New Year, New Ways to Get in Trouble ((90))

[sybbil]

Bomba flagged down her own cab and hopped in. "Follow that cab!" Fortunately, the cabbie did so.

[wolfiso]

Cassandra sat quietly making notes in her notebook on the encounter as the cab drove along.
They pulled up to a corner bookstore and she paid her fare and a reasonable tip before getting out.

[sybbil]

"There! Pull over there!" She hopped out and paid her fair, and then added a small tip. Didn't want to get the cabbies angry at her too now. She looked around frantically and spotted the other queen again.

[wolfiso]

The bell over the door chimed as Sandra stepped inside the bookstore. The front of the store was brilliantly stuffed with volumes. Sandra paid passing pleasantries to the young man behind the counter before browsing her way back towards the older volumes in dusty corners.

[sybbil]

Bomba saw Sandra go into the bookstore and held back for a few moments. But then she shook herself. Wasn't she going to be a real reporter? Steeling herself, she slowly entered the store. The bell over the door made her jump a bit but there was no going back now. Smiling hesitantly at the tom behind the counter, Bomba gulped and quietly searched out her quarry.

[wolfiso]

There was an old armchair, upholstered on the seat and back, positioned where two shelves ended against a wall. She selected three volumes from among the novels on display and setting them on the endtable next to her, opened the first one to sample the writing style.
Just one today. She thought to herself.

[sybbil]

Spying her prey, Bomba swallowed hard. Unsure of what to do, she began to scan the shelves out of direct sight of Sandra. A book of Walt Whitman poetry caught her eye and she pulled it out just for something to read. She did not pay much attention to the poetry, as she kept sneaking glances at the cat in the corner.

[wolfiso]

Thirty minutes passed and Cassandra set aside the third book. The first chapters of each had proved adequate tastes of the material. She replaced two of the volumes and carried the third up to the front for purchase. She chatted amicably with the young clerk and went on her way.
After the bookstore, she walked for a bit, eyeing the shop windows as she went along.

There was a tailors a few blocks along. It had been a milleners when she'd left five years ago. Now the woman's son had taken over the business. Cassandra approved of his pluck and dropped by to examine his wares and provide criticism, encouragement and patronage. It was a small operation, but the young man had good ideas and a way with customers. If he were to acquire an education in Paris, Cassandra wouldn't be surprised if his could be a world class operation. For now though, she examined the cloth and gossiped with him a little.

When she left, Cassandra was musing on her maid's romantic situation. Evening was turning though, and she flagged down a cab to return home.

[sybbil]

Bomba followed all throughout these errands as faithfully as a shadow, though she almost thought she had lost the queen's trail when she had gone into the tailor's shop.

She had frantically searched for several minutes before glancing in the window and spying her quarry. She affected an interest in some of the fabrics and assembled outfits in the window and strolled away to watch from afar. When Sandra had called another cab, she flagged down another of her own. Forgetting to be disdainful, Bomba muttered to the cabbie. "Follow that cab, please."

[wolfiso]

It was hard not to notice the flamboyant red queen lurking out the front windows of the shop, or the cab that clung to their bumper all the way back into the old neighborhood where Cassandra kept residence. She didn't worry herself much about it.

[sybbil]

"Stop here please." Bomba exited the taxi and paid her fair, glancing around. So this was where Sandra lived? Did she live in the garret or what?

[wolfiso]

Cassandra went right up and in the front door. Her maid met her at the door and took her coat, pointing out a few cards left by visitors while she was out. Cassandra idly glanced through them as she asked "How is young Mr. Sanders?"

The maid blushed prettily and smiled at the mention of her beau and replied that he was in good health and wished to see her soon.

As the maid spoke, Cassandra glanced out the slim window next to the door to confirm her suspicions. She was unsurprised to see the other cab stop and Miss Thompson clamber out.
"Why don't you go visit him and his mother this evening." Cassandra said to the maid. "I should be able to manage for a bit."

It wasn't long before the maid could be seen coming through the garden gate at the side of the house and heading away.

In the meantime Cassandra retired to the study and added wood to the fire the maid had left for her. She set her new book next to her favorite chair and turned the lamps up.

[sybbil]

Bomba gulped. She had seen the maid leave and was horribly unsure. It almost sounded like a cliche, waiting around on the corner...

She had almost made up her mind several times, every time losing her nerve. Despite following the queen all day, Bomba still had no idea what to say.

At last, she finally became fed up with herself and walked right up to the front door. Before she could lose her nerve, she knocked and instantly cursed herself.

[wolfiso]

Cassie set her book aside and answered the door.
"Ah, Miss Thompson." Cassie said, not bothering to look surprised. "So good to see you again, won't you come in?"

[sybbil]

Bomba stuttered out a thank you and mutely followed the other cat into the house.

((Where's Cassie gonna take her? The salon?))