Spy Cat Read online

  The Smell of Fear

  Pete crouched on Alex’s window ledge with his nose to the screen, glad that Alex liked fresh air at night even in winter. Pete inhaled deeply as he peered through the dark trees toward the house next door. His fur rose along the ridge of his back. He smelled fear, sharp animal fear, although he couldn’t tell what kind of animal was in danger.

  Something was wrong at Mary’s house.

  A van stood in the neighbor’s driveway, its rear door open.

  As Pete watched, a figure hurried to the van and placed a large object inside. Pete tried to slide the window open farther, but it held fast. Frustrated, he pawed at the window.

  The figure returned to the house and came back a few seconds later carrying another object. It’s the burglar, Pete realized. He’s stealing things out of Mary’s house!

  SPY

  CAT

  OTHER BOOKS BY PEG KEHRET

  Abduction!

  Cages

  Danger at the Fair

  Don’t Tell Anyone

  Earthquake Terror

  The Ghost’s Grave

  Horror at the Haunted Museum

  I’m Not Who You Think I Am

  Night of Fear

  Nightmare Mountain

  Searching for Candlestick Park

  Sisters Long Ago

  The Stranger Next Door

  Terror at the Zoo

  PEG KEHRET

  AND PETE THE CAT

  SPY

  CAT

  PUFFIN BOOKS

  Published by the Penguin Group

  Penguin Young Readers Group, 345 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014, U.S.A.

  Penguin Group (Canada), 90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 700,

  Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4P 2Y3 (a division of Pearson Penguin Canada Inc.)

  Penguin Books Ltd, 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

  Penguin Ireland, 25 St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2, Ireland

  (a division of Penguin Books Ltd)

  Penguin Group (Australia), 250 Camberwell Road, Camberwell, Victoria 3124, Australia

  (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd)

  Penguin Books India Pvt Ltd, 11 Community Centre,

  Panchsheel Park, New Delhi – 110 017, India

  Penguin Group (NZ), 67 Apollo Drive, Rosedale, North Shore 0632, New Zealand

  (a division of Pearson New Zealand Ltd)

  Penguin Books (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd, 24 Sturdee Avenue,

  Rosebank, Johannesburg 2196, South Africa

  Registered Offices: Penguin Books Ltd, 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

  First published in the United States of America by Dutton Children’s Books,

  a division of Penguin Young Readers Group, 2003

  Published by Puffin Books, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group, 2004

  This Sleuth edition published by Puffin Books, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group, 2008

  Copyright © Peg Kehret, 2003

  All rights reserved

  CIP Data is available

  Puffin Books ISBN: 978-1-101-66174-1

  Except in the United States of America, this book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

  The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party Web sites or their content.

  True friends enrich our lives and encourage the best in us.

  To Larry Karp, a fine writer, who lets me play with his musical animals

  To Myra Karp, whose many talents include seven-layer chocolate cakes and the world’s best pizza

  To Erin Karp, cat-loving attorney and honorary daughter

  —P.K.

  To my friends, Daisy and Molly

  —PETE

  Table of Contents

  Prologue

  1

  2

  3

  4

  5

  6

  7

  8

  9

  10

  11

  12

  13

  14

  15

  16

  17

  18

  19

  20

  Prologue

  Every animal, human or other, needs work that matters. I am Pete the cat, and I have more than one important responsibility. I’m an excellent lap-warmer, a fearless protector of my family, and a published author. You are reading my second book, and I must say that this part of my job doesn’t get any easier.

  When I first approached the keyboard, I had no desire for literary fame. I wanted to write because I had heard that every computer has a mouse. Then I got interested in the story that my person, Peg, was working on, so I began to add my ideas to hers. We ended up writing a novel together and we had fun doing it.

  When I first discovered that my big white-and-brown cat, Pete, knows how to read and write, I was shocked. His papers from the humane society said “good with children,” but there was no hint of any literary ability, so you can imagine my surprise when he began adding pages to the book I was writing.

  I know how to talk, too, but she hasn’t yet learned to understand me. Humans think they are smarter than the rest of us animals when any cat knows it’s the other way around.

  In the first book that Pete and I coauthored, The Stranger Next Door, I wrote the parts about people and he wrote the parts about the cat. We did that with this book, too. His parts are in italics so you can tell which ones they are.

  Actually, the cat’s parts are in italics because they are the most important.

  I thought Pete would get tired of writing after the first book, but when I started this story I left my computer on at night, in case he wanted to add something. Sure enough, the next morning there were two pages told from the cat’s point of view.

  She hasn’t grown tired of writing, so why would I? Writing is challenging, fun, and satisfying—like catching a fly. I used to spend my nights batting at catnip-scented balls and trying to wake up my people. Now I write novels because novelists get to go to bookstores and put their paw prints in their books. No one ever got famous by playing with catnip balls.

  All of the characters in this book except one are fictional. I’m sure you’ll be able to tell which one is real.

  These was no need to make up a cat character when a clever, courageous, and capable cat like me was willing to be in the story. If you ever need to describe me, remember the three C’s.

  It should really be four C’s—add one for “corpulent.”

  Corpulent! There isn’t an ounce of fat on me. That uninformed veterinarian who suggested diet cat food doesn’t know muscle when he sees it.

  Having a cat as my coauthor has worked well. The only problem we had on this book was when Pete kept changing the cover so that his name was in bigger letters than my name. Our editor vetoed that.

  I did most of the work, so I should get most of the credit, but I settled for extra kitty num-num.

  Enough of this explanation. Here is the second story that Pete and I wrote together.

  1

  Alex Kendrill was pouring cat food into Pete’s bowl when his little brother, Benjie, raced into the house.

  “The new neighbors are here,” Benjie shouted, “and we’re going to like them!” The door slammed shut behind him.

  Pete, Alex’s big white-and-brown cat, quit rubbing against Alex’s legs and ran under the table. He peered out, hoping Benjie would leave so Pete could eat breakfast in peace. Pete liked Benjie, but
he didn’t like all the loud noises that Benjie made.

  “Do they have boys?” Alex asked.

  Alex’s family had been one of the first to move into a new housing development. Every time another family moved in, Benjie hoped they would have boys his age, but it hadn’t happened yet.

  Benjie took two cookies out of the cookie jar and a small can of apple juice from the refrigerator. “So far I only saw a girl and an old woman,” he said as he popped open the juice. “Maybe the boys are coming with their dad.”

  “How do you know we’re going to like them?”

  “Because they have a whole bunch of animals.”

  “What kind of animals?” Alex asked.

  Pete’s tail swished back and forth. He hoped a pack of dogs didn’t move in next door. Even though Pete was kept inside, he escaped whenever he could. If dogs lived next door, he’d have to be more cautious.

  “I didn’t actually see any animals,” Benjie admitted, “but I saw a cage with a blanket over it, and some carriers like the one we use when we take Pete to the vet.”

  Pete growled. He wished Benjie wouldn’t talk about the vet.

  Benjie grabbed his binoculars and the backpack that he called his spy kit. “I’ll be out in front,” he said.

  “Mom and Dad don’t want you spying on the neighbors,” Alex said.

  “How else will we know if they have boys or not?”

  Benjie went out, letting the door bang behind him.

  Pete returned to his breakfast.

  Alex turned on the computer. While he waited to get connected to the Internet, he read his homework assignment: “Write three paragraphs or more about the history of Oklahoma.”

  With any luck he would find everything he needed to know on the Internet. He could finish the assignment quickly and spend the morning on more important things, such as asking Rocky to come over to shoot baskets.

  When his search results appeared on the screen, he clicked on the most promising site and began to read. Oklahoma history turned out to be more interesting than he had expected. He especially liked a picture that showed an oil well on the grounds of the state capitol building.

  Half an hour later Alex was printing out his report when he heard four knocks at the back door in the special rhythm that Rocky always used. “Come on in!” Alex yelled.

  “Alex?”

  “I’m in the family room.” Alex shut off the printer and put his assignment in a folder. “What’s up?” he said as he heard Rocky enter the room.

  “Someone broke into our house! We were burglarized!”

  Alex turned to his friend. “When? What happened?”

  “Today. This morning.” Rocky looked pale, the way he had when he’d caught the flu. “Mother and Blake and I went out for breakfast, and when we got home our back door had been kicked in. Whoever did it took both our television sets and our computer and Blake’s new camera and some cash.” His voice trembled, as if he couldn’t quite catch his breath.

  “Did you call the police?” Alex asked.

  “The sheriff just left. He wrote down everything we’re missing and said to call if we discover anything else that was taken.”

  “Do you have any idea who did it?”

  “No, but whoever it was must have seen us leave because we were only gone a little over an hour. We ate breakfast at Mad Dog’s Diner, then picked up some paint at the hardware store. When we got home, the back door was open.”

  Alex’s stomach felt queasy. Three months ago an arsonist had set fires in the neighborhood and had nearly killed Alex. The arsonist got caught, but it had been the most horrible experience of Alex’s life. He had barely begun to feel safe again, and now this happened.

  Pete went to Rocky and rubbed against his ankles. Rocky had saved Pete’s life during the fire, and Pete would never forget it.

  “The sheriff went across the street to talk to the family who moved in last week,” Rocky said, “to see if anyone saw a car or people at our house while we were gone. I need to get back. I wanted to tell you what happened, but when I tried to call, your line was busy for a long time.”

  “I was on the Internet, doing my homework.”

  “Do you want to come over to my house?”

  “I’m watching Benjie while Mom and Dad buy groceries; I can’t leave unless I take him along.” Alex didn’t have to explain why that wouldn’t be a good idea. Rocky knew all about Benjie’s spy games. “Right now he’s busy spying on the new people who are moving in next door. You can stay here, if you want to.”

  “Maybe I’ll come over later,” Rocky said. “I want to go home and find out if the sheriff got any leads. I’m kind of shook up over this.”

  “I don’t blame you. Let me know what happens.”

  Rocky started to leave, then turned to look back. “Keep your doors locked,” he said.

  “I will.”

  Pete jumped to the window ledge and watched Rocky ride his bike down the driveway. That burglar had better not try to break in here. If he does, he’ll get more than he bargained for, Pete thought.

  I’ll bite him in the ankle. I’ll climb his leg and shred his pants. He’ll have more holes in his backside than a piece of Swiss cheese.

  Alex stared at the door for a few seconds after Rocky left. Had someone been watching Rocky’s house, waiting for his family to leave? Would the burglars return to Valley View Estates?

  He walked to the front door and checked to be sure it was locked. Then he paced around the house, angry at whoever had broken into Rocky’s home. It made him furious to see his friend so upset, and he felt helpless to do anything about it. Why did there have to be such bad people in the world?

  He was still fuming when Benjie came in the kitchen door, followed by a girl who appeared to be about the same age as Alex.

  “This is Mary,” Benjie said. “She’s our new neighbor and she wants to use our telephone.”

  Alex introduced himself, then showed Mary the phone.

  “Do you have a directory that I could use?” she asked. “I need to call the electric company. Our power isn’t on yet; it was supposed to get turned on yesterday. The phone company is coming this afternoon, but Gramma’s afraid if we wait until then to call, it’ll be too late to get power today.”

  Alex opened the cupboard where the phone book was kept and handed the directory to Mary. He wanted to tell Benjie about the burglary, but he didn’t trust his brother not to take his spy kit and head straight for Rocky’s house.

  Pete jumped to the floor and walked toward the girl. Even though noisy Benjie was still in the room, Pete was curious about this visitor. She looked and smelled like someone who loved animals.

  “What a beautiful cat,” Mary said.

  Pete went closer.

  “This is Pete,” Alex said.

  Mary smiled at Pete. “He’s a big one,” she said.

  While Mary looked up the number Pete sniffed at the hem of her jeans. He rubbed his face on one of her shoes.

  When she finished her call, Mary let Pete sniff her hand.

  Pete smelled soap and bread and some kind of animal—not a cat or a dog, something different. He inhaled deeply, trying to recognize the scent.

  “He probably smells Pearly, the possum. I put fresh water in her cage before I came over.”

  “I never heard of a possum for a pet,” Alex said. “The only possum I ever saw was dead on the side of the road.”

  Pete growled. He wished humans wouldn’t talk about such horrible things.

  “She isn’t a pet,” Mary said. “The car ahead of us hit her, and the driver didn’t bother to stop. Gramma and I could see she was still alive, so we took her to a wildlife rehabilitation center. Gramma’s a licensed foster parent for the center and for another animal rescue group. The center’s vets were able to save Pearly, but one front paw hasn’t healed yet. As soon as it does, she’ll be released back into the wild.”

  Pete rubbed against Mary’s ankles, purring loudly. Anyone who would rescue an i
njured animal was Pete’s friend.

  “I wanted to keep Pearly and call her Pearly the permanent possum,” Mary said, “but Gramma says it’s unkind to keep a wild animal in a cage. Pearly will be happier in her natural habitat.”

  “I thought for sure you had pets,” Benjie said.

  “There are usually two or three other critters living with us until they can be released in the wild or put up for adoption. Right now we have a cat named Howley Girl, who has a cold and has to be isolated, and a dog named Rufus, who had one leg amputated. He’ll be with us until his stump heals.”

  “Gross,” said Benjie.

  “Rufus isn’t gross,” Mary said, “but the boys who used him for target practice are.” She gave the telephone directory back to Alex. “Thanks for letting me use your phone.”

  “Do you need help carrying stuff into the house?” Alex asked. “I’m not doing anything this morning except watching Benjie while my parents are at the grocery store.”

  “I don’t need watching,” Benjie said. “I’ll help, too.”

  “That would be great,” Mary said. “A moving company is bringing the furniture, but we packed everything else in boxes ourselves, and it all has to get unloaded. Gramma is too independent to admit it, but I can tell she’s getting tired.”

  Alex wrote a quick note for his parents. “Mom and Dad: Benjie and I are next door helping the new neighbors move in.” He hesitated, tempted to add the news about the burglary, but he decided to wait and tell it in person.

  Benjie set his binoculars and his spy backpack on the kitchen table then followed Alex and Mary out the door. Alex reached back, caught the door before it slammed, and turned the lock button. If he needed to get into the house before Mom and Dad returned, he could use the spare key that was hidden in the garage.

  Yesterday he would have left the door open and not thought anything about it, but not today. Not after what had happened only two streets away.

  It’s Saturday, Alex thought, and my homework’s done, and the new neighbors are interesting people. I shouldn’t have a care in the world, but instead I’m tense and anxious.

  Burglars take more than household goods. They also steal peace of mind.