Chapter 14

Edith must have seen my wide eyes and dropped jaw, because she hopped out of the van and hurried straight over to me. My friend's short, barrel-shaped body was packed into a bright purple tube dress embellished with glittering spangles. Her favorite red hat, a witch-style topper, was wrapped for the occasion in blinking colored lights.

"I hope you don't mind that I brought Lola. She's out early, and she's sober," Edith said quickly. "We've been going to family counseling, and . . ."

"Say no more," I said. "Lola may have taken a couple of potshots at me, literally, but I know she didn't have any real malice toward me."

Lola'd definitely had murderous intent concerning her mother, though. I didn't mention that. If Edith was ready to forgive and forget, who was I to argue?

Aunt Fae stepped forward and stood at my side as Lola, dressed in one of Edith's borrowed purple outfits, exited the van, and helped her friend out to join us.The statuesque black woman beside Lola sported a tall, braided hairdo topped by a tiny, sparkling red bowler. She smiled brightly and approached us, arm in arm with Lola.

"Welcome to Ohia," I said, extending a hand. "I'm Kat. This is my Aunt Fae. And you are?"

"Betty," the woman said, shaking my hand. Her nails were long and painted iridescent purple. "I'm Lola's sponsor in her sobriety program. We're here, in no small part, for her to make amends."

Before I could brace myself for the physical contact, Lola threw her arms around me and squeezed. "I'm sorry," she said, her voice muffled in the chest of my purple sweatshirt.

I clenched my teeth and held my arms rigidly down at my sides with an effort. My touchphobia was totally activated by being grabbed by a former hostile. It was all I could do not to fling Lola off, preferably onto her back with my foot on her neck.

"I didn't mean to shoot you," Lola went on, squeezing me again. "I was drunk."

"But you did shoot at me. Twice," I said stiffly. "I'm lucky to be alive."

"I apologize," Lola echoed. "I won't do it again."

"Glad to hear that." I flexed my arms, so she was forced to let go, and detached myself.

I too, had made progress with managing myself; I hadn't flipped Lola on her back karate-style as my first impulse had been to do. "I accept your apology. I'm glad you're doing better and are out of jail."

"Merry Christmas," Lola said. "Thanks Kat."

She and her sponsor Betty, with Aunt Fae trailing them, headed up onto the porch in the direction of the refreshment table. Pearl was minding the food there from her fancy stand-up wheelchair, with a new prospect member beside her.

I turned with a sigh of relief to face Edith, who gave me a grateful look. "Thank you for letting Lola hug you," she said. "I know how hard that must've been."

"Lola is not the only one who's doing some personal growth," I said. "Let me show you how far I've come." I embraced Edith. I was so much taller than the little lawyer that her pointed hat could fit under my chin.

Josie, Edith's partner, applauded. The Hawaiian woman looked beautiful in a long, royal purple satin muumuu trimmed with rows of crystals, her long hair done in a coronet of braids that supported a red-dyed palm frond hat dressed up with tiny twinkling lights. She tugged her oxygen tank a bit closer and adjusted her cannula before giving me a quick hug. "We sure appreciate you, Kat, and all you've done for Ohia."

"No prob." I flapped a hand dismissively. "Now if only I could find Tiki and Lady Sapphire, Elvira Scarborough's cat, the holiday would be perfect." I told the ladies about my new case as we headed for the refreshments.

"We've seen the flyers around town," Josie said with a slight wheeze as she maneuvered her tank up the steps. "I'm so sorry to hear Tiki is gone, too."

I forced a smile. "Tiki's a survivor. I'm sure she'll turn up. Lady Sapphire, on the other hand, is almost due to have valuable kittens. Someone probably stole her to get at them."

"What's that about a sapphire?" Pearl cupped an ear around her hearing aid. Her sweet little jewel box of a geisha-style headdress swayed with scarlet beads that sparkled like rubies, and the high-necked violet gown she wore proclaimed her timeless style.

"Just my latest case." I raised my voice so she could hear. "Looking for a missing cat."

Pearl nodded. "Come on over and meet my friend Rita Farnsworth. She's checking out the Red Hats, so be on your best behavior."

"That means we'll be cracking some off-color jokes for sure," Edith said, advancing to shake Rita's hand. "I've met you before in Hana. At the chair yoga class at the senior center. You're the teacher."

"Yes," Rita said. "I teach yoga to keep healthy and moving around and help others do so as well." Rita seemed to be all one color: shoulder-length taupe hair, softly wrinkled beige skin, and oatmeal-colored, baggy flax garments worn over Birkenstocks. "Pearl neglected to tell me the dress code for this event." She reached down to the chair beside her. She lifted a red felt cowboy hat up and put it on. "But at least I have the right topper for the occasion." The ladies clapped and cheered as Rita smiled and made a bow. "I feel right at home."

"All right, everybody. Let's get this party started." Pearl cranked the volume on the boom box, and fast-paced holiday music tinkled even louder. She pointed to the two big punch bowls. "Alcoholic, or virgin? Step right up and pick your poison."

Everyone but Lola and her sponsor opted for the alcoholic.

I had been keeping an eye out for missing group member Clara, curious about who she would bring to the gathering and what she would wear—her trademark looks were striking flowing gowns she sewed herself.

That mystery was solved when Clara drove up and got out of her car in a swirling purple silk muumuu worn with a red satin turban that set off her gleaming, coffee-toned skin.

My eyes further widened at the sight of Dr. Jill Hanson from The Cat Shelter getting out of Clara's car's passenger seat. The retired vet was resplendent in a red satin bolero hat trimmed with swaying purple bobbles. The rest of her outfit was much like mine: a purple sweatshirt with the Shelter's kitten heart logo on it, and a pair of jeans.

Dr. Hanson only wore the hat for a few moments, clearly preferring to show off her brightly dyed, plumage-like hair. Clara and her Red Hat prospect joined the other ladies on the porch, greeting them warmly.

I walked over to the pair with an extra cup of punch in hand. I held it out to the new arrival. "What a treat to see you here, Dr. Hanson! Isn't it a long drive from Kula to an event like this?"

"Please, call me Jill. I don't mind the drive at all. As you know, it's beautiful around the backside of Maui. All that open space, sea, and sky," she smiled.

"Nobody's arguing with that," I agreed.

Clara, her high cheekbones sparkling with glitter, smiled. "It's even more fun when we get to make it into a sleepover weekend with old friends," she said. "Jill needs to get away from her responsibilities more often."

"More like you pried me out of my den of cats," Jill said, laughing. "Fortunately, I have great volunteers who are keeping an eye on The Cat Shelter for me."

"Did you come across any animals this week like the ones we're looking for?" I asked.

"No." Jill shook her head regretfully. "And I've been asking around, too. We did get some new felines in, but they were from the Kahului area."

"Dr. Hanson!" Rita, the new Red Hat prospect, hurried across the porch to embrace Jill enthusiastically. "It's so great to see you. How did you get some time away from your beloved cats?"

"Like I was telling the girls here, I have great volunteers," Jill said. "How is that special project on your property coming along?"

My ears grew an inch, and flipped forward like a bat's as I went on alert, leaning forward to hear more. Sure, ‘the special project' could be anything, but I had a feeling it had to do with cats, and these two Cat People knew each other.

Maybe there was a connection to my case. I had to find out more.