The Black Cat Knocks on Wood Read Online Free Page B

tight for her to bend down to the floor.
    I crossed into the room and whisked the pages that weren’t even close to the water from the floor. I grabbed the mail, then stood and placed everything on the desk. When I turned around, I recognized Crystal Devlin because her face adorned advertisements all over town.
    She pasted on a fake-looking smile. “Thank you so much,” she said in a syrupy voice. “I’m sorry you had to witness this little accident. We seem to have had a run-in with a stray black cat this afternoon.”
    I paused with my hand halfway into my tote to retrieve the flyer.
    “There was a cat here in your office?” I said.
    Crystal nodded like this was the most tragic event she could have imagined. “I walked in and there he sat, on Jordan’s desk. A huge black cat with big green eyes.”
    Good grief.
Had Pearl brought Hitchcock to town after our conversation?
    “I don’t know how he got in here,” Jordan said. “I did
not
leave the door open.”
    Crystal looked down at the other woman. “Don’t use that tone with me, Jordan. I saw the cat, big as life, and it didn’t walk in through the wall. Now, Miss . . .”
    She turned to me and offered a hand with perfect French-manicured nails. “I’m Crystal Devlin.”
    We shook, and I introduced myself, well aware of Crystal’s discreet inspection of my T-shirt, shorts, and flip-flops.
    “Are you in the market to purchase real estate?” she said.
    “Um, no,” I said, “but about that cat. Where is he now?”
    Crystal shrugged. “Anybody’s guess. He took off after racing around the room like he was possessed.”
    “Had you seen him around before?”
    Crystal shrugged. “I don’t think so.”
    Jordan looked up from her task and shook her head. “Certainly not in here.”
    “Were you chasing the cat? Is that how all of this happened?” I swept my arm to indicate the mess.
    “All I did was walk in,” Crystal said. “I’m between appointments and came by to make some phone calls. Opened the door, and the animal went berserk. I’m not sure what
she
was doing.” She looked pointedly at Jordan.
    Jordan ignored Crystal and dragged a nearby wastebasket closer to her. She gathered the sopping-wet towels and threw them into the basket, though I had the distinct impression she’d have loved to throw them at Crystal.
    “Now, Sabrina,” Crystal said, “If you’re not buying real estate, do you have something to sell?”
    “No, I didn’t come about real estate at all.” I glanced at my tote. Would these women ID Hitchcock if I showed them the flyer with his picture front and center? I decided to take the chance and pulled out the page.
    “This may not be the best day to ask since you’ve just had a bad experience with a black cat.” I showed them the flyer and explained about the upcoming adoption event. “I’m gathering donations to fund the pet food, vaccinations, and spaying and neutering of the future adoptees.”
    Their expressions didn’t change when they glanced at the picture of Hitchcock.
    “Of course I’ll donate,” said Crystal. “Just because one black cat caused me bad luck today doesn’t mean I have anything against the species in general. I’ll grab my checkbook from my desk.”
    I bit my lip to keep from responding to her bad luck remark.
    Her heels tap-tapped across the tiled floor. She opened a door and went inside.
    Jordan was still on her knees, carefully picking up pieces of the broken glass and tossing them in the trash. I stooped to help her and noticed tufts of black cat hair on the floor, too.
    I didn’t want the cat they saw to be Hitchcock, but what were the odds that a different black cat showed up here?
    “Did the cat you saw resemble the cat on my flyer?” I asked.
    Jordan glanced up. “Should it?”
    “I don’t know, just making conversation.”
    “Black cats look pretty much alike,” she said. “All I know is I didn’t leave the freakin’ door open. Why would I when every little