Vanished in Cherry Hills (Cozy Cat Caper Mystery Book 4) by Paige Sleuth Read Free Book Online Page A

stroked her back. “I know, I know, I shouldn’t lose hope.”
    Matty bobbed her head once as if to agree.
    “But you have to admit this is pretty frustrating,” Kat said, scratching between Matty’s ears.
    Matty meowed again before closing her eyes and pressing her head into Kat’s hand.
    Kat grinned. “I see some of Tom’s chattiness is rubbing off on you. You usually don’t meow unless you’re hungry.”
    Matty meowed again as if to disagree.
    Or, Kat thought, an eerie sensation washing over her, was Matty trying to tell her something about her mother?
    Kat shook the thought away, feeling ridiculous. Was she getting so desperate for answers that she thought Matty had them?
    When Matty meowed this time, she batted her paw at the folder in Kat’s lap.
    Kat frowned. “What is it, sweetheart?”
    Matty jumped on the coffee table and sat down, her tail swishing.
    Kat shivered as Matty’s penetrating green eyes bored into her own. She knew Matty possessed an uncanny awareness of things, almost a sixth sense. Somehow she always knew when Kat needed a little extra love and would come over to give her hand a lick. And she never failed to predict when Kat had something unwelcome in mind, like a claw-trimming session. Kat had yet to figure out how Matty deduced what she was up to before she even took out the clippers.
    Kat clutched her head in both hands, wondering if she was going crazy. After all, what could Matty possibly have to tell her about her mother?
    And yet, no human had offered any answers so what did she really have to lose?
    She refocused on the tortoiseshell. “What are you trying to tell me?”
    Matty settled down on the coffee table, tucking her paws under her chest.
    Kat glanced at where Matty had chosen to rest, as if the cat were deliberate about her napping spots and not prone to sleeping wherever she happened to be. Right now, Matty was lying on top of the Cherry Hills Veterinary invoice that Imogene had given her earlier.
    Feeling a little foolish, Kat leaned forward and studied the invoice. The part that was visible above Matty itemized all the expenses Imogene had accrued during her visit. Peeking through Matty’s fur at the bottom of the page was the total amount owed. Nothing struck Kat as peculiar. Certainly nothing revealed where her mother might be.
    Kat flopped back against the couch, mentally chiding herself for actually believing Matty’s actions were cloaked in hidden meaning.
    Matty meowed again. When Kat looked up, she swore the feline shook her head in dismay.
    “If you’re trying to tell me something, you’re going to have to be more blunt,” Kat told her.
    Matty flicked her tail in response. Then she began licking her paw, as though to indicate she’d done all she could.
    Kat knew how she felt. If the past few days was any indication of what she expected to learn during her search, she might simply have to come to terms with the possibility that she might never find her mother.

CHAPTER NINE
    The next morning, Kat stopped by Cherry Hills Veterinary soon after they opened. Dr. Harry wasn’t yet swamped with patients, and he motioned her back to one of the empty examination rooms.
    “I’m happy to report that Shadow is doing much better now that we’ve got some fluids running through his system,” he said.
    Kat’s relief sent the air rushing out of her lungs. “I’m glad.”
    “He should be fine, but if you notice anything amiss either bring him in again or give me a call.”
    “I’ll let his owner know.”
    “Let me fetch him.” Dr. Harry ducked out of the room and returned a minute later with a squirming cat carrier, which he set on the examination table. “Here you are.”
    Kat opened the hatch, eager to check on Shadow herself. Apparently, the black cat was just as eager to check out his surroundings. He poked his nose through the opening and peeked around the exam room. His eyes were much brighter, and from the way his head swiveled back and forth he looked