Kelly Sofie - Curiosity Thrilled The Cat

“She obviously said no.”

“She said she had personal reasons for leaving.”

“I heard that, too,” Maggie said.

“That’s why Everett was so pleased to find you,” Roma said.

“Do you think her personal reasons had something to do with Will?” I asked.

“I don’t see how they could,” Maggie said. “It’s not like the two of them ran off to Tahiti together.”

“Maybe she’s sorry she resigned,” Roma said. “Maybe Will figured if Kathleen got hurt, Everett would ask Ingrid to come back.”

“Mags, this is crazy.” I rubbed the top of my shoulder, which seemed to ache more if I stayed in one position too long. “I don’t know that Will had anything to do with what happened to me. Those accidents could all just have been accidents.”

“They could be,” she agreed. “But everything that’s happened has happened because of something stupid Will or his guys did.” She tugged at her seat belt, pulling it a little tighter across her shoulder. “C’mon, Kath, think about it. The radiator they forgot to properly disconnect. The roll of plastic that fell. I’m not a contractor, but I know you don’t need vapor barrier to fasten a plaster medallion to the ceiling.”

“Kathleen, how did Will react when he found out about your accidents?” Roma asked.

I shrugged. “He apologized, but it seemed a bit insincere to me. He always manages to find a way to point out that I don’t understand what’s involved in a major renovation and I don’t know the building.”

“Has he said anything about insurance or liability?”

“No.”

Roma turned the car onto Old Main Street. “I agree with Maggie,” she said. “Why isn’t Will worried about his liability in all of this? Maybe it’s just he’s so caught up in this affair he seems to be having. Whatever it is, someone’s going to get hurt, a lot worse than you’ve already been. If they haven’t already.”

“What do you mean, ‘if they haven’t already’?” Maggie asked.

“Something happened to Gregor Easton at the library,” Roma said.

“Uh-huh.”

“How do we know that something wasn’t another accident meant for Kathleen?”

“You think Will did something to Easton? Will? ” I said.

“I don’t know,” Roma said. “Maybe he and Ingrid were together in the library for some reason, and Easton walked in on them. Who knows? I’m just saying be careful, that’s all.”

“I will,” I said. “I have a meeting tonight with Everett. He knows some of what’s been going on.”

“I think you should tell him the rest,” Roma said.

“I plan to.”

She slowed and pulled into the library lot. “Kathleen, Maggie.” She put the SUV in park and looked at each of us in turn. “This has been fascinating to say the least, but . . . get out of my car.”

I leaned my head against the headrest and laughed. “Roma, I’m sorry,” I said. “We kind of pulled you into the middle of this and you’ve been a very good sport.”

“Yes, you did, and, yes, I have,” she said. “Now get out of my car.” She smiled to soften the words. “I have patients to see. The four-legged kind that bite when I keep them waiting.”

Maggie and I both got out of the SUV. “Thank you, Roma,” Maggie said.

Roma pointed across the lot at the old brown truck. “You have to pump the gas twice to get it started.”

“Are you sure?” Maggie asked, shading her eyes as she looked at the rusty half ton.

“That’s Ruby’s truck, isn’t it?” Roma said.

“Uh-huh.” Mags nodded.

“I’m sure,” Roma said. “It used to be mine. Neutral’s kind of mushy, too.” She put the SUV in gear and drove off.

Maggie walked me over to the steps. “I told you Will was up to something,” she said.

“Just because he’s having an affair—assuming he is having an affair—doesn’t mean he’s been trying to get rid of me. Or that he did something to Gregor Easton,” I said.

“What?” she snorted. “You think that kiss was a substitute for a hearty handshake?”

“Okay,” I said. “Probably not.”

“All I’m saying is, be vigilant.” I could see the concern on her face.

“I will. I promise.”

“I’ve gotta go,” she said. “Call me later.”

“I will,” I said. “Are you going to try the truck again?”

She nodded. “Cross your fingers.”

I stood on the step and watched her get into the truck. It started on the first turn of the key. She drove out of the lot with both hands on the top of the steering wheel and a look of intense concentration on her face.

I went up the rest of the stairs and into the library. Lita called just before four to let me know Everett expected to be at my house about eight thirty. I left Mary in charge and headed home at about five o’clock.

Hercules was in the backyard on the lawn chair. Now that I knew what he could do, it wasn’t as disconcerting to find him somewhere unexpected. He jumped down and walked beside me to the back door.

“How was your day?” I asked.

“Merow,” he said, and he may have shrugged; I wasn’t sure.

“Maggie, Roma and I were playing Charlie’s Angels ,” I said as I unlocked the door. Hercules paused on the second step. “It’s a long story,” I said.

Owen was sprawled on the bench in the porch. He jumped up when he saw us and a whisper of yellow feather drifted to the floor.

“I’m not saying a word,” I said, heading for the kitchen.

The cats kept me company while I changed and made spaghetti for dinner. I told them all about Will and the former librarian. “Maggie thinks Will’s up to something,” I said. Owen gave my leg a swat with his paw. “You always agree with Maggie,” I told him. “You’re not exactly unbiased.”

That got me a cranky kitty glare. I set my dishes in the sink. I still had lots of time before my meeting with Everett. I decided to make cinnamon rolls. I wanted to thank Roma for going along with Maggie’s “Let’s stalk Will Redfern” idea.

While I rolled out the dough I couldn’t help wondering what Everett was going to do and how Will would react. Whether or not he was up to something, he was going to be angry.

When the cinnamon rolls were in the oven I went down to the basement for a new vacuum bag so I could clean up before Everett arrived. That was when I noticed Rebecca’s sweater still soaking in my sink. “Crap on toast!” I said. I’d forgotten about it.

Luckily it was cotton, not wool. I rinsed it in clean water and rolled it in a towel. Then I lugged my folding rack upstairs and spread the cardigan out to dry.

I could smell the rolls. I’d forgotten to set the timer. I jerked open the oven door. They hadn’t burned, but they were extra crispy. And I’d spaced them too close together. The rolls slid off the baking sheet onto the rack like a big cinnamon paving stone.

Herc and Owen had disappeared. I pulled out the vacuum, taking out my frustration by aggressively chasing every speck of dirt on the kitchen floor, even muscling out the stove and fridge.

The cats peeked in once from the living room, watched me for a moment and exchanged knowing glances. After I finished striking terror into the hearts of dust bunnies everywhere, I went out to the porch to check Rebecca’s sweater, hoping it hadn’t gotten small enough to be a winter coat for Owen.

Will Redfern was standing just inside the porch door.

I jumped, sucking in a breath. “Good heavens, Will,” I said, pressing a hand against my breastbone. “You scared me. I didn’t hear you knock.”

“You were vacuuming,” he said. “And I didn’t knock, anyway.”

My heart started thumping in both ears like a drummer keeping time in stereo. I wrapped an arm across my chest. “What can I do for you, Will?” I asked. I tried not to think about what Maggie suspected. I tried not to think about how much taller, heavier and stronger Will was. I didn’t do a very good job of it.