The Girl with the Kitten Tattoo Read online

  The Girl with the Kitten Tattoo

  The Cat Lady Mystery Series by Linda Reilly

  Escape Claws

  Claws of Death

  Claws for Celebration

  Claws of Action

  The Girl with the Kitten Tattoo

  Table of Contents

  The Cat Lady Mystery Series by Linda Reilly

  Dedication

  Acknowledgments

  Cast of Feline Characters

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Teaser Chapter

  About the Author

  The Girl with the Kitten Tattoo

  A Cat Lady Mystery

  Linda Reilly

  LYRICAL UNDERGROUND

  Kensington Publishing Corp.

  www.kensingtonbooks.com

  To the extent that the image or images on the cover of this book depict a person or persons, such person or persons are merely models, and are not intended to portray any character or characters featured in the book.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons living or dead is entirely coincidental.

  LYRICAL UNDERGROUND BOOKS are published by

  Kensington Publishing Corp.

  119 West 40th Street

  New York, NY 10018

  Copyright © 2020 by Linda Reilly

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.

  All Kensington titles, imprints, and distributed lines are available at special quantity discounts for bulk purchases for sales promotion, premiums, fund-raising, educational, or institutional use.

  Special book excerpts or customized printings can also be created to fit specific needs. For details, write or phone the office of the Kensington Sales Manager: Kensington Publishing Corp., 119 West 40th Street, New York, NY 10018. Attn. Sales Department. Phone: 1-800-221-2647.

  Lyrical Underground and Lyrical Underground logo Reg. US Pat. & TM Off.

  First Electronic Edition: May 2020

  ISBN-13: 978-1-5161-0986-9 (ebook)

  ISBN-10: 1-5161-0986-4 (ebook)

  First Print Edition: May 2020

  ISBN-13: 978-1-5161-0988-3

  ISBN-10: 1-5161-0988-0

  Printed in the United States of America

  Dedication

  This book is dedicated to rescue pets everywhere,

  and to the caring moms and dads who give them loving homes.

  Acknowledgments

  I’d like to thank my own personal cast of characters for their contributions to this book. My wonderful editor, Elizabeth May, gave me sound advice and inspiration. We did some great brainstorming together! The marketing team at Kensington, as always, did an outstanding job with promotion. A huge thank-you to my fellow Cozy Mystery Crew authors for their friendship and encouragement. A tip of the hat goes to readers Christina Radcliff, Joy Hejl, and Mandy Golze for naming Amber, Sienna, and Panda. All great names, by the way! Finally, I want to thank my husband and my mom for putting up with my absence from their lives when I’m in deep writing mode. I love you both to the ends of the earth.

  Cast of Feline Characters

  Twinkles: An aging, orange-striped tiger cat with big gold eyes; his favorite place to snooze is atop Aunt Fran’s bed.

  Munster: This easygoing, orange-striped male, the unofficial greeter of all human visitors and a perpetual lap cat, goes with the flow no matter which felines are currently living at the shelter.

  Dolce: Long-haired, solid black, and as sweet as a box of cream-filled hearts, he’s found his favorite spot curled up in Aunt Fran’s lap.

  Panda: This chubby, black-and-white boy with long white whiskers is fast becoming Mr. Popularity. Now the problem is…is there enough of him to go around?

  Sienna: This petite tortie is a feline lovebug, but she’s also FIV positive. Will she find the furever home she deserves, in spite of her diagnosis?

  Amber: Shy and reserved, she spends most of her time in Lara’s room perched on the cat tree. Lara knows there’s a lovable kitty inside, if only she’d come out of her shell.

  Holly & Noella: A pair of beautiful gold-and-white sisters, these sweethearts were transferred to the shelter after their foster mom developed health problems. To everyone’s delight, they’ve been able to entice the elderly Twinkles into playing with their catnip mouse!

  Blue: This fluffy Ragdoll cat that only Lara can see has an uncanny knack for pointing out clues that help her solve crimes. But Blue might not be the only guardian cat that watches over someone…

  Chapter 1

  “Okay, so get this,” Sherry Bowker said breathlessly. “I’m picturing red and white heart-shaped balloons hanging from the ceiling,” She waved her arms at strategic spots on the dropped ceiling of the coffee shop. “And cream-colored linen tablecloths on each table, with wrought-iron candle holders and cranberry glass holders in the center. We’ll use the counter for the food—oh God, wait till you see the spread Mom has planned! And—” She propped her hands on her hips and glared at Lara. “What are you grinning at, artist lady? Come on, I need your input here. You’re the one with the creative flair, not me.”

  Lara Caphart couldn’t help herself. Giggling, she went over and gave her bestie a fierce hug. “Sher, I’m sorry—but I’m not laughing at you. I’m just thrilled at seeing you so excited. If you only knew how happy I am for you and David.”

  Several months earlier, Sherry had gotten engaged to the man of her dreams, David Gregson. She’d met him a year and a half earlier, when he dropped into Bowker’s Coffee Stop one morning for breakfast. They’d both felt an instant attraction, but Sherry, who’d never been lucky in love, had tiptoed cautiously into the relationship. Fortunately, David was as patient as he was kind. One year after they met, he proposed.

  “Sher,” Lara said. “It’s your wedding, not mine.” The words almost snagged in her throat. “If you want giant purple hearts with pink polka dots dangling from the ceiling, then I’ll paint them for you.”

  Sherry made a face. “That sounds awful. Come on, you know what looks good. Help me out here, will ya?”

  Lara looked around the coffee shop, a place that was like a second home to her. Since her move back to Whisker Jog, New Hampshire, over two years before, she’d come in here nearly every morning. Fresh-brewed coffee, one of Daisy Bowker’s yummy muffins,
and a daily chat with Sherry was her favorite way to jump-start any day.

  “Okay, then. Let’s get serious. The big heart-shaped balloons? Um, not a fan. We’ll save those for your tenth-anniversary celebration, okay?”

  Sherry nodded. “Agreed.”

  “I’d opt instead to put your cake on a square table in the far corner, with a cluster of miniature red and white balloons at each of the two back corners. On the far wall”—she pointed toward the rear of the coffee shop—“we can make a swag of red and white roses, interwoven with creamy lace.”

  Tears filled Sherry’s eyes. “Oh God, Lara. This is really happening. It’s only three weeks away. Am I ready for it?”

  “Of course you are,” Lara soothed. “You’re having a case of nerves, that’s all. It’s totally understandable. Be honest. When you look at David, what do you feel?”

  “I feel like I just hit the jackpot.”

  Lara grinned. “Then remember that when you’re walking down the aisle, okay?”

  “Aisle?” Daisy Bowker bleated as she came through the swinging door from the kitchen. She slipped an arm around her daughter’s shoulder. “I guess we can make an aisle, if we set up the tables just right.”

  Too late, Lara realized her poor choice of words. She’d meant “walking down the aisle” in a figurative sense, not an actual one. To the dismay of David’s mother, Loretta Gregson, Sherry and David both agreed on tying the knot in the very place they’d met—the coffee shop. Loretta, a traditionalist, felt it would be unseemly for them to get married in any place other than a proper church. Several times she’d made vague noises about not attending, but David felt sure it was only that—noise. His mom would never miss his wedding, he assured Sherry. “Let her huff and puff if she wants to,” he’d told his bride-to-be, “but she won’t blow our wedding plans down.”

  It made Lara admire David even more.

  “Hey, I’ve gotta run,” Lara said, shrugging on her winter jacket. “Cats to feed, litter to scoop, and all that.”

  “How’s Sienna doing?” Daisy asked.

  Lara and her aunt Fran ran the High Cliff Shelter for Cats out of her aunt’s Folk Victorian home. Most recently they took in a sweet girl who was FIV positive. Their vet, Amy Glindell, assured them that the petite tortoiseshell cutie could lead a happy life without their fearing she could infect other cats. Having that knowledge was a huge relief, but educating potential adopters was a whole other matter.

  “Actually, she’s doing great. We’re hopeful that she’ll be adopted in spite of her diagnosis. She’s one of the most lovable cats we’ve ever had.”

  “Glad to hear that,” Daisy said. She frowned at Lara’s open collar. “Bundle up your jacket, Lara. It’s dropped about ten degrees since you got here.”

  The quintessential mom, Lara thought, snapping her top button in place. “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Sher, I forgot to ask you,” Lara said. “Did you decide on the wedding favors? Last I knew, you chose the foil-wrapped chocolate hearts in those cute lacy boxes.”

  “I chose them, but I’m not wild about them. The little boxes are great—I love those. They’re, what do you call it, die-cut? Delicate, with lacy heart cutouts.” She wrinkled her nose. “It’s the chocolate hearts I’m not wild about. Too boring, you know?”

  Lara agreed, but kept that to herself. “I’ll try to come up with something a little more fun.”

  “That would be awesome,” Sherry said, digging a ring of keys out of her pocket. “I’ll let you out.”

  Lara hugged them both, then followed Sherry to the door. A face popped into view just as Sherry stuck the key in the lock. An attractive brunette with stunning blue eyes waved at her through the coffee shop’s glass door. Clad in an aquamarine wool coat and a knitted hat, she had a button nose that was red from the cold.

  Sherry unlocked the door and smiled at the woman. “I’m sorry, but we close at four,” she said.

  “I know. I saw your sign,” the woman acknowledged, rubbing her mittened hands together. “I’m only looking for directions. I’m trying to find a local attorney’s office. Gideon Halley? Do you know him?”

  Lara swallowed. Gideon. Her Gideon.

  “I do,” Lara said. “I can point you in the right direction. Do you have an appointment with him?” Not that it was any of her business.

  The young woman wrinkled her nose. “Um, not exactly. I’m—well, I kind of want to surprise him.” She gave Lara a wide-eyed look that was intended to mean something. What, Lara wasn’t sure.

  “Are you driving or walking?” Lara asked her.

  “Driving. That’s my car right there.” She dipped her head toward a cherry-red Honda parked in front of the coffee shop.

  Lara heard the door lock behind her. She peeked around the cardboard cupid taped to the glass door and waved goodbye to Sherry.

  “Okay, then,” she said, turning back to the woman. “After you back out, head that way.” She pointed toward the traffic signal. “After you go through the light, go one more block. His office is in an older home on the right, painted dark green. You’ll see his sign on the front lawn. Can’t miss it.”

  “Thanks! You’re a lifesaver. I can’t wait to see him again. Is there parking?”

  “Yes, there’s parking on the side. Is he…an old friend?” Lara asked, her attempt at sounding casual coming out like a squeak.

  A blush tinted the young woman’s creamy cheeks. “I guess you could call him that. We dated for a while, but it’s been a few years since I’ve seen him.” She shrugged. “Anyway, I’m hoping he can help me. I’ve got, like, a legal problem. Thanks again for the directions!”

  A few years? Lara and Gideon had been a couple for close to two years.

  Lara stood there, shivering under a pitifully weak January sun. She watched the young woman jerk her Honda out of her parking space and head toward Gideon’s.

  A weird feeling tugged at her insides, forming a tiny knot. She knew exactly what it was.

  Jealousy.

  * * * *

  It was approaching dusk by the time Lara got home. The sky was pewter, blotted with clouds.

  “You look half frozen,” Aunt Fran said, closing the door behind Lara. “Want some tea? We can try one of those gourmet brands Jerry gave me for Christmas.” Jerry Whitley was Whisker Jog’s chief of police. He and Aunt Fran were good friends—very good friends.

  “Tea sounds good,” Lara said. She shed her jacket and scarf and hung them in the hall closet. Sitting on Lara’s usual chair in the kitchen was their newest arrival—Sienna. A darling tortoiseshell with a white chest and forepaws, she loved to be held and cuddled.

  Sienna’s initial diagnosis of “FIV positive” worried Lara at first. She knew that the condition could not be transmitted to humans, but what about other cats? After doing some online research and talking to their vet, Lara felt confident that Sienna would be a safe addition to the shelter. Finding her the perfect home might be more of a challenge, but as long as she remained at High Cliff she would be cared for and loved.

  “Hey there, are you in my seat again?” Lara lifted the cat and held her close, smiling at the loud purr coming from such a small kitty.

  Lara sat with Sienna snugged in her lap. Aunt Fran held up two mugs. “Cranberry or organic peppermint?”

  “Peppermint,” Lara said.

  Aunt Fran prepared their mugs and set them down on the table, then sat down opposite her niece. “I can tell by your expression something’s bothering you.”

  “Good gravy,” Lara said with a groan, “am I that transparent?” She took a sip of her peppermint tea, which smelled and tasted heavenly.

  “Only to those who know you as well as I do. Nothing’s gone awry with the wedding plans, I hope.”

  “No, it’s not that.” Lara absently rubbed the handle of her mug. “Aunt Fran, before I moved back here, do you
remember if Gideon was dating anyone?”

  “Dating? As in, did he have a girlfriend?”

  “Yes, exactly.”

  Aunt Fran looked away, thinking. “I can’t answer that question with any certainty, Lara. Before you got here, I hadn’t been getting around very well, as you know. I was even having my groceries delivered.”

  “I remember,” Lara said quietly.

  How could she ever forget how frail her aunt had looked on that fateful October day over two years before? Lara had rented a car in Boston and driven to her aunt’s home. They hadn’t seen each other in sixteen years, and Lara didn’t have a clue what to expect. All she knew was what she’d learned from Sherry—that her aunt was failing and in dire need of help.

  It wasn’t until Lara made the decision to move in with her that Aunt Fran got the surgeries she needed. Two knee replacements later, her aunt was walking like a woman ten years younger, and completely pain-free.

  “You must be asking that for a reason,” Aunt Fran said, concern evident in her voice.

  Lara sighed. “A woman stopped by the coffee shop today as I was leaving, asking for directions. She was looking for Gideon’s office.” She sipped her peppermint tea, her mind filled with visions of Gideon with another woman—a very attractive woman, at that.

  “And?”

  “I asked her if Gideon was an old friend, and she said they’d dated for a while, but that she hadn’t seen him in a few years. She wanted to surprise him.” The words tasted sour in her throat.

  Aunt Fran patted the black, long-haired cat who’d crawled into her lap and settled there like a furry pillow. Dolce was one of her three original cats, Munster and Twinkles being the other two. “Lara, surely you didn’t think Gideon had never dated, as you put it, before you moved back here. The main thing is, he loves you now and you love him. That’s the only thing that should matter.”

  “I know,” she said with a groan. “I know you’re right, but now that I’ve seen this woman, I can’t stop picturing them together.”