Cat Laughing Last by Shirley Rousseau Murphy

Author:Shirley Rousseau Murphy [Shirley Rousseau Murphy]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9780061740176
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2007-03-03T16:00:00+00:00

17

The two cats watched Fern’s Toyota pull up in front of Binnie’s Italian. Vivi and Elliott were still sitting in their black Lincoln, snapping at each other. When Fern parked in front of them Vivi got out and hurried into the restaurant with her, slamming the glass door nearly in Elliott’s face. Catching the door, he swung in behind them and eased it closed.

On the warm concrete beneath the newspaper rack, Joe and Dulcie crouched looking up through the restaurant window where Vivi and Fern and Elliott were settling into a booth. Vivi glanced out blankly to where the cats were idly washing their paws, the cats of less interest to her than the metal newsstand. Dulcie loved spying on someone when she was in plain sight. Through the thin glass they could hear every word.

The waitress on duty was Binnie’s niece, a slight, shy Italian girl who didn’t look old enough to have a work permit. Certainly she was too young to serve liquor. When Vivi ordered a bottle of Chablis, Binnie himself hurried out with it, uncorking the bottle across his white-aproned, ample belly, his jowled face rosy from the kitchen. Binnie did enjoy going through the little tasting ritual. Elliott handled Binnie’s ceremony with abject boredom. Binnie poured in silence, smiled hesitantly at Vivi, and when his smile was not returned, he retreated quietly to his kitchen.

“Here’s to it,” Vivi said, lifting her glass. “So far, very smooth. Even Ladler wasn’t much of a problem.”

“It’s a wonderful part,” Fern gushed. “I’ll do well by it, you’ll see.” She patted Elliott’s hand. “I’m going to be great in this part; it’s going to make my career.” Fern was, apparently, not the brightest young woman. The cats sat through interminable small talk, licking their whiskers when the pizza was served. Vivi and Elliott ate in silence, letting Fern ramble, a tedious monologue that left Joe and Dulcie yawning. They were ready to cut out and go hunt rats when Clyde and Ryan Flannery came around the corner, walking arm in arm, softly laughing.

Clyde didn’t see the cats slip deeper under the newsstand, he was totally involved with Ryan. “So that’s the rest of the shop. That’s what we do, master mechanics to Molena Point’s wheels.”

“All those beautiful Mercedeses, Jags, and BMWs parked in your garage, to say nothing of that silver Rolls. It’s a great shop, Clyde. I’m awed by the state-of-the-art electronic equipment—a far cry from my cordless drill and electric saw.” As the couple passed the window, Vivi’s eyes widened. She nudged Elliott so sharply he spilled his wine.

“You really find that stuff interesting?” Clyde said, holding the door for Ryan. Before he could close it, the cats slipped through behind him. He scowled down at them, surprised and annoyed, but said nothing.

“If I hadn’t ended up as a building contractor,” Ryan said, “I might be a mechanic. I seriously thought about it at one time.”

Elliott had risen and was heading toward the men’s room, behind a partition that also led to the kitchen.

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