The Super Spies and the Cat Lady Killer Read online

  The Super Spies and the Cat Lady Killer

  by Lisa Orchard

  Published by Astraea Press

  www.astraeapress.com

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters, and events are fictitious in every regard. Any similarities to actual events and persons, living or dead, are purely coincidental. Any trademarks, service marks, product names, or named features are assumed to be the property of their respective owners, and are used only for reference. There is no implied endorsement if any of these terms are used. Except for review purposes, the reproduction of this book in whole or part, electronically or mechanically, constitutes a copyright violation.

  THE SUPER SPIES AND THE CAT LADY KILLER

  Copyright © 2012 LISA ORCHARD

  ISBN 978-1-62135-016-3

  Cover Art Designed by Elaina Lee

  Edited by Laura Heritage

  This book is dedicated to my wonderful husband Steve, and two boys Kyle and Ethan. To my family and friends who encouraged me and read my first drafts of this book and offered suggestions.

  Chapter One

  “Do you know who that was?”

  Sarah Cole whirled around and spied a tall, skinny girl standing a few feet behind her. “Are you talking to me?” Shading her eyes, Sarah cocked her head to get a better look at the girl.

  The skinny girl nodded, her mop of wild curls dancing with her movements. “Yeah, do you know who she is?”

  Sarah gazed down the street at the wizened old woman shuffling away. She wore a faded housedress, which appeared to have been slept in for at least a couple of nights. It looked like the wrinkles had wrinkles.

  The woman’s hair was a listless gray, trapped in a feeble bun at the nape of her neck. Some of it had escaped and trailed behind her as she walked, the limp strands swaying with the old woman’s faltering steps. Minutes ago, Sarah had helped her with her cart—it had gotten stuck on the doorjamb as she left the corner drug store.

  Pulling her honey colored hair out of her eyes, Sarah spun and studied the skinny girl, not quite sure what to make of her. “No, I don’t.”

  Sarah continued her scrutiny and noticed the skinny girl stood at least five inches taller than she did. Her curly hair burst from her scalp in a frantic frenzy. She looks like an exploded cotton swab. Pursing her lips, Sarah suppressed a bubble of laughter.

  “She’s the Cat Lady,” the bony girl said, an expression of guarded curiosity mixed with fear on her face.

  “Who’s the Cat Lady?”

  The skinny girl pointed at the old woman shuffling away. “She’s a crazy lady. A witch.”

  “A witch?” Sarah scoffed. “I don’t believe in witches.”

  “It’s true,” the skinny girl whispered emphatically. She stared at Sarah, her dark eyes reflecting the conviction behind her words.

  “I don’t believe you.”

  “No one has seen her in years. She never leaves her home.” The skinny girl glanced toward the Cat Lady again, and then walked closer to Sarah.

  Realizing the skinny girl was scared, Sarah glanced down the street a second time. She watched the hunched, old woman make her painful shuffle down the sidewalk. The Cat Lady didn’t look dangerous to Sarah. She appeared to be a weary old lady making her way home.

  “There’s no such thing as witches,” Sarah said.

  “She’s a witch, an evil witch,” the scrawny girl insisted. She nodded her head again, sending her dark curls into another wild dance.

  Sarah glanced down the street a third time and watched the old woman limp away. She didn’t look like she had the strength to pull her cart, let alone perform black magic. “How do you know? Does she practice voodoo or something?” Sarah smirked at the skinny girl, realizing she had a flair for the theatrical. “And if she never leaves her home…why is she out on the street now?”

  The girl opened her mouth to speak, and then shut it again as if she realized Sarah had a point. “Well…the delivery boy must have quit.” She pulled on a wayward curl and frowned. “Because there’s no way she leaves her home. I haven’t seen her in years.”

  “Uh huh,” Sarah said, raising her eyebrows and pursing her lips.

  The skinny girl must have seen the doubt in Sarah’s expression, because she crossed her arms over her bony chest and moved another step closer. “Just let me tell you the whole story; I’m sure you’ll change your mind. My name’s Jacqueline Jenkins.” She drew out the syllables emphasizing her name like a movie star or the Queen of England, JAAAQUELEENE JEEENKIINS. Jutting out her hip, she faced Sarah as if she were posing for a magazine. “What’s yours?”

  “Sarah Cole.” Speaking through tight lips, Sarah was able to stifle another bubble of laughter.

  “You can call me Jackie, though. That’s what my friends call me.” She studied Sarah for a moment. “You’re new in town, aren’t you?”

  “Yeah. We’re staying with my aunt and uncle while my parents are on vacation.”

  “We?”

  “Me and my sister, Lacey.” Sarah scrutinized her surroundings. “Is this the whole town of Harrisburg?”

  “Yep, this is it,” Jackie said. She opened her arms wide as if she were presenting the town to her.

  Sarah stifled another giggle. She looks like Vanna White on the Wheel of Fortune.

  “Where are you from?”

  Sarah cleared her throat and sighed. She wasn’t looking forward to being stuck in this podunk town for the summer. Looking down the street, she realized there were only two traffic lights in the tiny burg.

  “We’re from Walker, you know, the big city.” Sarah held up her hands and formed quotes with her fingers when she said the words ‘big city’. “Do you guys have a bookstore?”

  “Nope, but we do have a library.” Jackie pointed to a weathered, old building standing on the corner. “But no one goes there this time of year.”

  “Why not?” Sarah’s spirits sank even lower as she realized she wouldn’t be able to buy her True Crime novels.

  “Because, it’s summer, silly.”

  Sarah rolled her eyes. “Oh, I thought you were going to say it was haunted by the Cat Lady.”

  Jackie cracked a wide grin. “Nope, she never comes out of her house.”

  “Except for today.” Sarah shot Jackie a skeptical look.

  “Once I tell you the whole story, you’ll be a believer.” Jackie hooked her arm through Sarah’s. “Good thing you ran into me, otherwise you would have gone the whole summer without this knowledge. Come on, let’s follow her home.”

  Sarah chewed on her thumbnail. “I don’t know—.”

  Jackie pulled on her arm. “Come on…she’s a legend in this town. Don’t you want to see her house? People have gone in…and never come out.” Jackie’s eyes darkened with the mystery and her voice dropped for emphasis.

  Sarah continued chewing on her nail; she thought about her options and realized she didn’t have many. She could go home and hang out with her younger sister, yuck, or check out the supposedly crazy Cat Lady’s house.

  Sarah’s inquisitive nature got the better of her and she pulled her thumb out of her mouth. “Okay, let’s go.”

  Jackie beamed and pulled Sarah down the sidewalk. “So, what grade are you in?”

  “Ninth.”

  “Hey, me too.” Jackie put her arm around Sarah.

  The girls trailed the crazy lady, staying a good block behind her. As they walked Jackie filled her in on the Cat Lady legend. According to Jackie, at least three people had mysteriously disappeared from the town of Harrisburg, all of them victims of the Cat Lady curse. Sarah couldn’t help but be drawn in by the stories. There was the former grocery delivery boy,
Gus, who delivered her groceries and never returned to the store. The next victim was the good doctor, who used to do house calls until he disappeared inside her house, and then last but not least, old lady Farnsworth who was discovered dead after a dispute with the Cat Lady.

  Listening to her new friend drone on, Sarah watched the infamous woman wind her way home. She couldn’t help but notice how frail she appeared as she shuffled down the street. The poor woman didn’t look strong enough to make anyone disappear, let alone cause the death of a grouchy old lady.

  The air was thick with humidity. Sweat formed on Sarah’s brow as she rounded the corner toward the Cat Lady’s place. Sighing, she wiped it away. How much farther do we have to go? Glancing at the huge oak trees lining the sidewalk, Sarah realized this was an old part of town just because the trees were so big. Sunlight dappled the walkway, leaving dark shadows as it forced its light between the leaves. No one roamed the streets; Sarah thought this was odd and her heart picked up its pace. Jackie’s stories are getting to me.

  “Okay,” Jackie whispered, clutching Sarah’s arm. “We’re almost there.” Jackie stopped and cast a skittish glance around her. “Let’s cross the street.”

  Strolling across the street, Jackie tried to appear casual by swinging her arms and whistling, but Sarah knew she was faking it.

  Sarah stopped her when they reached the opposite sidewalk. “Okay, what are we going to do?”

  “We’re going to watch her.”

  “Watch her?”

  Jackie pulled on one of her curls. “Yeah, see if she does anything…you know…witchy.”

  Sarah furrowed her brow. “Won’t she see us?”

  “Trust me.” Jackie winked.

  Sarah followed her new friend to an old church, reaching it just after the Cat Lady disappeared inside her home. They scurried behind an old oak tree growing on the church’s lawn. With a thudding heart, Sarah hugged the tree. These stories are definitely getting to me. Feeling the rough bark of the tree calmed her. She was hidden and this made her feel safe. After all, what could happen in broad daylight?

  Peeking out from behind the tree, Sarah stared at the house. It sat in the middle of the block on Jefferson Street in a state of disrepair. Ancient gutters sagged at one end, and it needed a fresh coat of paint. The front porch ran the full length of the structure, settling on the south side. It reminded Sarah of a drooping smile, the kind of smile she might get from someone whose mouth had been shot full of novocaine. Dirty windows, which resembled sinister eyes, peered at the girls with their unblinking stare. A chill ran down Sarah’s spine. It’s like the house knows we’re here. She noticed the grass hadn’t been mowed in weeks and the house appeared abandoned. Cats dawdled on the stoop, the only signs of life around the place.

  “Go up on the porch,” Jackie urged.

  Sarah raised her eyebrow and smirked. “You go up on the porch.”

  Jackie shook her head. “No way.”

  “Are you scared?” Sarah teased, grinning at her.

  “Absolutely. I could go up on her porch and never be seen again.” Jackie’s solemn expression told Sarah she believed her own words.

  The girls watched the house, waiting for a glimpse of the infamous witch. After what seemed like hours, there was still no sign of her.

  Sighing, Sarah fidgeted. She was antsy, her legs cramping from staying in one position for so long. “Let’s go,” she said, doing a deep knee bend. “I’ve got to get home. My aunt and uncle will wonder where I am.”

  “Okay, we can come back tomorrow.”

  Just as the girls were about to leave, three rough looking boys swooped down the street on their bikes. Jackie grabbed Sarah’s arm and pulled her back behind the oak.

  “It’s the Wykowski boys.”

  Sarah didn’t move. She had no idea who the boys were, but from Jackie’s reaction she figured they were trouble.

  “These guys are total creeps,” Jackie whispered as she peered out from behind the tree.

  Sarah hoped they would ride past them and be on their way. Much to her dismay, they slowed and began circling in front of the Cat Lady’s house. She groaned. We’re never getting out of here. The three boys stopped circling and Sarah poked her head out to see what was happening. They were in the middle of the street whispering to each other.

  Jackie pointed at a tall boy with dark, shaggy hair. “That’s Tim. He’s like the leader.”

  Suddenly, Tim yelled at the house. “Hey! Cat Lady! Do you eat cat food with all your cats?”

  The boys hooted with wicked laughter and then grew quiet. Sarah could tell they were waiting for a reaction from the withered old woman. When one didn’t come they took up their screams once again, yelling for the Cat Lady to come out on her porch.

  After several minutes of ranting and getting no response the boys produced three huge, overripe tomatoes. They glanced up and down the street, and then hurled the tomatoes at the house. A couple of them hit with a loud splat, smearing red pulp all over the dingy siding. Sarah’s heart skipped a beat. This will definitely get the Cat Lady out of her house.

  The rowdy boys took off on their bikes, laughing at their prank. Tim, the shaggy haired boy, rode ahead of the other two and jumped the curb, as if by coming closer to the house he dared the Cat Lady to come out. Glancing back he laughed, and the two other boys joined in. He didn’t pay attention to where he was going and Sarah watched as he smacked right into a stop sign. Yelping, he fell in a heap and his brothers stopped to help him. They weren’t laughing now. Climbing back on their bikes, the boys took off down the road. Sarah noticed Tim glanced back at the house, his expression filled with a mixture of fear and bewilderment.

  “See, I told you she was a witch,” Jackie whispered.

  “That kid ran into the stop sign all by himself,” Sarah scoffed.

  “No way. He’s lived in this town all his life. He knew the stop sign was there. It was the curse of the Cat Lady.”

  “Whatever.” Sarah rolled her eyes. “I have to get home.”

  The girls waited a few minutes, and then left the safety of the tree. They ambled down the street away from the infamous house and all the secrets it held. Sarah stopped and glanced over her shoulder. She had a tingling feeling someone or something was watching them.

  “I’ll walk you home,” Jackie said, linking her arm through Sarah’s and pulling her. “We can get together tomorrow and I’ll show you the willow tree.”

  “Okay.” Sarah allowed Jackie to pull her forward.

  They moved down the street and Jackie told Sarah all about the town of Harrisburg and its quirky characters. Sarah listened intently, forgetting the tingling feeling. Maybe being stuck here for the summer won’t be so bad.

  Looking at the homes lining the streets, Sarah wondered what it would be like to grow up in such a tiny town. She lived in the city and enjoyed the hustle and bustle. Here everything moved at a slower pace.

  Reaching her aunt and uncle’s home, Sarah made plans to see Jackie the next day. After she said goodbye, Sarah climbed the stairs to the large front porch. She plopped down on the swing hanging from hooks above the stoop. Sarah always thought of their house as friendly, with its yellow siding and ample porch. This could be a great summer after all. Exhaling a contented sigh, she looked forward to the next morning.

  ****

  Sarah woke bright and early the next day. Bounding out of bed, she dressed in denim shorts and a yellow T-shirt. As Sarah brushed her hair, she realized she was excited about seeing her new friend again. Giggling, she remembered how much she enjoyed Jackie’s dramatic flair. It was like Jackie was the ying to her yang. They went together like peanut butter and jelly.

  Suddenly, Sarah remembered a song she had learned at Y camp a few years ago. The song drifted into her mind…Peeeanuuut, peanut butter….jelly. Peeeanuuut, peanut butter….jelly. First you take the peanuts and you smash them, smash them, smash them—. She had sung it with her best friend Melanie and they would swing their hips to t
he beat, pretending to smash peanuts with their hands. Sarah laughed at the memory and realized she clicked with Jackie, not quite the same way as with Melanie, but in a way that was still fun. Things are definitely looking up for the summer.

  While waiting for her aunt to finish cooking breakfast, Sarah walked out into the backyard. She could tell it was going to be a scorcher, because it was only eight o’clock and already the dew had dried on the grass. Smiling, she turned her face to the sun, enjoying the heat.

  Sarah listened to the sounds of the morning, the twittering of birds, the buzzing of insects, and the occasional bark of a dog. She loved this morning melody and her body tingled with anticipation.

  Jackie arrived right after breakfast. Lacey beat Sarah to the door, and when she met Jackie she insisted on being included. Sarah didn’t put up much of a fight and the three girls sat on the stoop making plans for the day.

  Jackie studied Lacey. “Hey, you guys could almost be twins.”

  Sarah laughed. “No way.”

  “Way,” Jackie insisted. “You guys have the same blonde hair and green eyes.”

  “But, Lacey’s taller than I am and her hair goes all the way to her waist,” Sarah pointed out. “Mine stops at my shoulders.”

  “Yeah,” Lacey agreed.

  “Besides, our personalities are like night and day.”

  “So, where does it say twins have the same personality?”

  Sarah rolled her eyes. “Whatever.”

  “We should go to the willow tree,” Jackie said, pulling on one of her curls.

  “What? Bored with the conversation already?” Sarah teased.

  Jackie cracked a wide smile. “Yeah. Let’s go to the willow tree.”

  “Where’s the willow tree?” Sarah asked.

  “It’s down by the creek.” Jackie stood and descended the stairs. “I know. We can play truth or dare. Have you ever played?”

  “I have.” Sarah stood to follow Jackie.

  “How do you play?” Lacey asked.

  Jackie explained the rules of the game as they walked to the creek. Sarah tuned her out and focused her attention on the world around her. Listening to the neighborhood as it came to life, she heard the roar of a lawnmower as a neighbor fired it up to mow. She heard the spish, spish, spish, of a sprinkler as it watered someone’s parched lawn, and then the buzz of a bee as it flew by, searching for flowers. When she felt the sun’s prickly heat on her skin, Sarah realized she loved summer.