Read Online Fat Cat Spreads Out by Janet Cantrell - Free Book Online

closed.
    â€œYou know I’m not supposed to talk about my patients, but no, the pig is fine. You here to get Quincy?” He stood close and she could smell his clean shirt.
    â€œTime to take him home.” She tilted her head up at him, looking deep into those chocolate eyes. She wasn’t seeing nearly enough of him.
    â€œHow are you and Anna doing?” Mike reached out and touched her arm.
    He was so sweet to check on them. “We’re selling up a storm. But how are
you
doing?”
    â€œWith the police, you mean?” Chase nodded. “I had to answer the same questions again today for Detective Olson.” Chase hadn’t seen the homicide detective at the fair today, but there was no reason for him to drop in at her booth. “I think I’m still the number one suspect.” She saw his jaw working as he clenched his teeth.
    â€œThat’s not fair. I’ve just talked to two people who atleast have motives.” This time she put her hand on his arm. “You were only retrieving Quincy, weren’t you?”
    He hesitated for two or three seconds. “Yes, I was getting Quincy.”
    â€œIt was smart of you to look for him with the butter. I do wonder how he got in there, though.” When she’d pushed that door open, the spring was awfully stiff. A cat could never open it, even a heavyset one.
    â€œHe had to have slipped in when someone opened the door, don’t you think?” Mike asked. He got Quincy from his cage and crated him for Chase.
    â€œI guess. I wish he hadn’t gone inside there at all.”
    Driving home with her pet in his crate on the floor beside her, she wondered exactly why Mike had looked where he had. What made him think to check that place? It was true, she knew, that Quincy could not have gotten in by himself. Even though there was the temptation of pounds and pounds of butter, she would not have thought of looking inside that building. Was Mike holding back his reason for being there?
    Later that night, Chase was just getting around to drawing a bath and getting ready for bed when her doorbell rang. Glad that she was still dressed, she ran downstairs and peeked through the chain latch to see who was there.
    When she saw it was Inger Uhlgren, she unhooked the chain and threw the door open wide. The young woman looked awful. Her gray eyes usually looked huge in her small face, but tonight all Chase noticed were the black circles beneath those pretty eyes.
    â€œCome upstairs, dear. Can I get you something?”
    Inger lugged a heavy-looking cloth bag, which Chase took from her as they went up to the apartment. When they got there, Inger asked for a cup of herb tea. While the water heated, Chase fussed over her, settling her on the leather couch with an afghan. Quincy seemed to sense Inger’s distress and curled up beside her protectively.
    After they both had mugs of peppermint tea, Inger drank a few sips and set hers down. “My parents won’t let me stay,” she said.
    â€œThey threw you out?”
    Inger nodded.
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œI went to the clinic, like you said. They told me I’m . . . I’m pregnant.” She bowed her head. “My parents say I’ve shamed them.”
    Chase bit back a retort about parents who should support and love their children, for better or worse. This girl needed support and love now more than she probably ever had in her life. Inger was twenty-two, but seemed so much younger sometimes.
    â€œI’m so sorry,” Chase said, feeling her words were inadequate. “Do you have a place to stay?”
    Inger shook her head, which was still bowed. Chase moved to the couch and put an arm around her. Inger burst into tears and Chase held her while she sobbed for a good ten minutes. Chase couldn’t help but shed a few tears with her.
    When Inger seemed to be done, Chase got tissues for both of them.
    â€œNow,” Chase said. “What are we