Cat Got Your Crown by Julie Chase

Author:Julie Chase
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books

Chapter Thirteen

Furry Godmother’s words of wisdom: Life is short; eat the fruit dip.

I drove home with the windows down. The rush of wind in my hair was freeing after a long, tense night in the spotlight. It was unnerving the way audience members scrutinized the judges as carefully as they watched the contestants, as if they could intuit our thoughts, guess our scores. My scores were usually tens, so maybe that was true. Still, the fact that one of the onlookers was likely a stalker and cold-blooded killer tested my antiperspirant’s promises.

I slowed at the next intersection and smiled as Willow’s face came into view beneath a streetlamp. Her eyes were closed and her chin was up as she seemed to savor the firm rush of summer wind. I pulled against the curb across the street and waved from my open window. “Willow!”

Her eyes opened. “Lacy?” The same black cat wound around her ankles. She held her cross-body bag against her middle as she jogged over to see me. Wedge-style sandals peeked from beneath the flowing material of her patchwork skirt with each long stride.

“Where are you headed?” I asked.

“Just walking. Enjoying the city. I got on a green trolley near my hotel and it brought me all the way here.”

I laughed. “That was the St. Charles streetcar,” I told her. “It’s a historic landmark, the oldest continuously operating line in the world and my personal favorite.” I’d ridden the St. Charles Streetcar dozens of times before I’d had a driver’s license or money for a cab. The rush of climbing on board and leaving my life behind had been intoxicating, and I’d gotten hooked fast. In fact, most of my early teen adventures had begun with a ride on that streetcar, and shockingly, my mother had never stopped me. As long as I was back in time for dinner.

“Cool,” Willow said. “Where are you going all dressed up? Hot date?”

I gave my new dress a look. “Home. I was judging a pet competition. Cats tonight. Dogs tomorrow. Birds and other pets on day three, and the last night is for crowning the winners.”

She puckered her brow. “That sounds like fun, so why do you look distressed?”

“It was fun,” I said, working up a better I’m-fine face. I considered how to put everything that had happened to me these last few days into words, then decided not to burden her with the mess that had become my life. “I saw a man fall to his death from a balcony,” I blurted.

My jaw dropped, and I slapped a palm across my open mouth. “I’m so sorry.” I apologized. “I didn’t mean to say that.” I bit the insides of my cheeks in embarrassment.

“The guy from the paper?” Willow asked. “Oh my gosh. I just read about that in the headlines this morning. He was with the National Pet Pageant.” She bounced the heel of her hand off her forehead. “Of course. Oh my goodness. You must be so shaken. I hope you didn’t have to see the aftermath.

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