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Lauren and Zoe went to church the next morning. Chris was working a shift in Sacramento that day and Mitch was busy with the case.
“I think we should show Father Mike our support,” Lauren told Zoe as she grabbed her purse.
“Definitely,” Zoe agreed, wearing a subdued – for her – outfit of a lavender skirt and cream top. “And after church we can check on Mrs. Finch.”
“Good idea.”
“Brrt?” Annie’s ears pricked at the mention of her friend.
“Cats don’t go to church,” Lauren told the feline regretfully.
“Not yet, anyway,” Zoe said.
“Why don’t we pick up Annie after church so we can all visit Mrs. Finch?” Lauren proposed.
“Good idea.” Zoe grinned.
“Brrt!”
***
AFTER THE CHURCH SERVICE, they spoke to Father Mike.
“How’s Mrs. Snuggle Face Furry Frost?” Zoe asked.
“The poor little thing,” Father Mike said. “Not too happy at the moment, I’m afraid. I made her as comfortable as I could in the living room last night, and bought her a litter tray, but I think she knows something happened to her owner.”
“If you need any help or advice, just let us know,” Lauren said.
“Yes. Have you had cats before?” Zoe asked.
“Not for a long time. I had one growing up, but he was just a regular cat, not a pedigree show cat. I just hope Mitch can find Kathleen’s next of kin. Maybe Mrs. Snuggle will be happier with someone she’s met before.”
They said goodbye and hurried home.
“Maybe Annie would like a walk in her harness today,” Lauren suggested as they entered through the back door. “Especially after being in her carrier yesterday.”
“Brrt!” Annie was already in the kitchen, pawing at her harness that dangled from a hook on the wall.
“It looks like she read your mind!” Zoe giggled.
Lauren fastened the straps and buckles, and let Annie tow her to the door.
“I hope Mrs. Finch enjoyed herself yesterday at the show,” Zoe said as they walked the short block to their friend’s house.
“I hope she left before – you know – happened,” Lauren remarked.
“Yeah – although if she was there and interacted with Kathleen, Mitch would probably have interviewed her,” Zoe replied.
They knocked on Mrs. Finch’s door. Her house was a sweet, cream Victorian with a neat green lawn and orange marigolds.
“Hello, dears.” Their friend opened the door, a smile on her face. Her gray hair was swept up in a slightly messy bun but her outfit of a tan skirt and dusky rose cardigan was neat and tidy. “How lovely! I wasn’t expecting you today.”
“We thought we’d stop by after church,” Lauren said.
“And check you were okay,” Zoe added. “And to tell you that Annie won!”
“Brrt!”
“That’s wonderful, Annie, dear.” Mrs. Finch beamed. “Aren’t you a clever girl?”
“Brrt!” Yes!
“AJ won cutest household cat,” Lauren informed her.
“My, two winners connected to the café.” Mrs. Finch shook her head in wonder. “Come in, come in.” She ushered them inside. They followed her down the lilac hall into the living room, decorated in shades of fawn and beige.
“Would you like something to drink?” Mrs. Finch asked.
“We should be asking you that,” Lauren said.
“We can make you coffee,” Zoe offered. Whenever they visited their friend, they usually made her a beverage using her pod machine.
“That would be lovely, dears.” Mrs. Finch smiled.
“You weren’t caught up in what happened yesterday, were you?” Lauren asked.
Annie jumped onto the arm of Mrs. Finch’s chair, closing her eyes contentedly as the elderly lady stroked her.
“No. What happened?” Mrs. Finch frowned. “What did I miss?”
They quickly filled her in on Kathleen’s death.
“Oh, my.” Mrs. Finch’s mouth trembled. “That’s terrible. The poor woman.”
“Well, she wasn’t exactly innocent,” Zoe said, “trying to bribe the judge like that.”
“But why would someone want to kill her?” Mrs. Finch asked. “Surely it was natural causes.”
“I hope so,” Lauren replied. “Mitch will know more once he gets the report from the medical examiner.”
“I’m glad Mitch is in charge and not that Detective Castern fellow,” Mrs. Finch said. “I don’t think anyone likes him.”
“We don’t.” Zoe shuddered dramatically.
They spoke about more pleasant things, like their craft projects. Every Friday night, they met at Mrs. Finch’s house for craft club. It was a Zoe invention, and over the past year their projects had included crochet, knitting, string-art, bead jewelry, and now Zoe’s pottery efforts. So far, Lauren had stuck with knitting.
“I’ve got a great idea!” Zoe sat up straight in her chair. “I’m going to make more pottery mugs with Annie’s picture on them, but this time I’ll paint her wearing a winner’s sash, like a beauty contestant.”
“Brrt!” Annie’s green eyes sparkled.
“I think Annie would like that.” Lauren smiled at her fur baby.
Zoe’s pottery mugs had been a success. A couple of months ago, after attending lessons, she’d made her first mugs, and had painted Annie’s portrait on them. Their regular customers had all bought them, seeming to delight in having their very own Annie mug at home. It was good advertising for the café as well, as Zoe had included the name of their shop on the cup, and had insisted on paying the café a sales commission.
“That sounds wonderful,” Mrs. Finch praised.
They made her a cup of coffee and then said goodbye. She promised to stop by the café on Tuesday for her regular treat.
“Hmm,” Zoe pondered as they walked home. “When can I start making these new mugs? I know!” She suddenly stopped in the middle of the sidewalk. “I’ll sketch Annie when we get home and draw a prize-winning sash on her.”
“Brrt!” Annie glanced up at her, looking pleased at the suggestion.
“What about tomorrow?” Lauren proposed. The café was closed on Mondays.
“Yeah!” Zoe grinned. “I’ll zip over to the pottery studio in Sacramento and see if I can make them tomorrow. It would be good to have them for sale while Annie winning her cat show class is fresh in people’s minds.”
“I think you’re a born salesperson,” Lauren told her. Sometimes Zoe’s idea didn’t work out, and a few of them had been pretty impulsive, but sometimes they were a success.
“Thanks!”
They continued to walk home, Zoe enthusing about the new mugs she was going to make. If Lauren ever sat down at a potter’s wheel for the first time, she might even be able to make a cup straight away, based on Zoe’s detailed descriptions.