The Cat Collector Read online

  “It’s okay,” she told the Maine Coon as she hurried to open her front door.

  Steve stood there carrying a big birdcage. Hal, the African Grey, flapped its wings inside the cage, making squawking parrot noises.

  “Come on in,” Claudia said.

  “Thanks.” Steve walked through the door into her living room. “Where do you want me to put Hal?”

  “Shut up, Hal,” the bird said.

  “Well, I have Ethel’s cat in the guest room. It’s best to keep the two cats apart. Jasmine will only be here temporarily anyway. So why don’t we put Hal in that room, too. He’ll be near Jasmine, which might calm him down.”

  “Okay, lead the way.”

  Steve followed her to the guest bedroom, pristine from lack of use. The double bed was covered with a quilted spread. Bed stands with lamps stood on either side of the oak headboard. There was a comfortable easy chair in one corner, where Jasmine had curled up. The cat’s blue eyes looked warily at Steve.

  Claudia closed the door to make sure the two cats stayed separated. Knickerbocker might have already picked up Jasmine’s scent.

  “Where would you like the birdcage?” Steve asked.

  Removing one of the lamps from a bed stand, she said, “How about here?”

  He placed the cage where she indicated. “I brought the parrot food. I’ll get it from my car.”

  During the few minutes he was gone, Claudia petted Jasmine and then walked up to the birdcage. “Hello, Hal,” she said softly. Then she noticed the feathers down the front of his body were missing, leaving bare skin. “You’re all discombobulated, aren’t you? You’ll be okay here. See Jasmine over there?” She stepped aside and walked over to the cat.

  “Meow,” Hal said.

  Jasmine sat up, her eyes wide. Claudia wondered if she should let Hal out of the cage. Just then, Steve came in carrying the bag of food. Claudia closed the door behind him.

  “Why don’t we try letting Hal out?” she said. “Tom Radek always had him on his shoulder when they came to the clinic.”

  “Tom didn’t worry about droppings?” Steve said.

  “I guess not. I’ve only worked with cats since I got my veterinary technician’s license. That was over fifteen years ago.”

  Steve shrugged. “Up to you. Sorry to impose the parrot on you like this. But you’d be better at figuring out how to take care of him than any of us at the station.”

  “Thanks for your confidence,” she said, amused.

  “Meow,” Hal said, followed by, “Smart bird.”

  Claudia talked to the parrot in soothing tones a while longer, then opened the cage door.

  The bird hesitated for a moment. Claudia raised her arm to the cage and Hal stepped out onto her forearm.

  “Smart bird, Hal,” she told him. Slowly she walked with the bird to the easy chair where Jasmine was sitting, round-eyed, watching them approach. All at once the bird took off from Claudia’s arm and landed near Jasmine on the chair.

  “His wings aren’t clipped,” Claudia observed. “Do you have his harness and leash?”

  “Parrots can be leashed?” Steve seemed astonished. “Maybe they’re still at the Radek house.”

  Hal started preening Jasmine’s ear, which the cat didn’t seem to mind.

  Claudia glanced at Steve. “Looks like we’re having a happy reunion.”

  He slipped his arm around her shoulders and gave her a quick hug. “You really understand animals. Thanks for doing this.”

  A bit disconcerted by the hug, Claudia asked, “Would you like some coffee?”

  “Have you had supper yet?” he asked.

  “Um, no. I was just going to have a frozen dinner.”

  “How about if I order a pizza for us?”

  Claudia smiled. “Well, okay.”

  Steve took out his cell phone and speed dialed a number. “What do you like on your pizza?”

  “How about chicken, spinach and mushrooms?”

  He grinned. “Sounds healthy.” In a moment he spoke into the phone and ordered a medium pizza with exactly the ingredients she suggested and gave Claudia’s address.

  After ending the call, he began to look around him. “Nice house. It’s Tudor, isn’t it? I noticed the arched front door. And it’s brick.”

  “Yes. I inherited it from my parents.” Claudia looked at Jasmine, who was curled on her side, the shaved area of her stomach showing from her surgery. The healing long dark line of her incision was just visible. But she seemed content with Hal hovering over her. “Should we leave them alone for a while?”

  They entered the living room with its hardwood floor and large oval throw rug braided in yarns of green, burgundy and ivory, colors that went with the upholstered couch and two easy chairs. Steve stopped in front of Knickerbocker. The cat went up on its feet, about to bolt.

  “This is Steve, Knicky,” Claudia said, stroking the cat. “He’s a good guy.”

  The big Maine Coon sat down, but his emerald eyes still looked wary.

  “Is this Sue Ember’s cat?” Steve asked. “She asked you to adopt him as we handcuffed her.”

  “He’s gotten used to living with me. I write to Sue in prison. Send her pictures of him.”

  “Nice of you,” Steve said. “Do you have other pets? I figured you for a cat lady.”

  Claudia smiled. “I had cats growing up and while I was married.” She pointed to a bookcase in one corner, next to the brick fireplace. “There are all my cat figurines. Been collecting them since I was a kid. There are about fifty. And on the lower shelf are my boxes of cat jigsaw puzzles.”

  Steve walked up to the bookcase and looked over the figurines. “Do you have favorites?”

  “The ones that are about four inches tall with flowery hats.” She came up next to him and pointed at the five figurines she was describing.

  “Very cute,” he said. “You jump rope?” He pointed to the coiled rope on the floor near the bookcase.

  She spread her hands. “Jumping rope and walking are what passes for my exercise routine.”

  “Seems to keep you fit. We have a workout room at the station.” He turned and took a step to the oak fireplace mantle. Pointing to one of two silver-framed photos, he asked, “Your parents?”

  “Vick and Claudia. I was named after my mom. They’ve both passed on.”

  “Brothers or sisters?”

  She shook her head.

  He picked up the remaining photo. “Your husband?”

  “Yes, that’s Peter.” She gazed at the image of the handsome blond man she’d fallen in love with in high school. “That was taken on his thirtieth birthday. He died only two years later.”

  “Good looking fellow. What did he do for a living?”

  “He was a stock broker. A fine businessman. Left me well-set.” Claudia blinked to keep wetness from her eyes.

  Steve quietly and carefully replaced the framed photo on the mantle. “Being widowed isn’t easy,” he murmured. “What happened to the cats you had while you were married?”

  “They died, too. I lost the last one some ago.” She showed him a needlepointed pillow on the easy chair. “That pillow I stitched looks like Taffy. She was an orange and white tabby. Somehow I hadn’t felt like taking in a new cat. But then Knickerbocker needed a home, and Sue asked me, so . . . .” She smiled. “He’s a very sweet cat. Older, so he sleeps a lot. Still pretty healthy though. Likes to be cuddled.”

  Steve nodded as he listened, but she sensed by his lowered gaze that he was mulling something over. Without looking at her, he asked, “Do you think you’d ever like to marry again?” He met her gaze. “You seem pretty self-sufficient.”

  The question took her by surprise coming from Steve. For years her friend Amy kept asking and hinting that she should look for a husband, and Claudia always gave her evasive replies. Especially lately, when Amy suggested Steve would be a good candidate.

  “Um, I suppose I am settled. I like my job and my home here. I . . . I don’t really think much
about marrying again.” Which wasn’t entirely true, but Claudia didn’t think of it as a lie, either. And standing next to Steve, so tall and manly, the warm sense of security she felt made her realize that having a man in her life again would not be such a bad idea. But marriage—well, that would really change her solo lifestyle.

  Steve swallowed and nodded. “I’m glad you’re happy.”

  “What about you?” she asked. “Would you like to remarry?”

  He hesitated, then shrugged in a nonchalant way. “I guess I have about the same outlook as you do.”

  At that moment a voice could be heard from the guest room. “Smart bird. Smart bird. Tom? Tom? You listening?”

  Knickerbocker looked up at Claudia, mystified.

  “That poor parrot. They’re very intelligent, you know. I’ve heard that African Greys not only talk, but they understand what they’re saying. He must really miss Tom.” Claudia took Steve’s arm. “Let’s go see how he’s doing with Jasmine. The pizza will probably be here before too long. We can sit with him until then.”

  Steve smiled at her. “Sounds like a plan.”

  ◆◆◆

  The next day Claudia had lunch with Amy at the Bumblebee Café. While cutting into her bratwurst, on a plate also heaped with dumplings and sauerkraut, Amy prompted Claudia to continue.

  “So what happened after you had the pizza? Did Steve hang around?”

  “A while.” Claudia speared a shrimp from her salad with her fork. “I had a half-done jigsaw puzzle out on my dining room table. We worked on that for maybe forty-five minutes. He needed to be at the station early in the morning, so he said goodbye, and left.

  “He didn’t make a pass, try to kiss you or anything?” Amy sounded disappointed.

  “No,” Claudia answered, drawing out the word. “I didn’t expect him to. We’re just friends.” Though Steve’s friendly hug in the guest room still played in her mind. And his masculine presence had elevated her senses in a way she hadn’t felt for years.

  “Well, that’s something else you both have in common,” Amy quipped, “besides being widowed and Irish. You’re both slow movers.”

  Claudia made an effort to change the subject. If she had some budding feelings for Steve, she wasn’t ready to discuss them with Amy. Or Amy would start planning for a wedding!

  “So I need to get my hair cut. Do you know of a good hairdresser? Mine is going on maternity leave. I have a feeling once her baby is born, she might not come back to the salon, at least for a while.”

  “My sister quit the hair business when she had her kids,” Amy said. “She cuts mine as a favor. I wouldn’t know who to recommend.”

  “I just remembered,” Claudia said, sitting up straighter. “Ethel Radek mentioned she went to a new place. They gave her a nice cut.”

  “Might as well give it a try. Have they figured out who murdered her husband?”

  “No, but Steve said the autopsy showed that the murder weapon was probably a pair of scissors,” Claudia said. “The police noticed that there were sewing materials and a machine out. Makes sense. I recall Ethel mentioning a few years ago that she sewed her own clothes. So Steve asked Ethel if she used long scissors to cut cloth, and she said she did. But the scissors are missing, and there’s no other weapon that’s been found.”

  “Could Ethel have done it?” Amy asked.

  “Oh, no. She told the police she was playing bingo at the Wheaton senior center, and her story was confirmed. Steve and I went there, and he showed the supervisor a photo of Ethel.”

  Amy leaned over her bratwurst toward Claudia. “Wait a minute. You went with Steve on the investigation?”

  “He thought since I knew Ethel, I might be of help.”

  Amy smiled as she cut another piece of sausage. “He may be a slow mover, or maybe he’s just matching your pace. Looks like he has a strategy anyway.”

  “What?”

  “Never mind. Eat your salad,” Amy said with impatience. “And when you go to the salon, ask the hairdresser for a new style. You have beautiful hair—do something with it.”

  Claudia’s head went back. “I like it long and straight. It’s easy to put in a ponytail to stuff under my surgical cap.”

  Amy sighed. “So darn practical. I’m sure all the kitty cats appreciate it.”

  Despite feeling a little piqued, Claudia had to laugh at Amy’s jibe. “I’m temporarily taking care of Tom’s parrot and Ethel’s cat. Last night the parrot started preening my hair. So it’s not just kitty cats who appreciate it.”

  Amy smiled. “Yeah, okay. I give up.”

  ◆◆◆

  That evening, Claudia phoned Ethel. “Jasmine is fine. She’s eating well and looked happy to be with Hal again. Hal seems to be adjusting okay.”

  “I’m so glad,” Ethel said. “It’s a great comfort to me to know you’re taking good care of Jasmine. And Hal, too.”

  “By the way, when you brought Jasmine to the clinic, remember I complimented you on your haircut? You said you’d gone to a new salon. Would you give me the name of the place?”

  “Oh, sure. It’s in Wheaton. The Cut N Snip Salon. Ask for Jennifer. She’s great.”

  “Thanks,” Claudia said, writing down the recommendation. After more chit-chat, she said goodbye. As she looked at the note she’d written, she wondered why Ethel liked to go to Wheaton, not only for bingo, but for a haircut, too.

  CHAPTER five

  The Cut N Snip Salon

  The Cut N Snip Salon had a springtime décor that came as a surprise when stepping out of the light snow falling outside. The waiting area had wicker furniture with floral seat cushions. A vase holding artificial peonies stood on a long wicker table that featured an assortment of the current pop culture and hairstyle magazines.

  Jennifer Wilson, the young, auburn-haired and slightly hyper stylist Ethel recommended, welcomed Claudia to her station, one of a dozen or so in the salon. Wearing a beautiful up-do and a zebra patterned apron, Jennifer fingered Claudia’s long blond locks. “Your hair has nice body and texture. You just want the ends trimmed?”

  Claudia hesitated, Amy’s words turning in her mind. “I guess so. Unless you have some suggestion.” She explained that she needed to easily hide it under her surgical cap.

  “I can show you how to arrange it into a French braid—a high, thick braid at the back. It’s pretty and it would give you a different look.”

  “Okay,” Claudia agreed.

  She followed Jennifer to a sink and got her hair washed, then sat in the revolving chair in front of a tall mirror at Jennifer’s station.

  As Jennifer began snipping ends, she chatted. “You said Ethel recommended me. She came in for the first time last week. Glad she liked me.”

  “Yes, I complimented her on her new cut.” Claudia didn’t know if Jennifer had heard about Tom Radek’s murder, and decided not to mention it.

  Jennifer went on talking. “Do you know Ethel’s twin sister? She’s been coming here for about a year now.”

  Claudia sat unblinking, processing what Jennifer said. “Ethel has a twin?”

  “Eleanor Mason. She’s very sweet. More shy and soft-spoken than Ethel. But they look so much alike. Identical not fraternal.”

  “Ethel has a twin,” Claudia repeated, letting it sink in. “I never knew that. Where does she live?”

  “Here in Wheaton, I think. I’ve run into her at the grocery up the street. She uses a walker. Said she was in a terrible car accident many years ago and it left her with a bad back.” Jennifer shook her head as she continued to cut Claudia’s hair. “A sad thing to happen to such a nice lady. She lives alone. Never married.”

  Thoughts swirled in Claudia’s mind. When Jennifer was finished blowing dry and braiding her hair, Claudia wrote her a check. She hurried to her car, where she pulled out her cell phone.

  “Steve, it’s Claudia.” In a rush, she told him what she’d just learned about Ethel’s twin. “Eleanor uses a walker. Remember the woman at the funeral with the hat
and scarf covering her face? And when Tom and Ethel were at the clinic the day he was murdered, I heard him say to Ethel that he wanted to go help out Eleanor because she has a bad back.”

  “I wonder if Eleanor plays bingo,” Steve said.

  “That thought occurred to me, but I don’t want to believe it,” Claudia replied.

  “How did you learn about Eleanor?”

  “I went to a hair salon Ethel told me about. The stylist does Eleanor’s hair, too.”

  “Good sleuthing,” Steve said.

  “Not really. All I came for was a haircut.”

  “Going home? Today’s your afternoon off, right?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’ll find out where Eleanor lives and come by and pick you up.”

  She remembered Amy being surprised that Steve asked her to come along on his investigation. “Is it okay with the police department for me to accompany you when you do your interviews?”

  “You’ve been a great help,” he said, his tone sincere. “You knew Tom. You’re friendly with Ethel. And you have a gentle and kind manner. You got Mia to tell us what was troubling her. I think you’ll be equally good at talking to Ethel’s sister. Nobody feels comfortable around a police detective. You’re my biggest asset on this case.”

  Claudia swallowed, feeling affirmed and flattered that Steve thought so highly of her. “Well, okay then. Thank you. See you soon.” She slipped her phone into her pants pocket and nervously drove home, telling herself not to jump to conclusions about Ethel or the murder.

  When she got home, she saw Knickerbocker stretched out in the sun on the back of the couch by the front window. She gave him a gentle stroke, then walked to the guest room. Opening the door, she found Jasmine on the bed, curled up. The cat raised her head as Claudia entered. Hal was inside his cage eating from the small dish of parrot food. She’d left the door to the cage open, so he could be free.

  Hal looked at her sideways. “Hello. Smart bird. Smart bird.”

  “Yes, you are,” Claudia told him. And then on a hunch, remembering Tom took the bird with him everywhere, she said, “Eleanor. Eleanor.”