If only her siblings trusted her more, Clara thought, her ears beginning to sag. If only they shared more. Acted more like family. Then maybe she wouldn’t worry so much about the person they had all adopted. If only Laurel weren’t so obsessed with Becca’s love life. The tawny sister was awfully quick to incite interest in just about any possible suitor, Clara thought. Although there had been that one man…
Her musings were interrupted as Becca’s phone rang, startling her out of her thoughts.
“Hello?” She answered with something like suspicion. “Becca Colwin.”
She stood up straight as she spoke. A sign, Clara knew, that she might be addressing a potential client.
“Oh!” An outburst of surprise as her posture relaxed. “Tiger. Of course I remember you.”
Clara strained her ears forward, hoping to catch the other side of the conversation. From the faint color that rose to Becca’s cheeks, she suspected it wasn’t about business—or not completely. But as Becca put her shoulders back, clearing her throat, Clara realized that perhaps her person had made a decision. Whether it was going to be a good one, the little calico couldn’t tell.
“Why, yes, I’d like to get together.” With that, Becca began to walk, leaving the colorful storefront behind.
Clara’s ears flicked back in alarm. “This is Laurel’s doing!” A low growl rose beneath the white fur of her chest. “Not every man is good boyfriend material.”
Worse, Clara realized as she trotted along behind her person, Becca wasn’t going to the police station. Despite what she’d told her coven, what she’d promised Ande and Marcia, Becca was heading home. For the first time in Clara’s memory, the familiar path didn’t fill her with joy. Between the plans she was hearing and the direction Becca had chosen, it was clear her person was getting more deeply involved, just when they had all hoped she was pulling back from the investigation.
“Lunch sounds great,” Becca was saying. And there was nothing the little cat could do.
When Becca’s phone rang again, Clara dared to hope. But the young woman didn’t even slow down as she took the call.
“Hey, Maddy. What’s up?” Clara picked up her own pace, hoping to hear Becca’s friend talk some sense into her. “Yeah, I know. I was just at Charm and Cherish. No, wait…”
Becca rolled her eyes as her friend interrupted. It was a move Laurel had tried on occasion, with comic results. But while Harriet had chuckled, Clara kept her jaw firmly clenched. Laurel was trying to relate to their person, at least, and her youngest sister believed such an impulse should be encouraged.
“No, that’s just it.” Becca was speaking again. “I’d already told Margaret that I couldn’t take her on as a client, and I went to tell Gaia that she wasn’t in any real danger. Her case was, well, I can’t get into details, but let’s just say we both decided that I shouldn’t pursue it. Only, Maddy, now I’m not so sure.”
The faint squawking from the phone stopped her in her tracks.
“No, it’s not like that.” Becca started walking again, albeit slowly, her voice as thoughtful as her face. “I mean, yes, I don’t have clients to spare. I’d hoped to make this a going concern by the time the unemployment ran out. And, you know, I’ve done some good—”
Another burst of sound, a little softer, cut Becca off.
“Thanks, Maddy. I may need to pick up some freelance after all.” Becca sounded so down her cat was beginning to regret her own wishes. “But, you see, I can’t come down to the office today. No, I’m not going to the police—or not yet. I’m having lunch with Tiger, that bike messenger I told you about.”
From the sounds coming through the phone, Maddy was as surprised and upset as the calico.
“It’s not a date.” Becca emphasized the last word, even as her cheeks grew pink. “I mean, I do believe he and Gaia are over, but still, that would just be too awkward.”
Becca raised her hand, as if her friend could see her. “Maddy, listen. Gaia told me that she and Tiger still talk, and he told her that he thinks she’s still in danger. And when I went down to tell her about the root, I saw someone hanging around the shop. Lurking, actually. So I want to talk to Tiger, hear why he thinks Gaia’s in danger and if it has anything to do with whatever happened to Frank Cross. I gather he’s not keen to talk to the police, but maybe he’ll talk to me and then I can take it to the cops. Because this guy? He wasn’t doing anything criminal, but he was clearly watching the entrance. It was creepy.
“No, Maddy, I didn’t call 9-1-1. The guy disappeared as soon as he saw me watching him. And I couldn’t just tell Gaia. That’s the problem. I tried to, but when I went back to the store, it was all locked up. No, I think she just she took off. She has a habit of doing that. But just in case, or in case there is some connection to Frank, I want to hear what Tiger has to say. And I want someone who cares about her to know what I saw.”
Chapter 15
“We’ve got to do something.” As soon as Clara slipped into the apartment, she rounded up her sisters. Waking Harriet from a nap was never easy, but the sense of urgency that had set her fur on end had made the calico fierce. “Becca’s getting more involved with this Gaia girl, and there’s something weird going on!”
“I thought you didn’t want us using our powers?” Harriet wasn’t happy about having her nap interrupted. “Don’t let the human know, you always say. Your sister and I have been trying to give you some leeway on this, you know.”
“I know.” Clara dipped her head in a hasty feline apology. “But I’m worried. And if Becca gets in trouble, who knows what will happen to us?”
“Maybe we’ll find someplace better.” Laurel had been sleeping, as well but Clara knew better than to mention it. The slender Siamese liked to present herself as always watchful. “Someone who leads a more interesting life.”
Clara bit down on her initial response and took a deep breath through her bi-color nose instead. Laurel was always cranky when she woke up, she reminded herself. “Part of this trouble might involve a new man.” Clara offered up the half-truth like a small mouse, the kind likely to interest her flirtatious sister.
“I knew it.” Laurel stretched seductively, then began to groom, her customary calm returning. “And this is a problem, why?”
“It’s not the man,” Clara began to explain when Becca came into the room. “It’s something he told—”
“Look at you three.” Becca beamed down at them. “So nice to see you’re not fighting for once.”
“Don’t smirk.” Clara couldn’t help it. Laurel had a way of arching one eye that drove her mad. “Please,” she muted her criticism. “I’m trying to think of what we can do—what we ought to do. I mean, within the rules.”
“Good luck with that,” her middle sister purred and sauntered off, tail high, to the bedroom. Clara knew Laurel was going to get involved in Becca’s wardrobe choices. What she didn’t know was how to stop her.
“This isn’t a date.” She trotted after her sister, her mew softening with a slight pleading tone. “She wants to talk to him.”