Read Online The Cats that Played the Market (The Cats that . . . Cozy Mystery Book 4) by Karen Anne Golden - Free Book Online
Authors: Karen Anne Golden
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front of them and arched her back. Her fur was bristled and she gave a low growl. Then, she hopped up and down like a Halloween cat.
“Scout, come here sweetie,” Katherine said, trying to pick up the cat, but she sped off to the dining room.
“That cat is really scary!” Emily said guardedly.
“I’m so sorry. I don’t know what got into her . . . ” Katherine suddenly felt a premonition that something wasn’t quite right. She worried for Emily. Opening the door, she said, “Be careful out there. The roads can be pretty slippery with all this snow.”
“It was awesome to meet you. I’ll see you at the opening.” Emily smiled and walked to her car.
Katherine closed the door and turned to find Scout. She called her name several times, but only Abra came. The Siamese was licking her chops. A small glob of green icing was on her lip. “Hey, my sweet girl. I hope you didn’t eat the entire cookie. Where’s your sister?” Katherine picked her up and wiped off the icing. She held her for a moment. “Raw,” Abra cried uneasily. She carried her to the kitchen where Scout was lapping up a drink of water. She set Abra down next to Scout.
“Magic cat, is something going to happen to Emily?”
Scout continued drinking, then looked up with a drop of water on her nose. “Ma-waugh,” she cried evasively.
“Does that mean yes or no?”
Scout sat up and stood tall on the ceramic-tiled floor. With the grace of a ballerina, she lifted her leg and started cleaning the inside of her toes. Her eyes were deliberately crossed, in a deranged look. She seemed to enjoy darting her pink tongue in and out of her claws.
“Okay, I take that as a no,” Katherine said, walking into the office to resume her sewing endeavor.
Scout continued washing.
Chapter Four
Early Saturday morning, Jake drove to the pink mansion to help Katz, Colleen and Mrs. Murphy move their wares to the Erie annual holiday fundraiser. He drove his dad’s pickup truck with the extended cab. On Katherine’s lap, he placed the cat carrier containing a very happy Siamese. Lilac cried with excitement, knowing she was about to have an adventure. Scout, Abra, Iris and Abby looked outside the parlor window with great disdain. They wanted to go, too, but handling five hyperactive cats was too much. Arriving at the armory, the four got out of the truck and walked to the art deco style building. Jake carried the cat carrier.
Katherine admired, “I love the yellow glazed tiles on the façade and the tiled roof. When was it built?”
Jake answered, “1931. It was financed by WPA funds. It recently received a total rehab. Back in the nineties, it was a complete dump.”
Walking inside, the group removed their coats and hung them on hooks outside the large, open room. Inside, a bank of tables was set up on a gleaming floor made of geometric-patterned tiles. The tall ceiling was curved, exposing the original roof trusses. The room was lined with two-story windows, which admitted a lot of light.
Jake continued, “This used to be the drill hall where troops were trained, but now it’s used by the town for dances, weddings and seasonal events.”
Michelle Pike bustled over, “Katz, hey!” She extended her hand to Mrs. Murphy, “You must be Colleen’s mom. “I’m Michelle. I’m so pleased to meet you. Hi, Colleen. Hope you’re enjoying your visit. Hey, Jake. Is this the cat?” she said, peering in and admiring Lilac.
“Me-yowl” was Lilac’s loud reply.
“Follow me, gang,” she directed. “I’ll show you where your table is.”
The group followed Michelle. Each table was decorated with a holiday-themed tablecloth. Katherine admired the many vendors displaying their wares: homemade candles, soaps, and decorated Christmas ornaments.
Katherine’s table was at the end of the row. She placed her box of cookies on top, while Mrs. Murphy spread out her cat cozy blankets. Jake set the cat carrier in the middle. Colleen complained there wasn’t a
“Scout, come here sweetie,” Katherine said, trying to pick up the cat, but she sped off to the dining room.
“That cat is really scary!” Emily said guardedly.
“I’m so sorry. I don’t know what got into her . . . ” Katherine suddenly felt a premonition that something wasn’t quite right. She worried for Emily. Opening the door, she said, “Be careful out there. The roads can be pretty slippery with all this snow.”
“It was awesome to meet you. I’ll see you at the opening.” Emily smiled and walked to her car.
Katherine closed the door and turned to find Scout. She called her name several times, but only Abra came. The Siamese was licking her chops. A small glob of green icing was on her lip. “Hey, my sweet girl. I hope you didn’t eat the entire cookie. Where’s your sister?” Katherine picked her up and wiped off the icing. She held her for a moment. “Raw,” Abra cried uneasily. She carried her to the kitchen where Scout was lapping up a drink of water. She set Abra down next to Scout.
“Magic cat, is something going to happen to Emily?”
Scout continued drinking, then looked up with a drop of water on her nose. “Ma-waugh,” she cried evasively.
“Does that mean yes or no?”
Scout sat up and stood tall on the ceramic-tiled floor. With the grace of a ballerina, she lifted her leg and started cleaning the inside of her toes. Her eyes were deliberately crossed, in a deranged look. She seemed to enjoy darting her pink tongue in and out of her claws.
“Okay, I take that as a no,” Katherine said, walking into the office to resume her sewing endeavor.
Scout continued washing.
Chapter Four
Early Saturday morning, Jake drove to the pink mansion to help Katz, Colleen and Mrs. Murphy move their wares to the Erie annual holiday fundraiser. He drove his dad’s pickup truck with the extended cab. On Katherine’s lap, he placed the cat carrier containing a very happy Siamese. Lilac cried with excitement, knowing she was about to have an adventure. Scout, Abra, Iris and Abby looked outside the parlor window with great disdain. They wanted to go, too, but handling five hyperactive cats was too much. Arriving at the armory, the four got out of the truck and walked to the art deco style building. Jake carried the cat carrier.
Katherine admired, “I love the yellow glazed tiles on the façade and the tiled roof. When was it built?”
Jake answered, “1931. It was financed by WPA funds. It recently received a total rehab. Back in the nineties, it was a complete dump.”
Walking inside, the group removed their coats and hung them on hooks outside the large, open room. Inside, a bank of tables was set up on a gleaming floor made of geometric-patterned tiles. The tall ceiling was curved, exposing the original roof trusses. The room was lined with two-story windows, which admitted a lot of light.
Jake continued, “This used to be the drill hall where troops were trained, but now it’s used by the town for dances, weddings and seasonal events.”
Michelle Pike bustled over, “Katz, hey!” She extended her hand to Mrs. Murphy, “You must be Colleen’s mom. “I’m Michelle. I’m so pleased to meet you. Hi, Colleen. Hope you’re enjoying your visit. Hey, Jake. Is this the cat?” she said, peering in and admiring Lilac.
“Me-yowl” was Lilac’s loud reply.
“Follow me, gang,” she directed. “I’ll show you where your table is.”
The group followed Michelle. Each table was decorated with a holiday-themed tablecloth. Katherine admired the many vendors displaying their wares: homemade candles, soaps, and decorated Christmas ornaments.
Katherine’s table was at the end of the row. She placed her box of cookies on top, while Mrs. Murphy spread out her cat cozy blankets. Jake set the cat carrier in the middle. Colleen complained there wasn’t a
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