Free The Counterfeiter-Catching Cat: A Beatrice Young Cozy Cat Mystery (Beatrice Young Cozy Cat Mysteries Book 1) by Alannah Rogers Page A

hiding something. We have to know what that is.”
    The sheriff opened his mouth to reply but Beatrice didn’t give him the chance. “You know I’ll follow her anyway,” she said quickly. “I’ll convince Matthew to come with me.”
    Roy stabbed the mac n’cheese and swallowed another mouthful. He chewed, his eyes faraway as he thought. “You’ve put me in quite the position, Bee.”
    “Don’t you agree this is a lead?” Beatrice asked, eyes pleading. “Com’on. There’s nothing wrong with following her. Plus, there’s more lunch in it for you if you go with me. A lot more.”
    Roy forked in another mouthful and looked at her evenly. “I agree with you Beatrice. Amy does appear to be hiding something. What I disagree with is you being involved. I also know that once you’ve set your mind to something there’s no holding you back. I’ll drive, okay?”
    Beatrice settled back in her chair and folded her hands in her lap. “I’m glad we’re in agreement, Jacob. So how are we going to do this?”

14
    Hamish and Lucky sat in the backseat of Sheriff Roy’s truck, ears perked. Hamish stared out the windshield, determination on his proud face, his beautiful tan and brown fur sticking straight out all over. Lucky sat beside him. He kept looking up at Beatrice with his big green eyes as if to ask: isn’t this exciting?
    They looked, in every aspect, like crime-fighting cats.
    The sheriff’s truck was parked just down from Amy’s house, lights off, waiting. They knew she had returned from work and gone home. Now they were waiting for her to come out or do something , anything at all. There was little sign of life in the house or on the street as a whole other than the glow of televisions and the occasional car cruising down the street.
    The stress of waiting was too much for Beatrice. She twisted her hands anxiously. The cats looked as confident as ever. The sheriff sat placidly with the patience of a saint. Matthew was in the passenger’s seat beside him, reading a paperback mystery. He had changed out of his ranger’s uniform into his blue jeans and collared shirt. Locks of gray hair fell across his tanned face. Even Beatrice had to admit that he had aged well. He turned around, one eyebrow cocked, as if acknowledging that she was looking at him.
    “I can’t believe we’re doing this,” he said in his deep voice.
    “I can’t believe you agreed to come.”
    He shook his head. “And leave you alone on this crazy adventure?”
    “She’s not exactly alone,” the sheriff said gruffly. “ I am a police officer, after all.” He cleared his throat. “And Bee’s onto something.”
    Beatrice crossed her arms and beamed at Matthew in triumph. “See? I’m not just some batty old loon.”
    He glared at her. “That’s not what I think…”
    Both cats’ ears pricked up in unison, their eyes darting towards Amy’s house. Matthew and Beatrice followed their gaze. A dark figure walked quickly towards a parked car in the street, got in, and started the engine.
    “It’s show time,” the sheriff said. He waited until Amy had driven off before he revved the engine and crept after her.
    Beatrice put Lucky in his cat carrier and then sat straight up in her seat. Where was Amy going to lead them? She hoped, for Jordan’s sake, that some clue was about to be revealed.
    It seemed, at first, like she was taking them to the middle of nowhere. Amy turned onto one side road and then another. It was a dark night with only a sliver of moon visible. The sheriff had his window rolled down and she could hear the rustling of autumn leaves in the trees as they readied to drop.
    Amy’s little hatchback car was the sole source of light, faint against the immense darkness. Despite the fact that his headlights were switched off, Roy drove expertly on the twisting country roads. It made Beatrice wonder if he had a lot of experience in tailing people. Then again, he had been in the Ashbrook police force for over forty