Patricia Fry - Klepto Cat 05 - The Colony Cat Caper Read Online Free Page B

stop for a potty break before we go see the sheriff?”
    “Gotta go again, huh?” Margaret said. “How about at McDonalds? There’s one just ahead .”
    “I’m not fussy. Just get me there in time, that’s all I ask,” Savannah said, looking anxiously toward the fast-food restaurant off in the distance. “These urges sometimes come on in a hurry.”
    ***
    The women arrived at the sheriff’s office just as Deput y Jim was preparing to climb into his patrol car. “Wait, Jim,” Margaret called out the car window as she pulled into the parking lot.
    He raised his head, spotted Margaret, and walked over to her car. “Morning Maggie,” he greeted. “What’s up?”
    “Just wondering if we’re violating any trespassing laws out at the abandoned Fischer building, by managing the cat colony that has developed there.”
    Jim glanced at Savannah and Colbi and then focused his eyes on Margaret. “Well, it is private property.”
    “But there are cats in danger…they need care,” she retorted.
    “I’m not even sure it’s safe for you ladies to be out there.” He hesitated and took a deep breath. “We get strange reports coming from that neighborhood.”
    “Like what?” she asked in an almost challenging manner.
    “Oh, people see things, hear things…we get calls, but we never find anything when we arrive.” He looked off into space for a moment and then said, “One officer thought he saw something a few months ago, but his sighting could not be substantiated.” Could be a gang hangout for all we know. Might be a danger for you.”
    “Well, all the more reason why we should get those cats out of there—move them to a safer location.” Margaret looked ahead through the windshield and then back at the deputy. “Jim, we w ere out there just now and a security guard confronted us.”
    He rubbed his chin, squinting his eyes. “Security guard? That’s odd. That place has been abandoned for so many years… I can’t imagine anyone paying a security guard at this point. What company wa s he with?”
    “He didn’t say. He just mumbled something when I threw the names of a few companies out,” Margaret said.
    From the backseat, Colbi added, “I didn’t see a company name on his uniform.”
    “What about his car?” Jim asked. “Did it have a logo?”
    “Didn’t see one,” Margaret responded.
    “No logo?”
    “No, no car,” Margaret said.
    “No car? Way out there? That is odd.”
    “Jim, do you know who owns that building?”
    “I guess old man Fischer still does.”
    “Do you know where we can find him?”
“Last I heard, he was in a nursing home—something’s not right with him, you know, after that accident.” The deputy looked over at his car and then back at Margaret. “He could be dead by now, for all I know.”
    “Okay, Jim. I think you’ve told us what we need to know. Thanks. ”
    He stood there for a few moments—looking from one to the other of the women and said, “Now Maggie, use common sense. I know cats are important to you ladies, but your well-being is more important, don’t you agree?”
    “Sure,” she said as she turned the key in the ignition. “We’ll be careful—just doing our job, as you guys always say.” With a chuckle, she shifted into reverse and waved at the officer, who stood staring after them as they drove off.
    “Oh, that’s Damon,” Colbi said looking down at her cell ph one. “Hi! Thanks for calling. Just wondering if you know which nursing home old man Fischer’s in.”
    “Are you planning to go there?” Damon asked into the phone. “’Cause if you are, it’ll be pretty much a waste of time. He doesn’t know what’s going on anymor e. In fact, I guess he’s been that way ever since the accident.”
    “Have you seen him yet?”
    “Yes, and I didn’t get anything out of him. At least I have an idea of what his current situation is. Oh, and I saw pictures of him when he was younger—someone had put a photo album in his