The Cats that Broke the Spell (The Cats that . . . Cozy Mystery Book 8)

by Karen Anne Golden

  “Are you trying to make me recant my statement?” she accused belligerently.

  “You need to get something straight. You need to cooperate. If you weren’t injured, I’d haul you off to jail in a second.”

  “Better show some respect,” the EMT advised Melinda.

  Melinda started to say something, then thought twice. “I’ll tell you again, but the next time, I want my attorney present.”

  The sheriff began, “Why were you parked in the Baxters’ service lane?”

  “Dr. Goodwin called and asked me to meet him here. He wanted me to come with him when he talked to Lizzie about her hoarding cats.”

  “Do you work for Dr. Goodwin . . . I mean the late Dr. Goodwin?”

  “I’m a volunteer down at the Center. He thought I should come along because I once lived in Lizzie’s house when I was married to Nicholas.”

  The sheriff was quiet for a few seconds, and didn’t reveal that he’d already checked out the hoarding situation and that Lizzie was not collecting cats. Lizzie had eight cats, all of which were fine and up-to-date with their vaccinations. Lizzie was definitely not a hoarder. He wanted to get to the bottom of why Melinda was saying otherwise.

  Melinda blurted, “I was early, so I got out of my car. That’s when Lizzie’s cats attacked me.”

  The EMT interrupted, “Ma’am, I don’t believe your wound was inflicted by an animal, cat or otherwise. Your gash is too deep.”

  “Were you there? Did you see it happen? I’m tellin’ ya I got attacked by cats,” she said defiantly.

  The sheriff said knowingly, “Melinda, you’re wearing a navy blue jacket. I found a piece of material snagged on the barbed-wire fence in front of Elizabeth Howe’s property. Care to explain how you’ve got a torn piece on your jacket that matches that material?”

  Melinda was momentarily speechless. Looking down at her torn jacket, she said, “Purely coincidental.”

  The EMT continued, “Her wound was probably caused by falling on the barbed-wire. I’ll make sure the hospital staff administers a Tetanus shot.”

  The sheriff answered, “Good idea,” then to Melinda, “Tell me again about the shooter.”

  “He wore a mask over his face,” she said, not establishing eye contact. “It was a hood with the eyes cut out. He wore scarecrow clothes. You know . . . plaid shirt, bib overalls. He’s a tall, skinny dude well over six feet tall,” she answered in a dull, monotone voice.

  The sheriff looked up at the sky in disbelief. “We found you sitting in your vehicle with a row of corn in front of you. How did you see the shooter with one eye?”

  “When I heard the shot, I rushed over to Tony’s . . . I mean Dr. Goodwin’s . . . car and found him dead.”

  “So you did or didn’t see this scarecrow man shoot him?”

  Melinda backtracked and carefully chose her answer. “Sheriff, you’re right. I didn’t see the scarecrow shoot him. I heard Lizzie Howe bewitch the scarecrow —”

  “What does that mean?” the sheriff interrupted, getting irritated at the bogus answers Melinda was giving to his line of questioning.

  “She said some sort of witch incantation.”

  “What’s that? Something like Samantha would say on Bewitched?”

  “Yes, I guess.”

  “What did you hear Lizzie say?”

  “Let me think . . . something like ‘by the magic of my black cats, this man holds me back, Scarecrow, set things right.’ Then I heard the scarecrow shoot Tony.”

  “But you didn’t see him actually do it.”

  “When I heard the shot, I ran back to my car and tripped on a root. The scarecrow ran behind me, yanked me up, then fled into the cornfield.”

  “Why would he set you up?”

  “I don’t know. I was too terrified to ask him.”

  “Was he carrying a gun?”

  “If he was, I didn’t see one.”

  “And, why was that?”

  Melinda thought fast on her feet. “Because he had big tufts of straw sticking out of his cuffs.”

  The sheriff shook his head and said to the EMT, “That’ll be all. Pack it up and take her to the hospital. Make sure they check her for signs of a concussion.” He then muttered under his breath, “Lights are on but nobody’s home.”

  Chapter Nine

  Katherine stood on the sidewalk, in front of the pink mansion, and waved at Chief London as he pulled out of his parking space. She watched him drive up Lincoln Street until he turned left and was obscured by the brick Italianate on the corner. She hesitated to rejoin Margie on the front porch because her mood had taken a noticeable nose dive from happy to doom-and-gloom. She wanted to compose herself before she faced Margie, who’d pick up on her mood swing and ask a million questions.

  Margie picked up the change of mood anyway and asked, “Everything okay?”

  “Yes, I hope so.”

  “Anything I can do?”

  “I’m good, thanks.”

  “Okay, Kiddo,” Margie said, getting up. “If you need me, you know where to find me.” She reached in her purse for her cell phone. “I’ve got to text my daughter and tell her to come out here.”

  As if on cue, Shelly appeared at the parlor window holding Dewey. She cradled the Siamese in her arms, and was rocking him. Salina held Crowie in the same fashion.

  Margie motioned her daughter to come outside. Shelly set down the affectionate Siamese and came out, shadowed by Salina.

  Margie said, “Well, Katz, gotta run. Shelly are you ready?”

  “Yes, mom.”

  “Kiddo, catch you later.”

  “Bye,” Katherine waved, then patted the recently vacated seat on the hay bale. “Salina, can you sit down for a minute?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Salina said, “but I promised Dad I’d fix him his favorite for supper.”

  Katherine smiled. “What’s that?”

  “Homemade mac and cheese with bits of green pepper and tomato in it.”

  “It sounds delicious. I won’t keep you long.”

  Salina sat down and began twisting her long braid.

  “In case you need me, you’ve got my cell number,” Katherine began. “Text me whenever you want. I’ll be driving back and forth from the farmhouse to the mansion because I’m still teaching my computer class in the afternoon.”

  “Will you be here every day?”

  “Just Tuesdays and Thursdays, but not this Tuesday. I’m moving to the farmhouse then.”

  “Cool. Maybe Dad can bring me out this weekend or I can ride my bike. I know how to get there,” Salina said with a knowing grin. “Wanna know how I know?”

  “It’s too far for you to ride your bike,” Katherine advised. “Have you been at the farmhouse before?”

  “No, but I’ve been to the magic lady’s cabin across the road.”

  “The magic lady? Elizabeth Howe?”

  “Uh-huh, but she likes to be called Lizzie.”

  “Yes, I know. Why is she a magic lady?”

  “Because she rescues stray cats and makes them better.”

  “Interesting. Tell me more.”

  “She rescued Wolfy Joe. He was all banged up and sick, and she made him okay. That’s how I got him.”

  “Small world,” Katherine pondered the interconnections of people in the town, and now the country. “Was Wolfy Joe up for adoption at the old animal shelter?” she questioned.

  “Uh-huh. Lizzie told my mom that nobody wanted him because of his age. Mom knew I wanted a cat, so one day I came home from school and Mom drove me to Lizzie’s. Lizzie had all these cats in her front room. At first it was hard to choose, then Wolfy came over and gave me the biggest head-butt. It was love at first sight.”

  “Ahhh,” Katherine answered. She wanted to ask more about the so-called witch, now “magic lady,” but Salina got up and started to leave.

  “Gotta go. Bye, KC,” Salina said with a twinkle in her eye. She walked briskly to the Foursquare.

  Katherine turned on the bal
e of hay and watched Salina until she had let herself in the house. She wondered if Wolfy Joe was one of those shelter cats on death row that Lizzie took home to nurse back to health. If so, that wasn’t an act a wicked witch would do. That was done out of love and kindness, she thought.

  Katherine sat for a minute until her reverie was interrupted by the sound of drumming on the nearby turret-glass window. She turned to see which one of her cats was trying to get her attention. Scout and Abra were sitting on the sill. Scout was frantically drumming the glass with her front paws.

  “What’s wrong?” Katherine said, hurriedly getting off the bale and moving closer to the window.

  Scout started swaying. Her pupils were mere slits in her deep blue eyes. Scout arched her back and began hopping up and down. Abra joined the dance and was salivating. Katherine could hear the muffled sound of Siamese shrieks.

  Katherine knew the Siamese death dance was never a good sign. The hair raised on the back of her neck. She wondered who the premonition was for; Margie, Shelly, Stevie or Salina, and wished the cats could be more specific. If it was for Dr. Goodwin, the cats were too late to warn him. She shuddered at the thought and rushed inside to calm down the sensitive felines.

  Chapter Ten

  Tuesday Afternoon

  Katherine and Jake placed five of the cats in two cat carriers and loaded them into the back of the Subaru. While the couple was herding the felines, Scout and Abra made themselves scarce for fear they were going into a dreaded cat carrier as well.

  Inside the first carrier, Iris sat on her haunches and washed Dewey’s ears while he belted a loud Siamese song that didn’t sound anything like “We are Siamese” from Lady and the Tramp, but more like the deep baritone of an opera singer. Abby, Crowie and Lilac shared the second carrier. Katherine wanted to put Crowie in a third carrier, but he kept jumping in with Lilac and Abby, so she relented. Lilac me-yowled loudly, but Abby chirped happily and Crowie meowed softly, which was unusual for a Siamese.

  Jake used the shoulder belts to fasten the two carriers to the back seat. “Katz, the vet appointment isn’t until two hours. I can drive behind you and help you carry them inside the farmhouse, then come back to take Scout and Abra to their appointment.”

  “That’s too much, Jake. Last night, you were up until the wee hours grading papers and you’ll be driving to Ohio tonight. I want you to take a nap before you take them. You look exhausted.”

  “Seriously, Katz, I can help,” he offered a second time, yawning.

  “Aw, that’s sweet, but I want you to rest. I’m anxious to get the show on the road and have the cats comfortable in their cat room at the farmhouse before it gets dark.”

  “Are you sure you can handle carrying them inside?”

  Katherine gave Jake a side glance, “Why Jake, I’m a pioneer woman, remember? You said so yourself.”

  He laughed, then hugged her. “Okay, text me when you get there.”

  “I will,” she said, climbing in the driver’s seat.

  “Oh, the weather channel predicted rain,” he added.

  “Thanks, you just jinxed it.”

  A clap of thunder startled them. The rain started to pour. Jake tugged his jacket over his head and jogged back to the mansion. Katherine laughed, and turned on the windshield wipers.

  “Me-yowl,” Lilac cried, frightened by the thunder.

  “It’s okay, sweet girl.”

  “Boom,” a second crack of thunder sounded, directly overhead. The other cats started caterwauling.

  “Calm down, my treasures,” Katherine reassured. “I promise it won’t take me long to drive to our new place. We’re only going to be there for a few months. We’ve already made sure your favorite cat stuff is there.”

  “Chirp,” Abby approved.

  Taking the back route from the mansion, Katherine drove down the narrow alley and then turned onto the main highway. In a soothing voice, she said to the cats, “You guys must be tired. Why don’t you curl up and go to sleep?” Fat chance, she thought, I’m sure Lilac will me-yowl the entire trip, but was pleasantly surprised when the cats did exactly what she asked. Only Lilac put up a fuss but quieted after a few minutes.

  Driving onto County Road 150 West, she was passed by a deputy’s cruiser. The vehicle was travelling so fast, she couldn’t tell if he or she were alone or had someone with them. “What’s the hurry?” she asked out loud. She was thankful the rain kept the gravel dust at bay but didn’t relish carrying the cat carriers inside the house. She knew she’d get soaked.

  Katherine slowed down before Lizzie’s farm gate and noticed the pentagram signs had been taken down. A beat-up green Land Rover was parked outside. Lizzie’s, she surmised.

  Looking to the right, she saw the police crime scene tape surrounding the site where Dr. Goodwin was shot. She wished Jake had told her how close it was to the farmhouse entrance. Seeing the tape in person, brought home the fact that the killer was still out there. Just my luck, he’s inside the house ready to kill us all, she worried, imagining all sorts of scary scenarios. Maybe I should have taken Jake up on his offer to drive behind us.

  Driving down the farmhouse’s lane, Katherine was surprised the deputy’s vehicle was parked in front of the house. She parked beside it, grabbed her umbrella and got out. The deputy did also. He walked over to the Subaru. “I thought you might need some help,” Jake’s blond-haired, green-eyed cousin said.

  “Daryl?” she asked, surprised.

  “Hello, Katz. Jake called and asked me to help you with the cats.”

  “That was thoughtful,” she said thankfully, but in a cold voice. She still hadn’t been able to get past the idea that Daryl had broken up with Colleen with a text message.

  “I also wanted to talk to you about Colleen.”

  “Ah, Daryl, perhaps you should talk to Colleen.”

  “She won’t answer my calls.”

  “Did you try texting?” she asked with a slightly snide tone.

  Daryl gave a curious look. “Yes, but she’s not answering my texts either.”

  Katherine didn’t want to discuss her best friend’s boyfriend’s woes, especially standing outside, getting drenched, in a thunderstorm. She hastily changed the subject. “I’ll unlock the door, then come back. You can grab a carrier and follow me.”

  Katherine ran to the house and up the steps. Extracting the front door key from the fold in her purse, she inserted it in the lock, and it wouldn’t turn. “What the hell?” she complained, struggling to once again unlock the door. “Dammit,” she cursed.

  Daryl came up on the porch with Abby, Lilac, and Crowie. He set the carrier down close to the door. “What’s wrong?”

  “The door won’t open.”

  “Here, hand me the key and let me try.”

  Katherine gave him an insolent look and thought, I just tried and it didn’t work.

  Daryl jiggled the key in the lock but couldn’t get the door to open either. “Is this the right key?” he asked abruptly.

  “Of course it is,” Katherine answered, then paused. “Wait a minute,” she said, thinking out loud. “My key’s on my key ring. What’s wrong with me?” She fished her key ring out of her pocket, inserted the antique key in the lock, and the door opened.

  That’s odd. Where did this extra key come from? she asked herself.

  Daryl picked up the carrier and placed it inside. “Katz, you stay here. I’ll go fetch the other one.”

  He ran to the SUV, extracted the carrier, and hurried back. A bolt of lightning hit nearby. The smell of ozone filled the air.

  Katherine cringed at the thought of Daryl and the cats being struck by lightning. “Hurry,” she called.

  Daryl rushed in. “That was a close one,” he said. Setting the carrier down, he asked, “If you don’t mind, I’ll search the house before you come in.”

  “Please. That would be helpful. I’m a bit nervous with the killer of Dr. Goodwin still out there.”

  Daryl, dressed in his Brook County Deputy un
iform, walked from room to room on both floors. When he returned, he said, “Coast is clear. I also checked under the beds and in the closets. What’s in that room with the deadbolt on it?”

  “It’s the owner’s storage room.”

  “Want me to check it?”

  “No, thanks. It’s locked to keep one of our cats out.”

  “I can guess which one,” Daryl commented. “Scout, right?”

  Katherine nodded, then asked, “I didn’t realize you were working today.”

  “Why’s that?”

  “Because of the Ohio trip tonight.”

  “I just got off duty. I was headin’ home when Jake called. I must confess I had another motive for seeing you today.”

  “Does it involve a red-headed Irish gal?”

  “I was hoping she’d be here.”

  “She’s coming later. Want me to give her a message?”

  “I miss her,” he said sadly.

  Katherine bit her lip and didn’t say what she was thinking, which was why did you break up with her in the first place. Instead, she said, “I’m sure she misses you too, Daryl. I know it’s none of my business, but I thought the two of you were meant for each other.”

  “It’s complicated,” he said. “Well, I’ll be off. I’ve got a million things to do before Jake and I leave tonight. Catch you later, Katz. Take care.” Daryl walked out the front door without looking back. He ran to his cruiser, then left.

  Iris yowled impatiently inside the carrier.

  “I know sweetie. Let me text Jake that we’re here.”

  She quickly keyed in a message, and then the phone rang. Seeing Jake’s name on the screen, she answered, “Did you get dried off?”

  “Katz, I’m so glad you made it. Daryl said he was going to meet you there.”

  “Yes, he was just here and left.”

  “There’s a snag in our plan. After the vet appointment, I have to come back to the mansion. The driver of the drywall truck called and said he’s delivering at six.”

  “What? It’s not supposed to arrive until tomorrow. Can’t Margie take care of it?”

  “I’m afraid not. Cokey said she went to the City to pick up supplies.”