Page 14 of The Last Knight

Harry turned his attention to the older gentleman. “Do you have a serious crime to report Mr. Barthalomew?”

“Of course,” the old man snapped. “I have been waiting for this meeting to report a murder.”

Gasps erupted, and the old man lifted his chin as if proud to have something so urgent to report.

“Why didn’t you call the police?” The woman who’d complained about the cats snapped and glared at the old man. “This is not a matter for the city council.” She turned back to the front. “About the cats…”

Harry got to his feet and hurried to the older man. “Mr. Barthalomew, who was killed?”

The older man gave the cat woman a triumphant look. “Her if she doesn’t stop complaining about my cats.”

Laugher erupted, council members tried in vain to quiet the room and Aubrey lowered her head onto her hands. It would be a while before order was brought.

After the murder and cat commotion, a debate erupted about whether or not cats should or shouldn’t be allowed to roam at night. In the end nothing was decided, except that Mr. Barthalomew was told not threaten his neighbors and keep his cats inside for the time being. Then the city council decided to postpone any more discussions until the following week.

Aubrey stood and hurried to the front of the room. Leaning on the table with both hands, she looked directly into each of the council persons’ eyes. “This is my third attempt to speak to you without success. Please, I need to get my paperwork signed, otherwise, I cannot go forward with leasing the property.” Since the people stared at her blankly, she quickly added. “I wish to open a yoga studio where the Darling Boutique was. I have over twenty people attending my classes in the city square. I will be providing at least four positions of employment, not counting those I hire to complete the work necessary to ensure the space is brought up to code. Additionally, Lady Whitmore has graciously agreed to report on the studio when she podcasts on the BBC channel.” She was breathless, but glad to have gotten most of her practiced speech done in record time.

The council members exchanged looks seeming more exhausted than a meeting, which lasted less than twenty minutes, called for. Finally, Harry reached for the folders, sliding one after the other aside until finding hers. “I’ll sign it, no need to prolong this matter.”

The woman next to Harry studied her for a moment. “I do enjoy listening to Mrs. Whitmore. Very well. Ensure it is up to code and do not paint anything outside in one of those garish colors, you young people seem to favor.”

Aubrey practically danced out of the room, excited about her next project. Setting up and decorating her own studio.

She’d have to call her father and ask that he contact family friend Lady Whitmore to ask for a favor since she’d made that part up.