Cats in Cahoots (A Klepto Cat Mystery Book 18) Read online

  “I’m so glad to see you,” Savannah said, holding him tightly for several minutes.

  “I missed you, too, hon,” he said, squeezing her to him. “It was a long five days.”

  She pulled back and looked at him. “Five days, six hours, fifteen minutes and…” she joked.

  He kissed her and wrapped his arms around her again in a bear hug.

  “So the punkin’s napping?”

  “Yes, she just went down.”

  He thinned his lips. “Hon, I spoke to Rick at the clinic a while ago and he said they’ve really been slammed today. On top of regular clients, they’ve had a couple of emergencies. I told him I’d come in and help. Okay with you?”

  “Sure, Michael. I understand. We do have a business to run.” She yawned. “I think I’ll join Lily in a nap. I’m feeling rather worn out.”

  “I imagine, with all the company you had this week. Help me bring in my stuff, would you? Then I’ll get out of your hair so you can get some rest.” Suddenly, he stared off toward the Crane house. “Hey, is that the sound you were telling me about?” When she nodded, he asked, “Have you figured out what it is?”

  “Yeah, actually. It’s a healing sound for stress relief.”

  “Oh?” he asked, tilting his head as if listening more intently. “How did you come to that conclusion?”

  She let out a sigh and picked up his jacket and rubber boots. “It’s a long story. How about we take this stuff inside and I’ll tell you all about it later.”

  Within minutes, Michael kissed Savannah good-bye and she lay down on the bed. She had just closed her eyes when her phone rang. “Hi Auntie,” she said quietly. “What’s up?”

  “I saw Michael drive by. He’s home, huh?”

  “Yeah, just got home. He said they’re busy at the clinic this afternoon, so he went over to help out.”

  “So what are you doing? Feeling better?”

  “Yeah, just tired. I’m resting, actually.”

  “Oh.”

  “Why? What’s up?”

  “Well, I just wanted to tell you the latest.”

  “What latest?”

  “The news from Maple Street.”

  “Oh dear, what now?”

  “Well, Frank Thomas called me and said the strangeness continues. Evidently his older son left a sweatshirt on their patio overnight and when he went to get something out of the pocket this morning, it was gone.”

  “It was kind of windy last night,” Savannah said. “Probably blew away.”

  “Perhaps. If so, someone found it and is wearing it.”

  “Oh?”

  “Yeah, Frank’s son was waiting for the school bus this morning and another kid—actually maybe a young adult—rode past on a skateboard wearing the rust-colored sweatshirt. He knows it was his sweatshirt because he’d backed up against some fresh paint that day, which is why he took it off. They’re also missing dog food.”

  “Dog food?”

  “Yes—they keep it in a bin outside and it appears someone’s been taking small amounts out of it.” Without pausing, Margaret said, “Oh, and get this—the book that went missing—it showed up.”

  “Oh, so they’d misplaced it?”

  “No, it suddenly appeared on their back steps with a crude handmade bookmark inside. They don’t have a clue as to who borrowed it and why.”

  Savannah chuckled. “A my gosh. That’s strange. So, Auntie, has your watering can gone missing again?”

  “No. I’m keeping an eagle eye on it. But we think someone took some oranges out of my car. I bought oranges at the store and left them in the car overnight. When I remembered to bring them in, there seemed to be fewer of them in the bag. I’m pretty sure someone walked off with a couple of them.”

  “That’s really odd, isn’t it? Does anyone have any idea who might be doing this? Did the Thomas boy recognize the guy wearing his sweatshirt?”

  “Well, the neighborhood’s coming down on the Crane family.”

  “Really?” Savannah said, disappointment evident in her voice. “I was hoping they weren’t involved.”

  “Think about it; none of this was happening until they moved in. Malinda Polido saw one of the Crane twins—she thinks it was the quiet one…”

  “Kira?”

  “Yes, she saw her fiddling with her children’s riding toys. She asked the girl what she was doing and she said she was just putting it back up on the lawn so it wouldn’t get taken. But Malinda didn’t believe her and chased her off.”

  “Oh, poor Kira. That must have frightened her. I don’t think she’d take anything. Seems like a sweet kid. I wonder if it’s the kids’ uncle causing the trouble.”

  “Have you met him?” Margaret asked.

  “No—I just saw him briefly once, I think. He’s kind of a scrawny guy. Must be Tiffany’s brother. He sure doesn’t look anything like the kids’ father, the minister.” Before Margaret could respond, Savannah said, “Oh, Auntie, someone’s at the door. Gotta go. Thanks for catching me up with the news.” Once she’d ended the call, she said to herself, “There goes my nap.” It took her several seconds to sprint through the house to the back door where she found Kira in tears. “What’s wrong, honey?”

  “I can’t find my flute,” she said, sniffling. “I wondered if Rags has it.”

  “Oh…um, I don’t think so, Kira. He hasn’t been out in a few days.” She gave her a sideways glance. “I don’t think he could carry a flute, do you? How big is it?”

  The child held her hands out indicating about twelve inches.

  “No, that would be too big and heavy for him to carry. When did you first miss it?”

  “When I got home from school.”

  “Really? I thought I heard someone playing music a little while ago. That wasn’t you?”

  “No.”

  “Maybe it was one of your brothers.”

  She shook her head. “That was probably Luke.”

  “Luke plays music, too?”

  “Oh yes, all the time.”

  “Come sit down with me here on the porch and let’s talk.” Once the two of them had settled in chairs across from each other, Savannah asked, “Now where did you last see your flute?”

  “In my room this morning. I always tell it good-bye when I leave for school. And I let it out of my closet every day when I get home. It’s gone,” she said, crying.

  “I’ll bet one of your brothers or your sister is playing a trick on you. It’ll probably show up.”

  Kira sat quietly for a few moments, then she looked up at the kitchen window and waved. “Hi, Rags.”

  Savannah smiled when she turned and saw him watching them from his kitty perch. “He seems happy to see you.”

  “I’m happy to see him, too. Can he come out?”

  “Sure, let me get his harness and leash.”

  “I can put it on him,” Kira offered.

  “Okay, if you want. Come on in and I’ll show you where we keep it.”

  “Where’s your baby?” Kira asked when she stepped into the kitchen with Savannah.

  “Napping.” She plucked the harness and leash off a hook and handed it to Kira.

  Immediately, Rags rushed to the child and began rubbing against her. Kira laughed. “Do you want to go outside? Hold still and let me put this on you.” Before she could slip the harness on the cat, however, he stretched up and put his paws on her chest. She giggled. “Hey, you’re going to knock me over.” Finally, with Savannah’s help, Kira slipped the harness on Rags and he eagerly lead them out into the yard.

  Savannah walked alongside Kira as the child followed Rags around the property. They picked a carrot from the garden and Kira fed it to the horse. They walked into the front yard, where Rags chased a butterfly, then they went back out through the orchard, eventually returning to the porch. Savannah and Kira settled in a couple of padded porch chairs and Rags lay down between them.

  After a few minutes, Kira said, “I like it over here. It’s quiet.”
>
  “Yeah, I imagine it can get kind of noisy at your house with such a large family.”

  “And my brothers can really get noisy—my dad and uncle, too.”

  Savannah gazed at the child. “Kira, I know that your dad is a minister…”

  She nodded. “On the computer. He preaches to people on the computer and they pay him. Money comes in the mail. He’s always sending Mama to the bank.”

  “Nice,” Savannah said. She then asked, “What does your uncle do?”

  “He mooches, mostly.” When Savannah didn’t respond, she said, “That’s what my dad says. He’s a moocher.”

  “He doesn’t work?”

  “Yeah, he does jobs around the house. Sometimes he goes to work someplace. You know—delivering pizza or unloading trucks at a store—things like that. He never stays working for very long and that makes my dad real mad.” She shifted in her chair before saying, “Mama sticks up for him. He’s her little brother. They fight over Uncle Rodney a lot.”

  Eager to change the subject, Savannah looked down at the cat, who was giving himself a bath, and said, “Um, Kira, did you know that Rags is a hero?”

  Her eyes brightened. “No.”

  “He’s being honored tomorrow in the park.”

  “Really? What did he do?” she asked, petting Rags, who was now sprawled out in front of her on his back. “Will he get an award? I’d like to see him get an award. That would be awesome.” She spoke more quietly. “I got an award at school once. I didn’t like getting up in front of everyone, though.” She tilted her head and squinted toward Savannah. “Will he have to stand in front of everyone? Do you think he’ll be afraid?”

  “I doubt it. Hey, how would you like to go with us to the park for Rags’s ceremony? I think he’d like it if you were with him on his special day.”

  “Yeah! I’d like it, too. I’ll go ask my mom. What time? What shall I wear? Should I come over here or will you pick me up at my house? Will I need money?”

  Savannah smiled at Kira’s enthusiasm. “How about if I walk home with you and talk to your mom about it?”

  “Okay,” she said, leaping out of her chair. “Can Rags come?” She frowned. “What about Lily?”

  “Oh, her grandmother’s with her. She’s fine. Yeah, bring Rags, if you want. Come on. Let’s go see if we can get permission.”

  “This has turned out to be a good day,” Kira said as she skipped alongside Savannah. “I’m not so sad about losing my flute now.”

  “Oh, it’ll show up, don’t you think?” Savannah said.

  “I guess. As my mother says sometimes, ‘anything’s possible.’”

  ****

  “So Kira’s excited about going with us to the event at the park tomorrow?” Michael asked later that afternoon.

  “Yes. I’m kind of surprised she wants to go; she’s so shy and tends to keep to herself. Did I tell you she has an imaginary friend?”

  “How do you know that?”

  “Tiffany told me. She’s not very happy about it and tries to discourage her. She wants Kira to give up the imaginary friend and make real friendships, but Kira insists her friend is real.”

  “What do you think?” Michael asked. “Has she opened up to you?”

  “No. We haven’t discussed that issue—not yet, anyway.”

  Just then, Gladys called from the kitchen. “Ready to eat?”

  “Oh good,” Michael said. “I sure am ready for some home-cooking. What did you make for us, Gladys?”

  She smiled. “Meatballs, gravy, mashed potatoes, asparagus, and a nice salad from your garden.”

  “My favorite,” he said.

  Gladys tilted her head. “I thought my stuffed pork chops was your favorite meal, Michael.”

  Savannah laughed. “Whatever’s being served is his favorite.”

  “Well, isn’t that a nice attitude? Makes you want to cook for him, doesn’t it, Vannie?”

  She nodded. “Yes, he knows how to stay in my favor, that’s for sure.” She hugged her mother. “Thank you for taking over tonight, Mom. I’m beat.”

  “I know you are, honey. Now, eat something. Maybe you’d like to go to bed early. I’ll get Lilliana ready for bed.”

  “Michael might arm-wrestle you for that privilege tonight,” she said, smiling.

  He picked up the toddler and gave her an airplane ride into the kitchen. “You got that right,” he said, laughing. “I sure missed my girls.” He placed the baby in her high chair and ran his hand gently over her head, then turned toward his wife. “Hey, I meant to ask, have you noticed anything else missing from around here since you told me about my tools walking away?”

  Savannah chuckled. “And walking back.” She shook her head. “No, I haven’t noticed.”

  “Well, remind me to go take a look around the shed after dinner.”

  “Sure.”

  Once the trio had cleaned their plates, Gladys offered, “Berry pie, anyone?”

  “Pie?” Michael said, enthusiastically. “Did you make it?”

  “No, your wife did,” Gladys admitted. “It was in the freezer.”

  “Yeah, I’ll have a small sliver.”

  When Gladys looked at Savannah, she said, “Thanks, Mom; I’ll save mine for breakfast.”

  “Pie for breakfast?”

  Savannah nodded. “People eat fresh fruit, fruit turnovers, and fruit-filled sweet rolls for breakfast. Why not fruit pie?”

  “And fruit on our cereal,” Michael added.

  Gladys cocked her head and laughed. “Yes, I guess you’re right. Why not pie for breakfast?”

  Once Michael had finished his pie, he found a damp cloth and wiped Lily’s hands and face. “I want to take a look around while it’s still light.” He held his hands out to the baby. “Want to go outside with Daddy?”

  When Savannah saw Lily eagerly reach out to Michael, she left the room. “I’ll get her jacket.” She smiled at the two of them as they headed out the kitchen door. “They’re quite the pair, aren’t they?” she said to her mother.

  “Yes, they remind me of you and your dad when you were that age. You were the apple of his eye.”

  Savannah cleared a few dishes off the table and set them on the sink counter for Gladys to rinse. “What happened when Brianna came along, Mom?”

  Gladys looked into her daughter’s green eyes. “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, did Dad treat her like a princess, too? Did I resent her for taking some of his attention? Or did the new baby become yours and Dad still favored me?”

  “Oh Vannie, where do you get this stuff? What kind of a question is that, anyway?”

  “Um, well, I’ve been wondering what it’s like for a second child coming into a family when the first child is so…special. We love Lily so much, I can’t imagine there being love left over for another child.”

  Gladys turned to Savannah. “You’re kidding, aren’t you?”

  Savannah shook her head. “No. Well, I know how you feel about Lily. Can you imagine yourself loving our second child as much?”

  “Absolutely,” Gladys said, laughing. She put her hand on her daughter’s chest. “Oh, honey, you have so much love in there…it’s an endless, boundless love that will come tumbling out of you the minute you set eyes on your next child and the next and the next.”

  “Whoa. Let’s don’t get carried away. I’m not planning to have a flock of kids, you know.”

  Gladys winked. “Just making a point.” She added, “To answer your question about your dad and Brianna, it was love at first sight for him, just as it was with you. She became his precious baby girl and you maintained your throne as his treasured firstborn. Nothing changed for you, and, no, you weren’t resentful, because no one showed favoritism to either one of you.” She put her arm around Savannah’s waist and leaned against her shoulder. “Just remember, Vannie, parents always have enough love to go around.”

  Savannah hugged her mother and smiled. “Thanks, Mom. That’s one concern I
guess I can cross off my list.”

  Gladys pulled back and looked up at her daughter. “You’re such a worrywart. Where do you get that from, anyway?”

  Just then, Michael stepped into the kitchen carrying Lily, who was pointing and chirping, “Oof-oof, goggie, ho!”

  Savannah laughed. “That’s quite a story you’re telling there, sweet pea.” When she turned to Michael for an interpretation, she noticed he seemed distracted. “Something wrong?”

  “I don’t know,” he said, placing Lily on the floor and removing her jacket. “Maybe you can tell me.”

  “What do you mean?”

  He ran one hand through his straight dark-brown hair. “It looks like someone’s been using some of my tools. Everything seems to be in place, but there are traces of sawdust under the vise.” He squinted in her direction. “Did you give someone permission to use my tools?”

  She shook her head, saying, “Oh, Michael, you probably left the dust from your last job.”

  “I don’t think so,” he said adamantly. “I haven’t used the vise in months.”

  “But you must admit you aren’t very good about cleaning up your sawdust. Remember when we were doing that big renovation and I had to keep cleaning up after you?”

  He grinned at her. “You didn’t have to, you just did it—usually before I was even finished making sawdust for the day.” He became more serious. “Hon, someone has been using my vise—I’m sure of it. You said Craig used some of my tools to board up the broken window before you got it fixed.”

  She nodded.

  “Did he do any sawing in the shed?”

  She thought for a moment. “No. He found a piece of wood that fit and just nailed it up there. No one has been doing any wood work while you were gone.”

  He held something up to show her. “Then where did this come from?”

  “What is it?” Savannah asked, peering at what he held in his hand.

  “Looks like sandpaper to me,” Gladys said.

  “Yeah, micro-grit. I haven’t used sandpaper this fine in years.”

  After standing in silence for a moment, Savannah said quietly, “So you think someone is coming over here and using your tools…in your shed…without us knowing it? Darn, that’s unsettling.” She gazed through the window toward the Cranes’ home. “I just wonder if it’s the kids’ uncle. According to what I’ve heard, he’s pretty much a ne’er-do-well.”