Read Un-Fur-tunate Events (Vanessa Abbot Cat Cozy Mystery Series Book 4) for Free Online Page B

met
before?”

    “Only briefly, you stopped by my cat
sanctuary with your foundation,” Vanessa explained.

    “Yes, how could I be so forgetful?”
Steve apologized.

    Vanessa looked down at the items that
moved along the conveyor belt. “Do you cook your own meals? I don’t see any
frozen food.”

    Steve smiled. “Yes, I’ve been cooking
for years. I’m not a chef, but I do know how to make a lot of meals from
scratch.”

    “Did you ever work at a restaurant?”
Vanessa asked.

    “No, I wish. Before I was hired at the
foundation, I was an assistant accountant at the hospital where Frank and
Andrea worked,” Steve revealed. “I barely made ends meet back then. I couldn’t
even afford takeout, and found I was pretty good at making my own meals. I
didn’t have the ingredients I can afford now, but my dishes were palatable.”

    Vanessa started stacking her cans of
cat food behind Steve’s groceries. “Most of my culinary skills involve me
opening cans for my cats.”

    Steve laughed. “I only cook meals for
myself.”

    “Didn’t you make the sandwiches for the
foundation’s picnic?” Vanessa offered.

    “Yes, if it were up to them, we would
be eating out of a vending machine.” Steve quipped.

    “Does the foundation take a lot of
excursions like the picnic?”

    Steve stiffened at the question. “Not
until recently.”

    “The foundation must be doing quite
well to be able to take a break from the office. How does the foundation make
its money?” Vanessa asked.

    Steve looked to the cashier who was
taking her time scanning his items. “We are a non-profit foundation. We receive
donations from supporters across the country.”

    “Are any of the supporters also
patients?”

    A line of customers started to form
behind Vanessa. Steve gave the cashier a sour glance and began to bag his own
groceries. “Our foundation has saved thousands of lives throughout the years.
We are highly respected.”

    “Jerry seemed like he wouldn’t agree
with you,” Vanessa implied.

    Steve clenched his teeth as he placed
his final items into a grocery bag and handed his money to the cashier. He grasped
the handle of his cart of groceries and walked out without another word.

    The cashier gave Vanessa a sympathetic
grin as she ran the multitude of cat food.

    As the doors of the market slid open,
Vanessa was startled to find Teddy resting comfortably on top of the BMW’s
roof. Steve was gently petting Teddy who was enjoying the attention.

    “Is he one of your cats?” Steve
inquired as he watched Vanessa approach.

    “Yes, one of the naughty ones,” Vanessa
joked. “Do you have any cats at home?”

    “No,” Steve replied. “Usually, I am
pretty particular about my BMW, but this cat is really enjoying himself.”

    Teddy rolled over. Steve smiled and
rubbed the cat’s exposed belly.

    “His name is Teddy,” Vanessa added.

    Steve gently picked up Teddy and walked
with Vanessa as she carried her bags of groceries over to her car.

    “Jerry was not liked by everyone at the
foundation. He didn’t get along with most people,” Steve acknowledged. “Jerry
wouldn’t let us forget that without him the foundation wouldn’t function.”

    “Why would he be so irreplaceable?”
Vanessa asked.

    Steve set the cat down onto the
pavement. “Why are you so interested in Jerry?”

    “This is the first time someone was
murdered at my home. I am curious to find out more about him,” Vanessa
explained.

    “He was integral to our work. Jerry
maintained our patient list because of his experience working with hospitals. I
took him for granted sometimes. We really didn’t get along.”

    “Jerry did seem furious with you at the
picnic,” Vanessa remarked. “Was he asking for more money?”

    “That is none of your business!” Steve
shouted as he marched back to his BMW.

    Flossy appeared from the bushes and
jumped through the backseat window. Vanessa stepped into the station wagon. She
looked down at Teddy