Chapter
18
Mr. Grant slammed his door shut making the officers heads turn toward him. Gingersnap took notice of the dogs whose ears perked up. One of the officers met Mr. Grant half way. Gingersnap crouched low as if he was hiding from Mr. Grant. He did not like the man at all. The police officer appeared to trying to move Mr. Grant away from the scene but Mr. Grant was not having anything to do with it. His arms were now flailing about and now Gingersnap could hear his loud voice from inside the shop.
Another officer joined them. Mr. Grant only got louder. It wasn’t until a third officer came over with one of the dogs that they escorted Mr. Grant back to his truck. He was now considerably less loud, especially with the dog right there. Mr. Grant gladly got in his truck. Gingersnap was glad the dog scared him.
The officers and dog stayed there until Mr. Grant drove off. Gingersnap watched them get back to the scene. He wished he knew why Mr. Grant showed up and the motorcycle rider with the mean looking cat were up to. Where they in this all together?
Gingersnap hopped down and had a drink of water. All this excitement made him thirsty and a bit hungry. The bowl next to his water was empty. James and Sophie were busy in the kitchen so he decided to take a stroll in the front area where patrons had their sweet and drink. He sometimes got tidbits and that was always good even though Sophie and James didn’t approve of it.
As he walked out there was not a lot of people and Gingersnap thought he was not going to get anything. He stopped short and hid behind the front desk where people paid. The cat that was with the rider was in his carrier in the table next to the window. He was having a treat inside while the rider was eating theirs and enjoying a coffee.
Was that Susan? Her back was to him but he was pretty sure it was her. Gingersnap backed up as he didn’t want the mean looking cat to see him. Jamie the new kid who started working in the shop went over to the table to give her more coffee. The mean cat let out a little growl scaring off Jamie. The rider spoke to the cat and then he purred. Even his purr thought Gingersnap was not friendly. He decided to pad his way back to the kitchen and maybe get something there.
Gingersnap backed up keeping his eye on the mean cat. Everything was quiet until he backed into the chair and made a big noise. That caught the eye of the mean cat whose eyes went wide when he saw Gingersnap. He froze on the spot as they stared at one another for a moment. The rider noticed and glanced back. She smiled.
Gingersnap made a break for it and took off for the kitchen and almost tripped James coming out with a tray of cookies. “Hey boy, what is the rush?”
Gingersnap headed straight for Sophie who was sitting on a chair decorating cookies. She looked down at him. “What’s wrong Gingie?” He let out a weak mew. Sophie stopped and came down to him and petted him. “I guess it’s lunch time for you, huh? Would that make you feel better?”
Gingersnap stayed under the chair not moving. James came back in. “You have a visitor here to see you.”
Sophie got back up. “Oh, who is it?”
The bike rider was standing at the door and she was holding the carrier with the mean cat. “Oh, hi Susan. How are you doing?”
Suddenly Gingersnap was forgotten about. All he could do was hide under the chair. The mean cat spied him watching his every move. Gingersnap didn’t know what to do. Now Susan was coming in to look around at the kitchen bring that cat closer to Gingersnap. As they talked Gingersnap could hear a low growl come from the mean cat.
Gingersnap decided maybe it was time to leave until Susan spied him. “Oh, here is your big orange guy. Look Brutus, here is going to be your neighbor real soon.” She brought the carrier right up to where Gingersnap was sitting. He was glad he was under the chair so the mean cat couldn’t touch him.
He let out a hiss at Gingersnap. “Oh, be nice Brutus. You guys will see each all the time.”
Gingersnap didn’t like that idea one bit. He took one last look at the mean cat before bolting out of the room. He could tell the mean didn’t like the idea either.
Chapter
19
Gingersnap almost ran into James again. James smiled down at him. “I bet you are looking for food. Maybe that will make you less jumpy. Gingersnap followed him over to where his bowls where and he filled the one up and gave him fresh water.
“Did that other cat make you nervous? I must admit I don’t feel that comfortable around Brutus either. Maybe he isn’t as mean as he looks?” He patted Gingersnap.
Gingersnap started eating his food while keeping one eye on the kitchen waiting for Susan and that mean cat to come out. He was almost down eating when they came out. Gingersnap stayed put hoping that he was wouldn’t get noticed. Brutus didn’t see him and it appeared that Susan was now going to leave.
Ginger snap hid while her and Sophie chatted for a few moments long. Then Susan and Brutus left. Gingersnap almost flopped down with relief that they were gone. Sophie went back to the kitchen so he decided to go there to.
He knew right a way that Sophie was not happy. James could too. “What’s up with Susan?”
“I’m not sure what is going on but this while investigation is not bothering one minute. She says that they are going to be rapping up real soon and that she will get right on the new shop. She sounds really excited about that but this investigation isn’t bothering in the least.”
“Really, I would be frazzled over what has happened. With getting ready to open a dress shop and everything. Now things must be put on hold.”
“That’s the thing, she thinks that they will get this cleared up real soon and she will have the construction people over to clean up so she can start building the dress ship. She sounded so sure of herself.”
James made a face. “You don’t think she has anything to do with any of this, do you?”
“Susan? I haven’t known her that long, only about three months when she moved here. She doesn’t seem the type but then you never know.”
“We should maybe then keep on our toes when she comes around.”
Sophie nodded. “Yes, that might be a good idea as she is quite anxious to get things moving on the dress shop.”
The buzzard up front rang. “I’ll get that,” said James. “It’s probably a delivery of supplies.”
Off James went leaving Sophie and Gingersnap. Sophie got back to finishing up her cookies. Gingersnap yawned. He had enough excitement for one day. He headed for the upstairs when James came running back in almost taking Gingersnap out. “Guess what I heard?”
“What did you hear?”
The delivery man heard that the new owner of the property is now under suspicion for the murder of Mr. Fifer.”
“That’s crazy, Susan does not give me the impression that she would be capable of such a crime.”
James shook his head. I would have said the same thing when I first met her but now? I don’t know what to think. You know how people can be. We’ve only known her for a short time. Maybe it’s all an act?”
Sophie put down her icing bag. “That’s interesting. We have to be extra careful about her. If it’s true, we can’t be making friends with a murder!”
Gingersnap had curled up on the bed taking his nap when he woke to a tapping outside the window. His sleepy eyes looked to see if it was a bird but he didn’t see any such thing. Gingersnap stretched out and decided to investigate. He hopped onto the night stand and then onto the dresser that was beside the window.
He could see movement through the sheer’s movement and at first, he thought it was Susan and Brutus back but when he took a closer look, it was someone else down there nosing around. He kept watching to see if they would turn so, he could see their face. Finally, they did and he was taken back. It was the police officer who had helped them back into the house. What was he doing out there by himself?
The motor bike came roaring up next. He knew it was Susan. She did not have Brutus with her this time. It wasn’t long when they started to argue. She pushed him and then stormed off on her bike.
The police officer stayed there for a moment and then looked over at their shop. He stared for a bit and then finally turned and left. Gingersnap got the feeling in his tail that whatever they were arguing about involved Sophie and James.
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