Caught Dead to Write

  CAUGHT DEAD TO WRITE

  A CAT LATIMER MYSTERY

  LYNN CAHOON

  CONTENTS

  Untitled

  The Cat Latimer Mysteries

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Recipe

  The Cat Latimer Mysteries

  Legal bits

  CAUGHT DEAD TO WRITE – A Cat Latimer Mystery

  Lynn Cahoon

  THE CAT LATIMER MYSTERIES

  A Story to Kill

  Fatality by Firelight

  Of Murder and Men

  Slay in Character

  Sconed to Death

  A Field Guide to Homicide

  A Killer Christmas Wish

  Caught Dead to Write

  * * *

  Novellas:

  Body in the Book Drop

  1

  Cat Latimer’s mom always said the kitchen is the heart of the home. The saying was true in the Aspen Hill, Colorado house where Cat grew up and equally as true in the Warm Spring’s house across town where she now lived. However, this kitchen wasn’t Cat’s domain. Instead, it belonged to Shauna Marie Clodagh, Cat’s best friend and partner in the Warm Springs Writers’ Retreat. They hosted the retreat on-site every month. It wasn’t unusual to find Cat and Shauna huddled around the kitchen table discussing the upcoming retreat like they were this evening or planning for future sessions. Most days, their meetings didn’t involve much more than enjoying a cup of coffee together.

  This month they needed to rethink their plan again. The writers were arriving on Saturday, two days early. Cat and Shauna, along with the local bookstore owner, Tammy Jones, sponsored a costume party for the retreat guests, as well as locals who attended the bookstore’s writing group. Cat had invited some of the Covington College English Department staff as well since Covington sponsored the writing retreat. But now, she wondered why she’d made that offer of goodwill since they were trying to bite her hand off.

  She pointed to the letter on the table. “Seriously, they want to cancel our contract because the writers who attend the sessions aren’t literary enough. They must realize that genre authors kick butt as far as making money is concerned. Don’t they want to be on the good side of people who might be inclined to sponsor a scholarship someday?”

  “Cat, it’s one professor who’s upset, not the entire department. I bet the Dean’s only holding this hearing to discuss both sides. When you bring in our stats showing how successful our retreat graduates have been, they’ll see our side.” Shauna got up and stirred the pot of chili on the stove. Her red hair was pulled into a clip, and with the apron she always wore, Shauna looked like she’d stepped out of time or from an Old West movie. The oven alarm went off and she pulled out a pan of spicy corn bread, filling the kitchen with the warm fresh baked smell. “Seth complained the other day that he hasn’t had time to make his chili this fall. So, I made it for him. I hope I got the ingredients right. He’s more of a by feel chef than a follow the recipe kind.”

  “Cook, not chef,” Cat corrected her. “Seth just likes to putter and he really only knows one dish, his chili. He’ll love it. How has he been? I haven’t seen him around. Lately, I’ve just focused on this deadline and the retreat, I guess.”

  “You’re hiding in your office. You’re both about as stubborn as an elderly mule. He misses you when you don’t stop by. I don’t know why you don’t just move into the other wing with him. I know the wedding got put off after his deployment, but…”

  “Canceled, not delayed. And I don’t want to talk about it.” Cat held up her hand to stop the conversation. “Besides, it’s not my decision. Seth is the one who decided to not get married.”

  “Because he didn’t know if he was coming back. And he did. You have to realize you have a lot of people in your life who care about you.” Shauna cut the corn bread and dished up two bowls of chili. “Can you take Seth’s dinner over to him tonight? You can carve out an hour of your day for him. The book will wait. And you two need to talk.”

  Cat held up the letter. “And what about this?”

  “The only thing we can do is attend the hearing and tell our side. If Covington wants to cancel our contract, we’ll find the money. Having a paying guest in place of their student will make up some of that deficit. Once Seth finishes remodeling the other wing, we’ll have more rooms open for guests sooner than later. Or we could add a second session each month. Or maybe several months out of the year.” Shauna held out the tray with their dinner on it. “Just don’t worry about it now. We have a lot of options. And time. The only thing you need to think about is your deadline, the retreat, and Seth. The rest of the stuff is just details.”

  “When did you get to be the Zen one? But you’re right. Nothing I can do about their decision after the hearing.” Cat took the tray Shauna handed her, then set it on the table. She added a plate with several of Shauna’s fresh baked cookies for the retreat. “I’ll have dinner with Seth. Sit and talk for a while unless he’s in a mood. Then I’ll be back in my office writing if you need me. What time is Seth going to Denver to pick up the guests tomorrow?”

  “Noon. He should be back by four. And the party starts at six. They’re coming in from California this time around. They’re in a writing group sponsored by that bookstore you loved visiting so much. You need to get it on your travel schedule again when you release next year.” Shauna put a glass of milk and a sparkling water on the tray.

  “South Cove? I loved that bookstore. The owner was really nice, but the event planner, she was a hoot.” Cat picked up the tray. “And these are paranormal authors?”

  “Actually, I think their link is this bookstore. The fact we’re having a costume party was just a bonus for them.” Shauna grabbed a bowl from the cupboard. “I’m going to make another batch of cookies for the party before I eat dinner. I’ll see you in the morning?”

  “You’ll probably see me when I bring the tray back.”

  Shauna opened the fridge and started pulling out ingredients. “Unless I’m out feeding Snow and the dwarfs. I swear I’ve never seen a horse be as friendly with a bunch of cats in my life. They’re all buddies.”

  “Snow’s a good parental figure.” Cat left the kitchen, pushing the door open with her back. “Thanks for pulling me off the ledge. I can’t believe this Professor Barring got under my skin again. I promise I’ll put it away until after the retreat. Then I’ll go slash her tires.”

  “Sure, you will.” Shauna laughed as she waved Cat out of the kitchen. “Go feed your man. He’s probably starving.”

  “He’s not my man anymore. He’s just a friend. And if I can’t slash her tires, then I’ll turn mice loose in her lecture hall.” Cat mused as she walked away. What else could she do to an English professor whose snobby attitude failed to see the joy and creativity that commercial fiction brought the world? “I guess I’m just going to have to find a way to convince her.”

  A meow from Angelica let her know she wasn’t alone in the hallway. The momma cat had come to live with Cat and Shauna about the same time as Snow had arrived at the barn. Cat had rescued the feline from a local Old West tourist site that had closed down for the season. Angelica had brought a surprise with her. Four kittens. Now they had a little family in the barn, but Angelica liked being inside more than her offspring.

  “Hey, sweet girl. Do you want to go visit Seth with
me? You know Sam’s going to want to play.” Cat opened the door that led to the other wing, but at the mention of Seth’s dog, Angelica turned and went the other way. Probably to sun herself in the dining room. “Okay then, I’ll tell him you said hi.”

  She closed the door with her foot and followed the hall until it opened up into a small living room. Seth had set up his office in the room along with his gaming television and a bookcase of DVDs. He’d moved his stuff out of the apartment when he’d left that spring and into this empty room. Now, a month after he’d returned, he’d made it a home. She set the tray on a side table and turned down the volume on the television. A movie was playing, one that Cat knew Seth had watched a thousand times. But that and a fire in the fireplace was the only sign of life. “Seth? Where are you? Dinner is served.”

  Sam came running out of the hallway that led to the small kitchen. He had his own door to the backyard from that room. Seth and Uncle Pete had fenced a section of the yard around the door to allow Sam some yard space. Since she’d been the one to babysit Sam during Seth’s absence, the dog had bonded to her as well. There was a nice swing and a small grill for summer nights on a deck. Seth liked sitting outside and she found him there a lot.

  “Hey, buddy, where’s your guy?” She reached down and gave Sam’s head a rub. He greeted her, then went to sniff the table and the tray of food. “Nope, that’s not yours but if you need something, I’ll feed you.”

  Seth chuckled from the hallway where he stood, leaning on the doorway. He’d returned from his last deployment with a limp he wouldn’t talk about and a cane. “Don’t let him fool you. I fed him at three, so now he’s just begging. How’s the book going?”

  She wanted to cross the room and give him a kiss, or at least, brush the hair out of his eyes. He needed a haircut. But their relationship had been strained since he’d announced his plans to join up with his old crew and deploy one more time. He’d worked for a private contractor and that was all he’d told her. Now he’d come home, a little banged up and a lot less cheerful. She put on a smile she didn’t feel and answered his question. “Great. If I get at least a few words a day during the retreat, I still have a hope of finishing by the deadline. Remind me again why I decided hosting monthly retreats were a good idea? It’s always messing with my writing schedule.”

  “You love your writer friends coming and playing with you. And you know it. I’ve decided I’m going to be Frankenstein in progress for the party tomorrow night. That way I don’t look out of place with my slower pace.” He waved his cane, then moved toward his chair. “Shauna made me chili? She’s a peach.”

  “She said she hoped it met with your high standards.” Cat cleared off an end table to set the tray between the two chairs. “When do you go back to the doctor? Are you sure you’re up to doing the airport run tomorrow?”

  “Week after next. Don’t worry, it’s on Shauna’s calendar too so she’s planning on going with me just in case, if you’re still writing this book.” He picked up a piece of corn bread and slathered butter on it. “I appreciate you both helping out, but I’m feeling like a bother. I think if you look up loser in the dictionary, they have a picture of me.”

  “You didn’t mean to get hurt.” Cat wanted to say so much more, but she didn’t want this meal to end up in a fight. Like so many other dinners had before he left. “Besides, you’re not a bother. No matter what happens between you and me, we’re still friends. And you’re still my contractor for the retreat.”

  “I’m not sure how I feel about you being so relaxed about our relationship status. But anyway, Sam and I appreciate you being so understanding. Otherwise, we’d be homeless and starving.” He took a bite of the chili. “So good. I think it’s better than what I make.”

  “I’ll tell Shauna. She’ll be pleased. Anyway, you wouldn’t be homeless. Remember, we had the money talk before when we were going to get married. I know you have savings. I just like to keep my contractor nearby while we’re in the middle of a remodel.”

  “I think you’re trying too hard to be low key about you and me. Cat, we need to talk about the wedding.” He set the bowl down. “About us. You need to know why I took that job.”

  “I don’t know why.” The words came out sharp. She took a breath, closing her eyes to keep the tears away. She didn’t want him to say that he didn’t love her anymore. Because then, she’d have to accept it was over. “Give me this week. I promise, after the retreat and after the book is done, we’ll sit down and have that conversation. I just can’t now.”

  He didn’t speak for a long time. Then he buttered another piece of corn bread, not meeting her gaze. “Did Shauna update you on the guests for this week?”

  “They’re all from a little coastal tourist town in California. One of the writers backed out last month and we didn’t have time to replace them, but we have four guests plus the Covington student, so that should work. Anyway, a few years ago, I did a book signing at this little store in South Cove. The bookstore there has a writers group like Tammy does, so when we found out they were coming, Shauna decided to put on this party to get the groups together.”

  Cat mixed in some crackers with the chili as it was just a little spicier than she liked. “Our Covington student writes poetry. So that should be fun. Not. From what Shauna said, we’ve got a paranormal romance writer, a woman’s fiction with paranormal elements writer, and a guy who works at the bookstore and writes some sort of time travel. I’m not sure we’ll offer any value to a poetry student. But I’m going to set up a session on word choices in a manuscript which should give him something out of the retreat besides time to write and time with other writers.”

  “You always say that the way the group clicks is the magic behind the retreats. It doesn’t matter what anyone writes, you all need that networking to remind yourself you’re not alone and your work has value.” He stopped when he noticed Cat staring at him. “What, did I say something wrong?”

  She shook her head. “No, I’m just always amazed at how someone with no writing experience can understand me so thoroughly. You’re amazing, Seth Howard.”

  He held a finger up to correct her. “Actually, you’re wrong. Not about the amazing part. That you were totally on point with. I do have writing experience. Remember I made that hiking field guide that we used with the outdoor writers that one retreat? I’ve still got a ton of those so next summer. I’ll be back to adding value to your retreat schedule.”

  “You always add value, Seth.” She leaned back in her chair and ate more chili. Sam curled up on the floor between them, waiting for someone to drop a piece of cornbread that needed cleaned up. Even with the elephant in the room, having dinner together tonight felt right. She thought that this might have been a glimpse into what their future would have held had they gotten married in June. A future that didn’t look like it was going to happen. But she needed to put this away until after the retreat. And the book. And the hearing.

  She took a deep breath to calm herself.

  Shauna was right. Even if the college removed their sponsorship from the retreat, they’d be fine. Life was always challenging, but there was always a new path to take when the current path presented a roadblock. She just had to find it.

  2

  Tammy Jones and Andi Grammy were outside stacking boxes on the porch at six the next morning. Tammy owned the local bookstore and Andi was a retreat alumni. Cat was on the stairs, coming down for more coffee when she saw them out the window. She hurried over to open the door. “What are you doing out so early?”

  Tammy walked in and put the box she’d been carrying on the floor in the hallway. “We’ve come to help Shauna decorate. Didn’t she tell you?”

  “I’ve been trying to keep the party planning details off Cat’s plate since she’s on deadline.” Shauna appeared out of the kitchen. “You should have called when you got here. I could have helped unpack the van.”

  “Andi offered to help bring things over and decorate so I can go back and open t
he store at ten.” Tammy waved the other woman inside. “She’s basically taken over the writers group for me this year. I don’t know what I’d do without her.”

  “I’m not doing all that much. Besides, it’s fun.” Andi smiled at Cat and Shauna. “It’s good to see you both. I talked to Mom last night and told her I was helping with the party. She said to apologize again for her behavior. She’s living in Florida now helping out my grandmother. And she’s taking scuba lessons. Can you believe it?”

  “Well, that’s amazing.” Cat thought about the woman she’d met a few years ago and marveled at the changes. “And how are you?”

  “This is my last year at Covington. I’m working with the career center and I think there are several paths I could take. But I’m looking at doing some sort of job around editing. I’d like to really get to know the publishing industry, you know?” She set the box she’d been carrying down by the one Tammy had brought inside. “But if we’re hosting a party tonight, we better get moving.”

  Cat liked the new, assertive Andi. She’d been one of the students that Covington had sent to the retreat, and it had been a turning point in her life. For more reasons than one. “Then I’m off for more coffee and more words. Have fun decorating.”

  “Write hard,” Andi called after her.

  When Cat came down for a snack, the foyer was empty. The party magic was complete. Shauna and her helpers had transformed the public space into party central. Tables with books and candles circled the hallway. Fairy lights hung all the way around the walls and up the stairs. When the party started and they turned down the lights, the area was going to sparkle. Cat went into the kitchen.