by Patricia Fry
“No, for me.”
Another woman spoke up. “I’ve seen those books in your store. I’d like to pick up a few for my godson. The cat’s autograph would make them really special.”
“Me too,” another woman said. “Are you going over there now?”
When Savannah got Michael’s attention, she asked, “Okay if I take a few minutes to sign some books?”
He looked at his watch. “Yeah, go ahead. It’s early yet.” He turned Teddy’s stroller around and said, “Want to go for a walk, Teddy? Come on, Lily, let’s go swing. Want to swing?”
“I want to swing,” Bethany said.
“Okay,” Keith said, “let’s go swing. Are you going to the bookstore?” he asked Holly.
She nodded.
“Coming Iris?” Savannah asked. “Mom?”
Iris said, “Sure am.”
Gladys thought for a moment. “I think I’ll watch the children on the swings. There’s a bench nearby in the shade.”
“Okay, see you in a bit.”
Ashley took advantage of the opportunity and called out to those still standing around, “Hey, everyone, the cat’s doing a book signing at By the Book. Come and see him in action.” When some of the people appeared not to understand, she said, “Yeah, the cat who brought the list this afternoon—he’s a star. Come along and meet him.”
Carrying Rags in her arms, Savannah started to follow Ashley. As they were walking a woman approached her and said, “Hey, I know that cat. Someone gave my kids one of his books.”
“Is he the police cat in that documentary?” a man asked.
Savannah nodded.
Another woman chuckled. “I love that picture of him wearing a policeman’s hat.”
Savannah smiled, then excused herself. “I’d better get over to the bookstore. Come on,” she invited. She turned to Iris. “You’re coming, aren’t you?”
“Yes,” Iris said. She turned to Craig. “Want to come with me to the book signing?” When he didn’t respond, she nudged him. “Hey, let’s go watch Rags sign books.”
“Oh,” he responded, as if coming out of a fog. “No thanks. I’ve been to one of those before. I’m good.” When she seemed disappointed, he said more quietly, “I have a hunch the evil brother isn’t content with his inheritance. I think I’d better keep an eye on him.”
Iris and Savannah gazed in the direction Craig was looking and saw Paul leaning against his brother’s Cadillac SUV, a menacing look on his face.
Savannah shivered. “Gives me the creeps.”
“Yeah, I’m afraid that’s not all he plans to give this community,” Craig lamented.
Chapter 9
“This is great,” Ashley said as she skittered around her quaint bookstore snapping pictures. “I’ve never had this many people in here at once.” She smiled at Rags, who lay on one of Teddy’s blankets on a small table. “And I’ve certainly never had a cat do a book signing before.” She leaned toward Savannah, who sat next to the cat. “I’ve never even had a cat in here—dogs, yes, but not a cat.”
“Well, we’re having fun. I’ve enjoyed meeting more of the people who live up here,” Savannah said.
“Yeah, it’s an interesting collection of folks, that’s for sure. Several of the people here today have ventured up from the valley. They don’t live on the mountain, but they do come up here for special activities and events. It looks like some of them bought your books, too. Ashley said we’ve almost sold out. I’ll be placing another order this afternoon.”
“Cool,” Savannah said.
“Here’s my card,” Kat said, walking up to Savannah. She petted Rags and leaned over to rub her cheek against his face. “He’s a treasure,” she crooned. “Reminds me a lot of my old guy, Smoke. Not Smokey, just Smoke. Why? I don’t know. That’s the name he came with, and I don’t believe in changing a cat’s name.” She pulled out her phone. “Look, here’s a picture of him with his sister, Marble.”
“Marble?” Iris quizzed.
“Yeah, these two used to belong to a family with a lot of kids. I’m sure the kids had something to do with those names.”
“How’d you get them?” Holly asked.
“Illness in the family. The mother just couldn’t cope with all the kids and the cats, so she turned the cats out. A neighbor complained and she relinquished them. I took two of the eight.” She frowned. “Yeah, they didn’t have them spayed and neutered, so they had a batch of kittens.” She smiled. “Doesn’t Smoke look a lot like Rags?”
“Yes, he does,” Savannah agreed.
“See that, Rags?” Kat said, holding the phone in front of his face. “Here’s your twin.”
Rags showed little interest and seemed to have something else on his mind.
“Want me to take him outside?” Adam asked.
Savannah grinned at him. “You’re getting antsy, too, huh?”
He nodded.
“Sure, go ahead.” She handed the leash to him, then thought of something. “Hey, I need to find the lady who loaned us the leash so I can get that back to her.” She frowned. “Oh, I hope her little dog is okay without it. Holly, have you seen that woman around anywhere?”
“Yeah, I did. She walked through the store a few minutes ago with the little dog in her purse.”
Savannah smiled. “How cute.” She glanced around. “Is she still here? Oh, that’s her, isn’t it?” she asked.
Holly nodded. “I think so. Yes, see the dog peeking out of the bag?”
“Excuse me,” Savannah said, approaching the woman. “I want to thank you again for loaning me the leash for Rags. I don’t know how I would have contained him without it.”
The woman waved her hand dismissively. “No problem. I was glad to help.” She looked down at her dog. “Like I told you, Sissy doesn’t really need to wear it. She’d rather ride than walk.”
Savannah petted the dog. “She’s such a cutie.”
The gal looked around. “Where’s your cat?”
“My stepson took him out for a walk. Rags isn’t one to relax for long. Can I get your address so I can send it back to you?” She winced. “I’d give it to you now, but riding across the lake and walking to the cabin could be a real problem with him.”
“Hey, I have cats too, and I can’t imagine taking them anywhere without a carrier. Keep it. We have others for Sissy.” She leaned in. “From what I’ve seen so far, you really should carry one with you at all times.”
“You’re probably right,” Savannah said. “Well, thanks again.” She started to turn, but changed her mind. “Hey, if you give me your address I’ll send you a copy of Rags’s memoirs—uh, meowmoirs, if you’d like.”
Her face lit up. “I’d love that. I just asked Ashley about ordering it. Yes, I’ll certainly accept an…ahem, autographed copy.”
Savannah smiled.
Just then, she heard shouting. Several customers ran to look out the windows, and a couple of people pushed their way inside the store.
“Lock the door!” a man shouted. “He’s got a gun!”
“What happened?” Savannah asked Holly.
“I don’t know.” She gulped. “The children are out there.”
When Holly ran toward the door, Iris grabbed her and held her back. “You can’t go out there. Keith and Michael are with the children. They’re okay,” she soothed.
Savannah felt her heart begin to race. She pushed her way toward a window. “I don’t see them!” she shouted. “I don’t see any of the kids.” She asked Holly and Iris, “Where are they? They were playing on the swings.” She covered her mouth with her hands. “What’s going on?”
“I don’t know,” Iris said, her voice shaky.
“That man has a gun!” a woman said. “I saw him chasing someone into the trees. He was yelling something about the cat. ‘Drop the cat,’ I think is what he said.”
“What?” Savannah said, still frantically searching for her family through the window. She mad
e her way to the door and opened it, shouting, “Michael!” She stepped outside just as her phone chimed. When Holly and Iris guided her back into the store, she muttered, “A text from Michael.” She spoke more loudly, “He says they’re all okay. The children are okay and Keith is there with them. All the children are with them.”
“Thank heavens,” Holly said, slumping against Iris.
Savannah put her arms around her sister-in-law. She looked outside again. “So who is it with a gun? Who’s he chasing? Wait, did someone say something about a cat? Rags!” she said, her voice wavering. She quickly texted Michael. “Where’s Rags? Is he with you?”
Seconds later, her phone rang. “Can you hear me?” Michael asked. “Hon, your cat…”
“Where is he, Michael? What happened?”
“Savannah, evidently Paul Lancaster…”
“Oh no…” she wailed.
“When Adam wasn’t paying attention, that creep cut the leash and got his hands on Rags, then threatened Adam with a knife. Craig had been watching the guy. I think he pretty much expected him to try something—you know, because he’s upset about...”
“Michael,” she sobbed, “I don’t care one iota about that jerk’s feelings. What happened? What did he do? Is Adam okay?”
“Adam’s okay,” he said. He let out a sigh, saying, “The Lancaster kid has Rags. He shouted something about wanting what’s due him or else. When Craig pulled a gun on him, he ran into the trees. Craig went after him.”
“Oh, my gosh. He’s going to kill Rags!” she muttered.
“No, honey. No, I don’t think he will. I’m sure his brother or maybe the pastor will try to negotiate with him. They’ll get Rags back. I don’t think Rags is in any danger, because if he hurts Rags, he won’t get what he wants. Why would he hurt him?”
Michael could barely understand Savannah’s words as she sobbed. “Like you said, he’s crazed. Michael, who knows what a crazed person will do? Where are you, Michael?”
“In the restaurant at the general store. Jennie’s with us, and Christopher and the pastor. Craig is keeping us informed about what’s going on. Oh. I just got a text from him.”
Ignoring him, Savannah said, “Find out if it’s okay if we come over there. I want to see my children.”
“Of course. I’ll let you know.”
“What’s going on?” Holly asked when Savannah ended the call.
“The children are fine. They’re with the guys at the general store café. Jennie’s with them and the pastor and Christopher.” Savannah looked at Iris. “Craig went after the creep. He has Rags. He’s threatening to hurt Rags if he doesn’t get his way.”
“He’s holding Rags hostage? What in the heck does he want?” Iris asked quietly.
“I’m guessing a larger inheritance. Michael will let us know when we can go to them.” Savannah wrapped her arms around herself. “I just want to hold my children.”
Holly put one arm around Savannah. “I know, hon, I know.”
It was a long fifteen minutes for the women, but finally Michael called. “Listen, hon, Craig said it’s safe for you gals to come over here, but make it fast—no dillydallying. We’ll be watching for you. He thinks he has a bead on where Paul Lancaster is. He’s keeping him in his sights until help arrives.”
“He’s called for backup?” Savannah asked.
“I guess he has. There’s no way one person can track someone among those thick trees. Craig has requested they bring a dog. I’m going to end the call now—battery’s getting low. Come over here now—as quickly as you can.”
“On our way—bye.” She motioned to Iris and Holly. “Let’s go.”
“Are you sure?” Iris asked, hanging back.
“Craig told Michael to get us over to the general store. Come on,” she hissed.
Minutes later the three women entered the café. “Mommy!” Lily called out. “Mommy, I have ice cream!” she chirped.
“Me, too,” Bethany announced. “I have strawberry, Mommy,”
“I see that,” Holly said, hugging her daughter.
Savannah kissed Lily on the cheek and hugged Michael, who held Teddy on his lap. After planting kisses all over the baby’s face, she looked around at the others. “Everyone okay?”
“That man took Rags,” Adam said, tears filling his eyes.
“Oh, sweetie,” Savannah said, sitting down next to him and holding him. “It wasn’t your fault. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“But he said he would hurt Rags. I don’t want Rags to get hurt,” he wailed, burying his face in Savannah’s shoulder.
She smoothed his hair and spoke soft words of comfort.
When Michael saw tears forming in her eyes, he said gently, “Rags will be okay.”
“Yeah, but Adam’s hurting.”
“So the tears are for Adam and not Rags?”
She nodded and hugged the boy tighter.
“They’re here,” Keith called from the door. “Looks like a sheriff’s car and a couple of rangers.”
“Good, they have a tracking dog,” Michael reported.
Christopher joined the brothers at the window and watched as the officers emerged from their cars. One was on a cell phone. Christopher recognized him and stepped outside to join him.
“Hi, Chris,” the deputy said, pocketing his phone. “I guess it’s your brother out there causing trouble again.”
“I’m afraid so, and he has a friend’s cat. That cat means a lot; would you please bring him back unharmed?”
“Yeah, we already got the word from Detective Sledge. The cat is the priority.”
“Thank you,” Christopher said. “I just don’t want Paul to hurt anyone else—or any living being for that matter.”
The officer frowned. “Has he hurt someone in the past? I don’t recall hearing of him being in trouble for hurting anyone—just vagrancy, under the influence, petty theft, is all. Do you think he’s the one who attacked people because of those keys?” When Christopher winced, the deputy asked, “Okay, Chris, there’s more, right? What do you know that we don’t know?”
Christopher took a deep breath. “Well, he’s responsible for our father’s death.”
“What? Chris, you and your mother testified that it was an accident. Are you saying it wasn’t?”
Christopher nodded. “I’m pretty sure Paul is responsible for Nancy Bertram’s disappearance.” When the officer started to speak, he continued, “And he and Sparky Collins are the ones who attacked that couple who were visiting up here last winter.”
“Good God, Chris, you knew this, and…” he shook his head, “…and your mother? Did she know?”
Christopher nodded. “Actually, I didn’t know any of this until last night. Before she died, Mother told me about a journal she’d been keeping. She insisted I read it. She’s the one who kept all of this a secret. Evidently she wanted me to know before she died—she thought I should know, but she wanted me to continue keeping her secret.” He bit his lower lip and choked up. “But I refuse to stand by and watch my twisted brother hurt another soul.” When the officer started to leave, Christopher added, “I have a hunch about Nancy. She could still be alive. I’m pretty sure he would have taken her up to the Watkins’ shack.”
“Okay, Chris,” the officer said, “you go back to the café and stay there, will you? We’ll take it from here, but wait there for us. We’re going to need your testimony.” He called out to another officer. “Hey, you and Bill go up to the Watkins’ shack, now. There may be a kidnap victim alive up there. I’ll call for more help here.”
****
“Paul!” Craig called out about thirty minutes later, “you’re surrounded. Why not make it easy on yourself and surrender. Bring us the cat and no one gets hurt.”
“No. I want money—money that’s due me.”
The first officer shouted out, “Money? How much money are we talking about? How much do you want, Paul?”
�
�Uh—oh, about a coupla thousand, I guess. Enough to buy a fancy car and that leather jacket I saw in the store window when I went to the city with my mother last Christmas. Where is my mother?”
Craig hesitated, then said, “She’s gone, Paul. Your mother has died.”
“You’re just saying that. I saw her yesterday.”
“She died last night. Paul,” he said. “You know that. Now let the cat go and we’ll talk money.”
“No!” Paul bellowed. “Bring me the money!” He laughed. “I think I’d really like to cut up this cat. I’ve never cut a cat before. I had fun cutting up that girl, though.”
“What girl?” Craig asked.
“Nancy was her name. She wouldn’t tell me she likes me. She should have told me, then I wouldn’t have cut her.”
Now at the boiling point, the officer shouted, “Paul, let the cat go! You’re surrounded. There are two officers right behind you. Let him go, now!”
“Where?” he asked, panicking. “Where? I don’t see no one. Just give me the money I want or I’ll…”
“No!” Craig shouted when he saw Paul raise his knife over his head. “No!”
What happened next was a blur. When the officers behind Paul were close enough to see the knife in his hand, they made their move, although not as stealthily as they’d planned. The dry bed of twigs, needles, and pinecones crackled under their feet and gave them away before they could reach him. Paul turned toward the sound. When he saw the officers running toward him, guns drawn, he sneered at them and slammed his knife downward with force.
“Oh my God,” Craig said when he saw the blood. He and the other officers ran toward Paul as he fell slowly to the ground in a heap. “Rags!” Craig shouted. “Where’s the cat? I saw him stab the cat.”
“He’s right there, sir,” one officer said, pointing at Rags, who sat on a bed of pine needles licking the fur on his back. “He might have been spattered with the guy’s blood, but he appears to be just fine.”
“Wow!” Craig said, letting out a deep sigh.
“Yeah,” the other officer said, “the cat jumped out of his arms just as he brought the knife down and he ran the blade into himself.” He shook his head. “What a way to go.”