Fat Cat Spreads Out Read Free

County Fair had held the competitions for years, and she remembered seeing some when her parents took her to the fair as a young child.
    A shadow fell across the opening to the booth. Chase turned to find Quincy’s veterinarian running an appreciative eye over what they’d done so far.
    â€œI like the banner with your logo. The stripes are eye-catching.”
    â€œMike,” Chase said. “What are you doing here?”
    â€œI’m the vet for the fair. That’s the news I meant to tell you last night.”
    â€œThe fair needs a vet? I guess I haven’t read up on it enough. Is there livestock?”
    â€œNo, not actual farming livestock.”
    â€œI thought I saw a man unloading a sheep or a goat in the parking lot.”
    â€œThere aren’t any blue ribbons for farm animals, but there are a lot of pet contests. All the farm animals you’ll see here are pets. There’s an obstacle course for dogs and a Fancy Cat Contest. You might consider entering Quincy. But how’s Inger today?”
    â€œShe came in to work this morning,” Anna said. “I told her we’ll open limited hours all next week, since she’llbe there alone. One of those days she can close up early, or completely, and get herself to a doctor.”
    â€œYep, that’s what Anna told her.” Chase had her doubts Inger would see a doctor. She hadn’t seemed eager to do that. “I’ll run back to check on Quincy this afternoon, and I’ll also see if Inger is having any trouble. If she is, I’ll either stay or close the shop.”
    â€œGood idea,” Anna said. “I can always go back, too. Between us, we’ll get Inger taken care of.”

    No one noticed when the packages that were in the basket began to shift and quake. None of the three even saw the bright amber eyes peer over the top. The cat was able to leap out of the basket, land behind the table, and squeeze under the tarp that formed the back wall. Free of the confines of the basket, though the contents had provided good eating, he waddled along the aisle of booths, looking for something more to nibble on.

    â€œDid you see what I think I just saw?” Mike stepped into the booth and peered at the packed-dirt floor behind the table.
    Chase’s cell phone trilled. “It’s Inger.”
    â€œI hope she’s okay.” Anna leaned close to overhear the conversation.
    â€œMs. Oliver—”
    â€œCall me Chase, Inger.”
    â€œOkay. Quincy isn’t here. I just went in to give him his midmorning snack, and—”
    â€œMidmorning snack? Who told you he gets one of those?” Chase frowned at Anna. Was she still spoiling the cat with too many treats?
    Anna backed away from the phone and resumed unpacking a box.
    â€œMrs. Larson said she gives him one every day.”
    It was a wonder he hadn’t been gaining more weight. Chase glared at Anna’s back. “Has the outside door been open?” she asked Inger.
    â€œNo. We haven’t even had any deliveries. I know he didn’t go out the front door. The thing is, the office door was closed. I don’t know why he’s not in here.”
    Chase closed her eyes and tried to picture the flurry when they were packing up this morning. Had she seen Quincy when she’d latched the office door? She couldn’t remember.
    Mike turned to face her. “Is Quincy missing?”
    Chase nodded, then spoke to Inger. “Maybe I should come back and help look for him.”
    When she was a child and Julie nicknamed her Chase, no one could have foreseen that she would spend so much time chasing a cat.
    â€œI think I just saw him there.” Mike pointed at the tarp that formed the rear wall of the booth.
    â€œWhere?” Anna bent down and looked at the floor under the table.
    â€œHe left. He slid out under the tent.”
    Chase told Inger she thought the cat was at the fair andcut the call short.