Poisoned in Cherry Hills (Cozy Cat Caper Mystery Book 3) by Paige Sleuth Page B

only two months away, you know.”
    Heidi darted Lucy a sharp look through narrowed eyes.
    Kat cleared her throat. “Well, we have almost twenty cats currently up for adoption. Perhaps we could discuss your lifestyle and temperament requirements to find you a good match.”
    “Her lifestyle consists of poaching on other people’s boyfriends,” Lucy piped up. “In fact, I don’t believe you’ve ever managed to snag a man without stealing him from somebody else, have you, Heidi?”
    Heidi ignored her, choosing instead to focus on Kat. “I’d be happy to discuss these animals with you before the night is over. Right now though, I need some fresh air.”
    Kat forced her lips up into a smile. “I understand. Come find me when you’re ready.”
    “Good riddance,” Lucy called out as Heidi walked away.
    Kat watched Heidi retreat, noting the way she kept her shoulders folded inward as if shutting out her surroundings. Kat sensed a sadness about her and found herself torn between going after her to offer some comfort and staying put to keep Lucy from hunting her down and making her life more miserable. She didn’t know which of the women had started tonight’s hostilities or what exactly their man problems were, but, based on the short interaction she’d seen, Lucy seemed to be the instigator.
    When Heidi disappeared from view, Kat twisted back around to give Lucy her full attention. The tabby that had been playing with Lucy’s ponytail earlier reached a paw through the bars again, prompting Kat to smile.
    “It looks like you have an admirer,” she said.
    Lucy visibly perked up, her eyes darting around the room.
    “I mean behind you,” Kat clarified, pointing.
    Lucy rotated around to peer at the tabby, her features softening a fraction. “That one is pretty cute.”
    “All adoption fees are half off tonight,” Kat encouraged.
    Lucy frowned. “I’d really love to take him, but my place doesn’t allow pets.”
    “Oh, that’s too bad.” Kat silently questioned why Lucy was hovering in the cat corner if that were the case. Had she chosen this spot only to pester Heidi?
    “It sucks,” Lucy said. “But I’ve been thinking about moving. Maybe once I’ve found a new place I can come back for him, if he’s still available.”
    Kat’s brain kicked into gear. She was determined to do what she could to find homes for the felines. “My building has vacancies, and they allow pets.”
    Lucy’s eyes brightened. “Really?”
    Kat nodded. “I live in Cherry Hills Commons, and I know of at least three empty units at the moment. If you’re serious about moving, you shouldn’t have any problems renting one of them.”
    Lucy tapped her chin. Any animosity she’d displayed earlier had completely disappeared now. “I’ll have to look into that. What’s the address?”
    Kat gave it to her, then caught the tabby’s eye. She swore the feline winked.
    Kat smiled. With any luck, the tabby would soon have a permanent home.
    She only hoped Lucy was kinder to animals than she had been to Heidi Smith.

CHAPTER TWO
    “Kat, we have a crisis,” Imogene said, swooping toward Kat not one minute after she’d found her designated seat in the dining area.
    Kat stood up. “What is it?”
    Willow Wu halted right behind Imogene, a pained expression distorting her Asian features. “It’s my fault for seating them together. I didn’t know they had a history between them.”
    Imogene patted her hand. “How could you possibly know? Their bad blood goes back years before you moved to town.”
    “Who are you talking about?” Kat asked.
    “Why, Lucy Callahan and Heidi Smith, of course,” Imogene said, as if they were the only two women with a rivalry in Cherry Hills.
    Willow grimaced. “I ended up assigning them to the same dinner table.”
    Kat’s stomach lurched. She couldn’t imagine Lucy and Heidi’s behavior magically improving over dinner.
    Imogene wrung her hands. “If only we’d noticed before I made the