The Secret in the Whiskers

by Patricia Fry

  Pam considered his question. “I don’t know. Mama would always tell us, ‘the value is in the whiskers’ or sometimes she’d say, ‘the secret’s in the whiskers’.”

  “What?” Michael asked. “Was it a particular technique used for a man’s whiskers or something? Do you know who the artist was?”

  Pam shook her head. “Someone she and Daddy knew.”

  “They ran in some pretty high-class circles toward the end of Daddy’s life,” Jeannie added. She spoke more quietly, “That’s how I met my husband. He liked being in that element, and our folks thought he was a great catch. Only thing is, he didn’t have integrity.”

  “There were some good and honorable people in that crowd, though,” Pam said. “Don’t you think so, Jeannie?”

  Jeannie nodded. “Absolutely, and Mama and Daddy were usually quite good at recognizing the difference. Drew was best at deceit, and he deceived our parents and me.” She shuddered. “Anyway, at some point in their marriage—probably when Daddy’s business began to succeed—he acquired that painting.”

  “Yeah,” Pam said, “I think he got it in exchange for work he’d done for someone. Mama liked cats, so Dad agreed to take it in trade. I don’t think the people he got it from knew much about it and as far as I know the folks never had it appraised, probably because they really didn’t think it was worth anything.” She smiled. “Mama liked it, though.”

  “Yes,” Jeannie said. “Dad gave it to her on their anniversary that year. And, as Pam said, he told her the value is in the whiskers.”

  “I hope I get a chance to see it,” Savannah said.

  Pam smiled. “So do we.”

  Just then Savannah retrieved her phone from her pocket and looked at it. “It’s Chris,” she announced. “Hi, Chris. Where are you?”

  “About to get on a plane in San Francisco. Should be there around twelve thirty or one.”

  “Want us to pick you up? The airport’s not far,” Savannah offered.

  “No, but thank you. I have colleagues in the area and plan to stay on through part of next week, so I’ll need a car. Where shall I meet up with you—at the shop or the house?”

  “Just a minute; let me ask.” She faced the others. “Chris will be here between twelve thirty and one. Where do you want her to meet us?”

  “How about the eatery around the corner from the shop?” Pam suggested. “We can meet her there at one. Okay with everyone?” Once they’d all agreed, she said, “It’s called Papa Roman’s.”

  Savannah relayed the information to Chris, then said, “You missed quite a harrowing adventure last night. Hurry up and get here; there might be more.”

  “Oh dear,” Chris yelped. “I can still cancel my flight, you know.”

  “Come on, where’s your sense of adventure?” Savannah teased.

  “Ha-ha. See you later.”

  ****

  Chris joined the women at the eatery just after one and greetings were exchanged all around. Michael had taken the children back to the house for a nap by then, and Jeannie’s two children were spending a few days with her husband’s parents, who lived in a neighboring city.

  “So what did you learn today?” Pam asked her sister. “Did you make any headway?”

  Jeannie brightened. “I sure did. It doesn’t look as though the safe deposit box had been tampered with. I got the name of Mama’s attorney from some of her papers, and he helped me get access to it. There was nothing much in there, just the deed to the house, title to the car, and a few other things. Byron, the attorney, compared the partner agreement Mama had in her file against the copy Lorraine gave us and said that Lorraine’s would never hold up in court. It was pretty obvious that she had done all kinds of alterations to it. Oh, and Byron knows the guy Lorraine’s living with. He’s an attorney too, but he’s not very well thought of. He could actually be helping her to swindle us.”

  “Holy shhh,” Chris muttered. “Isn’t it enough that you’ve lost your mom without having to ward off a scammer? What’s happening? Is she claiming ownership of your mom’s belongings?”

  Pam nodded. “We believe she has stolen a lot of things. Savannah and I got some of it back last night.”

  Chris glanced at Savannah and grinned. “Don’t tell me; Rags was involved.”

  Savannah nodded. “Sure was, and Angel.”

  “Awww, that gorgeous kitty,” she crooned.

  “Wait ’til you see her now,” Savannah said. “She really looks great since she came out of the cage.” She shuddered. “It still makes me so mad to think about what that man was doing to those poor cats.”

  Pam smiled at Savannah, then said, “So Jeannie, how do we go about getting the rest of our things back?”

  “Well, we need to prove it’s ours somehow. Oh, the attorney does have a paper from Mama saying that everything goes to us, but it’s a little precarious.” She smiled. “You know how Mama was.”

  “Yes I do,” Pam said. “She didn’t like to bother with lawyerly things. Dad took care of all that.”

  Jeannie nodded. “We need to go through that file drawer you guys…um… found…to see if there’s anything in there to show ownership of the antiques that are missing—in fact all of the antiques if possible. That would include photographs, receipts, journal entries…and the time element is most important. When were the pictures taken, dates on the receipts, etc. And, Pam, Byron wants us to install a security system. Well, we have one at the shop, but we need one at the house.”

  “There is one; it just needs to be upgraded and reset, from what I understand,” Pam said.

  “Let’s do it,” Jeannie said. “Oh, and he asked us to change the lock at the storage unit right away, and…”

  Pam grimaced. “That stuff takes time away from our opening. We still have a lot to do—order refreshments, clean the place, rearrange things to show off the most impressive pieces...” Pam pushed her hair off her forehead and sighed loudly. “Overload. I’m feeling overload.”

  Jeannie rubbed her sister’s arm. “We can do it.”

  “Yes, you can,” Chris said. “You have Savannah and me here to help. Just let us know what you need.”

  “Well, number one is getting our things back from that witch,” Jeannie said. When the others looked at her she continued, “That’s our inheritance—the antiques and the house. It’s all we have, so we really need to make a success of the business, and hopefully we can sell the house.”

  “Have you ever considered turning the house into an antique warehouse?” Savannah suggested. Pam and Jeannie stared at her. “I mean, it’s such a wonderful, whimsical place. Why not keep it and sell the antiques from there? I’ll bet you’ll attract people from far and wide with even minimal promotion. It would be more than a shopping experience; it would be a shopping adventure.”

  The sisters looked at each other, and Jeannie said, “You mean like turn it into a tourist attraction or a destination shopping activity?”

  “Sure,” Savannah said.

  Jeannie grabbed her sister’s arm. “We could rent out rooms to those who want the whole fairytale experience.”

  “Oh!” Pam said. “Yeah, I guess we could, if we separated the shop from the rooms. She grinned. “Yeah, that sounds like an interesting possibility.”

  “Why don’t you just sell your mother’s home?” Chris asked.

  Savannah picked up her phone and tapped the screen a couple of times. She held it out for Chris to see. “That’s their mother’s home.”

  “Oh, wow!” she exclaimed. “Yeah, I see what you’re saying. That is one unusually ornate house. I could see an antique store in there or a candy store, a party store where you sell balloons and party favors…”

  Jeannie bounced in her chair. “We could have birthday parties for kids.”

  “Sure,” Savannah said. “There’s a lot of potential in that place.”

  Pam nodded. “Yeah, we might be better off keeping it and using it in some entertaining way. I like that idea.” She faced her sister
. “What did you find out about the painting? Anything?”

  “Not really, but just the fact that Mama was so attached to it and was so adamant that we have it, is reason enough for me to do everything I can to find it and get it back.”

  “Agreed,” Pam said. “Not only am I determined to keep that woman from getting the best of Mama and us, I’m blasted curious about why Mama had such an attachment to that particular piece. I have a sense that it was something more to her than just sentimental value.”

  No one spoke for the next several moments, then Pam asked, “So, what did the attorney suggest we do to get our stuff back? Go to court?”

  Jeannie grinned. “He didn’t give me any official advice about that, but he did say something that I’ve actually been mulling over.” She stared into her sister’s eyes, then glanced at the others. “I told him about your escapade last night…”

  “Their catscapade?” Chris said.

  “Yeah.” She laughed. “You see, Byron met Lorraine once when he stopped by Mama’s to have some papers signed. He was not impressed. In fact, he said he was a little concerned at that point.” She leaned forward and made eye contact with each of the other women. “He sort of alluded to the fact that we need to catch Lorraine off guard in order to get our things back, and we probably wouldn’t be able to do that if we involve the authorities.”

  “Oh?” Savannah said. “What did he say exactly to give you the idea he thinks it’s okay for you guys to—you know, just take your things back? Is that what he was suggesting?”

  Jeannie rolled her eyes. “Well,” she said, “a gal’s gotta do what a gal’s gotta do when she’s up against someone like Lorraine.”

  Pam sat back in her chair and looked at Savannah.

  Savannah, meanwhile, put her hands up in protest. “Oh no, once was enough. I don’t want to get caught at her place and spend the rest of the summer in jail. From the sounds of it, she’s so warped I wouldn’t trust her as far as I could throw her.” She looked at Jeannie. “And you sure don’t want to get caught on her property—not with your…” she laughed, “your record.”

  Jeannie looked down at her plate. “Yeah, I know. Pam already told me that if there was to be any clandestine activity with regard to that woman, I can’t be involved.”

  Savannah smiled. “Great.” She then frowned. “Hey, what am I saying? That means…”

  Pam laughed. “Yup. You and Rags will have to help me if we decide to make another trip out to Lorraine’s place.”

  “First,” Savannah said, “let’s make sure that painting isn’t in storage. You have the key to the storage unit, right?”

  “If Lorraine didn’t change padlocks on us,” Jeannie complained.

  “Oh, that’s possible,” Chris said. “Got a hacksaw?”

  Pam laughed. “So you want in on all this craziness, do you?”

  “Why not?” Chris said. “The stuff belongs to you. You’re entitled to get possession of it and that woman probably knows by now that she doesn’t have a leg to stand on if you were to take her to court.”

  “Especially since she may know that you have that file cabinet back,” Savannah added.

  “Which is why we need to act pretty quickly before she and her boyfriend start shipping the stuff she has to parts unknown,” Pam said. She grinned. “I’d really like to have her catch us in the act of retrieving our stuff from the storage unit.”

  “What’s it going to take for you to go in there?” Chris asked.

  “The key,” Jeannie said. “We have the key, and like you said, we’d better go over there sooner rather than later.”

  “If she has changed the lock, will the management let you in?” Savannah asked.

  Jeannie stared at her for a moment. “I’ll take a copy of Mama’s death certificate and maybe the will.”

  “We’ll also want to buy another lock to put on that storage unit so we’re sure Lorraine doesn’t have a key,” Pam said. She stood up. “Hey, there are a few more things I’d like to do before closing up shop today, so I’d better get to it.”

  “Want help?” Chris asked.

  “I’d love it, if you don’t mind. Come on.”

  ****

  A couple of hours later the women were just about ready to lock up and go home, when Savannah heard a woman say, “Hello, Pam.”

  “Well, Lorraine,” Pam said, coldly, “what brings you here?”

  “You, you thief!” Lorraine spat.

  Savannah stepped inside the showroom just as Pam laughed. From the shadows she heard her say, “I’m a thief? That’s not what our attorney says after looking over Mama’s papers—most especially the phony agreement you tried to scam us with. Did you really think you’d get away with that?”

  Lorraine smiled. “My attorney thinks so—he’ll subpoena whatever proof you think you have, which I’m sure you and your sister have doctored up by now. Your mother and I were partners, I tell you, and Boyd and I are going to prove it.”

  Pam felt herself boiling inside, but willed herself to stay calm. She glanced at Savannah, then toward the other two women, who continued to organize shelves with books and bric-a-brac. “Listen, Lorraine, we’re on to your scam. You won’t get away with this shakedown.”

  “Like you really scare me,” Lorraine said. “I know more about my rights than you’ll ever understand, and I stand by my right to fight for what’s legally mine.”

  “You’re a scammer of the worst kind,” Pam said calmly. “Not only do you prey on the elderly and infirm, you’re a bully.”

  “No!” Lorraine shouted. “I won’t let you win. I must have what I worked so hard to get. It was given to me, and I won’t stop until I have it—all of it. It’s what your mother wanted. I’m the one who was there for her in her last days, not you. I was all she had in the end.”

  “I think she’s delusional,” Jeannie said, moving closer.

  Lorraine looked hard at Jeannie, huffed, and strutted out of the shop.

  “Girls,” Pam said, “I’d like to act sooner rather than later. That woman’s daft. Who knows what she’ll do next? My biggest fear is that she’ll hide Mama’s stuff, and we’ll never be able to find it.”

  “Daft,” Chris repeated. “That’s one word for her.” She gazed toward the door and shook her head. “Those are the worst kind—the crazy ones. There’s no reasoning with them. They just see things from a whole different angle.”

  “Yeah, through a whacky kaleidoscope,” Jeannie offered.

  “Good one, Jeannie,” Chris said. “So what’s the plan?”

  “Let’s get out to the storage unit,” Jeannie suggested. “I’m a little afraid of what might happen if we don’t take care of that ASAP.”

  “Agreed,” Pam said. “Got the death certificate and all that stuff we need, Sis?”

  “Yes. In my purse there. And I have the keys. All we have to do is stop and get a new lock.”

  “Done,” Pam said. “Let’s close up shop and go.” She stopped. “What do we have, three cars among us?”

  “I guess we do,” Savannah said, laughing.

  “Let’s go in mine,” Pam said, “and leave the others.”

  Savannah balked. “You know, there’s no reason we all need to go to the storage unit, is there? You probably won’t be taking inventory today, will you?”

  Pam shook her head. “I don’t think so. We’re just on a mission to protect the stuff that’s in there, right? We want to change the lock and alert security and the manager to the situation with Lorraine.”

  “Right,” Jeannie said. “I’d like to take a quick look around, though, and make sure Mom’s stuff is still in there. If not,” she said, “we need to find out who moved it.” She grimaced. “Gads, I hope nothing has been taken.”

  “Have either of you ever been in there?” Chris asked.

  “Not for a long time,” Pam admitted. “I went there with Mama a few times over the years.”

  “But we have this,” Jeannie said, holding up a photograph.
/>   Savannah remarked. “Wow! When was that taken?”

  “As near as we can figure, late last year. And Mama was in no shape to think about moving anything in or out of there after that. This was on her cell phone, which is one of a few things Lorraine didn’t get her hands on.”

  “Perfect,” Chris said.

  Savannah asked. “Did you find a picture of the painting?”

  “Oh!” Jeannie said, pushing her finger across the screen of the phone. “Here it is hanging in her bedroom—the one you’re using, Savannah. And here’s a close-up of it that she took, probably around the same time.”

  “Wow! It is cats, and look at those whiskers.” Savannah recited, “The secret’s in the whiskers.”

  “The value’s in the whiskers,” Pam corrected.

  “Oh,” Savannah said. “Same difference, maybe.” She showed the picture to Chris, then looked at it again. “I’d love to see that in person. Just look at the creativity there.”

  “I didn’t know you were an artist, or do you just have an appreciation for art?” Jeannie asked.

  “Neither, really,” Savannah admitted. “I like what I like.” She grinned. “And I like cats.”

  Pam said, “Well, I’m eager to see that painting again. I’d sure like to figure out what that quote means.” She looked at Savannah. “So you want to go back to the house?”

  “Yes, I’d like to spend some time with the kids.”

  “I’ll take you,” Chris said. “I’d like to get settled.” She looked at the sisters. “So you’re still okay with me staying at your house with you guys? Are you sure there’s room?”

  “Oh yes,” Pam said.

  Savannah nodded. “Plenty of room. Come on, you’re not going to believe this place.”

  ****

  “How did it go?” Savannah asked when the sisters walked into the house later.

  “How cute,” Jeannie said, smiling at Teddy. “You’re all dressed up like a fireman, aren’t you?”

  “He loves dress up. Does Evan?” Savannah asked.

  “Oh yes,” Jeannie said. “He packed his Spider Man costume and his Captain America costume for their visit with their grandparents’ this week. Shari has outgrown character costumes, but she still likes to wear grown-up girl outfits. You know, they make the latest fashions for kids of all ages now—torn jeans—oh, I hate those things. Shari loves wearing long skirts; she calls them her ‘big-girl skirts’.”