Джанет Кантрелл - Fat Cat At Large

“Now what?” she muttered to no one, or perhaps to Quincy. He ignored her and began licking a paw to swipe his ears. “I’m sure Ted didn’t have a chance to filch any money from the cash drawer. It’s not him. But there sure is money missing. Nearly a hundred and fifty this time.”

The clock on the desk read 10:30. On a normal night, Anna would still be awake. Chase picked up her cell phone and called.

“Anna? We’re short again.”

When she gave Anna the figure, there was silence for a half a minute.

“I think I should tell you,” Anna said, “what I overheard from Vi a few days ago. You were in the office and Vi was on her phone.”

Chase wondered if this was the conversation she, herself, had eavesdropped on through the office door.

“I couldn’t hear everything she said, but my hearing is sharper than she must think it is.”

It didn’t do to underestimate Anna, Chase knew.

“It was something about missing money—I heard those two words—so I tuned in. She referred to something that she knew about, but couldn’t prove. And it had to do with you.”

Chase remembered very well what she’d heard.

“I’m talking about the money. It’s not there. No, I don’t have it, Felix.”

“No, I can’t. She’s the owner. . . . Okay, co-owner. Same thing. I need to talk to you.”

“Yes, I know it happened, but I can’t prove it.”

Vi had referred to the co-owner, not necessarily to Chase.

“Charity, I’ve gone back and forth on this, then back and forth again. I almost got myself believing Vi thought you had taken the money.”

Even though Chase had overheard the same conversation, she hadn’t jumped to the conclusion that Anna was a thief. Or had she? Just for a moment?

“I’ve been thinking all along,” Chase said, “that it was Ted.”

“Some of it might have been. This is a lot more tonight than has been missing before. It may have been taken by someone else.”

Chase reached down to rub Quincy’s head, consolation for dumping him onto the floor. Her back spasmed and she must have let out a whimper.

“Charity, are you in pain?”

“I pulled my back the other day. I’ll be all right. When I went to the hospital, I left Vi alone in the shop. I wonder if someone took it while she wasn’t noticing. There were only three older women there and I turned the open-close sign over before I left.”

“I suppose she could have let someone else in,” Anna said. “Or Vi could have taken the money.”

“I doubt that. She drives an awfully nice car and her clothes look expensive, too. That girl has money. I was supposed to talk to her about whatever was bothering her and I never did. I don’t think I’ll be able to tomorrow, but Thursday or Friday, I’ll be sure and do that. And I’ll ask who, exactly, was in the shop tonight after I left.”

“That’s about all we can do for now,” Anna agreed. “But this can’t go on. Our profit margin isn’t large enough.”

“I know.”

Quincy narrowed his amber eyes in agreement.

• • •

Tuesday didn’t startout well. At opening time, Vi hadn’t made an appearance yet. Chase called her, but got no answer. She left a message, then texted that she was needed ASAP.

Immediately after Chase flipped over the sign and unlocked the front door, a half-dozen people rushed in. The students started class that day, but the local residents must have pent up their desire for dessert bars, and they now flocked in.

Chase was stuck behind the counter, ringing up an endless stream of sales. She noticed people on the floor who could probably have used some help, but there was no one to give it. Anna was baking two more batches of bars they were running low on, an essential function today. They didn’t want to run out while all these excellent customers were willing to buy.

The Bar None’s reputation must have shot through the ceiling this year. This was supposed to be a slow day, but the customers didn’t stop.

A few people walked out without purchases. If Vi were here, she could have sold them, Chase thought.

Finally, an hour and a half after opening time, Vi came through the double doors from the kitchen.

“I’m here,” she announced with a wide smile, looking her usual impeccable self.

Chase glared and motioned her toward a trio of boys inspecting boxes from one of the tables. The display would need redoing after they finished manhandling everything.

Vi waltzed up to the guys and wowed them. She deftly straightened up the display while talking, listening, and handing them the varieties she selected for them. They came to the register grinning.

A sharp pain stabbed Chase behind her right ear. It was a wonder she hadn’t had a headache every day for the last week and a half. She rubbed her head, willing the ache to go away. At least it made her forget about her throbbing back for the moment.

There was no time for anyone to take lunch. Well after when lunchtime should have been, Anna came to the front, finished with all the baking for supplying the shelves that day. The three women worked well together during the afternoon, creating a nicely choreographed ballet of salesmanship, helpfulness, and actual selling, graced with smiles and small talk, just enough to make each customer feel special, not enough to hold up the works.

A glance at the clock over the front door told Chase there was an hour left. They would close at the regular time of 6:00 today. During a slight lull, with the store only one-third full, Anna stepped over to the pink shelves and rearranged boxes to disguise the empty spaces created by the flurry of success. She turned and shot Chase a smile of triumph. Today would be a good day when they counted up tonight. Maybe it would make up for the missing cash.

Chase had worked the till all day. There hadn’t been a chance to switch jobs. Vi approached the counter.

“Want me to take over back there for a while?” She gave Chase a huge smile, even bigger than usual.

Chase opened her mouth to accept the offer, then thought better of it. Vi was so good on the floor, she wanted her to keep working there. “No, that’s okay. I’ll finish up here. We just have an hour left. You’re doing great. We’ll have a glass of wine in the kitchen when we’re done.”

“I’m not sure I can stay. I’ll see.” Vi turned away and approached some hesitant customers. Soon they were laden with dessert bars. Vi, Chase thought for the umpteenth time, had the touch of gold for sales.

FOURTEEN

The Bar None would close in five minutes. It was finally the end of the long day. And this was supposed to have been an easy one. Chase closed her eyes for a moment and pictured herself with Quincy purring in her lap, sitting in her favorite cushy chair enjoying a long, slow glass of wine and a Chocolate Peanut Butter Dream Bar. When she opened her eyes, the shop was still there, and still open. And her back hurt more than it had all day.

Also, Gabe’s visitation started in an hour. His funeral was going to be tomorrow, Wednesday. The shop would be closed, so, theoretically, Chase would be able to attend the actual service. But she’d rather just sign her name on the book at the visitation. That way, she wouldn’t have to face his family and their grief, and to pretend she was sad that Gabe was dead. She gave herself a mental slap for that last thought, even though it was true.

Anna had returned to the kitchen to start the cleanup and Chase was tending the register, waiting to check out the customers who remained in the store. There were quite a few. Today’s receipts should add up to a lot, she told herself. Could the extra day of big sales make up for the pilfering?