I follow her into the kitchen, thanking her for everything and once again voicing my hope that she is okay. Standing on the doorstep, she waits until I turn the lock and wave permission for her to go.
I barely have time to wash my face and slip into my nightclothes before oblivion slips over me, the rumbles of the cat’s purr lulling me to sleep.
Chapter Four
I wake to a bright sunlight streaming in my windows. In my haste to get into bed last night, I forgot to close my curtains and set my alarm. Memories of yesterday’s events flood my mind. A murder at an Oxford college. I heard one of the security guards comment that it had never happened before. Just my luck to stumble across the scene.
It’s tempting to pull the covers over my head, staying tucked away in the quiet of my bedroom, but I imagine Harry would bang the back door down if I failed to turn up. Rolling over, I let the warm rays clear away the last of the cobwebs in my brain. Yesterday was a nightmare brought to life, but today doesn’t have to be. I’ve made a new friend in Harry. Today I’ll get to meet my team for the first time. There are plenty of good reasons to get out of the bed. With that thought, I push down the covers, encouraged that this new day will be better than the one before.
I’m barely upright before the cat leaps onto the bed next to me, howling his disapproval of my lie-in. “All right, I’m coming. I guess you want some food. Maybe a can of tuna?”
He scoffs his food before leaping onto the tabletop and plonking a paw in the middle of my bowl of Crunchy Nut. Waving my spoon at him, I grumble, “I wasn’t done with that, cat.” He counters by sticking his head in my bowl and lapping up the milk. Well played.
His bright yellow cat eyes shrink into slits, paw ready to swipe should I detour from my morning preparations. I shower in record time but stall in front of my cupboard. I turn to the cat for advice, “Should I opt for sophisticated or personable?” I lay two different options on the bed, a simple white sweater set versus a navy dress spotted with tiny ladybirds.
The cat comes to the rescue, leaping on the bed, and curling up on the sweater set. By the time I get him off it, the damage has been done. I roll my eyes as I look at the outcome, muttering, “Next time, can you give advice without shedding half your fur on my clothing?” However, I’m secretly pleased with his choice, much preferring to be myself on my second attempt at a first day at work.
I toss a few hair bands onto the floor to distract him while I struggle with my hair. When it’s clear it isn’t going to look any better, I snap my fingers, letting the cat know I’m done. He herds me into the kitchen and out the door. After locking up, I turn to find him staring up at me from the back steps, eyes bright with intelligence. “H, you are the strangest cat I have ever met in my life.”
I’ve no risk of getting lost this morning with H taking the lead through the college grounds. His tail swishes left and right, his steps light and eager. Everyone we pass calls hello.
Hello to the cat, that is.
When we enter the flower garden, it hits me just how weird my life has become. “Yesterday, I stumbled across a crime scene. Today, I’m following a cat. Am I ever going to have a regular old, average, run-of-the-mill day here at St Margaret?” I could almost swear I hear the cat snicker. That’s impossible.
“Let’s go to my office, set my bag down and then see if we can find some coffee. I’m sure Harry can show us where to go.” The cat must agree as he marches straight to the door marked “Ceremonies”, his tail furiously swishing as I hunt for the door key in the depths of my purse. The lock tumbles over, the door opening with a satisfying click. The cat shoves his nose into the gap, pushing his way into the room.
“Miaow,” sauntering over to the desk, it reaches up with its front paws to perch onto the handle of the top right drawer.
“Coffee first, H.” My announcement is greeted by a hiss. “Okay… drawer first, then coffee?” He settles back onto his haunches. I take that as a yes.
I cross the room, spinning my desk chair until it faces the closed rolltop. I slide into it and drop my purse at my feet. The cat doesn’t twitch.
Wrapping my fingers around the brass handle, I give a gentle tug. The drawer slides smoothly open, the copper skeleton key once again taking on a slight glow in the now streaming sunlight. I pick it up and carefully insert it into the old-fashioned lock on the front of the rolltop. It turns over with a slight click and an electric zing I feel all the way up to my elbow.
Something grasps onto my leg.
A raspy male voice shatters the silence. “Oi, about time you used tha’ key, missie. I’ve been stuck miaowin’ at everyone since tha old bag Lillian ‘ightailed it off ta tha ‘ighlands.”
I was sure I’d been alone in the small office. I inch around, working up the courage to look down at my left leg. Yellow cat eyes blink up at me, but the familiarity ends there. Wisps of smoke trail out of wide nostrils, the long black snout pulling back in a terrifying semblance of a smile. Behind a pair of wings, its spiky tail taps a rhythm against
