A Spotted Tail: Spotted

By SJ Wilke

Paxine has a gift.

On Paxine's twelfth birthday, a gift changes her life. Her mysteriously influential grandma gives her a spotted cat named Tache. Paxine can talk to Tache and he can talk to her. She also discovers her grandma's influence extends further than Paxine ever imagined. Her grandma is the Director of a secret organization, a position Paxine is destined to inherit. Paxine finds she is no longer living within the confines of a protected childhood, but in the hazardous world of adults.

Her dad isn't happy. He worries that a curious cat will compromise the complex security that surrounds his family. But her dad's security isn't a match for a devious person who is trying to control the government…and that person wants Paxine dead. Is it because of her grandma's powerful secret organization or her father, a political lawyer?

Paxine finds that her dad's security, and even her grandma's, cannot protect her.

Is Tache, her Tail, her only protection?

• Language: English
• Publisher: SJ Wilke
• Release date: Dec 31, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393904731

Book preview

Chapter 1

Paxine brushed hair out of her eyes, focusing her binoculars. She felt like a spy on a stake out.

What are they saying? her grandma said, sitting next to her on the park bench. Her grandma spoke in a soft voice, covering her mouth with her hand.

Something about not spoiling Timmy. ‘You spent $300 on a coat?’ Boy, he’s really mad about it, Paxine said, speaking into the binoculars.

What’s she saying?.

She’s turned away from me, but I can tell she’s trying to defend herself. Now he’s saying ‘you have to be cautious about your spending. Our expenses are getting too high. How can you spend that much on a...’ Oh.

What? her grandma said, covering her mouth with both hands as if to hold in her laughter.

Timmy’s a dog.

Paxine lowered her binoculars and rolling her eyes.

A huge Great Dane, wearing a lime green coat, trotted up to the couple. The couple stood on the other side of the park where her grandma was teaching her how to read lips while they pretended to bird watch.

Her grandma laughed.

Grandma, you knew it was a dog.

Cover your mouth, her grandma said behind her hand.

Paxine put her hand to her mouth.

Sorry, keep forgetting.

Yes, I see them here with their dog all the time. Who else can we eavesdrop on?

Her grandma scanned the park with her own binoculars.

The park was small, circled by two and three story older brick buildings. The trees, wide and tall, told the age of the park and the area. Their branches above provided abundant shade. In the middle of the park was a small fountain where water bubbled out of the head of a statue that looked like a winged child. Paved walks meander around the trees with benches under the biggest trees providing the most shade.

Paxine felt like she owned the park, having met her grandma here so often. She thought her grandma was the best and she loved spending time with her. Even her friends thought her grandma was cool. Who else would teach her to read lips? Not her parents, for sure.

Such a beautiful day and no one else in the park, her grandma said with a sigh, turning her binoculars up into the trees.

Her grandma wasn’t like any other grandma Paxine knew of. No frumpy dress or sweater. No knitting bag. There wasn’t even a single quilt in her house.

Today, her grandma was dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, just like herself, and wearing the latest high tech walking shoes. Paxine would bet that anyone watching them would think they were mother and daughter rather than grandma and granddaughter. There was just a hint of gray in her grandmother’s hair.

Paxine smiled to herself, thinking about whenever she went out with her mom. Everyone said she looked just like her. She thought about it logically, like she learned in her Logistic class at school. If she looked like her mom and her mom looked like her grandma, then she looked like her grandma. At least a younger version of her grandma. Paxine was almost twelve with brilliant blue eyes and blond hair and was the tallest girl in her class.

Meow.

A black and gray stripped cat strolled by them, staring at her grandma.

Spider? Paxine said. Did that cat just say...

You don’t say.

Her grandma swung her binoculars toward the fountain. What the...

She almost dropped her binoculars.

A two-foot tall metallic spider stood by the water fountain. One of its six legs dipped a pink watering can into the water before tiptoeing over to a tree and watered it.

What’s that? It looks like a six legged stool? Paxine said behind her binoculars.

A rogue spider.

Her grandma pulled out her cell phone.

Greta? I found the Waterer. Look out the window toward the fountain.

Greta was her grandma’s assistant. Paxine heard Greta’s name a lot, but had never met her even though she knew her grandma’s office was nearby. She had never been to her grandma’s office, always meeting her in the park.

Yes, you tell him this can’t happen, her grandma said in an irritated voice. If it’s smart enough to find the fountain to water the trees it’s smart enough to stay within the boundaries of the office. Yes, you tell him that. Her grandma hung up, shoving the phone back into a pocket.

Paxine giggled.

Is that’s yours?

No wonder my begonias were so droopy. Yes, that’s mine. Keep it under your hat. Her grandma pulled out a small box from her handbag. Oh, no.

Paxine picked up her binoculars.

Police. They’re asking that couple about some robot in the park. Ah, there’s a lady with three kids in the stroller. Looks like she reported it.

Her grandma pointed the box at the Waterer, which veered away from the fountain, where it was intending to refill the watering can, going into a bush.

Okay, where were we, her grandma said, hiding the box behind her binoculars.

Dog coat.

Paxine watched a car circle the park. It was familiar looking.

Not that... her grandma said as if prompting her.

Oh, robin.

She had to remember they were pretending to birdwatch.

Actually, I think that was a pigeon.

Good afternoon ladies. Two police officers stopped in front of them. Whatcha seeing?

Robins and pigeons. Paxine said, wondering if all policemen had to look the same. These two had identical hair and eye color. They smiled at her grandma and ignored her.

And one nuthatch, her grandma said.

No robots or anything?

Her grandma moved the box, pretending to adjust her binoculars in her lap. I don’t think so. Are we supposed to have? She gave the policemen a wide smile that seemed to hold their gaze. The Waterer tiptoed out of the bush toward the street.

No remote controlled cars or airplanes? one officer said, shifting to look about, but her grandma almost dropped her binoculars, bumping into him.

Oops, so sorry, her grandma said with a big smile. No, I haven’t seen any remote airplanes. Her grandma looked up into the trees as if to see one. Both officers copied her. The Waterer was almost to the street.

Been here long?

Both officers were now scanning the treetops.

The last hour.

Paxine noted that her grandma looked away from the Waterer while it crossed the street.

Oh, look, another robin, Paxine said, pointing to help with the ruse.

Okay, the one officer said, his gaze following a robin fly up into a tree, Thanks, if you do....

Officer. Officer, the woman with the stroller said, hurrying over. Her tennis shoes slapped the pavement with every step. Her dark blue sweatpants hugged her tight, making Paxine think of a duck waddling along. A clean diaper hung over one shoulder and a pacifier hung on a finger like a ring with a large bulbous gemstone. The woman kept looking over her shoulder at the street where the Waterer crossed.

How old are your babies? They’re so cute, her grandma said, almost sticking her head into the stroller.

Oh, ah, six months. Her name is Bethesda. The woman pointed to one fat bald baby who had her entire hand in her mouth. And Jackie is two years. Jackie’s mouth hung open as if she had never seen people before. And this one I’m babysitting. Dawn is twelve months. Dawn burped and resumed chewing on a pacifier.

How precious.

You saw the robot again? an officer said with a shift to his head as if looking around.

The woman turned to point across the street, and ...

Crash.

Her grandma’s binoculars hit the ground and the lenses shattered.

Oh, dear. Look for glass. We don’t want to have any cut the babies.

Her grandma stooped to collect glass. Everyone followed her lead.

Paxine kept an eye on the Waterer while it tiptoed up the sidewalk, half hidden by parked cars. A woman stepped out of a doorway, grabbing the Waterer and disappearing inside. Paxine giggled into her hand. So, that was where her grandma’s office was.

No glass in the stroller. That’s a relief, her grandma said, resuming her seat on the bench, picking over her broken binoculars.

I think those are ruined, said one officer as he turned to the woman with the stroller. So about this robot.

Oh, yes. Yes, over there. The woman pointed across the street at the exact spot here the Waterer crossed. I’ll show you.

The two officers exchanged looks, but turned and followed her.

I think that concludes our lesson for the day, her grandma said, rising from the bench as the policemen reached the street. She dumped her handful of glass and the binoculars into a nearby trash bin.

I take it that the Waterer was worth more than your binoculars. She packed her binoculars into a case.

Yes, well worth it. Getting excited about your new house?.

Paxine sighed, noting the change in subject. Her grandmother wasn’t telling her everything. There always seemed to be just something missing when she did ask her grandma questions.

A house is a house, she said with a shrug, wondering if the Waterer was something top secret. Moving’s never fun.

Your mom’s looking forward to it. She really likes the new house.

I don’t know why we have to move. There wasn’t anything wrong with the old place. And my new bedroom is smaller than the old one.

Sometimes you gotta change shoes, her grandma said with a smile.

Paxine thought her grandma looked sad, despite the smile, but didn’t say anything about it. She already knew why. It wasn’t about the broken binoculars either. Her grandma’s cat had died.

You looking for another one? she said, following her grandma over to the fountain. There were a few pennies surrounding the statue. For a moment, she thought her grandma was going to toss one in, but instead, she scooped out a leaf.

Yes, I am going to go to see some kittens today.

For some reason, cats were important to her grandma, but Paxine didn’t know why. Deep down inside, she felt that she needed a cat too. Her friends were more interested in getting phones or hanging out at the mall checking out the cool fashions they weren’t allowed to wear yet. And she just wanted a cat. She didn’t tell anyone.

Can I come with you? she said, sounding hopeful.

Maybe another time. I have a tight schedule, her grandma said with an apologetic smile.

Police are leaving.

She watched the police car circle the park.

I’m sure that lady has been labeled a kook who spends too much time with children.

Paxine laughed, thinking it sort of applied to her grandma who spent a lot of time with her.

I hope your Waterer left weird footprints. Stroller lady looks pretty determined to find her robot. She’s checking around the bushes and trees.

Your mom will be here soon, her grandma said, looking up as if she was checking time with the sun.

Darn. I wish I could stay longer. She thought she saw a cat scoot out of sight under a bush. Say, did that stray cat talk to you? The question popped out before she realized how stupid it sounded.

Such a beautiful day and no one else in the park. We’ll have to try the mall next.

BoumaBounty? Paxine said, suggesting her favorite place and wondering why her grandma avoided the cat question. The cat meowing and her grandma seeing the Waterer was coincidental. Wasn’t it? But didn’t the cat say spider?

Perhaps. Her grandma didn’t sound too excited about. That is a busy place with lots of people to eaves drop on.

A car drove around the park.

That’s not the first time that car has circled the park.

Paxine remembered to cover her mouth with her hand.

Which one? Her grandma was looking up like she was checking birds in the trees.

Blue sedan. She wished she hadn’t packed up her binoculars.

A cat ran through the grass not far from them between two trees.

Did you see that? Paxine said, pointing.

No, I didn’t see the car.

No, the cat. She decided to unpacking her binoculars.

Your mom should be here soon. Her grandma sat back down on the same bench.

Paxine joined her, getting her binoculars ready. Excitement tingled up her spine whle she positioned her binoculars in the air, but she wasn’t looking through them.

There it is, Paxine said with a whisper, seeing the car out of the corner of her eyes. The car was only in her sight a moment then it circled behind them.

When the car came around to their other side, she lowered her binoculars toward the end of the park. The car drove into her view. The eyes of the man in the car seemed to meet her eyes through the binoculars.

A man. He’s watching us, Paxine said in a loud voice, almost dropping her binoculars.

The car squealed around, speeding off down a side street. A cat jumped from a tree at the end of the park and ran after it.

There’s no need to shout and be so obvious. Besides, he’s probably lost.

And there was another cat. Did you see?

Paxine thought her grandma wasn’t paying her any attention.

Oh, my phone. Her grandma looked startled. She pulled the vibrating phone from her purse. Hello? Hi Dalia.

Paxine wondered what was happening. Her mom didn’t call just to say she was coming, especially when she was already expected.

Sure. That’s no problem. See you later. Her grandma slid the phone back into her purse.

Later? Does that mean... Paxine said, feeling hopeful.

I guess you are coming with me to see kittens. Her grandma didn’t sounding too happy about it.

Really? Paxine said in a high-pitched voice She bounced on her toes.

Your mom’s committee meeting is running late.Her grandma rose.

I love kittens. Can I get one? Paxine crossed her fingers and hoped.

Her grandma laughed, walking over to an empty cement slab off to one side of the park. She tossed out her cube. It expanded from a few inches in size to large enough to hold both of them.

There are a few rules you have to follow in order to go with me.

Her grandma put her hand on the cube to shut the door.

Paxine loved cubes. They took you anywhere in a blink of an eye.

What rules?

Chapter 2

Here we are. The kitten room, the breeder said.

The room was bright and sunny. Each wall sported a different color with paw-prints stenciled up and down the walls.

Here’s a stool.

The woman pointed out one of the short stools that littered the room amidst the toys. She was dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. Her feet were bare.

Thank you. Her grandma shut the door in her face.

Oh, she can come in, the breeder said.

Paxine didn’t understand her grandma’s first rule. She wasn’t to go into the room with the kittens. At least the door was a screen door which allowed her to see into the room.

Her grandma chose a bright yellow stool, ignoring the breeder. Her handbag emitted two low beeps, causing six kittens to turn in unison and converge upon the bag. Paxine thought with regret that they would be leaving now. Her grandma always responded to her phone.

One kitten climbed half way up her grandma’s leg.

Good think I wore the right clothes Her grandma surprised her by ignoring the phone.

Oh, he’s so cute. Paxine wished she was in the room.

She, the breeder said. That’s a girl. There are three boys and three girls.

Two kittens tumbled over her grandma’s shoes, rolling into a tangle of legs and tails. Her grandma watched them with a serious face.

Paxine wanted to ooh and aah. How could her grandma be so serious? Why a normal person might have clapped in delight or joy; or perhaps, giggled or laughed at the kittens’ antics. Not staring seriously at them as if there was something wrong with them. What could be wrong with kittens?

Crinkle. Six sets of ears turned toward her grandma, who let go a wad of paper with a flick of her finger. It skipped across the floor. Six tails scampered in pursuit. Two kittens tripped over a ball, then chased it as it careened across the room. Another abandoned the chase, scampering back to her grandma. Her grandma’s handbag beeped twice again and the kitten pounced.

Rosettes, warm and brown outlined in black, covered the main body of the kitten. Black stripes marked the legs. Black and brown marbling covered the kitten’s shoulders and black lightning bolts splashed across its cheeks. The kitten had round eyes, small rounded ears, and a fat medium-length tail, just like...

Is that the mom? Paxine spied a larger cat sitting up on a cat tree, staring at her grandma and the kitten.

Yes, that is the mother, Emma. She’s called a Queen.

Her grandma rescued her handbag by picking up the kitten.

Emma, who seemed aloof, flinched when Paxine’s grandma handled the kitten, but seemed to disguise her concern with a stretch and a yawn.

I can hear it purring from here. Paxine wished all the more that she could be in the room with the kittens.

Her grandma didn’t seem pleased with the purring.

Emma is an excellent mother, the breeder said, moving over to pet Emma.

Her grandma didn’t even seem pleased with how the kitten looked. Paxine thought it was the most beautiful kitten she had ever seen.

Another kitten dashed by and her grandma released the first kitten, catching the second, not even raising from her stool, as if she did this all day, every day.

Her grandma’s phone beeped three times again, causing her to look annoyed, tightening her grip on the kitten.

Mew.

Sorry little boy. Her grandma loosened her grip.

He has a smiley face pattern on his side. Paxine pointed, but realized no one was looking her way.

Hum, yes. Her grandma showed no amusement. In fact, her grandma wasn’t really showing any emotion other than an occasional frown.

Kittens are handled daily. That little guy is the most easy going of the group. What sort of personality are you looking for? the breeder said.

Her grandma didn’t answer. What was her grandma looking for?

The kitten with the paper wad dashed past and her grandma again dropped, grabbed, and exchanged kittens in one fluid motion.

Growl.

He’s not going to give up that paper wad. Paxine laughed.

Her grandma checked his ears and the kitten mistook her action, growling and swatting at her hand. Paxine wondered why the kitten wasn’t squirming to free himself.

Whack.

The kitten’s tail smacked her grandma’s arm. She released him back onto the floor, but she smiled.

Well? The breeder’s voice startled her. Paxine noted some nervousness in the woman’s voice. Or was it more like a worried mother like the queen?

Her grandma let out a sigh as if disappointed in the litter of kittens.

Emma Tea Gold is my best Queen. All her previous litters have been quite successful. The breeder turned back to Emma, scratching her behind the ears. Although, my stud is a Supreme Grand Champion. There was a hint of pride in her voice.

Hum. Her grandma didn’t sound impressed.

The kitten with the paper wad gained the top of a stool, lashing his tail and slapping his paws at two littermates who were pursuing him.

There is something wrong with that one’s tail. Her grandma was watching it closely.

Normal defensive behavior. The breeder wrung her hands together.

Is this the only litter you have? Her grandma stood. Her slender body seemed to tower over the shorter round form of the breeder. Was she trying to intimidate the breeder?

I-I am expecting more next month. A couple of weeks, actually. The breeder looked even more nervous.

No, I need one in training now. Her grandma moved over to the door.

Training? These are some of my best kittens. One of these won’t do? The breeder stared at the kittens as if trying to figure out what was wrong with them.

Paxine couldn’t tell what was wrong with them either. Why was her grandma so fussy?

Paxine? her grandma said in a quiet, but forceful voice. Can you go stand by the front door?

Rule number two. Whatever her grandma told her to do; she was supposed to do it with no questions asked.

A cat brushed past her, going the opposite way down the hall.

Hi to you too, Paxine said to the cat while she obeyed her grandma.

The cat flicked its tail at her as her grandma’s voice just reached her.

Well maybe that one might do.

Her grandma was going to get one anyway. Which one? Certainly not the whacky tail one. Although Paxine thought he would be the most fun, maybe for her, but not her grandma. Why couldn’t she have one? She had to peek to see which one.

Her grandma’s dramatic sigh reached her when she was half way back down the hall. Negotiation time, Paxine thought. Her grandma was now going to look over that kitten as if expecting to find a fifth leg or a third ear, to reduce the price. Her grandma was good at negotiations.

Oh, dear. The breeder was just visible by the door. She was wringing her hands. That one is taken.

No negotiations after all, Paxine thought, moving to where she could see into the room. Maybe she could visit the kittens now.

You didn’t say any of these kittens were taken. I thought I was only seeing those kittens available. Her grandma didn’t sound very happy. She dropped the kitten she was holding. It scampered off, unconcerned about its dramatic dismount. Paxine couldn’t tell which one it was. The breeder blocked her view.

There is another male. He is just as perfect as that one.

One of the boys. Which boy? There were three of them.

Her grandma’s phone beeped three times again. Was that her grandma’s phone trying to crawl out of her handbag? Her grandma clutched her handbag, forcing whatever it was back down into the bag.

I’m afraid a kitten isn’t just a kitten. Well, since you don’t have any that I really like... Her grandma headed toward the door, causing Paxine to duck back.

Oh, let me check to make sure. The breeder hurried out of the room looking to be in a panic.

Paxine froze when the woman brushed past her as if she was invisible.

Her grandma sat again on her stool, looking bored. Paxine wondered if this was a ploy. The breeder was a professional who didn’t make mistakes, only made you spend more time with the kittens just in case one grabbed your heartstrings.

The kitten with the paper wad dashed past to one of the cat trees. The cat tree provided a path for the kitten to climb