“Oh, Michael, we wouldn’t be in any danger. We’ll be inside the house and we’ll call the officer as soon as we see the thief in action.”

  “And we can take his picture, so if he gets away they can identify him,” Holly said.

  “Great idea,” Janet agreed with enthusiasm. “So who’s in?”

  Savannah glanced at Michael and said, “I’ll help.”

  “Count me in,” Gladys said, giggling.

  Holly chimed in. “Me too.”

  Savannah looked at Iris. “Do you want to join us? This is actually right down your alley.”

  “For sure,” Iris glanced at Craig, “but we’re heading down to San Diego tomorrow afternoon. Craig has business down there and I want to check out a couple of inns. I’ve been in contact with some managers I’d like to meet, and they promised me a tour.”

  “Oh,” Savannah said. “Will you be coming back up here?”

  Craig nodded. “Yeah. Probably early next week.”

  “Okay, then,” Savannah said. “I think we ought to do the stakeout tomorrow night.”

  Janet bounced excitedly in her chair. “Sounds good.”

  “Mom?” Savannah said.

  “Yeah, sure.”

  Holly also agreed. She then asked, “Savannah, you have a signing tomorrow, don’t you?”

  “Yes.” Savannah grinned. “Want to come?”

  Holly rolled her eyes. “I don’t know. Hanging out with you and Rags can be kind of...well...hazardous.”

  “What do you mean?” Savannah joked. “I thought you enjoyed a little excitement in your life.”

  “Yeah, excitement is one thing; what your cat brings to the table is something else.”

  “Where is this cat you keep talking about?” Janet asked. “What’s wrong with him? Is he a cat you wrangled in from the wilds of Africa or something?”

  “Where is Rags?” Adam asked. When no one spoke, he said, “I’ll go find him.”

  “Are you finished eating, Son?” Michael asked.

  Adam looked at his plate. “Yes. I want to eat more, but it just won’t fit.”

  Iris laughed. “I know the feeling.” She looked at Michael and Keith. “The steak was delicious.”

  Michael nodded at Adam. “Okay, Son, go see if you can find the African lion, then.”

  When the boy returned with Rags, Janet said, “Oh yes, I saw him on your deck yesterday. He is a big boy.” When Adam placed the cat on the floor near where Janet sat, she asked, “Where’d the name come from? I’d think of Rags for a cat or a dog with a lot of shaggy fur. But he’s sleek and beautiful.” She petted him while apologizing, “I mean, handsome.”

  Savannah laughed, then explained, “He’s half ragdoll.”

  “Get outta here!” Janet said, pulling back from him for a moment. “I don’t know a lot about cats, but I’ve had a few, and one of them has part ragdoll. She didn’t look anything like this guy.”

  “No, he doesn’t look at all like his mother. She was...” she pointed. “Well, she looked more like Pauline, there.”

  “Pauline,” Janet crooned, when she saw the buff-and-brown cat saunter into the room. “What a beauty. Yes, she resembles my Daphne, rest her little soul. Only she had longer fur. This kitty is so plush.”

  “That’s her British shorthair influence,” Savannah explained.

  “So when did you lose your Daphne?” Holly asked.

  “Christmas two years ago. I loved that cat.”

  “Well, maybe you’d like to take Pauline home with you,” Michael offered.

  “No, Dad,” Adam said, rushing to pick up the cat. He snuggled with her. “You said we could keep Pauline.”

  “I know,” Michael said, “but what will we do with her when we get home and you go back to your mom’s?”

  “Take her with me,” he suggested.

  “I rather believe she’ll be your cat at our house.” When Michael saw Savannah and Adam smile widely at each other, he said, “Yup, that’s what I figured—a conspiracy against poor old dad again. First you finagle another horse into my world and now another cat. Who do you think I am, Dr. Doolittle?”

  Cassie crinkled up her face. “Who?”

  “Yeah, who’s that?” Adam asked.

  “Maybe Noah,” Michael said. “You kids know who Noah is, right—the guy who built the arK?”

  They both nodded.

  “An animal hoarder,” he said. “I’ll be known worldwide as the veterinarian hoarder.”

  “Oh, Michael,” Savannah said amidst laughter from those around the table, “don’t be so dramatic.”

  Iris reminded Michael, “You don’t have as many animals as I do. Remember, together Craig and I have eleven cats.” When Janet looked questioningly, she said, “Eight of them are cuddle cats for guests at my bed-and-breakfast inn.”

  “How absolutely charming,” Janet gushed. She smiled when Rags put his paws on her leg and began sniffing what was on top of the table. She petted him. “Looking for a handout, are you Rags? Savannah, he really is a pretty cat—such nice sleek fur.” She leaned toward her. “Now, what’s this about you signing books? Here locally? Is it just for children?”

  Savannah smiled. “Well, we have the children’s books, as I mentioned, and I wrote Rags’s memoirs.” She grinned. “His meowmoirs, if you will.”

  “How clever!” Janet exclaimed. “And you’re signing books while you’re here?”

  “Yes. We have an overzealous agent who likes to set up book-signing events wherever I travel.”

  Janet beamed. “How cool is that?”

  “And Rags signs the books for kids,” Cassie said. “...with his paw.”

  “Remarkable,” Janet said. “I’ve never seen that before.” She laughed. “Well, I’ve never met a celebrity cat.”

  “He’s also in a movie,” Adam said. “A document.”

  “Documentary,” Michael corrected.

  “A documentary?” Janet said. “Gladys, you didn’t tell me he was this famous.”

  Amused, Keith said, “I guess you two have a lifetime of things to share with one another.”

  Gladys patted Janet’s arm. “That’s right.”

  “Where’s the signing tomorrow?” Janet asked. “I want to be there.”

  Savannah smiled. “How nice. That’s one,” she quipped. “I’ll get the itinerary out in a minute and show you where we’ll be.”

  “Great.” She glanced around at the others. “So we’re on for a stakeout tomorrow night at my house? Here’s the address. Like I told Savannah, I’m about a block and a half out the front door—longer if you take the beach route. I walked over here. I always take the street if I’m walking home in the dark.”

  “Oh no you don’t,” Gladys said. “We’ll give you a ride home. I don’t want you walking alone in the dark at night.”

  Janet smiled. “How nice.”

  “Adam and I’ll walk you home when you’re ready,” Michael offered.

  “And me,” Cassie said.

  “Me too,” Bethany chirped.

  Me too,” Lily mimicked.

  “Teddy, how about you?” Michael teased.

  “Let’s all go,” Keith suggested. “It wouldn’t hurt us to walk off some of that dinner.”

  Janet yawned. “Okay, I’d better scoot out of here...that is, as soon as I help with the dishes.”

  “No need,” Savannah said. “It’s easy peasy tonight. Want to take home the salad for your lunch? There’s not enough to serve this crowd tomorrow.”

  “I’d love it. Thank you.” Janet looked around at everyone. “This has been magical. It’s as if I’ve known all of you forever.” She choked up and held her arms out, inviting a group hug with as many as would fit. “My family,” she murmured.

  When they pulled back, Savannah took Janet’s hand. “So nice to know you.”

  “You too.” Janet took a breath. “Well, entourage, shall we go?”

  “Can Rags go?” Cassie asked. “I’ll put him on a leash.”

  “And Pauline?” Adam asked.

  Michael looked around. “I think Pauline went to take a nap. Let’s not bother her, okay? I’m concerned about her being out on roadways without a leash, anyway.”

  “Okay, off we go,” Keith said, hoisting Lily up onto his shoulders.

  ****

  The following afternoon Savannah, Adam, and Cassie met Rob at a small independent bookstore in the beach community.

  “I love these quaint bookstores,” Savannah said, looking around after they’d walked inside with Rags. She pointed. “Oh, look. There’s a larger-than-life poster of you, Rags. How cool is that?”

  “That was my idea,” a twenty-something young man said, walking up to them. “I thought it would get a lot of attention over the weeks before your program.” He glanced around at the crowd of people arriving. “Looks like it worked. I wonder where we’ll put them all.”

  “It’s a gorgeous day,” Savannah said, “and you have that nice lawn along the side of the building. Any objection to us greeting people out there?”

  The young man’s eyes lit up. “Let me ask my aunt.” He motioned to a woman who had just emerged from a back room. “Aunt Sadie, this is...”

  She smiled and approached with her hand out. “You must be Savannah Ivey.” She looked down. “And this is Rags?” She petted him.

  “Yes, and Adam and Cassie, my helpers today,” Savannah said.

  Sadie acknowledged the children, then said to Savannah, “So nice to finally meet you. We’ve been selling your books like crazy—you know, the children’s books. I was so excited to get the memoir.” She corrected herself with a giggle, “I mean the meowmoir. That book has been popular, too. I imagine a lot of people here already have the books and want Rags’s paw print and your autograph, of course, Mrs. Ivey.”

  Savannah nodded. “Love your apron.” She recited the message: “‘Books and Cats: Life is Good.’”

  “It’s the truth,” Sadie asserted. “I have three fur-babies at home. I bring Samson here to the shop most days, but I didn’t want to tempt fate today.” She leaned toward Savannah and said more quietly, “What if the two boys didn’t like each other?” She petted Rags and crooned, “You really are a handsome cat, aren’t you, boy?” She turned to the young man, “Now, Bradley, what is your question?”

  “Well, so many people are coming in, we wondered if we might...”

  “Do this out on the lawn?” she interrupted. “Brilliant. We have that wall around the grass. We can take chairs out and cushions from the sofa in the reading room. The trees on the empty lot next door will provide shade.” She squealed, “Yes, Bradley, that’s a grand idea. Oh, this is going to be so much fun.”

  “Adam,” Savannah said, “let me take Rags, and you can help move these chairs and the cushions out, if you don’t mind.”

  “Okay,” he said, handing Savannah Rags’s leash.

  ****

  After a little more than an hour most of the guests had left. Savannah had signed nearly thirty books and Rags had been greeted by dozens of adults and small children. When Savannah noticed Rags turning in place at the end of his leash, she looked around for Adam and saw him showing Cassie something in a book. She motioned to the children. When they approached, she asked, “Would you kids like to take Rags out to a dirt patch? I think he needs to...you know.’”

  Adam nodded. “I know.” He made a face. “I just hope it’s not the big ‘you know’.”

  “Yeah, just pee,” Cassie agreed.

  “Speaking of that,” Savannah said, “see if he wants a drink of water, will you?”

  “Okay,” Adam said. “Come on, Cassie.”

  Savannah watched as the children walked away with the cat, then she turned to Rob, who had joined the audience halfway into the program. “Thanks for coming. I think this was a successful event. It was sure a pleasant setting.”

  “Very SoCal beach,” he quipped.

  “So what do we have,” she asked, “two more signings? That one bookstore cancelled, right?”

  “Yes. Two more: one at the library and one at the bookstore in the mall. You should draw a crowd there. It’ll be evening, after work, when families are out shopping.”

  “They are?” Savannah asked.

  Rob winked. “That’s what they tell me. The event at the library is during a special activity for a summer-school program, so it’s also mid-week.” He smiled. “This has been a really successful promotion, don’t you think so? I work with two other authors, and they don’t get nearly the attention or response that you do.”

  “It’s the cat,” she said. “He’s the star in our family.”

  After thanking Sadie and her nephew and waiting for the young man to roll up the poster for them to take home, Savannah looked in the direction the children had walked with Rags. “What’s taking them so long?” she wondered aloud.

  “Maybe they’re waiting for Rags to do his thing,” Rob suggested. “He probably got distracted.” When Savannah looked at him, he said, “It happens.”

  She grinned at him. “If you say so.” She picked up her purse. “Well, I think we’re finished here. Let me gather up the kids and we’ll be on our way.” She asked over her shoulder, “When are you and Cheryl coming out to the beach?”

  “I thought you’d never ask,” he said glibly.

  “I told you you’re invited to come anytime. How about tomorrow? You can have lunch with us.”

  “Sounds good,” Rob said, opening Savannah’s car door so she could put her purse and the poster inside. “I’ll check with Cheryl. Hey, how about if we bring the lunch? I know a great deli that just opened. We can bring an array of roast beef, ham, and turkey sandwiches with their signature salad.”

  “Sounds great. Thank you,” she said. She looked across the expanse of grass, trying to see what was keeping the children.

  “So what are you all doing tonight?” Rob asked.

  She raised her eyebrows. “Well, we gals are doing a stakeout at a cousin’s house.”

  “What?” he asked, obviously curious.

  “Yeah, someone’s running around taking things from people in the beach community and we’re going to try catching him in the act.”

  Rob smirked. “You know who it is, don’t you? When did this start? Let me guess, when you folks arrived with the...ahem, klepto cat.”

  “No, Rob, it’s impossible. Rags has absolutely not gotten out,” she insisted. “We keep him in a pen at night. It isn’t Rags.” She looked at him. “This is a real burglar.”

  “Aunt Savannah! Aunt Savannah!” Cassie shouted, running toward her. “Come see what Rags found.”

  “Oh no,” she complained. “What now?”

  “Oh, come on, he’s a kick,” Rob said. “You still get a kick out of him, don’t you?”

  “Not lately, Rob. In fact, I could be a suspect in a burglary myself because of him.”

  “What?” he asked. “What are you talking about?”

  After locking her car and putting the keys in her pocket, she waved a hand in the air. “I’ll tell you about it later. Let’s go see what the cat’s gotten himself into this time.” She glanced up toward the heavens for a split second. “Lordy, lordy, as my aunt would say.”

  Rob shook his head and tried to digest what Savannah had just told him as he hurried after her.

  When Savannah saw Adam in the distance waving wildly at them, she hastened her pace.

  Cassie took her hand, leading her the last few steps, then pointed. “Look.”

  Savannah gasped. “Oh, my gosh, what is that?”

  “I think it’s a baby squirrel,” Adam said. “That’s probably its mom, up in the tree there, chirping at us. She looks mad.”

  “Did Rags catch the little thing?” Savannah grasped her hands at her chest. “He didn’t hurt the baby, did he?”

  Adam shook his head. “I don’t think so. I think the baby fell out of that tree and Rags just found him.”

  “He won’t let us take it,” Cassie complained. “He thinks it’s his.”

  “Finders keepers, huh?” Rob said, chuckling.

  Savannah thought for a moment, then said calmly, “Okay, now I think if we leave, the mama squirrel will take care of things here. She’ll know what to do. She should be able to carry her baby back to the nest if Rags will just get out of her way. Come on, boy,” she said, reaching out for the cat.

  But Rags wasn’t about to leave the kit.

  “He thinks it’s his and he doesn’t want to give it back,” Adam said.

  Savannah picked up the cat, but when she did, Rags grabbed the baby squirrel and held it between his front paws.

  “Oh no,” Cassie said. “Will he hurt it?”

  “I don’t think so,” Savannah assured her. She turned to Rob. “Can you just gently take it from him and put it back on the ground there? You’ll have to be quick, he’s pretty possessive.”

  Rob took the squirrel in one hand and eased it from Rags, who reached as far as he could, trying to grab it back. Savannah turned away, holding the cat tightly in her arms, and carried the squirming bundle of fur and claws toward the car. “Hurry up, kids,” she called over her shoulder. “I can’t hold onto him much longer.”

  “Are you sure the baby will be all right?” Cassie whined as they neared the car.

  “Yes, squirrels can carry their babies and even climb trees with them in their mouth,” Savannah explained. “I’m sure he’ll be okay. Now if it was an owl or another kind of bird, we’d have to take more drastic measures—get a wild-life expert out to put the bird back into the nest or take it to a wildlife refuge, maybe. But that baby squirrel looked in good shape. Rags didn’t hurt it, and the mother was certainly concerned.”

  “Yeah. I thought she was going to attack us,” Adam said. “She acted really mad.”

  Once all the passengers were inside the car, Savannah watched Rags dart from window to window, trying to find a way back to the squirrel baby. “Now he’s mad.” She buckled her seat belt, started the car, and waved to Rob. She lowered her window a few inches and called out, “Thank you.”

  Rob shook his head in disbelief at what he’d just witnessed with Rags, then waved and said, “See you out at the beach.”