Catch as Cat Can Read Online Free Page B

came off his grandmother's Falcon that had breathed its last.”
    â€œWhat did he look like?”
    â€œSlight. Early twenties. Sandy hair, a pathetic attempt at a mustache.” Sean sported a red mustache and closely clipped beard of luxurious density but the curly hair on his head was black and long. He tied it in a ponytail at the nape of his neck. Harry called this a dork knob behind his back.
    â€œAny distinguishing features? Do you remember his clothes or his car?”
    â€œ1987 GMC truck. Gray. Virginia plates. Uh, a Dallas Cowboys windbreaker maybe as old as the car and—yes, there was one distinguishing feature. His left eye sagged, an old wound. It was half-closed and a small red scar ran from over the eyebrow to below the eye itself.”
    â€œRunny nose? Jumpy?” Cynthia was looking for a fuller picture of the “perp,” as she called him.
    â€œNo. Calm. Didn't smell alcohol either.”
    Miranda took out her checkbook as Harry held the hubcaps that Sean had handed to her. The older woman fished around in the bottom of her purse. “I've got a pen in here, I know it.”
    â€œPut that away,” Sean chided her gently. “I'm not having you pay for what's yours.”
    â€œBut you paid the thief.”
    â€œMy problem. I mean it, Miranda. You put that checkbook away right now.”
    Cynthia thought a moment. “Why don't we do this? You put the hubcaps back on your car. I'll fill out this report and I'll look for the kid. If Rick Shaw”—she mentioned her boss, the sheriff—“wants to see the evidence, I'll send him to you. I just don't see the point of impounding your hubcaps where they'll sit until God knows when. Just let me handle this.”
    â€œI don't want to get you in trouble.” Miranda appreciated Cynthia Cooper's concern. She had become friends with the young deputy over the last few years.
    â€œA little trouble won't hurt me.” She smiled.
    â€œI'm sorry about this.” Sean genuinely liked Miranda, as did most people in Crozet.
    â€œTimes change and it would appear not for the better. You had nothing to do with it.” Miranda smiled back at him.
    â€œIf you all don't need me anymore I'll get back to the store. Saturdays are always our busiest day.” He took a few steps, then stopped. “You all are coming to the Wrecker's Ball, aren't you? First Saturday in May. It's our fund-raiser for the project Building for Life, which helps poor people who need homes.”
    â€œWouldn't miss it.” Cynthia closed her notebook.
    â€œMy ex-husband asked me to your ball months ago. I was so proud of him for planning ahead but,” Harry laughed, “it's foaling season so for all I know right in the middle of the dance his beeper will go off. The perils of veterinary medicine, I guess.”
    Fair Haristeen, Harry's former mate, was a much-sought-after equine practitioner. He'd built up a fine practice, constructing a modern clinic with an operating room.
    â€œEradicating vermin. Ha,”
Pewter cackled, trying to direct Harry to her furry pals.
    Harry looked down at the gray cannonball of a cat. She would have scooped her up but her arms were full of hubcaps.
    Miranda whistled for Tucker.
    A yip told them where Tucker was and also that the dog was in no hurry to return to the humans.
    â€œLet me put these by your car, Miranda. I'll even put them on for you but I'd better find those two first. Do you mind?”
    â€œOf course not. I'm taking up your Saturday afternoon.”
    â€œI was coming here anyway, really I was.” Harry walked briskly back to the Falcon, parked in front of the new main building. She stacked the hubcaps by the driver's door.
    â€œHey, I'll put the hubcaps on. How do we know someone else won't pick them up or try to buy them?” Cynthia came over. “You get the kids.”
    Harry put Pewter in the truck cab, careful to roll down the window partway even though it