January Read online

  Preface

  PREFACE

  For five hundred years, the women of the Katnip clan have held a secret. Something passed down from mother to daughter, revealing a ritual which leaves only one woman with the knowledge to create a potion. A magical brew granting the female members of that family increased strength, speed, durability, and healing. It also grants them obscure visions of things yet to come.

  In a pact dating back to the origin of the potion, the women have vowed to stand up for the rights of the downtrodden. Fighting against those who would oppress their freedom.

  The latest in the line is a young woman who owns a nightclub in the heart of Mutt Town called The Kit Kat Klub. She is also the star performer. But if you have a problem, she might—just might—be able to help.

  She calls the potion Fizz.

  Her name is Pussy Katnip.

  A Hand of Gold

  The music wasn’t loud. It didn’t need to be. People filled the dance floor anyway. Most were doing their best to impress the person across from them, with a handful out there just to have fun. The audience kept the conversations low. Somewhat to be polite, but just as much to allow themselves to hear the singer.

  And the singer was on. Her voice hit every note like a piñata on a nine-year-old’s birthday. Jenny Foal wasn’t the star of the show, but she was good enough to headline almost anywhere else. The fact that she stayed at the Kit Kat Klub was a testament to the owner.

  The table farthest from the stage was set off from everything. Red ropes surrounded it, but in every other way it looked like any other table. Except for perhaps its only inhabitant. The woman everyone came here to see.

  Pussy Katnip watched everything. Her fingers tapped the tabletop in perfect time with the tune. The only break they took was to wrap around the nearby glass and transport it to her lips.

  The glass had to share some space on the table. A bottle of whiskey carrying a price tag high enough to frighten off most customers waited to refill the glass. And the stack of papers to the left of that bottle lingered patiently for their turn. Just as they had all night long.

  “You okay, Miss Katnip?” His accent was a little more sharp than normal for this part of the country. It fit him like a glove.

  “I’m fine, Robert. Just fighting a horrible case of the lazies.” She raised an eyebrow. “And shouldn’t you be at the bar? We’re a bit busy tonight.”

  “I got a minute. Desiree’s got everything in hand.”

  A glance past him revealed the employee in question. The ebon-black beauty moved with a cat-like grace equaling her appearance. All the men at the bar couldn’t take their eyes off her. All the women made it a point to stay close to their men.

  “So I can see.” Pussy gestured to the chair across from her. “Have a seat.”

  He spun the chair around and threw one leg over it. The stage lights behind him made his feathery coif of scarlet atop his head burn like the sun. “So what’s the buzz? Why you sittin’ down here trying to work? I ain’t never seen you bring no paperwork down here before.”

  Her eyes went to the stack of papers. Without thinking, her hand followed to flip through them. “Not during business hours. I guess I just didn’t want to be alone up in my office tonight.”

  “Everything’s okay, right, Boss? We ain’t on the nut, is we?” he asked.

  “Far from it,” she chuckled. “Just paperwork for the pencil pushers so they can make sure the feds are happy. A night like tonight, though….”

  “I hear ya. It’s always best to start out the year with loved ones or family.” He crossed his arms over the back of the chair. “Where is George tonight, anyway?”

  The mention of his name brought a smile to her lips. The thought of his current location took it away. “Working. He’s stuck at the station all night.”

  “He’s the Fire Chief! What’s he doin’ workin’ tonight? Couldn’t he give himself the time off?”

  “Sure, but you know better. George is going to let everyone else have the night off if they want it.” She took time to exhale. A little more deeply than she intended. “So, he’s working. But then, when isn’t he at work?”

  “Hey, don’t be like that! You got us tonight! Me, Jenny, Desiree, and Robin are all here for ya! It’ll be swell. We’ll make sure to be together at midnight.” He reached across the table.

  “I’m sure it will be, Robert. Thanks.” She took his hand for a moment. “Why don’t you head back to the bar. I’m going on stage in a bit anyway. I should probably get ready.”

  “You bet.” He stood up and swung the chair back around in a single motion. “And if you get to feelin’ low, just come on over. Des and I will keep you entertained.”

  “I have no doubt.” She nodded. It was enough to send him off.

  A quick glance at her watch gave her the time. Twenty minutes past eleven o’clock. She booked herself for a set at eleven-thirty. She liked to be on stage to ring in the new year. It was something of a tradition for her.

  As she rose to her feet her hands brushed down the front of her dress. The black fabric moved like satin, poured over her body like a silky second skin all the way to the floor. A large bow gathered the waist to her left hip, and was the only thing breaking the line from her feet to her bust line. A quick tug pulled each of the matching opera length gloves tight. It was time to head back stage.

  She didn’t make it two steps.

  “Pussy! Pussy, please! Pussy!” The squeak in his voice made her flinch. He dashed up to her side. His eyes darted in a constant motion around the room. “Do something! You must help me, Pussy. Please!”

  “Hello, Rodney.” Pussy purred. “Now, why would I want to stick my neck out for you?”

  “Get back here!” It was a little late, but Robby’s kid sister came running up behind the squirrelly man. “I’m sorry, Miss Katnip. He just burst through the door. I tried to stop him.”

  “It’s all right, Robin.” Pussy waved her back. “I can take care of Rodney. You head on back to the door.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” The look from the smallish woman pushed Rodney a little farther behind Pussy. “Sorry, again.”

  Pussy took a large step away from her new guest. “Now, Rodney, didn’t I tell you just last month that I didn’t want to see you in here anymore?”

  “Yes. Yes, you did.” His head nodded like a jackhammer. “But this is special. I need your help, Pussy. Please!”

  “I don’t know, Rodney,” Pussy raised the knuckles of her open right hand to her chin, “I’m not very keen on letting people who’ve stolen from me back into my club.”

  “But this is different, Pussy! It’s a matter of life and death. My life! My death!” He panted out the words as his eyes danced between the entrance and her face.

  “All right, Rodney,” she pulled out a chair for him, “maybe you should tell me what’s going on.”

  He scampered onto the chair. She leaned back against the table.

  “There are some people—bad people—who are looking for me,” he whispered.

  “Sounds like you need to go to the cops. I can give you directions to the station.”

  “No!” His eyes screamed just as loud as his voice. “No cops. There’s, uh, well…I ain’t sure I can trust them is all.”

  “All right, let’s make this easy.” She picked up her glass from the table. “You’ve got until I finish my drink to convince me.”

  His entire body twitched and squirmed, but he stayed in his seat. “I’ve been doing some work for these people. They pay very well. And that should have been enough, Pussy. It really should have, but I have problems.”

  She took a sip from her glass.

  “It’s my fault, I know, but I can’t help myself. You see, I didn’t think that they would notice. It was such a smal
l little bundle, and, well, they have so much already that….”

  “You stole from someone else, didn’t you?” Her words were almost enough to dry up the rest of the whiskey in her glass.

  “It wasn’t that much. And I would have paid them back, you see. I just—“

  “How much?” Another sip of whiskey went down her throat.

  “Five hundred.” His eyes looked down to his hands, which wrung together in a constant circle.

  “Let me ask you a simple question, Rodney,” she set her glass back down, “have you tried paying them back?”

  “Oh, I would. I would give it all back to them…if I could.”

  “So, what did you do with the money?” she asked.

  “The cards haven’t been very kind to me lately,” he mumbled.

  Pussy stood up and brushed the front of her dress smooth once more. “I’m done with my drink, Rodney. You haven’t convinced me that this is my concern at all. Sounds like my suggestion of the police is still your best bet.”

  “But they’ll kill me!” he pleaded.

  “Which is why you need to go to the police.” She moved behind him and rested a hand on his shoulder. “You know the way out.”

  “But Pussy,” his hand flew up, pointing towards the exit, “they’re already here.”

  Her eyes followed his arm. Five figures stood at top of the stairs leading into the room. In any other circumstances, she would welcome such well groomed visitors with a smile and a warm feeling.

  These five sent a chill through her blood.

  Four men and one woman. All of them cut from the same cloth, both in appearance and clothing. Their suits were tailored to fit no other person alive. Each one as black as their complexion, set off only by the tan running from their nose down past their neck and throat. One of the men stepped forward, and the other four moved behind him like a pack on the prowl.

  Her eyes were on him. And he was staring back at her.

  “Stay here, Rodney.” The gentle pat on his shoulder was enough to drive him into the chair. “If you leave this table, I can’t promise anything.”

  “Thank you, Pussy! Thank you!” he squeaked. “Are you going to get rid of them?”

  She gave him a quick glance over her shoulder as she stepped out of her private section. “Absolutely not. I’m going to go seat them.”

  There was chattering behind her. It faded with every step she took. A different level of noise rose up as she walked closer to her new guests.

  “…will find something for us. We did not come in here to be denied, young lady.” His tone was gentle on the surface, but jagged beneath.

  “I’m sorry, but the club has been sold out for weeks.” The waitress was doing her job to a tee. Polite. Firm. Friendly. “There are no tables available.”

  With a delicate touch, Pussy placed her hand on the waitress’s shoulder. “I’ll handle this one, Janet.”

  The waitress turned to her. For a second there was concern in her eyes. It went away with a knowing nod from Pussy.

  “Welcome to the Kit Kat Klub.” Pussy stepped between the five individuals and the exiting waitress. “How may I help you this evening?”

  The man’s eyes never left her face. “My friends and I wanted to come in to see the establishment. I hope that you will be able to help us out.”

  “My employee was correct. We’ve been sold out for weeks.” His mouth opened. She shut it with her words. “But I think I can find a place for you. Will you follow me?”

  There was no waiting for an answer. She was walking with a purpose towards the intended table. She wove her way through the crowd, barely acknowledging the greetings from the other tables. The occasional glances to those tables were enough for her to make sure the others were following.

  She stopped at a table directly in front of the stage, plucking the “reserved” sign from it as they arrived. “Here you are. I always try to keep an extra table or two for special guests.”

  The man who spoke stopped beside her. The other four stopped behind him. “We were hoping perhaps for something not so near the stage. Perhaps,” he gestured towards Pussy’s private table with his left hand, “something over there?”

  “I’m sorry,” Pussy shook her head, “it’s this or nothing. Which would you prefer?”

  His posse of four stared his direction. With a simple nod they moved into position and sat around the table.

  “Thank you,” he stated. “It is an honor to meet you, Miss Katnip.”

  “You have me at a disadvantage, Mr…?” She extended her right hand towards him.

  “Actually, I would say you have the advantage on me.” His right arm came up. It ended in a stub, covered by a thick leather cuff. “I am Corson.”

  “Oh, my apologies. I didn’t realize.” She dropped her hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you Mr. Corson.”

  “No, just Corson.” He pulled out a chair beside her. “Please, honor us by sharing our table.”

  “I’m afraid I’ll have to decline for the moment, as I’m due on stage. Perhaps after?” The chair eased back under the table with a push from her.

  “Of course.” He glanced to the side, looking at Pussy’s private table. “I’m sure I can find something to keep me occupied until then.”

  “I hoped you would stay for my performance. I’d be very disappointed otherwise.” Every word came out with an edge.

  “It would be a crime to upset you in any way.” Corson bowed his head. “I look forward to our drink.”

  “Then I shan’t keep you waiting.” There was only a hint of a smile as she turned and walked away. The path backstage was short, but it was long enough to find someone.

  Pussy stopped one of the waitresses with glance.

  “Yes, Miss Katnip?” she asked.

  “Watch table six. Make sure they get whatever they want, but if any of them leave the table, notify me immediately. Is that clear?” she explained. “And have Robert pour me a drink. One of my specials, please. I need it right away.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” The waitress nodded once and hurried on.

  The lights backstage were almost blinding after the ambiance of the main room. Pussy sat at a dressing table. The woman in the mirror across from her took Pussy off guard. She leaned in closer.

  Pussy was never able to describe the look in her mother’s eyes right before she drank Fizz. Many terms kept falling short. Desperation. Anxiousness. Fear. Longing. No matter the lack of words, the look always disturbed her. Seeing it in her reflection chilled her to the core.

  “Miss Katnip.”

  Pussy shook her head. The waitress placed the glass on the table and took a step back.

  “Do you need anything else?” she asked.

  “No.” Pussy stared at the drink. “No, that’s enough. Thank you.”

  The liquid in the glass swirled in shades of red. Her hand twisted around to make the swirls move faster, without ever fully blending together. Without a word she brought the glass of Fizz to her lips and drained it dry.

  Color faded away. Black figures walked through the fog, their faces hidden in the mist. Slips of paper fell from their hands, drifting to the ground one right beside the other. A glint of light shone from the fog, tinted yellow in a morass of grey. An image of the world hung in the air, motionless. And then a giant black hand reached up and grabbed it in a vice-like grip.

  “Miss Katnip?”

  Pussy shook her head. Colors poured back over her and everything shifted into perfect focus. “Yes?”

  The face of the waitress she spoke to prior to coming back stage stared back at her quizzically. “You asked me to come let you know if anyone left table six. Two of the men just headed towards the restroom. I don’t know if that—”

  “Thank you,” Pussy interrupted. “That didn’t take long. Go on back. I’ll be out in a moment.”

  Pussy stood up, turning to the side as she rose. The mirror remained the focus of her attention. Her hands ran down the front of her body, and she studie
d every line, but only for a moment. She didn’t want to take the chance of looking too long and seeing something she didn’t like.

  Stepping back onto the floor, Pussy checked a few spots in particular order. First and foremost, she made sure that Rodney was still in his seat. Sure enough, he was sitting there twitching and doing his best to hide behind the table. Her eyes moved to table six. Three people, just as the waitress stated. The other two were nowhere to be seen.

  Pussy lingered at the door until Jenny turned her direction. Discretely, she gestured to the singer. Pussy pointed one finger to her, then pulled her hands apart slowly. Jenny understood, and gave an almost imperceptible nod, letting Pussy know that she would stay on stage as long as needed.

  Making a bee line towards the bar, Pussy raised her hand up to grab Robby’s attention. He met her at the end of the bar as she arrived.

  “What’s up, boss?” He wiped his hands on the towel at his waist.

  “I need your help. Follow me.” She didn’t wait for a reply. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Robby signal Desiree.

  “Where are we going?” He sped up to be at her side.

  “You are going in there.” They stopped in front of the men’s restroom. “I’m going to wait until you come back out.”

  “Oh, well, y’see, boss, I don’t gotta go just now.” He looked towards the floor and brought his hand up to scratch the side of his head.

  “You don’t have to. Just go inside. I want you to see if there are two men in black suits inside.” Her hand waved out in a grand gesture. “If you don’t mind.”

  There was a moment where he couldn’t quite close his mouth as the words ran through his mind. It passed. He shut his mouth and went into the bathroom.

  About a minute later he returned. “Nope. Only person in there is Tom Limpet. I think he’s just scared to come out, honestly. Looks like he’s been in there for a while. I’m betting that—”

  She walked past him and into the men’s restroom.

  “Mr. Limpet.” The announcement of her arrival was for both parties comfort.

  That didn’t prevent him from fumbling around like a guilty teenager. “What? I wasn’t doing anything! I’m just in the bathroom!”