Джанет Кантрелл - Fat Cat At Large

“Laci?”

“Yes. I know she and Vi can’t work together without tangling, and Vi is the much better salesperson. But . . .”

“We should get rid of both of them.”

Chase blew out a breath of exasperation. Why was Anna so obtuse sometimes? “No, I don’t think we should. We can work all this out. And if we’re going to make an extra effort to help Violet, then we have to do the same for Laci. They’re both our employees. They’re part of the Bar None family.”

“I suppose you’re right. But can we help Laci, somehow, without her working here?”

Chase shot Anna an exasperated look.

“All right, I’ll make more effort.” Anna returned to the kitchen, allowing Chase to catch a whiff of the tangy scent of the Lemon Bars that were browning in the oven before the office door swung shut.

There, she’d done it. She’d spoken her mind about Vi and Laci. They would keep employing them and would get them settled down so they could work together by the holidays. That was over two months away. Relief washed over Chase. She was sure she was doing the right thing.

Later that afternoon, Detective Olson returned Chase’s phone call.

“I read about Iversen,” she said. “That’s why I called you.”

“You have information about his death?”

“Not really. It’s just that, well, he’s been so vehement in accusing me, I figured maybe he killed Gabe. Was it suicide?”

“Is that what you read? Was that on the Internet?”

“No, it didn’t say suicide . It said foul play . But if he was remorseful about killing Gabe, suicide would make sense.”

“It’s pretty hard to bash your own head in.”

“He could fall on something sharp.”

“Didn’t happen. His skull is crushed, and the murder weapon has been removed. You don’t need to concern yourself with Iversen’s death. But I have something to tell you about the jacket you found.”

“Is it Doris’s?”

“Yes, but—”

“So she did kill him.”

There was a pause at the detective’s end of the call before he continued. “As I was trying to say, the stain is tomato sauce.”

“Tomato sauce? There was all that blood.”

“Not everything you saw on the floor of the condo was blood. A bunch of it was sauce. It either spilled or was thrown. I suspect Naughtly threw it at his wife, from the amount on her jacket.”

“Is there a serial killer?”

“I wouldn’t say that. But I will caution you to be careful what you say to people who knew Gabe. That’s why I told you some of this. I want you to stay safe. Keep away from his acquaintances and relatives.”

Chase deflated after the phone call. It would be hard to avoid all of Gabe’s acquaintances and harder to avoid his relatives, since her employee was dating one relative and another was a regular customer.

It seemed like Doris hadn’t killed Gabe. Whoever had would probably have blood on their clothes. Too bad Hilda Bjorn hadn’t seen anyone run out of the condo covered in blood. It didn’t look like Iversen had done it either. In fact, Chase would bet her missing money that the same person killed both of them. Evidence against this was that the murder weapons were so different. They were both probably weapons of convenience, though, the nearest weapon to hand. That seemed to make sense. A small point for it being the same killer.

Not only should she stay away from people connected to Gabe, she should keep away from potential murder weapons.

NINETEEN

Laci showed up at the shop late in the afternoon. As soon as she walked through the rear door, Anna started making a fuss over her.

“Are you sure you should be running around? Did you drive yourself? Here, you’d better sit down.”

Chase thought that, for a person who had wanted to get rid of Laci so recently, Anna was overdoing it a bit.

Anna pulled out a stool, but Laci shook her head. “I’m fine. I just saw the doctor at three. There’s no trace of a concussion. At first they thought I might have a teensy one, but he rechecked me today. I’m all fine. He gave me a prescription to help me relax if I start hyperventilating or feel like I’m getting too nervous.”

“Have you taken any of those pills?” Chase asked, thinking that maybe she shouldn’t drive under the influence of relaxing medication.

“No, I haven’t been to the drugstore yet. I wanted to check in here and let you know I’m doing better.” In spite of her refusal a few seconds ago, she perched on the stool Anna had offered her. “I’m not sure when I can return to work.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Chase said quickly. “We’ll do fine. We’re not superbusy.” The customers had to drop off soon. Their rush was supposed to be over by now.

“It sounds like there are a lot of people out front,” Laci said, fiddling with the flounce at the wrist of her sleeve. “I could maybe help out just a bit.” When she swiveled slightly, Chase realized she was on the squeaky stool. They needed to oil it.

“Vi will call us if she gets swamped,” Chase said. “Really, we’re okay.”

“But that’s so considerate of you to offer,” Anna said.

Good grief, thought Chase. Back down, Anna. “Are your parents still in town?”

“No, they had to leave yesterday.” Laci’s tone was flat and casual, but a sad look flitted across her face, then disappeared.

What kind of parents would leave when their daughter had a possible concussion? wondered Chase, horrified. She could tell Anna was wondering the same thing.

“Oh dear,” Anna said, almost under her breath.

“That’s all right,” the young woman answered. “I’m used to being on my own. They don’t hang around much.”

“Still . . .” Anna patted Laci’s thin shoulder.

Laci jumped off the stool. “I think I should go get my prescription filled.”

“Let me drive you,” Anna said.

“I won’t take any until I get home. I know not to drive after I take a pill like one of these.”

“If you think so.” Anna seemed less than half-convinced.

Chase was surprised Anna didn’t button Laci’s jacket for her before she left.

“Oh my goodness.” Anna’s worried face reminded Chase of the care Anna had given her when her parents had passed away. She really was a kind and generous soul. Anna was about to say something, probably about what they should be doing for Laci, when she was interrupted.

“Paper man,” called the delivery guy coming through the back door, a box of paper bags imprinted with the Bar None logo hoisted on his shoulder.

Distracted by her conflicting thoughts on her relationship with Anna lately, Chase opened the office door so he could stow them there. She neglected to stick a foot inside to prevent escape. Quick as a flash Quincy darted out, making it through the parking lot door before it completely closed behind the delivery man.

Darn it, thought Chase. Not this again.

The butterscotch tabby knew the enticing tomato aroma that had been behind the trash bin was no longer there. That was the first thing he sensed after he made it through the door. The second thing he sensed was a loud voice calling his name. Rather than voluntarily return to the office, he set out in the direction where he’d first found the delicious tomato saucy meatloaf. Now that he knew his way, his progress was swift and sure. It took no time at all to zip over there. When he found the condo door closed, he looked around for another way in. Instead, he spied someone across the street eating something that smelled good. He padded across the street.

Anna made it to the door first. “I think he’s headed for Gabe Naughtly’s again.”

“What’s wrong with that cat?” asked the paper deliveryman.