A Tale Оf Two Kitties

chapter 8

Marcus made chicken with apples and leeks for supper and my favorite, Eric’s chocolate pudding cake, for dessert. “You’re a really good cook,” I told him, licking the back of my spoon after having a second helping.

He smiled. “You might be a little biased.”

“I don’t think so,” I said solemnly. I leaned across the edge of the table to kiss him.

His phone rang.

I made a face. “No,” I groaned.

Marcus’s lips brushed mine. “Remember where we were.” He picked up the phone and immediately his expression changed. “What happened?” he said.

It was police business, I realized. I got up and started clearing the table. Owen was sitting to the right of Marcus’s chair, fastidiously washing his face. Hercules had gone into the living room once he figured out he wasn’t getting any pudding cake.

Marcus said, “Okay,” several times. His mouth pulled to one side. “No, no, I’m on my way,” he finally said. He ended the call and turned to look at me. “I’m sorry, Kathleen. This has to do with a case.”

Leo Janes’s case? I wondered. Marcus stood up and pulled me into his arms. “Rain check?” he asked.

“Absolutely,” I said.

He gestured at the sink. “I’m sorry to leave you with the dishes.”

“That’s okay,” I said. “Owen doesn’t mind lending a paw.” The cat held up one front foot and gave me a puzzled look.

Marcus laughed. Then he grabbed his coat. I kissed him and he was gone.

Owen didn’t actually help with the dishes, but he did sit at my feet and keep me company while I did them.

Once everything was dried and put away I set my laptop on the kitchen table. “Want to help me look up a couple of things?” I asked. He tipped his head to one side, seeming to consider the idea, then he yawned, stretched and disappeared. As in I couldn’t see him anymore. “You could have just said no,” I said.

Hercules poked his head around the living room doorway then. “Mrr,” he said inquiringly.

“I was talking to your brother,” I said, hooking a chair with one foot.

“Mrr,” he said again.

“Do you want to help me look up a couple of things?” I asked.

He almost seemed to shrug, then he made his way over to me. I picked him up, sat down and let the cat get settled on my lap. “Claws,” I reminded him when his poking got a bit too pointed.

Once Hercules was settled, I turned on the computer. He looked over at the chair where Marcus had been sitting. Then he looked over his shoulder at me. “Work,” I said. The answer seemed to satisfy him. He put one paw on the edge of the table and turned all his attention to the laptop screen.

I’d read a bit about Meredith Janes’s accident but I wanted to know more. The accident had been big news in the Chicago area and there were a number of articles besides the original one I’d read.

I didn’t learn anything new. I read three different newspaper articles but in the end there wasn’t anything suspicious about Meredith Janes’s death. It was nothing more than a very sad accident. One article had several photos of the stretch of road where her car had gone over the embankment, including one of a clearly distraught Victor Janes, his face drawn and gaunt.

“Okay, this is a dead end,” I said to the cat. I stretched one arm up in the air and rolled my head from side to side to work out the kinks in my neck. Just then my cell phone rang. It was lying on the table and I reached for it. At the same time Hercules craned his neck as if he was trying to see the screen and find out who was calling. It was Simon. “Hi, Simon,” I said.

“Hi, Kathleen,” he said. “I’m sorry to bother you, but I need a favor.”

Simon was the kind of person who didn’t ask for favors. “Sure. What is it?”

“Mia is working on some project for one of her classes. She’s out at the Taylors’. I’m supposed to pick her up in about half an hour but—” I heard him exhale. “I’m at my office. Someone tried to break in. Harry was having a beer when I dropped her off so he can’t drive her.”

“Are you all right? What about Denise?” I leaned forward in my chair, which got me a glare from the black-and-white eavesdropper on my lap.

“Denise is fine. So am I. No one was here. The office has a good alarm system. Whoever it was didn’t manage to get in. All they did was damage my door and make a mess in the entrance.” He muttered a swear word under his breath.

I could hear voices in the background and it occurred to me that the break-in was probably the call Marcus had gotten.

“I really need to stay here, Kathleen. Is there any chance you could pick Mia up and bring her here?”

“Of course I can. Text her and let her know I’m coming.”

“Thank you,” he said. “Normally I’d ask Denise but she’s in Minneapolis. She’s having dental surgery first thing tomorrow.”

“It’s not a problem, Simon,” I said. “We’ll see you soon.”

I ended the call. Hercules jumped down from my lap as I closed my web browser. He headed across the floor to the kitchen door. “You’re not coming,” I called after him.

“Merow,” he said right before the door seemed to shimmer and he walked right through it.

I shut off the computer, grabbed my purse and my gray hoodie. Hercules was standing in front of the outside door. He looked up at me as I pulled on my sneakers.

“What part of ‘you’re not coming’ are you having trouble with?” I asked.

He made a face as if he were seriously considering the question, then he walked through the porch door. I hated when he did that. It was impossible to get the last word.

Hercules was waiting at the bottom of the steps at the edge of the pool of light cast by the outside fixture. He walked around the side of the house with me.

“You’re only doing this because you know I don’t have time to argue with you,” I said. When I looked down at him his green eyes were firmly fixed on what was ahead of him. I was on ignore.

I unlocked the truck and Hercules jumped onto the seat, walking his way over to the passenger side. He sat down, curling his tail around his feet, and looked out the windshield, satisfied that he’d won the battle.

I backed out of the driveway, and headed for Harry Taylor’s house. Hercules didn’t make a sound the entire way there. He was content to sit next to me and look out the window. When I pulled the truck in at the side of the big farmhouse he moved to the middle of the seat. I turned to look at him. “I have no idea where Boris is. Unless you want to end up nose to nose with him, stay in the truck.”

Hercules immediately lay down on the seat. He’d gotten the message.

Boris was Harry’s German shepherd, although he spent most of his time with Harrison. The big dog was gentle and friendly with a keen intelligence that showed in his brown velvet eyes. I’d called him a pussycat once. Both Owen and Hercules had seemed deeply offended.

The outside light was on at the side door to the house and I could also see a light on in the kitchen. I knocked and after a moment Harry came to the door. He was wearing a red plaid flannel shirt and gray-framed reading glasses.

“Hello, Kathleen,” he said. “What are you doing out here?”

I was colder than I’d expected and I tugged at the drawstring around the neck of the hooded sweatshirt. “Simon asked me to pick up Mia,” I said.

He frowned. “Everything okay?”

“Pretty much,” I said. “Someone tried to break into Simon’s office—they didn’t succeed—but he’s with the police so I came to get Mia.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. He’s been through enough. He doesn’t need that.”

I nodded.

“The girls are over with the old man,” Harry said, gesturing at his father’s small house at the far left of the cleared area near the trees. “They’re doing some project about the history of the town and he knows more than damn near anyone except for maybe Mary Lowe or Rebecca.”

“Thanks,” I said.

Harry held up a hand. “Hang on. I’ll walk over with you.” He reached behind him for his jacket, pulled it on and stepped out into the landing, tucking the reading glasses into his pocket.

“Your father was friends with Leo Janes,” I said as we walked across the gravel parking area.

Harry nodded. “They played poker together and some hockey back in the day.” He’d pulled up his collar against the sharp bite of the night air and his hands were jammed in his pockets.

“What about Victor?” I asked.

“Not so much, at least as far as I know. From what the old man said those two may have been twins but they were very different people. You know the old saying, looks can be deceiving.”

“It seems to me people don’t really like Victor Janes,” I said.

“Can’t say you’re wrong.” Harry stopped walking and looked at me. “I’m sorry to hear he’s so sick and all, but at the end of the day Victor ran off with his brother’s wife. People in this town have long memories for something like that.” He shrugged. “On the other hand, it’s easy to turn Leo Janes into a saint now that he’s dead.”

It wasn’t like Harry to speak ill of someone who wasn’t around to defend himself. Again I wondered what Harry and Leo had been arguing about the day I’d seen them by the gazebo. I was about to ask him but he’d started walking again.

I hurried to catch up with him. Harry knocked on the side door of his father’s house and didn’t wait to be invited in. “Dad, it’s me,” he said, opening the door and stepping inside.

“You checking up on me?” Harrison Senior called.

Harry looked at me and shook his head. I leaned around the kitchen doorway. “Yes,” I said. “I am.”

The old man was sitting in his favorite chair next to the woodstove. His granddaughter Mariah was at his feet on a tufted black leather footstool and Mia was sitting cross-legged in the chair opposite, a notebook open on her lap, her cell phone resting on one knee. Boris was at her feet.

“Kathleen, girl, what are you doing out here?” Harrison smiled at me and made a move to get to his feet.

“Stay where you are,” I said. I crossed the room, leaned over and gave him a hug. “I came out here to see if you’re behaving yourself.”

“Well, as a matter of fact, I am,” he said. He gave me a conspiratorial wink. “I’m trying to be a good role model for the girls.”

“Of course,” his son added drily behind me.

Mia smiled at me. “Dad texted and said there was some kind of problem at his office so you were coming to get me.”

Boris had gotten up and padded over to me. I dug my fingers into the thick fur of his neck and gave him a scratch and he sighed happily. “How are you, boy?” I said. He leaned his warm weight against my leg. “So have you filled the girls in on all the history of the town?” I asked.

“How old exactly do you think I am?” Harrison asked, and I could see the mischievous twinkle in his eyes.

“They say age brings wisdom,” I said. “I think you are a very wise man. I also think there’s still more for you to learn.”

He threw back his head and laughed. “You have the soul of a diplomat,” he said.

I smiled then I looked at Mia. “Are you ready?” I asked.

She nodded, closing her notebook and reaching for a black backpack I hadn’t noticed at her feet. Mariah got up and moved the footstool back against the wall.

Mia got to her feet as well. “Thank you for your help, Mr. Taylor,” she said.

He reached up and caught one of her hands, giving it a squeeze. “Anytime, child,” he said. “Come back and see us anytime.”

She smiled. “I will.”

Harrison started to get to his feet.

“You don’t have to get up, Dad,” Harry said behind me.

“You think I was born in a barn?” the old man countered. “I have better manners than to expect a lady to see herself to the door.”

Harry held up one hand. “I’m here,” he said.

“And I can certainly hear you and see you,” his father said.

Mariah had stashed all of her things in a camouflage messenger bag. Now she threw her arms around her grandfather. “Thanks, Pops,” she said.

He kissed the top of her head. “You’re welcome, my girl.”

I took his arm and we headed for the door. The girls were already outside looking for the Big Dipper in the clear night sky.

“Take good care of that child, Kathleen,” Harrison said quietly to me. “She’s been through more than a child her age should have to face.”

“I will. I promise,” I said.

“And come out and see me when you can sit for a bit.”

“I promise I’ll do that as well,” I said. I stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek.

“Lock up after us,” Harry said to his father. “And remember you have that appointment at the dentist tomorrow.”

“Not likely you’d let me forget,” the old man grumbled.

I raised a hand in good-bye and he closed the door. Harry listened for the snap of the dead bolt before he moved.

I touched his arm. “Have a good night,” I said.

He nodded. “You too, Kathleen. And Dad’s right. Come out when you can stay awhile.”

“I will,” I said.

Mariah had started for the house and Mia was standing waiting for me on the gravel.

We headed for the truck. Hercules was looking out the driver’s-side window.

“That’s not Owen,” Mia said. “Is it Hercules?”

“Yes, it is,” I said. “He called shotgun.” I unlocked the passenger door for her and walked around the truck to the driver’s side.

“Hey, Hercules,” Mia said. “Thank you for coming to get me.”

Always modest, the cat ducked his head and meowed softly.

“He’s so handsome. He looks like he’s wearing a tuxedo.”

Herc murped at her and moved a bit closer. He liked to be complimented on how he looked.

I fastened my seat belt, started the truck and headed down the long driveway as Mia kept talking to Hercules. Once we were on the road I saw her look in my direction.

“So what happened at my father’s office?” she said.

“What did he tell you?”

“He just said something happened. Did someone break in?”

“They tried. They didn’t succeed.”

She sighed. “I bet Dad’s piss— Mad,” she said.

I flipped my turn signal on. “I don’t blame him,” I said. “When someone spray painted graffiti on the loading-bay door at the library back in the spring all I could think of was finding whoever had done it and standing over them while they scrubbed off every speck of paint. I know it wasn’t personal but it felt that way. Your father probably feels the same.”

“Do you think it was someone looking for something to steal who killed my grandfather?” Mia asked.

I didn’t, but I also didn’t want to say that to her. “Maybe,” I said. “The police look at every possibility.”

“They’re looking at my father.”

“Yes,” I said. “I would be irresponsible not to. If they don’t and someone else is arrested the first thing that person’s lawyer will do is point out that your father wasn’t investigated.”

“Mrr,” Hercules said.

“See? He agrees with me.” Out of the corner of my eye I saw her smile.

“I know,” she said. “When people are killed more than half the time it’s by someone they know and about a quarter of the time it’s someone in their family.”

I shot her a quick glance. How on earth did she know that?

“I was on the FBI website,” she said by way of explanation.

“There’s something wrong with Snapchat?” I said.

Mia laughed. “No, I just like knowing things.”

“I get that,” I said. “I like knowing things, too.”

“But I should have fun while I’m young,” she finished.

I looked sideways again and smiled. “You’re stealing my best speeches,” I said.

We drove in silence for a minute or so. Then Mia said, “Do you miss your family?”

I nodded. “Very much. But my mother has been going back and forth to Los Angeles and my brother is on the road with his band, so even if I were in Boston it doesn’t mean I’d see them that much.”

Mia reached into her pocket and then extended her hand. I shot a quick look in her direction. A small, brown acorn sat in the middle of her palm. “My grandfather said acorns were good luck,” she said. “I’ve been carrying it around since the funeral. How crazy is that?”

“I grew up around theater people,” I said. “I know all about charms for good luck.” I remembered sitting in the middle of my parents’ bed in their place in Boston as my mother went through her closet in what I knew would be a futile effort to cull some things from the space. My father’s clothes lived in the closet in their office.

“What about this?” Dad had asked, holding up a black woolen winter coat with a gray faux-fur collar and wide bands of faux-fur trim on the sleeves. My mother had taken the coat from his hands. “Not that. That style is coming back. I might wear it this winter.”

I’d pressed my lips together to keep a smile from getting loose as my dad gave a sigh of exasperation. “Okay, then what about this?” He held up a long, silky dress. It was a pale sage green with an empire waist and a pleated cape collar.

Mom shook her head and reached for a pair of black leather pants. “I can’t get rid of that. That’s my lucky dress.”

Dad swiped a hand over his mouth. “There’s no such thing as a lucky dress,” he said.

She raised an eyebrow and gave him what I thought of as her Mona Lisa smile. “You got lucky the first time I wore that dress,” she said.

He pulled her to him with one arm, tipped her back into a sweeping dip and kissed her. I fell over sideways on the bed and pulled a pillow over my head in embarrassment. I could still hear them laughing.

I smiled at the memory and glanced in Mia’s direction again. “When I left Boston my mom gave me a sixpence for good luck. It’s English money.”

Mia nodded.

“I still carry it in my wallet. Mayville Heights may be home now, but that doesn’t mean I don’t miss my family back in Boston.”

“Sometimes I think I miss my mother,” Mia said, her voice thoughtful. “I didn’t get to know her so I think what I really miss is the idea of her.”

“I get that,” I said. “I’ve felt the same way about grandparents. Mine died before I was born, so I wasn’t missing them, I was missing the idea of grandparents. Sometimes I still feel that way.”

“My dad and my mother were just teenagers when they had me,” Mia continued. She was twisting one end of her long scarf in her hands. “She died right after I was born and her mom and dad—my other grandparents—tried to take me away from my dad. They said he wouldn’t be able to take care of me. It all went to court and the judge let me stay with Dad. He told me that my grandfather never tried to talk him out of raising me. Grandpa and my dad fought about stuff because they’re both stubborn people.”

I noticed she referred to Leo in the present tense.

“But he would never have hurt Grandpa, because he loves me.”

I exhaled slowly. “I know that,” I said. “Give the police a little time and they’ll figure it out, too.”

I hoped I was right.