Claw And Order (Mystic Notch Cozy Mystery Series Book 8)
Page 13
Josiah leaned forward, his arms resting on his thighs. “Is that a real thing? I don’t remember anything about him eating Italian cookies.”
“I think it is. I didn’t make it up out of nowhere.” Hattie glanced over to the exact spot where Franklin’s ghost was standing. I knew she couldn’t see him, but now I had to wonder if Franklin telepathed that message to her. I had no idea the ghosts could do that, which made me wonder if they’d ever done it to me.
“Well, all this talk about food and baking is making me hungry. I’m heading out to breakfast.” Bing stood. “See you later, Willa.”
“Yep, me too.” Josiah stretched and tossed his Styrofoam coffee cup in the trash.
“We have to get home and check our pantry to see if we have the right ingredients for the contest.” Hattie and Cordelia jumped up from their seat, and everyone headed out the door.
The regulars met Pepper on her way in. She was carrying a large mason jar filled with brown liquid—another tea.
“Willa! I’m so glad you’re okay. I heard about the big arrest.” She gave me an exaggerated wink since Hattie and Cordelia were still lingering in the doorway.
“Yes, it was all so odd how Josie ended up here,” I said. “What do you have in your hand?”
I was a little dubious about having another tea steep in my window.
“This is a special tea, and I was hoping I could put it in your window to steep in the sun.”
“Okay. But I’m sworn off teas.”
Pepper laughed. “Well, I hope so. I don’t want you to touch this one. It wards off unwanted attention, and if it backfires, it could bring too much attention.”
Too much attention was the last thing I wanted. I shoved it way in the corner, and Pandora shifted to the side of her bed farthest from the jar and eyed it warily.
Pepper patted Pandora on the head. “Now, don’t you go drinking this.”
Pandora snorted. “No chance of that.”
“What did she say?” Pepper asked me.
“She said no chance.”
“I am glad, though, that you two can finally communicate.” Pepper sounded sincere. “And that another threat has been removed from Mystic Notch.”
“Those are good things, I suppose.” I was still a little reluctant about my newfound belief in magic. I had fought it for a long time, but now it was clear that there was magic in the Notch, and apparently, I was part of it. It still felt a little funny though.
“I’m really proud of you, Willa.” Pepper gave me an awkward hug. “Without you, things might not have turned out so good. And I know you resisted believing in magic for so long, but now you are coming into your own. Your grandmother would be proud.”
I flushed with pride thinking of my grandmother. Come to think of it, she’d been best friends with Elspeth. The two had been tighter than peanut butter and jelly. My childhood days with the two of them had always seemed so magical. Had my grandmother actually been able to do magic?
I looked up at Pepper, and she nodded as if she’d read my mind. “Well, I have to run. Remember, don’t touch that tea.”
She rushed out the door, and Pandora and I both stared at the mason jar. We didn’t need our newfound channel of communication to tell us that we were thinking the same thing. There was no way either one of us was touching that tea.
By midafternoon, I’d finally settled into my regular routine and was entering some books into my inventory system on the computer when Pandora leapt out of her bed.
“Oh no! Close the shop and pretend we aren’t here!” Her gaze was riveted on something outside the window.
“What? Why?” I looked out the window over her shoulder.
“They’re coming!” She scrambled off her bed and scurried into the back of the shop just as the door opened. Felicity Bates came in wearing a long lime-green dress with matching strappy sandals. Her red hair was sleek and shiny, pulled into an updo. Her fingernails were long and perfect, a pleasing shade of petal pink to match her toes. She looked like her old self. Maybe even better.
She was carrying a plate of cookies in one hand and the end of Fluff’s pink leash in the other. Fluff looked pretty good too. His long white fur had been recently groomed and puffed about him like an ostrich boa. His tail was brushed out to four times its size. It looked like he had something in his mouth, but I couldn’t tell what it was.
“I’m so glad I caught you, Willa,” Felicity said as if I would be anywhere else.
She put the plate on the counter. “I hope you’ll accept these homemade cookies. They’re chocolate chip.”
I did love chocolate chip cookies, but I was also suspicious of anything Felicity would bake for me. “You brought me cookies? Usually you just come in hurling insults.”
“Not anymore.” Felicity gestured toward her person. “I’ve fully recovered, and it’s all thanks to you. And your darling cat, Pandora.” She looked around. “Where is the little darling?”
Fluff was looking around too. Pandora trotted cautiously out from the back. Apparently, her curiosity outweighed her dislike of the pair.
“Greetings,” Pandora said.
“Mmm gy mimmm,” Fluff mumbled.
“What did he say?” Pandora asked.
“I brought cookies for Willa, and Fluff brought something for you, Pandora,” Felicity informed.
Fluff spit a limp mouse out on the floor at Pandora’s feet. Gross!
Pandora didn’t think it was so gross. She cocked her head, sniffed, and picked it up. “Thank you.”
“Is that thing dead? You aren’t going to eat it, are you? We should toss it out, could have a disease,” I said to Pandora.
The cats ignored me.
Fluff bowed down in a downward dog stretch. “Your wish is my command.”
Pandora wasn’t impressed. “That’s taking it a little far, isn’t it?”
“Anyway, I just wanted to drop these off and see if there’s anything you need.” Felicity looked eager to please. “I could run an errand or maybe do your grocery shopping.”
“I’m good. Thanks.” Not only was I skeptical about her motives, but I really didn’t want her doing any favors for me. “You don’t have to come over and offer to do me favors just because of that portal thing.”
“Oh yes, I do. I owe you, and I plan to pay my debt.”
I glanced over at the tea Pepper had left. She’d said it would stop someone from getting too much attention, and apparently Felicity planned to give me lots of attention. But my interest in the tea was only fleeting. I’d seen what happened with the last one and several of her other teas. I wasn’t desperate enough to risk it just yet.
“Oh, that’s very nice. Thank you. Right now, all I need is to get back to my work.” I pointed at my computer.
“Of course.” Felicity looked like her feelings might be a little hurt. At least she could take a hint. She tugged on Fluff’s leash and headed toward the door, hesitating with her hand on the knob. “Perhaps we could go to the spa together later?”
“Um, maybe.” I stared at the door for a few seconds after she left. Hopefully her desire to be besties with me would wear off soon.
I looked down at Pandora, who had the mouse in her mouth. “Get rid of that disgusting thing.”
“It’s not disgusting. It’s a nice gift.” Pandora dropped it, and to my surprise, the little thing shook itself off and ran toward the front door.
“For a minute there I thought you were going to eat it.”
“The mouse? Nah. It’s a living creature. He can fit under the door and go about his business now. Speaking of eating, I want to put in an order.”
“An order?”
“Yeah. Next time you go grocery shopping, can you pick up some of that premium wet cat food? The stuff with the gravy. Turkey and salmon if they have it. Oh! And maybe some lobster meat? Pretty please?”
I stared down at the cat. Is this how it was going to be now? Grocery orders? Lobster? Next she’d be picking out cat beds online and de
manding special grooming sessions.
In the last few days, things sure had changed for me. I just wasn’t sure how many of those changes were for the better.
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Books in the Mystic Notch series:
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A Mew To A Kill
Paws and Effect
Probable Paws
A Whisker of a Doubt
Wrong Side of the Claw
Claw and Order
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About the Author
USA Today best-selling Author, Leighann Dobbs, has had a passion for reading since she was old enough to hold a book, but she didn’t put pen to paper until much later in life. After a twenty-year career as a software engineer, with a few side trips into selling antiques and making jewelry, she realized you can’t make a living reading books, so she tried her hand at writing them and discovered she had a passion for that, too! She lives in New Hampshire with her husband, Bruce, their trusty Chihuahua mix, Mojo, and beautiful rescue cat, Kitty.
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This is a work of fiction.
None of it is real. All names, places, and events are products of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to real names, places, or events are purely coincidental, and should not be construed
as being real.
CLAW AND ORDER
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Leighann Dobbs Publishing
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