CATalyst for Clues (A Klepto Cat Mystery Book 25) Read online

  CATalyst for Clues: A Klepto Cat Mystery

  Book 25

  by Patricia Fry

  CATalyst for Clues

  A Klepto Cat Mystery

  Book 25

  Author: Patricia Fry

  ISBN: 978-0-9985356-7-8

  All rights reserved

  © 2017 Matilija Press

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 1

  “Is it time for another feeding?” Michael asked, yawning. “Can I help?”

  Savannah shook her head and slipped out of bed and into her flannel robe. “No. It’s just that I can’t sleep. I thought I’d see if we got a callback from New York.”

  “Oh hon, they probably keep business hours. That travel program is run by a company, isn’t it?”

  “Yes. But they have a twenty-four-hour number; I found it online.” She pulled the chain on the bedside lamp, picked up her phone, and frowned. “No call or text or even an email. Nothing. Where is my sister, Michael? What has happened to her?”

  He propped himself up on one elbow. “I don’t know, hon. Surely you’ll hear back from them in the morning.”

  She slumped into the nursing chair. “Yeah, unless that scam business is run out of some criminal’s apartment or a…a…a sleazy warehouse in an alley somewhere.” She took a ragged breath. “Maybe they’re holding her. Michael, what if the company owners are the ones asking for the ransom? I mean, they are responsible for her. They have access to her.”

  “What reason would they have for kidnapping Brianna?”

  “Money!” She leaned forward. “Maybe that’s their scam. They get people to sign up for one of their crazy-wild adventure tours, fly them to some third-world country, then hold them hostage and fleece their families.”

  Michael winced. “Oh honey, that’s kind of far-fetched. How long would they stay in business if that was their strategy?”

  “You know as well as I do there are some gullible people in this world—people who can be easily intimidated to pay up and keep quiet.”

  He held out his hand. “Come here, hon. Let’s try to get some sleep before…”

  As she moved to join him, however, they heard a little squeal coming from the bassinet. Savannah smiled at Michael and approached their newborn son. “I was pretty sure he’d wake up before midnight. He went to bed with the chickens.”

  “Yeah, what—around seven thirty? Four hours—that’s about Teddy’s limit right now.” Michael swung his feet over the side of the bed. “Want me to do anything?”

  “No. I’ll change him and see if he wants to eat.”

  He joined her at the bassinet and smiled down at the baby. “Hi there, champ. How’s my boy?” he cooed. Once Savannah had finished diapering him, he picked up the infant and snuggled with him, kissed his cheek, and handed him to Savannah when she was ready to nurse him.

  “Where are you going?” Savannah asked, watching her husband slide into his slippers.

  “I’m going to join Teddy in a snack.” When she grinned at him, he asked, “There’s still some of that upside-down cake left, isn’t there?”

  ****

  The following morning as the Ivey family prepared to eat breakfast, Savannah made a call. “Craig, I can’t get through to that adventure-travel company using the number I found. Have you talked to anyone there?”

  Detective Craig Sledge heaved a sigh. “Good morning, Savannah. Is the coffee made?”

  “Um, our coffee? Yes. Are you coming over? Mom’s baking cinnamon rolls.”

  “I’ll be right there.” Before ending the call, Craig said, “Savannah, relax some, will you? And tell your mother not to worry.”

  “Why?” she insisted. “Do you know something you’re not telling me? Do you know where Brianna is?”

  “No. I just don’t want you getting yourself all worked up. As I suggested to you yesterday, this may be a hoax. Let’s stay calm until we actually know what we’re dealing with. Can you try to do that?”

  Savannah tightened her lips, then muttered, “Okay. See you in a bit, Craig.”

  Michael looked up from where he sat reading a book with two-year-old Lily. “Craig’s coming over?”

  Savannah nodded.

  Gladys turned away from the kitchen counter and asked eagerly, “Does he have news?” She shook her head. “I don’t think so, Mom.” She looked at her phone and grumbled, “Why don’t those people call?”

  “Did you leave a message?” Michael asked. “Did you tell them you’re inquiring about Brianna?”

  She nodded.

  “Maybe they want to check on some things before returning your call,” he suggested.

  “Could be, I guess.” She eased into a chair next to Michael and Lily. “Don’t they know how worried we are? I mean, what’s worse than waiting and not knowing?” She glanced at her mother. “Right, Mom?”

  Gladys nodded somberly as she put the finishing touches on the cinnamon rolls.

  ****

  “I hope you don’t mind that I brought another guest,” Craig said when Savannah answered his knock twenty minutes later.

  She smiled and hugged her friend. “Iris. It’s always good to see you.” Pulling back she asked, “What are you doing out so early?”

  “I wanted to make sure you’re okay. You must be beside yourself with worry—you and your mom.” When Gladys looked at her, Iris reached out and took her hand. “How are you holding up?”

  Gladys smiled weakly, then returned to the stove and pulled out the cinnamon rolls. “Good timing,” she said, trying to sound more cheerful than she felt. “Sit down, you two, and let me get you a cup of coffee. Help yourself to some sliced strawberries. Antonio brought them in from the garden just yesterday.”

  “Thank you,” Iris said. “But first I want to see Teddy.” She walked across the room to where the baby slept peacefully in his portable crib and she smiled down at him. “Precious,” she murmured, “just precious.”

  “Baby Teddy,” Lily chirped when she appeared from behind Iris.

  “Baby Teddy’s sleeping, isn’t he?” Iris said quietly.

  “Ris-Ris eat?” Lily invited, taking her hand and leading her to the table.

  “Sure,” Iris said, “I’ll eat one of your grammy’s cinnamon buns. Are you going to have a cinnamon bun?”

  “Hey, punkin,” Michael interrupted, “let’s get you ready for breakfast.” He lifted her high into the air, making her giggle, then placed her in the high chair. “Did you wash up?”

  Lily nodded.

  Before he could turn away, however, Savannah handed him a damp washcloth and he wiped the child’s face and hands, then ran it over her high-chair tray for good measure.

  “I do it, Daddy,” Lily said, taking the cloth and rubbing it back and forth across the tray before dropping it onto the floor.

  Craig smiled at the toddler, then asked no one in particular, “So no word from those folks in New York, huh?”

  Savannah shook her head. She placed a small plate with strawberries, scrambled eggs, and part of a roll in front of Lily, then faced the detective. “What do you suppose has happened, Craig? In your professional opinion, what do you think this means?” She eased into a chair and continued, “Two days ago we get what appears to be a ransom note and then we’re left hanging. We can’t get in touch with Brianna or anyone who might know where she is, and we don’t even know where to take the money the…um…al
leged kidnapper has demanded.”

  Craig coughed and cleared his throat. He took a swig of coffee, then sat back in his chair. “Well, it could mean a number of things.” When he noticed that all eyes were on him, he winced. “It could be a simple case of kidnapping for ransom or as complicated as a phony extortion attempt.”

  “How’s that, Craig?” Michael asked.

  “If it’s the former, you’ll be hearing from someone again with instructions.” He glanced at the others. “On the other hand, these people who contacted you might not have Brianna at all.”

  “But how…?” Savannah started.

  “Maybe it’s someone she’s traveling with—someone who knows that she won’t be writing home anytime soon. Or maybe it’s employees of the travel organization and they’ve come up with a scam to shake down families of their guests. Could be that it’s someone who isn’t involved with the program at all—someone she met in one of the villages they visited.” He cocked his head. “Now, you said you received a piece of cloth or something from Brianna’s luggage.”

  “Yes,” Savannah said, quickly standing and picking up the swatch. She handed it to Craig.

  As he reached for it, he became aware of something pushing against his legs. He looked down and saw Rags standing with his front paws on his knees. Craig chuckled. “Well, hello there, little buddy. What do you want? I don’t think cats can eat cinnamon buns.” He glanced across the tabletop. “There’s no bacon this morning; just eggs. Do you like eggs?”

  “It’s the fabric piece,” Savannah said. “Rags is the one who brought it to our attention and he seems pretty interested in it.”

  “Probably because it belongs to Brianna,” Michael suggested.

  Savannah frowned. “Oh, I don’t know. He really doesn’t have that much of an affinity for her—not like Lexie does. Lexie loves Brianna for some reason.” Savannah ran her hand over Rags’s fur as he pawed toward the swatch Craig held. She raised her eyebrows. “Wait! It could have an animal scent on it. That’s probably what has him interested. Whoever has Brianna’s bag must have a cat or a dog, maybe.”

  Craig grinned at Savannah. “Well, that certainly narrows it down, doesn’t it?”

  “It could be Bud’s cats’ scent,” Michael suggested. “Maybe she stored her bag at his house or she took it there before she left town. You know, Bud still has Frankie and Snowball.”

  Iris chuckled. “As well as a whole farm full of cows, rabbits, ducks, and who knows what all.”

  “True,” Savannah said. She turned to Craig. “So what are the other possible scenarios you hinted at?”

  “Someone might have taken her bag from a carrousel or the ala carte rack at a backwoods airport, found her address book inside, and decided to try an extortion scheme.”

  Savannah’s face lit up. “So you’re saying that Brianna may not be in danger at all?”

  “It’s likely.”

  Gladys let out a sigh. “Dear God, let’s hope she’s not.”

  “So how do we find out which scenario fits the situation?” Michael asked.

  Craig took a sip of coffee and wiped his napkin across his mouth. “Elimination.”

  When no one responded, he explained, “We’ll start by speaking to everyone we can pin down who’s related to the travel program.”

  “If only they’ll return our calls,” Savannah grumbled.

  “We’ll visit their office if we have to,” Craig said.

  “In New York?”

  “Yes, in New York, Bogota, Nigeria, Nairobi, or wherever else the clues take us.”

  Just then Savannah’s phone rang. She looked at the screen. “From that agency in New York,” she announced. “Hello,” she said into the phone.

  “Hello, is this Savannah Ivey?”

  “Yes.”

  “This is Elaine at Goff Adventure Travel returning your call. How may I help you?”

  “Oh, thank you for calling. As I stated in the message I left, we’re concerned about my sister. She took one of your tours and we received a letter from someone who says…”

  Before she could continue, Craig put his hand on Savannah’s arm to get her attention, and indicated that he wanted to take the call. Only slightly reluctantly, she handed him the phone.

  “Hello, this is Detective Craig Sledge. Who am I talking to?”

  “Elaine.”

  “Elaine, can you tell us where Brianna Jordan is at this time?”

  “Um…is she a client?”

  “Yes. She went on your tour…” He pulled the phone away from his ear and asked, “When did she leave?”

  “May twentieth,” Savannah and Gladys said in unison.

  “May twentieth,” Craig repeated into the phone.

  “Let me check,” Elaine offered. When she returned, she said, “Oh yes, she is a client. She did travel with us.”

  More encouraged, he asked, “Can you tell me where she is now?”

  “Well, no. Not exactly.”

  “Not exactly?” he asked. “Do you know the itinerary for the trip she’s on?”

  “Yes. Well, actually we’re not supposed to reveal a client’s whereabouts unless it’s an emergency.”

  “Well ma’am, this appears to be an emergency and I want to know where Brianna Jordan is at this very moment.”

  Elaine hesitated, then asked flatly, “What is the emergency, sir?”

  “She’s missing; that’s what.”

  Elaine laughed. “Well, sir, it probably seems that way because our clients travel with us for the privilege of privacy. If Brianna…um…what did you say her last name is…Jordan…wishes to be located, she will let you know.”

  Craig gritted his teeth when saying, “Ma’am, we have reason to believe that Ms. Jordan has been kidnapped. That is, by any standards, an emergency.”

  “Oh. Well not according to our policy.”

  Craig took a deep breath and let it out. “Elaine…that is your name, right?”

  “Yes.”

  “Elaine, can you at least check with her travel group and make sure she’s still with them? It’s possible that the letter the family received is a hoax, but we can’t be sure enough to ignore it.”

  “No sir, I’m afraid I can’t do that. I’m not privy to the itinerary. No one in the office is. Because of the nature of our adventures, only those who guide them and the owners of the company know where a group will be on any given day.”

  Craig set his jaw and rolled his eyes for Savannah’s and Michael’s benefit. Speaking as if to a small child, he said, “Then put me in touch with the owner or the guide.”

  “I’m sorry,” Elaine said, “the owners are out of the country and do not wish to be disturbed.” More cheerfully, she said, “I can take your number and have someone call you as soon as they’re available.”

  Now unable to conceal his outrage, Craig spat into the phone, “Ma’am, as soon as they’re available just might be too late for one of your customers.” When Elaine remained silent, he added, “And if that’s the case, you’ll be out of a job because your company’s going down.” After ending the call, Craig scowled into his plate. “Damn. What a waste of a nice warm cinnamon roll.”

  “Oh,” Gladys said, standing up quickly, “I’ll heat it for you.”

  Craig smiled at her. “Gladys, you’re a peach. Thank you.”

  “So what’s the problem?” Iris asked her husband.

  “Policy,” Craig said. He looked at Savannah, then Gladys. “Do you know anything about the owners of that company?”

  “Just that their names are…um…Mom, what was it? Nancy and Bart, I think.”

  “That’s a big help,” Craig said sarcastically.

  No one spoke for a few minutes as Savannah encouraged Lily to eat more of her fruit, Craig buttered his cinnamon roll, Iris and Michael took a few bites of their meal, and Gladys picked at her breakfast. Finally, Savannah said, “Facebook.”

  Craig looked across the table at her.
“Huh?”

  She picked up her phone and tapped on the screen. “Someone in that travel group is bound to be using Facebook.”

  “I think that’s against their policy,” Gladys said. “Brianna told me in her letter that she had to leave her phone behind.”

  “Yeah, but I’ll bet that policy’s broken all the time,” Savannah protested. “Just look at what goes on at that site. Some people seem to think they’re invisible when posting on Facebook.”

  “Savannah’s right,” Iris said. “A Facebook addict would probably do just about anything to carry on their addiction.” When she saw Gladys’s dubious look, she added, “Texting while driving is against the law in most places and it’s a really stupid and dangerous thing to do, but it doesn’t stop a whole lot of people.”

  Savannah nodded. “So true. Someone is bound to have smuggled in their cell phone.” She looked at the others, her eyes wide. “Or I might find someone who took the trip before and is talking about it.” She continued tapping on her phone screen.

  Meanwhile, Craig finished his cinnamon bun. “I’d like to go to their office in New York.” He looked at Michael. “Why don’t you go with me? Can you get away?”

  Michael stared at Craig for a moment, then gazed at Savannah.

  “Yes, Michael. Go with him,” she urged. “See if someone there will give you straight answers about my sister’s whereabouts.”

  “Yeah, I guess I can. It might be worth our while to speak to someone in person.”

  ****

  Early the following morning Savannah entered the kitchen carrying little Teddy and leading a sleepy Lily by the hand. They found Gladys at the counter cutting up fruit. “Good morning, Mom,” she said, laying the baby in the portable crib. She smiled down at him and caressed his head.

  “Good morning to you,” Gladys greeted. She leaned over and smiled at Lily. “Got a kiss for Grammy?”

  The toddler rubbed her eyes and buried her face in Savannah’s robe.