What the Cat Saw Read Online Free PDF

woman raised one sleek dark eyebrow in inquiry. “You don’t look like her.”
    “No.” Nela glimpsed herself in the remnants of mirror. Not onlydid she not resemble her tall, willowy sister, she looked like a bedraggled waif, dark eyes huge in a pale face, slender bare legs poking from beneath the overlarge coat. “I’m five-four and dark haired. She’s five-nine and blond.”
    Miss Webster asked sharply, “Did Chloe give you Marian’s keys?”
    Nela nodded. “She asked me to stay here and take care of Jugs. I flew in this afternoon and drove down. I arrived about six. I’m driving Chloe’s boyfriend’s VW. Chloe told me to park the VW in the garage.”
    “Oh.” Miss Webster’s tone was considering now, not hostile. “That car. God knows that monstrosity should be kept in a garage. Or driven into a lake.” She sped a quick smile toward Nela. “Thanks for putting the VW in the garage. I didn’t know you were staying here. I hadn’t thought about it.” Her tone was careless. Clearly, the habitation of employees was not her concern. “Louise told me the cat was taken care of. I didn’t ask how.” Also clearly, the care of a dead employee’s animal was not her responsibility. These kinds of things were handled by others. “I suppose this is a convenient place to stay while you’re visiting, and having you here puts off deciding what to do with the cat. We have to find him a home. Marian was crazy about that animal.” She shook her head, looked abruptly sad. “I can’t believe she’s gone. And to have someone break in her home makes me furious. Did you see the burglar? I heard the sirens. By the time I reached a window, police were milling around with flashlights and yelling. I thought I was in the middle of a war zone.”
    Once again Nela told her story, climbing from the deep pit of sleep, bangs and crashes in the living room, hurrying to lock the bedroom door, calling for help, the turning of the knob, the arrival of the police.
    Blythe Webster’s eyes glinted with anger. “Someone must have read about Marian’s death in the newspaper and come like a vulture to pick over her things. Look at this mess. I’m glad you were here. Who knows what might have happened to the rest of her things if you hadn’t been here? It would be awful to think of a robber stealing from Marian. So everything’s worked out for the best.”
    The echo of Chloe’s favorite phrase was strangely disturbing to Nela. Was it all for the best that she’d known moments of dark fear?
    Blythe must have sensed Nela’s reaction. She turned over a hand in appeal. “Forgive me. It’s dreadful that you have come to help us and run into something like this. Thank you for being here and calling for help. I don’t know what we should do now.” She looked at Officer Hansen in appeal. “What do you suggest?” Her gesture included the shattered mirror and the emptied drawers.
    “Nothing for the moment. We’ll send a tech tomorrow to see about prints. But I doubt we’ll find anything helpful. Would you”—he directed his question to Blythe Webster—“know if anything is missing?”
    “I have no idea about Marian’s belongings. I guess they were looking for money.” Her gaze settled on the Coach purse atop a bookcase near the front door. “That’s Marian’s purse. Why didn’t a thief grab the purse?” She looked at Nela. “I guess he must have intended to take it but got scared when he heard you. He must have been shocked out of his pants when he realized someone was in the bedroom. Well, no harm done apparently, except for a bad introduction to Craddock for you.” Her glance at Nela was sympathetic. “I’m sorry you’ve had such a rough welcome. We’ll make it up to you. By the way, I’m Blythe Webster. I own all of this.” She waved a casual hand. “Marian worked for me. I run the foundation. I’ll be seeing youthere.” She turned toward the patrolman. “Send me a report.” She moved to the door,