The Cats that Stalked a Ghost by Karen Anne Golden Page B

on his cell, while the Erie fire department’s siren began to wail.  Stevie Sanders ran in, and spoke to Daryl and Colleen first.  “There’s been an explosion at the pink mansion.  Where’s Katz?”
    Cora overheard Stevie, and rushed over.  “Jake and Katz haven’t arrived yet.  What’s going on?” she asked in a shrill, frightened voice.
    Daryl put his arm around the distraught woman, “Shhh, Aunt Cora.  Let me get to the bottom of this.”
    “What about Katz?” Colleen asked Stevie.
    “Are you sure she ain’t here?” he asked worriedly. 
    “Let’s talk outside,” Daryl said, taking Stevie by the arm.
    Stevie shrugged Daryl’s hand off.  “Talk about what?” he asked insolently. 
    Chief London joined them and eyed Stevie suspiciously. 
    Stevie speedily sized up the situation, and knew he’d become a person of interest.  “Let’s not get your Jockeys in a wad.  When Jake and I put out the fire in Ms. Kendall’s classroom, and found out we couldn’t go any further, Jake asked me to come and see if she’s here.”
    With red lights flashing, Officer Troy arrived in his cruiser. Chief London ran over and climbed in.  He called back to Stevie, “Son, I’ll want to speak to you later.”
    Stevie looked at him incredulously, then glanced back at Daryl.  “We need to help Jake.”  After he finished his sentence, Cora ran over.  “I’m coming, too.”  Before anyone could protest, she collapsed on the floor in a dead faint. 
    Johnny hurried over, and started patting her face.  Cora came to and said, “Just go without me.  Go!  Go now!”
    Johnny said to Daryl, “Where’s your car?”
    “Over there,” Daryl pointed. 
    “I want to go, too,” Colleen insisted, tagging along. 
    Daryl turned to her and said firmly, “Stay here with your mom, and try to calm everyone down.  We don’t want everyone and their brother rushing to the mansion.  I’ll call you as soon as I can.” 
    “Oh, you will, will you?” Colleen said angrily.  She turned on her heels, and stomped over to Mum and her date.  She flipped her hair back in anger, “Really? ‘Stay here,’ he says,” then to James, “Where are you parked?  We’ve got to get to the mansion.  We need to find Katz.” 

Chapter Thirteen
    Katherine slowly regained consciousness, and tried to get her bearings.  Where am I ?  she wondered.  Why is it so dark?  What am I doing here ? She panicked. 
    The floor was cold and damp, and the room had a moldy smell.  She rose on all fours, and began crawling, checking out the perimeter.  She surmised the area wasn’t more than six-by-six feet.  She bumped her head on something metal.  “Ouch,” she said. Rubbing her forehead, she hoped she hadn’t been cut, then noticed her crystal foreband was missing.  She hurriedly felt her neck. Her tanzanite necklace was gone, too. 
    Reaching up, she discovered the metal object was a cot of some kind.  She felt the coils of the box springs, but it didn’t have a mattress or cover.  She struggled to stand up, then sat down on the cot.  Her head was swimming, and she suddenly felt very nauseous.
    Leaning over the edge of the cot, trying not to be sick, she went over the events of what happened after the ceremony, when she tried to return the judge’s bag.  She remembered seeing the purse on the floor, and telling Elsa she’d be back in a minute.  She’d gone into the living room to check on Scout and Abra, and was horrified to find they’d gotten out of their cat carrier, which was impossible because it was brand new.  She’d put it together, and tested the tabs that held the two halves together.  Elsa or Tommy must have put the cats in, and not tested to make sure the metal gate was secure. 
    From where she had been standing at the mansion, she could see the living room door to the back office was open.  The feline escapees must have fled the living room, then ran into the office, kitchen, or sun porch.  Walking