Secrets

by Lynn Crandall

  This cat had been stolen.

  Asia padded up to him, chuffing. She laid her head on his shoulder and stayed there for minutes. Casey drew in desperate breaths. If it turned out that the other free-roamers were stolen, too, then someone was deliberately collecting cats. He rolled the muscles in his shoulder, easing the tension in his body. It was a short distance between stolen and the realization that something nefarious was at work. If not, why the secrecy? Why thievery?

  Casey directed Asia back to the cars, where they shimmered and dressed. He quickly checked a text from Lara and called out to Asia. “The others are done tracking, too. We’re meeting at Lara’s apartment. I’ll see you there.”

  She ran her hands through her short bobbed hair and gave him a subdued look with her hazel eyes. “At least we didn’t find a carcass.” She shoved her hands into her skinny jeans pockets and gave the property one last scan. “I’ll see you at Lara’s.”

  Casey sat in his car watchfully as Asia climbed into her car and drove out to the lane, heading to town. She was a member of his colony, his responsibility. More than that, Asia was his friend. He wanted her safe.

  Twenty minutes passed as he followed Asia’s car to Lara’s home. Parked on the street in front of her apartment and staring at the privacy fence surrounding Lara’s backyard, Casey heard activity that could only mean his colony cats were in lynx form. He walked to the front door and checked the doorknob. The door was unlocked. He pushed it open and walked into the kitchen where clothes were piled and draped around the room. He took the few steps to the bathroom and stripped, then dropped to all fours.

  In the kitchen he found the back door conveniently open and pushed through to sit on the grass just down from the porch, where he could observe his colony.

  Asher, a lean, dark-spotted tawny bobcat, walked past Tizzy, a beautiful beige lynx who taught school, and gave her a hard nudge with his head. It nearly knocked her off her feet, prompting Tizzy-like playful sparring. In the city setting it was important not to scare the neighbors with eerie yowls, but that didn’t stop the two from wrestling, with a few chuffs here and there.

  Conrad stretched lazily along the fence at the back of the small space, his golden fur dotted with dark brown gleaming in the sunlight. By his relaxed presentation, it would be hard to deduce that this lynx was an intense investment banker and a bad-boy with the women, whom he dated with fervor. But his unguarded rest was cut short, when Quinn, a russet lynx dotted in the typical dark brown spots, aimed his equally russet-colored eyes at Conrad and leaped on top of him. No surprise, Conrad grabbed a mouthful of Quinn and pulled him to the ground, which was a major feat. Quinn was strong and agile, as were all lynx, but his work as a construction contractor kept him exceptionally powerful. His construction work made a good fit with his superior spatial sense.

  Not to be left out of the fun, Asia jumped on top of the nearby picnic table, then landed with a plunk on the lynx rolling on the ground. It was all in good fun, but that didn’t mean the wrestling was gentle. Low growls issued playful warnings, but no one backed down.

  Leave it to Booker, a brown lynx with glimmering topaz eyes, to call time out with a series of chuffs. The others ignored him. He shook his head and padded over to the picnic table, where Lara now sprawled, and watched the tussle. Like the lynx in the group, bobcats Asher and Lara sported large, furry paws, a short stubby tail, tufted ears, and facial fur that made them easily identifiable.

  This relaxing moment gave them all an outlet from the stress of learning that something malevolent was going on with stray and roaming house cats. That they couldn’t talk to one another didn’t matter in these moments. They related to each other, silently speaking just as articulately as they would with words.

  Casey’s muscles were weary with tension. He had a lot on his mind to deal with and it all hammered at him. But as the colony leader, he knew this downtime was essential to their wellbeing. And he sure as hell didn’t want to sit on the sidelines.

  He stretched his front legs, then his back legs, and yawned. A burst of adrenaline lit up his muscles, and he sprinted around the perimeter of the enclosed yard. That got their attention. Lara leaped off the picnic table, Asher not a split second behind, and led a chase that the others quickly joined in. When he completed his circle, Casey leapt to the top of the table and stood still, all four legs planted solidly in challenge. All seven cats circled slowly around the table, intent on Casey’s every move. He swayed back and forth, taunting. Laughter bubbled in his body, lifting his spirit. He couldn’t laugh but he could chuff. The others offered up chuffs, as well. A chorus of quiet chuffs resounded in the air. Now I have them. He pulled back on his back legs, then sailed over the others, and landed on the grass behind them.

  They came for him, but he tested their reflexes, swaying from left, then right, then dashing through the open door to the kitchen. His feet slipped on the tiled floor, but he was still able to run toward the bathroom. He shoved the door behind him and quickly, effortlessly shimmered.

  He heard paws running toward his door. “I’m naked!” he warned, and heard their retreat. They all were accustomed to nudity among the colony members, but his feeble attempt to deter them had worked anyway.

  Chapter Six

  Casey walked into the kitchen and took a seat at the kitchen table. Others emerged dressed from various rooms in the house and joined those already there, munching on muffins Lara had set out. The mood floated like heavy fog in the room.

  He put on his leader face and stood to address his colony. He first looked at Tizzy and Asher. “Did you find the missing cat’s scent in your location?”

  Tizzy spoke up first, rolling her big cognac-brown eyes. “Sure we found the scent, tracked it all the way to where it stopped.”

  Draped against Lara’s corner couch, Asher frowned. “She’s right. It was as if the ground has swallowed up the cat.”

  Booker spoke for his tracking mate, Lara. “It was the same story for us. The home sits on a cul de sac. The cat’s scent is all over that area, but the scent was old.” He squinted, and aimed his topaz eyes at Casey. “We did find tire tracks. They looked like they were from an SUV. My guess is the cat went with whoever was in that vehicle. They could have tranqued it, though it’s not feral so the cat might have walked right up to them, especially if they offered some really yummy food.”

  Everyone’s eyes turned to Conrad and Quinn. “Go ahead, give the news.” Quinn motioned to Conrad.

  “Like you all, we found the cat’s scent, tracked it into a nearby empty lot, then we lost it.” Conrad’s honey brown eyes narrowed. “There were signs of an SUV in the mud. I think they trapped the cat not far from the house, then took it.”

  Lara dropped her gaze. “It doesn’t sound like a healthy situation for the cats. What do we do about it?”

  Quinton swallowed a swig of juice to wash down his muffin. “What can we do? We need to know where these thieves are taking the cats.”

  Casey rubbed his eyes. His disrupted sleep was catching up with him. “I agree. I’ll triangulate the home bases of free-roamers and see if that leads to anything.” He slapped the side of his thigh. “Now I have to get to work. Thanks everyone for putting in the time.”

  He waited to leave until only Lara remained. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “We’ll get ahead of this thing, whatever it is, Lara. I’ll be in touch soon. Don’t get too down. That won’t help anything.”

  She sighed heavily. “I know, I know. But it’s hard. If these cats are in danger, everything inside of me is eager to storm the castle, bring them back to their owners.”

  “Yes, I feel the same way. I just believe our colony can kick butt rather effectively and quickly.” He gave her a smile, then rubbed her hair playfully until she returned one of her own. “Go take care of the animals you can help at your office.”

  “You’re right.” She gave him a little punch to his gut. “Enough with the pep talk. Get out of here so I can get to work.”

&n
bsp; “Magic hands saving lives.” He winked, and walked out the door.

  The open window next to him blew chilly air into his Prius and out the other window. Casey saw the traffic around him, the stoplights, and the road, but thoughts plagued him. Thoughts of Michelle, a target for William Carter’s menace. He knew his focus on Michelle’s property was personal. And that sent mounting rage pounding through his body.

  The morning’s revelations stacked up like boulders blocking his view. That was something he wasn’t accustomed to. He’d have to get closer to the snake himself, see what he saw.

  By now Jackson—or Jake, as Casey sometimes called him—would be at the office, but Casey needed to make another stop first. He had to see Michelle, confirm that she was safe. Even warn her if he could do so subtly.

  Despite his concern, a smile slanted across his face. No way. Michelle’s perceptions were too keen and her intellect too high to miss anything. He’d just have to try harder. After all, he’d managed to keep his biggest secret, his identity as a lynx, from her detection.

  He slid his car into a street-side parking space, practically on autopilot, and strode to her office building. The man walking toward him barely pierced his radar until the man stopped in front of him, flashing a smile.

  “Excuse me, I need you to come with me.” The smile vanished and the man opened his jacket a bit to reveal a gun clipped to his waistband.

  Casey’s muscles tensed. “I think there’s some mistake, fella.” Maybe he could talk his way out of a confrontation. He really didn’t have the time for it and he suspected he knew what this was about. “I don’t want any trouble.”

  The beefy man smirked. “No trouble. William Carter just wants a word with you. In fact, he wants a word with you and that bitch you’ve been following around. Not even out of your way, right? Just head upstairs.”

  He wanted to tear out the thug’s eyes. He could do it, but he wouldn’t. Not right now. Not when Carter was showing signs of being poked, and that could be advantageous if Casey managed the moment correctly. “Like I said, I don’t want any trouble. Lead on.”

  “Upstairs.” The man nudged Casey through the door and up the stairs to Aegar Investigations. At the third floor, the elevator opened and a cocky William Carter stepped off and into the hallway.

  “Bring him inside,” Carter ordered.

  “Oh, I’m disappointed,” Casey cooed. “Where’s hello, how are you today? You get up on the wrong side of the bed this morning, Carter? Haven’t ruined anyone’s life yet today?”

  Carter rolled his eyes and waltzed into the Aegar sisters’ office.

  Casey’s heart clenched. Michelle was sitting at her desk. Her eyes went wide at the sight of Carter.

  “Hi, Michelle, look who I brought with me. The big bad wolf.” He gave her a grin, then turned to Carter’s bodyguard. “Thanks for the escort, but the gun was a little much, big guy. I was coming here anyway, right?”

  The bodyguard stood silent, a soldier dedicated to his boss’s evil cause.

  Carter shifted to one foot. The smile he wore did nothing for his stone face. “Good morning, Miss Slade. Are you alone in the office?” He didn’t wait for her answer. He sauntered to the sisters’ private office and opened the door. “Yoohoo. Anyone home?”

  Casey winked at Michelle. He could see her hands trembling. But she didn’t hesitate. Quickly, she stepped to the office door, cut in front of Carter, and closed it behind her. “Yes, I’m alone this morning. Can I help you?”

  Carter stepped back and surveyed Michelle. “Nice of you to ask, Miss Slade. But really, I’ve already secured what I want.”

  “Then why are you here?” She stood straight, holding back her shoulders. Casey admired her attempts to stand her ground, but Carter’s smug attitude burned in him like strong medicine.

  Carter ignored her question, turned to him, and smiled … again. He put his hand to Casey’s shoulder and squeezed, hard. “I’m sorry I missed the niceties, my boy. How are you today?”

  Casey gritted his teeth. The pain in his shoulder from the last night’s bullet stung just enough to let him know it was there. He didn’t miss the subtle point—Carter thought he knew Casey was the masked burglar who no doubt showed up on security footage. He shrugged. “Like Michelle asked, what do you want? I know you’re not here to talk to the investigators. You probably knew they weren’t here.”

  William’s eyes slitted and his smile dropped. “I thought I’d kill two birds with one stone since you so obligingly showed up just at the moment I arrived to talk to Ms. Slade.”

  Casey slammed his fist on the desk. “Enough. No more glib remarks to entertain your sorry self. What. Do. You. Want?”

  “I want you to stay out of my business.” He held Casey’s look for a long moment, then turned to Michelle. “And I wanted to hand deliver this notice, Ms. Slade. You can read it for yourself, but essentially you have thirty days to move out of my house.”

  Michelle took the letter, her eyes blank. “Your house? I’m not in your house.”

  “Oh yes you are. I signed the papers yesterday at the bank, taking over the mortgage. It’s all in the notice. It turns out the mortgage banker you worked with didn’t work with an ethical title company. The deed you were given is null and void.”

  Casey watched, helpless, as William Carter stole Michelle’s life. There was no question now that the man was targeting her.

  Michelle dropped the notice onto her desk and pursed her lips. The room emptied of air. “That’s all? You simply wanted to deliver this notice? Surely you don’t expect me to take this at face value.” Michelle’s eyes flamed with anger. “And surely you don’t believe I’m unaware of your motive.”

  “My motive?”

  She came from her desk and stood staring up at Carter. “You don’t like losing. This is your way of putting me in my place, letting me know you’re not happy that I fingered the rapist, your buddy’s son. It’s not enough that your friend’s son was acquitted. You have to step on me, take away my home, and who knows what else you have planned for me?”

  Carter twisted a grin. “Oh, that motive. Maybe this time you’ll learn. I can do anything to you I want.”

  Casey leaped at Carter, swiftly circling his neck in a headlock. “That sounds like a threat.” He gritted his teeth and glared at the bodyguard. “Put away that gun or your boss is going to get what he deserves.” His fury gritted his teeth and he had to stomp on a growl rumbling in his chest.

  Michelle marched to the bodyguard and demanded the gun. Casey stopped breathing, seeing her face down the gun.

  “Give the girl the gun,” William managed to say.

  She stuck out her hand and the bodyguard surrendered it.

  Casey let go of Carter at the same moment he shoved him toward the door. “Now, both of you get out. And don’t ever go near her again.”

  Carter collected himself, adjusting the collar on his dress shirt and running a hand through his hair. “See that you stay away from my business, Casey, or I’ll notify the police.”

  Casey shook his head. “I know you have the cops in your pocket, but I’m making you my personal business. Be sure of it.”

  Carter headed toward the door, but turned back to glare at Michelle. “Ms. Slade, I expect you out of my house. I’ll be watching you.”

  Casey slammed the door closed as William and his bodyguard barely got through the doorway. Immediately, he spun on his heels and went to Michelle. He so wanted to wrap her in his arms, make all the pain go away.

  Instead, he stood in front of her, waiting for a cue. Her eyes glazed, she drew in rapid breaths as she stood still in the same spot.

  She set down the gun, then turned her beautiful blue eyes up at him. Pain and sorrow and fear all combined to release one tear, then another. But she didn’t reach out to him.

  “What can I do?” His voice soft, pleaded to let him in.

  Trembling, she fingered the envelope from Carter. “I don’t understand. Why is this happening, w
hy is he happening?”

  She started to melt to the floor, shaking badly. Casey gently put his arms around her, lowering to the floor with her. He guided her head to rest on his shoulder, taking in the shaking rippling through her. “I’ll find out, Michelle. I promise.”

  “It’s never going to stop. Not ever.”

  Casey rubbed her cheek, trying to soothe her senses. “It feels like it now, I know. But it will end.”

  He could feel her coming back. Her breaths became even and her trembling stopped. She aimed clear eyes at him. His words were sinking in. He was in this with her. “I don’t want you to be alone. I’m taking you home and I’m staying with you.”

  She nodded her head without objecting. Suddenly, a subtle shift in Michelle’s expression glazed her face. He knew better than to interfere. She was getting a premonition. The premonitions didn’t take her over completely, but he knew from experience that if he didn’t distract her she’d get a more thorough glimpse.

  “I’ve seen this premonition before. Just like the first one, I see a cat.” Her eyes remained directed in front of her. “The cat is walking into a trap, then the trap is picked up.” She breathed in and let it out slowly. “That’s it.” She hunched her shoulders and pursed her lips.

  “The premonition troubles you?”

  “Yes. There is fear and confusion in the cat. I feel danger.” Michelle shivered. “I wish I would get more of the picture.”

  Casey’s heart stuttered in his chest. First she shared the terrible experience of her rape, then a disturbing premonition. It would be a lot for anyone to deal with. Admiration and acknowledgement of her strength expanded inside of him.

  “Why are you looking at me like that, all googly-eyed?” Michelle fidgeted with a beaded bracelet on her arm.

  Casey smiled. “Because you’re amazing. Your premonition is spot on. Stray cats are coming up missing. Lara and I and some friends have been trying to figure out what’s going on with the missing cats.” Fire lit in her eyes, and he shot her a sheepish smile.