Black Cat and the Accidental Angel (Black Cat Mysteries Book 3) (31 page)

John lowered his eyes. He couldn’t bear it if he saw pity in her eyes. He squirmed and shrugged his shoulders. “I…I…expect she’s in another state by now. We sort of had…well, a parting of the ways last night, so to speak. She said she was trying to get custody of Cindy and…things got out of hand. She admitted knowing about the shooting, but I never thought…”

Nina reached toward John and brushed fine hairs from his collar.

He looked over toward Cindy’s bedroom.

“With Mr. Skimmer’s confession and our evidence… I don’t know how a jury would see it, but we’re pretty sure we can get a conviction on both of them. I’m so sorry, Mr. Goldstein.” She patted his arm.

“John. Please call me John. I’d like to keep this as quiet as possible. I don’t want Cindy hurt any worse than she already is. It’s bad enough, Carolyn set off an explosion by the Emu enclosure last night and attacked Angel with a fireplace poker.” John ran his hand over his face.

Nina gasped and jerked her head. “She did what?”

“Last night. She tried to take Cindy by force and Angel got in the way. Carolyn split her head open with a fireplace poker. Angel’s at the vet’s now.”

Nina shook her head. “I can’t believe it. How could any mother… Is Angel going to be okay?” She stroked Black Cat’s head so hard his ears were pressed flat.

John stood and crossed the room to the buffet. He lifted the picture of his family, and then set it down. He turned. “They stitched up Angel’s head last night. We’re going to pick her up this afternoon.” He moved back to the sofa. “With Mr. Skimmer in custody we can put all this behind us. As far as I know, Carolyn left town.”

Nina nodded. She sat for a minute, gazing at Black Cat. “So, I heard you found gold on your property. That’s good news, at least.”

“How’d you hear that?” Had Peter been up to his tricks again?

“It was on the evening news. They called the cats Black Cat and Angel. How many Black Cat and Angels are there in Nevada City?” She grinned. “I’m a detective, remember? Wasn’t hard to figure out.”

“Yeah, well,” John’s smile wobbled. “The creek is giving up some nuggets and dust. I’ve got an expert coming out to advise me where to go from here. In the meantime, I’ve already panned enough to pay some bills and get the bank off my back. I’m grateful for that, even if the gold peters out.”

“Look, I shouldn’t take up anymore of your time.” She stood and reached for the carrier. “If you think Cindy’s had enough time to say good-bye, I should take Muffins and let you get about your afternoon. Sure hope Angel will be okay.”

“I’ll get Cindy.” He tapped on her bedroom door. “Bring Muffins out now, honey. Officer Nina is ready to go.”
Can’t think of any reason for her to stay. Maybe I should have offered her coffee?

Cindy came out, clutching Muffins to her chest, blinking hard. Tears sparkled in her eyes. She sat on the sofa beside Black Cat. He gave Muffins a good lick across her head.

“Isn’t that sweet? Black Cat is saying good-bye to his baby.” Nina reached in her purse and pulled out her keys. “I should have brought my camera. I’ll take some pictures as she grows up, okay, Cindy?” She put Muffins in the carrier. “There, she’ll be nice and safe on the way home. Now, you and your daddy can come by any time and visit us, alright?” She ran her hand down Cindy’s cheek and stepped out the front door.

Cindy gulped. Her face squinched up like she was determined not to cry. “When can we come?”

“Any time.” Nina set the carrier on the porch and pulled her card from her wallet. She turned and handed it to John. “Here’s my phone number. Call me any—”

“Wait!” John followed her onto the porch. “Officer Nina…
umm
…can I call you Nina? I’ll walk you out.” He picked up Muffins’ carrier and walked beside her down the steps toward her car. “
Um
… I don’t suppose you’d be interested in having dinner with me some time, would you? Or coffee…or…wait a minute. I should ask first.” He stopped on the bottom step. “Maybe you’re…involved with someone?”

Nina paused. Then she shook her head. “No. No one. I’d love to have coffee with you…John. Any time.”

Her eyes went all soft and her mouth twitched in a smile. “Or, if you need anything at all…just give me a whistle.”

“
Ah.
Sounds like you’re an old movies buff.”

“Love em’…”

Cindy ran down the steps and grabbed Nina around the waist. “Good-bye. Take care of Muffins. I’ll bring Daddy over and visit real soon.” She gave her face a swipe with the back of her sleeve and smiled.

There’s my brave girl.

“You do that!” Nina opened her car door.

John slid Muffins’ carrier in the back seat and then she and John leaned against the car. They talked beside the car for the next half-hour before she said good-bye.

Black Cat sat on the back of the couch, waiting, peering out the window. John and Cindy were bringing Angel home any minute now! One thing he knew how to do well was wait. It was in his DNA. For centuries, cats have sat patiently next to gopher holes, waiting for the little buggers to come out, and then
wham
! Lights out! If faded memory served, he’d even caught a few himself. He drifted into a nap, thinking of Angel.

The phone jangled. He jumped, then listened as it went to answer mode. First, John’s recorded voice. “
This is the Goldstein residence
…
”

The phone buzzed and a woman began to speak. Black Cat’s heart fluttered like a bird caught in a net. He rushed to the telephone and sniffed.
Could it be?

“Hello. My name is Kimberlee Clarke. I saw a television newscast on our local station about the cats that found gold on your property? I’m sure they’re our cats, Thumper and Noe-Noe. We lost them near Cloverdale several months ago. The television station gave me your number. Please call me as soon as you can. My number is 707-555-1134.”

I know that voice!
Kimberlee! The line clicked off. Black Cat’s hair jiggled. Images flashed through his mind.

A lake…with boats and colored sails.

A lodge next door…a dog on the lawn.

An old house with purple wisteria vines climbing across the porch.

Kimberlee. Amanda. Brett. My family, and…my name is…Thumper! Thumper? What an odd name for a cat. Sounds like a rabbit. At least it isn’t Throckmorton.

He pawed at the answering machine.
Meow!
Kimberlee has found us. And she said she recognized Noe-Noe.
That’s right. The family was vacationing in Texas. That’s where he met Noe-Noe and then…the car accident…and their carrier fell from the car and they were left behind. Angel!
She said ‘Call me Angel’
…
because St. Peter sent her back
.

It was all so clear. He remembered everything. No more blank places.

“Rambo, Faith. Come to Papa.”

The kittens tumbled over and skidded to a stop by his feet, like little bookends. “Yes, Papa?” Rambo blinked his bright little eyes.

“I want to tell you how I met your mother. It was earlier this summer and we were on vacation in Texas. Your mother and I…”

Faith swatted Rambo’s tail and then jumped on his back.

Rambo fluffed his tail like a bottle brush and he rolled, grabbing Faith around her middle.

Guess they’re not all that interested in Texas or how Angel and I fell in love.

Rambo loosened his grip on Faith, shook his black coat and looked up. “When is Mother coming home?”

“Why, soon, son—” Tires crunched in the driveway. “Listen. They’re here now. Come on. Let’s meet them at the door.”

John carried Angel in the house wrapped in a towel. She looked like Queen Elizabeth with a big hoodie-collar around her neck.
If it wasn’t for the hoodie and the stitches in her head, she’d look pretty normal, but she smelled like
hospital
.

Black Cat danced at John’s feet all the way across the room where he laid Angel on the blanket by the stove. Black Cat stretched out alongside her. “My dear, I’ve been so worried. Are you alright?”

Her head wobbled, her dilated eyes moved across the blanket. “Where’s Muffins?”

Of course, her first thoughts would be for her kittens.
Rambo and Faith snuggled close. Angel dragged Rambo to her side. He immediately kneaded his little paws into her belly.

Black Cat gulped, his heart aching for her. She didn’t even get to say good-bye to her baby. “Officer Nina came this afternoon and took her home,” he said. “She’ll give Muffins a good home.”

Angel nodded. She closed her eyes and sighed. “I like Nina. Muffins made a good choice.”

“I have so much to tell you. Officer Nina says that Mr. Skimmer—”

Angel stood, turning in a circle, her back to him. “I’m very tired, dear. I’m going to rest for a while now.”

“But, we got a call from Kimberlee. She said my name is…”

Angel was asleep.

Black Cat licked her shoulder and down her back until the hospital smell was gone. He had so much to tell her, but he’d have to wait for a better opportunity to explain her misunderstanding with St. Peter.

Chapter Thirty-Four

J
ohn hit the play button to listen to his phone messages.

Black Cat sat on the coffee table.
It’s from my person, John. It’s Kimberlee.
She’s the real deal.
He stood and rubbed against John’s hand.

John clicked off the machine after hearing Kimberlee’s message. “Well, Cindy. This sounds like the cats’ owner,” he said, stroking Black Cat’s head.

Cindy lay huddled on the couch, her feet drawn up, a pillow clutched to her breast. “Is that lady really going to take Black Cat and Angel away?” Big tears puddled. She jabbed her fist into her eyes. Her lips quivered.

John put his arms around her. “Now, honey. Remember? This is what we hoped would happen. I’ll talk to the lady, but it sounds like they really belong to her. Aren’t you glad their real family called? Isn’t that what we wanted?”

“But, we’ve had them so long, they’re our cats now.” Her face lit up in a smile. “Maybe it’s like last time with Mrs. Stubblefield. Maybe it’s a mistake.” She looked over toward Rambo. “Maybe she’ll take Rambo or Faith instead. Maybe Angel and Black Cat aren’t really her cats.”

John shook his head. “I don’t think so. She saw them on the television. She would recognize her own pets. Maybe we can work something out.”

“I wish that television man never told about the cats. The lady wouldn’t have seen them if he didn’t say all about it on television.”

Black Cat lifted his head to listen, and then hopped onto the couch and lay down beside Cindy. The kittens were playing on the rug. Cindy was right. Kimberlee would never have found them if Peter hadn’t called the television station and told about them finding the gold.

Isn’t it strange how one simple action can ripple out and touch so many lives? If they hadn’t gotten into the truck and come here by mistake, they’d never have found the gold. Maybe John would have lost his ranch. Maybe Carolyn would have taken Cindy. And if Peter hadn’t called the television station, and they hadn’t put the story on the news, Kimberlee wouldn’t have found them. It had come full circle and now they were going home because Peter…Peter again. The elusive, invisible… Who was he anyway? John had asked God for help. Was Peter the answer?

“But, Daddy, I don’t want them to go.” Cindy’s tears spilled over and rolled down her cheeks. “I want to keep Angel and Black Cat.” She threw herself down on the sofa, and buried her face in the pillow.

“His name is Thumper, honey. He has a name. We should get used to calling him by his real name.”

“I don’t like that name. It’s a stupid name.” She clutched Thumper’s long fur and pulled him closer against her chest.

Thumper licked her hand. His heart ached for Cindy. She was having such a hard time, dealing with their leaving.
This is hard.
He wished, somehow, he could make it easier.