GALLERY CAT CAPER, THE

by Patricia Fry

  Before Savannah could comment, Michael walked up and put his arm around her. "Come on, hon, let's go find some beach glass. Coming Gladys?" he invited. "Let's get our feet wet."

  They'd been frolicking in the surf for about half an hour when Savannah noticed Peter standing on the deck watching them.

  "Hi!" she called out. "Coffee's hot."

  He held up the mug in his hand.

  Savannah looked back at the others and noticed they were preoccupied on the sand and in the waves, so she slipped into her terry cover-up and joined Peter. "How is she?" she asked.

  He stared down at his coffee and said, "It was a close call, Savannah. I almost lost her."

  "But she's going to be okay? Does she know who did this? He must have climbed in through that open window. Is that what they think happened?"

  Peter walked to a deck chair and slumped as he sat down. "I don't know."

  Savannah lowered herself into the chair next to him. "Oh my gosh. Was it someone she knew? She let him into the apartment?"

  Peter shook his head and spoke softly. "Could have been, I guess." He hesitated. "She says someone broke in, but things just don't add up." He sat up straight. "They can't find evidence showing that anyone else was there last night." He took a deep breath. "But he could have been wearing gloves, I guess. They want to keep her in the hospital for a few days. She lost a lot of blood."

  "What were her injuries?"

  "A stab wound—pretty much non-life-threatening-superficial—except she bled for a long time—almost too long."

  "Gads," Savannah said, genuinely concerned.

  Peter grimaced. "I feel pretty awful. We had a big argument on the phone last night. I was really rough on her. I made accusations. She tried to call me back later, after this…happened…and I didn't pick up. Then I turned my phone off." He looked at Savannah and choked up. "She might have died because I turned my phone off. So your cat really did save her life." He stared down at his coffee for a moment and then asked, "Did you find out how he escaped?"

  "No. No one will fess up to letting him out this time. I'm afraid he's discovered his own way out and that's frightening."

  "Well, evidently he noticed Dawna's window open and stepped in for a visit." How he found her place is anyone's guess. She says she saw the cat and thought she was dead or hallucinating. She had taken the necklace off just before this…happened. She said she made it into the bathroom to get a washcloth to stop the bleeding. The cat was sitting next to the necklace. She said she was kind of out of it, but she was sure she saw the cat watching her. He must have picked up the necklace and taken off with it." Peter turned toward Savannah. "Now do you suppose he knew it was a clue—that it would bring help—or did he just like the pretty trinket?"

  Savannah shook her head. "As a professional in the animal world—you know, from the scientific side—I can't imagine that he has the capacity to reason—to use logic about the things he takes. That concept is too far-fetched. But…" she sighed, "his timing can be incredible."

  ****

  Wednesday morning came much too soon for Brianna. "To think we have to leave today," she complained, as she and Bud sat on the deck with her family, finishing plates of pancakes smothered in strawberries.

  Bud wiped his face with a napkin and glanced up at Savannah and Michael. "This has been great. Thanks for including us."

  Michael chuckled. "It was interesting seeing Seashore Bud."

  Brianna laughed. "Seashore Bud?"

  "Yeah, I've seen Cowboy Bud, Veterinarian Bud, Dating Bud, and now Seashore Bud." Michael punched Bud in the arm playfully and said, "Man, you're many-faceted, you know it?"

  "Yes, he is," Brianna agreed, grinning.

  "So glad you could join us," Savannah said. "It's been loads of fun."

  "Sure has," Brianna said. "I loved spending time with my niece and nephew."

  "Aunt Bri, when do we have to leave?" Adam asked.

  "I think we'd better get on the road by ten. You'll get home kinda late, but your mom said that's okay. You can sleep in the car."

  "What time is it now?" he asked.

  She looked at her watch. "Eight-thirty."

  "Do I have time to do one more beach thing?" he asked.

  "Yeah, like what?" Brianna asked.

  "Play Frisbee, boogie board, build a castle, swim…"

  "Sure," she said. She looked at Michael. "…if it's okay with your dad."

  He nodded. "Pick one, Son, and let's go do it."

  "Um…I don't know which one I want to do most." he said, appearing to be somewhat overwhelmed.

  "Then how about this," Michael said.

  Adam perked up. "What?"

  "Something we haven't done yet."

  "What's that, Dad?"

  "Let's go exploring," Michael said, with excitement in his voice. When Adam looked at him inquisitively, Michael continued, "…like pirates. We'll take the binoculars, the magnifying glass, a digging stick, and…oh yes…a goody bag, and we'll hunt for treasure…" he said, giving his voice an eerie quality.

  Adam perked up. "Okay!" he shouted. He reached for his dad's hand and pulled him out of the deck chair. "Come on, Dad, let's go. We don't have much time."

  Michael slipped into his flip-flops and said with a dramatic flair, "Treasure, ho!" He looked at Adam, who was giggling and shaking his head.

  "Let's gather our stuff and off we go," Michael said. "Anyone want to join us?"

  When no one spoke up, Savannah said, "We'll hold down the fort…uh, batten down the hatches…um, stay aboard ship."

  "Have fun!" Brianna called as the explorers stepped off the deck and headed north.

  Everyone waved.

  An hour later, Michael and Adam returned, their goody bags bulging. "Hey, what did you find?" Brianna called, as Adam stepped up onto the deck smiling broadly.

  "Wait 'til you see," he said, excitedly. He ran toward the group and laid his goody bag down. He then proceeded to remove his treasures one by one, sharing a story about each of them. He exhibited a mussel shell he'd removed from a piece of seaweed. He told of finding matching bottle caps far away from each other. He showed a rusty piece of chain that had probably come from a pirate ship anchor. He pulled out sunglasses that had been buried maybe for hundreds of years. And he brought back a heart-shaped rock for Gladys and two pieces of beach glass for Savannah.

  "And what did you find?" Savannah asked Michael.

  He reached into his bag and pulled out the morning paper and a small box of donut holes.

  "Oh, part of the lost scrolls, huh, Michael?" Brianna said.

  "And remnants of the Last Supper," Bud joked.

  Everyone laughed. Then Brianna said, "Hey, kiddo, go wash the sand off and put on your traveling clothes. We've gotta hit the road."

  Adam sighed. "Okay, Aunt Bri," he said, slumping his shoulders.

  "Well, I'd better hit the road, too," Gladys said.

  "Oh, you're going home?" Brianna asked.

  "Just to regroup, make a few calls, and pack some different clothes. I'm tired of wearing the same things. I'll be back later this afternoon."

  Once hugs were shared all around and everyone had left, Savannah and Michael took Lily down to the water. "This is the perfect time of day for her to play in the ocean, isn't it? The waves are so small and gentle," Savannah said.

  "Yes," Michael agreed, smiling. "She sure gets a kick out of splashing her feet in the water."

  Suddenly, the baby began to scream. Michael quickly lifted her up and held her against him while Savannah frantically looked her over. Just about the time she noticed a tiny red spot on the baby's leg, they heard another child nearby call out, "Jellyfish! Jellyfish!"

  "Oh no, Michael, I think she was stung. Hurry, let's get her inside. We need to wash the area with vinegar."

  "Why do you say that?" he asked, running toward the house with the crying baby.

  "I remember it from veterinary school," she said. "But it depends on the type of jellyfish. Did you see th
at one? What kind was it?"

  "I don't know—I think I saw a glob of something that was jelly-like."

  "See if you can calm her down," she said. "I'll look for vinegar in the kitchen."

  "Aw, does that feel better, sweetheart?" Michael crooned, as Savannah smoothed a vinegar-soaked rag over the baby's leg. She then ran her hand over Lily's head. "Yes, that seemed to help with the sting. But now she's sleepy. I'm worried, Michael. I think we should take her to the emergency room."

  "Where's the hospital?"

  "I don't know. We can use the GPS," she said. "I'll get a blanket and throw on some clothes." She started to leave the room, then turned and said, "I'll bring you a shirt, Michael."

  Upon their arrival at the emergency room, Savannah told the receptionist they thought

  Lily had been stung by a jellyfish and insisted that she ask someone if it was okay for the baby to go to sleep. "If we have to wait, I know she'll fall asleep," she said. "We need to know if it's okay."

  The large Hispanic woman returned to her post within a minute or two and assured Savannah and Michael that it would be perfectly okay if Lily went to sleep. "The doctor will see you shortly," she said, as the couple went in search of a suitable place to sit in the sparsely occupied waiting room.

  Forty-five minutes later, the doctor finished his examination and explained gently, "Well, now, no harm done. The jellyfish we see this time of year have a painful sting, but they're harmless as far as any damaging effects."

  "It was okay if she went to sleep, then?" Savannah asked.

  "Yes," he said. "She's probably exhausted after the ordeal. And you must be too, Mom and Dad," he said with a chuckle. "Your little girl is just fine. Take her home and let her sleep as long as she wants. And you might get her a little swimming pool to put on the sand, then she won't come in contact with any more jellyfish."

  "Good idea, doc," Michael said, shaking the man's hand. "Thanks so much."

  On their way home, Savannah, who sat next to Lily in the backseat, her hand on the baby's leg, gazed lazily out the car window when something caught her attention. "Hey, isn't that Kara?" she asked.

  Michael squinted in the direction she pointed. "Yes, looks like she's carrying one of Peter's paintings." On a whim, he pulled the car over, rolled the window down, and called out, "Hey Kara, you look lost."

  Once the young woman recognized Savannah and Michael, she walked up to the car and peered in. "Hi," she said, addressing them both. "Yes, I kinda am lost. I'm supposed to deliver this painting and I can't find the address. These apartment buildings are so confusing. I've called Dawna twice for directions and I still can't find it."

  "So Dawna's back to work?" Savannah asked.

  Kara nodded. "Seems fine to me, except she's bossier than usual," she said, wrinkling her nose.

  "How's that?" Michael asked.

  "Well, I showed up at the gallery for my shift around ten and she sent me right out to run a bunch of errands; all I have left to do is deliver this painting. Last time I called her, I told her I have a class soon and, the way things were going, I might not have time to make the delivery. You know what she said? She told me to just take the painting home if I can't find the buyer. Now that's odd, don't you think?"

  "Yeah, it kinda is," Savannah agreed.

  "Where's Peter today? Does he know the customer?" Michael asked.

  "He had to fly up north to talk to some executives about a show. He'll be back this evening, I think. I didn't want to bother him about this."

  "Can we give you a ride somewhere?" Michael offered.

  "No thanks. My car's around the block there." She looked at her watch and said, "Hey, maybe you could take this back to the gallery since you're going that way."

  "Sure, no problem," Savannah said from the backseat. She opened the car door so Kara could slide the painting in next to her.

  Kara smiled at the couple. "Thanks so much. Now I'll have time for lunch before school," she said, waving as they drove away from the curb.

  Michael glanced at Savannah in the rearview mirror. "I think I'll drop it off before we go home, if that's okay with you."

  Savannah nodded, then said, "Michael, you know, seeing Kara reminded me of something."

  "What?" he asked.

  "Remember when we were at the mansion for the art show?"

  "Yeah."

  "Well, I saw her and Charlynn there."

  "You did? I didn't see them." He thought for a moment. "But there were a lot of people and a lot of activities all over that property."

  "Yes, there were." She swooned. "What an evening that was. But yeah, while we were listening to the harpist, I saw them at a distance. They were hiding and doing something to what looked like a painting."

  "Really?" Michael asked, frowning into the mirror at her. "Like what?"

  "I'm not sure, but they were having fun doing it. They were laughing." She thought for a moment and then said, "Michael, it looked like they were destroying a painting. But why would they do that? It doesn't make sense…unless…"

  Just then, Michael pulled into a parking space near the gallery and asked, "Do you want to come in with me?"

  "No. Go on in, I'll wait here with Lily."

  "Hi, Dawna," Michael said, entering the gallery. "Brought you something."

  Dawna spun around quickly and appeared stunned when she saw Michael. "Uh, what?" she stammered. "You know Peter's not in today. He's out of town," she said, taking Michael's arm and ushering him back toward the exit.

  He turned to face her and held up the painting. "We ran into Kara. She couldn't find the address for this customer and we told her we'd…"

  "Oh that's great. Thanks, Michael," she said, taking the painting in both of her hands and holding it in front of her.

  Michael stood there for a moment. He glanced around the gallery, then said, "Sure.

  'Bye," before walking out.

  "That was quick," Savannah said, when he returned.

  He climbed into the car and sat there for a moment. "Well, if that wasn't strange."

  "Is she okay?" Savannah asked.

  He turned and looked back at her. "Yeah, seems healthy. But she sure wanted me out of there in a hurry."

  "Michael, she doesn't know us very well. She's probably more interested in customers who are in a buying mood."

  "Well, you want to buy one—remember?" he said

  "Sure do."

  "Why not now? Go buy that painting, Savannah. Something's not right in there. It looks different."

  "Ooh, Michael," Savannah complained. "I'm tired. I just want to get our baby home and I'd like to take a nap—maybe in a lounge chair. Please, can't we just go home?"

  Michael glanced back at the gallery and shook his head. "Yeah, I don't blame you. Sure, we can go home. Probably my imagination, anyway."

  Chapter 4

  That night, after Lily was asleep, Savannah and Michael were enjoying a balmy evening on the deck, each with a glass of wine. "What a nice week," she said. "I really enjoyed having quality time with Bri and my mom, Adam, and all the activities with Peter and his friends." She held up her glass toward the moonlight. "Only I miss…"

  "What do you miss?" Michael asked, rolling toward her in the chaise lounge they shared.

  "My pretty wine glasses Auntie gave us for a wedding gift," she said.

  "Oh, you're silly. I would drink out of recycled dog-food cans to enjoy this week with you."

  She pulled back and looked at him. "Recycled dog-food cans? Ewww." She laughed and added, "We could manage that, you know."

  Lexie raised her head and Savannah petted her. She then turned toward Michael and sighed. "This is so nice," she said, snuggling against him. He responded by kissing her and saying, "Mmm, it sure is."

  He then stiffened and groaned. "Damn, my phone." He looked at the screen. "It's a text." Straining to read it, he said, "Peter wonders if we're decent. Wants to join us."

  "Now?" Savannah whined. "Yeah, sure I guess," she said, lifting herse
lf up on one elbow. "Tell him to come on out."After Michael ended the call, she said, "I'm comfy, you move."

  "No you move. I'm comfy," he teased.

  She nudged him with her hands. "Go, Michael."

  "Okaaayyy," he said, pretending to pout. He ran his hand through his hair as he stood and then took another lounge chair next to Savannah's.

  She sat up, straightened her shorts and t-shirt, then raised the back on the chaise lounge. She looked at Michael, smiled, and winked. "I love you," she said.

  "Me, too," Michael said, reaching out and squeezing her hand.

  Just then, Peter stepped up onto the deck. "Hi, you two."

  "Oh, hi," Savannah said. "I expected you to come through the house."

  "Naw, I came down the back stairs with the dog. Okay if she joins us?"

  "Sure," Michael said. "Come on Sakari," he encouraged.

  Savannah and Michael smiled as they watched her wriggle toward them. Suddenly, Lexie noticed the husky-mix and greeted her. The two dogs circled one another, attempting to take in each other's scent. Once the introduction ritual was completed, the dogs found their separate comfort zones and both laid down.

  "Would you like red wine or white?" Savanna asked. "Or we have beer."

  "Whatever you're having is fine," he said. "Want me to get it?"

  "No, I'm on my way. Gonna check on the baby."

  "I thought that's what the monitor was for," Peter said.

  "Well, we had a trip to the emergency room with her today, so we're keeping a closer eye on her," Michael explained, rather solemnly.

  "What happened?" Peter asked, looking from one to the other.

  "Jellyfish sting," Michael answered, as Savannah entered the house.

  "Oh, those things hurt," Peter said. "Is she all right?"

  "Sure. We took her to emergency because she seemed to be so upset and we didn't know what we were dealing with." He choked up. "Some of those things are deadly, you know."

  "Yes, I know. But we don't get those around here much, if at all."

  "Could have saved a lot of trouble and strife, not to mention money, if I'd known that," Michael said.

  "Well, glad to know she's okay," Peter said.

  Michael chuckled. "Yeah, she's better than her over-reactive parents."

  Peter sat quietly for a moment, then said, "You're a lucky man, Michael."