The Big Cat Nap

something deeply creepy about that. To me, anyway.”
    “As a man, I can understand it, but I think it’s a little creepy myself.” He pulled in to the parking lot in front of Old Navy. As they walked in to the fairly large store, customers noticed.
    Coop motioned for a salesperson to come over. “Could we see the manager, please?”
    “Sure.” The young woman led them to a middle-aged woman moving a rack of clothes with another worker.
    As quietly as Rick could, he explained they needed to see HilaryLarson in a private space. Always sensitive, Rick asked if there was a good friend or if the manager herself would take Hilary home and someone else would drive her car. He emphasized that the young woman would be hearing some very upsetting news.
    The manager, Crystal Hines, nodded and had the good sense not to ask questions. She took them to her small but comfortable office.
    “I’ll bring Hilary to you. Can I get you anything? A Coke, some coffee?”
    “No, no, thank you.” Rick sat in one chair.
    Coop stood, as there were only two chairs in front of the desk.
    Mrs. Hines brought the young, attractive woman to her office. She said to Coop, “Sit at my desk. It’s messy. You can’t make it any worse.”
    As Mrs. Hines left them all, Coop did just that, taking out her notebook.
    Rick’s voice was calm. “Miss Larson, I’m Sheriff Shaw, and this is Deputy Cooper. Please sit down. We have some sad news.”
    The pretty redhead was wide-eyed and fearful. She sat across from Rick. “It’s not Daddy, is it? He hasn’t been in an accident?”
    “No. It’s Nick Ashby. He was found dead in his car in your driveway.”
    She sat upright. “Nicky? What’s happened?”
    “He was shot. He’s gone, Miss Larson. I’m sorry.”
    “Shot? Why?” Tears came into her eyes; her hands shook.
    “Deputy Cooper and I were hoping you might provide some insight.”
    She put her head in her hands and shook it.
    Coop got up, stood beside the young woman, and put her hand on her shoulder. “If it’s too much, we’ll come back. Someone will drive you home.”
    Looking up at the tall woman through tearful blue eyes, Hilary cried out, “I’ll do anything to help. Anything.”
    Coop glanced back at the desk, saw a box of tissues, grabbed a few, and handed them to Hilary. She then returned to the desk, picked up her pen.
    Rick softly asked, “Did Mr. Ashby ever mention being afraid?”
    “No.”
    “What about his activities? Anything illegal? Drugs, prescription or illegal?”
    “He wasn’t into that. He could drink a little on the weekends, but he wasn’t much for drugs.”
    “How long have you been dating him?”
    “Um, two months. He was a good guy.”
    “Did you meet his friends?”
    “Well, they were all guys who raced cars on the weekends. Those guys—Nick included—put every penny they had into their cars. That was one of the reasons Nick didn’t take drugs. And when he drank it was only on a weekend when he wasn’t racing.”
    “Drag racing?”
    “Right.”
    “Ever sit in the car with him?”
    This brought a smile. “I did. Loved it.”
    “The other men. Ever feel any of them had it in for Nick?”
    She thought about this. “No, but no one likes being beaten, and Nick’s STI beat out every car in its class. He just toasted a Mitsubishi Evo. That guy wasn’t happy, but most guys know you win and you lose. They’ll just haul their cars back into their garage to start working on them again.”
    “I see.” Rick then asked, “Did you ever meet his mother?”
    “I did. His father’s passed.”
    “You got along with her?”
    “Well, I don’t know her very well, but she seemed to like me. She laughed that if I was going to be seeing her son, I’d better get used to him spending money on his car and not me. That was about it.”
    “Did he spend last night with you?”
    “Yes.”
    “How did he seem?”
    “He was late. Said he got tied up, but he seemed elated, kind of, maybe a little preoccupied. But then he settled down. He’d get that way when he raced.”
    “I see.” Rick leaned toward Hilary. “If you think of anything, no matter how seemingly small, call me, text me. Or Deputy Cooper.”
    He gave her his card. Cooper rose, did likewise, and then left the room.
    She returned with Crystal Hines. Upon seeing her boss, Hilary began crying again. Mrs. Hines hurried over to put her arm around the young woman.
    Rick said, “Miss Larson, Mrs. Hines will help you go home.” He then