Murders of a Feather, page 19
Handling a barn cat can be tricky. Some barn cats are like house cats, often living an indoor/outdoor life. Others were truly feral or wild—okay with the people they knew but frightened by the rest of humanity. I had no idea what I was in for but hoped for a tame population of kitties. Uncooperative felines turn into a twisty bundle of claws and teeth. I’d seen plenty of cat bites over the years and wanted to avoid that.
The GPS sent me down a road that paralleled the Hudson River. The next turn at a mailbox must be their driveway, since it led toward a large farmhouse with a red barn. As I drove the F-150 toward the house, I noticed three dogs running on the driveway determined not to let me proceed. Weaving in and out, scooting in front of the truck barking, I slowed down considerably as I drove along so as not to hit them.
The ruckus they raised brought a woman out onto the porch, her long, gray hair cascading down her back in a loose French braid. While I watched she called the dogs, then signaled for me to park near the house. As I drew closer, I noticed a cane in her right hand. She deliberately remained on the porch, not attempting to navigate the stairs.
My pockets were stuffed with cat treats, but the dogs sniffed them out right away, resulting in wagging tails and happy faces. Wading into the pack of canines, I asked each mixed shepherd to sit, and when they obliged they got a yummy snack.
After the barking died down, I called up, “Hi, there. I’m Dr. Kate Turner, here to take care of your barn cats.” The dogs followed close by up the stairs. If the homeowner had any doubt, the sign on the side of the truck read Oak Falls Animal Hospital. No sense taking any chances. Mari and I once were greeted by a shotgun-toting property owner.
This barn call posed no threat.
“Welcome. Eunice DeVries,” the woman said. “Let’s go inside and get out of the cold.”
When we entered the house, I was surprised to see a long, slim space running the width of the house that served as a mudroom. One of the older dogs broke away, grabbed a worn toy from the tiled floor, and retired to a dog bed in the corner. A comfortable pet space, complete with plenty of toys, beds, food, and water, muddy dogs could bed down in this heated area till they dried off.
“That’s ingenious. Is it original to the house?” I asked her.
“Yes. My great-grandfather was an architect and dog lover. They considered this mudroom very innovative for his time.”
She opened the double doors into the house, and I followed her inside. Stuffy and overheated, it was chock full of huge mahogany furniture, many pieces oversized for a small farmhouse.
Eunice must have noticed my surprise. “The furniture comes from our former place in Rhinebeck. When my parents passed, I kept several pieces that I knew and loved. They’re too big, I know, but I grew up with them. They’re family.”
I didn’t know about family pieces. After my mom and brother died, my dad sold our house and all the furniture. “Too many memories,” he’d told Gramps.
My text chime sounded as I followed her slow progress into the living room.
Be there in 5 minutes
“Is that Dr. Mike?” Eunice asked.
“Yes. He’s almost here.” The heat inside felt practically unbearable. I wanted to rip off my coat and peel down to my undies, but instead I made do with unzipping my coat and draping it over my arm. Sweat beaded up on my forehead.
To take my mind off the sweat rolling down my back, I asked, “How feral are your barn cats?” I wanted to know what I was in for. Casually, I wiped my brow with the back of my hand.
Eunice didn’t notice.
“All of them are pretty tame and friendly. They usually follow me around. The mommy cat wandered in about twelve years ago, scrawny and scared. The next year before we could get her spayed, she became obviously pregnant. After the kittens were born everyone got neutered. We lost one to a coyote, so now they get locked up at night in the barn.”
“Good idea. Would you like to come out with us?” I fanned my face in a futile attempt to attract cool air.
“No, thanks. This arthritis is bothering me something fierce today. Unless you need me, I’ll stay here with the dogs. They’ll recognize Dr. Mike’s truck. He treats our horses.”
“Alright. I hope you feel better. I’ll let myself out.” As I left, she was rubbing her knee. On my way down the hallway, I passed a half-open door where an elderly man hooked up to oxygen dozed in a wheelchair.
After going back through the mudroom, I snuck out, making sure no dogs broke past me. The cold outside air felt fantastic. As I walked down the stairs, I saw a truck come lumbering up the driveway.
Mike climbed out, then removed two bags from the back seat.
“Let me guess,” I said. “A capture net.”
That made him laugh. “Our lunch. Two turkey sandwiches with a side of fruit and two coffees to go,” he answered. “It’s a late lunch.”
“I’m sure that turkey will be a hit with the kitties.” I walked beside him, my house call bag in my hand.
“Who says I’m going to share?” His steps matched mine as we made our way to the barn. He lifted the latch then pulled the door opened to reveal large stalls and two that immediately whinnied at us.
“Eunice wants me to float some teeth,” he said. “Can you stick around to help?”
I’d filed the points off equine teeth in school, referred to as “floating” by most horse owners. “Sure,” I answered. The pungent smell of horse and hay tickled my nose. To the right of the door stood a square wooden table and four chairs. The barn looked neat and tidy.
“Let’s eat first. I’m starving.” From the first bag, he took out a container of wipes and proceeded to clean the table. Then Mike put the second bag and the coffees, some paper plates and napkins, and packets of mustard and mayo in front of us. “I wasn’t sure what you liked, so I got a little of everything.”
A broom hung on the nearby wall. He lifted it off and used it to clear our chairs of straw and dust.
“You’ve done this before,” I said after I sat down. “Dining alfresco in the barn.”
“Yep. Before her knee started acting up, Eunice would bring me cookies or a sandwich while I worked.”
We unwrapped the very generous turkey sandwiches. Before I could take a bite, a pitiful meow sounded down by my feet. There sat a striped tabby cat, more interested in the turkey than in me.
Mike took a piece of meat from his sandwich. “Here you are, Tiger.”
This might be easier than I thought. “How many cats are there?”
“The mommy cat, Tiger, and her four kittens. Let me see if I get their names right. Tootsie, Tommy, Taffy, and Tiny. Tiny is the big one.”
By now cats began appearing from all directions. They mewed and purred and bumped against our legs. I tried to pet each one to familiarize them with my smell. Again, they were more interested in the turkey.
“Why don’t we see if we can get the vaccines done now?” he suggested. “I’ll hold while you do the shots.”
Mike took a package of turkey breast out of the bag and laid it out on the table. When he scooped up Tiger, she spotted the meat immediately. While she nibbled, I checked her lymph nodes then gave her a yearly feline distemper multi-shot and a rabies booster. She didn’t even flinch.
Once finished, we put her down and lifted up another one. They were all vaccinated in less than twenty minutes. I began to suspect Mike could have done this all by himself. Could this be sort of a date?
Mike took the remaining crumbs, brushed them on a paper plate and the family of felines all dug in.
“Take half of my sandwich,” I told him, noticing he’d sacrificed some of his lunch to the cats. “I ate before I got here.”
He took another bite of sandwich and washed it down with coffee. Today, in this light, his eyes were a deep shade of blue-gray. “Thanks, I’ll take you up on that.”
We sat there comfortably, the cats circling the table just in case. Despite the cold outside, the barn stayed comfortable, a tribute to horse body heat.
“By the way,” he said, finishing his sandwich and removing the lid from the coffee. “My staff says you’re sort of famous for solving crimes.”
I felt my face begin to flush as I admitted my luck in catching murderers. “I suppose I got the habit from watching my Gramps go over evidence files. He investigated arsons for the NYC fire department.”
“An unusual hobby for a young girl.” One of the cats jumped into his lap, checking for scraps.
“So I found out.”
“I thought I’d try to help you.” He absentmindedly stroked Tiger, who started purring up a feline storm. “So I asked the staff about Alicia and José to see if they had any ideas about who killed them. One of our part-time technicians lives in Oak Falls, and she had quite a bit to say.”
I leaned forward. “What did you find out?”
“Gossip says Alicia was a world-class flirter. Guys fell for her all the time. She acted like a very merry widow until she hooked up with José.”
“How did that happen?”
“I believe she met him at the medical practice he worked for. Some kind of nervous stomach issue, my source said.”
“A doctor or PA dating a patient? Isn’t that a big no-no?” One of the kitties with sharp claws tried to climb up my leg, which I discouraged.
“In principle, I suppose, yes. It’s a little murky if he transferred her care to someone else.”
“What about José? What was he like?”
“Studious. Serious. Nice guy. Supposedly he adored Alicia. He even went over to Crystal’s place to tell her to stop harassing his fiancée.”
“The ex-mother-in-law, Crystal? He threatened to take legal action?”
“Yes. Oh, and José gave notice at work since the couple planned to move to California.”
I didn’t reveal to Mike that I already knew the couple’s plans.
He checked his watch. “We need to get started on floating those teeth.”
We threw our garbage in the waste can and secured the lid. Mike checked his bag to make sure he had a rasp and restraint twitch if needed. We made our way over to one of the stalls. A big chestnut with a white stripe stuck his head all the way out and nuzzled Mike, searching for treats. “After we finish, dude,” he told the horse.
He opened the stall door and clicked a lead onto the horse’s halter.
“Oh, I almost forgot,” he said, turning toward me. The horse stomped his rear leg and shook his head. “Some guy kept sending Alicia love notes after she was nice to him. He became quite a pest. That’s why she developed a stomach problem—from anxiety. My technician didn’t know the name of the guy, but it had been going on for years.”
He took out the long rasp file then added, “Also, Alicia thought someone was watching her.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Mike and I had fun working as veterinary dentists on the horses, who didn’t enjoy having their teeth filed at all. Copious amounts of foamy horse slobber went flying everywhere, as Mike slid his fingers along the cheek side of the chestnut’s teeth.
“We’re done,” he told me. “This guy deserves an apple wafer.” From his jacket pocket he brought out several chewy treats and held them out on his flattened hand.
I scratched the horse’s long nose as he chomped away. We moved to the next horse, a placid older bay gelding with perfect manners. His floating didn’t take long, only a few irritating places on the back teeth to fix.
While we worked, I noticed Mike’s efficient and compassionate way with his patients, always stopping and comforting them if they spooked. He genuinely enjoyed animals, of all shapes and sizes. He also was a nice guy, working on his own time to help out this elderly couple who had mobility issues.
I tried to casually check him out. Taller than me, he appeared more muscular than I remembered, but large-animal work can do that to you.
What I didn’t feel? That zing you get sometimes when you meet a stranger, that crazy attraction that made no sense. Cupid’s golden arrow didn’t hit any target today but instead shot past me to disappear in the air. I was attracted to Mike, yes, but in a quiet way.
That didn’t worry me. So far all the guys I’d “zinged” with had led to short bumpy relationships, and ultimately heartbreak.
“What are you thinking about?” Mike asked. “You were staring into space.”
Embarrassed, I said the first thing that popped into my head. “Cupid.”
“Ah, Valentine’s Day, which is coming up soon. If you aren’t busy maybe we can go out to dinner? That is, if you don’t have plans.” The bay pawed with his front hoof, waiting for more apple wafers.
When he looked at me, his gaze steady, I felt a warm feeling, a sense of peace. “I’d love to, Mike.”
“I’ll book a restaurant. Are there any types of food you hate?” he asked, “because I don’t care. I’ve been told I have an unrefined palate.”
“So you’ll eat anything.”
“Basically.”
“Me too. Do you want me do some research? There are a few new restaurants in Kingston.”
“Nope. I’ve got it covered.” He leaned toward me. I expected a kiss but instead he lifted something out of my hair. “Big horse goober,” he said and flicked it onto the hay.
I appreciated the grooming fix, but I felt a bit disappointed Mike didn’t make a move on me.
His phone chime pinged then rang again. “Work,” he explained.
“Isn’t it your day off?” I questioned.
“Yes, but you know how that goes.”
“I do indeed.” We straightened up our mess and made sure the horses and cats were fine. When the kitties noticed we were leaving, they began a pitiful mewing, hoping more food would miraculously appear. “Should we turn the horses out?” I asked, ready to let them out of their stalls and into the outside corral.
“No. Eunice said her stable help is coming over and to leave everyone in their stalls for now.”
“So, I’ll see you…?” I knew we had a Valentine’s Day date, but not much else.
He carefully waded through the pool of cats at our feet. “Whenever you want, Kate. I’ve got to warn you, though, I’m kind of a serious guy. I’ll tell you right up front, if you want someone flashy, that isn’t me.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m coming off a two-year relationship,” he explained. “We broke up because she couldn’t stand the number of late nights I worked, being on call. Scrubs that smelled like a barn. I haven’t dated since.”
His eyes reflected a pain I recognized.
“I don’t know what to say.” My mind went blank while the horses stomped and whinnied behind us and the cats curled round our legs.
So he kissed me. Really kissed me.
And somewhere Cupid fired another golden arrow in an attempt to pierce my frozen heart.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Only professional decorum and the green light on the barn camera deterred us from a roll in the hay. From the sparks that flew between us, I was surprised we didn’t singe our clothes or set the straw on fire. Our kiss goodbye held a promise I hoped would come true.
So much for not feeling the zing.
The drive back to the clinic passed quickly, as though I were on autopilot. I wanted to keep our budding relationship secret for now. I loved my friends, but sometimes they wanted to share too much.
The parking lot looked freshly plowed, with our landscaping guy Pinky thoughtfully breaking down the piles of dirty snow on our property line. Cindy told me Pinky had vowed to keep our parking lot the cleanest in town for helping little Bella. After I pulled in close to my apartment door, I got out and unloaded the back of the truck. A loud cawing caught my attention. Our recovered crow patient flew over and landed on the truck roof.
“Were you waiting for me? Here you go,” I said, knowing I was getting the bird into a bad habit. There were still a few apple treats in my coat pocket, so I removed them and tossed them on the roof. When I headed toward my door, the other crows fluttered out of the trees and landed on the truck beside him. Their very sharp beaks stabbed each treat, breaking them into pieces.
“Enjoy yourselves,” I said. “It’s on the house.” Buddy barked a welcome from behind the door, but the crows barely looked up. They must be used to our goings in and out by now.
Once settled in the apartment, I decided to straighten up, full of restless energy. With her first round of treatments finished, I’d brought Bella over from the hospital along with her bed. Both dogs nailed their potty walk. I noticed the puppy watched him, copying some of the things he did. But she still hadn’t barked.
Despite wanting my privacy, I fought an irresistible urge to tell someone about Mike, and Gramps was first on that tell list.
“Hi, sweetie,” Gramps answered, music playing in the background on his end.
“I’ve got some news,” I blurted out.
“From the tone of your voice, I’d say it was good news. Wait a minute. Let me turn this down. Alexa. Stop.”
The music stopped. “Gramps, I’m getting worried about you and Alexa. You’re spending a lot of time together.”
He laughed. “Very funny, Katie. To tell you the truth I’m finding more and more things to use her for, such as reminding me about appointments. Or timing the asparagus.”
“I’m glad my Christmas present is useful.”
“She’s much better than a sweater.”
“I’ll remember that.” While we chatted, I went over to the refrigerator and poured myself an iced tea.
“So tell me some good news. They caught Babs’s killer?”
His voice sounded enthusiastic. I knew how worried he’d been about my safety.
“Nope. But the chief is working as hard as he can to solve all three murders. No, the good news is much closer to home. My home.”
“You’ve won the lottery and we’re rich,” he joked. “Or maybe…you’ve met somebody?”
“Yes.” He astonished me with our psychic connection. “How did you guess?”
