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Lauren held Annie’s carrier as they went outside into the bright sunshine. A little breeze cooled the warm air, making the temperature pleasant.
Mitch and Chris were at the rear of the hall in the small garden. Smooth lawn, small green bushes, and an oak tree were the extent of the landscaping.
Father Mike stood behind the two men, looking worried.
“Oh no, I forgot to get Father Mike some juice.” Zoe clutched two white paper cups.
“I’m sure he’ll understand,” Lauren said, not sure at all that they were doing the right thing. She didn’t want to interfere in Mitch’s work, just as she wouldn’t like it if he jumped behind the café counter, took over the espresso machine, and made lattes for her customers.
“What are you two – three – doing out here?” Father Mike asked.
“We brought drinks for you guys,” Zoe said brightly. “But I could only carry two so I’ll go back inside and get another cup.”
“No need.” Mitch turned around at Father Mike’s question. “I’m good.”
“Here you go, Father.” Zoe held out a cup containing bright orange juice.
“I must admit I am a little thirsty.” Father Mike sipped slowly. “Thank you, Zoe.”
“Chris?” Zoe held out the remaining cup.
“I wondered if you’d find an excuse to come out here.” He took the cup with a smile. “Thanks.”
“Well?” Zoe asked after a moment. “What happened?”
Lauren noticed her cousin avoided looking beyond the males, to where she assumed Kathleen’s body lay.
A loud, grumpy meow sounded.
“I put the cat over there after I looked her over through the cage,” Mitch told her. Mrs. Snuggle Face Furry Frost sat inside her carrier, in the shade.
“Yeah, I don’t think she liked Mitch.” Chris shook his head. “She seemed to want to scratch him.”
“Oh.” Lauren glanced down at Annie, who looked back at her with green, wide eyes.
“She must have a totally different personality to Annie,” Zoe mused.
“Definitely,” Mitch agreed.
“So ...?” Zoe asked.
There was a small pause.
“We’re not sure how she died,” Mitch told them.
“Maybe it was a heart attack,” Zoe suggested. “Lauren said she seemed dizzy and unwell when she stormed out of the hall.” She craned her head as if to glimpse Kathleen’s body from a distance. “I can’t see anything,” she muttered.
“Want to come a bit closer?” Chris said. “If it’s okay with Mitch.” He glanced at his friend.
“Why not?” Mitch said a touch wearily.
“Lauren, come on,” Zoe urged.
“No, thanks.” Lauren shook her head. Looking at dead bodies was something she did not like doing. She already felt guilty for coming out here, when Mitch had asked them to stay inside.
“Brrt?” Annie asked softly.
“Mitch is in charge at the moment,” she told the cat. “And I don’t really want to see Kathleen now that she’s – now,” she finished, not sure how much she should tell Annie.
“Brrp.” Annie glanced at Mrs. Snuggle Face Furry Frost in the cage, her white fluffy face scrunched up and looking unhappy, as if she knew something had happened to her owner. Then Annie looked beyond Mitch and Chris to the small green lawn.
“Okay,” Lauren murmured. “But you stay here.”
“Brrt.”
She followed Zoe. They stood just behind Mitch and Chris. Father Mike had retreated to the shade near the Persian, sipping his juice and looking sorrowful.
Lauren saw Kathleen’s body lying on the lawn. Her red lipstick seemed morbidly vibrant on her lips.
She shouldn’t have looked.
Lauren turned away.
“It’s okay.” Mitch wrapped his arm around her. “I was trying to protect you by asking you to stay inside.”
“I know.” She relaxed in his embrace for a moment.
“I can’t see anything weird.” Zoe sounded disappointed.
“What’s going to happen to her cat?” Lauren gestured to the Persian.
“I’ll take her to the station, and try to find Kathleen’s next of kin,” Mitch replied. “Hopefully they’ll take her. Otherwise, if no one claims her, she’ll probably end up at a shelter.”
“I hope not,” Lauren murmured.
“Maybe Jerry knows something about Kathleen’s background,” Zoe offered. “Or Robert – the judge she tried to bribe.”
“Robert is at the top of my interview list,” Mitch told them.
Lauren turned to go back inside. She picked up Annie’s carrier. “Are you okay, Father?” She stopped in front of Father Mike.
“What – oh, yes, thank you, Lauren.” The priest smiled wanly. “I just don’t know how this happened.”
“Maybe it was natural causes,” Lauren offered. And perhaps it was. Zoe’s theory of a heart attack could be right.
“If nobody claims the cat, I could look after her,” Father Mike offered. “Maybe I can find a home for her.”
“I think Mrs. Snuggle Face Furry Frost would like that,” Lauren told him. She was sure that staying with Father Mike would be a better option for the Persian than staying at a shelter, no matter how caring and well run.
“That would be great, Father,” Mitch told him with a touch of relief. “Thanks. I can bring her to your place this evening if I can’t find a relative to take her today. It might only be temporary,” he added, “until we can find a next of kin.”
“I understand.” Father Mike glanced down at the white Persian. “It will be nice to have some company.”
“MEOW!” Mrs. Snuggle Face Furry Frost did not sound happy.
“Even grumpy company?” Zoe muttered to Lauren.
***
LAUREN, ZOE, AND FATHER Mike returned to the hall.
“I’ll have to cancel the rest of the show,” he told them. “I hope everyone understands.”
“I’m sure they will,” Lauren assured him.
“Yeah,” Zoe agreed, although she didn’t sound too sure.
Mitch had told them that the medical examiner would do an autopsy, including a toxicology report, since it wasn’t obvious how Kathleen had died.
“Folks,” Father Mike called, standing in front of the refreshment table. “I have some sad news. There’s been a death, and out of respect, we should close the show.”
A shocked murmur rang throughout the hall.
“Wait!” Father Mike shouted as people headed toward the exit. “No one should leave until the police say you can.”
Mutters swept through the hall.
Father Mike’s gaze landed on the refreshment table. “Free juice for everyone who needs it while you wait.”
A couple of people came forward to take him up on his offer.
“Do you think Mitch will have to interrogate everyone?” Zoe asked, her brown eyes wide. They’d returned to their spot in the long-haired cats’ section. Jerry and Toby were still there, curiosity flickering across Jerry’s face.
“You mean interview,” Lauren corrected. “And I hope not. Otherwise he’s going to be here all night, unless they send extra officers down here.”
“What’s going on?” Jerry asked them.
“We don’t know much more than you, even though we went outside,” Zoe explained. “But Kathleen’s cat looks okay, and Father Mike is going to look after her if no one claims her right away.”
“That’s good,” Jerry replied. “Even though I didn’t like Kathleen, I wouldn’t want anything to happen to her cat. Would we, Toby?”
Toby uttered a soft chirrup that sounded like no.
Uniformed officers strode into the hall.
“Oh, good – reinforcements,” Lauren murmured.
After giving their statement to an officer, they were told they could leave.
“Detective Denman said he would know where to find you, ma’am,” the young officer said in all seriousness. He looked only a few years younger than her own twenty-seven, but she suddenly felt old.
“Thanks,” Lauren replied. She turned to Jerry – and Toby. “It was nice meeting you both.”
“Brrt,” Annie agreed.
“Good luck at the cat shows,” Zoe said.
“Thanks.” Jerry smiled briefly.
“Pop into our café whenever you’re in town,” Zoe invited. “It’s the Norwegian Forest Cat Café.”
“I’ll do that,” Jerry said genially.
They left the hall and stood outside.
“I wonder where Chris is.” Zoe frowned.
“Right here.” He strode around from the rear of the building. “Have you given your statements to the police?”
“Yes,” Lauren replied.
“I can give you a ride home,” he told them. “Zoe said you left your car back at the cottage.”
“That’s right.”
Zoe had driven Lauren and Annie to the hall, then zoomed home, parked the car, and walked back to the show. Their reasoning was that this way, there would be one more car space available for the people who were coming from out of town.
If Annie had been wearing her harness, the short distance of a few blocks wouldn’t have posed a problem, but walking to the hall while carrying Annie in the carrier would have been awkward.
They arrived at the Victorian cottage Lauren called home. She’d inherited it, along with the café, from her grandmother. In fact, the two buildings were adjoined, and painted a pale lemon. Like a lot of the town’s dwellings, both hailed from the Gold Rush era.
Lauren opened up the carrier in the living room. Once out of her carrier, Annie prowled around the room, as if checking that nothing had been moved in her absence. After she sniffed the carpet, the sofa, and the coffee table, she jumped up onto the couch, and turned around in a circle three times. Then she snuggled up in a ball, nose to plumy tail.
“I wish I could do that right now.” Zoe sighed.
“I guess this means our dinner plans have changed,” Lauren said. She sank down on the sofa next to Annie. “But you two still go.”
“Maybe Mitch will be finished by then,” Chris suggested. “He’ll be looking forward to seeing you tonight after everything that’s happened today.”
“Definitely.” Zoe nodded.
“I hope so,” Lauren replied.
She’d barely absorbed the fact that she’d met Mitch’s parents, and then Kathleen had died. At least she didn’t have to worry about Kathleen’s cat being homeless. It was good of Father Mike to offer to look after Mrs. Snuggle Face Furry Frost. She wasn’t sure if he’d had a cat before, though. The next time she saw him, she’d tell him she was happy to offer advice if he needed it.
Lauren tried to relax for a while, chatting with Zoe and Chris. But it had been a long day. She kept checking her watch, wondering if Mitch would arrive or call to let her know what was happening.
Just as she was about to suggest Zoe and Chris continue with their original dinner plans, Mitch was at the back door.
“Are you okay?” She hurried to greet him.
“I’m fine.” He smiled at her, and tenderly brushed back a strand of her hair. “I should be asking you that question.”
“Have you interviewed everyone?”
“All the people we know who interacted with Kathleen today,” he told her.
When they reached the living room, they sank down on the sofa, next to Annie.
“Would you like something to drink?” Lauren asked, half-rising.
“We’ve got juice, water, coffee, and soda,” Zoe jumped in.
“Not juice.” He shook his head. “Father Mike gave me some just now.”
“What’s happening with the investigation?” Lauren asked. She thought Mitch looked tired.
“Detective Castern is on vacation right now but is due back on Tuesday,” he told them.
“Woo hoo!” Zoe cheered.
Detective Castern was Mitch’s colleague, and didn’t seem to like him. He’d appeared to take great delight in interviewing Mitch as a suspect a couple of months ago when he and Lauren had encountered the dead body of a bed and breakfast owner.
“Let’s hope you’ll be in charge of the investigation,” Chris said.
“I am right now,” Mitch replied. “Castern might make a case to take over, though, when he returns, since I was already on the scene. He’ll say I should be considered a suspect.”
“Not again,” Lauren murmured. Anyone who knew Mitch knew he was a great detective. He was also fair. She couldn’t say the same for Detective Castern.
“I don’t even want to think about that man,” Zoe declared.
“Are you hungry?” Chris asked him.
“Yeah, I am,” Mitch admitted.
“What if Zoe and I go and get takeout from Gary’s and bring everything back here?” Chris proposed.
“That would be great.” Mitch nodded.
“You two stay here.” Zoe jumped up from the armchair. She towed Chris out of the house before Lauren could even think to give Zoe her order.
“Chris knows what I like,” Mitch said.
“And Zoe knows what I like.” Lauren smiled. Her gaze flickered to Annie, still snoozing. Their conversation hadn’t caught her attention at all. Today must have tired her out as well.
“Oh.” A sudden thought hit her. “Annie should have something, too.”
She pulled out her phone and texted her cousin.
Already on my list was Zoe’s reply.
Mitch gave her a quick run-down of the investigation while they waited for the others to return.
“It looks like I’ll be working all day tomorrow,” he told her ruefully.
“I understand.” She kissed him on the cheek, which turned into a more serious smooch.
“We’re back!” Zoe strode into the room carrying a big paper bag.
Lauren blushed, lifting her lips from Mitch’s.
“Oops – sorry.” Zoe giggled.
“I think we bought just about everything they had,” Chris said wryly.
“Annie,” Zoe called. “I’ve got a meat patty for you. From Gary’s.”
“Brrt?” Annie sleepily lifted her head, her little nose twitching as the savory aromas from the bag reached her. “Brrt!” She jumped down from the sofa and ran to Zoe – and the food.
“Why don’t we eat in the kitchen?” Lauren proposed.
“Good idea,” Mitch agreed.
Annie reached up and patted the burger bag with one paw, making Zoe halt half a dozen times on the way to the kitchen.
“Here you go.” Lauren took the plain, warm patty from her cousin, crumbled it into little bits, and placed it in Annie’s lilac bowl.
“Brrp.” The sound of Annie munching made Lauren smile.
“I got you the smoky barbecue special,” Zoe told her.
“And I got the same for you, Mitch.” Chris chuckled.
“We all got it.” Zoe grinned.
“And fries,” Chris continued.
“And onion rings.”
“And chocolate shakes,” Chris added.
Lauren watched her cousin and Chris – she thought they complemented each other perfectly.
“It looks great.” Mitch sat at the table.
Lauren and Zoe got out plates and cutlery, but the guys started eating their burgers with their hands – the same way she and Zoe liked to eat theirs. They all dug in, the aroma of barbecue sauce and golden French fries filling the kitchen.
“Brrt?” Annie jumped onto the chair next to Lauren’s and nudged her elbow.
“I don’t think barbecue sauce would be good for you,” Lauren said regretfully.
“It might give you a tummy ache,” Zoe added.
“Have you eaten your patty already?” Lauren looked over at Annie’s bowl. It was licked clean.
“Maybe we should get you two patties next time,” Zoe proposed.
“Brrt!” Yes!
The sound of contented munching filled the room.
“I don’t think you could find a burger anywhere that is as good as these,” Zoe declared once she’d finished hers.
“Me neither,” Lauren agreed. She and Zoe had tried to recreate this burger one night and although it had been pretty good, it just didn’t have the same taste as the ones from Gary’s.
“This is just what I needed,” Mitch confessed as he finished his chocolate shake. He’d demolished his burger, fries, and onion rings. So had Chris. And Zoe. Lauren felt like the odd one out with a few fries remaining. She pushed her plate away from her, and Zoe pounced on the remaining golden fries.
“After today, I didn’t want to bother with people coming up to me at Gary’s and asking if I’d caught the killer yet or if I knew who did it. Present company excepted.”
“Do you know who did it?” Zoe asked.
“Zoe!” Lauren scolded.
“Not yet,” Mitch replied.
“Did you interview Robert the judge? What did he say?” Zoe pursued.
“Yes, I asked him some questions and no, I’m not going to tell you,” Mitch replied. “You know I can’t reveal much during an ongoing investigation.”
“I bet he did it!” Zoe announced. “He was angry with Kathleen because they got caught out with the bribery stuff, so when she ran after him, BAM! He killed her.”
“How?” Chris looked interested.
“I thought you thought it was a heart attack,” Lauren added.
“Well, if it wasn’t a heart attack, it must be murder,” Zoe declared. “And Robert is the most obvious suspect.”
“How did he kill her?” Mitch echoed Chris’s question.
Zoe closed her eyes and drummed her fingers on the wooden table. “Poison!”
“We’ll know for sure after we get the ME’s report,” Mitch told them. “It could be poison.”
“There were no obvious signs of blunt force trauma,” Chris added.
“So it didn’t look like she’d been hit over the head with a heavy object?” Lauren clarified.
“That’s right.” Chris smiled at her. “But maybe I’d better not talk about it anymore.” He glanced at Mitch.
“You can tell us,” Zoe coaxed. She zipped her lips shut. “See?”
“There’s not much more to tell,” Mitch replied. “I need to wait for the report.”
“Well, pooh!”