The Secret Claws

by Patricia Fry

  “What happened?” Gladys asked.

  Cassie frowned. “I think Mommy dropped something. Did you drop something, Mommy?”

  “No,” Holly said, glancing around the room, “but I sure lost something. Thad, did you pick up that piece of trout?”

  “You lost a trout?” Savannah asked.

  “Yes, I guess I did. I was just getting ready to season it for Thad.” She shook her head. “Unless I’m losing my mind, it was lying right there on the counter. I had four ready and now there are three.” She asked Thad again, “Did you take that one?”

  “No,” he insisted. “My oil’s not quite ready.”

  She looked at Savannah, who was washing the fillets and patting them dry. “You didn’t take one back, did you? You gave me four already, right?”

  Savannah nodded.

  “Where’s Lexie?” Keith asked. “Maybe she snatched it up.”

  “Lexie wouldn’t do that,” Savannah said.

  “Yeah, I would have seen her if she took it,” Holly confirmed. She looked around again, put her hand against her forehead, and said, “I can’t imagine what happened.” She looked at Thad. “Do dead fish swim away?”

  “I don’t think so,” he said, with a straight face.

  “Mommy! Mommy!” Bethany shouted, running into the room with Lily. “There’s a big slug in my bed.”

  “What?” Savannah responded.

  “A slug?” Keith repeated.

  “A huge one,” she cried.

  “This big,” Lily said wide-eyed, holding her arms out as far as they’d reach.

  “Let’s see this big slug,” Michael said, following the little girls toward the Pettits’ room.

  “I want to see the slug,” Adam said, leaping up and chasing after the others.

  “Me too,” Cassie shouted.

  “Where is this giant slug?” Keith asked, looking on Bethany’s bed.

  “It’s gone,” Bethany said. She raised her arms urgently toward her dad and he picked her up.

  Lily followed suit. “Up, Daddy,” she said. “Hold me.”

  “Well, I don’t see anything,” Michael said after picking up Lily and looking all around in the room. Beth-Beth, are you sure you saw it? Where was it again?”

  The child pointed. “There in the bed, with Lexie.”

  Keith grimaced. “I think if we find the dog, we’ll find the…um slug.”

  “Most likely,” Michael agreed with an impatient sigh. “Lexie!” he called. “Where are you, girl? Lexie!”

  “Down here!” Holly shouted. “She went down into the basement.”

  The group moved back to the kitchen and started to walk down into the basement when Adam pointed. “There she is.” He moved toward the dog, then jumped back, a shocked look on his face.

  “What is it, Adam?” Keith asked.

  “She’s eating that thing. It’s gross.”

  “I want to see,” Cassie said, taking a few steps down into the basement.

  “Just a minute,” Keith said, gently holding her back as he moved forward.

  “See,” Bethany shouted, “there it is. Lexie’s eating it.” She squealed and turned her back on the gruesome scene.

  Keith put the child down and she ran to Michael and latched onto his leg.

  Everyone watched, wondering what Keith was doing. Finally, he turned to face the others, holding up a piece of mangled flesh.

  “Ewww,” Cassie shrieked. “Gross!”

  “No Daddy,” Bethany shouted, hiding her face against Michael’s leg.

  Michael sat down on a cot with Lily still in one arm. He lifted Bethany onto his lap and comforted both little girls.

  When Holly joined the others, she asked, “What are you guys doing?”

  Cassie ran to her. “It’s a ginormous slug, Mommy. Bethany found it in her bed.” She shuddered. “Isn’t it gross?”

  Holly shook her head. “So Lexie’s the thief, is she?” She moved closer to the dog and pinched her cheeks affectionately. “You little stinker, you. You’re so sneaky.”

  “She killed the awful slug,” Cassie said.

  Keith complained, “She ruined my dinner.”

  “Because it’s so gross, Daddy?”

  “No, because she ate one of our fish. This is a fish fillet, kids. Lexie stole some of our dinner.”

  “Ohhh.” Cassie turned to Adam. “It’s just fish. Let’s go finish our game.”

  “I knew it was a fish,” Adam said, trotting off behind her.

  When Holly saw her younger daughter snuggled against Michael with Lily, she put her hands alongside each of their little faces. “Did that freak out our little girls?” She took Bethany in her arms. “It’s okay, honey. It’s just a piece of fish. It’s not even alive.”

  “It’s our dinner,” Keith said.

  Bethany looked suspiciously at him. “I’m not eating that thing.”

  “Oh,” Holly said. “Well, that’s okay, you can have potatoes and green beans and salad.”

  “Sounds good,” Michael said. “When will it be done?”

  She looked scornfully at Lexie. “As soon as you corral that bad girl. Can you keep her out of the kitchen? She’s too sly for me.”

  Everyone laughed when Lexie began dancing around Keith, lusting after the piece of fish he still held.

  Michael shook his head slowly while lowering Lily to the floor and rising to his feet. “I can’t believe her. She’s usually such a good girl.” He watched the dog for a minute, and said, “I suppose she learned that from Rags. That’s more like something Rags would do.” When he saw Savannah tear up, he hugged her and murmured. “We’ll find him.” He pulled back. “When will Craig be here?”

  “Around ten tonight.”

  ****

  “This is the best trout I’ve ever had,” Keith said a little later, “and I live and fish in Colorado, so that’s saying a lot.”

  Thad smiled. “Glad you’re enjoying it.”

  “Just delicious,” Savannah agreed.

  “I could eat this every day,” Holly quipped. “Very well done. Hey Thad, I’d like to keep in touch. Wherever you end up cheffing, I want to eat there.”

  “Yeah,” Thad said, “if I ever get a chance to live my dream.”

  “Believe, young man,” Gladys said. When he looked at her, she elaborated, “You must believe. If you want it badly enough and if you believe strongly enough, you’ll make it happen.”

  Thad thought about Gladys’s remarks. “Thank you,” he said sincerely. “I’m going to do that. I’ve certainly gotten nowhere by believing the opposite—that I’m never going to become a chef.” He smiled at Gladys. “Really, thank you. It can’t hurt to try being more positive.”

  “Good,” she said. “I believe in you; why shouldn’t you believe in you?”

  “Excellent point,” Savannah said. She tilted her head. “Sirens. I hear sirens.”

  Thad cringed. “Oh, that can’t be good.” He stood up and walked to the nearest window. “Fires are a huge concern up here with it being so dry and all.”

  Michael quickly stepped outside and Keith followed. “I don’t smell smoke.”

  “Or see any glows,” Keith added.

  “Yeah, then it’s probably not a fire,” Michael suggested.

  “Then what?” Savannah asked, joining the men on the porch.

  “It’s getting closer,” Holly noticed.

  Listening intently, Gladys said, “I think they’ve stopped.” She addressed Holly, “But you’re right, it sounds close.”

  “Yeah,” Thad agreed, “maybe over at the docks, or there could be something going on down at the Rankle place.”

  “Well, it doesn’t involve us,” Michael said. “Let’s finish our meal and enjoy what’s left of our evening, shall we?” When Savannah lingered on the porch, he said, “Come on, hon. I’m sure the authorities have everything under control.”

  She sighed. “I suppose. I just hope
that awful Mr. Rankle isn’t…” When she noticed Adam and Cassie looking at her, she said, “Yes, let’s finish our supper.”

  “I’m finished,” Adam said. “Can Cassie and I play Monopoly some more?”

  Savannah looked at Holly, then at the children’s plates. “It appears they’re finished.”

  “Yes, go ahead,” Holly agreed.

  The diners were engaged in a lively conversation when Michael saw Lexie anxiously looking out the living room window. “What’s she doing?” he asked. “Are we being visited by a wild animal?”

  Keith grinned. “Yeah, I’ve seen that look before. I think you’re right; she’s stalking a furry interloper.”

  “Antelope?” Adam said. He ran to the window. “There’s an antelope out there?”

  Keith laughed. “No, interloper—a trespasser. It’s probably a raccoon after the bread Beth-Beth tossed out there earlier.”

  “A raccoon is getting my bread?” Bethany asked excitedly. She ran to the window and put her arm around Lexie.

  Holly quickly edged her phone out of her pocket and took a picture of the dog and the child peering out into the forest.

  “What do you see?” Keith asked, joining Bethany.

  “Nothing,” she said. “It’s dark.”

  “I’ll turn on the light,” Adam offered, switching on the porch light and returning to the window.

  “No raccoon,” Bethany reported.

  Keith petted Lexie then looked in the direction she stared. “I don’t know what she’s looking at.”

  “Probably a passing possum or something,” Thad suggested.

  Suddenly everyone turned toward the front door with a start.

  “Someone’s out there,” Savannah said.

  When she walked toward the door, Michael grabbed her arm. “It’s probably a bear. He smells the fish Thad cooked.”

  Adam and Cassie moved closer to the others. “I heard something,” Adam announced quietly.

  Michael nodded. “Yeah, we did too. I think it’s a bear.”

  “No,” Cassie said wide-eyed, “bears can’t talk. We heard a voice. Someone’s out there.”

  Adam agreed. “It sounded like she said ‘help.’”

  After absorbing what the children had said, Keith offered, “Probably the wind.”

  “Look at Lexie,” Adam suggested. “She knows someone’s out there.”

  Keith glanced at his brother. “Guess we’d better take a look.”

  “I’ll go with you,” Thad offered.

  “Get a weapon,” Savannah hissed.

  When the men hesitated, Gladys said, “A skillet—one of those iron skillets.”

  Michael chuckled. “Our skillet’s full of grease.”

  “It’s not grease,” Thad said. “It’s a light delicate oil—seasoned with…”

  “We don’t need a recipe now, guy,” Michael quipped. “Do you have a weapon?”

  Thad pulled something from his pocket. “Just my Swiss Army Knife.”

  “Hmmm,” Keith said, “better put it back. But keep it handy in case we need it.”

  The women watched the two brothers and Thad walk out of the house, each of them choosing a vantage point where they could watch through the windows in the kitchen and the living room.

  “What do you see?” Holly hissed.

  “Nothing, yet,” Gladys reported.

  “I see Daddy poking a stick in the bushes,” Bethany said.

  “Why are they walking so slow?” Adam asked. He then squealed, “They’re going into that dark forest.”

  “Ohhh,” Savannah complained, “I wish they wouldn’t do that.”

  When they saw the men suddenly stop and look at each other, the women froze.

  “I think they see something,” Holly whispered.

  “What?” Adam asked.

  “Oh, my gosh,” Savannah said. “It’s a body. Someone died out there while we were eating dinner.” She looked at the others. “I wonder if that’s why we heard the sirens.”

  “Where’s that ambulance, then?” Adam reasoned. “Why did it stop somewhere else if the body’s up here?”

  “Wait!” Gladys exclaimed. “She’s getting up.”

  “The body?” Holly asked.

  “Yeah, she’s not dead.”

  “Oh thank heavens,” Savannah said, rushing to the door and opening it. “Adam, grab the dog, will you? I don’t want her getting in the way.”

  Adam took hold of Lexie’s collar and held her back while the men made their way into the cabin with the stranger.

  Savannah studied the woman as she was being ushered into the living room. Upon seeing how weak she seemed, she swept the children’s toys from the largest sofa and motioned for the men to lower her onto the cushions.

  “I’m okay,” the woman said weakly. “Can I have a sip of water?”

  “Certainly,” Gladys said from the kitchen. She took a water bottle from the refrigerator and carried it to her.

  “What happened?” Holly asked. “Where did you come from?”

  “What were those sirens for?” Adam inquired.

  Before the woman could respond, Savannah moaned. “Oh no.” She gazed quickly around the room, asking, “Adam, where’s Lexie?”

  “Oh!” he exclaimed. “I don’t know. I thought someone closed the door.”

  Savannah hurried to shut the door. “Kids, would you see if you can find Lexie in here anywhere?” She winced. “Darn it, I just imagine she went out while she had the chance.” She shuddered. “I sure don’t want to go out there looking for her if I can help it.”

  When she returned her attention to the woman, she heard Keith ask, “Can you tell us what happened? Are you injured? Do you need medical care?”

  She groaned. “No, but my husband probably does.”

  Keith looked at Michael, then asked her, “Is he out there too?”

  The woman pushed a strand of stringy brown hair off her face. She took a raspy breath and spoke in staccato: “I escaped…I had to make a call…to help my husband…the man came after me…but I ran.”

  “So someone attacked you?” Keith asked. “Is that what happened? Did he put those marks on your face?”

  She shook her head and let out a sigh. “My husband pushed me against the wall. He was having one of his tantrums. Then someone came from nowhere. He hit Charles over the head with something.” She sniffled. “He grabbed me and said, ‘I know you have it. Where is it?’ I got away from him, ran outside, and called 911. I…I was afraid to go back inside.”

  “Do you know what he was talking about when he asked you where it was?”

  She shook her head.

  “How long have you been hiding out there?” Savannah asked.

  The woman looked at her. “Maybe thirty minutes, I guess. I heard the sirens, but I was afraid to go back. I didn’t know where that awful man was, so I stayed put outside there.” She looked at the others. “I saw your lights and I thought maybe you’d let me come in and get warm before I try to walk back home. Besides, I want to make sure that awful man isn’t still hanging around somewhere.”

  “She’s not here,” Adam reported moments later.

  “Lexie?” Michael asked.

  “Yeah, we looked everywhere,” Cassie said breathlessly.

  Savannah winced. “Darn.” When she noticed the woman was shaking, she let out a sigh. “Well, we’ll have to deal with the dog in a minute.” After Holly placed an afghan over the woman, Savannah lifted her head a little and suggested, “Here, take a sip of water and try to relax.” She sat down next to her on the sofa. “By the way, I’m Savannah. This is my husband, Michael, and his brother and his wife, Keith and Holly.” She nodded toward her mother. “My mom, Gladys, and Thad’s there in the kitchen.”

  “Hi,” the woman said, weakly. “Thad’s here?”

  “Yes, he cooked our dinner,” Holly said.

  The woman took a deep breath in an attempt to calm herself befor
e saying, “I’m Marilyn.”

  “Marilyn Rankle?” Savannah asked.

  The woman nodded.

  “How do you feel, Marilyn,” Holly asked, “other than frightened? Are you hurt?”

  “Yeah,” Keith said, “you seem to be babying your arm there.”

  When Marilyn pushed the blanket down and moved her arm away from her torso, Savannah gasped.

  “You’re bleeding!” Holly exclaimed.

  “Did he stab you?” Keith asked.

  She shook her head as if ashamed. “I fell—well, when he pushed me.”

  “Will you let me look at it?” Savannah asked. Marilyn opened her sweater and Savannah grimaced. “That needs attention.”

  “I’ll get a damp towel,” Gladys said, walking toward the kitchen.

  Once they’d bandaged the gash and Marilyn seemed fairly comfortable, Savannah suggested, “You rest, now. I’m going to call for help; that wound needs attention.”

  “Since the ambulance is just down the street at your house, they might be here fairly quickly,” Michael said. When he saw Savannah heading toward the front door, he called out, “Wait, I’ll go with you.” She stopped and he said, “I don’t want you out there with some weirdo woman-beater running around. Besides, I want to see if I can find Lexie.”

  Savannah opened the front door and peered out into the forest. She shuddered. “It’s pretty dark.”

  “Oh, it’s safe,” Thad said. “…at least on a typical evening. I walk around out there all the time and have no problems.”

  “Yeah,” Michael said, grabbing a flashlight, “if you can see where you’re going.”

  “Where do you live, Thad?” Holly asked.

  “Mostly in a shed at the boat dock. But I also house-sit for folks when there’s an opportunity.”

  “So you’re really a man about the forest, aren’t you?” Keith said. When the others looked at him, he explained, “You know, instead of a man about town.”

  Michael laughed at his brother’s attempt at humor and followed Savannah out the door. “Lexie!” he called from the porch. “Lexie!”

  Holly watched them leave, then asked, “So, Marilyn, do you have any idea what the intruder wanted? Does he have a beef with your husband or something? What would cause someone to attack you, do you know?”