The Golden Owl (Clockwork Calico Book 1)

by Lana Axe

  When the sentry turned its back, Cali flicked her tail and dashed across the room. Reaching a desk covered in papers and plans, she sifted through the stack. Emmit kept his eyes focused, checking each page as she tossed it aside. There was nothing about spiders to be seen.

  Pausing on one plan, Cali held it close to her nose. Studying it closely, a memory clicked in her mind.

  “Did you find something?” Emmit asked, peering at the paper. It was a drawing of some device resembling a cookie cutter. “Do you know what that is?”

  “I do,” she replied.

  Before she could explain, the sentry’s wheels swiveled, signaling it was turning around. The pair dashed back toward a dark corner to avoid it.

  Still clutching the drawing, Cali said, “This is a lock that Lionel designed.”

  “So what?” Emmit replied. Morcroft was always stealing ideas, so it was no surprise he would have Lionel’s plans.

  “Look,” Cali said, pointing to the schematic.

  “Uh-oh,” Emmit said. Written clearly on the plans were the words MAIN VAULT. This was the locking mechanism for the bank, one that secured its most precious treasures. “Morcroft must be planning to break into the bank.”

  “I think you’re right,” she said. Moving her paw, she revealed more writing on the bottom corner of the schematics. Tiny spiderlings, half the size of the ones they’d encountered, were depicted infiltrating the lock. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”

  “That he’s training even smaller spiders to unlock the vault?” Emmit guessed.

  “Exactly,” Cali replied. With Lionel’s schematics, Morcroft knew exactly how the lock functioned. It was an extremely complex design, but that wouldn’t matter with a dozen spiderlings inside it. They wouldn’t have to decipher the lock, they’d only have to damage it enough to force it to release. Then Morcroft could waltz into the vault and take whatever he wanted. This was a dreadful discovery.

  “I think we should put that back where we found it,” Emmit suggested. “If he knows someone is onto his scheme, he might not act on it. Then we won’t have a chance to catch him.”

  “Smart thinking,” the cat replied, impressed. When the sentry pivoted around again, she leapt for the desk and replaced the schematics. A small leather journal caught her eye, and she flipped through it, looking for anything suspicious. Drawings of herself appeared halfway through, and she held the book open for Emmit to see.

  “He’s trying to figure out how you work,” he said. A shiver ran along his spine as he stared at the drawings. The inner workings of any animal were not pleasant to look at. Through these drawings, Morcroft was experimenting with attaching metal implants to various parts of a cat’s body. Some of them were quite graphic. Emmit turned away, unable to look any longer.

  Cali slammed the book shut. Her first thought was to take it with her and destroy it. But Emmit made a good point. There should be no evidence that they were ever here.

  A strange silence alerted Cali. The sentry’s wheels no longer scratched against the concrete floor. Too late she realized they’d been paying attention to the book when the automaton swiveled around. Its red eye blinked as it spotted the intruders. A click followed by a low buzzing told Cali the system was arming itself. Grabbing Emmit’s paw, she leapt from the table, narrowly avoiding a small projectile. It struck the ground just short of the main door and exploded in a shower of sparks.

  “We have to get out of here, now!” Cali cried. Before he could reply, she grabbed Emmit in her teeth and scrambled up the wall, her claws digging into the wood.

  When they landed inside the vent, Emmit asked, “Shouldn’t we replace the cover?”

  As much as she hated to agree, Cali had no choice. If she left it open, Morcroft would know someone had broken in. “I’ll get it,” she said.

  Another projectile exploded somewhere below, but Cali ignored it. Returning to the ground, she didn’t bother to look for the sentry. Instead she raced across the floor and retrieved the vent cover. Grabbing it in her teeth, she turned and found herself face to face with the automaton. Leaping on its head, she avoided the next projectile. From there she sprang to the wall, digging her claws in as deep as she could. Climbing to the vent, she disappeared inside, snapping the cover in place behind her.

  “That was close,” she said.

  Emmit sat against the vent wall, thinking. “I don’t suppose we could clean up after those projectiles. That’s sort of evidence too.”

  “I’m not going back down there,” she replied. “Hopefully Morcroft will think the stupid thing fired on his spiders.”

  “You’re probably right,” Emmit replied. Since there was no other evidence of intruders, and automatons weren’t all that smart, Morcroft would probably assume it had malfunctioned.

  “Hold on tight,” Cali said. Emmit grabbed onto her tail, and she lifted them through the vent toward the roof. “Don’t let go yet,” she warned him. Keeping her body low, she jumped down, landing on the sidewalk.

  The drop tested the integrity of Emmit’s stomach, but he endured it like a true professional. Cali’s implants cushioned the landing, allowing her to dart away immediately. Racing back toward the factory, they both breathed a sigh of relief. Now that they knew what Morcroft was planning, they could focus their attention strictly on the bank. The moment things seemed amiss, they would spring into action. For now they were both grateful to have escaped with their lives. Sleuthing was dangerous work.

  After a night of much-needed rest, Cali rose feeling refreshed. Nightmares of the sentry had disturbed her dreams only once. She had fought it off, breaking it down into a million little spiderlings. One by one she and Emmit had eaten them all. Cali awoke feeling famished. The mouse was nowhere to be seen, having preferred to stay in his own home at the factory. He would probably be sleeping in.

  Padding into the kitchen, Cali mewed softly at Lionel, who was already awake and reading his newspaper.

  “Good morning,” he called to her. “Your breakfast awaits.” Remaining in his seat, he indicated with his head toward the kitchen.

  A bowl of minced chicken with bits of cheese awaited, her eyes glistening at the sight of her prize. It was a rich breakfast, but one that was well-deserved. Her heroics from the night before had told her exactly what she needed to do. Of course, she’d need Emmit’s help to do it. Taking two chunks of cheese and setting them aside, she dove in and devoured the rest. After hiding the mouse’s portion, she returned to Lionel and twirled her tail around his ankles. He patted his leg, inviting her onto his lap. She curled up with him and enjoyed a few moments of peace and relaxation. Such moments seemed rare and precious lately.

  Three taps sounded from the rear door, and Florence stuck her head inside. “Are you home?” she asked before stepping in.

  “Of course,” Lionel replied. “Come in, Flo.” This time he did not greet her at the door, for fear of disturbing the calico still resting on his lap.

  Florence approached and stroked Cali’s fur before taking a seat of her own. Rummaging in a brown paper sack, she produced two pastries and handed one to her brother. “Tea cakes with strawberries and buttercream frosting,” she announced. The woman had a voracious sweet tooth, and so did Lionel.

  “How was the ball last night?” Lionel asked through a mouthful of cake.

  “Delightful!” Florence replied. “The girls and I enjoyed every minute.” Though unmarried, Florence wouldn’t let a spectacular event like the princess’s moonlight ball go by without attending. Though she hadn’t arrived on the arm of a gentlemen, she had gathered her factory workers and arrived in style.

  “Did anyone ask you to dance?” Lionel asked.

  Blushing and turning her head to one side, she replied, “Well, as a matter of fact, yes. You remember Mr. Lisen? He and I shared a few dances.”

  “That fellow with the accent?” Lionel asked, trying to remember the man’s face.

  “He’s the one,” she said. “Striking blond hair too.” Clearin
g her throat, she stopped herself before going into further detail. After all, a woman’s heart is full of secrets, and she didn’t care to share too much of it with her brother, even if he was among her dearest friends. “You should have come as well,” she said, changing the subject.

  “Not my sort of thing,” Lionel replied. “Did you see the princess?” Turning his newspaper toward her, he pointed to a picture of the royal young woman.

  “I did,” Florence answered. “Princess Kaleyani is a beautiful woman with a generous heart. She presented the city of Ticswyk with her most prized possession, a golden owl. It was placed on display for all those in attendance to see. I’ve never seen such attention to detail. It even had diamonds for eyes. I’ll bet it’s worth more than half the city put together.”

  Her ears twitching, Cali could not ignore this news. Could this be what Morcroft was after? Was the statue being stored in the bank’s vault? Scanning the newspaper, she tried to keep her actions concealed. Too much movement on her part and Lionel might get up and toss the paper away. She had to find the information. When she reached the end of the article without finding an answer, she sank back into his lap, defeated.

  Finishing his dessert, Lionel came to the rescue. “What on earth would anyone need with such a gift?” he wondered. “They’ll probably just tuck it away somewhere that no one will ever see it.”

  “Not true,” Florence replied. “They announced it would be given a place of honor at every exhibition. In between shows it will be displayed at the museum.”

  Confused, Cali looked up and tilted her head to the side. Morcroft wasn’t planning to rob the museum again. He was definitely planning to rob the bank’s vault.

  “The museum isn’t secure enough for something of that value,” Lionel commented. “They’re still updating their security, and their construction has been slowed by the Guild’s involvement. And between you and me, that floor isn’t secure enough.”

  “Yes, but Mr. Lisen told me that until the museum was secured and a special exhibit designed for the owl, it will remain safely locked in the bank’s vault.” After chewing a small bite of cake, she added, “He’s the bank’s president, you know.”

  “Yes, I know,” Lionel replied.

  Cali couldn’t believe her ears. That was it. Morcroft had some foreknowledge of the princess’s gift and where it would be housed. Soon the museum would prove impenetrable. He had to steal it from the bank if he was going to steal it at all.

  “Good thing the bank is secured by your own design,” Florence commented.

  “Yes, indeed,” Lionel replied. “That gaudy bit of royal brass will be quite safe.”

  Cali knew better. The owl was in great danger. Morcroft would probably melt it down to rid himself of the evidence. Then he’d deposit it in his own account, piece by piece. As Lionel always said, “a wealthy man always desires more wealth.” In this instance, at least, he was completely right.

  Hopping down from Lionel’s lap, Cali crossed through the apartment and headed out the rear flap. Inside the factory the ladies were hard at work. Only one took notice of Cali as she passed, calling out to the cat. Cali couldn’t resist.

  “How are you today, Miss Kitty?” the woman asked, leaning down to scratch the top of Cali’s head.

  Purring, Cali pushed her head into the woman’s hand. From her pocket, the woman produced a handkerchief. Wrapped inside were a few crackers, which the woman broke into pieces and offered her. Cali accepted them gratefully. She held the last piece in her teeth before trotting away to see Emmit.

  Florence was still visiting with Lionel, so there was no obstacle barring Cali from reaching her friend. Otherwise, the factory overseer would wonder what Cali was doing and might discover the little mouse’s hiding place. Squeezing herself behind the desk, Cali dropped the cracker outside Emmit’s door.

  “Emmit,” she called. “I brought you some breakfast.”

  The mouse’s head appeared in the doorway. “Thanks, Cali!” he said, picking up the cracker and nibbling one edge.

  “There’s some cheese back at the apartment as well,” she said. “I forgot it on my way out.” News of the golden owl had shaken her, leaving her mind whirling. How was she going to prevent the heist?

  Savoring the final bite of his cracker, Emmit took his time chewing. After it was gone, he licked his paws and wiped them on his fur. “Should I check the workshop this morning?” he asked.

  Cali shook her head. “I think it would be better to keep an eye on the bank. There’s definitely going to be activity there sooner or later.” She wasn’t sure if the spiderlings would exit the workshop and walk to the bank on their own, but if they did, they wouldn’t be easily spotted. Morcroft would never take the chance of them being stopped before they reached their destination. In addition, they didn’t know what route the spiders would take, and she didn’t want to miss them along the way. Staying put at the bank seemed the wisest course of action.

  “Why the bank?” Emmit wondered. He had yet to come across the day’s headlines.

  “I heard Lionel and Florence discussing it,” Cali explained. “There’s a golden owl in the bank’s vault, and I’ll bet anything that’s what Morcroft is planning to steal.”

  After a moment’s thought the little mouse nodded. It seemed like a logical target for Morcroft’s scheming. “I’ll head over there now and let you know if I see anything strange,” he said.

  “Actually,” Cali said, “I have a better idea. Follow me.”

  Leading the way, the calico brought her mouse friend back to the apartment and through a door he hadn’t noticed before. Inside was Lionel’s workshop, a vast portion of the factory that was otherwise not in use. Cogs and gears larger than Emmit could imagine sat unmoving on the floor. Springs and scrap metal were heaped into neat piles, awaiting the tinker’s next project.

  On every wall, Emmit made note of various drawings, the schematics for Lionel’s future inventions. Some of them looked more intricate than others. One in particular caught the mouse’s eye. It appeared to be an engine for a balloon. The thought made him shudder. Balloons already traveled far too fast. He didn’t want anywhere near the one Lionel was planning.

  The calico led him over to a table, one of over a dozen in the room. She hopped up, climbing over books and papers. Opening the topmost drawer, she pulled out a tiny receiver. Smaller than a pocket watch and rectangular in shape, she proudly presented it to the mouse.

  “This is how you can let me know if you see anything at the bank,” she explained. “It’s much faster than running back and forth.”

  Emmit ran a paw over the smooth metal. “What is it?” he asked. It certainly didn’t look like anything special to him.

  “It activates my homing beacon,” she declared. “All you have to do is push this button at the center, and I’ll know you need me.”

  “Are you sure it works?” he asked.

  “Try it now,” she urged him.

  Since his paws alone weren’t strong enough to press the button, he hopped on top of it, pressing down with his body weight. A tiny red light glowed to life at the tip of Cali’s tail. Nodding his approval, Emmit said, “Nice.”

  “It might be a little heavy for you,” Cali said. “I can strap it to you if you like.”

  “No, that will make walking awkward.” Grabbing the button with his teeth, he tested the weight. “I think I can get it to the bank,” he said.

  “All right then,” Cali replied. “Be careful, and don’t hesitate to use that if you need me.”

  Emmit scurried off with the button in tow. Cali turned her attention back to the shop. There was one more item she needed, but she had no idea if it actually existed.

  Studying every schematic posted on Lionel’s walls, Cali came up empty. None of those inventions were what she needed. It wasn’t surprising, though. Lionel hadn’t needed any type of weapon until after his kidnapping. His mind didn’t really think along those lines. Arming his front door had required a trip to a fr
iend, one who knew about such things. Cali wished now that she had been along for the trip. Looking at the other inventor’s plans might have taught her how to craft what she needed.

  I’ll just have to invent something myself, she decided.

  Sifting through piles of different components, Cali’s mind could not form any ideas. Sitting back on her haunches, she tried to think. What would she encounter at the bank? Spiderlings was the obvious answer. She had already seen them, drawn in Morcroft’s own hand. They were tasked with opening the vault. Cali intended to be inside it, protecting the owl from mechanical thieves.

  In her mind, Cali pictured the spiderlings attempting to carry the owl away. Then she realized something. The owl she had seen in the picture was too large and likely too heavy for such small creatures to carry away. Would Morcroft risk entering the vault in person? Cali doubted it. However, the spiderlings would have to be super strong to lift such weight, or they might instead be crushed by their prize. From the design schematics, Cali knew they were no sturdier than their larger counterparts.

  That’s when it struck her. The larger ones would be there as well, and it would still take a number of them to carry out the robbery. She wondered if Morcroft might be planning an even larger version that could easily lift the owl and carry it away. She needed to be prepared for whichever scenario she encountered.

  Her mind whirled with possibilities, trying to decide what sort of weapon would be best. She couldn’t carry a variety. That would leave her too loud and bulky to maneuver through the bank. If she was going to get into the vault, she’d have to rely on stealth. One weapon alone, and preferably something small, was all she could manage.

  After a few moments in deep thought, Cali remembered the explosion that had let her out of Morcroft’s workshop the night of Lionel’s rescue. That’s it! What she needed was a small, portable bomb. But she had to craft it with care. Blowing herself up was a real danger.

  Darting around the workshop, she piled bits and pieces to experiment with. She made note of the location of some gunpowder but didn’t dare to touch it yet. That was the most dangerous component, and she didn’t want to risk an accidental explosion.