Cat on the Scent Read Online Free Page A

commission meeting?” Harry asked her guest.
    â€œYou bet. It's going to be the best show this spring.”

4
    Archie Ingram, a handsome man in his early forties, smiled at the assemblage. The only hint that he was nervous was the tension in his cheek muscles. The classroom at Crozet High School spilled over with people, many standing in the hall. A topographical map of the county was on a bulletin board behind the front table.
    â€œI told you we should have used the auditorium,” Archie complained to Jim Sanburne, the mayor of Crozet, as well as Mim's husband. As mayor he chaired the county meeting in his town.
    â€œArchie, these meetings usually number three people, each of whom wants a zoning variance for a trailer, a business, or a nursing home. The only reason all these people are here is that you've stirred up a hornet's nest.”
    â€œBullshit,” he growled at the large, genial man.
    Jim ignored him, waving a greeting to the Reverend Herbert Jones.
    â€œJim, I brought my dowser.” Herb held up the wooden divining rod, which worked well despite naysayers.
    â€œSpare me,” Archie muttered under his breath, his eyes scanning the room, resting a second on the beautiful Sarah Vane-Tempest before darting away.
    â€œWhat?” Jim asked.
    â€œWhere's Tommy Van Allen?” Archie demanded. “I'm not delaying this meeting one more time for him.”
    â€œI don't know. I called and he wasn't at work.”
    â€œTypical.” Archie tapped his pencil on the tabletop. “The only reason he ever wanted this thankless job was to find out when and where we'd be making road improvements and granting commercial zoning permits. Gives him more time to put together a good bid.”
    â€œCome on, Arch, you don't believe that.”
    â€œThe hell I don't.” Archie snapped his mouth shut like a turtle.
    Harry, Mrs. Murphy, Tucker, and Pewter sat in the middle next to Harry's colleague in the post office, Miranda Hogendobber. Also there were Susan and Ned Tucker; Harry's ex-husband, Fair Haristeen; and BoomBoom Craycroft. The widow Craycroft was not Harry's favorite person.
    Blair accompanied Mim's daughter, Marilyn.
    Little Mim, as she was known, stood up in front with her mother, who was already poring over the large map of the county.
    Sir Henry Vane-Tempest—called H. or H. Vane by everyone—sat off to the side, his horn-rimmed spectacles sliding down his long nose. He had taken the precaution of bugging each county commissioner's office. Once a week the transcript was discreetly brought to him at his farm by Tareq Said, head of Said and Trumbo Investigations. Vane-Tempest made certain that his wife knew nothing of this. No one knew and H. would keep it that way. Next to him was Ridley Kent, a rich ne'er-do-well whose primary occupation was staring at women's bodices. He happened to be sitting beside a good one. Sarah Vane-Tempest was H. Vane's trophy wife, an elegant blonde whose cool beauty owed little to the expensive clothes she wore.
    â€œThe gang's all here,” Susan said to Harry.
    â€œFrightening, isn't it?” Harry sarcastically replied.
    â€œHolding negative feelings will eat you up and destroy your good health,” BoomBoom crooned.
    â€œShut up, Boom.”
    â€œThat's exactly what I'm talking about.” BoomBoom cast her violet eyes at Harry.
    Archie noticed Mrs. Murphy sauntering up to the map. “Get that cat out of here.”
    â€œI beg your pardon.”
Mrs. Murphy stared at him.
    â€œMary Minor Haristeen, those animals have no place here.” Archie pointed to Pewter, on her lap, and Tucker, seated at Fair's cowboy-booted feet.
    â€œHey, Murphy, jump on the table and blow a tuna fart right in his face,”
Pewter called out.
    â€œHow rude.”
Mrs. Murphy giggled but she did jump on the desk to stare Archie directly in the eye.
    â€œMurphy—” Harry called to her.
    â€œYou are a sorry excuse for a