“They have the fire contained!” someone yelled.
I looked up to see that the fire had shrunk significantly.
And that more people had arrived.
Jasper was standing in front of a big tree with Deacon, talking to Detective Cutter. When Deacon caught sight of us he elbowed his friend in the ribs, and when Jasper looked in our direction, his expression cleared. Suddenly he was smiling.
Jasper said his goodbyes to Detective Cutter and immediately made his way over to us, Deacon following right behind.
“If it isn’t the boyfriend brigade,” said Liam with a smile.
“How’s it going?” Jasper asked, smiling at me.
“Good,” we all chorused.
“Except for the dangerous fire,” said Greer.
“Yeah, I hope no one was inside,” said Jasper.
“Or any cats,” added Honolulu. “Unfortunately, I was.”
Both Greer and I didn’t look down at our feet, but it took a lot of effort.
“I’ve missed you lately!” Deacon came over and took Greer up in his arms. She playfully shoved at his chest, then giggled and snuggled closer. She was very happy to just nestle under Deacon’s chin.
Meanwhile, my new boyfriend and I stood there awkwardly, neither of us making a move toward the other.
Liam, who was perfectly happy to highlight embarrassing situations said, “Smooth.”
Jasper grinned.
“We’re playing it cool,” I said.
“Don’t want to ruin Carrot’s reputation?” Deacon asked.
“What reputation?” I demanded.
“You know, as the . . . OUCH!” Deacon bellowed, as Greer’s foot managed to connect with his shin.
“What was that for?” he asked. He put Greer down and rubbed at the injured area.
“Just a reflex,” said Greer.
“Sure it was,” said her boyfriend, still looking pained.
“What do you think started the fire?” I asked.
“Not sure, but we’ll find out tomorrow when we read it in the papers. Although some people might find out sooner if they know the right reporter,” said Jasper.
“Only the lucky few,” said Deacon.
“I should go have a word with my mother,” said Liam. “She’s probably worried, since I haven’t checked in for a while.”
“Okay, and we should be getting home,” I said. “There’s a lot to do tomorrow.”
Just then Mrs. Cook was led past us by Detective Cutter. She had a shawl wrapped around her shoulders and she looked quite shaken. Flanking her were Mrs. Barnett and Mrs. Snicks, supporting the amateur baker between them.
“Is she okay?” Charlie asked, trailing after the four of them.
“She’ll be fine. She’s just had a shock. She was in the kitchen going over plans for the fair when she noticed the fire,” explained Mrs. Barnett.
Charlie saw us and waved, but continued to follow Mrs. Cook as the whole group headed for the Daily Brew.
“Come on,” I said, starting to follow.
Deacon and Jasper looked surprised but didn’t argue, while Greer, having figured out that I had a new case in hand, tossed her dark hair over her shoulder and tagged along.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Detective Cutter demanded as he blocked the entrance to the Daily Brew.
“Making sure a family friend is all right,” I said. “Is that against the law?”
“Is that all you’re up to?” he asked with a frown. Detective Cutter was somehow under the impression that I was a detective, and he didn’t want any competition.
“I’ll go through,” said Honolulu, trotting between everyone’s legs.
“Let them in,” called Mrs. Barnett.
As we entered the Daily Brew and closed the door behind us, the crowd in the street was starting to disperse. Lots of people who had abandoned their shopping on Main Street were returning to retrieve their cars, talking about the fire as they walked along.
“Are you all right, Mrs. Cook?” Charlie sped past Detective Cutter and seized Mrs. Cook’s hand.
Mrs. Cook gave the younger woman a wan smile.
“I’m fine. Just shaken. At least I know Tabitha’s out of town. My, I can’t imagine how upset I would have been if I thought the poor woman was inside. Her cat ran off a long time ago too.”
“Yeah, I ran so far,” said Honolulu, who was sitting on the table in front of Mrs. Cook, gazing at her with an unblinking expression.
Charlie hadn’t been filled in yet, but she knew us well enough to sense that something strange was happening.
“Tabitha had a cat?” she asked.
“Yes, a wonderful creature, although as a rule I don’t much like cats,” said Mrs. Cook, fighting to speak through tears. “I think Tabitha must have taken the cat with her, because I haven’t seen the old girl since Tabitha left. I’m just relieved no one died in the fire.”
I looked down. Poor Mrs. Cook was going to be in for a shock.
Chapter Seven
“Jasper Wolf and Deacon Grate? Who let them in?” said a voice from the doorway.
Into the room stepped Truman Spencer, one of the Caedmon firefighters who had come to help battle the blaze. He was the same age as my friends and I, and the rivalry between him and Mintwood High School had been strong. During our senior year, when Jasper had pitched a no-hitter against Caedmon to take the league title, Truman had been furious. He’d never forgiven Jasper, Deacon, or the town of Mintwood for that night.
Lucky for us he still came to battle fires, and at the moment his face was streaked with soot from this evening’s effort.
“The fire started in the kitchen,” he said. “Probably an accident, maybe something with the gas. We’ll know more when the fire inspector has had a look, but no one’s going to get in there and see what’s happening until the fire cools. At least it’s out, that’s the main thing, and Mrs. Cook’s house is safe,” he said with a smile at the older woman, who was still dabbing her eyes.
“Was anyone inside?” Charlie asked.
“Not that we know of so far,” said Truman, squinting at all of us.
His eyes lighted on me and something shifted in his face. Surprised, I didn’t know what to do with myself. I barely realized what was happening when Truman walked directly up to me and stuck out his hand. “I’m Truman Spencer,” he said.
“I know who you are,” I said lamely.
“Oh?” he asked.
“I went to Mintwood with them,” I said, pointing at Jasper and Deacon. The rivalry was so famous it was hard for me to remember that the fact that I’d spent my high school years hearing about Truman didn’t mean he’d heard about me. (Let’s be honest, no one had heard about me.)
“High school sports are ancient history,” said Truman with another winning smile.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw Deacon roll his.
“What are we doing here, anyway?” Truman asked, as if someone had actually invited him.
“We’re trying to determine what happened and we’re making sure Mrs. Cook is all right,” said Mrs. Barnett.
“Someone should try and get in touch with Tabitha,” said Mrs. Cook.
“I’m sure it won’t take us long,” said Detective Cutter. “Do you have any idea where she went?”
“The attic,” Honolulu offered helpfully.
Mrs. Cook shook her head. “She’d spoken for so long about taking a trip, and her house was closed up as if she’d prepared to be away for a while, that it never occurred to me that that wasn’t what had happened. I kept figuring she’d come back soon, and then suddenly a year had passed. Where does the time go?”
She looked blearily around at all of us, but no one knew quite what to say. I could see how one week turned into two, three, and so on, and Mrs. Cook had been too distracted with other things to mention it to someone like Detective Cutter. And why would she anyhow, if she just thought her friend had decided to go traveling?
Neither of my friends ha
d known who Honolulu was until that moment, but now it was all becoming clear. They both did their best not to look surprised, but Charlie still dropped her pen.
“It’s been a long night,” said Mrs. Barnett. “I think it would be best if everyone got some rest. Mrs. Cook comes to my house.”
“I can’t possibly impose,” said Mrs. Cook.
“Nonsense. You’re not imposing,” said Mrs. Barnett.
Detective Cutter, seeing his chance, went over to the door, opened it, and motioned to all of us to leave.
We did.
I had expected Truman to just walk away and leave us alone, but he wasn’t done yet. “So you all went to high school together?”
“Yes, we were all in the same year,” said Charlie.
“And you must still live here?” Truman asked.
“Sure do. The three of us are roommates,” said Greer, pointing first to me and then to Charlie.
Truman nodded and smiled. “I didn’t know that sort of thing was done around here. Aren’t there a couple of apartment buildings?”
Deacon bristled. He owned them, but had decided it was against the residents’ best interests to have Greer living there.
“Having roommates? We’re setting a new trend,” said Charlie.
Truman grinned again. He was doing his best to talk only to the girls, as if Deacon and Jasper weren’t there, but Jasper wasn’t having it.
“I haven’t seen you at a fire before,” Jasper said to Truman. The Caedmon firefighter was standing next to me, having maneuvered himself into that position as soon as we were back out on Main Street. It might just have been my imagination, but I kind of thought Jasper didn’t like it.
“There hasn’t been a fire that serious in a while,” said Truman. “I’ll probably be back for the fair.”
“We’ll all be there too, and then we can thank you firefighters properly,” said Charlie, beaming.
“It’s my job. All I ever wanted to do was help people,” said Truman, and at last, without a smile, he walked away.
“He tried hard to help our baseball team strike out, but he wasn’t as good a pitcher as Jasper,” Deacon muttered.
“You’re still worrying about what happened in high school?” Greer asked.
“High school sports never end,” said Deacon seriously.
Greer gave Jasper an appealing look, but he shook his head too. “Deacon’s right. Sports never end.” He paused, then added, “I never liked Truman.”
The five of us strolled slowly and quietly to the Beetle. When we got there Greer said, “We should get going.”
“Want to stay at my place tonight?” Deacon asked.
Greer did try and stay over at her boyfriend’s place at least a couple of nights a week, but this time she shook her head no. She glanced down at Honolulu, and I knew what she really wanted was to know exactly who the cat was and what she knew. “Tomorrow night,” she said, and kissed her boyfriend goodbye.
Deacon looked disappointed, but he nodded agreeably.
We all waved at each other, and Deacon and Jasper took off to wherever they had left their own vehicles.
“Where was Hansen Gregory tonight?” I asked as we made our way to the Beetle.
“What am I, the Hansen Gregory police?” Charlie asked, looking fluffed.
“If you want to be,” said Greer. “Do you want to be?” Her eyes were dancing, but Charlie was too busy being irritated to notice.
“I don’t know where he was. This Mintwood fire didn’t really require his presence,” Charlie snapped.
“It’ll still be in the Chronicle tomorrow, especially given that Caedmon’s firefighters were called,” said Greer.
“Maybe he’ll interview Truman to get the story,” I suggested.
By now we were all in the Beetle, including Honolulu, who seemed determined to stick by my side.
“You mind if I come with you?” the cat asked.
“Of course not,” I said. “You have anywhere else to go?”
“No, I don’t,” said Honolulu. “Tabitha’s place was the only home I ever knew.”
“That’s so sad,” said Charlie. “So you were her cat?”
“I was,” said Honolulu.
“So, what happened over there?” asked Charlie. “I feel like I need to catch up.”
Honolulu told them the same story she had told me.
When the cat had finished, a shocked Charlie asked, “Tabitha has been dead for nearly a year? How can none of us know that? But then, she always did say she wanted to travel. I interviewed her for the paper several times in her role as chief judge of the bakery competition, so we did have a few conversations over the years.”
Charlie gave Greer the side eye when she mentioned the competition, but Greer ignored the hint.
“What I don’t understand is why you didn’t get someone’s attention,” Charlie said to the cat.
“I’m shy,” said Honolulu. “After the fire I went and found the Witch of Mintwood. Isn’t that good enough?”
Greer sat back in the passenger seat making a face. The cat’s explanation wasn’t good enough, not really, but she wasn’t going to say so.
“And you died in the fire?” I said.
“Yes, I usually get out of the house through the kitchen. There was no other way. But that’s where the fire started, so my escape route was blocked,” she said.
“That’s so sad,” said Charlie.
“So Tabitha was murdered?” Greer asked.
“Yes, definitely,” said Honolulu.
“Hopefully they’ll have proof of that soon,” I said.
“Hopefully,” said Charlie, shaking her head.
“Anyhow, there’s another matter I’d like to discuss,” said Greer. “Not that murder isn’t important, but there’s nothing we can do about that until tomorrow.”
Charlie, Honolulu, and I all agreed with her about the murder investigation. We were going on Honolulu’s word that something had happened to her owner, but we really had to get into the house to start looking into it, and that wouldn’t happen until the house cooled down and we could outwit Detective Cutter to get into the place. As far as the authorities were concerned the house had been empty, but if Honolulu was to be believed, the authorities were wrong.
“What else do we need to discuss?” I asked.
“The way Truman was making eyes at you,” Greer said.
“Oh, I know! That was rude, wasn’t it?” Charlie exploded.
“I was wondering about that myself,” said Honolulu.
Knowing that my face was bright red and glad for the darkness I said, “Don’t be ridiculous.”
“The truth is not ridiculous,” said Charlie. “He definitely thought you were cute. He came right over.”
“The dark-haired person didn’t seem to like it,” said Honolulu. “I noticed.”
“That’s because Jasper is her secret boyfriend,” said Charlie with delight.
“Jasper definitely didn’t like it,” said Greer.
“He didn’t even notice,” I muttered.
“You have a boyfriend who doesn’t like it when other guys hit on you,” said Charlie. “I’d say that’s pretty normal.”
“He’ll probably laugh it off after you’ve been dating for a while. Right now he’s doing the protective man thing,” said Greer.
By now we had pulled into our driveway. The porch light wasn’t on, because no one had expected to be out for so long.
“Who is that handsome man on the crate?” Suddenly Honolulu sat up and went very still, even her lazily swishing tail no longer moving.
“I don’t see anyone handsome,” Greer said, peering forward and squinting into the darkness.
“He’s right in front of the house,” said the ghost cat in the car.
“Oh, you mean Paws. He’s Lemmi’s,” said Charlie.
“He’s not really anyone’s,” I said quickly, knowing that Paws would take offense at the idea that he was owned.
“He’s beautiful,�
� whispered Honolulu, as if she had seen something she liked for the first time in a long while.
“We have to tell him about the murder,” I said to my friends.
“Detective Cutter hasn’t even found the body yet,” Charlie pointed out.
“It doesn’t matter. He’s going to want to hear what Honolulu has to say,” I explained.
“Certainly not,” the cat gasped.
I was about to open the car door, but at her protest I stopped.
“What do you mean?” I said.
“I can’t speak to that gorgeous creature,” she whispered. “He’ll just think I’m silly.”
“He’s not really one to judge,” said Greer.
“Yet he judges anyhow, all the time,” I muttered.
“I’ll remain silent,” Honolulu decided.
“He’ll actually think it’s rather strange if you don’t talk,” I pointed out.
The cat appeared perplexed. I glanced at the porch and saw that Paws had noticed our arrival and was now watching us closely. We didn’t usually linger in the car.
“Come on. It’ll be okay. He’s just a ghost cat.” I pushed the car door open and got out.
Charlie and Greer climbed out and headed for the porch. After the excitement of the evening they were both starting to look weary. Between the blueberry skin and the fire, a lot had happened in the past twenty-four hours.
Not to mention Greer being asked to enter the baking competition.
“Evening,” said Paws, who was now straining to see what had been preoccupying me in the car.
“Hey,” I called over my shoulder to Honolulu, who was still hanging back. “If you don’t come out he’s probably going to come investigate,” I hissed.
“But I haven’t had a chance to get ready,” hissed the cat in return.
I just waited. She really didn’t have a choice, because obviously he’d realize sooner or later that she was there. So far, though, Paws was still on the crate, watching us as if I had brought home a mouse for him to chase.
“How’s it going?” I asked.
“It’s going! That disreputable, stupid rabbit has been hopping about all evening. It’s very frustrating. I tried tripping him, but the hopping . . . makes it difficult.” Paws made a motion that implied how high Tank could jump. “I really think we’d all be better off if you just . . .”
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