Kitten Kaboodle (Zoe Donovan Mystery Book 20) Read Online Free Page A

that made me want to hide them. I’d happily pay for them. It was the fact that at this point I really didn’t know what was going to happen to the felines Edna had owned.
    “What about this Aspen?” Ellie asked, diverting the subject from the kittens in my possession. “What if Nona told her about the kittens and she’s the one who stole them? Maybe she’s the one who actually killed Edna.”
    I frowned. “I don’t know. She doesn’t seem the type to kill a person. She’s so nice.”
    “A lot of killers are nice,” Ellie pointed out.
    When I didn’t answer Ellie continued with her train of thought. “Okay, let’s look at the timeline. You told me Salinger said Edna was killed between one and two o’clock, which means if Nona didn’t kill the woman, she had to have rescued the kittens before Edna was killed or she would have seen the body. The kittens were left for you around three. If Nona stole the kittens before Edna died she would have had to have taken them prior to two. Why would she wait to bring them to you?”
    I looked out across the grassy area that fronted Edna’s home. The sun had begun its descent and it wouldn’t be long before the sky grew dark. I knew Ellie was waiting for me to answer, but the truth was that I didn’t have one. It really did look like Nona could have done this, which was a reality I simply refused to consider. “Look, I don’t know what happened exactly, but my gut is telling me that neither Nona nor Aspen are the killers, no matter that they make the two most likely suspects.”
    “Are you going to lie for Nona even if it turns out she did it?”
    Was I? I’d like to think I’d do the right thing, but all I knew at that moment was that I was confused about where exactly the line between right and wrong was drawn. “Once I get all the cats settled in I’m going to see if I can catch the neighbors who live closest to Edna at home. Maybe someone saw something other than Nona’s visit this morning.”
    “It’s late. I’m sure the neighbors won’t appreciate being disturbed. Perhaps you should plan to come back tomorrow.”
    “We have the events committee meeting in the morning.”
    “So come after. I’ll come with you.”
    “Okay.” I let out a long breath. “That sounds like a good idea.”
    “Are you going to be okay?” Ellie had a look of concern on her face.
    “I’ll be fine.”
    Ellie gave me a hard, Ellie hug before we began loading the last of the travel crates. I was sad that a woman had died but happy that now the cats would have the opportunity for better lives. As soon as we received the clearance to do so, we’d spay and neuter them and then find them loving homes in which to live out their lives.

Chapter 3
Tuesday, August 9
     
     
    I woke up early the next morning and took the household dogs for a run before I had to get ready for the events committee meeting. The previous evening, after I’d gotten all the cats settled in at the Zoo, I’d called Zak. Originally, he wasn’t supposed to be home until the following week but, given the circumstances, he’d promised to do everything he could to cut his trip short and come home as soon as he was able to arrange it. Alex was visiting her parents, who were on a dig in South America, Scooter was visiting his grandparents in Kansas, and Pi was on tour with the band he played with, so Nona and I had had the house to ourselves for a few days. Initially, I’d been looking forward to the quiet, but now I found I missed the comfort of the noise and confusion brought about by everyday routines. I was just rounding the bend where I normally turn around when my phone beeped, informing me that I had a message. I slowed to a walk and accessed my voice mail.
    “Hi, Zoe, it’s Nona. It looks like the fuzz have finally seen fit to release me, but I need a ride back to your place. They offered me a ride home in a police car, but I’d rather walk home naked in a snowstorm than get into one of those