The Cat Collector by Lori Herter

Author:Lori Herter
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2019-03-30T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER seven

Somebody at the Door

They drove to the Briarwood Arms, but unfortunately Steve and Claudia found that Ethel was not there. The woman behind the reception desk said she saw Ethel leave about an hour before.

“I’ll take you home then,” Steve told Claudia. “I’ve got some things to catch up on at the station.”

He dropped her off, saying he’d see her later. Claudia unlocked her front door to find Knickerbocker sitting just inside the threshold looking up at her with his emerald eyes, as if to say, Where have you been?

“Hi, sweetie.” She picked up the big, fluffy Maine Coon to give him a cuddle. He seemed perfectly at home now, as if he no longer remembered his former house. Claudia reminded herself to write to Sue Ember and tell her Knickerbocker was doing well.

After taking off her wool overcoat, she played with the cat, dangling his favorite ribbon in front of him. But he soon got bored in his feline way and jumped up on the couch, no doubt for another snooze. Somehow reluctant to check on Jasmine and Hal in the guest room, Claudia reached for her jump rope coiled by the bookcase, telling herself some exercise might calm her apprehensive feelings about Ethel.

She was just breaking into a sweat when her phone rang. Tossing the jump rope onto an easy chair, she picked up her cell phone. “Hello.”

“Claudia? It’s Steve.”

“Hi.” At that moment, her bell rang. “Oh, somebody’s at the door. Can you wait?”

“Sure.”

“Hold on, I’ll be quick.”

She opened the door to find Ethel standing there. Claudia instantly made an effort to disguise her shock. “Ethel,” she said in a robust voice, still holding the cell phone, hoping Steve could overhear. She forced a smile. “I tried to visit you at the hotel a little while ago.”

“I went shopping to buy some clothes,” Ethel began in her talkative manner. “Didn’t have a chance to take much out of my closets, and I don’t want to go to the house. I was nearby and thought I’d stop and ask if I could visit Jasmine. Just for a few minutes, that’s all. Today is your afternoon off, isn’t it? The clinic closes early?”

“Yes,” Claudia said, deeply uneasy about letting her in. “Jasmine is fine. I’m afraid it’s not a good time.” She held up the phone. “I’m on an important call.”

“Oh, you just go ahead and talk,” Ethel said, stepping in front of Claudia into the living room as Knickerbocker ran into the dining room. “I’ll only be a minute. Just want to see my baby. Where is she?” Ethel unbuttoned her faux-fur collared overcoat and draped it over an easy chair.

“I’ve got her in my guest room.” Claudia was at a loss as to how to get rid of the woman.

Ethel chuckled, straightening her red sweater over her wool pants. “Of course. She is your guest. I knew you would take excellent care of her until I’m settled somewhere. You’re very kind, and I so appreciate it.”

As Ethel

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