Read Online Vanished in Cherry Hills (Cozy Cat Caper Mystery Book 4) by Paige Sleuth - Free Book Online Page A

one of worry as her eyes drifted toward Kat. “I came to see how you were dealing with everything.”
    Kat sat down on the sofa and twisted her hands in her lap. “As well as can be expected, I guess.”
    Mrs. Polanski glanced at the empty couch across from Kat. “May I sit down?”
    “Sure.”
    Kat studied Mrs. Polanski as she settled into the sofa. Something in her expression spurred a tingling sensation in the back of Kat’s brain. She wasn’t sure why, but it reminded her of the look Mrs. Polanski had given Helen when the subject of PNW Financial had been brought up. Looking back, maybe the look didn’t reflect her belief in Maybelle’s guilt so much as her knowledge of Helen’s secret.
    The possibility sent Kat’s mind reeling. Could it be that Mrs. Polanski had known about her sister’s crime all these years? The more Kat considered it, the more plausible it seemed. She could tell the two were close from the way they had their arms thrown around each other in that photograph, the pure joy reflected on their faces captured for the rest of eternity. And who better to hide your darkest secret than a trusted sibling?
    Kat collapsed against the couch. Viewing Mrs. Polanski in such a shocking new light had drained every last ounce of strength from her body. “You knew, didn’t you?”
    “Yes.”
    Kat was surprised by the quick admission. She had feared she would need to pry whatever Mrs. Polanski knew out of her. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
    Mrs. Polanski crossed her ankles. “It wasn’t my place.”
    Kat processed that. “Did you help her?”
    Mrs. Polanski covered her chest with one hand. “Heavens, no. Helen didn’t even want to tell me what she did at first, but I can put two and two together. I might not be a genius, but I know my sister like the back of my hand.”
    “Did you know she let one of her police officer friends believe my mother was guilty?”
    Mrs. Polanski’s eyes dimmed. “I did.”
    Kat had to ungrit her teeth in order to respond. “And you didn’t say anything.”
    “How could I? Helen is my own flesh and blood.” Mrs. Polanski sighed. “I always felt guilty about that, you know. Remember all those milkshakes I used to give you on the house?”
    Kat’s jaw dropped open. Her lungs suddenly felt too small. “You gave those to me out of guilt?”
    “Yes. I’m sorry to say it, but I did.”
    Before Kat could reply, Matty came sprinting into the room. The rambunctious feline vaulted on top of the coffee table, sending the folder of newspaper clippings skittering to the floor. She flattened her ears against her skull and wiggled her rear end before leaping into the center of the pile.
    Kat jumped off the sofa. “Matty!”
    Matty froze, her huge green eyes rotating toward Kat as her tail cut through the air.
    Mrs. Polanski leaned forward. “Are those the articles I gave you?”
    “Yes.” Kat plucked one off the floor and smoothed it out.
    “Did you read through them all?”
    “I did.” Kat grabbed a few more articles, trying to collect what she could before Matty destroyed them all.
    Tom wandered over to see what the commotion was about, his tail puffed up to the size of a feather duster. He sniffed at the edge of one of the pages before extending a tentative paw.
    Matty, however, wasn’t nearly so cautious. She slapped at one of the clippings as Kat tried to stack it with the others. Kat had to laugh at the look of determination in the feline’s eyes, but she cut herself off mid-chuckle. Although she was upset enough with Mrs. Polanski to not care if the cats ruined her newspaper collection, a part of her also didn’t want Mrs. Polanski thinking she didn’t appreciate her willingness to help.
    “Give that to me, Matty.” Kat tried to lift her paw, but Matty resisted, digging her claws into the newsprint.
    Kat’s eyes traveled down the length of Matty’s leg to where she had her toes planted in the center of Kelly Watson’s obituary, the one Mrs. Polanski