Murder in Cherry Hills (A Cozy Cat Caper Mystery Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

had ever imagined it could be.
    “Here, Matty,” Kat crooned for the hundredth time, reaching under the bed, where Matty had taken to hiding in one corner.
    Matty didn’t budge. She didn’t even glance at the treat pinched between Kat’s fingertips.
    Kat sighed and rested her back against the wall. As defeated as she felt at the moment, she did have to admire the cat’s determination. She would swear that Matty had somehow figured out her vet plans, and she realized she had no other option but to wait out the feline. When Matty grew hungry enough or couldn’t hold her bladder any longer, Kat would leap into action.
    Deciding that acting uninterested would be her best strategy, Kat left the bedroom. She hoped her absence would lull Matty into a false sense of security and encourage her to relocate to what was rapidly becoming her corner of the couch. When that happened, Kat would be ready.
    Kat retreated to the living room and flicked on the television, humming softly so as to sound nonthreatening. Just as Kat had hoped, Matty finally poked her nose into the room two television programs later.
    When Matty jumped on the couch, Kat pounced.
    Matty hissed as Kat’s fingers encircled her body, but the squirming feline didn’t claw or bite. Kat would have almost welcomed some injuries as she stuffed Matty into the carrier. As it was, her pet’s refusal to lash out only exacerbated her guilt over tricking the animal.
    “Sorry, baby.” Kat secured the carrier door and poked her fingers through the holes to stroke Matty’s fur. “I’m hoping this won’t take long, but I need an opening with Dr. Harry. You’re the only excuse I have to show up in his office.”
    Matty meowed crossly in response.
    Twenty minutes later, Kat had located Cherry Hills Veterinary and was walking through the front entrance.
    The redheaded receptionist looked up from her computer and smiled. “Hi there. How may I help you?”
    “Hi.” Kat lifted up the carrier. “I kind of inherited this cat, and I want to make sure she’s healthy.”
    “Do you have an appointment?”
    “No,” Kat admitted, mentally berating herself for not calling ahead of time. She had been so anxious to talk to Dr. Harry she hadn’t stopped to consider that he might be too busy to see her.
    “That’s okay,” the receptionist said, tapping on the computer keyboard. “You’re lucky. We’ve been swamped all week, but we’re pretty light today. No emergencies yet, knock on wood. I won’t have any trouble fitting you in.”
    Kat breathed out a sigh of relief. “Great.”
    “May I have your name?”
    “Katherine Harper. And my cat is Matilda.”
    The receptionist input something into her computer before gesturing toward a bank of chairs. “Okay, I’ve got you down, Katherine. If you’ll have a seat, I’ll let Dr. Harry know you’re waiting. I’m Sherry if you need anything.”
    “Thanks, Sherry.”
    Kat turned around, but her steps faltered when she saw another woman already waiting in the lobby. It wasn’t the unassuming blonde herself who made Kat hesitate but the huge Great Dane sitting beside her.
    The woman smiled at Kat. “He’s harmless,” she said, stroking the dog’s head.
    Kat tried to return her smile. She didn’t mention that she was more worried about Matty’s reaction to the unfamiliar dog than she was about the Great Dane himself. Kat didn’t figure Matty interacted much with other animals, given Mrs. Tinsdale’s attempts to keep her inside.
    But Matty simply remained hunched in one corner of her carrier as Kat sat down. Kat wasn’t sure if Matty was too petrified to continue protesting her imprisonment or if she was becoming resigned to this whole situation, and she once again felt a pinch of guilt over her role in Matty’s unpleasant morning.
    “Kelly, Dr. Harry’s ready for you in Room A,” Sherry called out.
    “Oh, goody.” The woman with the Great Dane gave Kat a small wave as she stood up and disappeared down a short