The Secret in the Whiskers

by Patricia Fry

  Leah smiled knowingly. “I can imagine.”

  “Speaking of kids,” Savannah said, “we’d better get back and rescue the guys from our kids. I’ll put that bucket back in the shed.”

  “I’ll go with you,” Leah said. “I want to get a better look at that cat. I don’t think it’s one I’ve seen around here before.” She picked up Charlie and motioned to Rochelle. “Come on.”

  “Hi, kitty,” Savannah crooned when she opened the door to the shed. She crouched a distance away. “Are you a nice cat or a scaredy cat?”

  “You aren’t going to try touching it, are you?” Leah asked.

  “Probably not a good idea,” Savannah agreed. She looked around, then asked, “Leah, do you come out here often?”

  Leah shook her head. “Hardly ever.”

  “Do you keep this door closed? I mean, it was closed when we came in here a while ago. How’d the cat get in?” She glanced around. “The building looks pretty secure.”

  “I don’t know,” Leah said, “maybe through a badger hole under the shed.”

  After the threesome had examined the outside of the shed on all four sides, Savannah tightened her lips. “Well, that’s curious—really curious. I sure don’t see any way in or out for the cat, but we can’t see behind that woodpile there. Maybe there’s a loose board or a tunnel from under that wood pile.” She looked at Leah. “Want to go inside and move those boxes and things along that wall to find out?”

  Leah shook her head. “No. It won’t make any difference. The cat obviously has a way in and out.” As an afterthought, she said, “I think I’ll prop the door open just in case, though.”

  Savannah reached into the shed to replace the flashlight, when she thought she heard something. She opened the door wider. “Did you just speak to me, kitty?” She said to the others, “That sounded like a friendly tone. Maybe this is a tame cat. If so and if he doesn’t have a home, we really should see about taking him to my aunt’s shelter and give him a chance at being adopted.”

  “Good idea,” Leah said. “So you think it’s tame?”

  Savannah moved closer. “Well, let me see.”

  “Be careful,” Rochelle cautioned.

  “Kitty, kitty,” Charlie called.

  “Oh my goodness,” Savannah said once she’d approached the cat. “Leah, this may be your pack-rat cat. Come look at this.”

  “Is he safe?” Leah asked before walking forward.

  “Yes, it’s a sweet cat,” Savannah said, petting him. “Seems to be craving attention, but look at what’s in its bed. He’s evidently made a bed in here and has lined it with what look like receipts, pieces of fabric, more of that gauze…oh my!”

  “Candy,” Charlie said. He pointed toward where Savannah shined the light. “Candy,” he repeated.

  Leah chuckled. “Yes, that’s a candy wrapper, isn’t it? He loves to look at the packaged candy while we wait in line at the grocery store. Boy, does he have a memory for things like that.”

  Savannah scratched the cat around the neck and he pushed affectionately against her hand. She took that opportunity to look deeper into the box, saying, “You’ve really made a nest here for yourself, haven’t you?” She reported, “It looks like a lot of the same things you showed us in that basket.”

  Leah blew out a deep breath and asked, “Kitty-cat where is this stuff coming from?”

  Savannah turned to face the others. “Well, you’re closer to finding out.” She addressed Rochelle, “Only this isn’t a striped cat.” She handed Rochelle the light and put both hands on the cat. “Uh-oh.”

  “What?” Leah asked suspiciously.

  Savannah smiled. “She’s going to have kittens.”

  “What?” Leah yelped. “Oh, no.”

  “Yup,” Savannah said. She looked at Rochelle. “So do you think this is the klepto cat?”

  Rochelle shrugged. “Sometimes my visions are wrong, or I misread them, but I don’t think that’s the one. I still see a tiger-striped cat with short fur.”

  Savannah petted the cat one more time, returned the flashlight to the shelf, and the three of them left the shed. “Do you want to leave the door ajar for the cat?” she asked.

  After thinking about it, Leah said, “Well, I don’t want to encourage other animals to go in there, and the cat must know a way in and out, so no.” She stopped and looked back at the building. “I wonder if he climbed in there from above. We didn’t check the roof.”

  Savannah shook her head. “There’s no light coming in from above, but I guess there could be a flap we’re not aware of.”

  Leah nodded, then said, “Thank you so much, Savannah, for your insight into this problem. I’ll definitely give Craig a call. Your hunch about a missing person is interesting. I’ll suggest that to Craig. Thanks, guys.”

  Savannah hugged Leah. She pulled back and smiled. “It was fun catching up with you. It’s been a while.”

  “Yeah,” Leah said, “a lot has changed since I showed up on your doorstep from Hawaii pregnant, alone, and scared, and you and Michael so graciously took me in.”

  “It sure has. You’ve done well, girl,” Savannah complimented. “So glad to see you carving out a nice life for yourself.”

  Leah smiled from ear to ear. She picked up Charlie when he started to crawl up the porch steps.

  Rochelle hugged Leah and Charlie. “Great to see you again. Good luck with your…um…”

  “Gift angel?” Savannah offered.

  Leah smiled. “Yeah, thanks.”

  Savannah kissed Charlie on the cheek.

  “Horsie,” he said, pointing. When Peaches snorted, Charlie looked startled, then began to giggle. “Horse,” he said, imitating the sound Peaches had made.

  “He’s so cute,” Rochelle said before climbing up onto Peaches and riding with Savannah back down the trail toward home.

  ****

  The Iveys and the Whitcombs had finished dinner and were taking turns playing the beanbag game Adam had made for Michael’s birthday when Savannah’s phone rang. She looked at the screen and said, “It’s Craig. I’d better see what he wants.” She walked away from the others. “Hi, Craig.”

  “Got a minute?” he asked.

  “Sure. What’s up?”

  “That kettle of fish you opened out at Harrison’s and Leah’s house, that’s what.”

  “Kettle of fish?” she repeated.

  “Yeah, where Rags’s counterpart—or maybe accomplice or co-conspirator—is evidently stealing stuff.”

  “You’re blaming Rags?” she asked, chuckling.

  “Savannah, isn’t one kleptomaniac feline enough? What am I supposed to do with this case, if there even is a case?”

  Savannah laughed. “Well, Craig, I have to say you’ve had plenty of experience by now. It should be a piece of cake. What’s the problem?”

  “The problem? Oh, there isn’t just one problem, there are many,” he complained. “There are no missing person or persons anywhere around here with the names appearing on those documents. Oh wait, yes, we found a Jim Alexander, only he’s an elderly man in a hospital bed in a veterans’ home. There are too many cats to corral and follow and not enough information to identify an actual victim. Hell, Savannah, we don’t even know if there is a victim or if the trash that’s showing up on Harrison’s porch is just that—trash someone has dumped, and some hedgehog or monkey or eagle, for heaven’s sake, has decided to scatter around the neighborhood just to drive the legitimate investigators bananas.”

  “Wow!” Savannah remarked. “This really does have you bamboozled, doesn’t it? I’ve never seen you so angry at a poor…” she chuckled “…hedgehog or eagle.”

  “Yeah, laugh if you want,” Craig spat, “but once I unravel this silly case, if I actually do before I go stark raving mad, you can bet that I owe you one.”

  “You owe me one?” she asked, snickering.

  “Yeah, you’re the one who told Leah to call me, right?”

  “You didn’t have to take th
e case,” she reminded him. “I mean, if it is a case.”

  “Oh, it’s a case, all right,” he grouched. “It’s just not one I’m looking forward to, and I wanted to share that with you.”

  “Well, I have faith in you, Craig,” Savannah crooned. “If anyone can solve the mystery, you can.”

  “Thanks a lot.” He took a deep breath. “I’d better get back to the drawing board.”

  “You’re drawing?” she asked, playfully.

  “Yeah, mapping out the particulars of the case. It was starting to drive me crazy, so I thought I’d let off some steam and figured you were the ideal sounding board.”

  “You’re welcome, Craig,” Savannah said sweetly.

  “Yeah, well, I’ll let you know when I’m going to need your help. ’Night,” he said, ending the call.

  “Wait!” she shouted. “My help? What do you mean by that? Craig…”

  “What was that about?” Michael asked when Savannah returned to the living room. “You look disturbed.”

  “He’s disturbed,” she complained.

  “Who?” Michael asked, grinning.

  “Craig, that’s who.”

  Michael frowned. “What did he say?”

  She glanced around at the others and shook her head. “Oh nothing.” She thought for a moment and added, “If he were a woman, I’d say he’s hormonal. Maybe it’s a midlife crisis.” She grinned. “Or he’s just frustrated because he still hasn’t figure out how to deal with a delinquent cat.”

  Chapter Four

  “Ready to go riding?” Savannah asked the boys when they sauntered into the kitchen the following morning wearing Western boots and hat.

  “Yeah,” they said in unison.

  Adam asked, “Can we take Peaches and Gypsy some carrots or apples?”

  Savannah peered out the window. “Looks like they’ve finished eating. Let’s go saddle them up. How about giving them a treat after you ride?”

  “Okay,” Simon said, heading for the door. “Let’s go.”

  “Wait for us,” Rochelle warned.

  Savannah turned to Gladys. “Mom, when are you meeting Karl?”

  “Not until noon. He has some things he wants to do. I’ll keep an eye on the kids.”

  “I think Lily wants to go out with us,” Savannah said. “And Michael’s here to watch Teddy. You go get yourself ready for your date.”

  Gladys smiled brightly. “Okay. I think I will.”

  “Michael,” Savannah called, “we’re going out. Lily’s going with us.”

  “Okay,” Michael said. “Hey, Peter, want to watch the rodeo? I’ll get Teddy’s stroller.”

  “Rags and Lexie too?” Adam asked.

  “Maybe not Rags,” Savannah said. “He needs a full-time bodyguard. We’ll all be too busy to keep an eye on him. He can watch you through the window. How about that?”

  “Okay,” Adam said, running his hand over the cat’s fur. “You sit on your perch and watch us, okay, Rags?”

  ****

  Two hours later everyone walked toward the house laughing and talking about their morning with the horses.

  “That was fun,” Simon said. “I liked it when Peaches went across that little bridge and around those posts.”

  Savannah nodded. “She seems to enjoy doing the obstacle course. That’s what makes her a good trail horse.”

  “Did you see me when Gypsy stumbled?” Adam said, laughing. “I almost fell off.”

  “You boys did very well,” Rochelle complimented. “I’m impressed.”

  “Can we get a horse?” Simon begged.

  Peter slapped the boy affectionately on the back. “I don’t think so, buddy. How about we stick to birds and cats for now.”

  “Is everyone ready for some refreshment?” Savannah asked as they entered the kitchen.

  “Yes!” the boys cheered.

  Teddy mimicked them. “Yes!”

  Simon slapped the tabletop. “I’ll have whiskey, ma’am.”

  Adam chortled. “Make mine beer!”

  Savannah grinned at the boys. “Two lemonades coming up.”

  “So what did you two learn at Leah’s and Harrison’s yesterday?” Michael asked, filling six tall glasses with ice. “Did you solve their mystery?”

  “Maybe partially,” Savannah said, glancing at Rochelle. She laughed. “But according to Craig that wasn’t nearly enough.”

  “Huh?”

  “Well, that’s what he was ranting about on the phone last night—how difficult it is to solve a case or even to understand the clues when cats are involved.” Savannah nodded toward Rochelle. “We think we may have found their klepto cat.” She handed everyone a glass of lemonade and opened juice boxes for the small children. “Shall we enjoy the great weather out on the porch?”

  Once seated outside, Michael asked, “So you think you found Harrison’s klepto cat?”

  “Yes,” Rochelle said, it’s a beautiful long-haired cat. She made herself a bed in Leah’s and Harrison’s shed and it was decorated with some of the same stuff they’ve been finding on their front porch.”

  Savannah interjected, “If she’s not the culprit, she probably knows who is.”

  “I didn’t think of that,” Rochelle said. “So you believe some other cat or another animal is bringing her that stuff?”

  “How do you know it’s a girl cat?” Simon asked. “Was she tame? Were you able to turn her upside down?”

  “Not quite, but I could feel little lumps under all that fur.”

  “Lumps?” Adam asked.

  “Lumps of kittens,” Savannah explained.

  “Kittens are hiding in her fur?” Simon asked.

  Savannah winked. “Maybe inside her tummy.”

  “Oooh,” Adam said. “You mean she’s going to have baby kittens? Why didn’t you say that?”

  Savannah grinned. “I thought I did.”

  “There goes your phone, hon,” Michael said.

  “Thanks,” Savannah said, hurrying back inside. “Hello?”

  “Hi, Savannah, it’s Leah.”

  “Hi, what did you find out?” she asked.

  “Well, a lot is happening around here. It’s really kind of mind-boggling.”

  “What?” Savannah asked.

  “A manhunt for one thing.”

  “A manhunt?”

  “Yes, they think Bruce Lang is hurt or maybe dead somewhere around here. He was riding a bike—you know, a bicycle—from San Diego to Neah Bay, Washington, when he disappeared. Craig found him on a statewide missing-persons list. There are a bunch of sheriff’s deputies and search-and-rescue people out here beating the bushes looking for him and his bicycle. I told them to check out any old piece of farm equipment they might see.”

  Savannah chuckled. “So you think Rochelle’s vision was valid?”

  “We’ll find out,” Leah said. She hesitated, then said, “Tell Rochelle that a tiger-striped cat showed up here this morning—you know, like she predicted or visualized or whatever she does.”

  “Really?” Savannah said.

  “Yes, and I just heard from one of the searchers that there are quite a few pieces of old farm equipment in this area. They used drones to map them all out.”

  “Wow! So what do they think happened to Mr. Lang? Does he have any family?”

  “We don’t know much yet, but, Savannah, something happened after you left yesterday.”

  “What?” she asked.

  “You know that cat you found?” Leah asked.

  “We found, yes.”

  “She had kittens last night.”

  “Oooh,” Savannah crooned. “I thought she was about ready to pop. How cool is that?”

  “Yes, and I think the tiger-striped cat is the father. He’s been hanging around this morning.”

  “No kidding. So do you think he’s the one bringing you all that stuff?” Savannah asked.

  “Could be, I guess. Craig said if they don’t find something today, they’ll try to fit that cat with a camera. Do yo
u think you and Michael could help with that? I mean, he doesn’t seem all that friendly.”

  Savannah laughed. “Craig or the cat?”

  “Well, the cat, actually.”

  “So it could be a challenge to outfit him, huh?” Savannah asked.

  “That’s what Craig says. Maybe you could tranquilize him or something,” Leah suggested.

  “We do that and he might not feel like going to the site where he’s getting the stuff. You can’t anesthetize a cat and turn him loose. It wouldn’t be safe,” Savannah explained.

  “Oh, that makes sense. Sure.”

  “But Michael and I might be able to help. So let us know when you’ve decided what to do with the cat, will you?”

  “Sure will.”

  ****

  “Is everyone accounted for?” Peter asked later Sunday afternoon as he loaded the last suitcase into the car. “There are no hitchhikers, are there?”

  “Hitchhikers?” Simon questioned.

  “A dog or cat or…”

  “Horse!” Simon said. “I want to take Peaches home. Can we, Mr. Peter?”

  “Mr. Peter,” Savannah repeated.

  “That’s what he’s always been, and that’s what he’ll always be,” Rochelle said, “and it’s just fine with both of them.”

  “I like it,” Michael said. “It’s warm, and it’s respectful.”

  “And it’s Simon’s choice,” Savannah said. She asked Rochelle, “What does he call you now? Wait, didn’t I hear him call you Mom last night?”

  “She’s my foster mom,” Simon said, “so Mom for short.”

  Savannah smiled widely at the boy. “I like it.”

  “So do I,” Rochelle said, also smiling.

  Simon asked, “Adam, why don’t you call Savannah Mom? She’s your stepmom.”

  Adam glanced at Savannah. “’Cause I have a mom and ’cause Savannah’s more like a friend than a mom—a really fun friend.”

  Michael squeezed Savannah’s hand, and she dabbed at one eye. She took a deep breath and reached out to Adam for a hug. He hugged her tightly and she said, “I love you, Adam-Friend.”

  He grinned at her, and climbed into the car. “Thank you for the horse ride,” he called. “And the hot dogs, and the horse pancakes and…”