Free Vanished in Cherry Hills (Cozy Cat Caper Mystery Book 4) by Paige Sleuth Page A

every week or so, just to catch up. Maybe after we’ve talked for a while I’ll feel more comfortable with the idea of meeting her in person.”
    “Whatever you do, I’ll support you.”
    Her heart warmed. “I know, and I’m so grateful you feel that way.”
    Andrew released her hand to open the door to the police station. “After you.”
    Kat stepped inside, her stomach executing a nervous flip as they headed toward Chief Kenny’s office. She wasn’t sure how he would react to the information she had to share.
    But Chief Kenny let her talk freely as she told him about Helen Trotter’s confession, interrupting only when he needed clarification on certain points. And although Andrew had accompanied her into the police chief’s office, he merely sat quietly in one corner, observing but not participating.
    Kat omitted any mention of Mrs. Polanski and what she’d done to help Maybelle hide from the law. She didn’t think the police chief would look very favorably on her mother’s decision to take on another woman’s identity, even given the circumstances.
    Plus, now that the shock of what she’d learned had worn off, Kat felt oddly grateful to Mrs. Polanski for helping her mother out all those years ago. Clearly turning Helen in would have helped Maybelle even more, but Kat could understand—begrudgingly—why that hadn’t been an option.
    Kat took a deep breath when she reached the end of her story. “So, that’s it. Now that you know my mother is innocent, you can remove her from your wanted list, right?”
    Chief Kenny folded his bulky arms on the desk. If he was surprised by Helen’s guilt, his face didn’t reflect it. “I still want to see her,” he said.
    Kat’s heart lurched. “Why? Helen’s confession is enough to prove my mother had nothing to do with that robbery, right?”
    “You betcha,” Chief Kenny said, nodding. His head stilled, and his face fell a little. “I wanna apologize for suspecting her all these years.”
    Kat stared at him for a moment. As uncomfortable as the police chief had made her at the end of their first meeting, now she felt something bordering on warmth. She knew it took a lot of courage for someone in his position to admit to being wrong.
    She swallowed. “If she ever comes back to Cherry Hills, I’ll be sure to let her know.”
    Chief Kenny shook his head. “ When she comes back, Kat, even if it’s just for a short visit, tell her she’ll be welcome with open arms.”
    Kat smiled. “I’ll do that.”
    She was still smiling when she walked out of the police station.

FRAMED IN CHERRY HILLS
    “Something is wrong,” Imogene Little said, twining her fingers together. “Willow is never late.”
    Katherine Harper looked at the clock in Imogene’s home office. “It’s only twelve-fifteen. Maybe she got snagged in traffic.”
    Imogene shook her head, her auburn locks flying around her shoulders. “She would have called in that case. She would at least have picked up her phone when I called.”
    “Even if she were driving?”
    Imogene nodded. “She has one of those fancy hands-free sets. Something must be wrong. It’s the only possibility.”
    Kat wanted to say something to ease Imogene’s concerns until they knew for sure what was going on, but, having never met Willow Wu, she found herself at a loss for words. This Saturday afternoon in July marked the first time she had planned to meet the third member of the Furry Friends Foster Families—or 4F, for short—non-profit organization.
    Kat looked uneasily out the window as the steady sound of rain beating against the house filled the room. A storm had been brewing ever since the night before, and this morning’s rain hadn’t let up yet. It was the type of weather conducive to traffic accidents, which made Willow’s absence all the more worrisome. Still, Kat figured the possibility of a car wreck had already crossed Imogene’s mind, and she could see no sense in bringing it up.
    Imogene snatched up