Molly Fitz: The Cat Caper (Pet Whisperer P.I. Book 5)

“Unusual? Hmmm.” Maple grabbed her tail and began to brush through it with her fingers. Her eyes darted from side to side as she thought. “The big buck was here. You know the one with lots of pointy parts on his antlers? He was hanging out near the edge of the forest, which I thought was weird since he usually likes to stay hidden. And my friend, Willow, said she saw the old human taking a nap in the sun.”

“Nan?” That definitely didn’t sound like my active, vibrant grandmother, but who else could it be?

“Sure, I guess so.” Maple put her hands out to either side in an approximation of a shrug. “I don’t blame him, since sleeping in the sunshine is so nice. The only thing nicer is nuts—especially peanut butter. Do you still have some you wanted to give me?”

“Nan’s a she, by the way,” I said with a small chuckle. “Don’t worry about it, though. I know it can be hard to tell with humans. And, yes, I have that jar of peanut butter I promised you. But do you think maybe you can help me out with something very important, Maple?”

She spun in a slow circle, searching the woods around us. I looked, too, but didn’t see or hear any other animals already.

Maple turned back toward me with her mouth ajar. “Didn’t I do that already?”

I had to make fast on my peanut butter promise. Otherwise I’d lose the opportunity to get anything else from my first animal informant. “Yes, which is why I’m giving you the first jar of peanut butter. I’ll give you another if you can ask around the forest and see if you can learn anything—anything at all—about what might have happened to my cat.”

Maple saluted me, then ran off shouting into the forest. No idea where she learned that particular gesture or how screaming to all the animals at once was going to help anything, but I could at least keep up my end of the promise.

Now I knew that at least some of the animals kept a close eye on my house and family. Did that mean one of them saw what happened yesterday?

I returned home to raid my pantry for a fresh jar of peanut butter, hoping that when I returned, Maple might have more to tell me.

Each moment that passed by without my cat’s safe return had become agonizing for me, and I wasn’t sure I could last another night without knowing he was safe.

Oh, Octo-Cat, where have you gone?

Chapter Six

Even though I’d barely been out for half an hour, I returned home to find Nan both wide awake and wearing a full face of makeup. She also wore a lace-trimmed blue sundress that hit at the knees, which she’d paired with hot pink tights and big dangling earrings.

“Hey, good morning. What are you all dressed up for?” I asked, eyeing her suspiciously as I clicked the door shut behind me.

“Dressed up?” Nan asked with a small frown as she scratched at her collarbone. “Are you sure? I was worried it makes me look too much like an old fogey.”

I widened my eyes and shook my head. Nothing about Nan’s ensemble aged her in the slightest, but I also knew better than to argue with her when it came to fashion. We both had a special flair for it but tended to prefer very different styles.

“The lace, dear,” Nan explained. “Doesn’t it feel a bit old-fashioned to you?”

“I think you look nice,” I offered with a smile and shrug as I sat to join her. “But I still don’t know why you’re all dressed up.”

“Oh, yes. Well, that nice young man, Brock, called and said he was coming by to do a bit of work.” Nan shimmied her shoulders and giggled—actually giggled.

This was weird. Even for her.

And especially for so early in the morning.

“He prefers to be called Cal now,” I pointed out. “You know, short for Calhoun.”

Nan studied her reflection in the antique mirror that hung near the doorway. “Ah, so he does.”

“But none of this explains why you felt the need to dress all…” I stopped just short of saying flirty and let out a big gasp. Of course. “Nan, you don’t have a new crush, do you?”

She waved her hand and rolled her eyes, but the blush that now painted the apples of her cheeks was unmistakable. “Oh, pish posh. I don’t think it can be categorized as a crush if I never plan on making a move. Besides, silly, I’ve already decided he’s for you.”

“For me?” I shrieked. “You can’t be serious?”

“He’s single. You’re single. You get along. I don’t see what the problem is…” A wicked smile lit up her face. “Unless you maybe have romantic inclinations for another fella?”

Sure, there was no denying that Cal was an attractive man and somebody I got along well with, too. But to think about dating at a time like this? No way. Not until Octo-Cat was back home, safe and sound.

I groaned and cracked my neck to either side. “This is not the 1800s, nor is it the Deep South. We live in twenty-first-century Maine, Nan. And I can find my own boyfriend when I’m ready. Right now, I’m a bit more concerned about finding my missing cat, thank you.”

Nan remained completely unperturbed by my protestations. “Still no reason to pass up a perfectly good opportunity when it just so happens to present itself,” she said. “Besides, you say you can find your own boyfriend, but you haven’t. Let your poor old nan help. By the way, is that what you’re planning to wear?”

“That’s it!” I shouted, throwing both hands in the air and marching right past her. “I’ll meet Cal outside, and you can make yourself scarce. Preferably by continuing the search for Octo-Cat.” Even though I knew it was a touch overdramatic, I slammed the door shut behind me and practically ran straight into the handsome handyman on the other side.

“Oh, sorry,” I murmured as I tried to edge my way past him without losing my footing or brushing up against anything I shouldn’t. I found myself even more aware of his good looks than normal now, thanks to Nan.

Cal’s brow furrowed in sympathy. “Is everything okay?”

“Just peachy,” I said, giving the thumbs-up and tossing him a wink for good measure. Ugh, why was I always embarrassing myself?

Cal stretched his hand across the back of his neck and glanced down toward the porch. “Your nan called me a little bit ago and said you needed help installing a sign for your new business.” He glanced up again and his dark eyes locked with mine. “I didn’t know you were starting up your own business. If you need any advice or anything, I’d be happy to help in whatever way I can.”

Nan had said Cal called himself, but seeing as he had no reason to lie about things, I had to wonder why Nan would have intentionally misled me. What was she playing at, and why now?

“Thanks, Cal. That’s…” I stopped and cleared my throat, otherwise it felt like I might legitimately stop breathing. “That’s really nice of you. I’ll definitely let you know if I need any help.”

He rocked back and forth on the balls of his feet and glanced awkwardly toward the door before finally asking, “So, um, where’s the sign?”

“Oh, just a sec. I’ll go in and grab it real quick. Be right back.” I raced inside, clicking the door shut behind me so that Cal wouldn’t try to follow. The last thing I needed was an added layer of embarrassment from Nan. I was doing a mighty fine job of that myself, thank you. I grabbed the metal sign and stepped back outside, where I handed it to Cal.

He laughed as he studied it. “I’m guessing your nan made this.”

“Yup.” I stared at the door, praying that Nan wasn’t planning on bursting through it anytime soon.

“So you’re opening a… what exactly?”

“A private investigation firm.” I bit my lip while he continued to stare at the sign with a furrowed brow.