“You’ll pay for this,” the raccoon muttered as he stepped back from the door and disappeared into the bedroom.
“If I pay, you pay!” I shouted after him.
Octo-Cat chuckled as he leisurely made his way toward the door.“You sure told him.”
“Don’t think you’re off the hook,” I said, spinning toward the cat. “I’m still mad at you, too.”
Octo-Cat gave his best approximation of a shrug.“You may be angry with me today, but I’m angry with you pretty much every day. As far as I see it, we’re even for the time being,” he said, sauntering over.
There was so much wrong with that statement, too much for me to even attempt to address. So instead of trying, I simply opened the door and motioned for my cat to walk out ahead of me.
Charles had grabbed a set of green fabric camping chairs and set them out in front of the RV.
The police had arrived as well. A cruiser sat parked at the edge of the campground, but the officers were nowhere to be seen. Probably already inside Junetta’s home, taking stock of the scene.
A few other visitors to the campground had pulled out lawn chairs of their own and sat watching the scene unfold.
“Ugh, it smells bad,” Octo-Cat said before unleashing a trio of mighty sneezes. “What is that strange yet alluring smell?”
“Charles…” I said, practically collapsing into the seat at his side. “Please let Octavius know that I’m not available to speak with him at the moment.”
“Yeah, yeah, I get it,” the tabby groaned. “Can’t let these unimportant strangers know your big secret. Never mind that you’ll probably never see any of them ever again. I’m sure they’re all watching with rapt attention just in case they catch you talking to a magnificent specimen ofthe feline species rather than—I don’t know—gawking at the police investigation happening right under their noses. No, better you play it extra safe rather than actually discuss the case with your partner. Yeah, no thank you. While you sit here twiddling your thumbs, I’m going to investigate.”
“No, bad kitty!” I called as he trotted away with his tail raised high and haughty. “Come back here right now!”
He’d almost made it to Junetta’s trailer when a middle-aged woman with a blonde pixie cut and enough scarves to qualify as a makeshift kite stepped out from between two campers and scooped him into her arms.
“Where are you going, Mr. Tabby? You look way too fat and happy to be a stray. Maybe I should call you Mr. Tubby?” She stopped to laugh at her own joke. “You don’t want your mommy worrying about you, do you? What do you say we go find her together?”
“I’ve never been so insulted in all my life,” Octo-Cat yowled and attempted to squirm out of her arms.
“Now, now, Mr. Tubby-Tabby,” the woman said. “I’m just trying to help you.”
“I don’t need your help,” he growled as his wide amber eyes scanned the area in a panic. When he spotted me standing at the RV and attempting not to laugh, he shouted, “Angela! Help me!”
“He does not look happy,” Charles said. “Are you going to go claim him?”
“In a second,” I said, watching Octo-Cat’s pupils grow wide with terror.
The blonde woman caught me watching her and called out,“Does this chubby little guy belong to you?”
“Again with the insults!” Octo-Cat hissed. “Bah!”
“Yes, he’s mine. Thanks for grabbing him,” I said, then silently added, and for teaching him a bit of a lesson.
Chapter Eleven
“I’ll go grab another chair,” Charles said as the woman carrying Octo-Cat made her way over.
“Is that your husband?” she asked, watching Charles with a little too much interest as he left. “Because, if so… Well done, sister.”
“My boyfriend,” I corrected with an awkward smile. “And that’s my cat.”
“Lucky lady on both counts.” The woman said plopped down into Charles’s vacated seat while keeping a firm grip on Octo-Cat.
“My name’s Angie,” I offered.
“Sharon. Ahh!” Suddenly, she pulled her hand toward her face, showing off a bright scarlet scratch that now marred her pale skin.
Octo-Cat shouted a string of kitty curses and ran off to hide somewhere.
Sharon popped out of her chair to follow him, but I called her off.“Don’t worry about him. He always comes back.”
She clucked her tongue and settled back in the chair.“My Chester could sure take a lesson or two from him. What’s your little tubster’s name?”
From a distance, Octo-Cat yowled and spat even more insults at the woman. Despite my irritation, even I was starting to feel a little bad for him.
“His name is Octo-Cat, and the vet says he’s in the healthy weight range for his size. He’s actually part Maine Coon on his grandmother’s side.” At least he always said that about his lineage. I had doubts about its veracity, though. It also wasn’t exactly what the vet had said during our last visit. Octo-Cat had, in fact, crept a little above the recommended weight range—thanks, lobster rolls—but I had chosen not to share that particular tidbit with him.
Sharon shrugged and leaned back in the chair, stretching her legs straight out in front of her.“My Chessy just loves the RV life, even though he never leaves our little home on wheels. Why, I imagine he’s enjoying himself a little nap in a sunbeam right about now.”
Hmm. A regular. Perhaps she knew a thing or two about who might want Junetta dead.
“Do you and Chester come here often?” I asked conversationally.
Sharon laughed so hard she began to cough, then formed a fist and punched her chest several times.“Whoo! It’s been a long time since I heard a pickup line.”
My eyes widened.“I didn’t mean—”
“Now don’t you go taking it back. Just let me enjoy it.” She let out a happy sigh, then sat silent for a few moments before speaking again. “Chester and I have a nice little rotation, and Katahdin is part of it. Each month we hit several of our favorite parks so that we can see all our friends across the state. Of course, most folks stay put during the winter months. But not Chester and me. We’re always on the move. We’re like sharks. If we stop swimming, we die.” She laughed again, but not hard enough to send herself into another fit.
Throughout my life, I’d met few people who could talk as much as Sharon did—or with as little input from a conversational partner. So, yes, if I asked the right questions, I might be able to sneak a little of the local park gossip out of her.
“Did you notice the police car when it pulled up?” I asked, nodding toward the parked cruiser.
“Oh, yes. I most assuredly did. A couple of officers got out and marched right over to Junetta’s. Between you and me, that woman is always in some kind of trouble. She had a nasty divorce last year. That’s why she gave everything up and moved into the park permanently. Of course, that snake of an ex of hers shows up every so often begging her to take him back.”
My features pinched in sympathy.“I had no idea.”
“Well, why would you? You’re a first-time visitor, right?” She bobbed her head and grinned. “I always recognize a first-timer.”
I nodded, even though it seemed Sharon didn’t need any confirmation from me.
At the same time, Charles returned with empty hands.“Couldn’t find another chair, but I don’t mind getting a little dirty,” he announced before settling himself on the ground.
“Oh, I bet you don’t.” Sharon growled flirtatiously.
Charles’s cheeks turned beet red.
“Well, I best get back to Chester. Say, why don’t the two of you and Octo-Cat stop by mine later for coffee and gossip. What was your name again, dear?”
“Angie. And this is Charles.” Of course, she remembered the cat’s name, but not mine.
“Yes, definitely bring him along.” Sharon puckered her lips and made a smooch-ing sound, then burst out laughing yet again.
“Well, as Tigger says, TTFN!” she sang, blowing us both kisses as she left.
“Wow,” Charles said when the two of us were alone again. He got up from the grass and settled himself in the chair Sharon had just vacated.