The Cat Who Could Read Backwards by Lilian Jackson Braun

Author:Lilian Jackson Braun
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: det_classic
Published: 2012-12-04T08:32:07.690946+00:00

9

It had been a long time since Qwilleran had entertained a woman in his apartment, and he waked Saturday morning with a mild case of stage fright. He swallowed a cup of instant coffee, gnawed on a stale doughnut, and wondered if he should serve Zoe something to eat or drink. Coffee seemed suitable under the circumstances. Coffee and what? Doughnuts would look frivolous; why, he couldn't explain. Cake? Too pretentious. Cookies?

There was a grocery in the neighborhood that specialized in beer, cheap wine, and gummy white bread. Dubiously Qwilleran inspected their packaged cookies, but the ingredients listed in small type (artificial flavoring, emulsifier, glycerine, lecithin and invert syrup) dampened his interest.

He inquired for a bakery and walked six blocks through February slush to a shop where the merchandise appeared edible. Vetoing petit fours (too fancy) and oatmeal cookies (too hearty), he settled on chocolate chip cookies and bought two pounds.

There was an old-fashioned percolator in his kitchenette, but how it operated was a mystery to him. Zoe would have to accept instant coffee. He wondered if she used sugar and cream. Back he went to the grocery store for a pound of sugar, a half pint of coffee cream, and some paper napkins. By that time it was noon, and a reluctant February sun began slanting into the apartment, exposing dust on the tables, lint on the rug, and cat hair on the sofa. Qwilleran dusted with paper napkins, then hurried upstairs to Mountclemens' apartment to hunt for a vacuum cleaner. He found one in a broom closet in the kitchen.

One o'clock came, and he was ready — except for cigarettes. He had forgotten cigarettes. He rushed out to the drugstore and bought something long, mild, and unfiltered. After debating about the filter, he decided Zoe was not one to compromise.

At one-thirty he lighted the gas logs in the fireplace and sat down to wait.

Zoe arrived promptly at four. Qwilleran saw a lovely woman in a soft brown fur coat step from a taxi, look up and down the street, and hurry up to the portico. He was there to meet her.

"Thank you so much for letting me come," she said in a low-pitched, breathless voice. "Butchy has been watching me like a hawk, and I had to sneak out of the house I shouldn't complain. At a time like this you need a friend like Butchy." She dropped her brown alligator handbag. "I'm sorry. I'm very much upset."

"Just take it easy," said Qwilleran, "and gather yourself together. Would a cup of coffee feel good?"

"I'd better not have coffee," she said. "It makes me nervous, and I'm jumpy enough as it is." She gave Qwilleran her coat and took a seat in a straight, backed pull-up chair, crossing her knees attractively. "Do you mind if we close the door?"

"Not at all, although there's no one else in the house."

"I had an uneasy feeling I was being followed. I took a cab to the Arcade Building, then walked through and picked up another one at the other entrance.

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