Free Framed in Cherry Hills (Cozy Cat Caper Mystery Book 2) by Paige Sleuth Page A

are seats?”
    “Whatever you’d like to donate for the animals.” Imogene yanked a ticket out of her purse and held it up like a trophy. “Minimum is twenty dollars.”
    Andrew pulled a few bills out of his wallet and handed them to Imogene. “Has Kat reserved her seat yet?”
    Imogene grinned at Kat. “Why no, not officially.”
    Kat shifted her weight between her feet. “I’m working on it.”
    Andrew reached back into his billfold. “Why don’t I buy hers too.”
    Imogene’s face lit up as she took the money from him. “That would be marvelous! She can be your date.” She winked at Kat while Andrew busied himself with returning his wallet to his pocket.
    In spite of her growing embarrassment over this whole situation, Kat also found herself feeling irrationally pleased. She almost wanted to thank Imogene, except that would only encourage the older woman.
    Willow cleared her throat. “Speaking of the benefit dinner, with all the setbacks this week we’re behind on everything that needs to be done. But I may have found a caterer. I was supposed to meet with her Saturday, before this whole drug fiasco derailed my plans.”
    “She has a lot of vegan options to choose from?” Imogene asked.
    Willow nodded. “And her schedule’s completely clear the night of the benefit dinner.”
    Imogene leaned across the table. “Tell me about her.”
    As Willow and Imogene talked, Andrew smiled at Kat. Her knees weakened a little when his dimples made an appearance.
    Yes, Kat Harper had to admit to herself, she was definitely looking forward to the Furry Friends Foster Families benefit dinner.

MURDER IN CHERRY HILLS
    Katherine Harper knew something was wrong when she opened her front door late Tuesday morning and saw Matilda sitting outside her apartment.
    Kat scrunched up her nose as she looked down at the cat. “Matty, what are you doing here? You live next door.”
    Matilda stared back at her, her tail sweeping across the welcome mat.
    Kat had to admit that Matty was a very striking cat. With her yellow and brown markings, white chin, and oversized green eyes, Kat thought the tortoiseshell was adorable.
    But, contrary to what Matty liked to believe, she was a house cat.
    Sighing, Kat brushed a brunette lock of hair away from her face before she scooped up the animal and started down the hallway to her neighbor’s unit. “You know Mrs. Tinsdale doesn’t like you out here. She fears somebody will steal you. And the landlord had a fit the last time he saw you in the common hallway. Now you’re going to be in big trouble.”
    Kat shook her head, wondering why she was trying to reason with a feline. If anyone was watching, they’d assume she was desperate for companionship.
    I need a boyfriend , Kat thought. Unfortunately, securing a boyfriend was a touch more difficult than stopping by the local grocery store and adding one to her shopping cart.
    Kat made it to Mrs. Tinsdale’s front door and adjusted Matilda in her arms to free one of her hands. But as she reached out to ring the doorbell, she noticed the door was already slightly ajar.
    Kat froze, her pulse starting to pound. Mrs. Tinsdale never left her door open. Although Cherry Hills, Washington didn’t experience as much crime as Wenatchee, the nearest big city, leaving your front door open was still inviting trouble, even in a secured-entry building such as theirs. At the very least, nobody wanted to spend their hard-earned money running air conditioning for an entire twelve-unit apartment building in the middle of a July heat wave.
    Kat looked at Matty, tempted to ask if she knew what was going on. Fortunately, she realized the ridiculousness of such a question before she voiced it aloud.
    Her eyes locked back on to Mrs. Tinsdale’s door as she set the cat on the floor. Something wasn’t right about this situation, and every one of Kat’s instincts was urging her to turn around and flee. But, given that Mrs. Tinsdale could be injured and waiting for