Claws for a Cause (A Klepto Cat Mystery Book 15) (10 page)

The vet, holding the kitten in one hand, glanced around at the group. “All cat lovers, I’m guessing.”

Everyone nodded. “My wife and I are veterinarians in Northern California,” Michael explained.

“Oh,” he said, eyeing both of them. He then began examining the kitten. “Yup, abscess. She’s running a little fever. I’ll give her some antibiotics and you can be on your way,” he said before heading into another room, leaving Michael to hold the kitten.

“Uh, wait,” Michael said. “He…um, you say it’s a girl…well, she’s not our cat, you know. We’re tourists. We can’t travel with a cat.”

Kona stopped in his tracks and turned. “So who’s going to pay the bill?”

“We’ll pay the bill, but we can’t take her with us.”

“Well, you can’t leave her here. I’m heading to the mainland tomorrow. No one will be here who can care for a cat with an abscess.”

“Who’ll take care of all those animals out back there?” Savannah asked.

“Oh they’re no problem,” the veterinarian said. “Neighborhood kids fill their water tubs and toss them hay and grain. No problem. A sick cat…now that’s a problem.” He glanced into the faces of each of them. “I can euthanize, if you want to pay for that.”

“No!” Savannah and Shelly said in unison.

Michael peered at them. “But what will we do with a cat? Do they even allow pets in the hotel? We’d have to buy a litter box and go back to the room to administer medication a couple times a day.”

Both Shelly and Savannah shrugged. “Yes,” Savannah told Kona, “we will take the meds and care for the kitten ourselves.”

He nodded, then peered suspiciously at the couple. “You say you’re veterinarians in California and you didn’t know this was a female?”

“Yes,” Michael said. He then muttered, “Well, we didn’t get a chance to check the cat over, you see.”

The three women snickered in the background.

When the veterinarian returned from another room, he gave the kitten a shot and handed Savannah a bottle of medication. “Give her one of these twice a day.”

Michael let out a sigh. He looked down at the kitten. “You don’t happen to know where we can get a little harness and leash for her, do you? Is there a pet store near here?”

“Just a minute,” Kona said, as he exited the building. When he returned, he held up a lavender nylon kitten harness and matching leash. “Five dollars,” he said.

Michael grimaced. “Sold.” He slipped it onto the kitten, being careful not to bother the abscess. He then dug into his pocket. “How much all together?”

“Uh, let me see,” the man said, as if calculating the figures in his head. “Thirty-five dollars…total.”

“You got it,” Michael said, handing the man the correct amount.

****

It was an hour later when Savannah said, “I’m getting hungry. Anyone ready to eat…I mean something more substantial than ice cream?”

“Where?” Michael asked. “Gladys, do you know of a place ahead?”

“Well, I’d love to take you to the Crouching Lion, but rumor has it that it’s closed. We can maybe get off at the next stop and find a suitable place to eat.”

“You want good food?” a woman sitting near them asked.

“Yes,” Gladys said. “Can you recommend a restaurant?”

“My sister and brother cook good food at Pete’s. Get off at the next stop.” She smiled. “I think you’ll like what they serve.”

“Pete’s,” Michael repeated. “Can I get a hamburger?”

“Oh yes, and loco moco, salads, fish…anything you want,” the woman said.

“Coconut pie?” Gladys asked.

The woman squinted her eyes. “I don’t know about that.” Her face brightened, when she added, “But maybe they can get it for you. You tell them Marvel sent you. You might just get your coconut pie.”

“Great,” Gladys said. She turned to the others. “What do you think? Want to stop at Pete’s?”

“What will we do with the little interloper?” Michael asked.

“Put her in her box,” Savannah said. “She probably needs to potty by now anyway, don’t you think?”

“Yeah, I let him…er, her take a potty break outside the veterinarian’s office. But she might need to go again. I’d like to offer her more food and water, too.”

“This is your stop,” the woman said from across the aisle. She gave the group a toothless smile. “Enjoy your meals.”

Once they had stepped off the bus, the four of them glanced around. “Do you see Pete’s?” Michael asked.

“Well, there’s a place called Suki Sue’s,” Shelly said. “That looks like a tavern over there.” She pointed. “Hey, there’s a place with a nice patio. Look at that pretty hedge of colorful leaves.”

“That’s a Hawaiian snow bush,” Gladys said. “Don’t you love the variegated leaves—shades of green and white, even pink. You see those plants in LA, but they sure don’t grow in hedges like they do here.” She then said, “Well, shall we eat on the pretty patio or do you want to find Pete’s?”

Savannah thinned her lips. “Well, I’d like to see if throwing around Marvel’s name will get us a piece of that coconut pie you’ve been talking about, Mom.”

“Yeah,” Michael said, “let’s walk around a little and see if we can find Pete’s.”

“There it is,” Savannah said. “It has a patio area, too. Good. We should be able to sneak the kitten in there.”

“And there’s a field out behind it where I can take her for a walk,” Michael said. He glanced around at the others. “Shall we check out Pete’s?”

“Sure,” Savannah said, “as long as it has a restroom.”

“I see a restroom sign right over there. Looks like it might even be fairly clean.”

“Good,” Savannah said. “While you take care of the kitty’s needs, I’m going to use the restroom. I’ll see about changing Lily.”

“I’m coming with you,” Shelly said.

“Me, too,” Gladys said, hurrying to catch up.

Once they were all reunited at a table on the patio, Savannah asked, “So, Michael, where’s the little one?”

“Curled up in her box,” he said. “She’s a good traveler.”

Just then a young dark-haired woman approached the table with menus and a tray of glasses filled with water. “Would you like anything besides water to drink?” she asked.

When everyone agreed that water would be enough, Gladys asked, “Are you Marvel’s sister?”

The woman looked askance. “Yes, how do you know Marvel?”

“We were on the bus with her. She recommended your place.”

“Oh,” the server said, relaxing. “Yes, I’m Joy. My brother and I own this place. He’s cooking today.” She leaned closer and said, “He makes a wonderful loco moco.”

Michael sat back and looked at her. “Now just what is this loco moco, Joy?”

“Oh,” she said with dramatic flair. If you’ve come to the islands and never before had loco moco, you must try it. James makes the best. What it is…the basic recipe is white rice topped with a beef patty, then a fried egg and gravy. We have our own twist. Instead of beef, we use kalua pork.”

“Sounds good,” Michael said. He closed his menu. “That’s what I’m having.”

After the others had placed their orders, Gladys addressed Joy. “Your sister said you just might be able to get us each a piece of coconut pie for dessert. Would that be possible?” she asked with a warm smile.

Joy thought for a moment, then said, “Well, we don’t make pie here, but…” she grinned. “…let me see what I can do. Okay?”

“Wonderful,” Gladys said.

After Joy picked up the menus and walked away from the table, Shelly ducked a little to peer off toward the door leading into the restaurant. “Who’s that?”

“Where?” Savannah asked.

“That little girl over there. She’s looking this way. Looks like she’s been crying. Oh, she must be Joy’s daughter. She’s comforting the child.”

“Awww, I wonder why she’s so sad,” Gladys said.

Once the little girl had disappeared into the restaurant, the foursome began chatting about the lovely foliage surrounding them. Suddenly, Michael was aware that someone else had joined them. “Well, hello,” he said to the little girl. “What’s your name?”

“Kalani,” she said shyly.

“How old are you?” Michael asked.

Keeping her eyes on the box at Michael’s feet, she responded, “Six.”

“This is Lily,” he said, gesturing toward the baby, who sat playing with a toy in a high chair. “She’s only one.”

“Oh,” Kalani said, continuing to stare at the box. She looked up at Michael. “You have a kitten.”

“Oh, yes I do. Did you see her walking around outside?”

Kalani nodded. “Can I see her?”

“Sure, if your mom doesn’t mind,” he said, glancing around.

“There are no other customers, let her see the kitten, Michael,” Savannah urged.

When he opened the box, Kalani knelt down and began petting the kitten, tears welling in her dark-brown eyes. “Can I hold her?”

“Um, I guess it would be okay. Sure,” Michael said, lifting the sleepy kitten from the box and placing her in Kalani’s arms.

“She’s…she’s just like my kitty.”

“You have a kitty like her?” Michael asked.

“No,” she said, burying her face in the kitten’s fur. “She died.”

“Oh,” Michael said. “I’m sorry to hear that. You must miss her a lot.”

The child nodded and held the kitten closer. She then looked up. “I took good care of her. I fed her, and I filled her water bowl when she spilled it. She slept with me. But she got sick anyway. Mommy said she went to the rainbow bridge and can’t come back to me anymore.”

“Kalani, honey, what are you doing?” Joy asked, rushing to the table. “Where’d you get that…”

“I’m sorry,” Michael said. “She saw that we had a kitten and wanted to hold her.”

Joy relaxed a little. “Oh, that’s okay. She just lost her cat,” she shook her head. “She sure loves cats.”

Michael looked at Savannah and the two of them smiled at one another. He said to Joy as he rose from his chair. “May I have a word with you?” He motioned across the patio. “…over there.”

“Yes,” she said, looking at him suspiciously.

When he was certain they wouldn’t be heard, he explained, “The thing is, we found this kitten on the other side of the island. No one seemed to want her and no one was feeding her. She’s a nice cat—friendly. We can’t take her home to California. Would it be okay if we give her to your daughter?”

“That would be wonderful,” Joy said, smiling.

Before she could walk away, Michael explained, “Now, she has an abscess and needs medication. She’s thin from being without food for a while. But she seems to be strong and otherwise healthy. We have her meds with us.”

“We can take care of her,” Joy said. She glanced at her daughter. “You know, there are cats around here—but they’re mostly mousers—they all work. It’s not easy to find one that would make a good pet, and as you can see, Kalani is a hands-on kind of pet lover.”

Michael winked. “Oh yes. Well, she’s yours, then. Shall we go tell Kalani?”

Joy nodded. “Yes, and thank you so much.”

When Michael sat down, all eyes were on him. He turned toward the girl and petted the kitten on the head. “She seems to like you, Kalani, and I can tell you sure do like her.”

The child nodded.

“Would you like to have her for your very own?” He glanced at Joy. “Your mom says it’s okay.”

Kalani’s eyes widened. She looked up at her mother, who nodded and smiled. “For real?” she asked.

“Yes, for real.” He dug into his pocket for the meds and handed them to Joy, then gave her the box and blanket, saying, “Here’s her bed.”

“Can I have her leash?” Kalani asked. “Then, when we’re outside, she can’t run away from me.”

“Yes, you should keep her on a leash whenever you take her outside. That’s a good way to keep her safe,” Michael explained. He added. “Now, as she grows, you’ll have to get her a new harness, okay? She’ll outgrow this one pretty fast.”

Kalani nodded. She took the box from her mother, placed it on the floor, and carefully placed the kitten in it. She then wrapped her arms around Michael’s neck. “Thank you,” she said in a near whisper.

Savannah, Shelly, and Gladys dabbed at their eyes.

“Yes, thank you all,” Joy said, then she jumped a little. “Here, let me help you with this stuff, Kalani, and then I’d better get these folks their food.” She carefully picked up the box with the kitten in it and scurried with her daughter disappearing into the restaurant.

When the group had finished eating their loco moco, Joy returned to their table and asked, “Well, how was it?”

“Really good,” Michael said. “I could eat that kalua pork all day long.

The others nodded. “Very good,” Gladys said.

Shelly and Savannah agreed.

The server’s eyes lit up. “Are you ready for your pie?” she asked.

“Oh my,” Gladys said, “you actually found us some coconut pie?”

“Yes, luckily the local baker had one left and I sent my older daughter to buy it.”

“Oh that’s wonderful,” Gladys said. “How nice of you.” She looked at the other. “Do you all have room?”

“I’ll make room,” Savannah said. “I’ve been thinking about that coconut pie ever since you mentioned it, Mom.”

Once they had finished their pie, Kalani appeared next to Michael again. She asked quietly, “What’s your name?”

“Michael.” he said. “Why?”

The child put her finger up to her cheek and thought for a moment, then said, “I’m going to call her Michaela.” She smiled shyly at Michael. “…after you.”

“Cute,” Shelly said, watching the child disappear into the restaurant.

It was close to four that afternoon when the island bus carrying the Ivey party stopped in front of the Crouching Lion.

“Yes, it seems to be closed,” Gladys said. “Now look everyone. See the lion on that hill behind the building?”

“What a cool place,” Savannah said. “…and it overlooks the ocean. It’s kinda breezy here.”

Gladys nodded. “Yes, often is, I guess. When your father and I came here for lunch, it rained the whole time and the wind blew like crazy.”

“That’s too bad,” Michael said. “Did it ruin your meal?”

Gladys grinned at him. “Oh no, Michael, it was wonderful. Where’s your sense of romance, young man—and adventure?” she teased.

When he noticed Shelly and Savannah also grinning at him, he scrunched down a little in his seat and did not respond.