Catnapped (A Klepto Cat Mystery) by Patricia Fry Read Free Book Online

“And I take advantage of sales and coupons.”
    “So how do you get the cats? Where do they come from?” Margaret blurted, eager to nail the culprit in the catnapping.
    As Dora filled the teakettle with water and set it on the stove, she explained, “Well, some are strays. Some are remnants of cat-hoarder situations. You know how it is.” She turned to face her guests. “Once people know you can’t turn a cat away, they tend to take advantage of you. In fact, I’m afraid I’ll have to say no to some cats in the near future. I hear there’s a hoarder not too far away from here. Animal control has been monitoring the situation, and it doesn’t look good. It appears that they’ll soon be placing the healthier cats when they close this couple down and my space and energy are so limited.”
    “Do you often let the cats out in front?” Savannah asked as she joined her aunt at the table.
    “No. Only those four you saw outside just now can come out with me while I garden or enjoy lemonade on the porch.” She pushed her dark-rimmed glasses up on her nose with an index finger. “I was hoping they would help me catch a sweet little girl who found her way under my porch. I’ve been trying to lure her out so I can check her over and decide what to do with her. She was just about to walk toward the saucer of milk when…”
    “Oh we scared her back in? I’m sorry.” Margaret grimaced. “Maybe we can help you draw her out before we leave.”
    “Don’t worry about it,” Dora said, waving a hand in the air. “I spend my life working with cats and they each have a way of their own. I think I was put on this planet to learn patience, because it sure takes a big dose of it when you live with cats.” She looked over at her guests and asked, “Do you ladies have cats?”
    “Yes,” Margaret said. “Both of us have rescue cats. But there was a time when I had eleven cats. I just couldn’t stop bringing them home or letting them stay when they showed up on my property. Know what I mean?”
    “I sure do.” Dora reached over, took three teabags out of a porcelain container, and dropped them into the pot of hot water.
    “So do you have anyone helping you with your cats?” Margaret wondered.
    “Oh yes. I couldn’t manage them alone. A couple of my friends volunteer here nearly every day and I have a dear child who works with me three afternoons a week.” She glanced up at the kitchen clock while wiping her hands on her blue paisley apron. “In fact, Charlotte should be arriving just about any time.”
    Margaret looked around the room. “Well, you would never know you have multiple cats in here. How many are there?”
    “Hmmmm, the number changes,” Dora said as she considered how to respond.
    Depending on how many you steal in any given week? Margaret imagined.
    “If I’m talking to the police or a snoopy neighbor, it may be eight or nine, tops. But between us cat people, I sometimes peak at twenty-five. A more realistic number is probably around a dozen to fifteen. I turn them over if I can. I don’t keep all of those that come to me.”
    “So you are running a cat-rescue facility, then?” Savannah asked.
    “Well, yes! Sort of. I do some fostering for other facilities in the area. I board cats. I’ve even been known to have a kitty daycare.” Dora smiled as she poured the hot tea into matching china cups with saucers. “Sugar and milk, right there.” She nodded toward a creamer and matching sugar bowl in the middle of the table and then set the tea pot on a hot pad. She lifted saran wrap off of a plate and said, “These are snickerdoodles. I made them yesterday. They’re pretty good. Not all of my culinary creations come out so good anymore. I’m out of practice.”
    “You say you run a kitty daycare?” Savannah asked with obvious interest while moving a feather toy back and forth across the floor for a little black cat with round yellow eyes. “Cats come here for play dates?”
    “You might