PURR PURR PURLOIN (PAPERBACK)

Chapter 1

“Ugh,” sighed Angela Atkinson as she leaned back in her office chair. She rubbed her eyes tiredly, trying hard to focus on the paperwork she needed to file.

As a private investigator, Angela kept careful records of each case she solved, including details and clues that led to the solution, as well as how much each case paid and when. She then budgeted her bills and other necessities, constantly comparing the amounts against her bank account. It was tedious work, but it had to be done so that she could present accurate tax records at the end of the year.

Angela’s border collie, Ruff McPaw, suddenly stirred on his little bed by her desk. He stretched, stood up and yawned, then flapped his ears.

“Morning, sleepyhead,” she teased him. “You’ve missed out on so much excitement.”

Can’t say I’m sorry about that.

Ruff yawned again, circled his bed a few times, and lay back down.

“I had no idea running a small business would involve so much paperwork,” she grumbled. Ruff cocked his head, and she smiled.

“I suppose I have earned a break, boy,” she said. “The accounts are all caught up for the month. I just need to back the file up.”

Angela grabbed her cup of coffee and took a sip, but nearly spilled it when the door flew open. Her best friend, Michelle Blackhoof, stood on the threshold.

“Goodness, you must have heard something good to make an entrance like that,” Angela said, checking to make sure the lid remained on her cup.

Michelle was the lead editor and owner of the local paper, as well as Angela’s best friend. She did her job very well, with the majority of people in Hummings Hollow reading the gazette. Michelle usually knew what was going on in town before anyone else, and she kept Angela updated on all the juicy gossip. Their offices shared space in the same small strip mall, so Michelle usually stopped by at least once a day to chat.

“I did,” Michelle said, tossing her long black hair over her shoulder as she sat in the chair opposite Angela’s desk.
“You know Nancy Flanders, the librarian?”

“Yes,” Angela replied slowly. “Who doesn’t?”

“She passed away,” Michelle said. Angela sat up and gasped.

“You’re kidding!”

“No,” Michelle continued, looking unusually somber. “I was really upset to hear it. I met with her each month to get the library program lineup from her to put in the paper, so we knew each other pretty well.”

“What did she pass away from?” Angela asked. “Was she sick?”

Michelle paused, looking even more grim.

“Suicide,” she replied in a low voice.

“What? That can’t be right. She was always so bubbly and happy.”

“I know. I thought it was weird, too. Sometimes they say that the happiest people are also the most depressed.”

Angela frowned, then pressed her fingertips to her temples.

“That poor woman,” she sighed. “She didn’t have any family that I know of, and she wasn’t married. I wonder if she was lonely.”

“Maybe. It’s hard to know what brings people to that decision. Anyway, I just thought I’d let you know,” Michelle said. “Sorry to bring you such bad news.”

“That’s all right. I’m glad I heard it from you instead of through the grapevine,” Angela replied. “When did they find her?”

“This morning, apparently. The library janitor found her behind her desk.”

“Was there a note?”

“Yes. I don’t know what it said. They probably have it over at the police station.”

Angela sat back, feeling sick at heart. She didn’t go to the library often, though she did like to read. If she couldn’t find the book she wanted on the online library catalog, she usually just bought it. But everyone knew Nancy Flanders. She’d been the head librarian at the Hummings Hollow Library since Angela was a little girl.

“Is anyone taking donations for her or anything?” Angela asked, desperate to do something.

“Not that I’ve heard,” Michelle replied. “I’ll keep you updated if I hear anything.”

“Thanks.”

They sat in heavy silence for a little while. Ruff padded over to Angela and put his head on her lap. She absent-mindedly scratched his ears.

“I know this is a complete subject change, but how are you and William doing?” Angela asked.

Michelle laughed.

“I knew you would start asking me that,” she said. Angela quirked her eyebrow.

“I have every right to ask, considering how much you’ve bugged me about David.”

Michelle grinned and held her hands up in a gesture of defeat.

“Okay, okay, I deserve that,” she admitted. “We’ve been on a few dates, and he’s really cool. I don’t know if anything will happen. We’ll see.”

Angela grinned. “I should nag you for every little detail just to pay you back, but… I’m feeling generous today.”

“You’re such a punk!” Michelle laughed.

Michelle and Megan, Angela’s niece, had first set her and David up on a blind date months ago. They’d started as friends, but the more David helped with Angela’s cases, the closer they’d grown. Michelle and Megan had constantly hounded Angela, asking for details and updates about David and her every time they met. Now that she and David were an established couple, their nagging had eased up a bit, but not completely.

“And how are you and Da…” Michelle started, but Angela threw an eraser at her, making her dissolve into giggles again.

“You already know the answer to that!” Angela laughed. Angela had wound up in an intense standoff with the culprit in her last case, and the knowledge that Angela was in danger had pushed David to kiss her at long last. Angela had told Michelle every detail of the kiss after the fact, much to her delight.

“I know, I know, but I can’t help teasing you sometimes,” Michelle chuckled. “Hey, speaking of dating, did you hear that Bobby Tehella finally has a girlfriend?”

Angela raised an eyebrow. Bobby had helped Angela with her first case and harbored an avid crush on her since then, despite their twenty plus years age difference.

“Oh, good,” Angela replied. “It’s about time. Glad to hear he’s happy. Who’s he dating?”

“Kathy!” Michelle answered. “Can you believe it?”

Angela grinned. “That’s almost too perfect. They’re both so… enthusiastic.”

Kathy had graduated from high school recently and used to work at the local coffee shop, the Lake House, with Angela. She had ambitions to be a journalist, and had recently quit the Lake House to work at the newspaper full-time. Kathy worked with Michelle on a part-time basis before as a junior reporter throughout the school year and happily ditched the coffee place in favor of her chosen profession. She would study journalism at a local community college while she continued working for Michelle.

“I know, right?” Michelle chuckled. “It’s good for both of them.”

“Are you doing the obituary for Nancy?” Angela asked after a brief pause in the conversation.

Michelle nodded soberly. “Unless a family member comes out of the woodwork to do it, I figure I owe it to Nancy. She was a wonderful person.”

Angela’s phone suddenly rang. It was her dad, Charlie Atkinson.

“Sorry, Michelle, it’s my dad. I have to take it,” she said, picking up her phone.

“No worries,” Michelle replied. “I need to get back to the layout anyway. See ya soon.”

“Dad?” Angela answered. “What’s up?”

“Sorry to bug you, honey,” he said. “I could use some help. Will is up to his ears in oil changes today, and Carol’s in D.C. now wrapping up some cases. I had no one else to call.”

Angela’s heart pounded as she thought immediately of her mother. Abigail Atkinson had been diagnosed with early onset dementia almost a year ago, throwing the entire family for a loop. Even though the diagnosis had been devastating, their mother’s illness had brought Angela’s siblings back to the family. William, her younger brother, had left for New York at seventeen to pursue a career in acting. When he’d realized something was wrong with their mother, however, he’d returned home and eventually took over the mechanic shop in town.
Angela’s older sister, Caroline, had stayed away after the diagnosis, feeling like a failure of a daughter because she couldn’t make Abigail’s dementia go away. With Angela’s help, however, she came to realize that the best way to help Abigail was to create good memories with her that would hopefully help her improve.

“It’s no bother at all, Dad,” Angela said. “Is it Mom?”

“Yes,” he replied. Angela’s heart plummeted.

“She was working out in the garden just now,” he continued, “and she must have gotten confused and wandered off. I ran inside for only ten minutes to grab a shower, but I guess it was too long.”

“I’m at the office, but I can leave,” Angela said. “Any idea where she might have gone?”

“I’m not sure. I’ll check the old house and the school where she worked. Can you check around Main Street?”

“No problem. I’ll call you if I find her.”

Angela’s heart pounded as she grabbed her keys and purse and turned off the lights.

“Come on, Ruff,” she said. She took one of her mother’s crocheted doilies out of her bag and held it out to him.
He sniffed it, then stiffened and barked.

As soon as they stepped out of the office, Ruff trotted off, his nose to the ground. Angela’s office was only a block from Main Street. She hurried after him, grateful that he seemed to have caught the scent.

Following an invisible trail, Ruff led her to the local grocery store. They went inside and found Abigail in the milk and cheese aisle, wearing a puzzled expression as she looked at the butter. Angela let out a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding.

“Good boy, Ruff,” she whispered. He trotted over to Abigail, and she glanced down at him, then up at Angela.

“Angie!” she said, sounding surprised.

“Hi, Mom,” Angela replied. “How come you came to the grocery store?”

“Hmm? Oh, I remembered I needed some butter for tonight’s dinner. We’re all out.”

“But weren’t you just weeding the garden?” Angela asked.

Abigail glanced down at the gardening gloves on her hands. She took them off and stared absently at them.

“I guess I was…” she replied. Suddenly, she closed her eyes and groaned.

“Did I have another senior moment?” she asked. Angela chuckled a little. Her mom had begun referring to her memory lapses as “senior moments,” likely to make light of it so she wouldn’t feel so upset.

“I think so,” Angela answered. “It’s all right. Dad was a little worried, so he called me. Just remember to let him know next time.”

“Goodness, I don’t even have my purse or wallet,” Abigail sighed. “I just seem to jump from one task to the next with no thought.”

Angela looped her arm through Abigail’s elbow.

“It’s all right, Mom. It happens sometimes,” Angela replied gently. “I can get your butter for you. What kind do you need?”

“Unsalted. Thanks, honey.”

Angela grabbed the butter and sent a quick text to her dad.

Found her. We’ll be home in five minutes.

They got into Angela’s truck with Ruff and headed for her
parents’ condo, Abigail looking quietly down at her lap where she clutched the bag of butter.

As soon as they got home, Charlie rushed to the truck and opened the passenger side door to help Abigail out.

“I’m sorry, Charlie,” she said, frustration clear in her voice. “I was thinking about dinner, and I guess I got confused for a moment.”

“I see you got your butter,” he said, giving her a kiss on the forehead.

“Thanks to Angela,” she murmured.

“It’s no problem, Mom,” Angela said. Abigail gave a deep sigh and took off her gardening gloves.

“I think I’m done weeding for the day. I need to get this butter into the fridge, anyway.”

Abigail shuffled inside, Angela and Charlie both watching her go. Charlie dragged a hand down his face.

“It’s all my fault,” he mumbled. “I was working on the car and some oil squirted on me. Your mom seemed content working in the garden, so I ducked back into the house for a little while to change and shower.”

“It’s not your fault, Dad,” Angela said. “These things happen.”

He gave her a brief, sad smile, then turned his gaze back to the house.

“I just wish sometimes that I could change all of this,” he said, the smallest bit of strain sounding behind the words. “Sometimes I wonder if I did something wrong, if I didn’t pay enough attention to her health… I wish I knew why this is happening.”

Angela wanted to offer words of comfort or advice, but she did not know what to say.