The ImPAWssible Mission

by Patricia Fry

“No. That jewelry belonged to my great aunt. Any jewelry hidden in that house belonged to my great aunt and was most likely made by my great uncle.”

  Just then something caught Savannah’s eye. “Look,” she said. “I think your kitty’s feeling better.”

  “Oh how cute,” Harriet said. “Rags is licking him—cleaning him up after his ordeal.”

  “Let’s see if we can get him to eat and drink something, shall we?” Savannah suggested.

  “Yeah, then I really need to go to sleep. I’m tired, Savannah,” Harriet said. “Really tired.” She lay down next to the jewelry and promptly fell asleep.

  Meanwhile, Savannah found some cat food in a cupboard in the kitchen and fed all three cats. She was pleased to see Rascal eat a little and she made sure he drank some water. She took that opportunity to check him over. Feeling confident that he was much improved, she returned to the bedroom. Seven thirty, she noticed on the face of the bedside clock. She looked down at Harriet and let out a deep sigh. I guess I’d better do something with this jewelry, she thought. I should at least put it back in the pouches and drop it into the floor safe. And that’s what she did, but not before taking several photographs of the jewelry with her phone.

  She started to lock the safe, but decided against it. She tossed a blanket over Harriet, checked one more time on Rascal, then gathered up Rags and left.

  ****

  “Good job last night,” Craig said over breakfast at the café the following morning. He looked puzzled. “Although they were able to ID only some of the jewelry in the photos as pieces that were reported missing in that old robbery. Where the rest of it came from is anyone’s guess.” He slapped at the air in front of himself. “Oh, the jeweler probably didn’t have pictures of all the stuff that was taken. Things were a lot more casual then, I imagine.”

  Savannah thought for a moment, then said, “But Harriet says most of the jewelry belonged to her great aunt—gifts from the jeweler.” She chuckled. “Heck, maybe he wasn’t robbed at all and just made up the robbery story when he and Harriet’s great aunt broke up.”

  Craig raised his eyebrows. “Yeah, I guess he had to come up with something to tell the wife.”

  Savannah stared across the table at him. “Wow, Craig, you do have a warped mind.”

  He was taken aback. “Me?” he complained. “I have a warped mind? Hey, I didn’t make up the story about the affair.”

  “So will you continue with the investigation?” she asked.

  “I don’t know. It will probably go back to cold-case status after this revelation. I mean, how do you figure out what was taken, what was given, and what lies were told?” He pulled his phone from his pocket when it rang and took the call. When he finished, he stared across the table at Savannah.

  “What?” she asked. “What does that look mean?”

  He started to chuckle and shake his head. “You’re not going to believe this.”

  “What?” she asked.

  “There’s a warrant out for your arrest.” When Savannah was unable to speak, Craig explained, “Harriet Slattery-Bell says you got her drunk last night and stole all her jewelry when she passed out.”

  Chapter 9

  Forty minutes later, Savannah gave a statement at the local police station. She ended by saying, “And I don’t know what happened after I left with my cat. But I certainly didn’t take anything from Harriet’s house.” She grinned. “I did move a couple of wine bottles from her bedside table to the kitchen, though. I thought if she drank any more she could really hurt herself.”

  Officer Burt Picket made a couple of notes, then gazed at Savannah for a moment. He spoke to Craig. “So you came here hoping to locate that jewelry, and it appears that you found it.” He glanced at Savannah before continuing. “So why didn’t you report it? I have to say it’s rather suspicious the way you handled it. You find it in Ms. Slattery-Bell’s home, then you just leave.”

  Savannah put her hand to her chest and insisted, “I had no authority to take the jewelry. Heck, we don’t even know for sure that the jewelry Harriet showed me is what was taken in that robbery. In fact, when Detective Sledge and I compared my photos with pictures on the original inventory list, it wasn’t all that conclusive.”

  “That’s right,” Craig said, shifting in his chair. “There are a few pieces that appear to be matches, but…” He pulled out his phone. “Here’s the inventory list of the items taken in the original heist.” He nodded toward Savannah. “And on Mrs. Ivey’s phone, you’ll see photos of what she saw last night at Ms. Slattery-Bell’s home.”

  After studying the photographs, the officer said, “Yup, here’s a match. And look at this piece from the inventory sheet and here it is in the flesh…er…um…in reality. That jewelry—at least some of it—certainly appears to be from the original robbery.” He looked up at Savannah and Craig. “And now it’s missing again.”

  Craig slumped in his chair and complained, “It appears so.”

  As the officers contemplated what to do next, the female officer, Theresa Price, took a call. When she returned, she whispered to Officer Picket. He looked at Savannah, then Craig, and said, “It appears that you’re telling the truth. They didn’t find any of the jewelry in the place where you’re staying or your car, except for the diamond bracelet we found on your person, Detective Sledge, which you say was checked out to you from the evidence room in Colorado. But it just seems unlikely that someone would go into the Slattery-Bell home the same evening you were there, Mrs. Ivey, and take all of that expensive jewelry you’d been looking at, without evidence of a break-in.” He picked up a pencil and tapped it on the tabletop. He looked at Savannah. “You say the homeowner was asleep when you left. Did you leave the door open?”

  Savannah shook her head. “No. I locked it behind me. I’m sure of it.”

  “And you were drinking wine too?” the officer asked.

  “Yes.”

  “How much do you think you drank?”

  “Not even half a glass,” Savannah said. “I knew she had been drinking too much. I figured one of us needed to keep our wits about us.”

  And where was the jewelry when you left and locked the door?” Officer Picket asked. “Still lying out on the bed?”

  “Oh, it wasn’t lying out when I left.”

  “It wasn’t?” he asked.

  “No. I put it back into the velvet pouches because I know it means a lot to Harriet to keep the jewelry safe and clean. And I put the pouches in the little safe under the floorboards in the closet.”

  The officer cocked his head. “Is that right? And did you lock the safe, too?”

  “No. But I did clean the litter box before I left.”

  “Why did you do that?” the officer asked.

  “Because Rags—my cat—used it.” When he stared at her, she explained, “Leaving his mess in Harriet’s cats’ litter box would be like leaving a dirty diaper on the kitchen counter in someone’s home.”

  “She’s right,” Officer Price said.

  Officer Picket glanced at the female officer, then asked Savannah, “So you locked the front door when you left?”

  “I sure did.”

  “Was the rest of the house locked up—the backdoor, for example?”

  Savannah shook her head. “I didn’t check that.”

  “Well, as I said, my people can’t find any of the missing jewelry among your belongings. Here’s what I’m going to do. I’ll turn you loose for now. I’ll spend more time with Ms. Slattery-Bell to see if there’s anyone else she might suspect—someone who has a key to her house, for example. Do you happen to know of anyone?”

  “No,” Savannah said. She then added, “I do know she was upset about something that happened over lunch with a man she’s been seeing. Maybe he has a key.” She added, “It sounded like she may have broken it off with him.”

  “They broke it off?”

  “I think so. Or maybe she just fled the scene sort of temporary-like.”r />
  “Ma’am?” the officer questioned.

  Officer Price prompted Savannah. “Do you mean she just left on a whim without actually breaking it off with him?”

  Savannah nodded. “That’s the impression I got.”

  “Does he have a key?” the male officer asked.

  “I have no idea,” Savannah said. “But it sounds like that might be a good place to start. His name’s Randall.”

  “Do you know where they had lunch yesterday?”

  She shook her head, then said, “Oh, I heard her refer to it as a club.”

  After thinking about it for a moment, Officer Picket raised an eyebrow. “Well, if he took the stuff last night, he’s probably long gone. So I’ll want to get information about his car and his home state…things like that. Evidently a neighbor three doors down saw a dark-green car parked in front of her house last night when she got up for a drink of water.” He grimaced. “It’s not much to go on, but it’s something. We’ll go back with our fingerprinting kit and additional questions for Ms. Slattery-Bell and her neighbors.”

  “Then we can go?” Craig asked.

  Officer Picket nodded.

  “Come on,” Craig said to Savannah.

  Savannah hesitated, then muttered, “Oh, yes.”

  “You want to stay here?” he teased.

  “No. I was just thinking about something. Sorry. Yes, let’s go.” Once they were in the car, she asked. “So where are we going?”

  “To Harriet’s house. Once the police are finished there, I want to have a talk with her.” He parked a few houses away, saying, “Looks like the cops are gone. Good. Let’s go talk to her.” Before exiting the car, however, he noticed something. “What the…?” he started. He dug a pair of binoculars from under his seat, put them up to his eyes, and started to laugh.

  “What?” Savannah asked. “What do you see?”

  Trying unsuccessfully to squelch his laughter, he said, “You’re not going to believe this.” He pointed. “Someone beat us here this morning.”

  Savannah strained to look more closely toward Harriet’s house. “What?” she asked impatiently.

  He handed her the binoculars. “It’s your cat. See him there on the porch? He’s partially hidden by the potted plant now.”

  “Rags!” she shouted when she saw him. “Oh my gosh. It looks like he’s crying to get in. Oh no. The cops must have let him out when they searched our place. I told that officer to warn his people about Rags.” She raised her hands in frustration. “No one listens.” She removed her seatbelt and started to open the car door. “I’d better go get him.”

  “Wait,” Craig said, putting his hand on her arm. “Who’s that? I wonder if that’s our man, Randall.”

  Savannah studied the person who was walking toward Harriet’s house. “Where did he come from?” she asked.

  “Across the street there, I believe.” He seemed to suddenly get a burst of energy when he said, “Hey, look at that car. It looks dark green to me.”

  “Yeah,” she muttered as she opened her car door.

  “Sit tight, will you? I want to see what he does.”

  “But Rags!” she complained.

  “We can keep an eye on him,” Craig assured her.

  Savannah studied the figure more closely. “He’s sure dressed not to be seen.” When Craig looked at her, she said, “You know, all covered up with that jacket collar and beanie.” She relaxed a little. “Good. Rags ran into the bushes. What’s that guy doing? He’s using a key. Craig, that guy has a key. And I don’t see Harriet’s car in the driveway. She must not be home. Gads, do you suppose he’s…?”

  “The thief?” he said. “Yup. Could be, and I’m going to find out. You stay here.”

  “But Rags,” she complained.

  “Stay here. I mean it.”

  Savannah watched as Craig approached the man just as he had opened the front door to Harriet’s house. She held her breath, wondering what would happen next.

  Meanwhile, Craig introduced himself and displayed his badge. “And you are?” he asked.

  “Um…a friend of Ms. Bell’s. I left something last time I was here and I need to retrieve it, that’s all.”

  Craig looked at the man’s hand. “She gave you that key did she? When was that?”

  “I don’t know, a week or so ago, I guess.”

  “And she gave you access whenever you want it; is that the deal?”

  The man nodded.

  “I’d like to see some ID, if you don’t mind.”

  “Well, I do mind, actually. And I won’t stand still for any police brutality, I can tell you that right now.”

  “There will be no brutality unless you push me, buddy. Now let me see your ID, please.” When the man balked, Craig said, “Think of it this way; wouldn’t you want someone to check out a suspicious character who appears to be breaking into your home?”

  “I have a key,” the man asserted.

  Craig pulled out his phone. “Calling for backup at Harriet Slattery-Bell’s home.” He quickly reported the address. When the man started to bolt, Craig showed him his pistol and said calmly, “We can cause a scene out here or we can take care of this without the drama and pain. What’s it going to be?”

  “Okay, okay,” the man said. “I’m reaching into my back pocket to get my wallet.”

  “Easy now,” Craig warned.

  Within moments, a police car pulled up in front of Harriet’s home and two officers stepped out with their hands on their sidearms. The taller one asked, “Detective Sledge?”

  Craig said, “Yes. I caught this guy going into this house and I happen to know this isn’t his home. I thought we should check it out, especially since the woman who lives here was robbed last night.”

  “Right,” the officer said.

  “I have a key,” the man said, holding it up.

  “Well, I have cuffs,” the officer responded. “How about we use them just to detain you? If you check out okay with the homeowner, you’ll be free to go.” He cuffed the man’s hands behind his back.

  The second officer patted him down. “He’s clean.” He hesitated and said, “But what is this in your pocket?”

  “Is it a weapon?” the first officer asked.

  “I can’t be sure,” the second officer replied. “Shall I reach for it?”

  “Yes, let’s see what it is.”

  When the second officer reached into the man’s jacket pocket and pulled out a piece of fine jewelry, the first officer whistled. “Now that’s some necklace there. Is it real?”

  The suspect shook his head. “I don’t think so. I’m sure it’s just junk jewelry. I…um…I collect that stuff for my…um…costume shop. I sell costumes and costume jewelry. I just picked that up this morning at a yard sale.”

  “A yard sale on Tuesday?” Craig asked.

  “Well, an estate sale, actually. It’s running all week.”

  Craig studied the necklace, then motioned for Savannah to join him. “Pull up those pictures you took with your phone last night will you?”

  Savannah glanced at the officers and the suspect, who had his back to her, and pulled up her photos. Craig took her phone and scrolled through the photos, finally stopping on one. He showed it to the officers.

  In the meantime, Savannah peered down into the shrubbery in front of Harriet’s house and saw Rags. It took her a few minutes to coax him to where she could put her hands on him. She heard Craig say to the suspect, “Well, buddy, I hope you only paid a couple of nickels for this, because it’s worth a blasted fortune.”

  “Really?” he said. “That would be nice. I could use a break.”

  “Let’s go,” the first officer said, leading the suspect away. He had just helped the man into the backseat of the patrol car when Harriet pulled into her driveway.

  She sat in her car for a few seconds, taking in the scene in front of her house. Then she bolted from the car and shouted at Savannah. “What are
you doing here, you thief?”

  “Now Ms. Bell,” Craig soothed. “Savannah has been cleared. She did not take anything from you. She simply…”

  Before he could finish, one of the officers approached. “Ms. Slattery-Bell?”

  Harriet nodded. She gazed toward the patrol car. “Who is that? Who did you just put into the car?”

  She looks awful, Savannah thought. Alcohol sure isn’t a beatification serum for her.

  “Is that Randall?” Harriet asked in a pleading manner. “Why do you have him in handcuffs? What’s going on?”

  “So you know that man?” the officer asked.

  “You’re damn right I know him.”

  “Did you give him a key to your home?”

  She nodded, then walked swiftly to the police car and shouted through the partially open window, “What the hell are you doing here, Randall? I thought…”

  “I’m sorry, Harriet,” he said. “I wanted to give you back your key and…”

  She turned to face the officers. “But why are you arresting him?”

  One officer pulled the necklace out of his pocket and showed it to her. “He had this on him,” he explained.

  She turned quickly to face the suspect and shouted, “Randall! That’s mine! Where did you get…?” She scowled and took a deep breath. “Oh Randall, how could you?” She shook her head and shouted, “Never mind about giving me back my key! I’ll have the locks changed before you ever see the light of day again!”

  Meanwhile, the officers searched a dark-green car that was parked across the street. They looked under the seats, in the glove box, and in the trunk. When they found nothing, one officer said, “That spare tire cover looks odd to me. Isn’t it a bit askew?”

  “Yeah,” the other officer said. “Give me that crowbar. He lifted the cover. “No spare tire.”

  When Harriet saw them going through Randall’s car, she asked Craig, “What are they looking for? He doesn’t do drugs, as far as I know. It looks like they found something. What is that?”

  Craig looked at her. “I’ll bet it’s that jewelry you accused Savannah of taking.”

  The woman shrank back a little and glanced quickly at Craig. She then shouted out at the man who was sitting in the police car, “You dirty rotten…”