Page 97 of Christmas Mittens Murder

“She and my sister had history predating their tiffs in the garden club. Valencia used to sell real estate. Thea accused her of cheating her.”

“And what happened?”

“Val wouldn’t cheat anyone. Thea lost.”

“How did you know about it?” I pressed. “I thought you’d stopped speaking to Val years ago.”

“I had, but the whole town knew.”

“And why are you telling me this?”

“Seriously? Everybody also knows that you and your farmer friend are going around trying to be investigators.”

I shook my head. “We’re not, actually.” I spied Cam and the boys nearing Tia Tamale’s window. “I have to get back. Catch you later.” I wasn’t about to thank him for possibly lying to me. Except if what he said was true, Thea’s resentment could have been smoldering for a long time. But had it boiled over into a murderous rage?

Chapter Twenty-five

“See how cozy Ms. Mittens is, Auntie Cee?” Franklin asked after he and Arthur nearly dragged me out to the garden shed at four o’clock.

The cat had followed us all the way home, with Arthur scooping her into his arms to cross streets. Allie and Fuller had agreed she could stay—not in the garage but in the shed in the backyard—on the condition that tomorrow they’d take Mittens to a vet and see if she had an ID chip in her.

I had to admit it was a very nice shed, and the boys had built her a veritable clubhouse.

“It’s perfect, you guys,” I now said. They’d found a big cardboard carton and set it on its side, adding a couple of old beach towels to the bottom. Next to the box sat a bowl of water and another of dry cat food, a donation from a feline-owning neighbor. It was never very cold here. A cat used to being outdoors could weather the temperature, and the shed door could be propped open enough for the cat to get in and out. I assumed she’d do her business under the shrubs. If they decided to keep her, Allie would kit her out with box and litter soon enough.

Cam and I left the boys baking Christmas cookies with Fuller twenty minutes later. Colinas was lighting a person-sized public menorah in the park to celebrate the first day of Hanukkah. The town had hung Christmas wreaths and candles from the lampposts. It seemed only fair to give the Jewish holiday equal time. A farmer Cam had met mentioned the ceremony to her, and I was always happy to experience new things, having never attended a Hanukkah anything yet in my life.

Sunset, when the event would start, was at 4:50. We walked briskly.

“It was awfully nice of Allie to include me in her invitation to family dinner tonight,” Cam said.

“You’ve gotten to know everybody but Fuller since you’ve been here, and the boys love you,” I said. “We’ll have plenty of time to get back for supper. What time did she say?”

“Cocktails at six.”

“Easy peasy.”

With looming overcast skies, it seemed darker than usual at four-thirty. It was also chillier than it had yet been this trip, or maybe I was feeling the damp.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t really able to help clear Allie’s name before I left,” Cam said.

“No worries. The detective must be close to locking up the murderer. At least I hope he is.”

“He should be. One assumes he has access to cell phone records, search warrants, a team to check alibis, and more.”

“I’ll be sure to text you when they nail the guilty party for the crime.” We had exchanged cell numbers a few days earlier.

“I’d appreciate it,” Cam said.

We crossed Manzanita and headed into the center of Halstead Park.

“It’s supposed to be in the gazebo,” Cam said.

Sure enough, a small crowd was gathered around the circular roofed structure. Ed was across the way with his husband, who owned the art gallery. I didn’t see anyone associated with Val’s death, not even Detective Quan. Which was fine with me.

We’d arrived in time. A city councilperson tested the microphone and made a little speech about how Colinas strived to be welcoming to all. He introduced the rabbi from the Ahavas Achim synagogue, a woman in a blue sweater. She said a few things about the history of the holiday and the significance of lighting candles.

“I’ll explain for those of you not of our faith,” she began. “At home on the first night we light the middle candle and use it to light one more. I’ll save you from the Hebrew names.”

---