Chapter 16

Visible behind a part of the carpeted structure, seated in a rocking chair, the sun gleaming on her beige-blonde hair, sat Rita.

A large striped cat occupied her apron-clad lap, and a kitten that she was bottle-feeding rested in her arms. She crooned a lullaby to the baby, tiny enough to fit in the palm of a hand.

Rita Farnsworth appeared to be a cat-loving madonna on her rocker. She was surrounded by onlooking felines who sat around her in an adoring circle.

I wrenched my attention away and surveilled the whole cage, top to bottom, left to right, scanning for my targets.

Against one wall, a constantly flowing fountain provided a water source for several cats to drink, and an enormous self-serve food dispenser kept a feeding trough full for others.

I kept searching for Tiki—but no raccoon size calico missing an ear was visible. That didn't mean she wasn't there, though, sleeping in one of the cozy cubbyholes all over the structure, many of which I couldn't see into.

Next, I scanned for my client's missing pet.

My gaze was soon arrested by a gorgeous longhaired Himalayan, draped sleeping over the tip-top of one of the carpeted cubbies. Lady Sapphire, at last! Relief loosened my locked muscles and my knees sagged. "Thank goodness."

I retreated further behind the hibiscus hedge to consider my next move, but nothing came to me. It was such a lovely scene that I actually hated to disturb Rita. I was stumped.

I could confront Rita, but other than reclaiming the cats I was looking for, had she done anything wrong in rounding up loose animals and caring for them?

And if she refused to let me claim Lady and Tiki, what could I do next?

I peeked at the woman in the rocking chair.

Rita's cheeks gleamed with moisture; she was crying!

This woman had suffered some tragedy. There was no doubt. The way Rita held the kitten spoke of profound grief and loss.

She rocked the kitten, singing so softly I couldn't make out the words. I counted two other kittens, nestled in her lap beside the mature cat.

Something was very wrong, and yet very right, about the scene before me.

The layers of content, well-fed animals around Rita seemed to be trying to comfort and absorb her pain. The whole vignette vibrated with pathos.

Before I realized I was chickening out, I found myself halfway back to the java plum grove.

I didn't want to be the one to make things worse for that poor woman. Whose job would that be? The Humane Society? The police? A mental health crisis team?

I needed advice. There was only one person I knew who would have the answers I needed.

* * *

Sergeant Detective Leilani Texeira, my friend in the Maui Police Department, picked up right away when I called her cell phone from my perch atop the e-bike. I'd parked at the center of town near Hana's cell phone tower.

"Merry almost Christmas, Kat!" Lei exclaimed cheerfully. I heard toddler Rosie's piping voice in the background, along with the deep barking of the family's big Rottweiler, Conan.

"I hate to disturb you on the weekend," I said. "But I need some professional advice."

"Sure. Let me get out of the chaos so we can talk." I heard the sounds dim and the shutting of a door. "I'm in the back office. Where you spent the night when you and Sophie stayed over, remember? My computer's on already. What do you need?"

There was nothing better than having a friend in law enforcement on speed dial! A surge of gratitude for the amazing women friends I'd made since I moved to Ohia filled my heart. "It's the case Keone and I have been working. It's come to a head and I'm not sure how to proceed."

I told Lei the broad brushstrokes of the job and what I"d discovered at Rita Farnsworth's house. "And in addition, my own cat Tiki has been missing for a similar amount of time."

"Wow. That's a lot to take in," Lei said. "First things first, we need to ascertain if Rita is breaking any local laws. I"m not aware of any specific legislation against housing stray cats, but there might be some zoning regulations or animal welfare laws in play. I"ll look into it."

"That would be great, Lei. I appreciate it. Also, there"s the issue of reclaiming the missing cats. Lady Sapphire is definitely there, and Tiki could be too," I said.

"Understood. In the case of missing pets, it"s a civil matter, not criminal. You"d need the pet owners to confront Rita and demand their pets be returned or take it to small claims court if she refuses. However, given the situation, it might be better to approach this delicately. Rita seems to be dealing with some emotional distress."

"That's what I was thinking, too. I don't want to cause her any more pain, but at the same time, I need to get Tiki, and Lady home to her owner."

"Tread lightly, Kat. We don't want to escalate the matter; it could even turn into a pet hostage situation."

"Oh, ugh! A hostage situation would be terrible!" I exclaimed. "But I can't imagine Rita harming the cats. She seemed so gentle with them. More vulnerable than anything."

"I'll start looking into this from my end and let you know what I find about the legalities. In the meantime, maybe you could try talking to Rita? She might be more cooperative than you think."

"I"ll give it a shot, Lei. Thanks for the advice. I"ll let you know how it goes."

"Good luck, Kat. And Mele Kalikimaka."

"Merry Christmas to you and your family, too." I ended the call and stowed my phone in my pocket. Bracing myself and crossing my fingers for luck, I turned the e-bike to go to Rita"s house.

The sun was casting afternoon shadows that danced across the landscape and a breeze had risen, shushing in the coconut palms along the peaceful road. The waning of the day mirrored my own mixed feelings of apprehension and resolve.

As I neared Rita"s property, I parked my bike at a distance, careful not to alert her with the sound. Reaching the side of her yard, I walked down the driveway and discovered a small gate beside the house hidden behind an overgrowth of the hibiscus bushes.

I gently unlatched it and prepared to slip into the backyard. The hibiscus hedge was to my right, its flowers a vibrant contrast to the green foliage.

I paused, collecting my thoughts, and calming my racing heart.

I had been at this location before, hidden and observing. Now, I was stepping into the open for a confrontation.