The Cat, the Sneak and the Secret
PRAISE FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING CATS IN TROUBLE MYSTERY SERIES
The Cat, the Vagabond and the Victim
“Sweeney’s writing style is engaging and humorous, and it’s clear that she knows and loves cats. . . . Four paws up for this latest installment.”
—The Conscious Cat
“Like a fine wine, the stories just keep getting better. . . . Leann Sweeney’s books always become page-turners that I can’t put down. Cozy mystery readers will enjoy this addition to the wonderfully delightful series.”
—MyShelf.com
“Sweeney achieves the difficult task of making the jeopardy and fates of felines as impactful as that of humans, without ever losing the humor and realism that are trademarks of this entertaining author.”
—Kings River Life Magazine
The Cat, the Mill and the Murder
“A charming novel that highlights the love of felines with a mystery that tugs at the heartstrings. For a mystery that features a custom cat quilter as the heroine, the novel nevertheless tackles very serious themes and contains a strong plot that engages the reader until its very satisfying conclusion.”
—Kings River Life Magazine
“Ms. Sweeney is a talented writer who has peopled this series with some extremely likable characters. . . . She is adept at weaving the history of the textile industry into The Cat, the Mill and the Murder, giving the reader just enough to keep their interest without boring them. This series just gets better and better.”
—Fresh Fiction
“Leann Sweeney has written another well-plotted page-turner. I loved this book. I enjoy a good mystery that features my furry favorites as well as quirky characters. Jillian is such a loving character that you can’t help getting drawn into her life and wish that you could help her solve the problems she encounters. So if you enjoy mysteries that feature adorable cats, then The Cat, the Mill and the Murder is a book you should read.”
—MyShelf.com
“I cannot recommend this series enough to animal lovers and fans of a darn good mystery. The mystery was multilayered and kept me guessing right to the end, and, as always, I’m anxious for the next Cats in Trouble book!”
—Cozy Mystery Book Reviews
The Cat, the Wife and the Weapon
“A light and easy cozy mystery that strikes a nice balance between the murder mystery and the intricacy of human relationships. . . . I give this book four paws up!”
—MyShelf.com
“[An] amusing and enthralling regional amateur sleuth tale starring an eccentric cast led by a likable, peacemaking heroine.”
—Genre Go Round Reviews
The Cat, the Lady and the Liar
“A lighthearted, fun cozy starring an engaging cast of characters. . . . Feline frolic fans will enjoy.”
—The Best Reviews
“Tightly plotted, with likable characters, and filled with cat trivia, this entertaining mystery will become a favorite for cozy and cat lovers alike.”
—The Conscious Cat
The Cat, the Professor and the Poison
“A fun, entertaining story. . . . The mystery will keep the reader guessing.”
—Fresh Fiction
“The characters and friends Jillian makes along the way, and the care she gives to the cats she encounters, will make her a fast favorite.”
—The Mystery Reader
The Cat, the Quilt and the Corpse
“The cats are entertaining four-legged assistants . . . [and] kitty lovers will enjoy the feline trivia.”
—Publishers Weekly
“[Leann Sweeney’s] brand-new series about adorable cats that just can’t stay out of trouble is bound to be a hit!”
—Fantastic Fiction
Other Novels by Leann Sweeney
The Cats in Trouble Mysteries
The Cat, the Vagabond and the Victim
The Cat, the Mill and the Murder
The Cat, the Wife and the Weapon
The Cat, the Lady and the Liar
The Cat, the Professor and the Poison
The Cat, the Quilt and the Corpse
The Yellow Rose Mysteries
Pushing Up Bluebonnets
Shoot from the Lip
Dead Giveaway
A Wedding to Die For
Pick Your Poison
OBSIDIAN
Published by the Penguin Group
Penguin Group (USA) LLC, 375 Hudson Street,
New York, New York 10014
USA | Canada | UK | Ireland | Australia | New Zealand | India | South Africa | China
penguin.com
A Penguin Random House Company
First published by Obsidian, an imprint of New American Library,
a division of Penguin Group (USA) LLC
Copyright © Leann Sweeney, 2015
Excerpt from The Cat, the Quilt and the Corpse copyright © Leann Sweeney, 2009
Penguin supports copyright. Copyright fuels creativity, encourages diverse voices, promotes free speech, and creates a vibrant culture. Thank you for buying an authorized edition of this book and for complying with copyright laws by not reproducing, scanning, or distributing any part of it in any form without permission. You are supporting writers and allowing Penguin to continue to publish books for every reader.
OBSIDIAN and logo are trademarks of Penguin Group (USA) LLC.
ISBN 978-0-698-18794-8
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
If you purchased this book without a cover you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the publisher and neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for this “stripped book.”
Version_1
Contents
Praise
Other Novels by Leann Sweeney
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Epigraph
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Eleven
Twelve
Thirteen
Fourteen
Fifteen
Sixteen
Seventeen
Eighteen
Nineteen
Twenty
Twenty-one
Twenty-two
Twenty-three
Twenty-four
Twenty-five
Twenty-six
Twenty-seven
Twenty-eight
Twenty-nine
Thirty
Thirty-one
An Excerpt from The Cat, the Quilt and the Corpse
This book is dedicated to my precious Marlowe, who awaits me on the Rainbow Bridge—and to all those who gave me so much support as that precious kitty and I followed a difficult path together.
Acknowledgments
The Cats in Trouble mystery series would not have this seventh installment without the readers who have embraced my books. I thank you and am so glad I interact with many of yo
u on social media regularly. My dear friends, the Cozy Chicks (Lorraine Bartlett, Jennifer Stanley, Mary Jane Maffini, Mary Kennedy, Kate Collins and Maggie Sefton), have been kind and wonderful supporters. I treasure their friendship and feel privileged to blog once a week with a cast that includes so many bestselling authors. My agent, Carol Mann, and her staff have been with me on this journey, always there to help whenever I ask. Last, these books would never have happened without the kindness, understanding and expertise of my editor, Claire Zion. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
“One of the most striking differences between a cat and a lie is that a cat has only nine lives.”
—Mark Twain
One
The cramped office that served the Mercy Animal Sanctuary smelled like hay and kitty litter and kibble and pine-scented air freshener—or as I liked to call it, love. There was nothing I enjoyed more than being here to cuddle with a cat or a dog starved for affection.
But on this particular sunny October morning, I had not come to comfort the shelter’s inhabitants. Instead I sat beside my future stepson, Finn, as we waited for the owner, Shawn Cuddahee. He would be bringing a very special girl from the cattery.
Finn was in town on a college break. His stepdad, Tom Stewart, and I were getting married in a week and Finn had handed in research papers and taken a few tests early so he could be part of our celebration. As usual he planned to volunteer at the shelter during his stay in town. But he had something else on his mind today. Since his last time volunteering, Finn hadn’t been able to get a certain cat out of his head—a little tortoiseshell kitty, or “tortie” as they were usually called. Since she was still available, Finn wanted to adopt her. But the cat would have to live with Tom and me until he moved from the dorm into his own apartment next semester.
As we sat on folding chairs in the cluttered space, Snug, the African gray parrot who believed he was in charge of the office, entertained us. He promenaded back and forth on the horizontal dowel Shawn had nailed up near the ceiling, saying, “Hello, Jillian Hart. Hello there,” and “Finn, clean the dog crates. Clean the dog crates.”
When Shawn finally rushed through the door from the kennel and cattery, his face was flushed with agitation. And he wasn’t holding the tortie. “Sorry, Finn, but she’s gone again. She is the sneakiest little girl we’ve ever had.”
Finn stood. “That’s okay. I planned on working today anyway and she always comes back. She’ll probably be here by the time Jillian picks me up later.” He looked my way. “Anything I need to do to help you guys with the wedding setup when I’m done here?”
I laughed. “Though I’m certain you’re dying to wrap vines and rosebuds on Kara’s banister, we’ll take care of it.” Kara was my stepdaughter—my late husband’s only child. She was hosting the reception at her gorgeous new house.
“Yeah, I’d probably be more useful here.” Finn looked at Shawn. “Where should I start?”
Snug piped in with “Clean the dog crates, Finn. Clean the dog crates.”
Shawn still seemed a little annoyed and preoccupied, but not with Snug. He bent and retrieved a shoe box from under the desk and set it down on the battered metal surface. He glanced back and forth between us. “You sure you want a cat who brings this kind of stuff home all the time? ’Cause I got a couple across the road from here who’ll always take the difficult cats. They’ve got a barnful to protect their chicken feed from rodents. Cats do that quite efficiently.”
I leaned forward and examined the contents of the box while Finn merely seemed amused.
Shawn picked out a shoelace and held it up. “This is so old it couldn’t hold anything together.”
I spied what looked like a ragged sock, several coins, buttons, more shoelaces, a filthy little sachet pillow and a baby’s knitted hat. I looked up at Finn and smiled. “Are you adopting a cat or a magpie?”
Snug said, “Magpie” three times and did a wolf whistle to top it off. None of us could keep a straight face after that one.
“That’s it.” Finn grinned. “I’ll call her Magpie. It’s perfect, Jillian.”
Shawn shook his head. “All I can say is you’ll have your hands full. She may become a domestic indoor cat right away, since she’s real friendly, but she’s an escape artist.” Shawn looked at me. “She’s always sneaking out to hunt for anything she can drag back here.” He waved his hand at the box. “This stuff is just from the last few days. I wanted you to see evidence of what you’re getting yourself into if you plan on keeping her through the holidays, Jillian.”
Finn glanced my way, a hint of anxiety in his eyes. “You said it would be no problem, right?”
“Absolutely no problem. I’m excited to have her with us.” I smiled because it was true. What kitty didn’t challenge its human caretaker?
Finn went on as if Shawn and I needed more convincing. “Plus, I’ll be living with her and Tom starting the second week in December and through most of January when we have semester break.”
I could tell this kitty must indeed be special. Finn really wanted to bring her home.
Shawn’s phone rang and he answered, “Mercy Animal Sanctuary.” After listening for several seconds, he said, “This cat is wearing one of my collars? You’re sure?” He nodded and glanced at Finn. “What does the kitty look like?” More listening and more pointed looks at Finn. “I’ll be right there.”
Finn cocked his head and stared at Shawn. “Was that about Magpie?”
“Oh yeah. Did you bring a crate for this girl?” Shawn asked.
I nodded. “It’s in my van. Someone found her, I take it?”
“Yup. And you’ll never guess who. You can follow me and then please take this little troublemaker off my hands.” But Shawn smiled. He had a soft spot for the troublemakers.
We left the office with Snug bobbing his head and chanting “Magpie” over and over.
The route Shawn took confused me at first. True, I’d lived in Mercy for seven years, but there were more back roads than people in this town. Then I recognized where we were headed and turned to Finn sitting beside me. “How did Magpie end up at Ed’s Swap Shop?”
“You got me. This should be a fun mystery to unravel, Jillian. I love it.”
I couldn’t help smiling. “A cat who collects other people’s trash ends up with a man who does the same thing. Seems fitting.”
Finn laughed. “It’s perfect she’s with Ed.”
We considered Ed Duffy a relative. He was the lovable, gentle live-in companion of Tom’s mother, Karen. Ed had been collecting junk for years and actually did a steady business either swapping his treasures for different items that caught his fancy, taking things on consignment or selling some things for cash. Finn spent almost as much time with Karen and Ed as he did with Tom. In fact, when we pulled onto the neglected patch of asphalt Ed called a parking lot, the old guy opened the door and Finn’s rat terrier, Yoshi, raced straight for him. Ed often kept Yoshi at the shop when Finn or Tom didn’t plan on being home. Tom must have dropped the dog off before he went to pick up the new suit he’d bought for our wedding.
Finn opened his arms and the dog leapt into them. After licking his beloved Finn’s face and wiggling with joy, Yoshi jumped down and greeted me as he’d been taught—by sitting and waiting for me to pet him. Then it was time to say hello to Shawn, who was already crouched and waiting to scratch Yoshi behind the ears.
Ed called, “Y’all come on and help me with this little feline problem I’m presented with.”
Soon we all crowded into the store. Decades ago it had been a family home and the stacks of toys, tools, small appliances, magazines, books, lamps, fishing gear and so much more made what had once been the living area seem tiny. And there before us was this battered old love seat—obviously a recent addition. It filled what little space had been left in the center of the room. Since we couldn’t get past it, we all stood staring d
own at its dingy brown upholstery.
Ed stroked his gray beard. “This here is my dilemma.” He looked down at a whining Yoshi. “Help me out, fella. Make some noise.”
Yoshi complied by jumping on the love seat and yelping at the space between the love seat cushions.
We all heard a cat meow in reply. I would have expected a hiss if one of my three cats found itself trapped in a sofa, but Magpie had been at the shelter so long she was probably used to barking dogs.
I put my hand to my mouth and muttered, “Oh my. Is she stuck?”
“Darn right,” Ed replied. “Only good thing is she can almost get her head through that crack and I saw the tag on the collar, got a flashlight for a better look. Like I said on the phone, she’s one of yours, Shawn. But I’ve been working for an hour to coax her out of there and it ain’t happenin’.”
“Actually, Gramps, she’s now my cat.” Finn smiled at Ed. He’d taken to calling him Gramps not long after he came to live with Tom.
Ed’s bushy eyebrows rose in surprise. “Well, there’s a new development. Guess she needs savin’ right quick, then.”
Shawn addressed Finn. “Yoshi’s done his job. Maybe he needs to go in the back while we work on this problem. The cat’s probably spooked a little.”
Finn had to squeeze past the sofa, and as soon as Yoshi was closed up in the back room, he returned and stood by Shawn again. I fit my fingers between the back of the love seat and the attached cushions. I used a soft coaxing voice. “Hey, baby. You okay?” I wiggled my fingers. The sofa was old and dirty, and I was thankful the dark brown of the cushions hid a lot more than the stickiness I felt.
It only took a minute for Magpie to pop her head out. Finn laughed and whipped out his phone to snap a picture. “Got to think of a caption for this when I put it up on Instagram.”
“Such a pretty girl,” I whispered, stroking the side of her face.
Meanwhile, Shawn was looking underneath the love seat in the back to check if she’d gotten in through a rip in the fabric. He stood and shook his head. “She either got in there the way she’s trying to come out, or came in through the bottom.”