude struggled to reach into the folds of her skirt and came out with a handful of peanuts. “Well, slap me silly, who put those there?” She tossed a few over her shoulder, and the four squirrels that had now gathered scurried in that direction. Gertrude smiled broadly and turned to watch.
“Who are you people?” Rebecca said.
“We live in Mercy. I volunteer at the animal sanctuary. Shawn Cuddahee—”
“I know the place. I only briefly met Shawn, but his wife, Allison, is so, so nice. I adopted my little dog Nick from them about four years ago. But I interrupted. Go on.”
“Shawn called and tried to speak with Miss Longworth several times last week. No one returned his call. He thought I might have better luck if I just went there,” I said.
Rebecca shook her head. “I don’t understand. Why would Mr. Cuddahee be calling Miss Longworth?”
“He found her cat,” I said. “But like I said, she never called Shawn back and I never got to talk to her. I’m hoping to find out why.”
“I heard she’s not returning anyone’s calls ever since they found out about the shoplifting. It’s a sad day when a strong woman like that loses her way.” Rebecca glanced at her mother, who was engrossed in her bird feeding.
Tom said, “We heard about the shoplifting. But earlier you seemed to indicate there’s more than that going on.”
“I’ll say. Everyone’s talking about it. Word is that Evie Preston—that’s Miss Longworth’s personal assistant—has made calls to big-time places like the Cleveland Clinic and Johns Hopkins. Evie thinks she’s sick or something.”
If I still lived in Houston, I would have been amazed that one person would know so much about what was going on, but this town was even smaller than Mercy. Everyone knew everything about what went on—and that was why we’d come to the park in the first place.
I glanced at Rebecca’s mother and back to her. “Is Miss Longworth being treated by a doctor here for a possible . . . medical problem?”
“You mean Alzheimer’s?” Rebecca said softly.
I nodded.
“Not that I know of, but we don’t have many specialists. I have to take my mother to Charlotte to see a doctor there. I happen to have firsthand knowledge about Miss Longworth’s recent problems. I took Mama to pick up a prescription a couple months ago. Evie was there with Miss Ritaestelle. Miss Longworth looked blank-faced, like she was almost sleepwalking. At the counter, when Miss Longworth opened her bag to pay, Evie spotted a handful of small-change items—nail polish, nail clippers, stuff like that. She took them all out and put them on the counter so she could pay for them. When Evie looked back at me, she seemed so embarrassed.” Rebecca squeezed her mother close again. “Rumor is that not long after, Evie Preston told the police chief about that incident. See the chief and Miss Longworth are friends and Chief Shelton could help before things got out of hand. As many troubles as we’ve had, I never had that kind of problem.”
Gertrude looked bewildered again. “You’ve got a problem, little lady? I know where the police officers can be found. Parked in their car outside the kolache shop on Briar Street.”
I grinned. “Thanks for the tip, Mrs. Hill.” That might prove to be useful information if word got around that I was asking questions. We would definitely avoid Briar Street.
“Mrs. Hill, you say?” Gertrude said. “Is she related to that handsome young lawyer, Peter Hill?”
Rebecca took her mother’s elbow and said, “Time to move on, Mama. We have more birds to feed near our house.”
Gertrude slowly rose with Rebecca’s help, and as they passed by, I thanked Rebecca for her help.
“You take care,” Tom offered.
Before they left, Rebecca leaned down and whispered, “Peter is my brother.”
I managed to pat Rebecca’s arm reassuringly and say, “You are so brave,” before they slowly walked away.
“That police chief will hear about this conversation, you know,” Tom said. “She’ll make sure no one talks to you after this.”
“Why? I’m only trying to help a cat and a woman who seems to be in trouble.”
“I know,” Tom said gently, “but you said yourself there’s more to this. If Chief Shelton decides no one should talk to you, then I’m betting she’ll get her way.”
“I couldn’t fool around with Rebecca and Gertrude. I can’t help but wonder after meeting them if Kara will be so completely there for me one day. Make sure my cats are fed, their litter boxes are clean. And what about poor Ritaestelle? Does she have any family to—”
“What are you doing back in Woodcrest?” came a female voice I recognized. She was standing behind me.
I turned and looked up at Chief Nancy Shelton.
Tom rose and faced her. “I insisted she come back. Tom Stewart.” He held out his hand.
The woman, once again wearing that navy blue jacket and skirt with the shiny police badge on her lapel, regarded Tom’s hand as if it were a gerbil in a petting zoo. Would it be safe to touch?
But finally she shook his hand.
“You know your friend here”—the chief nodded at me—“well, she caused quite an upset at the Longworth house yesterday.”
I so wanted to say that the “upset” had begun long before I arrived, but instead I said, “I meant no harm.”
Nancy Shelton’s stern look disappeared. “I understand. I’m not an unreasonable woman, despite what you think. I’m simply very protective of my citizens. I’ve had a day to think about my behavior yesterday, and I talked more with Miss Preston about your visit. I overreacted. You’re concerned about Isis. Isn’t that right? Mr. Cuddahee apparently found her and sent you here?”
I slouched in relief. “Yes. I want to bring Miss Longworth’s cat back to her. She seems to need her friend more than ever right now,” I said.
Chief Shelton closed her eyes, hung her head briefly. “You may want to rethink that.”
“Why’s that?” Tom said.
“Because I hate to tell you this, but the family told me that Ritaestelle tossed that cat out the door last week. I’d say Isis is lucky to be alive.”
Eight
Chief Shelton’s words hung in the hot, sticky air. She was saying that Miss Longworth tossed her cat out the door like so much garbage. This was such unexpected information that I could hardly believe it. Neither Tom nor I spoke for several seconds.
Tom finally said, “You’re sure the cat didn’t sneak out?
In others words, act . . . well, catlike?”
“That’s not what I understand.” The chief looked at me. “Is the cat okay?”
“Yes. She’s with me.” My voice sounded flat. I’d been so certain I would be returning Isis to her home. But now I wasn’t so sure.
The chief said, “Do you think you can keep Isis for a while? Or . . . perhaps I can find someone to take her.”
“It would be too stressful for her to end up at yet another place so soon,” I said. “I’m just getting to know her, and I don’t mind keeping her for a while.” If I could get a good night’s sleep, that is.
Shelton nodded. “All right. I’m not a cat person, so I trust your judgment. Where did you find her, by the way?”
“Shawn found her near the highway between here and Mercy,” I said absently. Would Isis calm down? Would my own cats completely freak out by having such a spoiled animal in the same house with them for longer than I’d thought?
“If I can offer a suggestion?” Shelton said.
“Sure,” Tom answered after a glance my way. He obviously could tell how stunned I was by this news. How dismayed.
“Please leave Ritaestelle alone for now. There have been problems. I won’t betray her confidence, but plans are in the works to help her.” Shelton looked at me. “When the family believes Ritaestelle is ready, they’ll tell her that Isis is safe. In fact, I’ll tell her myself. She and I go back a long way.”
Just as Ed and Rebecca had said. They went way, way back. “I have no intention of bothering Miss Longworth. I’ve been trying to do the right thing by both her and her cat,” I said.
“I understand,” Shelton said with a sad smile.
Tom pulled a business card from his shirt pocket. “Why don’t you call me when you think Miss Longworth is well enough to hear the news about Isis?”
She took the card and smiled. “Thank you for your concern. And again, forgive me for yesterday, Ms. Hart. Evie Preston was understandably upset when she saw you come upstairs and observe Ritaestelle at her worst. She called me right away, and I took off after you without thinking. Protecting our friends is important here in Woodcrest. Now, I have to get back to the station. But I do so appreciate your concern.”
After she was gone, Tom said, “Protecting their secrets is what she meant.”
“I—I—This is plain awful,” I said, shaking my head. “Not what I expected. But I’m glad we came. After listening all night to that cat screech, I was ready to bring Isis with me today and drop her off at the Longworth place. Now I’m glad I didn’t.”
“A little information can make all the difference. Let’s go.” Tom put his arm around my shoulder. “You look completely wrung out. If you want, come to my place for a nap before you go home. Dashiell and I will make sure you’re comfortable.”
Dashiell was Tom’s big, lovable cat. He purred as loud as a jet engine when he curled up in my lap. I leaned into Tom and we started walking.
He went on, saying, “By the way, the original Dashiell Hammett had a great quote that seems appropriate right now. He said, ‘You got to look on the bright side, even if there ain’t one.’ ”
I stopped and rested a hand on Tom’s cheek. “Thanks for coming, and for stepping in when I was too taken aback to even speak.”
“I’m glad I could help. You don’t have to go it alone, Jilly. People care about you—and I’m one of them.”
We hugged and I gave him a quick kiss. But as we continued on through the quiet little park to Tom’s car, I only wanted to go home. After what I’d heard, I needed to love on my own kitties. And maybe, just maybe, I could make friends with Isis.
On the ride back to Mercy, I’d checked my phone and the video feeds from my cat cam, but I didn’t see any of my three in the living room. Usually Merlot would be sleeping on the window seat about now, but he was nowhere to be seen.
Meanwhile, Tom got a call from a customer about a malfunction in a security camera he’d installed, and though he offered again to drop me off at his place for some peace and quiet, I refused. I arrived home about three o’clock, disengaged the alarm at the back door and walked into the kitchen. I heard the sounds of Animal Planet coming from the TV—Syrah especially enjoyed Animal Planet while I was gone—but when I called my three cats’ names in succession, none of them came to greet me.
Strange. And even stranger, I heard no yowling coming from Isis’s basement apartment. Suddenly I no longer felt tired. What went on while I was away?
I kept calling for my cats in a questioning tone as I descended the basement steps. The first thing I saw downstairs was the bedroom door ajar. A hint of panic tightened my gut. But when I reached the door, I saw scratch marks on the doorknob as well as all around the knob.
“Sy-rah?” I called, trying to keep the irritation I felt out of my voice. “What have you been up to, my friend?” This was his work, no doubt about it. Who knew cats could open doors? But he’d done it before, and now he’d done it again.
The bedroom was empty. No Isis, no other cats. Last autumn someone broke in and catnapped Syrah, so I still felt worried even though my home was now well-secured. That was how I’d met Tom, in fact. He’d set up the cameras and alarms and checked everything regularly. Since the alarm hadn’t gone off, surely there hadn’t been another break-in. But the question remained, where in this house were my cats and our less than friendly visitor, Isis? A quick look in the basement pantry, utility room and bathroom proved they were not down here.
I went back upstairs, and it didn’t take long to find them—or at least I saw Syrah, Chablis and Merlot. They were in my quilting room and had my sewing machine cabinet surrounded. The scene reminded me of three ships on the ocean ready to attack a pirate vessel. Isis could be considered a pirate in this house—trying to steal attention and upset the norm. She must be in my Koala cabinet—a lovely piece of equipment that expands to provide a cutting table and plenty of room for machine piecing—not to mention plenty of places to hide.
Chablis was the first to break her intense stare on that cabinet. She turned and offered me a tiny mew in greeting. But Syrah and Merlot didn’t take their eyes off the right-side cupboard. I didn’t feel the least bit of sympathy for Isis. In fact, I was willing to bet she hadn’t been grateful or sweet when Syrah opened that door downstairs and let her escape.
I walked over to the cabinet and squatted. Merlot was the next to acknowledge my presence. And when he looked at me, I saw his ear was bleeding a little at the tip. That would have to be thoroughly cleaned, and soon. But first, Isis needed to have another lesson as to who was boss in my house.
Syrah remained as still as a statue, his ears flat. He was one unhappy cat. I decided having three observers when I removed Isis from the cabinet might be a bad idea. I gathered up Merlot and Chablis, put them outside the room and shut them out. But I decided to allow Syrah to stay. He was top cat in the group, and I needed to help him maintain his status.
I got down on all fours, widened the cabinet door and peered inside the cabinet. Green slitted eyes stared back at me. Isis hissed when she saw my face. Syrah slowly moved in beside me and sat. He didn’t spit; he didn’t hiss; he just stared Isis down. She turned her head away briefly.
I quickly reached in and grabbed her by the scruff so she couldn’t bite me as I pulled her out. To my surprise, she didn’t try to scratch or bite. She allowed me to pick her up as Syrah watched intently.
I stood and looked down at Syrah. “Thanks, my friend. Good work.”
Isis began to purr, probably more from fear than from anything else. Syrah can indeed be intimidating in his own quiet way. I carried Isis out to the living room with my three felines following close behind. When I sat on the couch and Chablis jumped up beside us, Isis hissed at her. I tapped the goddess’s nose. She blinked and looked up at me. Bet that had never happened before. But she quit hissing, and soon all three of my cats were on the couch wanting a sniff of her. After about five minutes of this, Isis jumped down, her tail swi
shing. But a peace had been forged, and I was hoping against hope that I might actually get some sleep tonight.
I turned off Animal Planet, rested my head against the sofa cushions and the next thing I heard was my phone ringing. Seems I’d taken that nap after all. As I reached in my dress pocket for my phone, I realized that Isis had joined Chablis on the couch. Chablis likes it when I nap—she loves to snuggle close—and even though Isis was way at the other end of the sofa, I had to smile. My three cats had accomplished what I could never have done—tamed the entitled one.
The caller ID showed Candace’s name and number. I answered with a “Hey there.”
“How does iced coffee from Belle’s Beans and a couple of chili dogs from the Main Street Café sound? I need a break from Mom and her painting instructions.” I heard the strain in Candace’s voice. She loved her mom dearly but didn’t like to be “instructed” by anyone and certainly not by her mother.
“You’re doing pickup and delivery?” I said.
“Absolutely. See you soon.” She hung up.
I checked the clock on the DVR across the room. Past five o’clock. Wow. That was one nice snooze. But I needed to clean Merlot’s scratch, splash some water on my face and change my clothes. I am not a fan of anything besides capris, jeans, T-shirts and shorts. And the nap had taken a toll on this dress. It was a wrinkled mess.
After I used soap and water on a less than happy Merlot’s ear, I went to the bedroom, stripped off the dress in my bathroom and tossed it toward the closet and my hamper—and missed. I turned on the sink’s faucet, and after dousing myself with cold water, I reached for a towel. And saw Isis already curled up on my discarded clothing. She blinked sleepily. Seemed she was making herself right at home. But whether we would become her family was another story. My cats may have put Isis in her place, but that didn’t mean they wanted her around permanently.
I pulled on a pair of cutoffs and a T-shirt with a picture of a rather mean-looking Persian cat. The quote beneath the picture said, IF YOU WANT A FRIEND, GET A DOG. Of course, Persians are sweet cats and my felines are the best friends I could ever have, but the picture and quote made me smile.
The Cat, the Lady and the Liar Page 6