The Cat, the Mill and the Murder: A Cats in Trouble Mystery by Leann Sweeney Page A

all.”
    With Syrah and Merlot looking up at me, I explained he was needed at the mill and why. No doubt Boots was right beside my two living, breathing cats.
    “That is
fantastic
,” Dustin said. “Those bones may have creeped me out, but to actually be able to say I helped with a job like this?
Wow
. I’m on my way.”
    “I have to go there to meet Shawn, so I can pick you up,” I offered.
    “I’m finding my way around town without a problem,” he said. “Meet you there.”
    “Sure.” After I disconnected, I spoke to my onlookers, making sure to blink a lot. Cats respond to human blinks. “Well, friends, I made someone happy today. But Jeannie’s in a hospital and she needs you, Boots.” I closed my eyes.
Jillian, you just spoke to an invisible cat.
I shook my head and mentally prepared myself for the next encounter of the day—with an impatient Shawn.
    Before I left, I grabbed a bagel and filled a travel cup with sweet tea. I was certain I would be playing referee between the police and Shawn. He’d want those expensive shelters inside the fence, if not inside the mill. That could be a problem if the entire mill was indeed a crime scene.
    When I turned into the village and passed the church, I first noticed a yellow Penske moving van. Then I saw a crowd of people standing outside the mill fence. What was happening? Had my stepdaughter and editor-in-chief, Kara, gotten wind of the bones and played town crier in the
Mercy Messenger
this morning?
    But as I drove up to the side street leading to the mill, I knew this wasn’t about anything in the newspaper. This was all about town politics.
    Penelope Webber, wearing a ruby red wool coat, stood between two groups of men in suits. After I slid from behind the wheel and approached them, I heard the men shouting questions at Penelope. But because they were all talking at once, I couldn’t understand anything they were saying. I doubted Penelope could, either.
    I didn’t even hear Shawn come up beside me until he whispered, “Will you look at that?”
    I stopped and faced him. “What’s going on?”
    “Bunch of idiots going at it,” he said.
    “A few faces look familiar. Where have I seen them?” I said.
    “Probably at the town council meeting. To the right of Penelope Webber, you got Ward Stanley’s group of investors. To the left, you got Lucas Bartlett’s crew.”
    “Ah. Condos versus urban village,” I said with a nod.
    “That sums it up. Inside the mill is the woman who belongs to the SUV parked over there. I saw her go in with Chief Baca and Candace.” Shawn nodded at a black Expedition parked near the gate. “Penelope unlocked the gate for them. And ignored me completely. I’m left here with fifty grand worth of donated cat shelters.” He thumbed behind him at the rental truck. “And I’ve got to get that truck back by five this afternoon. Can you help me move these shelters beyond the fence so they won’t get stolen?”
    “Let me talk to the woman with the keys,” I said.
    As I walked toward the crowd filled with some people I knew but many I didn’t, and all of them talking at once, Dustin pulled up in his Volkswagen.
Ah,
I thought.
Here’s my ticket inside.
    He hurried toward me, pulling his jacket tightly around him in the stiff breeze. “Dumb me managed to get lost after all.”
    “These country roads can be confusing.” I hooked his arm and whispered, “Come with me and follow my lead on this, okay?”
    “But—”
    “You’ll understand in a minute,” I said.
    When we reached the little crowd, Penelope turned and said, “There you are, Dustin. So nice to see youagain, too, Jillian. Have you met these wonderful people?”
    Before I could get a word out, Penelope introduced Ward Stanley. “This mill was named after his great-grandmother, Lorraine, may she rest in peace. He’s gathered this group of people hoping to get his mill back and change it into something amazing.” She rattled off their names and each man