by Harper Lin
“You gave us a fright, Aunt Astrid.” I choked back tears. “What happened?”
She took her seat next to me and let out a big sigh.
“Everything had gone as planned. I reached Fern’s office and began the ritual to peel away the façade that coated the entire place while Uncle Eagle Eye did the same at the vet office. We could see each other through the haze of the dimensions. Not clearly. Not perfectly. But I could recognize his build and that head of white hair anywhere.” She sipped her tea. “It felt like he was really there. I almost forgot that I had summoned him, not unlike the Elderflower girls did with the Opacum Diabulus. Except Uncle Eagle Eye was my husband. I talked to him on Worm Moon. At least I thought I did.”
Fear seized my heart.
“Just as the walls started to decay and fall, as I suspected they would once the ritual was in motion, I saw it. The black mass with the top hat.”
“Aunt Astrid, Bea and I went inside the Elderflower house. I know you said we shouldn’t, but if you heard what we did, you wouldn’t have stood by. It was horrible.”
My aunt looked at me with her lips pinched together.
“It’s too late to change things now,” she replied, looking into her teacup. “The dismantling of the Elderflowers’ smokescreen was successful. The buildings look like bomb shelters now. The patients that went to either office will probably file class action lawsuits for fraud. I don’t see Fern or Gail getting around this. If they don’t kill each other, they will probably spend the next several years in jail.”
“But what happened to you? How did the Gazzo find you?”
My aunt told me that the shadow creatures had the ability to move freely from the Elderflower home to the offices and back again thanks to Fern and Gail, who confused their success with having control over these demons.
“As I watched the doctor’s office crumbling apart, I looked across the dimensions to see Uncle Eagle Eye. I felt like a young woman again. In my heart, I longed for it. Just a few minutes to hold his hand or even just hear his real voice. It’s amazing how easily the heart can be tempted.” She cleared her throat.
“Since you and Bea had engaged the creature, it tried to stop me. But not with the same terrifying face it showed you. Instead, I saw the face of an angel. For just a second, I wished your uncle were with me again. That was all it took. A second. And that thing with the top hat pounced. It grabbed hold of my heart as the last weeds grew up through the floors, as the last tiles fell from the walls and crashed into a million pieces.”
She told me she flew through the dimension to the vet office and found it in the same deteriorating state but Uncle Eagle Eye wasn’t there. She wrestled with the beast, but it wasn’t going to let go. It was in a rage that its hosts had been not only discovered, but bested.
“I felt its grip around my heart,” she said.
“That’s what the Elderflower girls said it did to their mother. It squeezed the life out of her heart.” I swallowed. “We brought that to you. I’m so sorry, Aunt Astrid. I’ll never do that again. I’ll never disobey you again. I promise!” I cried. “We thought we were doing the right thing. Really, we did.”
“I know you did, Cath.” She smiled sadly. “You and Bea have been the joy in my life so long I can’t remember anything before you. If you broke the rules, I’m sure you had what you thought was a good reason. But sometimes the best of intentions have dire consequences that you could never foresee, even if you had the gift of foresight.” She winked at me.
I felt so exhausted I couldn’t even smile back at her. There wasn’t anything I could say that would make this any better. So I didn’t say anything more. I just listened.
“So I ran through the dimensions with this demon clawing and grappling with me. I knew if I could just get home, I might have a fighting chance. It screamed at me the entire time.” She shook her head and looked at her teacup.
I knew what she was talking about. I heard those same horrible voices.
“The last thing I remember was stepping through the door. I don’t remember walking through the house or getting into the study. The next thing I knew, I could breathe, and my girls were home with me.”
“Bea did it,” I said. “Bea was sick after dealing with Mr. Elderflower. It took everything she had to help that guy. You should have seen him after she helped him. Part of his aura had gangrene.” I was babbling. “But he looked ten years younger and was even able to carry Bea down the stairs before he called the cops on his daughters.”
Aunt Astrid looked at me strangely.
“She could barely walk. All she wanted was to make sure you were okay and get home. Then when we found the door open and you didn’t answer, she freaked out. She ran upstairs, looking for you. We finally found you, and she didn’t hesitate. She jumped right in and saw the Opacum Diabulus. At least, I assume she did. She didn’t tell me. She just kept yelling at it to let you go. That you weren’t its property. I swear, Aunt Astrid, I don’t know where she found the strength.”
My aunt leaned back and looked at me.
“It was my fault we went into the Elderflowers’ house. She wouldn’t have done it if I hadn’t pushed.” I swallowed so I wouldn’t start crying. I knew Bea and I had both agreed to go into the house. But what did I do? I swung a broom around and made smart remarks, and if it weren’t for the cats, the Elderflowers would probably have had my head mounted on their wall. Bea was the hero of the day. She should be treated like one.
My aunt looked at me then at her teacup and then at me again. “Maybe you should go back to bed, honey. It has been a long day.”
“Yeah, okay.” I wiped my eyes and grabbed hold of my walker.
“Would you like a piece of chocolate pie to help you sleep?”
I shook my head no.
“Cath, we all make mistakes. The Elderflower girls made mistakes, but they were never corrected by their parents. Look at how they turned out.”
“Do you think I could ever be like those girls?”
“No. Because you have people around you who love you enough to tell you when you are wrong.”
I nodded and went back to bed. As I snuggled up to Treacle, I held in my tears. I didn’t want to wake Bea. She’d ask all kinds of questions.
“You were amazing today. That move with the broom was fantastic.” Treacle purred and rubbed his head against mine.
“Thanks.”
I couldn’t help it. I was glad someone noticed. Even if it was just my cat.
Epilogue
By Valentine’s Day, all of us had more or less recovered. The café’s tacky pink-and-red décor instantly cheered me up as I went in to open with Bea. She was already behind the counter, putting out Kevin’s delicious muffins, cookies, and brownies.
“What are your plans for today?” Bea wriggled her eyebrows at me.
“Nothing much.” I shooed her as I wrote the lunch specials on the chalkboard. “We’re not cheesy like you and Jake. What are you going to do, feed each other chocolate-dipped strawberries and spout off bad love poems you wrote for each other?”
“Ha ha. That was last year.”
I laughed.
After we unlocked the doors, our regular started trickling in. They were delighted by Kevin’s intricate Valentine’s Day cookies in the shape of anatomically correct hearts. They were on sale only today, and from the look of the sales, we’d be out by lunchtime.
Tom came in dressed in his uniform.
“I’m here to see my best girl before work.” He leaned over the counter to give me a kiss on the cheek.
I blushed because he had done it with a small lineup behind him. A group of pre-teen girls giggled. Love was indeed in the air.
I gave him his coffee and a bag full of Kevin’s finest to go. “See you later then.”
“Pick you up on the dot.” He leaned in again to whisper in my ear. “I can’t wait, because massages are involved tonight.”
My blush deepened. Bea had taken over the cash register, smirking
to herself as she gave the next customer change. I ignored her.
After the morning rush died down, a familiar face appeared. Well, sort of. When she came in, I didn’t recognize her at first because she didn’t have her goth makeup on. Fresh-faced, she was dressed in a plain white T-shirt and jeans, but she still had on the black Chucks.
“Evelyn!” I exclaimed. “How are you?”
Evelyn beamed as she approached us. “Great. Dad is doing better now. He’s even going to the gym.” She lowered her voice. “I never thought life could be good again. I’m glad the shadow people are gone.”
“You’re telling me,” I said. “They were horrifying. You’re brave for living with them all these years.”
“I don’t know if bravery had anything to do with it,” she said.
“You’re dressed differently,” Bea remarked.
“Yeah.” Evelyn nodded. “It was the shadow people’s influence, and I didn’t even realize it. I don’t feel the need to wear so much black anymore. I feel a thousand pounds lighter.”
“You’re certainly glowing like an angel,” I agreed. “Here, try one of these cookies, on the house.”
“And what do you want to drink?” Bea asked.
“One of your healing drinks, please,” Evelyn said. “Whatever you make, I’ll drink.”
Bea smiled. “Coming up.”
After I gave Evelyn the heart cookie, she took it out of the bag and examined it, giggling. “Realistic rendering. I didn’t know your baker was such an artiste.”
“He’s full of surprises, that guy,” I said.
Bea handed her a to-go cup. “Lavender tea with an extra dose of something. You can tell me what that something is the next time you come in.” She winked.
“Come in anytime,” I said. “We’re related, remember? Somehow, anyway.”
Bea looked thoughtful. “That’s right. We really should figure out how.”
Evelyn looked sad for a moment. “Well, I lost two sisters, but I gained two new ones.” She lowered her voice. “Who are not trying to kill me.”
I didn’t know whether it was appropriate to laugh, but Evelyn broke into a huge smile.
“I better get to school.” Evelyn waved. “Thanks for everything. See ya!”
“Bye, sweetheart.”
Bea and I watched her walk out the door, and then we went back to work.
While you wait for book 9 of The Wonder Cats Mysteries, check out my new mystery series, Secret Agent Granny.
In book 1, Barbara Gold, a retired CIA agent, is bored out of her skull in Cheerville, a small town in New England—until a man is poisoned during a book club meeting for seniors. Read an excerpt of Granny’s Got a Gun at the end of this book.
Be the first to hear about 99¢ new book release sales by signing up for Harper's Newsletter.
All books by Harper Lin
The Wonder Cats Mysteries
A Hiss-tory of Magic: Book 1
Pawsitively Dead: Book 2
Cat-atrophic Spells: Book 3
The Scariest Tail: Book 4
Purr-fect Getaway: Book 5
Un-fur-tunate Murders: Book 6
Fur-miliar Felines: Book 7
Box Set Volume I: Books 1-3
* * *
The Secret Agent Granny Mysteries
Granny’s Got a Gun: Book 1
Granny Undercover: Book 2
Granny Strikes Back: Book 3
* * *
The Cape Bay Cafe Mysteries
Cappuccinos, Cupcakes, and a Corpse: Book 1
Tea, Tiramisu, and Tough Guys: Book 2
Margaritas, Marzipan, and Murder: Book 3
Lattes, Ladyfingers, and Lies: Book 4
Americanos, Apple Pies, and Art Thieves: Book 5
Cremas, Christmas Cookies, and Crooks: Book 6
Espressos, Eggnogs, and Evil Exes: Book 7
* * *
The Pink Cupcake Mysteries
Sweets and a Stabbing: Book 1
A Deadly Bridal Shower: Book 2
Food Festival and a Funeral: Book 3
Cold Case and Cupcakes: Book 4
Pop-Up Truck and Peril: Book 5
Desserts and Death: Book 6
* * *
The Emma Wild 4-book Holiday Series
4-Book Holiday Series
Killer Christmas: Book 1
New Year’s Slay: Book 2
Death of a Snowman: Book 3
Valentine’s Victim: Book 4
Complete 4-Book Box Set
* * *
The Patisserie Mysteries
Macaron Murder: Book 1
Éclair Murder: Book 2
Baguette Murder: Book 3
Crêpe Murder: Book 4
Croissant Murder: Book 5
Crème Brûlée Murder: Book 6
Madeleine Murder: Book 7
Opera Cake Murder: Book 8
Chocolat Chaud Murder: Book 9
Box Set Volume I: Books 1-4
Box Set Volume II: Books 5-8
A Note From Harper
Thank you so much for reading The Wonder Cats Mysteries. If you were entertained by the book, please recommend it to friends and family who would enjoy it too. I would also really appreciate it if you could write a book review to help spread the word.
If you like this series, you might also enjoy my other series:
• The Cape Bay Cafe Mysteries: about an amateur sleuth/ owner of an Italian family cafe in a charming beach town.
• Secret Agent Granny: 70-year-old Barbara is a sweet grandmother—and a badass ex-CIA agent.
• The Pink Cupcake Mysteries: about the baker of a cupcake food truck solving mysteries in a quirky town in Oregon.
• The Patisserie Mysteries: a culinary cozy series set in Paris featuring French dessert recipes.
• The Emma Wild Mysteries: a 4-Book holiday cozy series about a famous singer returning to her small Canadian town.
A couple of the first books in the series are FREE at the moment so be sure to try them out while they still are.
If you want to be the first to hear about new book releases and 99¢ early bird specials, sign up for my mailing list.
I’m also on Facebook, where I’ll be holding giveaways, sharing recipes, and posting about what I’m reading at the moment.
Follow my Pinterest boards to see the locations, fashions, and inspirations behind each book.
You can also connect with me on Goodreads.
If you’d like to get in touch with me directly, you can email me at [email protected]. I would love to hear what you think about the books. Do also drop me a note if you happen to catch any mistakes. While each book is edited and proofread by professionals, errors can still slip through sometimes. As an indie writer, I want to provide readers with the smoothest read possible.
Last but not least, visit my website for the latest news and my blog.
Thanks and much love,
Harper
About the Author
Harper Lin is the USA TODAY bestselling author of 6 cozy mystery series including The Patisserie Mysteries and The Cape Bay Cafe Mysteries.
When she's not reading or writing mysteries, she loves going to yoga classes, hiking, and hanging out with her family and friends.
* * *
www.HarperLin.com
Excerpt from “Granny’s Got a Gun”
I was at the weekly meeting of the Cheerville Active Readers’ Society, the closest thing to pass for entertainment in this sleepy little New England town. I found myself living here after I retired from the CIA.
I’m Barbara Gold. Age: 70. Height: five feet, five inches. Eyes: blue. Hair: gray. Weight: none of your business. Specialties: undercover surveillance, small arms, chemical weapons, Middle East and Latin American politics. Current status: retired widow and grandmother.
Addendum to current status: bored out of my skull.
Like my retirement, forced down my throat by the government three years before, the book selectio
n for that month was not going down well.
Endless Beach was a classic romance novel from 1912 that had recently been reissued as part of a major publisher’s “Forgotten Female Authors” series. It should have remained forgotten.
An obvious Jane Austen knockoff, written in an era when a wee bit more physical contact was permitted (Kissing! Gasp!) but lingering Victorian morals ensured a tepid read, it came off as old fashioned even in a reading group in which the youngest member was sixty-five, reading glasses were universal, and wrinkles had long stopped being a source of worry. Despite the story being a snore, it had managed to enthrall most members of the reading group, although for different reasons.
The seven members sat around the coffee table in Lucien and Gretchen Rogers’s living room, a circle of gray hair, wrinkles, and persistent aches and pains. Gretchen’s prize-winning lemon cake sat on the table, with only one piece left.
I stared at the cake with annoyance. As usual, Gretchen had used some delicious icing to write her favorite line from that week’s reading assignment. This week it said: Like the sand on the beach, our love is renewed with every crashing wave. That corny line, which didn’t make all that much sense, epitomized both the novel and Gretchen. A bit corny, a bit nonsensical, so it came as no surprise that it stuck out to her, a beach-obsessed hopeless romantic.
She and her husband, Lucien, had both turned sixty-five that year, and while Lucien had settled into placid retirement, Gretchen was going through something of a late midlife crisis or a really late puberty. She dreamed of being whisked away by a handsome stranger to some gorgeous beach somewhere. Their house was adorned with photos of the Bahamas, the Seychelles, the Maldives, and other exotic locales, all taken by someone else. As far as I could tell, the couple had never been farther than Maine.
