Fat Cat At Large (A Fat Cat Mystery) Read Free Page A

it up with about thirty paper towels and took it out to the industrial-size trash bin, being careful to keep the cat inside the kitchen.
    When Chase reentered, Anna had redeposited Quincy in the office. Chase wondered what she’d given him to eat. Anna was adding the coconut extract and nuts to the eggs and brown sugar for the batch of Hula Bars she had just started.
    “You want me to finish them up and you can go out front?” asked Chase, scrubbing her hands with a stiff brush at the deep sink against the outside wall.
    “Absolutely not. I have no desire to come into contact with—”
    The tinkle of the chimes on the front door was followed by a booming voice. “Well, well, well. Here’s the happy family.”
    Anna groaned. “Not Gabe!”
    He didn’t come in often, mostly because his wife brought him his favorites, the Peanut Butter Fudge Bars Violet had suggested. Maybe, thought Chase, he’s come to buy them for himself since they’re splitting up.
    She rushed out front. Gabe Naughtly blocked the way of his wife and son as they were trying to get out the door.
    “What’s your hurry?” His rotund body produced a lot of sound. His gravelly voice filled the little room.
    “Mr. Naughtly, can I help you?” Chase hurried to the trio.
    The man swiveled his mostly bald head in her direction. “Hold your horses. I just got here.”
    Chase saw that Violet was packaging six of Gabe Naughtly’s favorites.
    “Gabe, leave me alone.” Doris looked distressed. Ted tried to look bored, but concern showed on his face, through the three-day stubble he’d cultivated. He was much taller than his little round father but, even at his young age, was tending toward beefiness.
    To Chase’s surprise, Gabe stepped aside to let his wife leave. Doris lifted her head and managed an air of aplomb as she swept past him. Ted threw his father an intense stare that Chase thought looked hostile.
    Gabe stood frowning after them for a few seconds. Then he stumped across the wooden floor to the counter. “I’ll have a half dozen of those.” He poked his finger at his usual, leaving a smudge on the glass.
    “All set,” said Violet, hoisting the white paper bag printed with the Bar None name and logo, a cookie bar beside a fat ring striped in dark red and pink.
    “Has the health inspector been here?” he asked Chase.
    Health inspector? Again? “No. He was completely satisfied last time you sicced him on us. Why would he be back?”
    “I told him about the rats behind your store.”
    “What rats? The ones you put there? The white ones you bought from the pet store like last time?”
    “Ha. Very funny. You won’t be laughing when they close you down. The rats might be indoors next time.”
    “I’m not laughing now.” Chase felt her face turning bright red, her heart racing. She clenched her fists to keep from punching him. The man was an absolute pig. “Vi, don’t sell those to this man. Gabe Naughtly, leave my shop. Don’t come here again.”
    “Over my dead body.”
    “If that’s what it takes.”
    She felt Vi and Laci’s amazed expressions at her implied threat. Gabe’s glare was just plain mean.
    “You’ll see,” he said as he stomped out.
    Vi silently set the paper bag below the counter. Laci got busy rearranging the prepackaged treat boxes. Chase stalked toward the kitchen, but Anna stood with one of the swinging doors open.
    “I heard everything,” she said. “Don’t worry, the health department won’t close us.”
    Chase collapsed onto a stool, starting to shake as her adrenaline rush let up. “What if he puts rats inside, instead of in the alley?”
    “Quincy would catch them,” said Anna.
    “But what if a customer saw one? He might do it, you know. That would be the end of us.”
    Anna stroked her hair. “He can’t do anything to us, sweetheart. The business is going well, we’re making a profit already, months ahead of our schedule. I even heard two women talking about our Toffee Bars in the