by Patricia Fry
“Yes, maybe you’re being too skeptical,” Gladys suggested. “You’re suspicious of everyone these days. Vannie, I’m afraid you’re going to make yourself sick if you don’t stop it.”“Yeah, but we know the guy who knocked on Auntie’s and Max’s door was after Rags. He may have been the one who locked Rags in the tack room.” She gazed into space. “Or was it that man claiming to be looking for his dog?”
“Or someone completely different who sneaked in without anyone seeing him,” Gladys said. “It could be that one of the boys closed him in the shed without realizing it. There might not have been criminal intent at all.”
“Oh, brother, who knows?” Savannah said sounding exasperated. “Let’s just hope that guy has changed his mind and we won’t be hearing from him again.”
****
Wednesday afternoon Gladys put the children down for a nap, then joined Savannah at the refreshment table they’d set up for the meeting. “Do the cat-alliance members even know you have children?” she joked. “They’re always sleeping during the meetings.”
Savannah chuckled. “If not, they will at the fundraiser when they see them running wild around here. Oh, here come Edie and Dora. Come in,” she invited.
“Are we first again?” Edie complained.
“You’re prompt,” Gladys said, greeting both of them.
Edie frowned. “Well, just once I’d like to be fashionably late.”
“You mean, make a grand entrance?” Dora asked.
“Maybe.” Edie looked behind her. “Who’s that out front, a new member?”
“Where?” Savannah asked.
“He’s just standing outside there. Maybe he’s from a utility company. He could be checking your meter,” Dora suggested. “That did look like a uniform he was wearing, right, Edie?” “I think so,” Edie agreed. She looked around. “So are the children in bed?”
Savannah nodded. “Yes. It’s naptime.”
“Can I join them?” Margaret asked, stepping inside. “I could use a nap.”
“Yeah, we could have a nap party,” Savannah joked. “I often vow to take a nap when the children do, but there’s always something that needs to be done.”
“Isn’t that the truth?” Gladys agreed.
“So are you having your gas turned off or something?” Margaret asked.
“No.” Savannah frowned. “Did you see someone out there, too?”
“Yes, outside your master bathroom.”
“We don’t have a meter out there, do we? You used to live here—do you remember there being a meter there?”
Margaret thought for a moment. “No, I don’t.”
Savannah walked swiftly toward the hallway. “Well, I’d better go see what the heck’s going on.” She returned at a run, announcing, “I think he has Rags!”
“What?” Margaret yelped.
“Call the sheriff!” Savannah shouted.
“He took some rags?” Edie asked.
“I think she means Rags, the cat,” Dora corrected. She dug in her purse for her phone and made a call.
Meanwhile, Savannah ran outside and looked around the yard. When Margaret joined her, Savannah asked, “Where’d you see the man, Auntie?”
Margaret pointed. “Under your window there. Hey, the screen’s off. Did you know that? And the window’s open a little.”
“No!” Savannah responded frantically while running closer to the window. She relaxed when she saw Rags looking out at her. “Hi, Ragsie, what are you doing?” she said. “Did you knock the screen out? Auntie,” she called, “help me put this back in, would you? Go inside. One of us has to be inside.”
Margaret started to walk back toward the porch when she stopped. “What’s this?” she asked, stooping and staring down at something. “Looks like a trail of cat treats.” She pointed. There are some under the window and they trail out that way.”
“To where?” Savannah asked. “Where do they lead?”
“I don’t know,” Margaret said. “Close that window so Rags can’t get out, and let’s go see.”
The women had walked several feet to where the cat-treat trail seemed to end. Margaret looked around. “Which way did he go?”
“And who in the heck was he?” Savannah said. “Do you think the guy you saw earlier sprinkled these out here?”
“What are you girls looking for?” member Janice Fischer asked when she drove up.
Savannah shrugged. “I don’t know. Someone has strewn a bunch of cat treats around out here.”
“We think it was the meter reader,” Margaret said.
“I wonder if it was that man I saw wandering along the driveway toward your house, Maggie. I saw him when I drove in.”
“Oh? Did he look like he was from a utility company?” Margaret asked.
“Yeah, could have been, but he was carrying what looked like a blanket.”
Savannah’s eyes widened. “A blanket? Was anything wrapped in the blanket?”
“I don’t think so. It was just sort of draped over his arm,” Janice said. “Why?” Savannah took a deep breath and glanced around. “Someone’s trying to get his hands on Rags.” “Your cat?” Janice asked. “Oh no. Why?”
“Yeah, that’s what I wonder,” Margaret said. “Why?”
“We have no idea,” Savannah said. Just then she saw Joyce walking toward her. “Hi,” she greeted. “Joyce, this is my aunt, Margaret Sheridan, and the president of the Cat Alliance, Janice Fischer. Ladies, this is Joyce Cline, manager at the care home on Sperry Street.” Before Joyce could respond, Savannah asked, “Hey, did you see a man as you drove in?”
Joyce nodded. “Yes, why?”
“Was he carrying a blanket?” Janice asked.
“I think he was.”
“Did you recognize him?” Savannah asked. “He was wearing a tan uniform like that guy who made the wrong delivery to your place yesterday.”
Joyce shook her head slowly. “No, I don’t think so. I didn’t really pay that much attention, but I’m pretty sure the guy I saw just now had lighter hair.”
“Yes, he had light hair,” Janice confirmed.
“Was it white?” Savannah asked.
Janice shook her head, then asked Joyce, “Are you related to the Clines in Mason?”
Joyce nodded. “Yes, I married Josh Cline fifteen years ago. Carrie Cline is my mother-in-law. Do you know the family?”
Before Janice could respond, Savannah said, “Oh, here comes Craig. I don’t know what we’re going to tell him.”
“Just what we know,” Margaret said, “that there was a suspicious-looking man out here, the screen was off your bathroom window, and there are cat treats all over the place.”
“And he’s going to say, ‘yeah, the man was probably checking the meter, the cat knocked the screen out, and of course there are cat treats spilled around this yard.’” Savannah thought of something else and trotted toward the detective’s car. “Craig, did you see a man near Auntie’s and Max’s place when you drove in?”
Craig gazed down the long driveway toward the Sheridans’ house. “I didn’t notice anyone.”
Savannah pointed. “We think the guy may have removed that window screen. When members started arriving for the meeting, he must have gotten spooked and he walked on down toward Auntie’s. Janice saw him just now and so did Joyce. Maybe you should go check him out. Then come back and we’ll tell you what happened here.”
The detective balked.
“You’d better hurry, Craig,” Savannah suggested. “He may have parked down that way somewhere. Or maybe he’s going to try to take one of Auntie’s cats.”
“What?” Margaret shrieked. “Hey, Max is out on a supply run; no one’s there. Craig, would you go check and make sure that guy isn’t tampering with anything at our place?”
Craig seemed annoyed, then he said, “Okay. I’ll be back.” Before leaving, he asked, “Now, what does he looks like? I don’t want to nab your gardener or anything.”
Janice and Joyce gave him a desc
ription, and Craig drove off. He returned just as the last few cat-alliance members were arriving for the meeting and Savannah met him at the front door. “Rags is okay. Buffy and Glori are fine. Everyone’s accounted for, but I think that guy must have removed the screen when he saw Rags sitting in the window. By the way, did you catch him down near Auntie’s?”
Craig shook his head. “I took a look at that screen. It does fit in there pretty tightly. It’s doubtful a cat could remove it. In fact, it looked as though Michael had secured that screen with some additional hardware.”
Savannah nodded. “That’s right! I’d forgotten that. Rags used to push the screen out once in a while, so Michael secured it. Rags has never removed it since, although we had window washers recently, so they might not have replaced it securely. Michael usually checks all the screens after the window washers leave. Maybe he forgot this time.”
Craig stared at Savannah for a moment. “So who do you think it is? Who’s after the cat?” “I haven’t the slightest idea,” Savannah said. “In fact, it just gets more confusing.”
“How’s that?” Craig asked.
Savannah thought for a moment. “How do I explain this? Well, it’s as if there are multiple culprits or maybe stalkers.” When Craig looked skeptical, she said, “Really. I keep seeing or being told about suspicious characters in different locations where I am or I’ve been, but none of their descriptions match.”
“Oh, now, Savannah…” he started.
“Yeah, we have a dark-haired guy with a moustache, a man in a uniform, a light-haired man, and one with a lot of white hair. They’ve all been where they shouldn’t be or have been behaving suspiciously. I’m just totally confused.” As an afterthought, she added, “Oh yes, and Mom seems to be suspicious of a character she saw at the theater in San Francisco wearing a beret. She said he paid a lot of attention to Rags after one of our performances.”
Craig stared into her eyes and said more gently, “It sounds as if you’ve been under some pressure lately, kiddo. Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine!” Savannah insisted. “Are you saying you don’t believe me? Craig, Rags is in danger. I just know it.” Her voice accelerating, she said, “You think the calls and the sightings and the attempts to take him are all in my imagination?”
“No, honey,” Craig soothed. “You’re doing a great job. It’s just that…” He let out a deep sigh. “What can you tell me about the man who’s been calling you? Do you recognize his voice?”
She shook her head.
“Do you have a sample—you know, a recording of his voice?” he asked.
“Maybe,” she said. “I’ll check. If I do, I’ll send it to you.”
“Okay. If he calls again, record it. Is he calling your cell or house phone?”
“The landline. Oh wait,” she said, “he has called my cell phone lately, and he did leave a couple of voicemails. Yeah, I might actually have a recording. I’ll get that to you.”
“Okay.” He hesitated before adding, “Just stay alert.” He turned, saying over his shoulder, “Have a good meeting.”
It took several minutes for the eleven women to focus on the business at hand after the unsettling events with the Iveys’ cat. “Savannah why don’t you check your cat and window screens one more time,” Janice suggested quietly. “We have a lot to talk about and I don’t want anyone distracted.” When Savannah hesitated, Janice took her arm. “Come on, I’ll help you.” She pointed. “There’s your Himmie—Buffy, right?”
Savannah smiled. “Yes. Buffy’s safe in her little bed there. Glori should be curled up on Michael’s pillow in the master bedroom.” She giggled quietly as she led Janice down the hallway. “I have to close the kids’ bedroom door so she doesn’t try to join Teddy for a nap in his crib. She does love Teddy.” She whispered when she saw the calico lying comfortably on her bed, “Yes, there she is.”
“Oh, isn’t she cute?” Janice crooned. She ran her hand over Glori’s fur. “Hi, there, beauty.” She looked toward the window. “Is that window locked?”
Savannah checked it. “Yes. And the screen’s intact. I’ll double check the bathroom.” When she returned, she reported, “It’s all okay.” She looked around. “Now, where’s Rags?”
“Where does he usually hang out this time of day?” Janice asked. She chuckled. “My cats have their routine, and I pretty much know where they are at any given time during the day.”
Savannah agreed. “Yeah, that’s the girls, all right, but Rags isn’t so much a creature of habit. You might find him in a drawer or closet, on top of the refrigerator, under a guest bed upstairs.” She winked at Janice. “But I know how to find him. I’ve had to learn to get him to come to me when I need him, otherwise it can be a real challenge to find him if he doesn’t want to be found.” She motioned for Janice to follow her.
As the women walked back up the hallway, Janice asked, “What’s your secret?”
“Treats,” Savannah said smugly. Janice returned to her seat in the living room and Savannah walked toward the kitchen. When she returned she announced, “Found him. He’s stretched out in Lexie’s bed. Lexie’s napping on the throw rug in the service porch.”
“So all the critters are accounted for?” Margaret asked.
“It appears so,” Janice said. She pulled out a pad from her tote and called the meeting to order. She’d barely completed the formalities when there was a tap at the front door. “Are you expecting more guests?” she asked.
Savannah shrugged. She walked swiftly to the door, opened it, and saw a woman who appeared to be about sixty standing there. “May I help you?”
“Yes, is this where you’re meeting today?” she asked. “It’s the...um…what’s the name of the group?”
“Oh, the Hammond Cat Alliance.”
“Yes, that’s it. I’ve been wanting to join and I heard about the meeting. May I sit in?”
“Certainly,” Savannah said. “Please come in.” When she saw that most of the others were chatting among themselves, she asked, “So you have cats, or do you work with cats?”
“Oh yes,” the woman said. “I’m a cat lover from way back. I’ve had every color cat you can imagine. I’ve raised kittens. I’ve taken in strays…” She offered her hand and said, “I’m Virginia Stallings, by the way. And you are?”
“Oh, hello. I’m Savannah Ivey.”
Virginia looked around the room at the others through her tinted glasses. “I hope I didn’t miss too much.”
“No, not at all. We were just starting,” Savannah assured her. She motioned toward a chair next to Gladys. “Please sit down.” She spoke more loudly to the others in the room. “Excuse me. Excuse me. I’d like to introduce Virginia Stallings. She has known about us for a while, I guess, and came out today to join us.”
“Welcome,” Janice said.
Several others greeted her as well.
Janice suggested, “Before we go on, let’s have everyone introduce themselves.” Once that had been accomplished, Janice told their guest, “Today we hope to finalize the details for an upcoming fundraiser. We’re having an event here Saturday to raise funds for the cats rescued in that hoarding situation down near San Francisco last month.”
“Oh, those poor cats,” Virginia said.
“Yes, many of them were in pretty bad shape,” Janice explained, “and still need a lot of medical care.”
“No,” Virginia asserted, “I mean, it was a horrible thing authorities did snatching that poor woman’s cats from her like that without warning. She was doing the best she could do under the circumstances, after all. No one else bothered to take in those cats and help them.”
Everyone sat speechless for a moment, then began chatting quietly among themselves, when Janice spoke out. “Okay, everyone settle down.” She cleared her throat. “Virginia, did you know the people who had those cats?”
“Me? Oh no. I just heard about it and felt sorry for her. I’m sure she loved her cats just like you and I do.” She sat
up straighter, smiled innocently, and asked, “So what sort of fundraiser are you doing here?”
Meanwhile, Savannah stared across the room at their guest, thinking, That was an odd reaction. She watched as Virginia placed a tote bag at her feet. Interesting, she thought, it has the comedy and tragedy masks kind of crudely drawn on one side—like with a permanent marker. I wonder who she is and why she’s here.
Chapter Six
Nearly two hours passed. The meeting was over, and most of the cat-alliance members had gathered around the refreshment table.
“Who was that woman?” Margaret asked. “She didn’t stay long.”
“No,” Colbi said. “She hustled her bustle out rather quickly when the committee members started asking for volunteers.”
“Yeah, that was quite a bustle she had under her housedress,” Iris said. “Was that her real…?”
“Ris-Ris,” Savannah warned, nodding at Lily, who was clinging to Savannah’s leg, trying to wake up from her nap. When she saw the child staring at the refreshment table, she said, “Here, punkin, want one of Grammy’s ginger cookies? Mommy will get you some milk.”
Lily rubbed her eyes and nodded.
Savannah smoothed the child’s hair and motioned toward Margaret, who was sitting nearby. “Wait here with Auntie, okay?”
Margaret smiled when Lily crawled up into her lap.
“I think she’s a fraud,” Colbi said.
“Who?” Janice asked, approaching. “Virginia?”
Colbi nodded. “Yes, in fact, I think she might have actually been the hoarder. Has anyone seen a picture of the hoarder?”
“Good question,” Savannah said, returning with Lily’s beverage. “Check online and see if you can find a photo of her.”
“I’m on it,” Colbi said, looking at her phone.
“I don’t think she has a heart for cats,” Dora said, quietly.
“Why would you say that?” Edie asked.
“There was no sense of genuinely caring about cats coming from her. At least that was my impression.”