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  Paws for Trouble

  A Klepto Cat Mystery

  Book 44

  by Patricia Fry

  Paws for Trouble: A Klepto Cat Mystery

  Book 44

  Author: Patricia Fry

  ISBN: 978-1-7348751-5-7

  All rights reserved

  © 2020 Matilija Press

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter One

  "Oh, my gosh! What happened?" Savannah shrieked, running up the stairs to where Gladys sat, holding tightly to a banister post. "Are you all right, Mom?"

  "Yes. Just let me catch my breath."

  "What's going on?" Michael called from the bottom of the staircase.

  "I think Mom fell," Savannah said, sitting down next to her mother.

  Michael trotted up to join them. "Did you step on this?" he asked, holding up a toy tractor.

  "No," Gladys said. "I didn't even see it there." She pointed at Rags. "But maybe he did."

  "What do you mean?" Michael asked, looking at the cat.

  "Well, I'd just started walking down the stairs when he came from out of nowhere and knocked me off balance. I fell backward, thank heavens." She petted Rags when he rubbed against her, and said quietly, "He ran in front of me just before I could take that step." She grasped her daughter's arm. "Vannie, do you think he did that on purpose? If he hadn't," she swooned, "well, I would have stepped right on that thing and probably wound up at the bottom of the stairs with a broken neck."

  "Or he was playing with the tractor," Michael said, "and he got in your way." He frowned. "How did that toy get up here, anyway?"

  "Good question," Savannah said. "I can't imagine that Rags could carry it." She asked her mother, "Was the baby gate still fastened when you came up here?"

  Gladys nodded. "But Rags can sidestep that thing. It just serves to keep the children off the stairs."

  "Right," Michael agreed. He looked at his mother-in-law. "What exactly happened, Gladys?"

  She took a breath. "Well, I came up here to get my sweater, and," she studied the toy again, "I'm almost positive that wasn't there." She explained, "You know I take these stairs carefully. I watch where I step. I would have seen it coming up." She thought for a moment. "Going down, maybe not." She shuddered. "Kids, what is going on? I heard Iris say something about unchained angry spirits. With all that has happened these last few days, I'm beginning to wonder!"

  Savannah felt a surge of fear. She willed herself to recall the calm she'd felt earlier in the week while she prepared for her sister's wedding and a fun family gathering.

  ****

  It was a Tuesday evening in June. Savannah bubbled with excitement as she recounted her day's activities over a home-cooked dinner. "Bri and I finalized the details on the wedding cake today, and we got everything set with the caterer. It'll be a delightful array of tea sandwiches, canapés, and light salads, perfect for an afternoon reception. We'll have chairs and a rose-covered arbor set up on the side lawn for the ceremony. Iris will arrange for the roses. She might need your help with the arbor, Michael." She continued, "The orchard is beautiful this time of year, and we have so many flowering shrubs along the south side; it's actually a picture-perfect venue for a wedding."

  "How many does she expect?" Michael asked.

  "Around fifty," Savannah said. She bounced in her chair. "And all of our cousins will be here. Can you believe it? Everyone can make it. Well, Jake and Marla have split up. Did you know that, Mom?"

  "No," Gladys said. She grumbled, "He's never been with anyone for long, has he? It seems he's always between wives or girlfriends." She asked more cheerfully, "What about his brother and his family? They'll be here?"

  Savannah nodded. "Jimmy, Belinda, and the kids are coming. Belle's three already; I can't wait to see her."

  "How old is Belinda's boy?" Michael asked. "What's his name?"

  "Joshua. He's ten or eleven—around the same age as Adam."

  "And my sister's girls," Gladys asked, "they're coming?"

  "Yes," Savannah said. "Both Mel and Roxy and their families will be here."

  "How many youngsters is that," Gladys asked, "eight?"

  "Yes, eight second cousins, all under twelve." Savannah shimmied. "Won't it be fun to have all the kids together?"

  Gladys winced. "That's a lot of little ones to keep an eye on. They'll be staying in their own homes, won't they—I mean their motor homes?"

  Savannah chuckled. "Yes, both Mel and Jimmy are bringing their RVs." She looked at her mother. "Okay if Aunt Rose bunks with you? Or she can stay at Auntie's and Max's."

  "Let's have her stay here. I think she'll enjoy that," Gladys agreed. "I know I will."

  Savannah nodded and continued, "Roxy, Blake, and Nate can have the larger room next to you, and Jake can have Adam's old room upstairs, unless he wants to use our tent and camp out. Jimmy said that Jake may bring his sleeping bag." She clapped her hands. "I think it'll all work out. I'm just sorry Uncle Ray can't make it. I guess his health isn't good."

  Gladys nodded. "It's poor timing for him and for Don."

  "Yes, Bri said Uncle Don isn't able to travel, either, so Aunt Rose will hitch a ride with Melanie and her family," Savannah said.

  "Sounds like you have everything under control," Michael said, carrying his dishes to the counter. He faced Savannah. "Bud's sure a basket case."

  "He is?" she asked. "Why?"

  "I don't know." Michael thought for a moment. "I doubt it's cold feet. He's probably just anxious about the ceremony and all the attention he'll get."

  "Yeah, he's not one to seek the limelight," Savannah said, releasing Teddy from the high chair and washing his hands and face. She chuckled. "Bri's in her element, though. She's having a blast."

  "She'll be the belle of the ball," Gladys said, placing the remainder of the dishes in the sink. She grimaced. "I just hope everything goes smoothly on her wedding day."

  "Why wouldn't it, Mom?" Savannah asked. "Bri has put a lot of thought and time into every detail. There's no reason why it won't be the event of the season and create memories to last a lifetime for her and for Bud."

  Michael stared down at Rags, who had just strolled into the room. He muttered, "No reason at all why something might go awry. Isn't that right, Rags, old boy?"

  Ignoring him, Savannah said, "Hon, wait until you see the kids' outfits. They'll be the most adorable flower girl and ring bearer ever. Lily, tell Daddy about your dress."

  "It's my flower dress, huh, Mommy?" the child said, pretending to feed her Alana doll from an empty baby food jar.

  "Yes. Flower-girl dress."

  "It's blue and has white flowers and dots." Lily pinched her thumb and fingers together and said in a small voice, "Tiny dots." Wide-eyed, she added, "I have shiny white shoes and ruffle socks and a basket for—" She tilted her head. "What's the basket for, Mommy?"

  "The flowers," Savannah prompted. "You'll be dropping flowers along a path in front of Auntie Bri."

  "On the ground?" Lily asked. "I could give flowers to the people."

  Savannah shook her head. "No, you're supposed to just drop the flowers on the grass."

  Michael smiled at his daughter. When he saw Teddy riding his fire engine into the room he asked, "What will you be doing at Auntie Bri's wedding, Teddy? Did you get new clothes?"

  The two-year-old nodded and began pulling at his shirt. "Tight," he said. "Too tight."

  Savannah chuckled. "Yes, Auntie Bri put your tie on a little too tight, didn't she? It won't be
that way for the wedding. You'll be comfortable in your cute little suit."

  "What will you do when you wear your suit?" Michael asked the toddler.

  Teddy tore at his shirt again.

  Michael laughed. "Will you walk with sister? You'll be carrying something, right? What will you carry?"

  Teddy looked at Lily, and shook his head. "No walk with sister."

  Savannah winced. "Yeah, we have a ways to go with him. Michael, you might have to walk with him."

  "I'm a groomsman, how will I do that?" he asked.

  She waved her hand. "Oh, we'll work it out. It's such a casual wedding." She stared at Teddy. "Let's see, you could either walk with him when it's his turn, or take him with you when you come in."

  "Are you the best man?" Gladys asked.

  "Of course, I am," Michael said, grinning.

  Gladys laughed. "I mean in the wedding."

  "That, too," he said, playfully.

  "And Vannie, you're matron of honor?" Gladys asked.

  She nodded. "I think we all have jobs. You'll give Bri away."

  "Yes," Gladys said, choking up. "If only your father could have…"

  Savannah put her hand on her mother's arm. "Don't you think he's watching us?"

  Gladys nodded.

  "He knows," Savannah said, "and he's as pleased as punch."

  "That he is," Gladys said, smiling.

  "What?" Savannah yelped, looking down. "Oh, hi, Ragsie, did you bring me something? What is that?" she asked, squinting.

  "Looks like a crinkled silk flower," Gladys said.

  Savannah picked it up and scowled. "That's exactly what it is. Rags," she scolded, "what have you done?" She walked swiftly into the dining room. "Glori!" she shouted. She chuckled and returned to the kitchen carrying a small basket with the calico cat curled up inside.

  "What did she do?" Michael asked, amused.

  Savannah grinned. "Evidently she decided to move into Lily's flower girl basket, after redecorating it of course." She held the basket close and kissed the calico on the head, announcing, "She's purring."

  "She knows how to keep from getting into trouble," Michael said. He ruffled the fur on Glori's head. "All she has to do is look cute."

  When Rags stood with his paws on Savannah's leg, trying to reach Glori and the basket, Savannah said, "Maybe they were in cahoots. Rags, did you scrunch up the flower or did this adorable, sweet kitty do it?"

  Michael laughed. "It was probably a team effort." He rinsed his hands and wiped them on a towel. "Better put that basket up, hon."

  "I can see that." She lowered the basket to the floor and nudged Glori out of it. When Rags started to climb inside, she quickly discouraged him, then stood up and examined the basket. She set it on the kitchen counter, saying, "I think we have enough flowers left over that I can repair it, and you two naughty cats had better leave it alone. No-no!"

  "Let the fun begin," Michael said, chuckling. He asked, "So when will everyone converge upon us?"

  "Thursday. Bud's parents, Edith and Gunther, are hosting the rehearsal dinner Thursday evening at their place. The wedding is Friday afternoon, and our overnight guests will stay until Sunday. Bud and Bri want to stay around over the weekend to visit with the family, so they aren't leaving for their honeymoon until Monday morning."

  "We're hosting the family for four days, are we?" he asked.

  "Pretty much, yes." Savannah giggled. "It'll be so much fun catching up with everyone."

  Michael put his arms around her. "And it's fun for me to see you enjoying yourself."

  "Thanks," she said, taking his face in her hands and kissing him twice.

  "Your phone, Vannie," Gladys called from the dining room, where she watched Teddy scoot around the room on his fire engine.

  "Thanks, Mom." Savannah looked at the screen. "It's Jake!" Into the phone she said, "Hi, Cousin Jake. How are you?"

  "Hi," he said. "Doing good. And you?"

  "Great. Been busy helping Bri with the wedding details. Lots of details."

  "I can only imagine," Jake said. "I wasn't all that involved in any of that with my two weddings." He laughed. "So I guess I can't take the blame for the marriages not working out."

  More quietly, Savannah said, "Yeah, Jake, I'm sorry to hear about you and Marla."

  "It's okay. I'm having fun playing the dating game again," he quipped.

  "You're coming to the wedding, aren't you?" she asked. "Are you bringing a date?"

  "Yeah, I'll be there." He laughed. "No date. There are too many to choose from, and I'm not sure you'd like any of them, anyway."

  "Oh, Jake," she carped. "Well, maybe you'll find someone here."

  "There'll be single women?" he asked enthusiastically.

  "Oh, um, now that you mention it, I'm not really sure. Maybe," she said.

  "Or I can just dance with your little girl—what's her name?"

  "Lily," Savannah said. "Yes, she loves to dance."

  "How old is she now," he asked, "eighteen?"

  "No," she chuckled, "she's four."

  "Just my luck," he complained. "Hey, yeah, so I just wanted to make sure you have a place for me—you know, if I come."

  "Sure, Jake. I've set aside a room for you in case you want to stay inside."

  "Why wouldn't I?" he asked.

  Feeling a little uncomfortable, she revealed, "Jimmy thought you might prefer camping outside. We have a tent…"

  "I don't know where my brother got that idea," Jake carped. He hesitated, then asked, "Are you still in Aunt Maggie's old house?"

  "We sure are."

  "Then I guess you have a lot of space. I'd like a room to myself if you have it."

  "No problem," she said. "When will you be here?"

  "If the sky don't fall and my truck does start, I'll be there in time for that dinner you mentioned in your voicemail. Or," he continued, "I may ride up with Jimmy. Either way, count me in."

  "Super. See you then. Thanks for the call, Jake."

  "How is Jake?" Gladys asked as soon as Savannah ended the call. She shook her head. "Imagine, another breakup."

  "Yes," Savannah said. "He seems capable of engaging women, but either he hasn't figured out how to build a relationship with someone or he chooses flakey women." She smiled at her mother. "He sounds okay. He'll be here Thursday along with most of the rest of the family."

  "Great!" Gladys cheered. "It'll be good to see everyone. It's been too long between visits."

  "You saw most of them last year when you and Auntie went to LA. You two and Aunt Rose got a lot of visiting done then."

  Gladys smiled. "That we did, and I'm ready for another dose of family time. I'm so glad everyone's staying around for a while. It'll be fun."

  ****

  Early Thursday afternoon Savannah, along with her mother and her aunts, Rose and Margaret, entertained some of her cousins and their families on the wraparound porch. She said, "I really like your rig, Jimmy. It's just about as big as Aunt Maggie's entire house."

  "Is not," Margaret grumbled, "but it is big. Must be hard to drive. I'd be scared to death to get behind the wheel of something like that unless it was on a country road somewhere—a wide country road."

  "Me, too," Gladys agreed.

  "Those things are major gas guzzlers," Jake said, "and polluters."

  Jimmy ignored his brother's comment, and Savannah changed the subject. "I'm sorry you boys' mom and dad couldn't make it."

  "Yeah," Jake said, "the old man never took care of his health, and he's suffering for it now. Too much fatty food and long hours at work. He'd even bring his work home—actual work, and the worry of work. Stress. Stress is a killer, you know."

  When no one responded, Gladys said, "It really is sad. Ray's too young to be having such health issues." She asked brightly, "So Jake, what kind of work are you doing now? Didn't you go into business with your dad? He wanted to groom you to take it over, right?"

  "Yeah, that didn't work out." Jake fidgeted in his chair, then sat
up and announced, "I've started my own business."

  "Oh?" Savannah said. "What kind of business?"

  "Well, nothing as important as what my brother does," Jake responded. "He's a big shot attorney, you know." He looked at Jimmy. "How you could embrace such a hypocritical way of life, I'll never know."

  Margaret smiled at Jimmy. "I heard that you'd passed the bar. Congratulations! I must say I was surprised, though. I thought you were happy working in that law office as a paralegal. You had a pretty good thing going there, didn't you?"

  Jimmy nodded. "But I saw an opportunity and took it." He smiled. "I really do enjoy having my own clients." He winked. "And an office with a window."

  "Well, good for you," Margaret said. "People should enjoy their work."

  "Yes," Gladys added, "we're proud of you, Jimmy."

  He nodded, then said to Savannah, "Thanks, by the way, for the card. I wondered how you knew about it, but Belinda said she sent a text inviting you all to the grand-opening celebration." He grinned. "If you'd call it that. We had cake and champagne. It was nice."

  "I'm glad," Savannah said. "We wanted to be there, but we were at the grand opening of an antique store in Oregon that week." When there was a lull in the conversation, she focused on Jake again. "What kind of business did you start, Jake?"

  "I collect metal," he said.

  "He's a scrapper," Jimmy explained, chuckling.

  "Don't knock it," Jake said. "I work my own hours, don't have to deal with people much, and I can sometimes make pretty darn good money."

  "We know someone in that business, don't we, Ron?" Melanie asked. She addressed Rose, "Mom, you've met our neighbors Cliff and Toni. They run a metal business. It keeps them pretty busy, and they seem to do okay."

  Ron asked, "Jake, do you have one of those trucks with the side racks so you can stack the stuff real high? Sometimes Cliff appears to be so overloaded I wonder how he clears the overhead utility lines."

  More enthusiastic now, Jake said, "Yes, I went into a partnership with a local rancher on an old stock truck. It's perfect for hauling some of those large and awkward pieces of metal. I also do moving and trash pickup. I keep pretty busy when I want to."