Page 23 of Promise Keeper

"Oh, it's you. You do realize Ellsworth is an invited guest and you're just someone who crashes in unannounced?"

He pounced up onto the couch and snuggled in beside me, the whole while glaring alien-green dagger eyes across the family room at Ellsworth.

Ellsworth growled and bolted from the room, his paws padding at light speed down the hall and up the stairs.

"That was rude," I told Spook. "The dogs are used to your antics, but he's a new kid here and only staying for a week."

I picked him up and placed him on the floor. "Go make nice. Go!" I shooed him off. He raised his nose in the air and pranced away, disappearing through the kitchen.

A glance at the clock told me it was a quarter till eight in the morning. I had to be at the church in fifteen minutes to meet Johnna and Roy. Anna and Logan caught up with us after school on weekdays. We were supposed to be starting our plans for the town's Spring Fling that was tentatively on the books for next month. In light of the investigation going on, I knew any planning was out the window and we'd spend our time trying to solve this mystery.

Ben skidded into he kitchen in his socks, reminding me of Tom Cruise in Risky Business, except Ben had his pants on. "Have you seen my shoes? And good morning, and goodbye as soon as I get those shoes. I'm late. I didn't set the alarm. I thought you'd come upstairs last night."

I was in charge of the alarm clock. I guess we knew what happened when he was left to his own devices.

"I was so engrossed in reading that I didn't realize what time it was."

Mia trudged into the room with her jacket on and her backpack slung over her shoulder. She dropped Ben's shoes on the floor. "There. Now come on! I have to get to school!"

"That black cat's in the house," Ben said, shoving his feet in his shoes.

"Spook," I said.

"It's a good thing I wasted time putting screening on the outside of the attic vent. He must've clawed his way right through. The attic door was cracked, so he got it open to get into the house."

"He's a magic cat," I said. "There's no stopping magic cats."

"Magic cat or not, those raccoons have free access again. I'll have to try something stronger like cement." He frowned and kissed my cheek. "These animals are going to be the death of me."

"You're being dramatic." I kissed him on the lips and pushed him toward the door. "Now get out of here. You're makingmelate."

I missed Monica. She made sure we had coffee and the dogs were fed. She made the whole process run smoother than I could muster without her. Mornings weren't my strong suit.

With Mia and Ben out to start their day, I filled Ellsworth's bowls as directed by Irene's instruction binder, and poured some kibble into Liam's. I gave him a small helping of wet food in the evening, but he got his crunchies in the morning. "Liam!" I shouted. "Ellsworth! Breakfast, guys!"

I listened for them to run down the stairs, but heard nothing.

"Liam? Ellsworth? Spook?" Maybe the sneaky one would want some food.

No barking, no meowing, hissing, or growling. No pitter-patter of little paws. That could only mean one thing. They were into something.

I hustled down the hall, grabbed the newel post and stormed up the steps. "Liam!"

At the top of the stairs, I heard rustling coming from behind the attic door. Ben must've closed it before coming down. I stopped in front of it and listened. What if the shuffling I heard was raccoons and not Liam and Ellsworth?

"Liam?" I shouted. "Ellsworth?"

Little hops down the steps sounded from behind the door, then a whine and scratching to be let out. "Liam," I said, opening the door. "What were you--what do you have?"

He bolted between my legs and into Mia's bedroom. I chased after him, and dove to all fours trying to catch his back legs as they disappeared beneath the bedskirt.

"Out from under the bed, mister!" I called, but he was hunkered in up by the headboard against the wall. Shoe boxes, books, and a couple suitcases stuffed under the bed blocked my reach. He gnawed on something, growling at me possessively, as if to tell me I've been warned not to try and take it from him.

"Fine, keep it," I said, giving up. I sat back on my knees just in time for Ellsworth to dash by me and duck under the bed with Liam. They went from enemies to co-conspirators in less than twenty-four hours.

Back out in the hall, I made sure the attic door was closed tight. I was already late to work, there was no time to go see what kind of mess the raccoons made up there. It would keep.

I checked the time on the alarm clock on my nightstand. It was a few minutes past eight. Still wearing my clothes from last night, I needed some time to freshen up. I'd get my cell phone downstairs and let Roy and Johnna know I'd be late.

---