Cats in Cahoots (A Klepto Cat Mystery Book 18) (14 page)

“What?” Savannah asked.

“Well, yes, he saved Mazie Mae that awful night when she was catnapped, you know. And he has done other incredible things, hasn’t he?”

“Lately, he’s pretty much grounded—he’s been in a lot of trouble.”

“Oh my. What is that dear boy accused of?”

“Escaping mostly, running amok in the neighborhood, and taking things that don’t belong to him.”

Savannah heard June begin to laugh. “He is an incorrigible soul, isn’t he? He dances to his own beat. And that’s part of what makes him a good candidate for Hero Day. I’m just calling to find out if you can make it tomorrow—you and your family. I expect to see you there, with Ragsdale, of course.”

“June, I don’t know if they’re recognizing animals, are they?”

“Oh yes. Once I finished talking to the powers that be, I had them convinced it would be good for publicity to have a feisty feline among the heroes.”

Savannah hesitated. “Well, I’m sure he’ll be excited to hear the news. Thank you, June…I guess. I’ll see you tomorrow, then.”

“What was that all about?” Margaret asked when she saw the look of uncertainty on Savannah’s face.

“Well, June has nominated Rags as a hero. It seems that he’ll be honored on Hero Day at the park tomorrow.”

“What?” Margaret exclaimed. She slapped her knees and let out a huge guffaw. “That cat, a hero? Does she know how much trouble he gets into around here?”

“Now, Maggie,” Gladys said, “Rags is a nice cat and he has done some praiseworthy things. If Mrs. Balcomb wants to honor him, why not let her?” When Margaret started to protest, Gladys stiffened. What happened next stunned both Savannah and her sister. They watched as their mother gave Margaret a stern look, raised her voice, and said, “Just can it, Maggie. Savannah doesn’t need to engage in a debate with you right now.” She turned to Savannah, smiled, and said quietly, “Shall we get the princess home for her nap, honey?”

Savannah looked at her mother, disbelieving. She glanced at her aunt, who was obviously stunned. When she made eye contact with Brianna, the two of them burst out laughing.

“Yeah, let’s go before there’s a sister-rumble,” Brianna quipped.

Savannah glanced at Margaret again, then said to her mother, “I haven’t heard you talk that way since the day Bri and I were wrestling in the living room and knocked a vase of flowers off the coffee table.”

Margaret began to chuckle. “Yeah, that was a voice from the past, all right.”

Gladys grinned sheepishly. “Well, don’t mess with my daughters or you’ll hear it again.” “I’m sorry, Vannie,” Margaret said, walking over and hugging her. “I didn’t realize you were so…touchy. Of course you’re still traumatized after that accident yesterday. I really am sorry.”

“It’s okay, Auntie. Thank you.” She began gathering Lily’s toys, when her phone rang again. Upon hearing the voice on the other end, she smiled across the room at the others. “It’s Colbi. Hi honeymooner,” she said cheerfully into the phone. “How are you?”

“Wonderful,” Colbi said.

“So you two are having a good time?”

“The best. I love it here. I can see why you thought this would be a good place to honeymoon. It’s so romantic.”

“So what are you calling for, in the middle of your honeymoon?”

“Just to say hi, check in, tell you how much I appreciate and miss you.”

“Awww, that’s sweet.” She began to choke up. “I really need that right now.”

“Why? What’s wrong?”

“Oh, nothing I want to worry you about. I’m sorry I said anything.”

“Tell me, Savannah,” Colbi insisted.

“It’s just that we had a near-miss yesterday downtown. A car careened out of control and just missed hitting Lily in the stroller. A young man pushed us out of the way.”

“Oh my gosh, Savannah. Is she okay?”

“Yes, perfectly fine, but I’m a mess. I can’t stop thinking about what could have happened.”

“But it didn’t. You’re fine. The baby’s fine.”

“Yes. You’re right. I’ve got to get a grip. Michael will be home today and I don’t want to greet him feeling this way.” She took a deep breath. “On a lighter note, Rags is going to be celebrated tomorrow.”

“Why?”

“Why not?” she quipped. When Colbi hesitated, Savannah explained, “They’re having Hero Day in the park…”

“Oh that’s right. It was in the works before we left. So what does Rags have to do with it?”

“Well, June nominated him for saving her kitty.”

“No kidding. Now that’ll put an interesting twist on the event. Be sure to dress him in a bow tie.”

“Oh, that’s a great idea. I just might do that.”

“Hey, Savannah, know what I’m going to do? I’m going to nominate him, too.”

“Why?” Savannah asked.

“Well, I still believe he’s the one who saved Dolly when the two of them were lost in the mountains. I don’t think she would have survived on her own. He knows stuff most cats don’t. And wasn’t it Rags who brought you the address of the cat hoarder who was keeping me hostage? If you hadn’t acted on that information when you did, I wouldn’t be honeymooning as we speak.” She choked up, then said, “Yes, I’m going to cinch the nomination. I’ll call right now.”

“After that, I hope you go back to honeymooning. Thanks for calling, Colbi. It’s great hearing your voice. Hugs to Damon. Stay safe.”

****

It was two that afternoon when Michael pulled into the driveway. Brianna had left to greet Bud at his house and Gladys was napping, as was Lily.

“I’m so glad to see you,” Savannah said, holding him tightly for several minutes.

“I missed you, too, hon,” he said, squeezing her to him. “It was a long five days.”

She pulled back and looked at him. “Five days, six hours, fifteen minutes and…” she joked.

He kissed her and wrapped his arms around her again in a bear hug.

“So the punkin’s napping?”

“Yes, she just went down.”

He thinned his lips. “Hon, I spoke to Rick at the clinic a while ago and he said they’ve really been slammed today. On top of regular clients, they’ve had a couple of emergencies. I told him I’d come in and help. Okay with you?”

“Sure, Michael. I understand. We do have a business to run.” She yawned. “I think I’ll join Lily in a nap. I’m feeling rather worn out.”

“I imagine, with all the company you had this week. Help me bring in my stuff, would you? Then I’ll get out of your hair so you can get some rest.” Suddenly, he stared off toward the Crane house. “Hey, is that the sound you were telling me about?” When she nodded, he asked, “Have you figured out what it is?”

“Yeah, actually. It’s a healing sound for stress relief.”

“Oh?” he asked, tilting his head as if listening more intently. “How did you come to that conclusion?”

She let out a sigh and picked up his jacket and rubber boots. “It’s a long story. How about we take this stuff inside and I’ll tell you all about it later.”

Within minutes, Michael kissed Savannah good-bye and she lay down on the bed. She had just closed her eyes when her phone rang. “Hi Auntie,” she said quietly. “What’s up?”

“I saw Michael drive by. He’s home, huh?”

“Yeah, just got home. He said they’re busy at the clinic this afternoon, so he went over to help out.”

“So what are you doing? Feeling better?”

“Yeah, just tired. I’m resting, actually.”

“Oh.”

“Why? What’s up?”

“Well, I just wanted to tell you the latest.”

“What latest?”

“The news from Maple Street.”

“Oh dear, what now?”

“Well, Frank Thomas called me and said the strangeness continues. Evidently his older son left a sweatshirt on their patio overnight and when he went to get something out of the pocket this morning, it was gone.”

“It was kind of windy last night,” Savannah said. “Probably blew away.”

“Perhaps. If so, someone found it and is wearing it.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah, Frank’s son was waiting for the school bus this morning and another kid—actually maybe a young adult—rode past on a skateboard wearing the rust-colored sweatshirt. He knows it was his sweatshirt because he’d backed up against some fresh paint that day, which is why he took it off. They’re also missing dog food.”

“Dog food?”

“Yes—they keep it in a bin outside and it appears someone’s been taking small amounts out of it.” Without pausing, Margaret said, “Oh, and get this—the book that went missing—it showed up.”

“Oh, so they’d misplaced it?”

“No, it suddenly appeared on their back steps with a crude handmade bookmark inside. They don’t have a clue as to who borrowed it and why.”

Savannah chuckled. “A my gosh. That’s strange. So, Auntie, has your watering can gone missing again?”

“No. I’m keeping an eagle eye on it. But we think someone took some oranges out of my car. I bought oranges at the store and left them in the car overnight. When I remembered to bring them in, there seemed to be fewer of them in the bag. I’m pretty sure someone walked off with a couple of them.”

“That’s really odd, isn’t it? Does anyone have any idea who might be doing this? Did the Thomas boy recognize the guy wearing his sweatshirt?”

“Well, the neighborhood’s coming down on the Crane family.”

“Really?” Savannah said, disappointment evident in her voice. “I was hoping they weren’t involved.”

“Think about it; none of this was happening until they moved in. Malinda Polido saw one of the Crane twins—she thinks it was the quiet one…”

“Kira?”

“Yes, she saw her fiddling with her children’s riding toys. She asked the girl what she was doing and she said she was just putting it back up on the lawn so it wouldn’t get taken. But Malinda didn’t believe her and chased her off.”

“Oh, poor Kira. That must have frightened her. I don’t think she’d take anything. Seems like a sweet kid. I wonder if it’s the kids’ uncle causing the trouble.”

“Have you met him?” Margaret asked.

“No—I just saw him briefly once, I think. He’s kind of a scrawny guy. Must be Tiffany’s brother. He sure doesn’t look anything like the kids’ father, the minister.” Before Margaret could respond, Savannah said, “Oh, Auntie, someone’s at the door. Gotta go. Thanks for catching me up with the news.” Once she’d ended the call, she said to herself, “There goes my nap.” It took her several seconds to sprint through the house to the back door where she found Kira in tears. “What’s wrong, honey?”

“I can’t find my flute,” she said, sniffling. “I wondered if Rags has it.”

“Oh…um, I don’t think so, Kira. He hasn’t been out in a few days.” She gave her a sideways glance. “I don’t think he could carry a flute, do you? How big is it?”

The child held her hands out indicating about twelve inches.

“No, that would be too big and heavy for him to carry. When did you first miss it?”

“When I got home from school.”

“Really? I thought I heard someone playing music a little while ago. That wasn’t you?”

“No.”

“Maybe it was one of your brothers.”

She shook her head. “That was probably Luke.”

“Luke plays music, too?”

“Oh yes, all the time.”

“Come sit down with me here on the porch and let’s talk.” Once the two of them had settled in chairs across from each other, Savannah asked, “Now where did you last see your flute?”

“In my room this morning. I always tell it good-bye when I leave for school. And I let it out of my closet every day when I get home. It’s gone,” she said, crying.

“I’ll bet one of your brothers or your sister is playing a trick on you. It’ll probably show up.”

Kira sat quietly for a few moments, then she looked up at the kitchen window and waved. “Hi, Rags.”

Savannah smiled when she turned and saw him watching them from his kitty perch. “He seems happy to see you.”

“I’m happy to see him, too. Can he come out?”

“Sure, let me get his harness and leash.”

“I can put it on him,” Kira offered.

“Okay, if you want. Come on in and I’ll show you where we keep it.”

“Where’s your baby?” Kira asked when she stepped into the kitchen with Savannah.

“Napping.” She plucked the harness and leash off a hook and handed it to Kira.

Immediately, Rags rushed to the child and began rubbing against her. Kira laughed. “Do you want to go outside? Hold still and let me put this on you.” Before she could slip the harness on the cat, however, he stretched up and put his paws on her chest. She giggled. “Hey, you’re going to knock me over.” Finally, with Savannah’s help, Kira slipped the harness on Rags and he eagerly lead them out into the yard.

Savannah walked alongside Kira as the child followed Rags around the property. They picked a carrot from the garden and Kira fed it to the horse. They walked into the front yard, where Rags chased a butterfly, then they went back out through the orchard, eventually returning to the porch. Savannah and Kira settled in a couple of padded porch chairs and Rags lay down between them.

After a few minutes, Kira said, “I like it over here. It’s quiet.”

“Yeah, I imagine it can get kind of noisy at your house with such a large family.”

“And my brothers can really get noisy—my dad and uncle, too.”

Savannah gazed at the child. “Kira, I know that your dad is a minister…”

She nodded. “On the computer. He preaches to people on the computer and they pay him. Money comes in the mail. He’s always sending Mama to the bank.”

“Nice,” Savannah said. She then asked, “What does your uncle do?”

“He mooches, mostly.” When Savannah didn’t respond, she said, “That’s what my dad says. He’s a moocher.”

“He doesn’t work?”

“Yeah, he does jobs around the house. Sometimes he goes to work someplace. You know—delivering pizza or unloading trucks at a store—things like that. He never stays working for very long and that makes my dad real mad.” She shifted in her chair before saying, “Mama sticks up for him. He’s her little brother. They fight over Uncle Rodney a lot.”

Eager to change the subject, Savannah looked down at the cat, who was giving himself a bath, and said, “Um, Kira, did you know that Rags is a hero?”

Her eyes brightened. “No.”

“He’s being honored tomorrow in the park.”

“Really? What did he do?” she asked, petting Rags, who was now sprawled out in front of her on his back. “Will he get an award? I’d like to see him get an award. That would be awesome.” She spoke more quietly. “I got an award at school once. I didn’t like getting up in front of everyone, though.” She tilted her head and squinted toward Savannah. “Will he have to stand in front of everyone? Do you think he’ll be afraid?”