No Cats Allowed

by Miranda James

  “I can’t imagine working with Cassandra and not wanting to bash her over the head with something,” Laura said. “How could she get away with being nasty to people for so long?”

  “Because they were terrified of her.” I shared the incidents Melba had told me about, when Cassandra sought revenge on coworkers. “They were afraid, even as a group, if they complained about her, she would do something terrible to them. Poor Delbert Winston hemmed and hawed when I asked him to look for some files, and he told me later he was too scared of Cassandra to do as I asked.”

  “Nasty,” Helen Louise said. “So she was the one behind the pranks against Reilly? And the threats to you?”

  “Yes,” I said. “The woman couldn’t stand to be thwarted. She wanted to keep Reilly riled up, and then they decided he had to die.” I shivered suddenly. “I’m not sure whether they would have really come after me again, after that failed attempt with the gunshot, but I don’t want to think about it.”

  Haskell finally spoke. “You were the only one who figured out the truth about Peter Vanderkeller, though.”

  “The more I thought about it, once I started digging into the budget and all those invoices and so on, I just had this feeling that Peter didn’t go away voluntarily. I can’t explain it,” I said with a shrug.

  “We’re all thankful, Dad, that you did figure it out before those terrible women could harm you.” Laura blew me a kiss. If she didn’t have trouble getting up and out of chairs, due to her advanced stage of pregnancy, I knew she would have come to hug me.

  “I’m thankful, too,” I said. “Because I want to be around a long time. I’ve got grandchildren to spoil, after all.” I looked at Helen Louise. “And a beautiful woman at my side.”

  Diesel sat up and meowed enthusiastically. We all laughed. Dante woke up in Stewart’s lap and barked.

  Sean stood. “I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m ready for another round of dessert. Dibs on the cheesecake.”

  “Not if I get there first.” Frank jumped up and headed for the kitchen. Sean took off after him. Their wives exchanged amused glances.

  “I’ll go make the coffee.” Stewart handed Dante to Haskell. He turned to me. “By the way, Charlie, Haskell is moving in.” He winked at me, and Haskell’s face reddened slightly.

  “Welcome to the family,” I said with a big smile.

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