collapsed into the chair. My gaze was drawn to the small secret room beyond the open wall. There were shelves of what looked to be additional electronics. It looked to me like stereo receivers, but I’m betting that wasn’t what they were.
I hurried downstairs, glanced out the front door, and then locked it. I know it sounds silly with people popping out of walls, but it made me feel safer. I picked up my tote which was by the door where I’d left it. Then fishing my cell phone from my bag, I dialed Detective Malone.
“Hello?” Malone answered immediately.
I found my lips quivering, but I gripped the phone tighter and made myself explain what had just transpired. I could tell Malone was a bit irritated that Officer Hostas had not stayed with me.
“I’ll send an officer over,” he said.
“Do I need to stay?” I was already late for an appointment with a new client. I hadn’t planned on my stop for Toria’s things to take so long, and I needed to take her back to my house before I met with the client. And, to tell you the truth, I wasn’t wild about sticking around alone in the empty house.
“Go ahead and leave, but lock up. We’ve got all personnel on duty tied up right now but we’ll check it out. I’ll get your statement later.”
“Okay, thanks.” I noted Toria on the stairs watching me. I grabbed the bag of treats and shook a few in my hand. She trotted right over.
Brilliant. Why hadn’t I thought of the treats earlier?
I put Toria into her carrier so she didn’t take off again. Then I went to re-stack the equipment I’d knocked over. I don’t think I’d ever seen so many computers in one place, short of a big-box store. Once I’d cleaned up my mess, gathered my things to leave, I locked the door and pulled it shut, and then transferred the carrier and Toria’s things to my vehicle.
As I walked around to get in my car, I noticed the next-door neighbor, a tall thin man, standing in his front yard. It was a big house also, though less imposing than Jake and Cash’s. Still, any property in this part of town, you were talking millions. Seeing me, he bent to pull some weeds from the large planter near the stone walkway.
I walked over to the sturdy stone and wrought-iron fence that surrounded the property, but he turned to leave as I got close.
“Hey,” I called. “Did you see the guy that was just here?”
The man didn’t look up. “No, I was busy.” His dark dress pants and blue-striped Brooks Brothers’ shirt seemed like odd attire for yard work.
“He was in that white sports car that just drove away.”
He raised his gaze from the flowers, his thin face expressionless. “Didn’t see it.”
“Fine.” There was no way he could have missed it if he’d been outside.
“What are you doing in there?” He pointed at the house.
“Just picking up some things for Toria, Graham Cash’s cat.”
“She’s vicious.” His hard tone matched his expression.
“What?” I was taken aback by his vehemence. “No, she’s not.” Though I thought maybe Officer Hostas might disagree. Still she’d only scratched him because she’d been startled by the noise I caused when I’d knocked over the computer equipment.
“I hope you take that nasty creature away from here and never bring it back.” He stomped to his front door, went inside, and closed the door with a heavy clank.
Well, heck, not everyone is a cat fan.
I shook my head. What had started out as a mission to pick up some cat food and a few kitty toys had turned into quite an adventure with an injured officer, a secret room, a strange intruder, and an even stranger neighbor. I wondered what the man did for a living. Jake and Cash’s neighborhood wasn’t exactly working class.
I got in my car and put it in gear to back out.
Toria stuck a paw through the carrier door, and said, “Meow!” with a decidedly irritated tone.
“I know, girlfriend.” I patted her paw. “I’m with you. Something is not
I hurried downstairs, glanced out the front door, and then locked it. I know it sounds silly with people popping out of walls, but it made me feel safer. I picked up my tote which was by the door where I’d left it. Then fishing my cell phone from my bag, I dialed Detective Malone.
“Hello?” Malone answered immediately.
I found my lips quivering, but I gripped the phone tighter and made myself explain what had just transpired. I could tell Malone was a bit irritated that Officer Hostas had not stayed with me.
“I’ll send an officer over,” he said.
“Do I need to stay?” I was already late for an appointment with a new client. I hadn’t planned on my stop for Toria’s things to take so long, and I needed to take her back to my house before I met with the client. And, to tell you the truth, I wasn’t wild about sticking around alone in the empty house.
“Go ahead and leave, but lock up. We’ve got all personnel on duty tied up right now but we’ll check it out. I’ll get your statement later.”
“Okay, thanks.” I noted Toria on the stairs watching me. I grabbed the bag of treats and shook a few in my hand. She trotted right over.
Brilliant. Why hadn’t I thought of the treats earlier?
I put Toria into her carrier so she didn’t take off again. Then I went to re-stack the equipment I’d knocked over. I don’t think I’d ever seen so many computers in one place, short of a big-box store. Once I’d cleaned up my mess, gathered my things to leave, I locked the door and pulled it shut, and then transferred the carrier and Toria’s things to my vehicle.
As I walked around to get in my car, I noticed the next-door neighbor, a tall thin man, standing in his front yard. It was a big house also, though less imposing than Jake and Cash’s. Still, any property in this part of town, you were talking millions. Seeing me, he bent to pull some weeds from the large planter near the stone walkway.
I walked over to the sturdy stone and wrought-iron fence that surrounded the property, but he turned to leave as I got close.
“Hey,” I called. “Did you see the guy that was just here?”
The man didn’t look up. “No, I was busy.” His dark dress pants and blue-striped Brooks Brothers’ shirt seemed like odd attire for yard work.
“He was in that white sports car that just drove away.”
He raised his gaze from the flowers, his thin face expressionless. “Didn’t see it.”
“Fine.” There was no way he could have missed it if he’d been outside.
“What are you doing in there?” He pointed at the house.
“Just picking up some things for Toria, Graham Cash’s cat.”
“She’s vicious.” His hard tone matched his expression.
“What?” I was taken aback by his vehemence. “No, she’s not.” Though I thought maybe Officer Hostas might disagree. Still she’d only scratched him because she’d been startled by the noise I caused when I’d knocked over the computer equipment.
“I hope you take that nasty creature away from here and never bring it back.” He stomped to his front door, went inside, and closed the door with a heavy clank.
Well, heck, not everyone is a cat fan.
I shook my head. What had started out as a mission to pick up some cat food and a few kitty toys had turned into quite an adventure with an injured officer, a secret room, a strange intruder, and an even stranger neighbor. I wondered what the man did for a living. Jake and Cash’s neighborhood wasn’t exactly working class.
I got in my car and put it in gear to back out.
Toria stuck a paw through the carrier door, and said, “Meow!” with a decidedly irritated tone.
“I know, girlfriend.” I patted her paw. “I’m with you. Something is not
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