“Yeah, it’s me,” he said, quickly scanning her up and down with one glance. “How are you?”

  “Great,” she said. She looked around. “What are you doing here?”

  “Just passing through. Saw your name on one of those photographs earlier today, heard about the party, and decided to stop in and say hi. You won something, didn’t you?”

  Craig cleared his throat and Savannah quickly said, “Oh Travis, this is Craig Sledge. Craig, this is an old…friend of mine.”

  The two men nodded toward one another, Travis peering inquisitively at the detective. “Your husband?” he asked.

  Savannah grinned. “No, a friend. My husband’s over there,” she pointed, “…with Craig’s wife.”

  Just then a petite woman walked up to Travis. He reached around her waist, hugging her to him. “This is Millie. She’s a model.” He looked at Savannah. “Maybe she could model for you.” He turned to the willowy blond. “This is Savannah, the photographer, and her friend…”

  “Craig,” he said, reaching his hand out to the woman.

  Savannah nodded, then said, “Well, I’d better get back to my husband. Nice seeing you, Travis, and to meet you, Millie. Take care.” Before walking away, she turned and asked, “How long will you be staying?”

  “We’re leaving tonight,” Travis said. “Just wanted to say hi and see how you’re doing.”

  “Yeah,” Millie said, “we’re heading for Seattle. I have a modeling job there.”

  Savannah smiled. “Cool. Well, good luck to you both.”

  ****

  An hour later, the Sledges and the Iveys were on their way to the estate in Craig’s car, discussing some of the photographs they’d seen at the exhibit and some of the people they’d met, when Savannah’s cell phone rang. “Hello?” she said.

  “Hi, beautiful. I sure enjoyed seeing you in person tonight. Can’t wait to get to know you better.”

  “Darn,” Savannah said, ending the call and dropping her phone in her lap.

  “What is it, hon?” Michael asked.

  “It was him,” she said. “Michael, he was there tonight and now he has my cell phone number. How did he get it? What’s going on?”

  “You didn’t see anything suspicious?” Michael asked. “Do you think it was that old boyfriend of yours? What’s his name…Trevor?”

  “Travis,” she said. “I don’t think so…I mean, he has a girlfriend with him and all.” She tapped Craig on the shoulder. “You spoke with Travis. Did you get any weird vibes from him?”

  He grimaced. “You never know, Savannah, but no, I didn’t think there was anything suspicious or odd about his behavior.” He paused. “I’d like to check the register. Did you notice they had a guest book? There was a place to make a comment. Maybe your ‘admirer’ is obsessed enough to leave his name and a comment. Who was in charge of that shindig anyway, Savannah? I’ll contact them and get that book.” All of a sudden, Craig ceased talking. He stared into the rearview mirror for a few moments before saying, “I think someone’s tailing us. I wonder if it’s lover boy.”

  Savannah turned in the backseat to peer out the window. “Are you sure?”

  “Well, there’s one way to find out,” Craig said, quickly veering right into a cul-de-sac. “If he follows, either he lives here, he’s lost, or he’s tailing us.”

  Everyone held their breath as Craig pulled out of the cul-de-sac onto the main road.

  “Well, I guess he lives there,” Michael said when he noticed the other car didn’t follow them out. He relaxed against the back of the seat.

  “Don’t be too sure,” Craig said, slowing down a little and watching in his rearview mirror. “Here he comes.” As Craig sped up in compliance with the speed limit, he asked his passengers, “Okay, shall we let him catch us so we can see who it is, or shall we lose him?”

  “I want to see who it is,” Iris said wide-eyed.

  Michael scowled. “I’d like to face off with him.”

  “Savannah,” Craig asked, “want to meet your admirer?”

  “Not really,” she said, under her breath. “Let’s lose him and get back to the estate.”

  Craig nodded, then made a call. “Sheriff dispatch, this is Detective Sledge. Would you have someone get the license number on a silver Nissan sedan? It’s right behind me going east on River Road just past Fifth. I can’t get the license number from my vantage point. Thanks.” He turned to Savannah and Michael. “We’ll let him tail us until a deputy shows up, then we’ll lose him and head home.”

  When Savannah let out a sigh, Michael reached over and squeezed her hand, giving her a strained smile.

  “Okay, there’s the black-and-white,” Craig said. Into his phone he asked, “Did you get the number? Good. I’m going to lose him; why don’t you keep an eye on him. See where he goes. Let me know if you get an ID on the driver, okay?” Once he’d had it confirmed, he said to his passengers, “Hold on,” as he turned a sharp right, then a quick left and headed down an alley. When he got toward the end of it, he shut off his lights. “There they go,” he said, noticing the silver Nissan and the sheriff’s car both driving past, heading south. As he eased out onto the roadway driving north, he said, “Let’s go back and check on things at the estate.”

  “Lights are still on,” Savannah noticed as they pulled up in front of the house.

  “It’s only nine,” Iris said quietly, stepping through the front door. “She’s been staying up until nine thirty or so. The kitties get active toward evening and she likes to watch them play for a while.”

  However, when they entered the cat room they saw June lying peacefully on the daybed. “Brrr, it’s chilly in here,” Savannah said. “And she doesn’t have a blanket.”

  “Here it is at the end of the bed,” Iris said, lifting a corner of it. “Excuse me, Tondra Sue, or are you Bentley?”

  In the meantime, Savannah touched the woman’s shoulder to rouse her. “June?” She frowned in Iris’s direction. “Gads, she’s cold. Give me that blanket.” Pulling it up over the woman, she called, “June? June?”

  When there was no response, Craig rushed to her side. He leaned down and then announced, “She’s just sleeping soundly. She probably doesn’t have her hearing aids in. “Mrs. Balcomb,” he called more loudly as he shook her shoulder in an attempt to awaken her.

  “Oh, Detective,” June said, opening her eyes and glancing around. “You’re all back from your night out, I see.” She raised into a sitting position. “Did you have a nice time?” She locked eyes with Savannah. “Were there lots of admirers for your photography?”

  Savannah leaned over the woman and draped the blanket over her shoulders. “Oh yes, it was a marvelous evening. Aren’t you cold?” she asked her. “You feel cold.”

  June frowned, then shivered. “Yes, I guess I am a little. Thank you,” she said, pulling the blanket more tightly around her.

  “Oh, you guys are back,” Colbi said, stepping into the room. “I was just coming to get Ms. June and accompany her to bed.” She smiled at the elderly woman. “Are you ready?”

  “Where’s Lily?” Savannah asked.

  “Oh, she’s sleeping away in your room. Damon’s with her.” She giggled. “I caught him making a little too much noise in there a while ago. I swear he was trying to wake her up so he could play with her.”

  Everyone laughed.

  “So are you ready, Ms. June? I can take you up now,” Colbi offered.

  “Yeah, I guess I am,” she said, standing with Craig’s help. She glanced around the room. “I was snoozing here with the kitties. Night babies,” she cooed. She then scanned the area again. “Where’s Rags?”

  “We didn’t see him when we came in,” Savannah said. “I don’t see Tabitha, either. Surely, they’re together.”

  “Yes, I’m certain of it,” June said, turning to look around at the cats. “She likes to hunker down in that big blue tunnel. They might be in there.”

  “I’ll look,” Colbi offered. “Yup, that’s where they are. She’s all curled up in there and Rags is sitting at attention…” she laughed. “…like a sentry at the other end of it.” She peered into the tunnel again and said, “He seems to be looking at something. What is it, Rags? Do you see something?” She moved to where she had a better view. “I think he hears something. His ears are going crazy.”

  “Going crazy?” Michael repeated, chuckling.

  “Yeah, you know, like antennae.”

  “Let me see,” Craig said, moving toward where Colbi knelt. “Hey Rags, what’s going on?” he asked, as if he expected a response. But all he got was a quick glance then Rags continued his staring vigil. Craig stood, brushed some of the cat hair off his knees, and headed for the door. “I’d better go have a look.”

  “Oh no, is someone trying to get to the kitties?” June asked.

  “I don’t think so,” Savannah assured her, “but we can wait here while Craig checks things out, okay?” She urged June to sit down again on the edge of the daybed.

  Several minutes had passed by the time Craig returned. He shook his head. “Well, two things,” he reported.

  “What?” Savannah asked, while the others stared in anticipation.

  “I got a call back from the sheriff’s office.” He grimaced. “The guy who was tailing us was driving a stolen car.”

  “Oh, that’s a bummer,” Michael said. “Did they see who he was?”

  “No, he gave them the slip.” He hesitated before saying, “He abandoned the car at a strip mall. He went into a convenience store, but he never came out—must have seen the cops and escaped through a back door. He left the car unlocked and they found something interesting inside.”

  “Oh?” Savannah said, shuddering, not sure she wanted to hear the rest.

  Craig gazed at Savannah. “A slip of paper with your cell phone number on it.”

  “Yeah, well, we know he got my number from somewhere—but where? There are no registries for cell numbers, are there? Do you think he got it from someone who was there tonight? Who would that be? Shelly and you guys are the only ones who have this number.”

  “Does Travis have it?” Craig asked.

  She cringed. “He sure could. I have the same number I had when I dated him. So are we back to suspecting Travis?”

  “Not necessarily. The officer said the number was written on a tell-tale slip of paper.”

  “Tell-tale?” Michael questioned.

  “Yeah, it had the Ivey Veterinary Clinic logo on it.”

  “What?” Savannah said. “Someone who works at the clinic?” She looked to Michael for comfort or comment.

  After digesting the information, Michael said, “Well, it could be anyone who’s been there, picked up a prescription or instructions. Heck, we give away those little pads with our logo all the time.” He let out a sigh. “That doesn’t narrow it down much, does it?”

  “So what’s the other thing, Craig? Are we all set to go to bed and be safe?” Iris asked, pleadingly.

  He grimaced, then said, “Yes, because I’ll be spending the night in here with the cats.”

  “Why?” June asked.

  “Because if Rags seems to think there’s something awry, I’m going to follow his lead. I’ll stay inside and I have the guards paying particular attention to the cat pens from outside.”

  “But everything’s locked up. The cats can’t go out there until we open the doors in the morning,” June said.

  Craig nodded. “And we want it to stay that way.” He said to his wife, “Iris, I’ll walk you home and get my things so I can move in here with the cats.”

  “Okay,” she said, looping her arm in his.

  “Let’s get you to bed,” Colbi said, helping June to stand again and supporting her as she walked into the hall and toward the elevator.

  “Good night all,” June called, waving her hand rather dramatically over her head.

  “Night, June,” Savannah said.

  Michael started to follow them out the door, when Savannah stopped him.

  “Michael, would you get Rags?”

  “Why? Craig will be with him. He’s fine.”

  “I want him to know where we are. Let’s take him to the room with us, then he can come back here if he wants to.” When Michael looked at her sideways, she said, “Humor me, hon. It’s a mommy thing. I don’t want him feeling abandoned. He might need us in the night.”

  “Oh, Savannah,” Michael said, sounding exasperated. He shook his head, then went in search of the cat. Once he found him, it was a bit of a trick getting into position to pick him up, but he managed and Savannah smiled as the couple and the cat walked down a long hallway to their guest room. The third door on the left opened into a large bedroom decorated in a deep-plum-and-cream floral pattern.

  “Hi Damon,” Savannah said, hugging him as they entered the room. She peeked in at their sleeping daughter. “Good job,” she said. “She looks contented. Thank you so much.”

  “My pleasure,” he said, “only…”

  “Only what?” she asked frowning.

  “Well, I got here too late to play blocks or even peek-a-boo with her.”

  Savannah chuckled. “Come by around six in the morning. She’s always ready to play then.”

  “I don’t know about that,” Damon said, feigning a frown. “It appears that the kid and I are on different schedules.”

  “Thanks, guy,” Michael said, shaking hands with Damon.

  Damon pointed. “Uh-oh, your cat just escaped.”

  “Yeah, we didn’t expect him to stay. He’s off to be with his kind,” Michael said.

  “His kind?”

  “Yeah,” Savannah said. “Haven’t you visited the cat room yet?”

  He shook his head. “Just got here a little while ago. I’ll have to take the tour tomorrow. I have the day off.” He chuckled. “I think I get to drive Miss Daisy someplace. Max is going to let me use his chauffeur’s cap.”

  “I think you guys are having way too much fun,” Savannah said, laughing.

  Damon winked. “Gotta have fun in life.”

  ****

  Savannah and Michael had been asleep for a couple of hours when their slumber was interrupted. Meow! Meoooowwww!

  “Oh no, what now?” Michael mumbled.

  “Rags, what’s wrong?” Savannah asked, sitting straight up in the bed.

  “Shhhh, you’ll wake the baby.”

  Savannah picked up her phone. When she turned the flashlight app on, she could see Rags frantically running back and forth between their bed and the door, which was slightly ajar. She slipped out of bed and into her robe, whispering, “Show me, Rags. Show me.”

  In the meantime, Michael lifted himself up on one elbow and exhaled slowly. “Wait,” he hissed, as he climbed out of bed and pulled on a pair of jeans. Savannah stepped back into the room and grabbed the baby monitor, then the two of them followed the cat using the glow from her cell phone.

  “The cat room,” Michael said under his breath.

  When they stepped inside, they saw that the daybed was empty. The blankets were tossed to one side, and Craig was gone.

  “So where did he go?” Michael asked, searching the floor for the cat.

  “There he is.” Savannah pointed toward the outdoor pen.

  She leaned down and petted Marmalade, who rubbed against her ankles. When she saw Tabitha peering at her from inside the blue tunnel, she took a close look at her and determined that she was okay. In fact, Savannah noticed that Rags didn’t seem to be concerned about any of his cat friends. His energy was focused toward the darkened outside cat pen.

  “I don’t hear anything,” Savannah whispered. “The rest of the cats seem unconcerned.” She continued watching Rags trot back and forth in front of the secured kitty door.

  Suddenly, they heard the sound of metal against metal.

  “What was that?” Savannah whispered.

  “I don’t know,” Michael said. He turned to Savannah. “You go back to the room and stay with Lily.”

  “But Michael,” she protested.

  “Go,” he ordered, as he moved toward Rags and tried to peer into the pen.

  “What’s going on?” Damon asked, entering the room cautiously.

  “Don’t know,” Savannah whispered. “Sounds like someone’s out there. Craig might be out there, too—he’s not in the bed.”

  Suddenly, Colbi appeared behind Damon. “What’re you guys doing?”

  “Rags woke us up and then we heard a crash,” Savannah explained. She turned to leave the room. “I need to get back to the baby.”

  “I’ll go,” Colbi said, waving one hand in the air. “I don’t want any part of this. She shivered and headed back down the hallway.

  When Michael reappeared, he said, “Savannah, I told you to…”

  “I know, Colbi’s with her. What’s going on, Michael?” she hissed.

  “I can’t see anything, I’m going out. Craig might need help.”

  “I’ll go with you,” Damon said.

  “Stay with your cat, Savannah,” Michael scolded.

  Several minutes passed before the three men returned to the cat room from the hallway. “What is it?” she asked, wide-eyed. “Was something out there?”

  “Sure was?” Craig said. “How’d you know?”

  “Rags…” she started.

  “Oh, he came to tell you about it, did he?”

  She nodded. “What was it, a wild animal?”

  He shook his head and took a deep breath. “Someone brought the cats a treat, probably hoping it was their last supper.”

  “Huh?” Savannah said, looking confused.

  “We think it was poisoned meat,” Michael explained.

  “Fish,” Craig corrected.

  “Oh no,” Savannah said, dropping into a chair. “How’d they get past…?”

  “Oh, whoever it was didn’t get past security. They spotted someone and alerted me. We waited outside, thinking he was probably headed for the cat pen. We let him get close enough to break in. Once he began to use the bolt cutters, we grabbed him. There was a scuffle and dang if he didn’t get away. He left the tool and the package behind, though, so we may get fingerprints.”