Cat Scratch Cleaver

give a nervous glance around at the cast and crew who seem to be oblivious to the chaos unfolding. “We’ll have to tell Jasper when he arrives. It sounds as if someone is leaving cleavers around the inn and terrorizing the guests. Why don’t you put that one near my computer? I’ll have Jasper check it for prints if they’re still on it. And if you don’t mind, check the rest of the inn for any more demented mementos.”
“This is some sick prank, isn’t it?”
“Either that or a warning of things to come from the killer.”
“Stay safe, Bizzy. I’ll take a look around.” He takes off, and I do the same once I spot Faith and Peter by the entry.
“Excuse me,” I say, interrupting the intense conversation they seem to be having. “I just want you to know we’ve found a couple of cleavers peppered around the inn. This wouldn’t have anything to do with filming, would it?” There was probably twelve better ways to phrase that, but I’m too hopped up on adrenaline to care.
Peter looks as if he’s aged ten years since Heather’s death. His forehead is crowded with thick lines, and the scruff on his face has gone pure white.
“Cleavers?” His ears pique. My God, where is Jane? He cranes his neck past me. “Excuse me.” He takes off without so much as an explanation, at least not a verbal one.
Faith steps in close, her silky pants swishing with her every move.
“Did you say cleaver?” she practically mouths the words.
“Yes. Are they props or something?”
“Nope.” She shakes her head, her dark eyes rounding out over mine. “I haven’t even purchased another one for the final scene yet. That’s really creepy. I guess that means we’ve got a prankster among us.” She gives a nervous look around at the crowd of bodies. My God, where is he?
“Who are you looking for?” I don’t hesitate to ask.
“Bates.” She makes a face. “He’s in this next scene. Excuse me, Bizzy. I’d better go find him.” She darts into the thick of the melee. He predicted the killer was about to throw everyone off. And I wonder if this is what he meant.
My lips part at the revelation, and suddenly I’m moved to speak with Bates as well. But I’m afraid it’ll have to wait. Instead, I decide to head in Kiki’s direction. But she’s no longer putting the pancake makeup onto Camila’s smug mug. She’s chatting it up with an all too familiar woman wearing a sky blue kaftan while holding my sweet cat. It’s none other than Georgie Conner.
“Hello, ladies,” I say, panting as I give Fish a quick pat.
Georgie is party planning. Fish sighs. You’re not opening a disco, are you?
I give a covert shake of the head.
Kiki sheds a hot pink smile. She’s donned a pair of capris and a pink tank top to match her lips while her curly hair sits tied in a knot on top of her head. Her arms are thick and yet you can see the outline of her muscles.
“How’s it going, Bizzy? Georgie was just inviting me to the opening of Darby’s new club tonight.”
“That’s right.” Georgie gives my hip a quick bump. “Juni’s off seducing Bates Barlow into coming. Once he sees how hopping and popping it is with the younger set, he’ll be forced to invest in it.” She gives a little wink. “Knowing my girl, she’ll convince that Hollywood hunk to follow her home afterwards, too.” She leans in. “Oh heck, they’re probably in his trailer right now closing the deal, if you know what I mean.” She gives a hard wink. “If the trailer’s a rockin’, don’t come a knockin’. That boy might have game, but my little girl has no shame.”
Kiki grimaces. Interesting. “I might just show up tonight after all. I’m all for front row seats to the Juni and Bates Show.” She gives a jovial laugh. Little does Juni know, I’d love to give her a run for her trailer rockin’ money.
Sounds as if Kiki is just as smitten with Bates as the rest of the ovary popping masses.
“If Bates Barlow will be there, I’ll be there, too.” I lean in. “Say, did either of you see anyone walking around with a cleaver by chance?”
Cleaver? Fish yowls as the hair stands up on the ridge of her back. Why do I feel as if my tail is in peril?
Why do I feel as if every guest is in peril?
Kiki twitches her head my way. “The cleaver is out? We’re not shooting the final scene today, are we? If so, I put the wrong makeup on Camila. I’d better start mixing a batch of blood.”
“No,” I say. “We just discovered a couple of them scattered around the inn.”
Georgie gasps. “Who would do something like that?”
“I don’t know,” I say. “But apparently, it doesn’t have anything to do with the shoot.”
Kiki clutches her throat. “This is getting scary.” She gives a quick look around. “Wait a minute.” She touches her fingers to her lips.
“Kiki, what is it?” I all but clutch her arm. “Did you see something?”
“Actually.” She takes a quick breath. “I really don’t think it’s a big deal, but Bates was drinking last night. He said something about wanting to play a prank on the crew.”
I give a knowing nod. “Faith said the same thing. But I don’t think it’s very funny.”
Kiki gives a weak smile. “Just don’t tell him I was one of the people who outted him. I’d like to stay on his good side.” Until he’s locked up for good. And the way things are going, that won’t be too long at all. “I’d better get to that blood.”
A woman with a bad blonde wig catches my eye as she snags the attention of a vexingly handsome homicide detective near the entry.
“Don’t worry, Kiki. I’ll cover the blood for this one,” I mutter as I speed off in their direction and Georgie scurries along right next to me.
“Did you say blood?”