PAWSitively Sinister (A Klepto Cat Mystery Book 11) Read Online Free

a person.” In her slight Mexican accent, Ruth continued, “She is so old; some of her teeth are missing. She is not healthy. If I had any sort of emotional connection to her, I would be terribly sad.” She pressed her lips together. “As it is, I am sad just because she is a human being. I am sad for my parents, that they lost two daughters the way they did—one to death and one to drugs.” She slumped into a deck chair and stared down at her lap.
    Savannah took a seat next to her and rested one hand on Ruth’s arm.
    After weeping silently for a few moments, Ruth wiped her eyes and drew a ragged breath. “Her friend used to live here in the seventies and eighties.”
    Savannah raised her eyebrows. “Here? Really? Were her parents servants?”
    Ruth shook her head. “No, she supposedly lived in the mansion with her family.”
    “And now she’s homeless?”
    “It appears so.”
    “What a way for a wealthy girl to end up,” Savannah said. She looked at Ruth. “What’s her story, do you know? How did she end up on the streets—was it a result of the downturn in the economy during the eighties? I imagine someone who grew up in a family that could afford this,” she gestured toward the mansion, “wouldn’t have much work experience. I can see how she might find it difficult to support herself when times got tough.”
    “I do not know her story, but I saw her talking to Laura, one of the ladies from the estate-sale company. Laura has a passion for local history and she listens to the stories people bring here. She might know something more about Mattie’s friend. All I know is that she lived here with her grandmother and her father. If there is more that Laura knows, maybe she will tell us at dinner tonight.” Ruth suddenly looked beyond Savannah. She furrowed her brow and asked, “What are they doing out there in that old fish pond?”
    “I guess Koko found something that Arthur thought was interesting this morning, and he and Michael are trying to unearth it.”
    Ruth grinned. “Men and their curiosity. They’re fascinated by the most unusual things.” She then stood, saying, “I should go back. We want to get a head start on displaying more of the items from some of the other rooms, so we won’t have so much to do in the morning.”
    “How long will the sale go on?” Savannah asked.
    Ruth shrugged. “Until it is all gone I guess, or over the next four or five days—whichever comes first.” She laughed. “I do not think the estate company people are in a great hurry to leave—the core group of helpers are staying in a couple of the bungalows. They seem to be enjoying the use of the pool, tennis courts, and the other facilities.”
    “I imagine so,” Savannah said. “How many are there from the company?”
    “Oh, about a half dozen, I think.”
    “Will they all be at dinner this evening?”
    “Probably not. Usually it is just Laura and her assistant Gail. The others are from a local college and prefer to be on their own after the work is done each day.” She stood. “Hey, better go. See you later, Savannah.” She leaned over and spoke to Lily. “You, too, sweet girl.”
    Savannah watched Ruth walk away, then peered under the stroller sunshade at Lily and checked on Rags, who was now curled up in the carry basket. Koko had grown weary of the conversation and had strolled back to where the men were working. Savannah stood and had started to ease the stroller off the deck when she saw Suzette walking toward her.
    “Hi,” she said to Savannah before kneeling down to Lily’s level and attracting her attention.
    “Did they find anything?” Savannah asked.
    “Yeah. They uncovered a big, old, ugly metal box, but they can’t get it open. It may be rusted shut or locked, and so far, they haven’t been able to break into it with any of the tools we’ve found around here.” She stood and leaned toward Savannah. “I think they need a gun.”
    Savannah was taken aback. “A