Read Online Cat-Eye Witness (A Klepto Cat Mystery) by Patricia Fry - Free Book Online Page B

talking with the detective, I saw her on her cell phone arguing with someone—probably her errant son. He is such a problem. I wish she’d just toss him out on his ear.”
    “Why doesn’t she?” he asked.
    “Oh you know,” she said, waving her hand in the air, “…typical mother.” She lowered her voice and became animated while imitating a whiney, over-protective mom, “‘He has no place to go.’ ‘He needs me.’ ‘He’s never been on his own…’ I think she’s letting mother love get in the way of her peace of mind and her other boys’ future.” She took in a ragged breath. “And she’s probably not doing Damon any favors, either.”
    “Who had the waffle and fruit?” the waiter asked in jest.
    “Oh hi, Frank,” Michael said. “What happened to Iris?”
    “Don’t know—had to leave all of a sudden. Said she isn’t feeling well.”
    Savannah shot Michael a concerned look. Neither of them spoke for a few minutes.
    As usual, Michael finished his meal first. He sat watching Savannah and then he reached for the newspaper that lay on the table. “Oh, there’s a story about what happened in the paper, already,” he said.
    “Oh no. I didn’t see it. What does it say?”
    “I guess they didn’t have much information when they went to press. It’s just a brief report—pretty much just the basic facts… ‘Man murdered at fundraiser on the Forster property.’
    Let’s see, he was Marvin Byrd, as we know. He owned several small businesses around town.
    Says he’s been here in town for ten years. He ran mostly construction companies and had his hand in businesses that supported construction and housing developments. He had a wife and three kids: Steven, whom we met, of course; an older son; and a daughter named Kathleen. Marvin Byrd had a brother—probably the uncle who was with Steven this morning.” He lowered the newspaper and shook his head, saying, “Gosh, that’s sure too bad. I just wonder what happened…why this happened.”
    ***
    “Don’t you just love a lazy Sunday?” Michael asked as he drove Savannah home from the diner.
    “Sure, only...”
    “Only what, hon?”
    “Only, I wish we didn’t have this awful…thing hanging over our heads. To think that someone died in my home—well, Auntie’s home. I just wonder who he was, really—what kind of man—and why he died. Why here? And who did it? Is it someone we know?” She turned in her seat toward Michael. “Do we know a killer?” She then clasped her hands together in her lap and shivered a little. “It just has me feeling so unsettled.”
    “I know.” Michael reached over and patted her knee. “It’s a tragedy. Things like this aren’t supposed to happen…well, in a place like this.” He pulled into the driveway of the Forster home, stopped the car and looked over at Savannah. “I have an idea.”
    “What?” she asked a hint of suspicion in her voice.
    “Why don’t you and Rags go adventuring this afternoon?”
    Savannah’s face lit up. “Good idea. He hasn’t been out since the last time Charlotte was here playing with him. I’ll go see if he’s up for an outing.”
    “Good, I’ll be on the porch swing reading my paper,” he said as they ascended the few steps to the large wraparound porch.
    “Wait.” Savannah suddenly stopped and looked around. “Do you notice something?”
    “What?”
    “The stuff’s gone. The clean-up committee must have come early today and hauled everything away. Look.” She pointed toward the cluster of patio furniture on the porch. “They even hosed off this area and picked up the last of the trash.” She wiped her fingertips across her eyes and choked up a little. “Are they fantastic, or what?”
    “Was it like this when we left for brunch?” Michael asked.
    “I have to tell you, I didn’t even notice. They may have been here at the crack of dawn, for all I know.”
    Rags was almost always ready to go outside. He seemed to understand the tone and