The Cats that Surfed the Web (12 page)

“Do you have any idea why she’d be in Ms. Kendall’s basement?”

“No, I’m just as perplexed as you are.”

Officer Glover joined them. “I hate to interrupt, but the dispatcher called and said there were several reports of a gray-haired woman dressed in a bathrobe walking down Highway 28.”

“What does that have to do with this?” Colleen said haughtily.

“Mrs. Marston is wearing a bathrobe,” Katherine noted.

“And to fill you in, Dan, Mrs. Marston was reported missing from the nursing home at seven p.m. Did the dispatcher mention that?” the chief asked irritably. “It’s close to ten o’clock now.”

“Let me get this straight,” Colleen began. “A woman, in a coma, woke up and left the nursing home, in this freezing weather, dressed only in a robe, walked down the highway, came over to this house to specifically die in my friend’s basement. Oh, please,” she said skeptically.

“The Erie Convalescent Home is only a few blocks north of here,” Mark added.

Colleen rolled her eyes.

“Chief London, Mrs. Marston has been very ill for the last several weeks,” Katherine began. “I know this is probably ridiculous, but when I was growing up, I had a cat named Bruce.”

The chief put up his hand, “I don’t have time for this.”

“Please, hear me out.”

“All right, but make it quick,” he demanded.

“Bruce was an outside cat. When I was a child, my parents and I lived in Brooklyn. One day a car hit Bruce. My mother saw it happen from the front window. When she ran to the front door and opened it, Bruce staggered in and collapsed on the living room carpet. That’s where he died.”

Mark gave a curious look. “Do you think that Vivian Marston knew she was dying and wanted to die in this house?”

“Could be,” Katherine said. “Didn’t you say she loved this house?”

“For pity’s sake. The woman was incapacitated,” Colleen said to the chief and then to Katherine. “
Now
do you want to stay in this house? I vote we get out of here as soon as possible,” Colleen implored.

“No, ma’am,” the chief said. “I’m afraid I’m going to ask the two of you to remain in the county for at least seventy-two hours.”

“With all due respect, you cannot ask them to remain in the county unless you think they are suspects,” Mark protested.

“Mr. Dunn,” the chief began. “I don’t need to quote the law to you, but Vivian Marston’s death occurred in an unusual manner. The coroner is already here, and I’ve notified the Indiana State Police.”

“This is ridiculous,” Katherine protested. “I can’t leave the house for seventy-two hours?”

“Maybe less. It depends when the coroner’s report is in,” the chief answered as he started to leave the room. He looked at Katherine and said, “You can leave the house, but just don’t leave the Erie area. Anyway, you weren’t planning on leaving us so soon. You just got here.”

“No.”

“Good. We’ll get this thing sorted out.”

“Chief, I think you’re making a mistake,” Mark said slowly.

“Whatever happened under this roof, happened under
her
roof,” the chief snapped. “I’m not going to say Miss Kendall is a suspect until I know more, but she and her friend are material witnesses at least.”

“Incredible,” Colleen said under her breath. “This makes absolutely no sense. We’ve been at the blasted movie all night. Why would we want to harm the poor woman?”

The chief clumped down the stairs.

Mark turned to Katherine and said, “How do you think Vivian got in the house?”

“I think Vivian let herself in with the new key,” Katherine said, suspiciously.

“What do you mean?”

“The chief found a key on the basement floor close to Vivian’s body.”

“I did
not
give Vivian a duplicate key to your house,” Mark said tenaciously. “So, where’s the key now?”

“The chief put it in an evidence bag. Listen, I’m not positive it was a new key to the house because he wouldn’t let me compare it with my key. Oh, by the way. Who did you hire to change the locks?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Well, try this out for size,” Katherine said sarcastically. “The strange thing about this old house is that doors become locked and unlocked by themselves. It’s a long story and I’m really too tired to tell it now, but one question—whom did you hire to change the locks?”

“Cokey Cokenberger, of course.”

Colleen and Katherine exchanged doubtful looks.

“Seriously?” Katherine asked, shocked. “The handyman changed the locks and not a professional locksmith?”

“I bought the locksets from a locksmith in the city, and I hired Cokey to install them. He’s done this sort of work for me before.”

“Okay, fine,” Katherine said, throwing up her arms in exasperation. “I know I’m jumping to conclusions. Maybe that key the chief found doesn’t fit the new door locks, but I want to feel secure in this house. I don’t relish getting up in the morning and finding another escapee from the convalescent home
dead
in the basement.”

“Hear, hear,” Colleen agreed.

“Where are the cats?” Mark asked, changing the subject.

“In the bedroom
at the back of the hall,” Katherine answered.

“Would you prefer if I stayed here tonight?” Mark offered. “I can sleep in the sitting room.”

“Yes, that would be grand,” Colleen readily accepted.

“No, thank you,” Katherine said stubbornly. “We can fend for ourselves.”

“Okay, in that case I’ll go now,” Mark said. “But first I want to have a word with the chief before I leave. I’ll call you first thing tomorrow morning.”

Katherine did not answer.

Colleen said, “Thanks. You have been a wonderful help.” She elbowed Katherine in the ribs.

“Oh yes, thanks,” Katherine stuttered. “I’m sorry, but this whole thing has brought my New York up.”

“New York up?” he asked quizzically.

“It’s like a cat’s fur rising when it’s angry. Well, to me, that’s my New York. I’ve got my fur up. And I’m not going to let this deter me,” she said adamantly.

Mark said good night and left.

The two women discussed how they would move pieces of furniture to barricade the exterior doors. “We’ll start with the side covered carport door,” Katherine said, running down the stairs.

“Wait, stop,” Colleen said. “What was that business about staying in Erie? What did that mean? I can’t go back to New York?” Colleen worried. “How would I explain that to my boss-from-hell? While I was on vacation I was a suspect for murder! Gee, that really increases my chances of getting a raise. What about my date with Mario?” she continued.

“I don’t know what to think. For now, let’s start barricading the outside doors so we can call it a day. I’m exhausted.”

Colleen descended the stairs, “Later, when we go to bed, keep your door closed.”

“Why?” Katherine asked.

“Because you snore and those furry creatures of yours . . .”

“I promise to keep my door closed, if you promise to keep yours closed.”

“And, another thing, why didn’t you mention my suitcase being dumped and my stuff flung all over the room? And my ghost meter being broken?”

“Because I didn’t want the chief to think we were nuts. No worries. I’ll order you one online, and by the time you get home, you’ll have it for your next ghost-hunting adventure.”

“Thanks, Katz.”

“And I beg of you, if you see something spooky or hear something that goes bump in the night, do not scream,” Katherine warned. “I’ve had enough drama for one evening.”

“I’ll pull the covers over my head and ignore it.”

“Purrfect. Purrfect,” Katherine repeated, rolling the letter R. “We’re getting giddy.”

“I vote for tea.”

“I second the motion.”

Heading to the kitchen, Colleen said, “I change my vote to a pint of Guinness.”

“A glass of wine would be great,” Katherine said. She gazed out the slats of the window blind and looked at the ambulance parked outside.

“What’s going on?” Colleen asked, pouring the wine. She slid a glass across the table to Katherine.

“They’re loading Mrs. Marston into the ambulance. There’s this stocky guy standing next to the chief. I wonder if he’s the coroner. Oops,” Katherine said, stepping back from the window.

“What now?”

“I think the chief saw me looking out.”

“So? It’s your house. Well, not yet, but in the future.” Colleen sat down and poured a bottle of Guinness into a tall glass. “You were awfully tough on Mr. Lawyer this evening. I think you hurt his feelings.”

“Colleen, I know you mean well, but I’m not up to another relationship so soon after Gary. I’m being very cautious. Besides, he was talking out of both sides of his mouth, as the estate’s attorney and as my attorney, even though I never hired him.”

“Yeah, right,” Colleen said skeptically.

They heard the ambulance pull out of the drive. A moment later, they heard two car doors slam and an engine start up. Katherine went back over to the window blinds and sneaked a look
outside. “There goes the chief,” she said, stepping back.

Colleen popped up beside her and peered through the slats. “Hey, there’s another car
pulling in.”

“What kind of car?”

“It’s white with a blue emblem on it. Oh, the saints preserve us, there’s a woman coming this way.”

“Which door?”

“The side door.”

Katherine rushed to the carport door and opened it before the woman had an opportunity to clang the antique doorbell.

“Ms. Kendall,” the woman said, somewhat surprised.

“Yes,” Katherine answered, not moving from the doorway.

“My name is Detective Linda Martin. I’m an investigator for the Indiana State Police,” she said, showing her badge. “I’ll be assisting the County Coroner in assessing Mrs. Marston’s cause of death. Could I please have a few words with you? I know you must be exhausted from this trying experience, but I’ll try to not take up too much of your time.”

“Come in,” Katherine said, motioning her into the dining room.

“This is truly a beautiful house. I understand you’ve only lived here a brief time.”

“Yes, since Sunday evening,” Katherine said. “How may I help you?”

“I heard you’re from New York. This death that occurred in your basement—”

Katherine interrupted, “I lived in Brooklyn for most of my life. I’ve lived in Manhattan for the last few years, but never—I repeat—never have I found a dead body in my basement.”

“Out here we have an organization known as the Welcome Patrol. I’m sorry that your welcoming had to be so unpleasant.”

Katherine nodded. “Waugh,” Scout called loudly from the upstairs guest room. Katherine could hear the Siamese trotting back and forth on the floor above.

The detective looked up. “Is that your baby crying?”

“She’s sort of a baby. She’s my cat. Actually, she’s a Siamese and she’s very vocal,” Katherine explained.

The detective smiled. “I need to ask you the names of the people who, to your knowledge, have been in this house today. The chief told me that you’ve kept Orvenia Colfax’s small staff. Cokey Cokenberger is your handyman, and Patricia Marston is your yard and garden person. I know that Cokey did some work for you yesterday.”

“How do you know that?” Katherine asked curiously.

“You see, Ms. Kendall . . .”

“Please call me Katherine,” she said.

Detective Martin continued, “When Cokey saw your house lit up like a Christmas tree, he walked over to check things out. I talked to him a few minutes ago.”

“Okay. Sorry, please go on. Would you like to sit in the parlor?”

“No, this is fine,” the detective said, sitting down. She opened up her laptop computer. “I like to keep up with technology,” she said, “So, if you don’t mind my typing your answers, we can begin.”

Katherine drew up a chair and sat next to her; Colleen came into the room from the kitchen, but remained standing.

“Has Patricia Marston been here today?” Detective Martin asked.

“No, I haven’t seen her, but according to my attorney, Mark Dunn, Patricia brought over some baked goods on Sunday before we arrived.”

“So, no one other than your friend and you were home today?”

“We weren’t home today. We left this morning to go to the city and didn’t get home until later.”

“And when was that?”

Colleen interjected, “It was getting dark. We hurriedly unloaded the car, and then we went to the movie.”

“Here in town?”

“Yes.”

“When you went to the theater, did you leave any of the exterior doors open?”

“I checked the doors on the first floor, but I didn’t check the walk-out basement door,” Katherine answered.

“And why was that?” the detective asked.