by Patricia Fry
Savannah put her hand on the teen's shoulder. "Soon," she said. "We really should do that and very soon."
Once the cats and dog were fed and the humans had eaten, Charlotte asked if she and Rags could go upstairs and play in Adam's room.
"Sure. We'll clean up the kitchen and then we'll be in the nursery getting Lily ready for bed."
"Ohhhh," Charlotte said. "I want to help."
Savannah looked at Michael and then back at Charlotte. "Okay, you go play with Rags while we clean the kitchen and we'll call you when it's time to put the baby to bed."
"Okay!" Charlotte said. "Come on Ragth. Let'th go play," she called as she headed for the staircase.
Thirty minutes later, Michael and Savannah were on the floor playing with Lily when they spotted Charlotte walking carefully down the stairs. Rags bounded after her.
"Doeth Buffy like the baby?" Charlotte asked, as she approached them.
Savannah looked over at the cat, who was lying in a meatloaf position on an edge of Lily's blanket. "Yes she does. They're buddies."
"Hi Buffy," Charlotte said, plopping down next to her. She began petting the cat's plush coat. "Thee'th purring," she said. "Ragth doethen't purr very loud."
"No he doesn't," Michael said. "Buffy has a loud motor and Rags's is quiet."
"Thee hath a motor?" Charlotte asked, eyes wide.
Savannah laughed. "He's joking. It's not really a motor. It just sounds like a motor."
"Oh," Charlotte said, looking confused.
"So what did you two play upstairs?" Savannah asked.
Charlotte sat straight. "Rags has some new things," she reported
"New things?" Savannah questioned rather casually.
"Yeah, in hith toy bokth."
"Like what?" Michael asked.
"I'll thow you," she said rising to her feet and heading up the stairs, Rags on her heels.
When the pair returned, Charlotte held out her hands and displayed a stick of gum still in the wrapper, a used tea bag, an axle and wheels off one of Adam's toy cars, a plastic bag containing hearing-aid batteries, and a small silk scarf with a floral design printed on it.
Savannah and Michael chuckled when they saw the array of items Charlotte had retrieved. "Crazy cat!" Michael exclaimed.
"Uh-oh, someone's going to need these hearing-aid batteries," Savannah said. She thought for a moment and then said, "I think Glenda Cathcart wears a hearing aid."
Michael reached out for the car wheels. "Adam was looking for this last time he was here," he said.
Suddenly, Savannah gasped. "Oh, Michael, that's Cheryl's scarf. She had it tied around her neck on Saturday."
"How do you suppose Rags got his paws on it?" he asked.
"I don't know, but we'd better call Craig."
"Do you think it's a clue? Wait…are you saying you think Cheryl went in there and…?"
"I don't know!" Savannah said, sounding near hysterics. When she noticed a look of panic on Charlotte's pretty face, she calmed down some. She reached up and squeezed the girl's hand. "I'm sorry, sweetie," She said. "Everything's okay. I didn't mean to upset you." She smiled at the girl. "Look, Lily's rubbing her eyes. You know what that means, don't you?"
Charlotte blinked a couple of times. "Um, thee'th thleepy?"
"That's right. Shall we get her ready for bed?"
"Yeth," she said, her demeanor improving considerably.
****
By the time Savannah and Michael waved goodbye to Charlotte and Reba, it was nearly eight-thirty. "Thank you for helping with Lily," Savannah called after Charlotte.
"Thank you for entertaining my girl," Reba said, hugging her daughter to her as they stepped out to their car.
"It's not too late to call Craig, is it?" Savannah asked as she closed the front door and locked it.
Michael looked at his watch. "Naw, I'm sure it isn't. So what are you going to tell him?"
"That we found possible evidence of Cheryl's involvement in Julie's…death," she said.
He squinted his eyes. "Uh, wait a minute there, Sherlock. Cheryl may not have gone anywhere near that room. It could be that Rags took the scarf out of her room downstairs and carried it up to his stash. There's no way of knowing how it actually got there."
Savannah stopped and thought about it. "But the bedroom doors were closed during the night—I'm pretty certain of that. I suggested that everyone close their doors to keep the cats out. So Rags probably didn't actually have access to the bedrooms that night."
"Unless someone got up to use the restroom and left their door open for a moment. Rags can be fast," Michael said.
"And sneaky," Savannah added.
"Yes, and we know that Cheryl went into the kitchen for a glass of water at some point during the night, or so she says."
"Or the murderer might have planted the scarf in Julie's room and investigators thought it was Julie's, so they overlooked it as evidence…or they didn't see it."
Michael pushed back the stubborn, straight hairs that hung over one side of his forehead. "Okay," he said, "I can see that Craig needs to know about this find. I'm glad I don't have to work with that piece of evidence. It's a puzzle to me."
"And maybe just the puzzle piece Craig needs," Savannah said as she made the call.
****
The following morning, Michael appeared at the doorway to the nursery. "Who are you talking to in here?" he asked, a big grin on his face.
"Hi hon," Savannah said. "Lily and I are having a conversation."
"About what?" he asked as he joined his wife at the changing table. "Or is it girlie stuff?"
"I'm not sure," Savannah said. "I think she's just expressing her joy on this beautiful day." She chuckled. "She sounds like a pigeon."
Michael frowned. "Pigeon?"
"Yeah, I think it's pigeon talk… 'Coo, coo.'"
"Pigeon talk?" Michael said. "That's funny."
Just then, Lily let out a sweet cooing sound. Michael smiled down at his daughter. "She does sound like a pigeon—a baby pigeon." He looked serious for a moment and then said, "Although, I don't think I've ever heard a baby pigeon coo, have you?"
"Can't say that I have."
Mew.
"Hi Buffy, time to get up, huh, girl?" Savannah said, reaching out and running her hand over the cat's plush fur.
MEOW.
"Here comes the big guy," Michael said, lifting Lily off the changing table. "Do you see the kitties?" he asked the baby. "There's Buffy and Rags…"
"It's a wonder her first sounds aren't cat-like," Savannah said with a laugh."Right," Michael agreed. "Mews, instead of coos."
"So what's on your agenda today?" he asked Savannah.
"Rags and I are going to a classroom at Pleasant Acres School this afternoon."
"Oh, your therapy program?"
"Yes, Janice and I will introduce the program to students and teachers."
"You're really getting into this, aren't you?" he said.
"Yes, are you okay with it?"
"Are you enjoying it?" he asked.
"I am. I'm not sure I want to get more deeply involved, but I would like to help launch a program that's ongoing in this and other communities."
"And where are you going today, my pigeon princess?" he asked, looking down at Lily.
"She's going to spend some time with Colbi and Damon. Colbi is so excited, only…"
Michael frowned. "Only what?"
"Only I'm afraid Lily will be with them during her regular naptime. She may not be very entertaining." She looked over at Michael's watch. "Hey, let's get you some breakfast. You have to go to work this morning, right?"
"Sure do. We have a busy week ahead. I'll even be seeing a couple of horses." Michael walked out into the hallway with Lily and then turned and asked, "Hey, what did Craig say about the scarf Rags found?"
"Not much. He'll come by and get it. He isn't sure how important it is…unless…"
"Unless what?"
"Well, unless the bedroom
doors were closed."
"Yeah, I guess that's a pivotal point, isn't it? Have you asked Rags?"
"Funny," Savannah said with a smirk. "So what time will you be home this evening?" she asked.
"Do we have plans?"
"No, just want to make sure Lily and I are home by then."
"Actually, I think Damon and I are going to the library after work," Michael said
"Really? Why?"
"We're interested in those stairs and that wall."
Savannah grinned at her husband. "You just can't let that mystery go, can you?"
"Not when it's so illogical." He chuckled. "It's interesting how fascinated Damon is with it."
"So what are you two going to do?"
"Glenda has given me permission to break into the wall and find out why it's constructed that way." He looked at Savannah. "You know, it really isn't a safe situation—stairs are a fascination for kids. Someone could get hurt. In fact, Glenda said that a child fell into that stairwell once and got a bloody nose. The library doesn't need a lawsuit."
"What time do you think you'll be finished?" Savannah asked, while pouring them each a glass of juice.
"Maybe by six."
"How about we have dinner at the diner tonight? Mexican food's the special."
"Sounds good." He looked down at Lily in his arms and said, "Do you like enchiladas and tacos?"
She waved her arms and smiled.
"I think that's a 'yes,'" he said, laughing.
****
It was nearly five that afternoon when Michael pulled up in front of the library and parked his veterinary truck. "Hi there," he greeted as he saw Damon appear through a slot in the hedge surrounding the parking lot. "I hear you've been entertained by our child this afternoon."
Damon's smile widened. "Yes, we were. She is something else, you know it?" He lowered his head and chuckled. "Of course, you do."
"So what did you guys do?"
"Oh, we stared at her a lot. Colbi read her a story. We played peek-a-boo, five-little-piggies and, oh, she really enjoyed watching Dolly play. We'd toss a toy and Dolly would run after it. Lily would just giggle up a storm. Yes, she entertained us, all right." He punched Michael in the arm and said, "Thanks for sharing."
"She giggled?" Michael asked.
"Well, it sounded like giggling to me. She was happy."
"Glad you showed her a good time," he said. "She probably has more adult friends than most kids." Michael patted Damon on the back. "She's the luckiest girl ever." Michael, flashlight in hand, reached into a compartment in the back of his veterinary truck and pulled out a drill. "Hey, let's go check out this situation."
"We're really going to drill into that wall?" Damon asked.
"I think we are," Michael said, leading the way into the library.
The secret garden area was empty when they arrived. First Michael knocked on the wall. "There's more of an echo—hollow sound—down low than up high. Did you notice that?" he asked.
"Yeah—it does sound different. Why's that?"
"I'm not sure yet, but we're about to find out. Let's drill here," he suggested, marking a spot about two feet up from the bottom step. Once he had created a hole about three inches in diameter, Michael said, "Hand me that flashlight, will ya?"
Damon moved closer to where Michael stood and watched as he shined the light through the hole. Michael squatted down and peered in, aiming the flashlight at all angles. "Well, there are the rest of the steps," he said, looking down to his left. He pulled away from the hole and handed Damon the light. "Take a look—there's definitely a room down there, just like Maggie remembers."
"Well, I'll be," Damon said. "They left furniture and shelves with stuff still on them. But why?"
"That's I'd like to know," Michael said. "It's the craziest thing I've ever seen." He shook his head. "I mean, if they did this to protect kids from falling down the stairs, why leave some stairs exposed?"
Damon turned to face Michael. He creased his brow. "Maybe the secret garden really does hold a secret."
Michael grinned. "You sound like some kind of reporter…or novelist," he said.
Damon laughed. "Hey, I couldn't make up a story like this." In a more serious tone, he said, "But I'd like to know more about it, wouldn't you? Do you think they'd let us tear this wall out?"
Michael narrowed his lips. "I think it would be a good idea, actually."
"How so?" Damon asked.
"Well, as I said, that small stairwell needs to be made safer."
Just then, Glenda stepped into the courtyard. "How's it going out here?" she asked.
"Come look," Michael invited. "Damon, give her that flashlight, would you? Now, it's a little awkward to see in, so you may have to kneel down there. Here, you can sit on my jacket."
"Oh my," she said as she peered in through the hole. "That's odd. I mean, I knew this room was here, but I guess I thought it had been removed—not just walled over. It appears to be still intact, doesn't it?"
"Sure does," Damon said. "There are games, books, furniture, and things down there. And what's up with that light?"
"Light? What light?" Michael and Glenda asked.
"Didn't you see the light on the far side of the room?"
Michael frowned. "I didn't see a light. Do you see one, Glenda?"
"I think you can see it better without the flashlight," Damon suggested.
Glenda jumped a little. "Yes! There it is. I see a small red glow, like a point on a laser beam." She sat up and looked at Damon. "Is that what you saw?"
He nodded. "That's it. What do you suppose it is?" he asked.
Glenda took a deep breath. "I don't have a clue."
"Here, let me see." Michael helped Glenda up, then knelt down and peered through the hole. "By gosh, there is a light on down there. But my flashlight doesn't shine far enough for me to see what it's attached to." He shook his head. "Someone must have been in an awful hurry to get this job done, if they left something plugged in."
"What do you suggest?" Glenda asked, looking from Michael to Damon.
Michael thought about it for a moment and asked, "Damon, would you like some real-life experience as a builder?"
His eyes widened. "Sure! You mean you and me…?"
"Why not?" Michael said. He turned to Glenda. "Would it be okay if Damon and I work up a bid for you to take down this wall? You'll be able to get into that room and see if anything you need was left in there. We can unplug whatever it is that's running up your electric bill and we can build a new wall that encloses the entire staircase with a door or a gate you can lock."
"Yeah," Damon said, "but why not utilize the space instead of wall it off like this?"
"We can sure use the extra room," Glenda said. "Patrons often come to us asking to rent space for their meetings and events. It could create additional revenue for the library. And storage is a problem. If we cleaned out some areas in the main library and moved the stuff down here, we could relinquish a room in the main library for community use." She clasped her hands together under her chin. "Oh yes, I'd love to have access to that room." She then looked up at Michael. "Sure. Write up a bid—let's do it!" she said. "I'll put in a good word for you with the board."
****
Michael arrived home shortly after six and found Savannah feeding Lily. "Hi hon," she said. "We'll be ready in a few minutes."
He leaned down and kissed Savannah and then Lily. "Good, that'll give me time to wash up."
They met at the front door, jackets and baby in hand at six-fifteen. Michael slipped on his jacket and then reached for Lily. "So how did it go with your school visit?"
"Really well," Savannah said, heaving the diaper bag strap over one shoulder, "only…"
"Uh-oh. What happened?" he asked when he saw the playful grin on her face.
"Well…" She started to laugh. "Rags…" She laughed harder.
"You don't need to tell me any more," he said, shaking his head. "What did he do, eat the kids' crayons, steal th
eir homework, leap from a top shelf onto the teacher's shoulder?"
Savannah was doubled over with laughter by now. "No," she said between chortles. "You'd never guess this one," she said laughing out loud. She took a few breaths in an attempt to curb her hysterics and said, "Actually, it didn't strike me as this funny at the time, but…" Before she could tell Michael the story, she burst out laughing again.
"Tsk, tsk," Michael said. "Let's get you into the car, giggles, before you bust a gut." He murmured to the baby on the way out the door, "Don't mind Mommy, she's having a giggle-fest."
"Okay, Michael, I think I can tell you the story now," Savannah said from the backseat of their SUV. "He…" She laughed again, then cleared her throat. "Well, these kids were passing a note, and he…he…he intercepted it."
Michael was laughing at Savannah's inability to stop laughing. Then he said, "You're right. It isn't that funny."
She leaned forward. "Yeah, unless you were there to see what happened next. This little girl, Jessica, was handing a note to the girl in front of her. I think her name was Kaylie, and she dropped it. Rags saw this and he ran over and picked it up. Jessica let out a scream-well, more of a squeal—and everyone turned to look at her. In the meantime, Rags ran to the back of the classroom with the note and dropped it at the feet of a boy named Reggie. All eyes were on Reggie. He leaned over and picked up the note. By now, Jessica is practically hyperventilating, she's so upset."
"What's the teacher doing while all this is going on?" Michael asked.
"Well, I was about to tell you. She sees what has happened and she heads for Reggie, I guess to retrieve the note, and that's when Rags spots something interesting on a table in the back of the room." She laughs again. "Michael, they have a rat in a cage. He's a class mascot or something."
"Oh no," Michael said. "Don't tell me, Rags had him for lunch."
"Not quite. So he jumps up on the table next to the rat and goes eye-to-eye with him. Before we could react, Rags bats the little cage off the table, the door opens, and the rat scurries out across the room just as the teacher is heading for that note. Most of the girls are screaming and climbing up on their desks. Some of the boys take off after the rat and the cat. In the process, somehow a vase of flowers gets knocked over and the water spills out just as Rags is running under the teacher's desk after the rat."