Free Final Catcall: A Magical Cats Mystery by Sofie Kelly Page B

“Hi,” I said. “Where’s your car?”
    He smiled. Not a big smile, but a smile nonetheless. It chased away a little of the anger I was feeling.
    “Hi,” he said. “Hannah has it, so I’m driving a station car. What happened?”
    I gestured over my shoulder. “It’s Hugh Davis. Andrew and I found his body at the lookout.”
    He glanced briefly over at Andrew and then his eyes came back to me. “What were you doing here?”
    “Andrew had a piece of staging to bring over. He needed my truck. I drove because of the water main break in front of the hotel.”
    “Did you see anyone?”
    I shook my head and tucked a strand of windblown hair behind one ear. “No. We unloaded the section of staging. Then we decided to climb up to the lookout for the view. I didn’t see anyone.”
    “It’s okay,” he said. “I’m just glad you’re all right.” His hand moved as though he was going to touch me and then he stopped himself. “I’m going to talk to your friend for a minute. Stay here. Please?”
    I nodded. “Okay.”
    I wrapped my arms around my midsection and watched him walk over to Andrew. They talked for a couple of minutes and then Andrew started toward me. “We can go,” he said when he got within earshot.
    Marcus was just starting up the wooden steps to the lookout. As though he could feel my eyes on him, he turned and looked over his shoulder. After a moment’s hesitation I raised a hand and he did the same.
    I fished the keys to the truck out of my pocket. I couldn’t believe Hugh Davis was dead. I thought about him showing the little girl at the library how to be a cat just a few hours ago. What was he doing up on the lookout? Why would anyone have wanted to shoot him? He had been a bit of a diva, but that wasn’t really a reason to kill someone.
    I had a lot of questions and no answers. I couldn’t help glancing back toward the bluff one more time as I unlocked the truck.
    “He’s the reason you’re thinking of staying, isn’t he?” Andrew said.
    I stared at him across the bed of the truck. “What?”
    “The detective. He’s why you’re thinking about not coming home.”
    I sighed, tipped my head back and looked up at the stars just winking on overhead. I was thinking about not going back to Boston because of Maggie. And because of Roma. And Rebecca and Susan and every other friend I’d made in Mayville Heights. Because of all the work I’d put into the library. Because of my little house, and Owen and Hercules. And yes, because of Marcus.
    After a moment I dropped my head and looked at Andrew again. “No. There’s nothing going on between Marcus and me.”
    I slid onto the bench seat and leaned across to unlock the passenger door. Andrew got in, fastened his belt and then shifted sideways a little to look at me.
    “There was something, though,” he said. He held up a hand. “And don’t say no, because even if I hadn’t heard a few things around town, I’d be able to tell just watching the two of you.” He rested one hand, palm down on the dashboard. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
    “Because there’s nothing to tell. Marcus and I are friends. We went out a few times, but that’s it.”
    I didn’t want to talk about Marcus with Andrew. I didn’t really want to talk about him with anyone—not Maggie, not Roma. Even Owen and Hercules seemed to have an opinion. I didn’t want to hear that we could work things out. Because we couldn’t.
    Andrew didn’t say anything else until I pulled out of the lot. “So what went wrong?” he asked. “Don’t tell me he got drunk and married a waitress he’d just met?” I knew he was trying to lighten the mood. It was something he always did when things got tense or angry.
    “No, you’re the only person I know who’s done that.” I shot him a quick glance. “Marcus and I just don’t look at life the same way, that’s all.”
    Out of the corner of my eye I saw him nod his head. “I’d take it back if I could,” he said after