Read A Picture-Purrfect Christmas (A Klepto Cat Mystery Book 13) for Free Online

Ms. Shelly,” Marissa said brightly. “Remember, I can walk…” She looked down. “…only not very far.”
    Just then a pert pony-tailed girl of seventeen appeared behind Marissa and continued wheeling her through the door. Shelly acknowledged her. “Hi, Erin. Thanks for bringing her.”
    “Sure,” the teen said with a wide smile. She then frowned. “…although, it was a bit dicey today.”
    “What do you mean?” Shelly asked.
    “Well, there was the wheelchair issue…we had to go to the disgusting basement and find this one for her to use.” She frowned. “It was covered with spider webs and I had to clean it—Rissy helped,” she added, motioning toward Marissa. “Then we had to scrounge for lunch. By the time I got home from class, all that was left to eat were a few stale chips and some cheese slices. I found enough change in my purse to buy two corn burritos and an apple, which we shared.”
    Shelly grimaced, then asked, “What happened to her new chair?”
    Erin shrugged. “Who knows? I’ve been in that house for seven years and a lot of my stuff has gone missing. Remember the bike I won in that contest? It disappeared. Mavis told me it must have been stolen. Well, I saw a kid on it a while later and he and his mother swear they bought it off Craigslist.” She leaned toward Shelly. “I think we all know what happened to Rissy’s chair and my bike.” She smirked. “Mrs. Rotten…I mean Cotton…sold them.”
    “Grrr,” Shelly said.
    Marissa stood awkwardly and hugged Shelly around the waist. “It’s okay. I’m okay.”
    Shelly smiled down at the girl, then turned toward Savannah. “This is Marissa and Erin. Girls, Ms. Savannah is going to help with the class. Today, she brought her son, Adam, to join us.”
    “Hi,” Savannah said, reaching her hand out to Marissa and then to Erin. “I see you brought your own camera.”
    The younger girl’s face brightened. “Yes. Errie got it for me.”
    When Savannah and Shelly glanced up at the teen, she said, “I found it at a thrift store. I charged the battery overnight. I hope it works okay. Which reminds me; I’d better get to work.”
    “Still have that job at the new hamburger place, huh?” Shelly asked.
    “Yes, twenty hours a week. I’m also taking classes at the junior college. Sure would like to buy an old car or even a bicycle—it’s awkward trying to work around the bus schedule, but it’s impossible to save much when I have to give most of my paycheck to Mavis.” Shrugging, she added, “Plus, I don’t know how to drive.”
    “Can I give you a ride to work?” Savannah offered.
    “Oh, how nice. No. I can hoof it from here. Thanks, anyway.” She turned to leave, then called out to Marissa, “Now take bus three to Johnson. From there, you can wheel around the corner to Sutter. The driver will help you put the chair on and off the bus. Okay, kiddo?”
    “I can give her a ride home,” Shelly offered.
    Erin thought for a moment, then said, “That would be great. I don’t think Mavis would get upset about that.” She turned sullen when saying, “But you never know with her.” She glanced at Marissa, then addressed Shelly, “Yeah, that would be safer, if you don’t mind driving her home.”
    “Not at all,” Shelly said, smiling.
    “Gotta go,” Erin said as she darted out through the door.
    “Thanks, Errie,” Marissa called after her. She turned to the others and asked, “What can I do to help you guys?”
    “I think we’re all set,” Shelly said. “Just visit with us while we wait for the others.”
    The girl settled back in her chair and picked up her camera.
    “Do you like photography?” Savannah asked.
    Marissa frowned momentarily. “I don’t know. I like art and Ms. Shelly says photography is an art.” She smiled up at Savannah. “So I think I’ll like it.”
    Adam held out his camera. “Your camera’s like mine…I mean like Savannah’s. She let me use it.”
    The two children compared cameras