Catnapped! by J. B. Lynn

Author:J. B. Lynn [Lynn, J. B.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Cozy, Crime, Fiction, Mystery & Detective, Suspense, Thriller
Published: 2015-03-29T04:00:00+00:00

“I can’t stay. I’ve got somewhere to be.”

“Saving a damsel in distress,” Tom teased.

Pete’s gut clenched. Save her.

He felt sick to his stomach by the time he pulled into the driveway of the Michelman house, having, for the whole ride over, seesawed between being convinced Armani was a talented conwoman and believing there might be a chance that she was on the up-and-up.

He’d already gotten out of his car when he saw the back of a man as he crept around the back of the house. Was this the person who’d stolen the cat? Was this his chance to save Alyssa?

He hurried after the mysterious stranger, unsure of what he’d do when he caught up with him. His heart pounded and breathing grew shallow as the man he was following moved steadily toward the back of the house. Face-to-face wasn’t his kind of thing. He preferred the anonymity and safety of a computer screen between him and the bad guys.

Trying not to allow his fears to get the best of him, he focused on saving her.

His target, who was dressed from head-to-toe in white, which didn’t seem to lend itself to committing crimes, at least in Pete’s mind, stopped and peered into one of the windows.

Crouching, Pete dislodged one of the bricks that lined the path. Its weight in his palm made him feel marginally better. At least he was armed.

The intruder was on the move again.

With his free hand, he fumbled to pull his phone from his pocket. Hanging back, but keeping the uninvited guest in sight, he dialed Alyssa’s number.

He hadn’t realized he’d been holding his breath until she answered.

“Hello?” She sounded distracted.

“It’s Pete,” he whispered.

“Why are you whispering?” she whispered.

“There’s a man outside the house. I think he’s going to try to get in the kitchen door.”

“We have company,” she said in a normal voice, tension tightening every syllable.

Pete knew she wasn’t talking to him. He watched as the man eyed the kitchen door, put his hand in his pocket, and began to climb the short flight of stairs.

Pete couldn’t let him in that door. “Hey!” he shouted, running toward the stranger.

The man half-turned and then froze in place, either because he was surprised to have been caught, or because a maniac hefting a brick overhead was bearing down on him with surprising speed.

“Get away from there,” Pete yelled as he slowed his steps.

The man raised his hands in surrender. The setting sun glinted off whatever he held.

A weapon?

The man eyed him worriedly. “What do you want?” He turned the rest of the way so Pete could see his face.

Realizing his mistake, Pete groaned. He recognized the guy. He knew exactly who stood in front of him, perched on a narrow stair. He lowered his brick. “Sorry about that. You’re Ralph Michelman, right?”

Mildred’s stepson nodded his agreement.

Then the kitchen door burst open from the inside out, startling Ralph, who teetered for a moment and then tumbled backward down the stairs.

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