Софи Райан - The Whole Cat Аnd Caboodle

I leaned down so my face was just inches away from his furry one. “Do I need to remind you that the only way you’re going to get to come with us is in this bag?”

He blinked, climbed into the bag and sat down, looking expectantly up at me. Some days I had the feeling the cat understood every single word I said to him. Other days I figured that while he pretty much got what I was saying, he just wasn’t listening.

When I got back downstairs Rose and Charlotte were at the cash counter with Avery. The fertility statue was unwrapped, sitting on the blue towel. Charlotte was saying something and Avery was listening intently.

Liz had been standing by the window but she walked over when I came down the stairs. “I hear you got Maddie a lawyer,” she said. “Thank you.”

“Calling Josh was Rose’s idea,” I said, watching her turn over the carved stone figure to show Avery something on the back of the statue.

“And you’re the one who made the call,” Liz said. She gave me a long, appraising look. “If Maddie needs bail you tell Josh to call me.”

“Oh, Liz,” I said, and then I had to stop because all of a sudden there was a lump in my throat.

“Don’t ‘Oh, Liz’ me,” she said, making a sweeping gesture in the air with one hand. “We take care of each other and we stick together.”

I put my arms around her and gave her a hug, resting my head on her shoulder.

She shook a finger at me. “And it goes without saying, my dear, that it stays between the two of us.”

I nodded. I had no idea exactly how much money Liz actually had. I was pretty sure it was more than her friends realized. Liz had come to the rescue with her checkbook before, without most people knowing, and I felt certain there were probably times I wasn’t aware of.

“You’re taking the cat?” Liz asked, pointing at my gym bag.

Elvis narrowed his green eyes at her as though he was offended by her question.

I opened my mouth to explain that if I tried to leave him behind the cat wasn’t above retaliating, when she raised a hand and waved my explanation away.

“No, never mind,” she said. “Taking that cat along isn’t any odder than Avery lugging that little naked statue or Rose carrying tea bags everywhere she goes.”

Everyone had to check out the new SUV before we could head over to The Black Bear. But anything that could distract Charlotte was fine with me. I set Elvis on the front seat. He immediately stuck his head out of the top of the bag and looked around, sniffing the air.

“Stay in the bag,” I reminded him.

Mac, Rose and Charlotte ended up riding with me. Liz and Avery said they’d meet us at Sam’s.

“Nonna, could I drive?” I heard Avery ask as they started for the car. “I think I know a faster way.”

When we got there, Sam had a table saved for us. “Have you heard anything yet?” he asked.

I shook my head. “It’s going to be a while.”

He gave me a reassuring smile. “It’ll be all right. I asked around. Josh Evans knows his stuff.”

“Good,” I said, shrugging off my jacket and hanging it over the back of my chair. “Could you do me a favor?” I held out my keys. “Elvis is in the SUV—I got it today, by the way. I’m parked about three spots down on this side of the street. Could you take something out to Elvis?”

“Your cat’s in your new SUV?” he said, tipping his head to one side and narrowing his gaze at me.

I crossed my arms over my chest and nodded. “Yes, I brought my cat. People drive around all the time with dogs. Why does everyone think it’s weird if someone drives around with their cat?”

Okay, so I sounded more than a little defensive.

Sam looked like he was having a hard time not laughing. “I didn’t mean I thought it was strange that you drive all over town with your cat. I’m just wondering if you’re sure he’s actually in the SUV.”

I stared at him, a sinking feeling in my stomach. “That’s where I left him. Why are you asking?” I’d definitely locked the doors and I was holding the keys, so there was no way Avery could have “rescued” Elvis. There was no way she could have coached him to unlock the door. Was there?

Sam opened his mouth and closed it again, swallowing a laugh—with difficulty—before he spoke. “Sarah, why does Rose have your gym bag? And why is it . . . moving?”

Rose and Avery were on the other side of the round table, probably still talking about the little fertility statue. My black gym bag was on the floor next to Rose’s chair and Sam was right: the bag was, well, squirming.

I held up a finger to Sam. “Don’t move,” I said.

I walked around the table. “I know what you two are up to,” I said, glaring at Rose and Avery. Avery looked guilty. Rose, on the other hand, was the picture of innocence.

“We’re just trying to decide whether or not to split a fish platter,” she said.

“I’m talking about that.” I pointed at the nylon bag on the floor. Elvis had stopped moving, probably the moment he’d heard my voice.

Rose glanced down and then her eyes met mine again. “Oh, I guess I brought your bag in,” she said. “No harm. I’ll just keep it here with me.”

“I know that Elvis is in that bag,” I hissed.

Avery looked very uncomfortable. Her eyes kept sliding away from my face and she shifted restlessly from one foot to the other. She was an awful liar, which in a teenager was a good thing.

Rose leaned toward the bag, squinted, and then put a hand to her mouth. “Oh, my goodness, you’re right. He is.”

“This is a restaurant,” I said sternly. “If the health inspector came in and found Elvis here they’d shut Sam down. Do you two want that to happen?” I felt a twinge of guilt about lecturing them, seeing as how Elvis and I had had breakfast in the back booth just a few hours earlier. I reminded myself that the pub had been closed then, not more than three-quarters full of people, all eating.

Rose gave me a sweet smile. “Sarah, dear, that’s not going to happen. Elvis will sit right here next to me. It’s not like he’s going to get up and dance on the table.”

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Avery smirk at the idea. She had the good sense to hide it when I looked at her again.

“Elvis is not going to dance on the table or anywhere else because he’s going to be in Sam’s office,” I said.

Avery groaned. “That’s not fair. Elvis isn’t hurting anything. And . . . and it’s like you’re putting him in jail.”

I pressed my lips together, closed my eyes for a moment and mentally counted to five before I opened them again. “Sam’s office is not jail,” I said. “Elvis can have some supper and stretch out on the futon until we’re ready to leave.” I knew Sam had an old fourteen-inch TV in his office. Elvis could probably watch Jeopardy! if he wanted to, but I didn’t say that.

I bent down and picked up the bag before Rose and Avery got any more ideas. I looked from one to the other. They were both trying to look innocent, but Rose was doing a much better job of it. I frowned at her although we both knew I wasn’t really mad.

“You’re old enough to know better,” I said, sternly, raising my eyebrows at her to make my point. “And you,” I said, pointing at Avery, “are clearly the more mature person, so I’m counting on you to act like it.”

I walked back around the table to Sam. Mac and Charlotte had their heads together over a menu.

There was a mischievous gleam in Sam’s eyes. “Could I check your cat for you?” he asked.

“Very funny,” I said. “Could Elvis stay in your office?”

He laughed. “Sure.”

I handed him the bag.

“I have some pretty decent halibut tonight,” he said. “Okay if I give him a little?”