Karen Anne Golden - The Cats That 05 - The Cats that Watched the Woods Read Online Free Page B

catch my drift. In particular, Melanie, who manages it, is afraid she’ll be out of a job.”
    “Yes, I know,” Katherine said. “I ran into her on the street yesterday. She was very angry until I told her the entire staff would find jobs at the new center.”
    Margie countered, “Are you sure, Katz, you want to hire these people?”
    “Why?”
    “Well, because they’re wonderful with animals, but terrible with people. Melanie is the biggest snot in Erie.”
    “I fully understand where you’re coming from. When Iris went missing, I was at the shelter several times a day. I know from firsthand experience I was a pain in their side. But their hostility had nothing to do with me—at least I want to believe that—but because they are so overwhelmed. They have such limited staff to deal with the kind of problems they shouldn’t have to shoulder. It’s a zoo down there. Did you know the intake area for cats and dogs is in the same room? The poor cats were freaked out by the barking.”
    “I hear ya,” the chief agreed. “Here’s my two cents worth. Send the Erie shelter staff to some kind of customer awareness training in the city.”
    “You read my mind,” Katherine agreed.
    The chief wasn’t quite finished. “What’s the town of Erie supposed to do with the old shelter?”
    Margie said, cynically. “Burn the damn thing down to the ground.”
    “Maybe the fire department could practice on the building?” Katherine suggested.
    The chief chuckled. “We’ll let the Mayor figure it out.”
    Katherine said, “Okay, I think that just about winds things up. Thank you for coming. I’ll email you when we’ll have the next meeting.”
    “Thank ya, ma’am,” the chief said. “I’ll let myself out. I think you have something to ask Margie,” he winked and left.
    “Well, Katz, I got something to tell ya, and it ain’t good. People down at the diner are not only badmouthing you, but also my nephew. They’re sayin’ that Jake’s just after your money. I know it’s ridiculous, but . . .”
    Katherine gave a dejected look. “Between you and me, I think that’s why Jake’s pushing the prenup on me. I don’t want to sign it. That’s why we haven’t set the date. I love Jake so much. I don’t want a piece of paper to come between us.”
    “I know, Katz, but I also know that Jake loves you. And he’ll do anything to keep idiot people in this town from saying bad things about you.”
    “Maybe our next meeting should be at the diner to get the Erie pulse,” Katherine joked, trying to return the mood back to happy.
    Margie didn’t laugh, but added seriously, “It’s probably none of my business, but why are you being so charitable in Erie? It’s not like folks have been very kind to you. Why not donate back east where you come from?”
    “I’m in the process of setting that up. Since I’m from Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, I want to sponsor an annual academic scholarship fund for the technical college there. The cost of putting a student through college or university is a lot more expensive than it is in this state. But, back to Erie, I want to give back to the town what my great uncle stole from them.”
    “That bootlegging business was eons ago,” Margie said.
    “I know, but not forgotten. Well, at least not by me.”
    “Okay, kiddo. I’ve got to get goin’. Those old doors aren’t gonna stain themselves.”
    Katherine walked Margie to the door with Iris following close behind. Margie left and Katherine picked up the Siamese, “Are you sad you didn’t find anything to steal from the chief?” she joked.
    “Yowl,” Iris sassed.
    “No, Miss Siam, I don’t think the chief’s gun would have been such a good idea.”

Chapter Three
    Katherine sat on the front porch swing at the pink mansion. She was sipping a glass of chilled Moscato, waiting for Jake to pick her up. Jake’s parents, Johnny and Cora, had invited them to dinner. Jake was teaching a late-afternoon history class and was running