Клэр Донелли - Catch As Cat Can

Mike stared. “That’s almost to Nova Scotia,” he said.

Vane shrugged. “You go where the fish are.” He turned to Sunny. “So if your boyfriend wants to talk to me, he may have to do it by radio.”

Sunny almost began her response with “He’s not—” but managed to hold that in. Instead, she shrugged, said, “Fine,” and gestured to the waitress for the check. She looked at her untouched muffin and nearly full cup. Somehow during their conversation, Mike had reduced his English muffin to crumbs and had to wave off the waitress when she tried to bring him a coffee refill.

His heart may not be what it used to be, Sunny thought, but he still has a cast-iron stomach.

She settled the bill, left a tip, and headed back out into the cold.

*

Shadow stood onthe front of a go-fast thing, peering in the smeary windows of the place Sunny and the Old One had gone into. From the smell, it had to be one of those places where they always made food. Shadow thought that was a good idea. He’d seen many two-legs just walk in and eat. But he knew that a furred person could get into trouble looking for food. He couldn’t count how many places like that he’d entered—and been chased from.

I don’t know why Sunny would go into one of those places now, he thought. She just ate.

He watched her take a drink and make a face. Maybe it was one of those situations like when the Old One put out food for him, and just to be polite, Shadow would have a taste.

Thinking of that reminded Shadow of the food Sunny had set out back home. Now he wished he’d had some of that before he went out. Shadow continued to watch Sunny and finally saw the reason why she was hanging around. A strange two-legs came into the place and sat down with her.

When the stranger had walked by, Shadow had noticed him because he smelled of fish—some of it not very fresh. A bare glance at the way this one moved, though, and Shadow knew he couldn’t expect to see any tidbits falling to the ground. This one was angry.

But there were no loud voices and fighting when the Angry One spoke with Sunny. That was good, although Shadow wasn’t happy to see Sunny with this two-legs. Sunny was good, but she chose some very odd humans to hang around with sometimes. Why couldn’t she visit with nice two-legs like the Generous One?

The thought of that one made Shadow’s empty stomach growl. He stretched and noticed that the sky above was growing brighter. More two-legs were moving around now.

Shadow wondered if the Generous One was already in the house where he chopped up fish. A quick surge of his muscles, and he dropped to the pavement. He set off down the street, ignoring the cold wind coming off the big water. It would be warm where he was going.

*

Sunny arrived atthe MAX office early enough that she was able to stop at Judson’s Market for supplies. She wanted to get the taste of the Dockside Diner’s coffee out of her mouth, and she didn’t trust the office brew to help. So she got a cup of Judson’s plain (but flavorful) American coffee and a toasted bagel to make up for the muffin she’d missed out on.

She’d just cleared the office decks and finished her second breakfast when she heard the metal gate rattle up next door. Sighing, Sunny dropped her disposable cup in the trash. She’d let the subject of rent slide after Abby’s surprise revelation, but she knew she couldn’t allow it to drag on forever. Sooner or later, she’d get a call from Ollie on the subject. And knowing Ollie, it would be sooner—like when he realized he still hadn’t gotten cash or a check.

Sunny rose from behind her desk, walked to the door, and then scampered through the cold to Kittery Harbor Fish. Neil Garret had just installed himself behind the counter. “Oh, hi, Sunny,” he said. “What can I do for you?”

“It’s not so much what you can do for me as for Ollie,” she told him. “He wanted me to remind you about the rent. It’s—”

“Overdue, I know,” he finished for her. “Things have been—well, you know how things have been.” Neil rubbed his hands together, like a man getting down to a big job. “The good news is that I had a decent day yesterday. A lot of nosy people had healthy dinners last night. Can you let me slide until I see how today goes? You can tell Ollie that I’ll have something for him by the end of business.”

“I’ll pass that on to Ollie when he calls in and let you know.” Sunny made no promises when it came to her boss’ reactions. Although Ollie wasn’t the wild man he had been when Sunny had first started working for him, he still had his good and bad days—good and bad moods.

“Thanks, Sunny.” Neil arranged a tray full of fish filets on a fresh bed of ice and added a sign with the price. He raised his head above the counter and asked, “Is there something else?”

Sunny realized she’d been staring at him, comparing this small businessman starting off his day with the big-shot stock market mobster that Abby had described. Other than his willingness to rock the boat on the local fish business, Sunny still didn’t see any trace of that guy.

“I, uh . . .” She stumbled over her words as she realized that Neil was now staring at her in a way she recognized, the look of a man with a secret who wonders if it’s somehow gotten out.

For a second, she almost blurted out that she’d been up early to catch Charlie Vane, but she managed to head that off before the words left her mouth. Not helpful to talk about his wholesale fish coconspirator—and potential murder suspect, Sunny thought.

Her final response was less than original but had the merit of being true, as far as it went. “Sorry. I didn’t get much sleep last night.”

No need to mention why, she added inside her head.

Neil nodded in sympathy. “I know what you mean. This hasn’t been easy. I never expected—” He broke off, staring at her intently, as if looking for some sign of shared knowledge, a green light for him to speak up.

And then he was looking past her. “Don’t look now,” Neil said, “but you’re being shadowed.”

Sunny whirled around to discover a familiar furry figure resting its forepaws on Neil’s store window.

“Shadow! What are you doing out there?” She opened the door, and Shadow trotted in, tail high, its tip bent forward, cat body language for Hi! Nice to see ya!

It seemed as though he’d completely forgotten the unpleasant circumstances from the last time he’d been in front of Kittery Harbor Fish. Nor was he the least bit embarrassed that Sunny was watching his overtures to Neil.

Maybe a little bit of Nick Gatto peeked out as Neil’s attitude suddenly shifted. He laughed, coming around the counter to reach down, letting Shadow sniff his hand before gently rubbing his fingers through the fur between the cat’s ears. “This little guy must have some premium stones, coming down here to see what’s doing.”

Actually, he’s been fixed. But Sunny didn’t see any use in mentioning that.

After a brief head rub, Neil went back behind the counter. He produced a sharp knife and carefully removed a sliver from one of the filets in his counter display. Standing up again, he prepared to toss the morsel to Shadow but then paused, looking over at Sunny. “Is it all right for him to eat something like this in the morning?”

Sunny glanced over at Shadow who sat back on his haunches, his body erect, eyes locked on the bit of fish in Neil’s hand. “He can have a little bit,” she responded, shaking her head. “Just not too much.”

That smart-aleck voice in the back of her head laughed. We don’t want a rerun of the frog incident .