Springtime for Murder (Sophie Sayers Village Mysteries Book 5) by Debbie Young

Author:Debbie Young [Young, Debbie]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Hawkesbury Press
Published: 2018-11-14T16:00:00+00:00

22 Escape at Elevenses

When Billy entered Hector’s House at the crack of elevenses, he kept his right hand stuffed in his trouser pocket, trying to still something that was moving about. I could see the outline of his knuckles through the sagging tweed, but not what he was holding. Had we been in a city centre, I might have feared he was about to pull out a gun and raid the till, but when he approached the trade counter, he produced nothing more threatening than a kitten.

The tiny thing was still young enough for its short, soft black fur to defy gravity. Sticking straight up from the kitten’s fragile body, it gave the little creature an air of permanent surprise. Or maybe that was just the effect of being transported in Billy’s trousers.

Hector took a step back from the counter. “I’m sorry, Billy, we only accept pounds sterling. But if you try the village shop, Carol will probably give you a good exchange rate on kittens.”

I set down the teacup I was drying and dashed over to join them. Picking up the tiny creature with both hands and holding her close to my chest, I could feel her miniature heart pounding against mine. I ran a soothing finger down her spine, her coat as soft as a dandelion clock about to blow.

“Oh, Billy, she’s gorgeous! What’s her name?”

Wiping his hands on his trousers, Billy shuffled over to his usual tearoom table.

“I don’t know, it hasn’t said.”

I followed him, still holding the kitten.

“But she is yours, isn’t she? Or did you find her as a stray?”

He shrugged. “It ain’t anybody’s. Catwoman brought it round. It just appeared on Kitty’s kitchen table first thing this morning. When Catwoman stepped out to use the lavvy, Kitty threw a saucepan at it, so I thought I’d better take it out of harm’s way.”

The kitten wriggled out of my grasp and climbed up to my shoulder, digging in claws as sharp as needles, before nestling down amongst my hair. Snuggling into the crook of my neck beneath my left ear, she began purring louder than I’d have thought possible for her size.

“Look, she likes me!” I sat down slowly in the chair opposite Billy, not wanting to disturb her. “Where did she come from?”

“Another cat, I’m guessing.”

Hector kept his distance behind the trade counter. “We can’t have a cat in the tearoom, Sophie. It’s unhygienic.”

Billy eyed the cake stands. “And it’s stopping Sophie from making my tea. I’ll have my usual, please, girlie.”

I put a protective hand to my shoulder to stop the kitten falling. Her purring stopped, only to be replaced by the cutest snore I’d ever heard.

“Hector, please fetch me the smallest cardboard box you can find in the stockroom, and some of that crumpled paper packaging from the recycling box. Little Pussykins here needs a nest for her morning nap.”

Holding her firmly on my shoulder, I got up to switch on the kettle, while Hector, muttering to himself, found a box and lined it with packaging.

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