The Cats that Stole a Million (The Cats that . . . Cozy Mystery Book 7) by Karen Anne Golden Page A

he had to come to her trailer to arrest her mother. “I’m very sorry about your mom.  I heard you’re moving back to Erie.”
    “Yes, Sir.  Dad bought the house next door and we came to see if this lady here,” she said, looking shyly at Katherine, “would let us stay there tonight — before the bank did something.”
    Katherine added, “Salina, before the house closes.  I’ll talk to your father about this when he gets back.”
    The chief asked, “Salina, the man outside, did you see who shot him?”
    “No,” she said quickly.  “I was hunkered down on my dad’s floorboard.  I saw a big black car, then I ducked.”
    Katherine looked at the teen, and wondered why she’d told her father who she thought it was, but not the chief. She’d ask her later.  Instead she said, “Salina, can you slide the door closed and wait for me in the kitchen?”
    Salina nodded and closed the door, but didn’t leave the spot.  She wanted to hear more about what the lady in the pink house was saying about her father.
    “Finish your story,” the chief encouraged.
    “Stevie asked if he could leave Salina here for a while, and I said yes.  That’s all I know, but what about Madison?  Where is she?”
    “I don’t know.  Safe, I hope.”
    “Where did you say you found her car?”
    “I didn’t, but right about now it’s being towed out of a ditch close to Chester’s Snow Angel farm.”
    “That’s off the highway, way out in the sticks. Why would she drive there?”
    “I’m bankin’ the two in the Cadillac were following her, and she slid off the road trying to get away from them.”
    “Why do you think that?”
    “Tire tracks beside Madison’s car indicate someone stopped by to help her.”
    “How can you tell?”
    “Snow is like a blank canvas, and tire tracks in the snow are like fingerprints.  They indicate whether the vehicle is a car or a truck.”  The chief tugged at his short beard.  “We could see that only one person got out of the vehicle, and he had the biggest shoe size I’ve ever seen.  It looked almost like a giant snatched her out of the car.”
    “I pray it was Chester.  He’s a big man.”
    The chief shook his head.  “No, Katz, Chester is the one who called it in.  Your friend exited her car and got into the other vehicle.”
    “Was there any sign of struggle?”
    “None, so I’m hopin’ a good Samaritan picked her up and took her to safety.  I’m thinkin’ a family, because Madison’s footprints led to the left side of the other vehicle.  She sat behind the driver.  It was most likely a married couple, the wife riding shotgun.  I expect to get a call from these folks soon.  They’ll want to know what to do with her.”
    “Chief, what if it wasn’t a good Samaritan?” she worried.
    “I hope, for your friend’s sake, that whoever helped her wasn’t the shooter.”
    Katherine buried her face in her hands. “This is terrible.”

Chapter Twelve
    Stevie drove into the parking lot of the Dew Drop Inn, and was quickly disappointed that his father’s truck wasn’t there.  He had a hard time finding a space to park.  The place was packed. 
    He walked into the smoke-filled bar, searching for someone he knew. A woman he used to date in high school sauntered over.  “Hey, Stevie, wanna buy me a drink?”
    “Sure, Loretta, what’s your pleasure?”
    “Are we talking about a drink or . . . ”
    Stevie shrugged off the innuendo. “If I remember, you like Bloody Marys.”  Stevie moved over to the bar. “Hey, Eddie, one Bloody Mary for the lady, and a Jack and Coke for me.”  Then to Loretta, pointing at the bar stool, “Ladies first,” he said. 
    “Always the gentleman,” she flirted, hopping up on the stool.  “I never see you anymore.  Where ya been hangin’?”
    “I have a new business and it takes all my time,” he answered, then said to the bartender, who had slid over the two drinks.  “Where’s my Dad?”
    “He’s in the