Karen Anne Golden - The Cats That 02 - The Cats that Chased the Storm Read Free

this! Does he know he’s getting a brand new truck?”
    Mark smiled. “Yes, he’s so happy with the news, he’s already shopping.”
    Iris began rolling on Mark’s shoes, then grabbed his leg with her front paws.
    “Iris cut it out!” Katherine scolded, then to Mark, “Do you want me to put her up?”
    “She didn’t have her claws out. She probably smells my cat on my shoes.”
    “Yowl,” Iris sassed, deliberately crossing her eyes.
    Katherine turned to another page in Orvenia’s will. “Oh, here’s the part about Vivian Marston being second-in-line after me to inherit the estate.  That is, if I had refused to move here and take care of Abby.”
    Mark interjected, “I got some new information about Vivian last week … Not practically important now, but interesting.  I received a copy of Vivian’s will from her lawyer. Her will directed that if Vivian did not survive to receive her inheritance from Orvenia’s estate, then Vivian’s share should be divided up between her daughter Patricia, who would get 30 percent, the City of Erie, which would get 60 percent for some stated purposes, and the Erie County Animal Welfare Society, which would get 10 percent. Since you’re here and well on your way to satisfying the conditions in the will, none of this matters now, but it does indicate what Vivian’s priorities were.”
    Katherine nodded with a slight smile and flipped back two pages. “I see other people are receiving money.” She looked up, shocked. “Robert Colfax is receiving $200 thousand as well? Who’s he?”
    “Robert is your great uncle’s grandson. He’s seventy years old and lives in the city.”
    “I thought I was the only living relative,” she said, surprised.
    “Before William married your great aunt, he was married to a local woman. She passed away in 1931. They had two children: a son and a daughter. Their daughter was killed in a car accident when she was a teenager.”
    “Oh, how tragic. There’s so much I want to know about my family history.”
    “Talk to Carol. She’s a whiz on Erie history. Any more questions before I leave?” Mark asked, glancing at his watch.
    “Yes, one more. Could you call Monica DeSutter – Gary’s sister. It seems I’m to receive more money and I don’t want it.”
    “What’s with you?” Mark said incredulously. “You’re like a money magnet.”
    Katherine rolled her eyes.  “I want the money to go to Gary’s family. He bought a life insurance policy on himself before he died and named me the beneficiary.”
    “How much?” Mark inquired.
    “$100 grand.”
    “Give me Monica’s number and I’ll take care of it.”
    Katherine extracted her cell phone from her back pocket and scrolled down her contacts list until she found Monica’s number. “Here,” she said, handing him the cell. Mark looked and entered the number in his BlackBerry.
    “If you don’t have any more questions or concerns …” Mark began. “Okay, I think that should do it.”
    “If I think of anything else, I’ll call or text you,” she said, getting up.
    “Listen, I’ve got an appointment back at the office,” he said, snapping his briefcase shut. “We’ll talk before you leave.” Mark put on his jacket and Katherine walked him to the door.
    Before Mark left, he said, “Oh, we’re supposed to be getting nasty weather later this afternoon. We’re under a severe thunderstorm watch until six p.m.”
    “Again?” Katherine asked. “What is it with Indiana and the weather mood swings?”
    “Nicely put,” he said, leaving. “Later,” he waved.
    Katherine closed the door and walked into the atrium. “Hey, cats of mine. More storms are coming our way.”
    Katherine heard loud thuds as Lilac and Abby jumped from their valance perch to the fireplace mantle to the floor. As if on cue, Scout and Iris marched into the room, with Abby and Lilac following their lead. “Yowl,” Iris yawned. “Chirp,” Abby said sleepily. “For starters,” Katherine