Read Online Cat Herding: A Yellow Rose Cozy Mystery Short (Yellow Rose Mystery Series) by K. P. Hilton - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: K. P. Hilton
Tags: Literature & Fiction, Women Sleuths, Mystery, Mystery; Thriller & Suspense, Animals, cozy, 30 Minutes (12-21 Pages)
Ads: Link
her fingertips. “I can’t hear myself think.”
“I know, I hope they finish soon,” Brianna said.
“Wait a minute,” Betty said. She looked at the faint dark spot on the carpet, then went to the chimney. She began moving boxes out of the way. The top one had black marks on top of it like the carpet.
“What is it?” Brianna asked, as her mom reached for the glass doors covering the fireplace. They weren’t closed all of the way, and came open easily.
“Look at that,” Betty said as she reached into the fireplace and touched the bricks at the bottom. The fireplace had not been used in quite some time. A thin layer of black soot and ash covered the bricks. It looked disturbed, as though something had walked through it.
“Zorro?” Brianna asked, because the prints looked as though they might belong to a cat.
“I think so,” Betty said.
“But how could he get into the chimney?”
“Follow me,” Betty said. She was sure she had the whole thing figured out. They went back outside and Betty motioned to the ladder.
“He climbed the ladder? Can a cat do that?” Brianna asked.
“If he can climb a tree, I’m sure a ladder is nothing,” Betty said.
“So he killed the mouse and took him up the ladder and down into the room through the chimney. He climbed all the way down the chimney?”
“His claws could hook in between the bricks,” Betty said. “It wouldn’t be a problem. He took the mouse by the fountain, then wanted to leave it somewhere that wouldn’t get him in trouble. He’s a smart cat. He knew we would flip out if he carried it through the house.”
“I don’t know, Mom. It sounds a bit crazy, don’t you think?”
“Well, let's catch him red handed,” Betty said, laughing and then adding, “or black pawed, I guess you might say. Where is that cat?”
“There!” Brianna yelled, pointing. Betty turned just in time to see Zorro dart up the ladder and onto the roof.
“Told you!” Betty said. “Let’s go surprise him.”
The women laughed as they went back down into the basement. They were just fast enough to be standing by the chimney when Zorro came out.
“There you go,” Betty said. “Black pawed.”
Zorro came forward slowly, purring as Brianna pet him. His paws were once again covered in soot which matched his black fur.
“Get him out of here and I’ll get rid of the mouse,” Betty said. Brianna did so, glad for a reason to leave the mouse to someone else.
Betty went about her business, but she couldn't help but think she could hear something nearby, slithering among the boxes. She had to tell herself she was being crazy, that she had solved the mystery, but wondered if she would be getting a good night’s sleep after all.
“I know, I hope they finish soon,” Brianna said.
“Wait a minute,” Betty said. She looked at the faint dark spot on the carpet, then went to the chimney. She began moving boxes out of the way. The top one had black marks on top of it like the carpet.
“What is it?” Brianna asked, as her mom reached for the glass doors covering the fireplace. They weren’t closed all of the way, and came open easily.
“Look at that,” Betty said as she reached into the fireplace and touched the bricks at the bottom. The fireplace had not been used in quite some time. A thin layer of black soot and ash covered the bricks. It looked disturbed, as though something had walked through it.
“Zorro?” Brianna asked, because the prints looked as though they might belong to a cat.
“I think so,” Betty said.
“But how could he get into the chimney?”
“Follow me,” Betty said. She was sure she had the whole thing figured out. They went back outside and Betty motioned to the ladder.
“He climbed the ladder? Can a cat do that?” Brianna asked.
“If he can climb a tree, I’m sure a ladder is nothing,” Betty said.
“So he killed the mouse and took him up the ladder and down into the room through the chimney. He climbed all the way down the chimney?”
“His claws could hook in between the bricks,” Betty said. “It wouldn’t be a problem. He took the mouse by the fountain, then wanted to leave it somewhere that wouldn’t get him in trouble. He’s a smart cat. He knew we would flip out if he carried it through the house.”
“I don’t know, Mom. It sounds a bit crazy, don’t you think?”
“Well, let's catch him red handed,” Betty said, laughing and then adding, “or black pawed, I guess you might say. Where is that cat?”
“There!” Brianna yelled, pointing. Betty turned just in time to see Zorro dart up the ladder and onto the roof.
“Told you!” Betty said. “Let’s go surprise him.”
The women laughed as they went back down into the basement. They were just fast enough to be standing by the chimney when Zorro came out.
“There you go,” Betty said. “Black pawed.”
Zorro came forward slowly, purring as Brianna pet him. His paws were once again covered in soot which matched his black fur.
“Get him out of here and I’ll get rid of the mouse,” Betty said. Brianna did so, glad for a reason to leave the mouse to someone else.
Betty went about her business, but she couldn't help but think she could hear something nearby, slithering among the boxes. She had to tell herself she was being crazy, that she had solved the mystery, but wondered if she would be getting a good night’s sleep after all.
Similar Books
