by Kit DeCanti
“Isn’t that my mom’s job? Making sure I go to class instead of squandering her hard earned tuition,” she quipped.
“Hey! I thought we were on the ‘buddy’ system,” replied Ron, pretending to be hurt.
Kat shot back, “I don’t recall Kat Woman needing someone to look out for her,” playfully defending her stand. Ron came back equally fast with, “Seems I’m not the only one that thinks that. Isn’t that why your family is always trying to fix you up? You need a Buddy to go with you on your Kat Walks.” And the banter was on….
And this time the bantering ended with a date… sort of.
Kat mentioned the upcoming annual Carnival-themed costume ball, a hospital fundraiser, in Lakeport, and challenged him to try to recognize her. The mere thought of it caused his heart to skip a beat.
On the one hand- how exciting that they were actually going to see each other again! On the other hand- they would see each other, only if he can recognize her. “Hmm,” he wondered if she would come as Cat Woman. “No, she wouldn’t be so obvious!” But the thought of that really got his heart beating. Until he realized that he too would need to think of a costume. That caused his heart to sink.
“I’m terrible at coming up with costume ideas!” Ron groaned, and then laughed as he told her, “I failed Halloween 101.”
“Well then, I guess you’ll be pretty easy to recognize,” she teased, and hung up.
Ron decided to give way to thoughts of Kat, since until he received the new lab report there was nothing else he could do.
He loved the spontaneous bantering, almost like a skilled game of fencing. Suddenly he knew what costume he’d wear.
ZORRO!
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Jack meets Lenny
Tuesday, April 10th, 2007
Afternoon
Ron’s shift was ending and he was writing a ticket for littering, when he got the call from Jack. They arranged to meet that night at seven- giving each of them time to get to the location Ron had chosen. A spot off of Walker Ridge Road going towards Indian Valley Reservoir. Ron told Jack that he would pick up a couple of deli sandwiches on the way.
Although Ron had given Jack more than enough money for gas, lunch and dinner; he decided to spring for the sandwiches as well. He knew Jack was spending all his free time on this case, and wanted to show his appreciation.
Shortly after he hung up, the phone rang again. It was Bill Norris. “Hey kid, you were right. Something about the evidence has Jack worried. Not sure what… but something.”
Ron was waiting in his SUV for Jack when he saw headlights winding up the road to where he had parked. He was far enough off the road not to be spotted. Ron grinned and thought, “Hope it’s not some couple looking for a place to park.”
It wasn’t. It was Jack.
Jack opened the rear right door, put the package on the floorboard, and then climbed onto the back seat. Ron turned in his seat, facing him, and handed him a soda and bag with a sandwich and chips. He studied Jack for a few moments, giving him time to unwrap his sandwich and open the can of soda. Then opening his own soda and taking a bite of his sandwich, eyes fixed on Jack, Ron asked, “How’d it go?”
Jack was silent for a moment, then looked up, not even trying to hide his concern. “Ron, Cindy is involved in this somehow.” Although Ron felt relief that Jack was not letting loyalty for his cousin mar his judgment and investigation-he also instantly felt sorry for him. He knew how much Jack cared for his young cousin.
“What did you come up with?” Ron asked, trying to detach.
Jack reached into the bag, and began reading from a sheet of paper that he pulled out.
“The doc’s prints were on the bottle, along with someone else’s. No hits on them, so not in the system. The footprints were made from the same boots as before, but the lab tech said a different person was wearing them this time. The boots didn’t fit either wearer. They were too big. But the person wearing them the first night weighed more and had bigger feet than the one last night.” Looking up he clarified. “The lab tech could tell by the weight distribution and indentation of the tracks.”
Jack took another bite, washed it down with the soda, before continuing, “The tire prints were from ‘off-the-rack tires’ for an off-road vehicle.” He looked up again, “Can’t tell much from them without tires to match them to.” Then he went quiet again. Ron gave him the time he needed.
Fighting back his emotion, Jack finally said, “I knew Cindy was up to something last night, and I was worried. So I backtracked and waited on a fire trail above the retreat.” Ron nodded. He had observed the retreat from the same spot.
Jack continued, “I saw Cindy cross the grounds and go into the shed at the back of the compound, where they keep an old Jeep.” He frowned, “I asked about that Jeep once and was told that it didn’t run, and that they were going to junk it. But later when I asked the doc if he wanted to sell it he said it belonged to a patient, who had left it there because it broke down, but was coming back for it… Funny thing is, I saw it pull out and leave through the back fire gate right after Cindy when into the shed. I followed it and saw it pull onto a fire trail near the Boggs Mountain trail. I parked up the road a bit, but by the time I walked to the Jeep she was gone, so I just waited for her to come back. I heard some screaming and at first thought it was Cindy, so I ran to where it was coming from. When I saw two people running out of the woods, I hid behind a tree. It was the doc and Cindy. Looked like they were carrying long coats, or blankets.” Jack scowled, and added, “I thought they had gone out there for other reasons… and got scared off by a wild animal, so I stayed hidden.
“Then when you called this morning, I didn’t want to mention anything to you until I had time to think things out.”
Jack leaned forward earnestly, and said, “One thing I’m sure of… I know for certain, that Cindy is a good girl!”
Ron felt bad for him. Nodding he said, “Yeah, I got that from her when I met her.” Jack’s expression turned to anger, “If she is involved in this, it’s because that doctor has brainwashed her… or tricked her someway!”
Ron sat quietly, letting Jack get control of his feelings, before saying, “I think we need to meet with my partner in this.”
Jack looked surprised. “I thought we were alone in this!” The side of Ron’s mouth curled up as he replied, “Yeah, well we’re not,” as he dialed Lenny’s TracFone number, and told him it was time he met Jack.
Ron turned to Jack and asked, “Is there some place you can leave your car, where it won’t draw suspicion?” In spite of all the drama, a mischievous smile crept across Jack’s face.
“The motel just this side of Clearlake Oaks,” he replied.
After dropping off Jack’s car, and as Ron drove him to meet Lenny, he filled Jack in on the previous night’s adventure, finishing up just as they drove into the shed.
Lenny was leaning against the shed, standing on one foot with the sole of his other boot against the wall and chewing on a strand of hay.
After brief introductions, and hearing about Cindy’s suspicious behavior, and what Jack had witnessed the night before, Lenny got right to the point. “So here’s what we got… we know that the bottles are carried in by someone other than the doc… but he must have had access to them to put the sedative in; and for whatever reason the doc and his assistant at least one time- and Cindy this last time- hid on the trails to jump out in masks! ….We‘ve only had one death- and that could have been a suicide. So, I don‘t think they have killing in mind… Just scaring people to death!” The old sergeant gave way to disgust and snarled, “What is this- some kind of sick game?!”
Ron replied “The person I followed into those woods was definitely not expecting anyone else to be there. Certainly not a mask- wearing- freak!” Then he added, “I’m relieved to find out that it was Jack in the third vehicle…”
Lenny cut in, “That’s for sure! And with your help Jack- first by getting the tape and then by follow
ing them out to the trails- we are able to positively identify the doc and Cindy as being the stalkers.”
Then Lenny shot a look at Ron, “I’m sure that Ron here explained that we won’t be using the tape recorder anymore… But anything you can find out up there would be a big help.” Jack looked disappointed about the tape, but his spirits lifted as Lenny continued, “What we need to find out- as quickly as we can, is who the night walker was… the plates came back to a Diane Young, from Napa County. It’s a pretty good bet that she was the driver- but we need to find out if she has any connections to the retreat.”
Jack eagerly offered, “I know a patient named Diane there; she lost her husband in the Gulf War…” Softening his tone he added, “She miscarried their only child the day she buried her husband… might be her.”
Lenny nodded and said; “We need you back there as soon as possible, Jack.”
Lenny studied Jack for a moment, then continued, “It’s good that you have already been staying there, off and on. If you get wind of more ‘night maneuvers’ call Ron and me ASAP, so that we can get up there!” He handed him a slip of paper, with his trac phone number on it. “Maybe the three of us can stake out the place.” Ron could see that Jack liked the sound of that.
Lenny was still leaning up against the wall of the shed, chewing on his third strand of hay when the SUV headed out towards Soda Bay Road.
As Ron dropped Jack off at his car, he said, “I know I don’t need to say this- but I will anyway. Make sure you get a good handle on your emotions before you head back to the retreat. We need you there, Jack- but we don’t need you going off on Fleming.”
Jack assured him that he understood. And then Ron added, “I know you want to look out after your cousin, but be careful not to tip her off. Whatever is going on, we’ll try to keep her out of it, as much as we can. But we have to find out what’s going on first!”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
The Carnival
Saturday, April 14th, 2007
As Ron parked his SUV he pressed a fake mustache onto his face and pulled on an eye mask. He was proud of his ingenuity in coming up with this costume. He had his hand on his sword as he walked towards the building, stopping to catch his breath when he saw the red Miata parked close to the building. “She’s already here!” He couldn’t stop the smile that spread across his face.
As Ron walked up the steps to the building, he felt like he had a pretty good shot at wandering around incognito, while scoping out the room, listening for her voice and smelling for her perfume. He was hoping against all odds that she would be wearing the same perfume that she wore the night they met in the mall! He had recognized it then as the same fragrance she wore that first night in the lounge at Konocti Harbor Resort and Spa.
He was pretty confident he would find her before she spotted him. He couldn’t imagine a costume that could disguise her beauty. Just then a big brown dog with drooping ears rushed by him, spinning him around! “Too tall to be Kat,” Ron thought, struggling to regain his composure.
Standing near the door, he scanned the room, taking it all in. A huge mural of cut out harlequin faces hung on the wall opposite the entrance; and pink leotards clad trapeze artists with fancy feathered masks were swinging and performing acrobatic tricks high up over the crowded ballroom, while dodging helium-filled balloons draped with streamers. Confetti covered the floor.
Ron saw numerous cats, queens, cowboys and clowns of all types. He saw every type of zoo and barnyard animal, as well as every conceivable cartoon character. But none, he was sure, was Kat!
His heart beat faster. This was not going to be easy. Even harder than he had first thought. Just then he felt a strong push on his back which spun him around, and he found himself being pulled onto the dance floor by the large brown dog. Not knowing if he was dancing with male or female, he disengaged and walked quickly to the punch bowl.
As he was filling a glass from the dipper he heard Kat’s familiar voice call out, “The good old punch bowl safety net!”
Dropping the dipper, Ron spun around! But he couldn’t tell from which laughing face the voice came, but her perfume filled the air.
“Well at least I know you are here!” Ron called into the crowd. “And I guess I wasn’t that clever with my disguise,” he mumbled.
He took a chance and followed a Spanish dancer with a cat like mask to the dance floor, but quickly ducked behind a singing nun when he heard a masculine voice coming from behind the mask. After awhile he started feeling like a pin pall bouncing here, ricocheting off there, rolling under that. All the while his head was swimming from the sound of Kat’s laughter, and the fragrance of her intoxicating perfume.
Determined to find Kat, Ron found himself dancing with chickens, pigs, monkeys, cows and elephants- even the big brown dog again. And that was just the ones from the animal kingdom. He also had danced with clowns, queens, fairies and ballerinas.
Ron only gave up when he was sure that none of the handful of people left was Kat. He could no longer hear her laughter, and just a faint whisper of her perfume lingered in the air- taunting him.
Ron dejectedly left the building. His heart sank. The Miata was gone. He knew it! He had missed another opportunity for a date with Kat.
Disappointed, he walked to his SUV and found a pink envelope tucked under the windshield wiper. Inside a note read “Your disguise wasn’t bad- not bad at all. But you should have found a better costume for your SUV.” It was signed “>^..^<”, with this post script: “For future reference, look up occasionally!”
Ron leaned on the door of his SUV and laughed. “She was one of the acrobats in pink leotards on a trapeze!” He heard a horn honk. The big brown dog was driving away in the red Miata and Kat was waving goodbye- her laughter filling the air. “Fraidy Kat!” Ron called out after her.
By the time he was able to maneuver his SUV out of the crowded parking lot and reach the exit, there were no signs of the Miata , big brown dog or Kat. He hadn’t been able to see which direction they had gone.
Although he was still disappointed, he loved her creativity and playfulness! He was more determined than ever to get a date with her. And to find out who she really was! “What’s her name?” he needed to know.
He looked up to the beautiful crescent moon surrounded by white clouds in the night sky, as if expecting an answer.
Ron decided to take the long way home. As he drove around the lake with his moon roof open to the sky, his mind was full of wonder about Kat. She seemed to be so perfect. Her looks, her wit, her easy laughter, her imaginative playfulness. He hoped she was real. He hoped with all his being that she wasn’t just playing games with him!
He went back over each of their encounters and all of their conversations. Replaying them in his mind over and over again, as if searching for a clue that would reveal her soul… and a calm and peaceful feeling began to come over him.
As he drove east on Highway 20 through the quaint little towns and past the north shore resorts, the lake was smooth as glass; reflecting the lights from the Riviera homes that climbed up the side of Konocti- almost thoughtfully. As if presenting it all for a thorough study.
Once again the lake was reflecting Ron’s mood and thoughts perfectly.
As he cruised around the lake, he came up with a plan to begin the serious pursuit of Kat. “Of ‘Fraidy Kat’,” he said out loud to the sky, and smiled.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Mission Fraidy Kat Pursuit
Sunday, April 22nd, 2007
Although Jack kept in constant touch via the phone, things seemed quiet up at the retreat. Life slowed down around the rest of the county as well, as if taking a breather between spring break and summer.
But life for Ron was anything but dull. He was getting ready to launch his ‘Mission Fraidy Kat Pursuit Plan’, as he smilingly called it.
He barely had time for his early morning volunteering at the food kitchen. But he was determined to make time for it, and was always glad when he did.
The plan had started, the morning after the Carnival, with a call to Kat…
Ron dialed Kat’s number, and this time he got to leave his cell phone number on the voicemail. She returned the call so fast that it made him wonder if she had not answered on purpose. “Was she wanting my number?” he thought, hopefully.
It all went pretty much as he planned- actually better. After a little banter he asked when she was coming up to Lake County again. And as he expected, she said she would be pretty busy the rest of the school year; cramming for pre-finals, finals, graduation “…lot of family stuff… and I don’t dare bring a date! They’ll have me married by dessert! …But then, if I don’t bring a date, they try to fix me up. Seems they really do think that a Kat needs someone to look out for her. If I date a guy more than once, they want to meet him… And then my mom starts picking out china for me,” she said wryly.
“Hmm,” Ron pretended to think it over for a minute, and then told her that he had a solution to all of her problems. “Whenever you want to come up, if they try to set you up, tell them you have blind date.”
“Well,” Kat said coyly; “I wouldn’t want to lie to them.”
“No! No, of course not!… Tell you what; I would be happy to fill in as your blind date,” Ron offered.
“How very kind of you,” Kat laughed. “But I couldn’t possibly take such advantage of your generosity.”
“Oh no! No bother at all! Really! What are Buddies for, if not to help Kitty Kats play,” Ron laughed back.
“Well, as it turns out,” Kat said impishly, “I would love to visit my mom, next weekend, but wasn’t going to- for obvious reasons. But now, since I have a Buddy to help me out...”