Free Karen Anne Golden - The Cats That 03 - The Cats That Told a Fortune by Karen Anne Golden Page A

“Yes, of course.  But can you clarify how Misha takes something from each person?”
    Misha laughed with a deep bellow.  “I take somezink from you.”  He drew out of his jacket pocket Katherine’s cell phone.
    “I’ll take that,” Katherine said quickly, snatching it.  “That’s amazing,” she said, returning the cell to her back pocket.  “I was pickpocketed and I didn’t even know it.”
    “Katsee, it’s magic,” Misha said, taking a dramatic bow. 
    Iris marched into the room with her tail hiked up.  She eyed the group suspiciously, then trotted over to the Russian magician.  “Yowl,” she cried sweetly, collapsing on the man’s leg.
    “Iris,” Katherine said, moving rapidly to pick her up, but Misha beat her to the punch.
    The magician reached down, scooped Iris up, and cradled her in his arms. He then started cooing something in Russian to the seal-point Siamese, who seemed to be in a state of pure catly ecstasy.  With eyes crossed, Iris began purring loudly.
    Katherine said worriedly, “Oh, please let me have her.”  The Russian kissed Iris on the nose, cooed something else in Russian, and then handed her to Katherine. 
    Katherine held Iris close.  “Excuse me.  I’ll be right back,” she said.  She walked to her back office area and gently scolded Iris.  “You’re not supposed to do that with strangers.  What if he tried to hurt you?”  Iris gave Katherine a haughty look, and then let out a barrage of loud ‘yowls.’ 
    “A little less conversation,” Katherine said, locking the sassy cat in the powder room. 
    Returning to the parlor, Katherine said to Mary, “I don’t know how my guests will feel about being pickpocketed.  I think I should warn them in advance so if someone doesn’t want to participate, they’ll be exempted from the act.”
    Mary agreed, “Sure thing.  Now while you’re having dinner, Misha and I will place each personal item in an envelope with the owner’s name.  Then I’ll seal it and assign a number, which will coincide with an approximate hiding place on the map.  I’ll use your printer to copy the map for each guest.  After I hide the items, we’ll take our leave.”
    “Sounds fine to me,” Katherine said.  “Just make sure I have the maps.”
    Mary continued, “Definitely!  So, I’ll expect payment before dinner.  Bella and Misha prefer cash.  Would that be a problem?”
    “Cash it will be.”
    “You’re going to have a wonderful party,” Mary said excitedly, running her hand through her hair.
    Colleen, who had been quietly listening, spoke up, “How long will the scavenger hunt take?”
    Mary spoke animatedly.  “I’d guess- timate about two hours.  Generally, when there are twelve guests, each search takes ten minutes, give-or-take.”
    Katherine said to Colleen, “I could call intermission mid-way and serve dessert.”
    “Cool,” Colleen said.
    Misha stood in the atrium and was eying a crystal Tiffany wine decanter with matching goblets.  He called to Katherine, “ Wanna make a bizz -ness? How much dollars?”
    “No, again,” Katherine said, then to Mary.  “Another word,” she led Mary to the dining room.  She said firmly, “How much do you know about this man?  Misha’s been casing the joint ever since he walked in.”
    “Oh, I assure you.  They are honest people.  They’ve worked for me for two years now.  I’ve never had a complaint or had anything stolen.”
    “Good to know.  Listen, I think this wraps things up,” Katherine said hastily.  “I’ll call –”
    She was interrupted by Bella shouting from the parlor.  “A v-v-vat,” the fortune teller screamed.  When Colleen saw what “a vat” was, she darted to the back of the house.
    Katherine, Mary and Misha ran into the parlor.  “What’s wrong?” Katherine asked, then observed Scout by the fireplace with her paw pressed down on a squirming black creature.  “Waugh!” Scout cried happily, with a delicious twinkle in