Felines and Fatalities: (A Kitty Beret Cafe Mystery) by Hartman Ruth J

Author:Hartman, Ruth J.
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-03-18T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

When I went back inside the building, I was still trying to absorb Andy’s quote of Geraldine’s words. I’d stayed behind for a minute, wanting to clear my head. The very thought of what she’d told him gave me chills. It wasn’t an admission of guilt, but in my opinion, it was darn close. Why speak of someone’s grave if you weren’t wishing them dead?

Andy was halfway to the judge’s room by the time I stepped inside. Shirl waited beside the counter, her ever present clipboard at the ready. She stepped closer. “Everything okay?”

“Yep. Fine. Just taking advantage of a little time in the fresh air.” Then I remembered having not so fresh cigarette smoke. Oh, well. It was worth it to find out all I did about Geraldine. Right then, the woman in the question walked across the room in Andy’s wake. Had she hurried her steps to catch up to him? Sure enough, right when he opened the door to enter, she tapped him on the shoulder.

Oh no, had she seen us talking outside? Was she suspicious of him telling me something she thought he shouldn’t have? Shirl was tapping her pen against the clipboard. I smiled. “Sorry, I’m sure everyone is ready for the next event.”

She stared down at her pen, as if suddenly realizing her impatience had been visible. Her face darkened to a noticeable red, considering the rest of her face and body was covered in a pure white cat suit. “Oh. I…”

“No, It’s okay. I took too long out there. Wasn’t paying attention. Thanks for keeping everything on track for the show.”

She grinned. “Happy to do it. I’m so excited to find out who the winner will be. Aren’t you?” She performed an excited wiggle, casing the tail of her catsuit to swing back and forth.

I thought about Andy’s words, wondering if that was why I’d gone out there to sit with him. “Yeah, I wonder who the lucky cat and pet parents will be.”

As Shirl headed off toward the podium where I’d stand in a few minutes to call out the next contestant’s number, I was pretty sure I heard her giggle.

Kendal waved at me from across the room, where she stood with Linus and Wesley. Her eyebrows raised in question, then she pointed toward the front door.

I nodded and gave the thumbs up. With the next event about to begin, I’d have to wait until later to fill her in.

After I reached the podium, I waited for everyone to quiet down. The group of pet parents and spectators watched attentively as Shirl handed me the clipboard. I checked the entry. “Number eleven, please bring your cat to the judging cage.”

Bertie came forward with Tiffany, still wearing her adorable bonnet. She placed the cat in the cage, closed the door, and paused a few seconds to whisper something to her cat. When she’d walked back to the crowd, I signaled Hooper.

The judges trailed out. Orin, as usual was first, then Andy, and on his heels, frowning with her hands fisted at her sides, was Geraldine.

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