Disconnected (28 page)

The little man laughed. He slapped his knee and grabbed at his side as the fits of laughter took control of his frail looking body.

I crossed my arms over my chest. "What's so funny?" I said as I looked down on him, sternly.

"Nobody...knows," he managed to get out in between breaths.

I ignored the warning and grabbed him by the throat. My nose briefly touched his flamingo-like snout before I growled out my response. "Nobody knows what?"

The laughing came to an abrupt stop as my fingers squeezed his brittle neck. Killing him wouldn't help me any, if he was even able to die permanently; I would still be stuck in the wooden room without knowing where I was or how to get out. But hurting someone or something after the year I'd had seemed like it might ease some of the tension, and possibly the pain from not being Kendra's chosen one.

I sighed and released my grip, letting the old man fall to the floor with a thump.

He gasped for breath and got to his hands and knees, sucking in great lungfulls of oxygen through his mouth and nose.

I was just about to be concerned when he stopped the coughing nonsense and shot an evil grin my way.

"Best you not try something like that again, sonny boy," he said, and I wasn't positive, but I thought I saw a flash of red in his eyes. "You should be mighty careful who you make your enemy around here."

I fidgeted under his stare momentarily, then sighed in defeat. He was right. I was in a strange place, and making enemies was the last thing I needed to do.

"Look, I'm sorry," I said gruffly. "If you can refrain from playing games, I might possibly be able to stop my hands from squeezing your head off your neck. Now, where am I?"

"You are here," he said with another bright, mischievous grin.

I bit my tongue and forced my anger to subside as my molars ground into one another.
The energy would be wasted. I huffed, then finally surrendered. I was only going to win by losing, because I was dealing with a mad man. "Alright, so evidently I'm asking the wrong questions. How about, what is this place called?"

The little guy winked at me. "What do you think this place is called?"

I snapped. "Seriously?" I shouted. "Who are you?"

"I am Pogo. I can help you on your journey if you like," he said, then snapped his bony fingers, clapped his hands, stomped his tiny feet and ended in a low bow.

I clapped my hands sarcastically as my eyes narrowed into slits. "Help me? You've done nothing but annoy me since we met, and you haven't helped me at all. If anything, I'd say you've done more harm than good. I'm better off figuring everything out on my own."

I turned and began to check the wall for weak places again. I could find a way out myself. I didn't need the help of a trickster.

Then I heard the sniffling. I hesitantly glanced back at the dwarf. He was sitting in the middle of the dirty floor with his forehead rested on his folded arms over his knees. I've always been a sucker for the water works, and the tears of this scrawny twerp weren't going to affect me any different than Kendra's salty drops of emotion. It looked as though my journey to figure out a way back into Heaven was just going to take longer.

I sighed. "So, how can we get out of this room?"

Pogo looked up at me with red-rimmed eyes, then wiped at the wetness from his wrinkled cheeks. "You need my help?" he asked, and there was genuine happiness building behind his eyes and the smile that was threatening to spread again.

I nodded once. "Under three conditions."

Pogo nodded excitedly as he got to his feet. "Anything you want. Just name it."

"Tell me where I am. Tell me how to get out of here," I motioned with my hand to insinuate the room we were standing in. "And don't get in my way. Do you think you can agree to those terms?"

Pogo dropped his head and shuffled his dirty bare feet nervously.

After about five seconds of no response to my strict circumstances, I cleared my throat and raised an eyebrow. "Well?"

"Um..." he said, and there was more shuffling and fidgeting as he began to rub his hands briskly together, all the while being careful not to make eye contact with me.

My eyes gave a slight roll as I turned back to the wall. "Never mind--evidently I can't count on you to help me with anything. I honestly don't know what I expected. Obviously you don't know how to get us out--"

"I do know how to get out of this room," he said shortly, and stomped his foot.

"Well, I'm waiting," I said as I turned back around, then froze as I noticed something odd on the wall behind him. It was a door. It blended in so perfectly that I wouldn't have been able to swear it hadn't been there before. I didn't think it had been, but I've been wrong on more than one occasion. I'm not too proud to admit that.

He must have noticed my attention wasn't focused on him any longer, because his frown turned to confusion as he turned to look at the door behind him. He stared at it a moment, then looked back to me like nothing was wrong or out of place.

"What?" he said.

"How long has that door been there? And don't you dare say always," I growled.

He chuckled lightly. "It is your door."

"My door? What's on the other side of
my door
?" I asked as I studied the new rectangle addition to the room.

Pogo grinned mischievously. "How else do you think you could get out of this room?"

I gave him a hard look, but he only flashed his rotting smile again. "So, what's beyond the door?"

Pogo snickered. "Your future."

I sighed in frustration. "Well, it certainly isn't my past. Let's go."

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

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 crazylady. 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.