Greenberg, Martin H. (ed.) - Cat Crimes for the Holidays / Гринберг, Мартин (ред.) - Кото-преступления на праздники [1999, EPUB, ENG]

DR. COUCH SAVES A CAT by Nancy Pickard IÄ IÄ IÄ-IÄ! CTHULOUIE! by Carole Nelson Douglas AULD LANG WHAT? by Barbara Paul AUTUMN TETHERS by Tracy Knight BUT ONCE A YEAR by John Lutz COLD TURKEY by Graham Masterton HOW THE JULY FOURTH CAT SAVED THE DAY AND RUINED THE NIGHT by Jan Grape LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON by Richard T. Chizmar LONGEVITY HAS ITS PLACE by Jon L. Breen PARTY ANIMAL by Morris Hershman I SUPPOSE THIS MAKES ME SANCHO by Gary A. Braunbeck BOXING DAY by Nick Hassam DEATH OF A GLAMOUR CAT by Christine Matthews and Robert J. Randisi TO GRANDMOTHER’S HOUSE WE GO by Barbara Collins HIM. GONE? GOOD! by Jeremiah Healy NON-LETHALS by Marlys Millhiser THE ALL-AMERICAN by Peter Crowther and Stewart von Allmen THE OLD MAN WHO SAW NEWGRANGE by J. N. Williamson THE EASTER CAT by Bill Crider

“—And as usual, Tarquin wishes all of you a very merry Christmas,” said Uncle Philip, stroking the pedigree British Blue cat that sat in his lap. It was obvious, however, that Tarquin was wishing for only one thing. His coppery eyes were fixed on the huge, well-bronzed turkey that had just arrived in the middle of the dining table. His tension was almost palpable. Mandy felt that if the turkey had been capable of twitching just an inch, Tarquin would have launched himself at it, and nothing could have stopped him. “A very merry Christmas to Tarquin,” Kenneth replied, raising his glass. “Long may he live in the lap of luxury.” Kenneth was floridly drunk; and two of his shirt buttons were missing; but he was not too drunk to be less-than-subtly sarcastic. Nicholas raised his glass, too, although Nicholas had remained supremely, remotely sober. A new partner in a firm of Essex Street solicitors couldn’t afford to be caught for drunk driving, and besides, he never liked to lose control. His wife Libby, however, was beginning to look distinctly disarranged. She had already pulled one of her crackers and she had awkwardly tugged a purple paper hat over her frizzy ginger hair. “To Tarquin,” said Nicholas, and gave Uncle Philip a waxy, colorless smile. “May all his dreams come true.” . . .