She raised the gun and I shut my eyes, waiting for the shot. My heart was heavy with many regrets. I’d never see my mother again. I’d never get a chance to reopen the store I loved. I’d never see Gary or Olivia or Ron or Rita again. But most of all, I’d never get a chance to tell Josh how I felt …
“Drop the gun, Mazie. Right now.”
My eyes flew open at the sound of another voice. Mazie whirled, and I saw my chance. I sprang up from behind the desk and grabbed the arm that held the gun, twisted it backward, and slammed it hard against the desk. Mazie let out a strangled cry, and the gun fell from her hand. I gave it a swift kick with my sneaker at the same instant I flung Mazie away from me. The gun rolled across the floor and came to a dead stop at Josh’s feet.
The moments that followed were a total blur—lights, sirens, men in blue uniforms swarming into the room. One man slipping his arm around my waist, catching me just as I thought for sure I’d crumple to the ground.
“Want to tell me just what the hell you thought you were doing?” Josh growled.
I threw myself against his chest and held on … tight. “Am I ever glad to see you, Detective Bloodgood,” I gasped.
And then I dropped like a stone at his feet.
• Twenty-Nine •
“The phone is ringing off the hook. You know, I think you’ve gotten more publicity over this than in ten years on our show.”
It was the next morning. After my fainting spell, Josh had taken me straight to the emergency room, where I was released about two hours later into Gary and Olivia’s waiting arms. They’d taken me straight home and put me to bed but now I was up and feeling good, albeit a tad groggy, presumably from the medicine I’d gotten last night to help me sleep. Gary and Olivia both insisted on waiting on me, and truthfully, I wasn’t in a mood to refuse it. I lay stretched out on the couch, a blanket over me, Purrday curled up comfortably at my feet.
“I doubt that,” I said, reaching for the cup of java Olivia had brought in for me, along with the Spanish omelet Gary prepared. At first I hadn’t thought I could eat a bite, but—what do you know—almost being killed made me ravenous. I pushed the tray out of the way, momentarily dislodging Purrday from his post sprawled across my ankles, and reached for the paper Gary held out to me.
Museum Director Arrested for Double Murder.
Actress Finds Murder Weapon, is Almost a Victim Herself
I scanned the article quickly, then shook my head. “Was Quentin Watson outside the emergency room when I was telling Josh what happened?”
“I think he bribed one of the nurses to recount it, actually,” Olivia chuckled. “That man will do anything for a story.”
I leaned back against the pillows. “You know, Josh never told me how he knew to go to the museum.”
Gary picked up the paper I’d dropped and lay it on the coffee table before settling into one of the wingchairs. “For that, you should thank the Fox Hollow theatre team—and Purrday.” At my inquiring look, he went on. “Olivia and I went to the movie, but the film broke halfway through and they couldn’t fix it. We decided to come back here, and it was a good thing we did.”
“Purrday went wild when he saw us,” Olivia said. She reached behind her and lifted up a garbage pail. “He’d managed to shred all those faxes you got from the store, showing the discrepancies in the bills of lading. Then he knocked the bust over again, and Gary found your phone hidden in the cavity.”
I turned my gaze full on the cat and shook my finger at him. “Purrday! You stole my phone! Bad cat!”
“No, good cat, because when I turned it on we saw the picture you’d taken of Mazie, and there was a text from Mrs. Miller saying that she’d thought it over and she would swear in court that Mazie Madison was the woman she’d seen Feller hanging around with,” Gary said. “It didn’t take much to figure out what your earlier errand had been. I called Josh, who had pretty much reached the same conclusions, and when his sister told him what you asked about the busts, he called out the troops and got over to the museum. Just in time too, I might add.”
“I have to take some of the responsibility,” I admitted. “I honestly didn’t think that Mazie would make a run for the murder weapon that fast. I figured she was biding her time till all the furor died down. I guess overhearing that conversation with Quentin this morning at Sweet Perks made her think she’d better get her rear in gear and get rid of the most damning evidence: the murder weapon. In my defense, though, I was still a bit torn between her and Mayor Hart as the killer. After all, the mayor did go to the museum a lot. She would have had the same opportunities as Mazie.”
“Except the mayor really had no motive, and once we figured out Mazie was Mel’s secret lover, all the pieces fell into place,” Gary said.
The doorbell rang. Olivia jumped up at once and vanished into the foyer, returning a few minutes later with Josh. He had on jeans and a crisp white shirt, and a bouquet of beautiful flowers clasped in one hand.
“I think I’ll make some more coffee,” sang out Olivia. She gave Gary a swift poke in the ribs. “I need some help.”
“You do?” At her look, he nodded and gave me a wide grin. “Oh, yeah. You do. We’ll be back soon, Shell, but don’t worry, not too soon.”
They vanished into the kitchen and I motioned for Josh to sit down. “Pay them no mind,” I said. “They’re just a little tired.”
Josh set the flowers on the coffee table. “And how are you feeling?”
“A little bit foolish, but otherwise fine.”
He crossed his arms over his chest and gave me a stern look. “That certainly was foolish of you, to go off like that without notifying nyone.”
“I know, but I wasn’t thinking. Once I found out about the busts, and Mrs. Miller made that ID, I knew where the murder weapon had to be, and the only thing I could think of was getting to it before the killer had a chance to get rid of it.” I shot him a sheepish grin. “Next time I’ll be more careful.”
Both his eyebrows rose. “Next time? Don’t tell me you’re thinking of joining the detective squad now?”
“Oh, heck no,” I said quickly. “I’ve got lots to keep me busy. See!” I flipped through the paper until I came to the advertisement section. I pointed to the half-page ad at the top.
Grand Reopening. Purr N Bark Pet Shop.
Let Us Cater To All Your Pet Needs.
Josh’s eyes twinkled. “So it’s definite.”
I nodded. “I found the original artwork for the very first sign in my aunt’s files, so I put it in right before my little break-in. I figured one way or the other, I’d waited long enough. I’ve even hired live entertainment. One of the acts is a fortune-telling parrot.”
Josh burst out laughing. “That’s different.”
I beamed. “I can’t wait. It’s going to be a gala, all-day affair. I think after all this, it’s just what the doctor ordered.”
Josh rubbed at his chin. “I can see I’m going to have to take the day off. No doubt Sue will want to go, and she’ll need me to mind Secondhand Sue’s.”
“No doubt. I do hope you’ll find time to stop by, though. There will be human entertainment too, and raffles, and prizes, and refreshments …”
He held up his hand. “You don’t have to sell me on the idea. I’ll definitely find time to stop by. I always did like that store.” He paused. “Your friend Gary. Will he be helping you with the business?”
“Gary?” I rolled my eyes. “Lord no. Gary behind a counter? That would surely be a recipe for disaster. He’d probably give the entire store away, when he wasn’t regaling customers with stories about show business, that is. He did volunteer to help me with the technical end, redoing the store’s website, though. And interviewing clerks.”
“Okay then. Sounds like you’ve got everything well under control.” Josh rose. “I should go and let you get your rest. I just wanted to stop
by and make sure you were all right.”
Purrday and Kahlua both looked up at Josh. “Merow,” they said in unison.
Josh wiggled one eyebrow. “I see you’re in good hands here. And I don’t mean Gary’s.”
Purrday and Kahlua both jumped up on the couch, one on either side of me. I chuckled. “I think you mean I’m in good paws. I definitely agree.”
Josh turned toward the door then abruptly whirled back to face me. “I hear the theatre got that film of Vertigo fixed, so if you’re up to it tomorrow night, maybe we could take it in, get a late supper afterward?”
I smiled at him. “That sounds nice.”
“Good.” He hesitated, then leaned over, brushed my cheek lightly with his lips. “I’ll call you tomorrow. Take care, Shell.”
I couldn’t contain the goofy grin that stretched from ear to ear long after Josh had shut the door behind him. Kahlua snuggled into my hip, closed both eyes. A few minutes later I heard her light snoring. I glanced over at Purrday, who was watching me intently with his good eye.
“What do you think, Purrday?” I asked the cat. “It’s a date, right? Blink if you think it’s a date.”
Purrday blinked his good eye.
“Aha, I knew it.”
Then he blinked again.
“What?”
And yet again.
I shook my finger at him. “You’re messing with my head, aren’t you?”
He lifted his chin. “Merow.”
Gary came back into the room and looked around. “Where’s the good detective?”
“He left, but we’re going to that Jimmy Stewart double feature tomorrow night.”
Gary flopped onto the loveseat. “Olivia and I may join you.” As I turned to give him a death stare, he sank back into the cushions. “Or maybe not.”
I chuckled. “Not that I haven’t enjoyed your little visit, but when were you planning on heading back to L.A.? I’m sure Max is missing you.”
“I did promise to help you out, remember? Redesign your store website, interview potential employees.”
“I know, and I appreciate it, but I guess I feel guilty. I feel like I’m keeping you from going back.”
He was silent for several seconds, then he stretched his long legs out in front of him and laced his hands behind his neck. “Well, that’s the thing. L.A. is going to have to miss me a while longer, I’m afraid.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “I’m sorry? What did you say?”
“I was going to wait until you were a little more recovered to tell you this, but I’ve enjoyed my stay here so much, I’ve decided to extend it a bit.”
My eyes narrowed. “A bit?”
“Okay, for a while. Olivia has offered to help me find an apartment in town.”
I swung my feet off the couch and stared at him. “You’re kidding! Why on earth would you want to stay in Fox Hollow?”
“Why, to help you, of course.”
“I don’t need that much help. I just need a running start.”
Gary scratched at his head. “Okay, you got me. I got to thinking you have the right idea about a quieter life. I’m thinking of starting my own business.”
“Your own business?” Well, it could be worse. He could have wanted to work in my pet store. “Doing what exactly? Web designing? Plumbing?”
“Not exactly.” He stood up and fanned his hands. “How does Gary Presser, PI sound?”
I shook my head. “Awful.”
“Ah, you’ll get used to it. It’s only a thought. I haven’t made a final decision yet.” He leaned over and chucked me under the chin. “No matter what, though, just think of it, Shell. You and me together again. The bad guys don’t stand a chance.”
He meandered back in the direction of the kitchen. I looked at the cats. Kahlua was still sleeping. That cat could probably sleep through Armageddon. Purrday, however, was giving me his undivided attention. We’d see who got extra treats tonight.
“Well, fabulous. I’ve got to get Purr N Bark up and running, Gary’s sticking around to do God knows what, and I have a date with Josh. Looks like things are back to what passes for normal in my life. What do you say to that, Purrday?”
Purrday stared back at me for nearly a full second.
Then he closed his good eye in a slow, deliberate wink. Once.
The End
Acknowledgments
I owe a ton of thanks to my fabulous agent, Josh Getzler, and his assistant, Jon Cobb, for always putting up with all my questions and concerns, many at six a.m.! Thanks also to the folks at Midnight Ink, to my furbabies Rocco and Maxx, and to the real Mel Feller and Londra Lewis for lending their names to characters in this story (neither are like those characters—they’re nice people!). A shoutout to my mentor and friend, Carole Nelson Douglas, and to all the readers of Rocco’s blog, Cats, Books and More Cats, and to all the wonderful authors who have guested on the blog over the years. Last but not least, a shoutout to all my fans and to everyone who has bought and read my books. A writer cannot survive without readers, and I thank each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart.
About the Author
T. C. LoTempio (Clifton, NJ) is the national bestselling author of the Nick and Nora mystery series from Berkley Prime Crime. Her cat, Rocco, provides the inspiration for the character of Nick the cat. She also writes the new Cat Rescue series from Crooked Lane.
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