"Novalee! Breakfast!" Grace called from downstairs. I opened my eyes and yawned. I had slept sprawled out on Grace's bed last night with her. I stood up and stretched, and then I leaped off the bed onto the soft floor. The floor creaked as I walked down the hall and I was sure I could hear mice scurrying around inside the walls.

Once I reached the kitchen. Grace placed a bowl on the floor and gently rubbed her hand down my back. I mewed for her and then walked over to the bowl. It was leftovers of Grace's breakfast. Eggs, and a few scraps of bacon. I licked my lips and then started to eat my breakfast. Grace walked out of the room carrying a box and I looked up. She smiled and opened it up in the by the window which had a table in front of it.

She pulled out a soft, red cat bed and set it on the table. On the side of the bed was my name stitched in light blue thread. I made a chirping sound to tell her I was curious and then I quickly made my way to it. I first leaped up onto the brown leather chair, and then onto the table. The bed was new but I could tell it was hand stitched. This was really nice of Grace to make me this…

I took a step in and then felt it. Soft as it looked… I circled it three times and then curled up in it with my paw hanging out the side. Grace smiled and then walked off to finish unpacking. All I did was lay there…staring out the window to the side. This just showed me a view of the side of the next house. A bird flew by, but that was all that moved or anything…

Hours later Grace came up to me and said "Want to go outside Novalee?" I looked up at her and mewed. She gently placed her hands underneath me and picked me up. I perked my ears as she carried me to the back door and then pulled it open. The smell of fresh air came to me first and my tail flicked back and forth.

Grace placed me on the soft uncut grass and said "Have fun Novalee." She pulled back the door to leave an open section just big enough for me to get in. I looked back at the house for a moment and then stretched. Finally, I have wanted to go outside ever since we moved here. I will check out my own house later, but I want to see if there are any cats around here.

I came to the edge of the garden, where a small stone wall boxed us in. So I just leaped up and landed on the top of the fence. I looked to the left, and then to the right. After a moment I decided to check out that really old house, the one with one tree. Someplace that old might have a way inside… and lots of mice… or lingering cats.

As I walked up on the fence, the first thing I noticed was a cat sleeping in the front yard. They were lying on their side with their legs stretched out. There black pelt shined in the sun and I smiled. Maybe they were friendly. I leaped down from the fence and made my way to the sleeping cat. But I paused half way across the garden as the scent of blood hit my nose.

I lowered my head and slowly moved around to the side and saw the cat. It may look like they were sleeping, but there was a large gash in there neck that leaked out blood. I gasped and backed up a bit. Suddenly two new scents washed over me and I spun around to see two male cats walking up.

One was a brown muscular cat. He had only one eye, one bright green one. And his front left paw was disfigured. But other than that he looked normal, other than this tuff guy attitude I guess he had by the way he looked. Behind him was a grey and black cat. His eyes were also bright green, and he had an equally shocked as I had been.

The brown one walked past me almost like I wasn't there and sat by the tree making grumbling noises. While the grey one, looked at me closely and then turned to look at the fallen cat. He examined it and sat down. I folded my ears back feeling out of place. Did they know the dead cat? Would they accuse me? Or did they kill him?

"It must have been a can opener."

"Pardon?" The grey cat asked the brown one. I looked over at the brown cat that was clawing the tree, stretching his mussels.

"Can opener?" I repeated and the brown cat nodded and said "It must have been a freaking can opener. Ain't it obvious?" He asked and then added "He gave our poor friend Sascha here another ventilation hole in the throat." Humans?

"Oh you mean a man." The grey cat commented and then asked "Did you witness it?" I turned my head to the brown cat as he clawed the tree again and say "Hell no. But only men are brutal enough to do a thing like this. Lousy can openers. There only useful function is opening our dinner cans. And this is the fourth in this month."

"Do you mean this is the fourth dead body?" The grey cat and I asked at the same time. We exchanged a glance and then the brown cat said "I guess you two are new on the block then…" I nodded and so did the grey cat. The brown cat looked at the grey cat and said something to the grey cat, but I drowned out the conversation and looked at the body. I don't think a human did this…

"I don't think a can opener did this." The grey cat started and then said "This brother's neck was shredded not cut." The brown cat narrowed his eye and walked towards the fence. When he reached it he asked "Hey little smart ass, what do they call yah?"

"Francis."

The brown cat looked from Francis to me and asked "And you?"

"Novalee." I said and nodded to him. He rolled his eyes and then leaped up onto the fence and disappeared over the other side. I looked back at the dead cat and then to Francis and said "So, do you live here?" I asked looking up to the old house.

Francis nodded and then said "Just moved here today." I smiled and said "I live a few houses down the block, I moved here yesterday. I guess this is some house warming gift." I added flicking my tail to the body. Francis sighed and then I heard Grace call my name.

I stood up and said "That would be my owner Grace. Will I see you tomorrow Francis?" Francis stood up and said sure, just come on over." I nodded and then waved my tail as goodbye. I then leaped up onto the fence and walked off back to my home.

Well I managed to get a friend today, possibly two if I ever meet that brown cat again…and I have witnessed a murder victim. My guess is, I was walking into an adventure…