Kitty Litter Killer

by Candice Speare Prentice

“That doesn’t answer my question.” She slapped her pen down on the table.

  If she thought she was going to intimidate me, she was wrong. However, I couldn’t lie to her. “Yes, my father owns several guns. So do a lot of men in this county, some of whom would have loved to see Philip dead.”

  “Answer my question,” she snapped. “Does he own a rifle?”

  “Yes,” I said.

  “What kind?”

  “Two.” I took a deep breath. “A regular shotgun and a 30.06.”

  She eyed me with her flat glance. “Don’t make things rough for yourself, Mrs. Cunningham. And remember what I told you. Don’t interfere with my investigation.”

  I stood and slung my purse over my shoulder. “I’ve done nothing to prevent you from doing your job. I gave you something I found. I’ve answered any question you’ve asked me. Am I free to go?”

  She stood, too. “Yes. You may go.”

  I walked from the barracks to my car, shaking. I’d always had a deep regard for law enforcement officers, despite what I’d said to Eric about their attitudes, but Detective Reid was pushing my limits.

  Back at home, I was standing in front of the clothes dryer folding socks, wondering if I would like doing laundry any better if I had a large laundry room like Hayley’s. With lots of storage and a top-of-the-line washer and dryer. With a family our size, laundry is one chore that’s never done in our house. I don’t particularly enjoy it, but at the moment, I was glad for the seemingly insurmountable pile of clothes waiting to be sorted then washed, dried, and put away.

  I turned my attention to a basket of dirty clothes and began checking pockets. As usual, I found stuff in Sammie’s pockets. A screw, a stone, and an empty Tootsie Roll wrapper. I shook Angelica’s words from my mind.

  This was normal behavior for a kid.

  My interview with Detective Reid had left me with a feeling of foreboding that I couldn’t shake, like I was waiting for the other shoe to drop. So when my mother called me an hour later in a frenzy, I wasn’t surprised.

  “Trish, your father just called me. The police have a search warrant, and they’re taking his hunting rifles from the barn. I had trouble understanding him on the phone. He said something about Buddy, but he was so upset, I couldn’t understand him. I can’t be there. I have to go down to the state police barracks for an interview.” Her words were breathless, not like her normal harsh tone.

  “I was just there myself. Watch out for Detective Reid—”

  She interrupted me with a string of words about the detective that was surprisingly uncomplimentary, even from my acerbic mother. Under normal circumstances, I might have been shocked and amused. However, my concern right now was my father. He was such a calm man. That Ma said he was unintelligible on the phone meant he was very upset. Things were bad.

  “I should stop by the farm first,” my mother said.

  “You don’t want to keep the detective waiting,” I said. “It’ll just make her nastier. How about I go over to the farm and see what’s going on with Daddy.”

  “Good.” I heard the relief in her voice. “Thank you.”

  When I arrived at the farm, the last state trooper was pulling from the driveway. I pulled up next to the house and hopped from the car, wondering if Daddy was in the house or the barn. His truck was next to the barn, but that meant nothing. I headed to the house first. Then I heard the squeal of the barn door and turned to see Daddy walking from the barn with Buddy lying limp in his arms. He didn’t see me.

  “Daddy?” I dropped my purse to the ground and ran to meet him.

  He glanced in my direction and stopped.

  When I reached him, he had tears on his cheeks. I didn’t need to be told. Buddy was dead.

  “What happened?”

  He swallowed. “The stress was too much, Sugar Bug. If I’d known they were coming, I would have put him in the house.” He laid Buddy in the back of his truck with such gentleness that I began to cry. Then he turned to me. “I’m going to bury him in the field. Will you come with me? Your mother wouldn’t be able to do it, even if she were here.”

  “Yes. You know I will.” I threw my arms around his neck, and even while I tried to comfort him, anger filled my gut, so red and hot that I shook. The old Trish, the redneck who never used to think twice about taking on anyone in a fight for right, warred inside me with the new Trish. The good Christian mommy who was trying hard to be a nice person.

  At the moment, old Trish was winning. I wished with all my heart that I could grab Detective Reid by the hair and beat her up.

  Daddy stepped back and saw my face and shook his head. “I see that flash in your eyes.”

  “They had no right.” I gulped and took a deep breath to control my temper. “They murdered our dog.”

  “No.” Daddy pushed aside the hair hanging over my eyes. “It was his time. I knew when I woke up this morning that he was going to go soon. He didn’t eat, just stuck close by me, and you know how he liked his kibble.”

  “Still. He didn’t need to go like this.”

  “That’s what I thought at first, too. I was about as angry as you.” Daddy’s eyes bored deep into mine. “But I’ve got to tell you, I’m not so sure about it anymore. For just a couple of minutes after the police got here, Buddy woke up. Like his old self. Got all protective.” Daddy’s mouth quirked into a trembly smile. “When I told him to back down, he looked at me with that little doggy grin of his.”

  I smiled at the memory even while I blinked back tears. Throughout his life, when Buddy knew he was out of line, he used to roll back his upper lip, like he was laughing at us.

  Daddy turned and shut the tailgate then glanced at me over his shoulder. “Maybe this was a good way for him to go. With honor.” He waved at the pasture. “I’m going to bury him in his favorite place.”

  I knew exactly where he meant. “I’ll go get a couple of shovels while you open the gate.”

  He nodded.

  Shortly, I joined Daddy in the truck. He stared straight ahead, lips pressed firmly together. As the truck bounced down the hill to the creek at the bottom of the pasture, I wondered if Philip’s last choices before he died meant that he died an honorable death, too.

  When we reached a small peninsula jutting into the water, Daddy stopped and turned off the engine. Then he stared out the windshield with an unfocused gaze.

  “Remember how Buddy always came down here when I mowed the field in the summer? How he used to run through the water?”

  “Yep, I do.” I smiled as I recalled the little black-and-white bundle of irrepressible energy Buddy had been when Daddy brought him home.

  Daddy turned to me and returned my smile. “I thought I’d lost him that first day I brought him out here. He was running so hard that he ran straight off those rocks, right into the creek.”

  “Yeah. And then you couldn’t keep him out of the water after that.”

  Daddy still smiled, but his eyes had filled with tears. Mine did the same.

  “Guess we should get it done,” he said gruffly.

  “Yep.”

  We buried Buddy on a piece of high ground, next to the rocks overlooking the creek. When we’d finished, Daddy leaned against his shovel. I put my arm around his waist, and we stood quietly together, both of us lost in our own thoughts.

  Then Daddy sighed. “I’m worried.”

  “Why?”

  “The deputy in charge asked me if anyone else had used my guns.” He turned to face me. “I had to say yes. The last time I used that 30.06 was when I brought Abbie out here in this field to shoot it.”

  The panic I’d been fighting since Ma found Philip’s body returned, gnawing my insides.

  “I didn’t want to have to tell them, but I had no choice. Her fingerprints will be on it, anyway. I hope she won’t think I’m a traitor.” A small tic appeared at the corner of his mouth. “She’s like a daughter to me, you know.”

  His expression was so pained, I rushed to assure him. “She won’
t think that. She knows you have to tell the truth. She had to tell the truth, as well.”

  “Maybe I can talk to her this Sunday. Your Ma invited her and Eric to dinner.”

  “Good. They need the break.”

  “I just hope it doesn’t make things worse,” Daddy said.

  “Me, too.” But even as I tried to sound assuring, I knew things had just gotten worse for Abbie. And I needed to work harder to solve this mystery before she ended up in jail.

  I bounced against Max as the hay wagon bringing us back from the corn maze jostled to a stop in front of a big red barn. The owners had placed thermal containers of hot chocolate and Styrofoam cups on tables for guests, along with supplies for s’mores. Chris babbled in my arms, pointing with a chubby finger at two roaring bonfires where visitors could roast marshmallows. For once, he wasn’t grumpy.

  Charlie and Sammie leaped off the wagon and headed for the hot chocolate.

  Max kissed me. “You haven’t said a word about Abbie or the investigation.”

  We’d left the house immediately after he’d gotten home from work. The only thing I’d had time to tell him about was Buddy.

  “I’m trying to be normal for a few hours.” I smiled at him.

  He hopped off the wagon and turned to take Chris from me. I slipped to the ground and swiped hay from my jeans.

  We followed slowly behind Charlie and Sammie. She was giggling at something he’d whispered in her ear. Chris grinned at me from Max’s shoulder. He always seemed happier when we were all together. Was it possible that my dissatisfaction with life was affecting my children? Could that be the reason for Sammie’s insecurities and Chris’s fussiness?

  I reached for Max’s spare hand, but before I could grasp it, I heard a familiar voice behind me. I whirled around in time to see Jaylene Adler holding the hand of a young girl, walking toward the pasture where guests were parking their cars.

  Jaylene must have sensed my stare. She glanced over her shoulder, saw me, and glared. Then she pulled the girl in front of her, as though shielding her, and kept walking.

  “Max.” I yanked at his arm. “I have to talk to Jaylene.”

  “Honey, I thought you said—”

  “I’m sorry.” I ran after her. “Jaylene! Please wait. I want to talk to you.”

  She picked up her pace, and the girl had trouble keeping up. I called to her again. When she reached her car, she whirled around and heaved a sigh. “What?”

  “I just want to talk to you for a minute.”

  “Fine.” She unlocked the car then leaned down and whispered something in the child’s ear. She obediently got inside.

  Suddenly Jaylene turned on me so quickly that I thought she was going to hit me.

  I felt a hand on my shoulder and realized that Max had followed me. I leaned back against him, grateful for his presence.

  Jaylene looked from me to him. Chris babbled, and from the corner of my eye, I saw him reach an arm out to her. Her mouth twisted into a grimace.

  She met my gaze. “We’ve known you all of our lives, but that doesn’t give you the right to pry.”

  Max tightened his grip on my shoulder.

  “All I’m interested in is keeping my best friend out of jail,” I said. “And finding the truth about who killed Philip. If you didn’t do it, why should you worry?”

  “I know you’re trying to pin it on Henry,” she said. “He might be a louse sometimes with a bad temper, but he’s not a killer.”

  I shook my head. “You don’t understand. Like you said, I’ve known you all my life. I care for you and Henry. I’m not out to pin it on him.”

  She tapped her foot. “Then why don’t you leave us alone?”

  “Because I think you have some answers I need.”

  She crossed her arms. “There’s nothing I know that will help you. Nothing.”

  I took a deep breath. “I found a piece of a letter from Philip that I believe came from your store.”

  Jaylene’s eyes widened. I felt Max stiffen behind me. I felt bad. I hadn’t had the time to tell him about it.

  “What are you going to do with it?” Jaylene whispered.

  “I had no choice,” I said. “I’ve already given it to the police.”

  Anger suffused her face with red. Her lips trembled. “I might have known. Just remember this. I won’t let you or anyone else hurt my family.”

  With those words, she whirled around and got into her car. I didn’t try to stop her.

  Max and I watched her pull from the parking lot. I felt like a horrible traitor to a family friend.

  Chapter Fourteen

  On Saturday morning, I prepared to go talk to Linda and then take Sammie to see her kitten. Max took the rest of the kids out for their regular weekend outing with him. He left me with a stern “Be careful today, and call me to let me know exactly where you are.” I didn’t blame him. I was disturbed, too. But for more reasons than that. I was making no headway with the mystery.

  As I pulled my keys from my now tidy purse, I noticed something gold sparkling on the bottom. The smashed gold button. There was a clue I hadn’t pursued yet, and today was the perfect opportunity.

  An hour later, I stood in Hayley’s kitchen with her and Angelica, fingering the button in my pants pocket. Sammie was playing with the kittens in the laundry room. Hayley’s face looked drawn and tense.

  When something soft brushed my leg, I jumped. Then I looked down. Mr. Chang Lee was perched next to my foot. He met my gaze and yowled. I crossed my arms, looked away, and hoped for the best. I still didn’t trust him.

  Angelica’s eyes widened as she stared down at him. “I’ve never seen him accept anyone else but Hayley.”

  I relaxed a fraction. That was good news from an objective source.

  “From the first time Trish showed up, he’s acted that way with her,” Hayley said.

  Angelica shook her head. “That’s amazing.”

  “I’m so glad you both came over,” Hayley said, but she was focused on Angelica. I was surprised they didn’t make little kissy sounds at each other.

  “Would you like iced tea?” Hayley turned to me. “Coffee? Lemonade?”

  “Do you have Mountain Dew?” I asked.

  “I don’t have that, but I have other sodas,” Hayley said.

  “It’s fine. I’ll take coffee.” The time was drawing near to break my addiction.

  “I’ll take the same.” Angelica took some mugs out of the cupboard.

  Angelica had no idea where the coffee mugs were in my cupboards.

  “So, Trish,” Hayley said after she ground coffee beans and began preparing the coffee in a professional-style, stainless steel coffeemaker. “Angelica tells me you like to solve mysteries. You’ve been involved in two, and you’re looking into the death of this Philip fellow?”

  I glanced at my mother-in-law, surprised she’d said anything. “I do it only when I need to protect someone. At first I thought it was intriguing, like solving a puzzle, but then I started counting the cost for my family. It can be dangerous.”

  “I told Leighton what you were doing. He said he’d never allow me to do anything like that. He says it could be too dangerous.” Hayley shuddered and rubbed her arms.

  I felt a stab of resentment at her insinuation that Max didn’t care enough for me, and I wanted to say, At least my husband isn’t seeing another woman. Not that I knew for certain that Leighton was seeing Linda.

  “Murder is so terrible,” Hayley said. “And so awful for your friend. He was her husband, right?”

  I shook my head. “Ex.”

  I wasn’t real happy that Leighton Whitmore knew about my sleuthing. He was still a suspect in my book, no matter what. For that matter, so was Hayley.

  Well, now was as good a time as any to pursue my latest line of questioning. I pulled the button from my pocket.

  “Is this yours?” I asked Hayley.

  She leaned over to stare at it. “No. I don’t recognize it. Why?”

 
“I just found it and wondered.”

  My question hadn’t made an impression on Hayley at all, but Angelica was studying me with narrowed eyes. She knew what I was doing.

  The coffeemaker burbled on the counter, and the smell of coffee began to permeate the air.

  “It’s just hard to believe something like that could happen around here,” Hayley said.

  “Too unpleasant to think about,” Angelica added.

  I took that as a cue to change the subject. What I needed to know could be learned without talking about Philip.

  “So is Leighton retired?” I asked.

  “Not exactly. He was supposed to be, but. . .anyway, he’s happier working.” Hayley didn’t look at me; she just watched the coffee drip into the pot.

  “What did he do when he worked full-time?”

  She crossed her arms. “Real estate. . .construction. A long time ago he had a law degree.” She finally looked at me. “What do you take in your coffee?”

  “Just cream.” Her answer was rather unrevealing. I’d try a blunt question. “Do you know Linda King?”

  Hayley’s gaze slid to the wall. “Linda King?”

  “She’s a real estate agent. She works part-time for my mother. I just thought you might know her. She acted like she knew you. Talked about your cats.”

  “Oh, that Linda King. Yes.” Hayley swallowed and straightened her shoulders. “I know of her.”

  Angelica met my gaze over Hayley’s shoulder and shook her head slightly.

  Hayley sniffed, and I realized she was almost in tears. Was Leighton having an affair with Linda? Did Hayley suspect?

  “I’m sorry,” I said, although I wasn’t sure what I was apologizing about.

  “No, it’s not you,” she said.

  Angelica put a hand on Hayley’s shoulder. “Why don’t you go sit down? I’ll get the coffee.”

  Hayley nodded and went to the family room.

  “They might be moving,” Angelica whispered as she walked by me to the counter. “That woman is their real estate agent. Hayley doesn’t want to leave, and she’s upset.”

  So Leighton’s meeting with Linda could be totally innocent. She was going to sell their house.