SWEET SHOP-CHAPTER 9

Hello, here is the next installment of the cat cozy. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 9

 

Gingersnap crouched down as James confronted him. “You will leave here now. We have not touched anything of yours. As you can see, everything over on your side is burnt to the ground. Maybe you should talk to your friend Mr. Grant!”

Mr. Fifer backed down and almost fell back at James’s words. But quickly regained himself. “I’ve seen all kinds of tracks over there. And there are things missing.”

Gingersnap could see James eye Mr. Fifer carefully like was some kind of unknown bug. “What kind of missing things? Like a certain kind of box perhaps?”

Mr. Fifer’s eyes went wide and suddenly he was stammering. “I have no idea what you are talking about…boxes? I’m talking about my tools.”

“I bet you are. Why didn’t you get them after the fire?”

“I was injured, you know.”

“You look healed now.”

Mr. Fifer growled. “I will be back and when I do…you better be ready.”

James towered over him. “I will be waiting.”

Mr. Fifer backed down almost cowering. Gingersnap didn’t think he looked too dangerous. His skinny little body huddled near the entrance ready to run thought Gingersnap.

Finally he took off and out the door in one big hurry. Sophie came out then and looked at James who just shook his head. “These old men!”

Sophie shook her head. “These old men are up to something.” She crossed her arms. “What I’m thinking is, one of them double crossed the other and now one is out to take that money that was stuffed in the recycle bin.”

“Well,” said James. “The culprit will be back tonight to get it, I imagine. The police can nab which ever one it is and then this whole thing will be over.”

Sophie let her arms drop and let out an exasperated breath. “I would hope so. I will be glad when the new dress shop is going up.”

“Will be nice,” agreed James. “But with everything going on, I hope your friend wasn’t bamboozled for the money.”

Sophie gasped. “Oh I hope not. This is turning into a royal mess. I must talk to the officer and make sure they get the pair of them.”

James nodded. “Yes, let’s hope they get both of them.”

Gingersnap came down the rest of the way then and they both looked down at him as he rubbed up against Sophie. “Hey there buddy. I’ll get your supper.”

Gingersnap purred in delight. While he was eating he watched James finish off a cake. Next he moved on to some cupcakes to decorate. James glanced over at him. “Nice huh boy? I should make some with cats on them. Think that would be okay?”

Gingersnap let out a purr. James smiled. “I thought so.”

He liked that James was now in a better mood and not yelling anymore. He was also hoping that the pair of them would be nabbed tonight.

Both James and Sophie had finished up their orders and were closing up shop. Gingersnap always did his little rounds around the place and then back upstairs to rest on the bed again.

Sophie followed him up the stairs. “Boy Gingersnap, I’m so tired. After all this with that box full of fake money and being stuffed in the recycle bin? I have had enough. I think I will join you for a nap.”

Gingersnap hopped up and started kneading the comforter. Sophie grabbed her favorite blanket and wrapped herself up and laid beside Gingersnap. It wasn’t long and they were both snoozing.

Time had slipped by faster than Gingersnap had thought. When he woke the sun had gone down. Sophie was curled up in a ball. All he could see was her light brown hair sticking out. Then a rattling sound made his ears perk. He got up and looked around the room but nothing. Then it got louder. It sounded like metal getting banged about.

It wasn’t upstairs so he padded downstairs. He knew right away where the sound came from. It was the recycle bin. The thief was back!

 

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SWEET SHOP-CHAPTER 8 CON'T

Happy Friday! Hope everyone is fine. Here is a little bit more to the last chapter. Hope you enjoy!

Gingersnap flew under the desk into the far corner. James and Sophie flew away from the window. James took a peek out as the police were arriving. “They should get him soon now.”

“I hope they do,” cried Sophie. “I don’t want that man around anymore.”

James who continued to look out the window nodded. “I hope they get him too and I don’t really want to see him any time soon either.”

“Do you see Mr. Grant?”

“Nope, I think he must be hiding on them but one of them has found the money. They have not removed it yet. Another team is coming in and now they are looking around the place.”

“Where could he hide when there is not much left of the place?”

“With him, who knows? Crooks like him are sneaky,” explained James.

Sophie looked under the desk. “Are you okay Gingersnap? The police are over there now so we are safe.”

Gingersnap let out a small mew that didn’t sound too convincing. Suddenly there was some shouts and when James looked out again, he noticed one of them pointing to where the money was found. James couldn’t see what the commotion was about. One of them was getting into a police car and took off it like in hot pursuit. Sophie was not looking out the window. What is going on?”

“I don’t know but I think it has to do with the money.”

Suddenly there was a commotion outside and Sophie looked around. It sounded like it was on the side of the shop. Sophie went out to the front and slipped out the front door and went around to the side where there was a chute used for recycles. All Sophie could see was someone trying stuff something down the chute. She yelled down the alley and they bolted down the back alley and disappeared. She ran down to the chute to see what they had stuffed. Sophie had a hunch what it was and who the escapee was. When she opened the chute, all she could saw plastics. But she took a closer look and sure enough there was a round looking box down there but she couldn’t reach it. Sophie went back inside. “Someone stuffed a round looking box like the one we saw down the recycling chute. But I can’t reach it. What should be do?”

James eyed her. “You didn’t see who it was?”

“No, they were wearing a dark hoodie and disappeared down the alley.”

“They will be back for it, we should tell the police and they can wait for him.”

Sophie nodded. They both headed out to where they were and one of the police officers smiled at them. It was Mr. Dwight who was a regular at the shop.

“How are doing? Quite the thing that happened here, huh?”

Both Sophie and James agreed. Sophie told him of what she saw. Mr. Dwight nodded rubbing his chin. “Interesting. Well, I think we will not retrieve it just yet. They will be back. We’ll set up a surveillance and catch them.”

Sophie didn’t know if she liked this idea or not but was rest assured that everything would go quite swiftly once they caught them. James and Sophie went back inside and got back to the baking. Gingersnap from all the noise went upstairs and hopped on the bed to take a well-deserved nap.

Gingersnap stretched out and yawned. The sun was getting low so he knew it was getting to be supper time. He got up and just as he was about to make his way down, he heard loud voices. His tail fluffed out. Thoughts of that Mr. Grant made his tail fluff out even more.

 When got down to the bottom of the stairs, he peeked around the corner.

There was Mr. Fifer!

 

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SWEET SHOP-CHAPTER 8

We are late once again but here we are! Enjoy!

Chapter 8

 

Gingersnap scampered back to the shop and went straight into the kitchen. He let out a real howl making Sophie almost drop her icing bag. She quickly set down the icing bag and rushed over to Gingersnap who she thought was hurt.

“What is it? Are you okay?”

He went over to the door and continued to mew at her and would come back and forth. James came over and said. “I think he wants you to follow him. Lead the way.”

Off Gingersnap went and they both followed and out the cat door he rushed through. He waited for them on the step and then over to the other side to the burnt shop.

He took them right to the round box and James was the first to peer in. He looked up at Sophie. “Come see what Gingersnap found.”

Sophie rushed over and gasped. “Look at all that money. Where did it come from?”

James hovered his hand over the top of the box and then quickly snatched his hand back. “We can’t touch this. I think this is fake money.”

Sophie gasped. “Counterfeit? Oh my. So what should we do first?”

“We have to call the police and let them take care of this. We can’t touch it and get out fingerprints all over this. I think our two friends here were more into shop tools and garden tools if you ask me.”

Sophie shook her head and then she frowned. “Why is this money in a hat box?”

James gave her a look. “It’s a ruse if you ask me. They are covering something up.”

Sophie crossed her crossed her arms. “With all the things that has happened to these two, I would say that their scheme has gone all wrong and maybe they are out to erase each other out of the picture.”

James eyes went wide. “Wow that could be it and why all this wildness has been lately. We don’t need these two in Pepperlane if you ask me!”

Sophie nodded in agreement. “Well, we better go in and phone the police.”

She scooped up Gingersnap holding him tight to her chest and back over all three of them went. They went into the office to phone and Gingersnap went to his bowl for a snack. While they were phoning, a roar of a vehicle filled the backyard. Gingersnap hopped up on the window to see and there was that black truck. Gingersnap knew it was the same truck that Mr. Grant had. He watched for a moment and this large man got out of the truck and he had something in his hand and it looked like a stick. When he turned Gingersnap howled.

Sophie came running out. She could see Gingersnap looking at something. “What is going on over there now?” She took a look and her jaw dropped. “James, come see this?”

James came rushing out and took a look too. He let out a huff. “Well, I guess our Mr. Grant has been found or should I say he came out of hiding?”

They could see the police car coming around the bend. But before it got there, a shot was fired in the air.

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SWEET SHOP-CHAPTER 7

Happy Saturday! I'm a day late here but I guess better late than never right? Hope you enjoy and if you want to support this story, you can leave some green tea money in the tip jar or check out my Patreon. Click on the tab above. Happy reading!

Chapter 7

 

The rest of the day went quiet. Gingersnap finally got his nap in. When he got up he slipped down the stairs to his bowl. There was fresh water waiting for him. As he lapped up he could hear voices in the kitchen.

He trotted around to see maybe if there would be any treats for him. James and Sophie were talking quietly together. Gingersnap went in and rubbed up against Sophie’s leg and then James. They both looked down. “Well, you got up finally,” said James.

Gingersnap sat and looked up at both of them. James grinned. “You are looking for some treats, aren’t you?” Gingersnap let out a quick mew. James laughed. “Okay, I’ll get some.”

“So, Sophie what do you think about Mr. Fifer looking after both businesses?”

Sophie shook her head. “I don’t think those men are the best of friends and now that Mr. Grant is the one that is missing, I think these two are at odds with one another.”

“I think so too but what it is, is the big question.”

Gingersnap mewed. James quickly gave him his treats. “Oh well, said James. I guess we will see how this plays out. But we better get the cakes made.”

“Oh yes,” chirped Sophie. “We are behind now.” Sophie bent down and petted Gingersnap. “You have to go into the outer part. See what is going on out there.”

Gingersnap licked his paw and then left to go to the front desk to see if there were any customers to give him some more treats. They knew he was here and some of the regulars would keep some treats in their pocket. Karen was cleaning up some of the little tables where patrons could eat their sweet along with some tea or coffee of their choice. Karen looked at him and grinned. “On the prowl are we?”

He walked past her and surveyed the guests but did not see any of the regulars. These were all new people that he hadn’t seen before. As he studied each one, he knew there was not one lick of cat treats in their pockets. Gingersnap picked out one right away as dog person. He sniffed and was about to turn around when a customer came in smiling. “Karen smiled back at her. “You look like you got good news Susan.”

She was beaming. “I do. You know the old tool shop that burnt right behind you?”

Karen nodded. “Well. I bought the lot and I’m going to build my dress shop.”

Sophie squealed. “That’s so exciting. I can’t wait for that but Mr. Fifer isn’t going to rebuild his tool shop?”

“Nope he is going to be running the garden center now.”

“Where is Mr. Grant? I thought he was the new garden center owner.”

Susan shrugged. “I’m not sure what happened between the two but now Mr. Fifer is operating the garden centre and sold me his old property to me.”

Sophie smiled. “Well, I hope it is all on the up and up. Those two have a strange relationship. Sometimes I think dangerous.”

Karen made a face. “Dangerous?”

Sophie nodded. “Yeah, we were the ones who made his cookies for Mr. Grants opening and he came in here hours before demanding that his order better be made on time.”

“Really, that’s interesting. Mr. Fifer was all nice to me. He was in a big hurry to get rid of that property for some reason. You don’t think there is anything there do you?”

Sophie shrugged. “Who knows with Mr. Fifer? He was always a strange one and never smiled hardly at all.”

“Well, when my name is signed on the dotted line, it will be mine then.”

“I’m sure everything will be fine. It will be so exciting to have a dress shop this close.”

“I can’t wait either. I thought I would tell you the news. I will keep you updated on the situation with Mr. Fifer.”

When Karen left, Sophie was a bit concerned about the situation. Why did Mr. Fifer sell his property so fast? Things were more confusing than ever.

Gingersnap liked Karen and was glad to hear that she would be across the street now instead of that mean looking Mr. Fifer. But he too wondered why Mr. Fifer sold his property so fast. He decided to go outside and maybe walk around the old property before it was all taken down. Maybe he could sniff something out.

When he got out the wind had picked up and Gingersnap didn’t like wind but he stayed out anyway and padded his way across to the burnt building. It wasn’t going to be hard to take this place down thought Gingersnap. It was almost collapsed as it was. Very carefully he started sniffing about. Most of it smelled like gas and oil and dirt. Mr. Fifer was not a clean organized man. Gingersnap decided that was why the place burnt down so easily. He continues around the building and came across something that looked round. It reminded Gingersnap of the night Mr. Grant and Mr. Fifer were carrying out these round boxes. He padded over to and sniffed it. His nose wrinkled as he got closer. He hovered is paw above the round box. The wind gusted up and whipped around the building and blew off the top of the box scaring Gingersnap. He dived under a nearby bush. The lid blew down the back alley but the box stayed in place.

Gingersnap came out from the bush and went over to the box. It was full of something. He sniffed and finally looked in. It was full of money.

 

 

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SWEET SHOP-CHAPTER 5

A little late today but here we go. Hope you enjoy the latest chapter. Happy reading!

Chapter 6

 

Gingersnap made a mad dash to the shop through his door. Sophie almost got hit by his furry body when he came through. “What’s going on? You look like you saw a ghost.”

Gingersnap let out a howl. Sophie gasped. “That must mean something. Is there trouble out there again? Maybe you should show me.”

Gingersnap and Sophie walked across over to the burnt shop and Gingersnap staying back, stared at where he was the moving glove fingers. The only thing was, he couldn’t see the mysterious glove anymore.

Gingersnap looked around sniffing for those gloves and they were not here. Sophie looked around kicking some debris here and there. “Was there something here that caught your eye?”

Gingersnap sniffed and someone was here. He picked up a scent beside the smoke. It was mixed with other things but the one thing that came through loud and clear was Mr. Grant. Gingersnap let out a huff and leaped up onto the area looking down where he had saw the glove that looked like what Mr. Grant had. But it was gone. Gingersnap narrowed his cat eyes looking for that mysterious glove. Sophie came over and looked around where Gingersnap was looking.

She knelt down and picked up an old glove and made a face. “One of Mr. Fifer’s old mitts. She dropped it and stood up. “Well, nothing here Gingersnap. Let’s head back, we have Mr. Grant’s order to finish up. He should be around in the next few hours.

Gingersnap and Sophie went back to the shop. Gingersnap had some wet cat food while Sophie and James finished the cookies. After he ate, he headed up to the bed for a much needed nap. He had enough of invisible gloves that moved. He just got curled up with his tail resting over his nose when loud noises made him stir. Gingersnap lifted his head to hear some more but made no effort to get up.

One of the voices was quite excited. He listened again and could make out a woman’s voice. Now he heard that voice before. It as Mandy who worked at the garden center that Mr. Grant was running now.

Gingersnap was too curious and got up and went straight down to see what Mandy was so excited about. He stopped at the door way to the kitchen where Mandy was talking to Sophie and James. Sophie was trying to calm her down. The cookies were almost ready so Gingersnap did not know what all the fuss was about. Mr. Grant would have his order.

But Gingersnap could feel it in his tail. She was here for a different reason. She took the boxes of cookies and let the store with the help of James. When she left Sophie turned to James. “What do you know about secret love letters? I can’t believe that she would give her heart to that kind of man.”

Everyone had gotten an invitation to the grand opening event at the garden center. Sophie and James were going to see what it was all going to be about. Gingersnap stayed back. He would hear all about it from Sophie.

They all left to go and Gingersnap finally got his nap in. Sophie came in just as Gingersnap was waking up. She was shaking her head. She petted his orange head and sighed. “I don’t know what is going on but Mr. Grant was not there. Guess who showed up in his place? Mr. Fifer! He announced that Mr. Grant was not available and didn’t know when he would be but he was helping out his dear friend. I don’t believe any of it.”

Gingersnap didn’t either. Those two men were up to something or at least one of them were. Gingersnap didn’t trust either one of them. He could smell double trouble coming.

 

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SWEET SHOP COZY-CHAPTER 5

Hello this cold day. Hope you are all great. Here is the latest chapter of our cat cozy. Hope you enjoy. If you want to support this project, you can leave me some green tea money in the tip jar and if you would like you can check out my new Patreon! Thank you!

Chapter 5

 

James had made all the templates and now with Sophie’s help they were making up the batch of cookie dough. It was a large order and with the threat of Mr. Grant’s performance, they thought the sooner they get this order done, the better.

There still had been no word on the location of Mr. Fifer. And Mr. Grant had not been around the burnt sight again. Everything was quiet across the back lane. Gingersnap kept an eye on things but for at least the day, everything was quiet. He decided to cozy down on the bed upstairs for a nap. Gingersnap padded upstairs and stretched out his front paws onto the bedspread digging in. Sophie didn’t like it when he did that but she wasn’t here. After his stretch he leaped up and started to wash up.

Just as he was curling up, a large bang from outside startled him. Gingersnap let out a low growl. He went over to the nightstand and onto the dresser to the ledge of the window. He looked down and there was a black van that he had never seen before. There was writing on the side but Gingersnap couldn’t read but he sort of recognized the logo from town. A big burly man was looking over the burnt area. Then along came another van. A tall skinny man covered up from top to bottom in black walked over to the man. Gingersnap couldn’t see who this other man was. He saw them shake hands and then part ways getting into their vans driving off.

Gingersnap wondered what was going on. He stayed on the window sill for a moment longer and then spotted Molly from next door. She was sniffing about where the vans had been. He wondered what she was picking up. All of a sudden she ran for the back of the flower shop. Gingersnap’s ears perked up. He jumped down and went downstairs where Sophie was talking to Marley. He hid underneath Sophie’s desk.

When she left Sophie let out a huff. She noticed Gingersnap under the desk. “Well, Gingersnap, it appears that the talk of Pepperlane is that the spot behind us has sold to Mr. Gallagher who is going to build another restaurant. Gingersnap sniffed. If he remembered, he had a large fluffy cat who looked rather mean by the name of Brutus. Gingersnap wasn’t too sure if he was looking forward to that or not.

“I guess Mr. Fifer must have come out of hiding. Better get back to these cookies. The first batch should be ready to come out.”

Gingersnap came out from under the desk and decided to investigate across the back alley where Molly has been sniffing around. He trotted across the small gravel lane and right away could smell something that smelled off. Very carefully he went around the area and kept sniffing. He stopped short when he came upon a scent. He went a little closer and he could see something on the ground. It was a glove and it looked like the glove was holding something. Gingersnap crouched down and moved along closer like he was about to pounce on a mouse. When he got closer, he could see it was a card. He stretched out and sniffed. It smelled like Mr. Grant’s garden shop.

Gingersnap leaped back when he saw that the glove was still attacked to the hand and the fingers twitched.

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SWEET SHOP-CHAPTER 4

Hello on this snowy day! Here is the latest installment of our cat cozy. Hope you enjoy! Drop by the patreon  page. It is a public one today! Enjoy!

Chapter 4

 

A mournful groan erupted out of the black ashes. Gingersnap let out a growl and backed up. Then the moan got a little louder. That drew the attention of the ones talking on the other side. Marley came to see and Gingersnap looked at her and then looked to the grotesque thing moving in the far corner.

Even Marley and her friend didn’t go rushing up. Then finally Marley’s friend Jane went up to investigate. She gasped. “It’s Mr. Fifer!”

Marley rushed over next and together they got him out of the thing he was wrapped in. Gingersnap sniffed the smoke that was coming off of him. He staggered a bit but they steadied him. He mumbled the whole time. They called an ambulance and within moments they were there tending to him. Gingersnap was now watching all the action from the back porch of the bake shop. He remembered the events form the night before. Mr. Grant was carrying in something long and brought out an object. He could feel it in his tail, that long object that Mr. Grant was carrying in was Mr. Fifer!

After the ambulance had arrived, a police car came and inside was a dog! Gingersnap knew it was time to slip back inside and watch the events from the window. Sophie came in to see what all the ruckus was about. When she seen the ambulance and police car with the police dog sniffing about, she went out to talk to Marley and Jane. Gingersnap watched them all talking but kept his eyes on that large dog. He was sniffing the area where Mr. Fifer was found. Gingersnap was wondering what was there that caught his attention. The police officer also went to investigate what he sniffed out. They spent a lot of time there too.  

Sophie came in. “Well, that was some news. You had quite the adventure. Poor Mr.  Fifer! They say he doesn’t remember much of what happened or how he ended up in the rubble. That is so strange. I hope he will be okay.”

Sophie went back into the kitchen and Gingersnap stayed at the window. The ambulance had whisked Mr. Fifer off but the police man and his dog stayed for a bit longer before they too, took off.

Gingersnap was hungry from all this excitement so he hopped down to his dish that was empty. He made his way into the kitchen part where he really wasn’t allowed because he was a cat. Gingersnap went in anyway as he regarded himself slightly above ordinary cat. James spotted him first. “Hey big orange guy, I heard of your heroics this morning.”

Gingersnap mewed and rubbed up against his leg. He mewed a little louder this time. “Ah, you came to tell me to feed you. I should have known that you would want something.”

James went into the office part and opened up a can of wet cat food. That got Gingersnap taking even louder. James laughed as he scooped out some food for him. “There you go.”

As he set the can down he could hear some loud voices at the front desk. “I better go check that out.”

Even Gingersnap stopped eating for a moment. His ears perked to a man’s voice. It was Mr. Grant! It sounded like he was making some demands. Gingersnap snuck around the corner t get a view of the front desk. There was Mr. Grant as large as life. He was making demands on his order and he was threatening that it better be ready to go or else! Sophie was trying to calm him down and James was telling him that he was more than cable of doing the order. His voice was starting to get as loud as Mr. Grants.

Gingersnap backed up from all the noise. He did not like this man and wanted him to leave. Finally he left in a huff. Sophie and James were quite mad about the whole thing when they came back into the office. Gingersnap hid under the desk.

“The nerve of that man. Who does he think he is, barging into my shop making demands?”

James shook his head. “Should have told him to take a flying leap.”

“If he wasn’t paying so much, I would have,” declared Sophie.

“Well, I better get back to making those templates. I have about five garden tool designs plus I found some other designs like a wheel barrel with flowers in it.”

“That would be lovely but I’m sure sour puss there will have something bad to say. Go ahead make them. I’ll help with the decorating.”

James left back to the kitchen. Sophie plopped down on the office chair. She noticed Gingersnap underneath. “Do you hear all that noise Gingy? I know, that awful man. And I can’t help but wonder what part he has to play with Mr. Fifer. There is something going on there.”

Gingersnap came out and rubbed up against her leg. He very much agreed. Before all the noise, he went back to his bowl and ate up his food. Sophie worked at her desk as Gingersnap washed up getting ready for his nap.

Suddenly there was a loud noise outside. They both looked out and there was Mr. Grant marching around the burnt tool shop and he was not happy. He found the fabric that Mr. Fifer was found in. He shook his fists up in the air. Sophie looked down at Gingersnap. “What do you think that is about?”

Gingersnap was thinking that maybe Mr. Grant wrapped up Mr. Fifer in that fabric and put in there to burn! James came flying into the office. “Marley just texted me. Mr. Fifer left the hospital and no one knows where he went.

Sophie looked at James. “Well, Mr. Grant must want to know too. He’s out there stomping g around the burnt ruins of the tool shop.”

James looked out. “That’s very interesting if I do say so myself.”

 

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