by Patricia Fry
Savannah's good friend Colbi chuckled and greeted her, "Welcome, Gabby." She glanced around at the others. "I'm Colbi Jackson. I have two cats, both tabbies, and I'm ready to help with the upcoming project if we vote to do it."
"That's the spirit," Janice said. "Volunteers are stepping forward even before we discuss the project." She acknowledged the woman next to Colbi.
"I'm Betty Gilbert. My husband and I run a ranch and we're still managing a nice little cat colony near our place." She said to Gabby, "I'm so glad to hear that your aunt and uncle are okay. Gosh, what a scare."
"Thank you," Gabby said.
"Give them our best, will you? We'll stop by soon with brownies or something."
"I'll tell them," Gabby said quietly.
Betty put her hand on the arm of the woman next to her. "This is my new right hand woman at the ranch, Erika. She's training horses for us and she's interested in getting more involved in the cat community."
"Oh?" Janice said. "In what way?"
Erika took a breath and said, "I'm helping the Gilberts with their cat colony now, but I understand there's a need for foster homes and I'd like to know more about that. I have two formerly feral cats." She smiled at Betty. "One of them is from her colony. We were able to bring her around."
"That's wonderful," Dora said.
Colbi echoed her. "Yes, super."
When everyone applauded, Erika said, "Wow! It looks like I've come to the right place."
Janice smiled. "Welcome, Erika and Gabby." She glanced around the room. "Well, we're short on attendance today, but we're long on enthusiasm. Let's move forward with the meeting."
****
With just one item on the agenda, the meeting ended fairly quickly. Members and guests continued to chat with one another over refreshments.
"Gabby," Colbi said, "I didn't get a chance to officially greet you. Welcome. I guess you're our first junior member."
"Member?" Gabby repeated. "Do I have to sign up someplace?"
"Probably not," Savannah said. "You can be an unofficial junior member like Charlotte is."
"That's appropriate," Margaret said. "Charlotte's even the recipient of our one and only award, right?"
Savannah nodded.
"Who's Charlotte?" Gabby asked. "What sort of award?"
"Charlotte helped locate some cats that had been catnapped from their homes and taken to a ranch in the foothills to become mousers…" Savannah started.
"And coyote bait," Margaret grouched.
"Ohhh," Gabby said, painfully. "That's awful. How old is Charlotte?"
"She must be seventeen or eighteen now," Savannah said.
"So she can drive a car already?" Gabby asked.
"Probably not," Savannah said. "She has a disability."
Gabby frowned. "Oh."
"She has Down syndrome," Savannah explained.
"And she loves cats?" Gabby asked, smiling.
"Yes, she does," Savannah said, "but she can't have one because her younger sister has asthma. So Charlotte gets her cat-fix by working at a couple of cat shelters. She has a special touch with cats."
"Cool," Gabby said. "I'd like to meet her."
Savannah nodded. "Maybe you will. She helps out at Nola's and June's cat ranch. Remember, we talked about going out there. I'm thinking maybe tomorrow or the next day."
"Today would be even better," Gabby said enthusiastically.
"Oh?" Savannah questioned, amused.
"Yeah, cause I'm anxious to go there. I don't like to wait. And I can sure feel for Charlotte, not being able to have a cat of her own. I never thought of volunteering with cats. I'll have to find out how to do that when I get back home."
Savannah smiled. "I think you'll have plenty of kitty-cat action while you're here. In fact, here comes Rags looking for more of your attention."
"Are you sure that's what he's looking for?" the girl asked.
"Pretty sure. He's always looking for attention."
"Hi, Rags," Gabby said. "Come here. Come on, Rags, want some petting?" When Rags sidled up to her she smiled and ruffled the fur on his head, then around his neck. "He does like it, doesn't he?"
Savannah nodded.
Gabby frowned. "Does he really steal things? Mrs. Sheridan said he takes things from people's purses."
Savannah nodded. "And pockets and drawers and the kids's toy box… Yes, we have to keep a close eye on that cat." She suggested, "Gabby, let's ask June and Nola when's a good time to visit, shall we?" She led the girl to where the two women were seated sipping tea.
June took Savannah's hand, saying, "It's wonderful to see you."
"You, too, June," Savannah said. She greeted Nola.
Before Savannah could continue, Nola acknowledged Gabby. "I heard what you said during introductions about wanting to work with cats. I hoped we'd get a chance to talk. So what's your background with cats?"
Gabby looked at Savannah before saying, "Not much. I had two cats when I was younger, but we move around a lot and some of the places where we lived didn't allow cats. When I finally got another cat, someone else moved in with us and Franny disappeared."
"Well, that's too bad," June said. She reached for Gabby's hand. "You must come out to the cat ranch and get to know some of our cats. It's not exactly the same as having your own, but it's an experience few ever forget."
Gabby nodded. "Savannah said she would bring me there."
"Great. We'll give you the grand tour." June asked, "So you're going to help with the new cat colony? Let's see that's Savannah, Colbi, Maggie, and you, right?"
Gabby nodded.
"I imagine you'll be bringing cats to us once they're evaluated. We specialize in helping cats learn to trust so they're welcome, happy, and safe in good homes."
Gabby smiled. "That's your super power?"
June looked at the girl for a moment, glanced at Nola, and they both started laughing. "I love that," June said. She repeated, "Our super power. Yes!"
Nola smiled. "That and housing feral cats that wish to remain feral. We have fewer of them all the time because…" she laughed. "…because of our super power, I guess. We're able to help more cats learn to trust. But those cats that have been on the streets for too long or maybe they had a really rough start with ignorant people… well, they can stay with us comfortably and safely for as long as they live."
Gabby nodded. "Savannah told me about that. What a good idea. Maybe after I see your cat ranch, I can figure out how to start one where I live."
"We'd be glad to help you," Nola said. "We have an educational program just for that purpose."
Gabby smiled. "You guys are awesome."
"And so are you, dear," June said, patting the girl's hand.
"What's a good day and time for us to visit the cat ranch?" Savannah asked.
"You come out on your schedule," June said. "We're leaving right away. We'll be there in about half an hour, so this afternoon is okay or anytime tomorrow."
Gabby's eyes lit up. "Today?"
"Well," Savannah stalled. She looked at her watch. "I guess we could go today." Savannah handed Gabby her phone. "Want to call your grandmother? Tell her I'll bring you home around four."
"That early?" Gabby complained good-naturedly.
Savannah grinned at her. "Okay, four thirty, then."
"Thanks," Gabby said, placing the call.
****
"What are you doing to Rags?" Gabby asked a little while later. "He lets you put a harness on him?"
"Sure," Savannah said. "I thought he'd like to go with us and visit some of his friends at the cat ranch. It's named for him, you know. The ranch is named for Rags."
"It is? Wait, Ragsdale. That's his name? Ragsdale?"
"Yes," Savannah said, grinning. She handed Rags's leash to Gabby, who stood staring down at him.
"You'll have to tell me how that happened," Gabby said. "I mean how the ranch got named after Rags."
"Yes, I will," Savannah agreed, "which reminds me…" She hurrie
d down the hall and returned with a book, handing it to Gabby.
"Meowmoirs…" Gabby read. "Hey, that's Rags on the cover, right?"
Savannah nodded. "It's the story of Rags's life up until a few years ago. I'm working on a sequel now—you know, with each year there's more to his story."
"Really?" Gabby said. "You wrote a book about him? He must be special."
Savannah smiled. "We think so." She addressed Gladys, "Mom, you and Teddy will be okay, right? We're leaving now."
"You're taking Lily with you?" Gladys asked.
"Yes. She loves visiting June's kitties." She winced. "Teddy's a little hard to keep track of out there."
"We'll be fine," Gladys said. "Maybe I'll take him over to play with Maggie's kittens."
Gabby's eyes lit up. "Oh, that's right; there are kittens at the shelter next door. Mrs. Sheridan invited me to help socialize them. I guess that means she wants me to pet them, play with them, and cuddle them."
"Right," Savannah said. She grinned. "You're going to be a busy girl if you hang around this town for long."
Gabby jumped up and down. "This is just turning out to be the best summer of my whole life!"
Gladys and Savannah chuckled and Savannah said, "You are in kitty-cat heaven, aren't you?"
"I sure am," Gabby said. "Or I will be soon. Ready to go, Rags?"
****
"So you had a big day did you, hon?" Michael asked that night over dinner around their kitchen table. "Lily told me about visiting cats at a ranch. Was that at June Balcomb's place or did you take her to the Randolphs' ranch?"
"June's preserve," Savannah said. "It was a great day. Gabby went with us. Michael, I just love that little girl—Randy's and Loretta's niece. What a sweetie. She got to meet Charlotte. Those two really hit it off. They had so much fun teaching a litter of kittens how to play."
"Kittens needed a lesson in how to play?" Michael asked. "They seem to be born with that skill. Everything's a toy as far as kittens are concerned."
"Yes, but the girls thought these kittens should learn to throw as well as catch. You know, they wanted the kittens to bat the toy back to them. It was hilarious." Savannah laughed. "And Rags was in his element. He got to see kittens and hang out with his best friends, Charlotte and Gabby."
"Gabby's his best friend already?" Michael asked.
"It seems like it. He sure stays close to her. The girls got the biggest kick out of him when he'd try to play with the kittens. He didn't quite know what to do with them. One time a kitten was sort of teetering on a platform above a cat bed. The kitten acted like he wanted to jump down to the bed where some of his siblings were sleeping, but he didn't quite have the nerve."
"Rags pushed the kitty, Daddy," Lily said.
"Oh no, he didn't," Michael said, exaggerating concern.
Lily nodded. "He pushed the kitty right off," she said, swooshing one hand across in front of her. "The kitty fell on the other kitties."
Michael looked at Rags. "Well, that was rude."
"But the kitty wanted to go in the bed. It was okay," Lily insisted. "He wasn't hurt, Daddy."
Michael and Gladys laughed. She asked, "What else did Rags do?"
Lily glanced at Savannah. "He found the kitties' ball."
"They lost their ball?" Michael egged. "Is that like losing their mittens?"
Lily giggled. "They don't have mittens, Daddy. They had a ball and they were sad 'cause they couldn't find it. Rags found it and the kittens were happy."
"Sounds like you had a lot of fun, punkin. You didn't bring home any of those kitties, did you?"
Lily shook her head. "They want to stay with their mommy."
Michael smiled at his daughter, then asked Savannah, "So tomorrow you tackle the new influx of cats at the Randolphs'?"
"Yes. It's evaluation day." Savannah asked, "Mom, will you be here for a while in the morning?"
"Where would I be going?" Gladys snapped.
Savannah looked at her mother. "Are you all right, Mom? Did you hear anything else about what's going on with your storage unit?"
"Only that the woman who's been staying there could be a fugitive from the law and she may have hidden some sort of evidence among my things, for heaven's sake."
Savannah sat stunned. "What? Who told you that?"
"I spoke with someone from the Los Angeles Police Department this afternoon. They want permission to search my unit and they prefer I'm there when they do it."
"Can't your friend open it for them?" Michael asked.
Gladys shook her head. "They want me to identify what's mine and what isn't." She took a shallow breath. "The woman who's been staying there could be a murder suspect. Tim looked through some of her personal things. Although he found credit cards and other identifying documents under a couple of other names, he believes she's Amanda Kirk. When I told that to the police, they said they'd been looking for her as a person of interest in a homicide."
Savannah gasped.
Gladys shuddered. "Oh, it just makes me crazy to think that a criminal—a criminal who might have killed someone—has been living among my things."
"I don't believe I've ever seen you so upset, Mom," Savannah said. "You usually take things in your stride. I've always admired and envied that quality in you."
Gladys glared at her. "Well, no one can be calm when they could be, even unknowingly, harboring a killer." Her eyes flashed. "Not only do I have a trespasser, now the police want to go through my possessions. I feel twice violated." She looked at Michael, then Savannah. "I'm torn."
"Torn?" Savannah questioned.
"Yes. As I said, they want me to identify my belongings. One way to do it is through video texting, but I think maybe I should go down there and do it in person. I'm torn because I really don't want to go, but I feel sort of responsible. I mean someone died and the person who may have caused that to happen has involved me. Darn it!"
Michael chuckled. "Gladys, it's not like you know anything about it. You had nothing to do with it."
"I'd like to believe that and I do at an intellectual level, of course. But I sure feel like I'm somehow at fault—I mean, I should have kept a closer eye on my things. Because I didn't, someone sneaked in and took over my space. I know I'm not responsible, but if there are clues in my storage space…"
"Do they have any idea who this woman is?" Savannah asked. "I mean other than her name? Where did she come from? Where does she work? How old is she? Does she have a family?"
Gladys shook her head. "I don't think so. That's why they want to search my unit to see what they can find out about her. She's probably one of the LA crazies. Maybe a bag lady."
"Bag lady?" Savannah questioned.
"You know, a homeless person. She could be blending in with the other street people."
Everyone ate in silence for a few minutes, then Michael asked, "What did the police say about the things that are missing from your storage unit?"
Gladys took a sip of tea. "I sent them old pictures I found of some of the things I believe are missing and they're watching for them to show up someplace."
"You had pictures? How fortunate," Savannah said.
"Well, I sat down with my albums," Gladys said, "and discovered that some of those things were in the background of family photos, pictures of my cat, and so forth."
"Who was it that got killed?" Michael asked. "Do you know?"
Gladys shook her head.
"Do you know how long ago it happened?"
"No," Gladys said. "The police can be secretive. Besides, I was so rattled when they called me that I didn't think to ask any of those questions."
Savannah smiled at her mother. "Well, Mom, you've certainly found yourself in an interesting situation."
"Yes, darn it! Darn it! Darn it!" She faced Savannah. "Oh, and guess what."
"What?" she asked.
"I forgot to tell you this."
"What?" Savannah asked again.
"Tim found a cat in the unit. The cat stayed hidd
en, I guess, the first time he went in there. When I asked him to take some pictures, he went back and just before he was ready to leave, the cat walked out and meowed at him. It sure surprised him. He said the cat had a collar and a name tag. Tim gave this information to the police department, and he volunteered to have the cat checked for a chip. Tim used to work for the police, you see. Well, he learned that the cat did have a chip and they traced him back to a family in the area. Turns out he'd been stolen from a boarding facility. He was a purebred cat of some kind. I think Tim called it an Aby."
"Abyssinian?" Michael suggested.
"I guess," Gladys said, shrugging. She chuckled. "When an officer called me he asked if I kept cats in my storage unit. I assured him I did not and that I never have. He said there have been quite a few purebred cats taken lately—mostly from grooming and boarding facilities." She cocked her head. "Did you know there are spas for cats?"
Savannah nodded, then said, "How strange that a stolen cat would end up in your storage unit. Mom, you've really stumbled into a crazy mixed up drama. I hope it plays out soon and your belongings are returned."
"So do I, and I'll have them all shipped up here to a local storage company where I can keep a close eye on them," Gladys said.
"Who's living in your rental now?" Savannah asked. "I haven't heard you talk about it lately."
"I don't even think much about it anymore. Violet, my rental agent, does such a good job of taking care of things. But the family who was there moved a few months ago and a lovely woman moved in. Violet said she's exactly the kind of person I prefer renting to. She paid the full security deposit and, so far, I've received her rent payments on time."
"She's single?" Savannah asked. "That's nice—less wear and tear on your house."
"Oh, my neighbor Carol said she has a friend staying with her right now and that she seems nice too. She brought a couple of cats with her. Carol said the cats are beautiful—she sees them through the windows." Gladys grimaced. "I just hope they're well-behaved cats-you know, not the kind that shun the litter box and claw the furniture."
"I wouldn't borrow trouble if I were you, Mom." Savannah chuckled and added, "Although it sounds like it's finding you, lately."