Cat's innate desire to help others works against her in this finale episode of the Cat Collier Mystery series. How many strangers has Cat helped over the years? How many of those strangers have become friends, true hand-selected family members?
In the midst of illegal breaking and entering, interrupted robberies, false identities, and getting ready for Christmas with three young children,Cat discovered the safety and security of her precious, little family is threatened.
One old case is solved with sad news at Christmas. Another old case opens up new problems when the young daughter of an old client shows up at the Palazzo Castellano looking for Cat Collier's help.
Can Cat make a happy Christmas for her family in spite of it all?
Do Christmas wishes come true?
Excerpt:
I sat at my desk and gazed out the window at the city below. The last rays of sunset danced across the early evening sky. The jewel of the city, the impressive McKinley Memorial, our beautiful post office with its sandstone pillars, the park, the river; all views that usually make me feel happy to be alive today left me cold.
The phone ringing on my desk jarred me out of my icy emptiness.
“Red Cat Investigation. Cat Collier speaking. How can I help you?” I monotoned.
“Um, my name is Bailey. I heard about you from a friend. I’m in a big mess. I need help,” said the shaky voice on the other end. “My landlord evicted me from the big boarding house on Park Avenue because I’m pregnant.”
“Who evicts a pregnant woman at Christmas time?” I asked.
“He did. He locked me out while I was at my baby doctor’s appointment today. I’m due in three weeks. He said he can’t have a crying baby keeping everybody else in the house awake at night. So, the scumbag evicted me. I need my stuff and all the baby stuff I’ve been collecting. I don’t know where else to turn.”
“Big messes are my specialty, Bailey. Calm down. Don’t worry. We got this. Where are you?”
“I’m sitting in my car outside your hotel on State Street.”
“I’m on my way out to meet you. I’ll come out the front door.”
I grabbed my coat off the hook and took the elevator to the lobby. I stopped to tell my kids what I was doing. They were knee-deep in boxes and ornaments and having a ball. Our family bodyguard watched my movements intently as I headed for the front door.
As I stepped out the front door, the December air was cold and crisp, signaling Ohio Winter had arrived and was just itching to freeze us to the core. It was not even six o’clock in the evening and it was already dark outside. The street was empty except for one car. The car flashed its lights. I walked over to the driver’s side of the car.
“Bailey?” I asked the disheveled young women firmly grasping the steering wheel.
“Yes, it’s me,” Bailey cried.
“Come on, let’s drive around back to the parking garage.”
I got in the passenger side. We drove around back. I used my key card to get her through the security gate. I directed Bailey to park her grey Chevy Aveo next to my car. She reached in the back seat for her bag.
“This is all I have. Everything else I own, and all the baby stuff, is in my room at the boarding house. But he won’t let me in to get it.”
“Let’s get you inside where its warm first. We’ll get something to eat and have some hot tea. And then we’ll make a plan.”
“Cat, I can’t afford to pay you right now,” she sobbed. “But I promise, I will.
“That’s okay. Don’t worry about it. Let’s just get you settled and comfortable for now. Stress is not good for the baby.”
Amazon Buy Link:
https://www.amazon.com/December-Wish-Collier-Mastery-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0CPW5C7ZH
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