Paws for Trouble

by Patricia Fry

  "Jake," Gladys said, "when did you ever ask for help outside of needing to borrow money?"

  "Don't give me that," Jake spat. "I spoke loud and clear about my needs and no one heard me. Not my brother or my cousins. Look at all of you, smug as all get—out, living the good life with partners and children, with things money can buy, credentials up the ying—yang. Why? Why can't I make just one marriage work? I even failed at a business that was handed to me. If only you people would have given me a hand, I could have made it too."

  Before anyone could process the meaning of Jake's rant, they heard someone call out, "Got it!" Then Craig approached. "Did you hear that, folks? They got the device. It's on its way to be detonated."

  "How?" Blake asked.

  "In a total—containment vessel," Craig said.

  "Can we go inside?" Savannah asked. "It's getting a little chilly."

  "No," Craig said firmly. "We want to make sure there's nothing else."

  Michael turned to Jake and growled, "What about it, should we be looking for another bomb?"

  Jake shrugged and grinned.

  Seeing this, Jimmy leaped to his feet and grabbed his brother by the front of the shirt. "What is wrong with you? Is Michael right? Were you trying to kill us? Talk!" he shouted. "Is there anything else in there?"

  "Not that I know of," Jake said sullenly.

  "Well, they're bringing in a dog to make sure," Craig said. "You all should be able to go inside in a little while." He cleared his throat. "I understand that you have quite a mess in a couple of the upstairs bedrooms." He looked around. "They'll want to do a thorough search of the house and the rest of the property before they give an all—clear." Craig looked at Jimmy's and Belinda's RV. "Actually, why don't you all move out away from this thing—into that clearing where the wedding was held. I'm sure they'll want to search the outbuildings and probably the two RVs."

  Jimmy glared at his brother. "Jake?"

  "What?" he groused. "I didn't do nothing. You can't prove I did anything."

  "So our house isn't safe, yet?" Savannah asked weakly.

  "Yeah, well, they used a lot of foam to encase the gunpowder and reduce the gasoline. They're going to want to haul those blankets and stuff out of there. They didn't find anything else, but I wonder," he said, looking at Rags. "It might not be a bad idea to let my partner sniff around in the house and maybe in the out—sheds and these RVs before we call it a night."

  Savannah slumped and looked down at the cat. "Rags? I thought you said they have a dog that's trained to do that."

  Craig nodded, then said quietly, "But I'd bet my cat partner against their trained dog any day. Hand me the leash, will you?"

  "Want me to come with you?" Savannah asked.

  "No," Craig said. He pointed. "You move over there with the children. I'll handle this." When he sensed that some of the others were becoming restless, he said more loudly, "I'm sure we'll find nothing else. We just want to be on the safe side." Before leaving, he stared into Jake's eyes and demanded, "Did we miss anything?" When Jake looked away and refused to answer, Craig got in his face. "If you left anything behind, you'd better damn well tell us now or I'll make your life from here on out pure hell. Prison hell. Now, is there anything else?"

  Jake shook his head. "I don't know, man. It wasn't me."

  Craig shot Jake a disgusted look, then walked away with Rags.

  Just then a sheriff's deputy approached. He asked, "Did I hear that you have a suspect?"

  Michael nodded toward Jake. "That's him."

  "So what's the deal? Why were you bothering these nice folks while they were enjoying a family reunion?" the officer asked.

  "Hey, I'm part of the family," Jake said. "Why would I want to hurt them?"

  The officer looked around at the others, as they prepared to move their chairs to the clearing.

  "He all but confessed to us," Michael said, lifting the cat pen with Bud's help.

  Some of the others nodded in agreement.

  "Okay, we'll need signed statements. I'll bring the paperwork around in a minute." He cuffed Jake and led him away, saying, "You, I want to talk to."

  "Savannah," Adam whispered, "did you see his shirt?"

  "Whose?" she asked.

  "Jake's." The boy took a fabric swatch from his pocket. "It matches this, don't you think so? And I saw a hole in his shirt."

  "Oh, yes," she said, glaring at Jake as he was being led away. "So it could have been Jake who let the horses out."

  "Now, you can't be sure of that," Michael said, overhearing the two of them talking. "Everyone went out there at one time or another to visit with the horses."

  "That's true, Dad," Adam said, "but Rags found this, and you know what that means? If Rags finds it, it's probably a clue."

  "Touché," Michael said,

  "Huh?"

  "I mean, you're probably right as rain."

  "Rain?" Adam asked, bewildered.

  ****

  After the emergency and law enforcement vehicles drove off, Craig left with Jake, and the extended family reassembled in the living room and dining room. Adam sat next to Savannah and Michael and admitted, "I feel kind of bad."

  "Why?" Michael asked, pulling his son closer.

  "'Cause I told on Jake. I feel like I got him in trouble."

  "Adam," Michael said quietly, "all you did was report something you and Joshua found—a very dangerous situation. Someone could have been seriously hurt if you hadn't told us about it, and this house could have been completely destroyed."

  "But I feel bad that they arrested Jake. Don't you think that if he did something like that, he must have something wrong in his head?" Adam reasoned.

  "I believe you're right," Michael said quietly. "And if you boys hadn't come to us, Jake may not have the opportunity to get the help he needs. Now he'll have that chance."

  Joshua, who hovered nearby said, "But why was he mad at us? Why did he want to hurt all of us?"

  Jimmy sat forward and squeezed the boy's shoulder affectionately. "I think he was actually trying to hurt himself. I don't think he wanted to hurt us as much as he wanted to punish himself."

  Michael asked, "Did you call your folks?"

  Jimmy nodded. "They're devastated, of course, but not all that surprised. It's been coming on for a while. I'm just so sorry he did this to all of you."

  Savannah forced a weak smile. "Jimmy, we're family. I'm glad we were together when this came to a head. Maybe Jake will remember that we were all here for him."

  Across the room, Melanie sat with her arm around Roxy. Belinda rested her head on Melanie's shoulder while some of their children sat playing at their feet.

  ****

  After waving good—bye to their guests the next morning, Savannah and Michael set out to remove the remaining debris from the two damaged upstairs bedrooms. After lunch, they put the children down for a nap and returned to survey the damage and note what they needed in order to make the repairs. They were just finishing upstairs when they heard a friendly voice.

  "So what needs to be done?" Damon asked, joining them.

  "Hey," Michael said, "what brings you out on this pretty spring day?"

  Damon motioned toward his wife and daughter. "We're just returning from church and thought maybe you could use some help." He looked around the room. "Craig told us you had some trouble yesterday."

  "Gosh, you really did have a fire. Your cousin did this?" Colbi asked.

  Savannah slumped. "Well, we're not sure. He sort of confessed to some of the pranks that were pulled here this weekend, but we're not sure he tried to burn the house down."

  "Savannah," Michael scolded, "of course it was Jake. Who else could it have been? The rest of us were all outside together and…"

  She raised her hand to stop him. "I know, I know. It's just too much to take in right now." She grinned. "Let me stay in my rainbow bubble for a while longer."

  Colbi put her arms around Savannah, murmuring, "I'm so sorry. It must have been
horribly frightening."

  Savannah nodded and choked up a little.

  "So," Damon said, looking around, "what needs to be done?"

  Michael grimaced, "Well, we want to bring in a cleaning crew to get rid of the smoke stench, then we'll either refinish the wood floors or re—carpet. We'll need to paint both rooms. Some of the molding will need to be replaced…"

  "…and the mattresses, bedding, stuff in the closets…" Savannah added. "We may have to have the chairs recovered."

  "You can't wash the smoky smell out of the fabrics?" Colbi asked, quickly picking up Rosemary when she reached for a tack she saw on the floor.

  Michael picked up the tack and said, "We'll know more about that after the professionals do their thing up here."

  Damon shook his head. "A dang shame." More enthusiastically, he said, "Hey, we came to offer our services. Is there anything you need help with?"

  Michael patted him on the back. "Yeah, now that you mention it. Come on," he said, leading the way out into the hallway and down the stairs. "Want to help me store away the tables and chairs?"

  "Sure do," Damon said.

  As the women and Rosemary followed, Colbi offered, "I can help you clean the kitchen, Savannah."

  "Oh, no," she said, "that's not necessary. Heck, you didn't help make the mess. Anyway, the gals and I pretty much put the house back together before they left." She glanced behind them toward the upstairs bedrooms. "Except for the fire—damaged area. Poor Roxy and Blake had to sleep on couches last night. A lot of their stuff was scorched."

  "Awful," Colbi said. She walked toward the kitchen. "Well, let's see what still needs doing, shall we?"

  "I haven't cleaned litter boxes yet," Savannah joked.

  "Then I'm your man—or gal," Colbi insisted.

  "No way," Savannah said. "I was joking." When Colbi walked toward the service porch Savannah grabbed her arm and insisted, "You're not going to clean our litter boxes."

  "You do the one in your room and I'll get this one," Colbi said. She looked around. "Do you have more than two now?"

  Savannah grinned at her. "Yes, we do, but I'm not telling you where the other one is."

  Colbi narrowed her eyes. "Then I'll ask Lily. She'll tell me…"

  "You brat!" Savannah teased.

  Colbi stuck out her tongue and continued toward the litter box.

  ****

  "Aren't they the greatest friends ever?" Savannah said over dinner that evening. "I mean, for Colbi and Damon to come here today ready to help us clean up—they're the best."

  "Yes they are," Michael agreed. "Damon even wanted to mow the lawn and rake up those leaves under the shrubbery. I told him Antonio would be very unhappy to arrive tomorrow ready to do his gardening work and find nothing to do."

  Savannah laughed. "Indeed, he would."

  "So what do you hear about your wayward cousin?" Michael asked. "Was that Craig who called earlier?"

  Before Savannah could answer, Gladys groaned. "I still can't believe what happened." When they looked at her, she said, "We all thought we were having a wonderful weekend of celebration when all along poor Jake was plotting to kill us."

  Savannah chuckled. "Oh, Mom, I don't think he had murder in mind, do you?"

  "What do you think he expected to happen when he set off that bomb?" Gladys carped.

  Savannah winced. "Yeah, I guess it could have caused harm, but I think he was just trying to make a statement—you know, wreck our house a little, don't you, Michael?" When she saw the smirk on his face, she demanded, "What?"

  "Boy, are you naïve," he said.

  "Why, because I refuse to believe that a cousin of mine wanted to murder me?" she insisted.

  "Well, it's a moot point," he said. "Jake's in jail, and hopefully he'll get exactly what he deserves."

  "You are mad at him, aren't you?" she said.

  "Darn right I am," Michael asserted. "How dare he accept our invitation and our hospitality, then turn around and stab us in the back."

  She shuddered. "Ohhh, that's graphic. Gives me the heeby—jeebies."

  "I was speaking figuratively, hon," he defended.

  "I know, but…I mean, part of me is angry as all get—out, but I still remember Jake as a boy." She smiled. "He was the sweet one. He was my buddy. He'd even help me play tricks on the others, and together we'd create mysteries for them to solve. Remember, I told you I read every mystery I could get my hands on back then? I also made up stories. Jake would sit and listen to my stories. The others would get tired and leave."

  "He probably had a crush on you, the older, more sophisticated cousin."

  Gladys tittered. When Michael looked at her, she questioned, "Sophisticated?"

  "She wasn't sophisticated?" he asked, amused.

  "Not really. Michael, I could show you snapshots of her as a little girl that you won't believe."

  "Mom," Savannah complained.

  "Really?" Michael asked, his eyes flashing with mischief.

  "Yes, I have albums up there in my room. Haven't you seen them?"

  "I don't think so," he said.

  "Mommy was a little girl?" Lily asked. "I want to see pictures."

  "Okay, how about after dinner?" Gladys suggested. "I'll bring the albums down and we'll all look at pictures of Mommy as she was growing up."

  "Now, Mom. I'm sure they have better things to do," Savannah complained.

  "No, we don't," Michael said. "That sounds like a great way to spend the evening. Yes. I'm looking forward to that, Gladys. Thank you."

  Gladys grinned and continued eating her dinner.

  Before anyone else could speak, there was a knock at the door, and Savannah saw a familiar form through the window. "It's Auntie," she said, standing up. "Come in," she called, reaching for the doorknob.

  "Maggie, what brings you out at suppertime?" Gladys asked.

  "Yeah," Michael said, "are you that accustomed to eating over here?"

  "No," Margaret grumped. She poured herself a cup of coffee and sat down between Lily and Gladys. She patted Lily's leg and winked across the table at Teddy.

  The toddler blinked a couple of times, attempting to mimic her.

  "You're so stinkin' cute," she said.

  "Auntie," Lily yelped, "don't say that."

  "What did I say?" she asked.

  Lily glanced at her mother and muttered, "I can't say it."

  "Stinky," Teddy blurted. "Stinky bad."

  "Oh," Margaret said, laughing. "I get it."

  Savannah smiled at the children, then asked, "So what's going on, Auntie? Did you miss us?"

  "Yeah," Margaret said, leaning toward her. "Did you hear the latest?"

  "Oh, no. What now?" Savannah asked.

  "Jake has basically confessed to everything—even setting the fires, but he claims none of what he did was actually his fault. He had an accomplice—or maybe the other person was the ringleader."

  "What?" Savannah squealed.

  Margaret continued, "I guess Ray talked to Jake—prisoners get one phone call, you know. Well, Jake says someone else was telling him what to do."

  "Oh," Michael said, "I get it. He was hearing voices." He frowned. "Is he schizophrenic? His behavior while he was here could indicate that."

  The women looked at each other and Margaret shrugged.

  Gladys said, "I don't think so. Not that I ever heard. As Savannah said, he was a quiet boy. Rather sweet. Jimmy was the gregarious one."

  Margaret nodded, then said, "But no. He's claiming it's a real person who made him do those things, not voices in his head."

  "Not Joshua, I hope," Michael said under his breath.

  The others looked at him and Margaret said, "I don't think it was anyone who was here for the wedding. He's claiming—" She shook her head with a guffaw. "I just don't know where he gets this stuff. Guys, Jake says there's someone living in the trees, and that guy wants all of us to go away."

  "What?" Savannah said, glancing out the window. "Living in the trees?"
r />   Michael chuckled. "Jake's talking to birds? Yeah, that's about his speed. He had a conversation with Mr. Hoot Owl."

  "Michael," Margaret said sternly, "Ray and Ann believe he's absolutely telling the truth."

  Michael grinned. "They're his parents; they have to believe him."

  Savannah glanced at Michael, then asked her aunt, "Did Jake give a description of this person? Why didn't he tell us about it when we had him up against a wall yesterday? Jake doesn't seem strong enough to keep a secret like that."

  "Unless," Gladys said. When the others looked at her, she continued, "I was just thinking, maybe that person was within hearing distance at the time. We were out there next to the trees when we were discussing the situation with Jake. He may have been afraid to say anything, so he made that sort of halfway confession."

  Savannah shuddered. "Do you think someone's watching us and intending on doing some harm?"

  Margaret took a deep breath. "I'm just passing along what I was told. I thought you might want to check it out. If there's a crazy living in that stand of trees watching you, you'll want to tell the authorities about it."

  "It sounds as if Jake already has, right?" Michael asked.

  Margaret shrugged. "I don't know if he told the officers or just his parents."

  After several moments, Savannah stood up. "I'm going to call Craig."

  "Savannah," Michael warned. When she stopped and looked at him, he said, "Think about it, hon. After being with Jake for the last three days, do you really think his story has any merit? The guy's got some problems, and one of them seems to be a big imagination." He chuckled. "Maybe that's your fault."

  "What?" Savannah said.

  "You're the one who taught him how to make up stories. You told me that earlier, remember?"

  "But Michael…"

  "Savannah, what could you tell Craig that would cause him to go exploring in those trees? We have nothing but a wild story from your weird cousin."

  "I guess you're right," she said. "But I think tomorrow I'll take Rags out there and walk around with him—see if he senses anything or anyone."

  Michael nodded. "We can do that. Certainly. Let's do that first thing tomorrow morning before I go to work, okay?" He gave her a stern look. "I'd rather you not go out there by yourself."