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“I feel just awful,” Veronica said as Kat and Imogene stood on her doorstep.
Imogene set one hand on Veronica’s elbow. “It’s a horrendous feeling, having violence strike so close to home.”
“Oh, I wasn’t talking about Lenora’s death.”
“You weren’t?”
Veronica shook her head. “Trust me, there wasn’t any love lost between Lenora and me. What I meant was, I feel awful about dragging you into all this. If I hadn’t asked you to help trap Mustang, you’d be at home relaxing right now.”
Imogene patted Veronica’s arm. “Nobody could have predicted this.”
“I guess not.” Veronica gestured toward the living room. “Why don’t you visit for a while? Maybe Kenny will have an update for us soon.”
“I’d love to.” Imogene turned hopeful eyes in Kat’s direction. “Join us, will you, Kat?”
“Sure.” Kat didn’t see any point in going home. No way would she be able to sleep after this.
Kat studied Veronica as she led them inside. Could Imogene’s friend have had something to do with Lenora’s death? It was obvious from their exchange this afternoon that the two women didn’t get along. Then again, apparently Lenora didn’t get along with many of her neighbors.
Veronica headed for a well-worn wingback chair near the fireplace. She picked up the gorgeous Himalayan cat nestled there before sitting in the chair herself.
Kat blinked as Veronica set the Himalayan in her lap. She had seen those chocolate markings and clear, blue eyes before. “Is that Clementine?” Clementine had been found abandoned and dehydrated a few weeks ago. Furry Friends Foster Families had been called out to rescue her, but as far as Kat knew she was still with one of 4F’s foster families while she awaited her forever home.
Imogene smacked her forehead. “Forgive me, Kat, but I’m getting forgetful in my old age. It completely slipped my mind to mention that Ronnie adopted Clem just this past week.”
“Once I saw her I knew I couldn’t let this one get away,” Veronica chimed in, stroking the feline’s long fur.
Kat smiled as Clementine closed her eyes and began purring. “Well, I’m happy for both of you. Clem certainly looks at home here.”
“She’s a treasure.” Veronica gestured around the room. “Please, why don’t you two have a seat.”
With a loveseat, two longer sofas, and several armchairs that looked to be nearing the end of their life, there were no shortage of seating options to choose from. Kat decided on the sofa closest to Veronica, and Imogene collapsed beside her with a heavy sigh. Clearly the day’s events had left her physically and emotionally drained.
Imogene’s sigh roused the snowy white cat curled up on an armchair sporting a faded paisley pattern. The feline twisted his body around so he could get a better look at them. Kat noticed his eyes were as blue as Clementine’s. They were the type of eyes you could stare at for hours and still find mesmerizing.
“How long does Kenny expect to be out in my yard?” Veronica asked, rubbing Clementine’s ears.
“At least until the forensics people arrive.” Imogene grimaced. “Hopefully none of the evidence they find will point to me.”
Kat glanced toward the window, but the closed Venetian blinds masked whatever Andrew and Chief Kenny were up to outside. However, she did see several tufts of brown, gold, and white fur poking between the blind slats. Apparently the calico cat was still keeping watch over her domain.
“Why would the evidence point to you?” Veronica asked Imogene. “You had nothing to do with Lenora’s death.”
“Yes, well, Kenny seems to believe otherwise,” Imogene said.
Veronica scoffed. “Oh, go on. You’re pulling my leg.”
Imogene didn’t reply, but her morose expression said it all.
Veronica whistled. “Well, I’ll be. I thought Kenny had more sense than that.”
“He’s merely following procedure,” Kat said, as much for Imogene’s benefit as Veronica’s. “And since Imogene found the body he has to consider her to be a person of interest. But he knows she didn’t kill anyone.”
The calico cat stuck her head between the blinds. She stared at Kat and Imogene for several seconds before crawling through the slats and making her way across the room.
“Why, hello there,” Kat said, bending forward and offering the cat her hand for inspection.
The calico gave Kat’s fingers a sniff, then she turned her nose up and strutted away.
“Don’t take her rebuff personally,” Veronica said. “Callie has attitude.”
Imogene grinned. “Don’t most felines?”
“Yes, well, Callie has it in spades.”
As if she knew the humans were discussing her, Callie stopped walking and glared at them over her shoulder.
“Oh, my,” Imogene said. “Look at that haughty expression on her face. I guess we know who’s queen of the household.”
Veronica chuckled. “If you don’t believe it, just ask her.”
Callie clearly didn’t appreciate being the source of the humans’ amusement. With a flick of her tail, she resumed her retreat, disappearing down the hallway.
Imogene laughed, and Kat was glad to see her friend’s dark mood lifting somewhat.
“She thinks she’s so superior,” Veronica said with a smirk. Then the corners of her mouth dipped down. “Just like Lenora did.”
Imogene slumped against the back of the sofa. The mention of Lenora had snuffed out the twinkle in her eye. “And arrogance outside the feline species typically isn’t as well received.”
Veronica brushed Clementine’s coat with her fingers. “You’re right about that. Truth be told, it’s people like Lenora who make me prefer the company of cats to humans.”
The white cat lifted his head from the paisley chair and let out a trill as though to commend his human for her choice of favorite species.
“Before I forget, I have to ask you if Lenora has any family around here,” Imogene said. “Kenny needs to find a next of kin to notify of her death.”
“Hmm.” Veronica looked pensive as she stroked Clementine. “I’m not sure about family. She was widowed, I know that. She moved out here after her husband died.”
“What made her choose Cherry Hills?” Kat asked.
Veronica lifted one shoulder. “Your guess is as good as mine. We didn’t chitchat much, but as far as I know she doesn’t have any family in the area.”
“She didn’t have children?” Imogene asked.
“She never mentioned any, although she did say something about a stepson a couple times. The way Lenora talked though, I don’t think they were close.” Veronica tapped her lip with one finger. “Come to think of it, she did refer to a sister once. I never caught her name, but if I recall correctly she lives on the East Coast somewhere.”
The doorbell rang. Veronica looked grim as she picked up Clementine and rose from her chair.
“I bet that’s the police,” she said, carrying Clementine over to the door.
But it wasn’t Andrew and Chief Kenny standing outside but an older couple. Tall and lanky with a handful of wispy gray strands swirling around a mostly bald pate, the seventy-something man reminded Kat of a mad scientist. She had no trouble picturing him holed up inside a laboratory, a test tube in one hand and a Bunsen burner in the other.
The woman, on the other hand, looked like the outdoorsy type. Slim, fit, and a good decade younger than her companion, she sported the type of tan that suggested she spent many hours in the sun.
The man breezed inside without waiting for an invitation.
“She’s dead!” he announced, pumping his fist in the air. “Let’s celebrate!”
