“It’s been done,” Iris said. When Caroline looked puzzled, Iris gestured toward Savannah. “She wrote his memoirs…”

  Savannah grinned. “His meowmoirs. And there’s a series of children’s books featuring Rags.”

  Caroline looked down at Rags, who now sat on the floor between the three women. “Really?”

  Savannah nodded, then asked, “So what sordid stories did he share today?”

  “Let me try to summarize. The cats told me about the recent influx of new cats. While it doesn’t seem to be upsetting them, they are rather baffled by it. They, too, tell me that cats come and they go. Some of your cats are worried about the missing one. Is she an orange tabby?”

  Wide-eyed, Iris nodded.

  Caroline asked, “Did one of the others go missing for a while? Oscar, perhaps?”

  “Yes.”

  “Yeah, well, I got that impression from Sophie and Sparky, but Oscar doesn’t want to talk about it. All he said was that he likes it here better than in the dirt house.”

  “Dirt house?” Savannah asked.

  “That seemed to be the term he used.” She chuckled, “…or the picture he sent me. He indicated that he was treated well, but he likes this house better than the dirt house. As for how the cats are coming in and out of here, it seems there’s a tunnel involved. Now if these visiting cats are real to you, I have to assume it’s an actual tunnel and not a metaphor for traveling from one dimension to another.”

  Iris and Savannah looked at each other.

  “Yeah, a bit eerie, I know.” Caroline petted Rags. “I think this guy’s your best bet in locating the tunnel and leading you to the cats’ dirt house. He can do it, but whether he will is another thing. If you decide to pursue this, perhaps I can help. Rags understands a lot. He reads you, Savannah, and he tunes in to others, but if you want me to be the communicator in this exploration, I will.” When the others remained quiet, she added, “I believe the answer is very close, but discovering it will be quite a surprise for everyone.”

  “Let’s do it!” Iris exclaimed. “I can’t reopen my business until this mystery’s resolved and I regain control of the cat situation.”

  Savannah chuckled. When the others looked at her, she repeated, “Control cats? Are you delusional?”

  Everyone laughed.

  “When?” Caroline asked.

  “As soon as possible,” Iris said. “But shall we wait until, and if, the cats return? As it is now, like I told you, one of my cats is missing, and we haven’t had a visit from the other cats all weekend.”

  Caroline stood up. “Call me when you’re ready.”

  ◆◆◆

  “Tonight’s the night,” Savannah announced to Margaret on the phone Tuesday morning.

  “What night?” she asked.

  “You know, Caroline’s coming to help Rags locate the secret cat tunnel at the inn.”

  “Ohhh. Can I come, huh? Can I?” Margaret begged

  “I guess. I thought you might want to be there.”

  “So the circus cats are back?”

  “They sure are. They began returning last night, from what I understand,” Savannah explained.

  “Who else will be there?” Margaret asked.

  “I guess Iris and Craig, Arthur, Suzette probably, and me. I’m not sure if Michael wants to go.” Savannah chuckled. “Rob is frothing at the mouth to be involved, but I assured him I’d take lots of video.”

  “Oh, so Rags’s agent sees this as a possible new story, does he?”

  “I guess,” Savannah said. “I certainly do.”

  Margaret chuckled, then asked, “So will you need Max’s help?”

  “I don’t know. No one knows what we’re facing.” She groaned, “I just hope it’s safe for Rags. I don’t want to lose him to another galaxy or something.”

  “Vannie,” Margaret scolded, “you don’t really think this is some otherworldly, alien-abduction-type thing, do you?”

  “I sure hope not, but we don’t know what it is. The one thing that’s keeping me from panicking too much is the fact that the cats are in great condition and there seems to be a two-way road in and out of the inn. So if Rags disappears, he’s bound to be able to find his way back. Know what I mean?”

  “I guess,” Margaret sighed. “What time?”

  “I’ll pick you up at eight.”

  “Will it be another all-nighter?”

  “Maybe.”

  “Why at night?” Margaret asked. “Why can’t we do this in daylight?”

  “I’m not sure, but I think Iris notices more cat activity at night.”

  “That makes sense, since cats are nocturnal by nature,” Margaret agreed. “Okay. Eight tonight.”

  ◆◆◆

  That evening over dinner Savannah told Michael about their plans for the evening. He shook his head. “So you’re going to involve Rags, are you? And a psychic? Lordy, lordy,” he muttered.

  Savannah grinned at her husband, then asked, “So did you meet with the construction company? I heard they were going out to the inn to check the leaning shed.”

  “Yeah, it’s as I suggested; they probably need to bring in dirt to fill a hole where the ground’s been eroding underneath. They won’t know how much dirt they need until they move the shed.”

  “They’re going to remove it entirely?”

  Michael nodded.

  “But I thought they brought in a lot of dirt when they renovated the place—you know, after they dug up those bodies out there.” She shivered. “That was creepy.”

  “Bodies at the inn?” Gladys repeated.

  “Yes, the original owners had a graveyard of murder victims. It was wild. Iris hired a water witch to find all the bodies. The whole yard was dug up, and they had to bring in dirt to fill it all back in.”

  “Except for out there where the shed is,” Michael said. “The gypsy didn’t find any bodies out near the shed, so they didn’t bother with that area.”

  “He wasn’t a gypsy,” Savannah huffed. “He was a dowser. Remember, he wanted to be called a dowser. So, do they think there are more bodies out near the shed? Is that why the ground’s sinking?”

  Michael shook his head. “Who knows? I guess we’ll find out soon. They’re bringing a bulldozer out tomorrow.”

  “Tomorrow?” Savannah said. “We’ll have to make sure the kitties are all safe, then. We don’t want them to get caught in the crossfire.”

  “No one’s going to be shooting,” Michael insisted.

  “Well, I don’t like to think of cats having to dodge big, noisy machinery. That stuff scares cats.”

  Michael grinned at her. “Then you gals had better learn the cats’ secret tonight, so you can make sure they’re out of harm’s way.”

  Chapter Seven

  “Well, there they are,” Caroline said when she entered the inn just after eight that night and saw a couple of cats lounging in the lobby. “Those aren’t your cats, are they?”

  “No,” Iris said. “Those are some of the—what do you call them, Savannah—interlopers?”

  “Beautiful,” Caroline said, petting one of them. “They look familiar.”

  “They should,” Iris said, “like we told you, they were in that circus on Saturday in Straley.”

  “That’s right,” Caroline said. “Interesting.”

  “So how do we proceed?” Iris asked.

  “Let’s start here and now,” Caroline suggested. She put her hands on a young tabby and admired an older Himalayan-type cat. “I’d like to speak to these two beauties.” She sat on a chair across from where the cats lounged and motioned toward a small sofa. “You ladies can sit there.”

  Caroline closed her eyes, then opened them and stared at the two cats. After about five minutes, she took a deep breath and leaned back in the chair, muttering, “Wow!”

  “Wow?” Iris asked.

  “These are the circus cats we watched perform Saturday, as you suspected. They showed me a picture of a big white van…”

  “Yes!” Iris squealed. “We saw that van. I thought those cats were inside.”

  Caroline faced Iris. “Did you see it here?”

  “No, in Straley after the performance.” Iris took a quick breath. “But I was sure I’d seen it around here before. It looked familiar to me.”

  Caroline continued, “Well, a driver brought the cats back here. They live here, you see. But it’s only temporary. They showed me other places where they’ve lived. Their current home is—what would I say—quite unique. At least the picture they drew of it for me is.”

  “They drew you a picture?” Margaret asked.

  “In my mind. We communicate through mind pictures.”

  “Oh,” Margaret said, trying to grasp the concept.

  Caroline continued, “I’ve asked the most talkative one—the big Himalayan-mix there—to show me the way. I want her to take Rags with her to her home.”

  “But…” Savannah objected.

  “You brought his harness and a long leash, didn’t you?”

  “Yes.”

  “If she’ll lead him away, we can keep an eye on the leash and see at least where they went—outside, through a closet, the attic, whatever.”

  “But what if he gets away from us?” Savannah asked.

  “Yeah, he might end up outside, then what?” Margaret asked.

  Caroline shook her head. “I don’t think so. Didn’t you say you’ve never seen these cats outside?”

  Iris nodded.

  “No,” Caroline said. “They’re either living in your attic or they’re going underground. Remember yesterday I got that picture from one of the cats of a dirt house? I’m thinking underground.”

  “Wow!” Iris said. “That never occurred to me.”

  “Ready?” Caroline asked.

  “Um…” Savannah stalled.

  “Let’s get Rags outfitted.” Caroline glanced at the Himalayan. “It looks like my informant’s eager to go.”

  “Oh dear, oh dear,” Savannah muttered. She strapped on Rags’s harness and tested to make sure the leash was fastened securely. “Okay, sweet boy,” she said, kissing him on top of his head, “you have fifteen feet. Then you have to come back, okay?”

  Iris patted Savannah’s shoulder. “He’ll come back.”

  “He always does,” Margaret grumbled.

  “Let’s go,” Caroline suggested, holding Rags’s leash and following behind the Himmie-mix.

  “Carmen!” Margaret blurted.

  Savannah asked, “Huh?”

  “Her name’s Carmen. I remember that on the program at the circus. I used to have a cat named Carmen.”

  “Okay, Carmen,” Caroline said. “It’s reveal time. Come along, Rags.”

  The women followed slowly as Carmen walked up the staircase, down the hallway, and up the steps into the cat room. She stopped and acknowledged a couple of cats that were playing just inside the doorway. She batted at a toy, then walked into the closet and leaped to the second shelf. Caroline opened the closet door wide and the women watched as the cat simply sat on the shelf taking a lick bath. Rags watched her from the floor. Seemingly impatient, he leaped up onto the shelf with her. This prompted her to stand on all fours, then she stretched up the wall with her front paws.

  “What’s she doing now, yoga?” Margaret quipped. “Wait,” she hissed. “Did you see that?”

  “What?” Iris asked.

  “Watch?” Margaret whispered. “There’s a loose panel. I saw it move.”

  Savannah moved closer. “Where?”

  Before anyone could respond, Carmen was gone.

  Iris put her hands up to her mouth and gasped. “She disappeared.”

  “Yes, through that panel,” Margaret said. She faced Savannah. “Did you get that on video?”

  “I hope so,” Savannah said. “It happened so fast. Oh, oh, oh, there goes Rags. Be careful, sweet boy.”

  “Record it,” Iris commanded.

  “Okay,” Caroline said, “he’s gone and his leash is still here. She grasped the loop at the end, then began examining the area where they’d seen the cats disappear. After touching and pushing against the wall, she stepped back and said. “Iris, do you have a flashlight handy?”

  “In my purse,” Savannah said.

  Iris ran to get it. “Here,” she said moments later, handing a small flashlight to Caroline.

  “Aha!” she exclaimed. “There’s a little spring latch under the shelf here. See, it releases the secret door. See this?” she invited.

  “Michael must have missed that,” Savannah said.

  “Yeah, he and Damon were just pushing against the walls. I can see how they missed the latch. That’s well-hidden.”

  “Can we take the shelf down?” Caroline asked. “I can’t get in there to see where the trapdoor leads.”

  “Sure,” Iris said.

  “Bring me a hammer or a saw,” Margaret called after her. “I can remove that sucker.”

  “It goes straight down,” Caroline reported minutes later as she shined the light into the open space. “There are little ledges so the cats can get a grip going up or down.” She asked Iris, “What’s directly below us?”

  “The kitchen—probably the pantry, to be exact.”

  “Two of you go down there. Get another flashlight—see if you can find a loose panel. Hey,” she called out, “watch for the cats. They might come out down there.” Just then she gasped. “Oh, no. He jerked the leash out of my hand.” She emerged quickly from the closet and walked swiftly toward the door. “Let’s go down stairs. I’m pretty sure he’ll come out from down below. That would be the kitchen, right?”

  “Wait,” Margaret said, “get me some nails. I want to cover that opening so we don’t lose any more cats.”

  “No!” Savannah insisted. “How will they get back in?”

  Margaret thought for a moment, then discarded her plan and followed the others to the kitchen. When the women couldn’t find a loose panel or a hidden latch anywhere in or around the pantry, Caroline asked, “Are you sure this is directly below that closet?”

  “Pretty sure,” Iris said.

  After several minutes of frantic searching, Margaret hissed, “In here! I hear something in the laundry room.”

  All four women began pushing and knocking on the walls and ceiling with broomsticks, their hands, and the flashlights, when suddenly Rags appeared from behind the washing machine.

  “Oh!” Savannah yelped.

  Caroline and Iris pulled out the washer in time to see Carmen walk through a small gap next to the plumbing. Caroline grumped, “Well, that didn’t tell us much, Carmen. You must be able to go beyond this room. Can you show Rags where your home is?”

  When Caroline chuckled, Savannah asked, “What’s funny?”

  “Carmen said Rags is stubborn and he wants to go his own way. She thinks he’s a show-off.”

  Everyone laughed.

  After sitting quietly with Carmen for a few moments, Caroline revealed, “I told her to take Rags to her home.” She watched Carmen push through the trapdoor and Rags followed, then Caroline handed Savannah Rags’s leash. “Here, hold onto this. Let me get down there and see what I can see with this light.” Momentarily, she confirmed, “Yeah, there they go.” She sat up and motioned, “They’re going that direction.”

  “Out toward the stand of trees,” Iris said.

  “And the old shed,” Savannah muttered. Suddenly, she gasped. “Uh-oh, we’re at the end of the leash. Now what?”

  “Let it go,” Caroline said. “I think you’ll have to let it go.” When Savannah balked, she insisted, “He knows how to get back. He’ll be okay.” She got down on her knees again and reported, “I can no longer see them. Maggie, hand me the bigger flashlight.” After looking into the tunnel again, she said, “They’ve stopped off someplace. They’re no longer in the tunnel.” She stood up and motioned. “Come on.”

  The women scrambled to catch up with Caroline and they followed her out the kitchen door. “What’s in the shed out there?” she asked, shining her light in that direction.

  “Tools is all,” Iris said.

  “Oh yeah?” Caroline challenged. She trudged in a straight line toward the shed, stopped and looked at the women, then stepped inside. She shined the light around, and stomped on the wooden floor a couple of times.

  When they heard a loud creaking sound, Iris screamed.

  Margaret grabbed Savannah. “What was that?”

  “I’d say this thing’s unstable,” Caroline shouted, leaping out the door.

  The other followed and they all huddle together, quaking.

  “Yes, the shed’s unstable,” Iris said. “They’re going to move it tomorrow and find out why it’s leaning like that.”

  Caroline stared back at the shed and said, thinking out loud. “Yeah, that’s what I thought. They’re living under that shed. Do you know why there would be a cavern under it? Was there a broken water main underneath there at some point or something?”

  “Well, part of the property out here was…” Iris hesitated. “…sort of a cemetery for many years.”

  Caroline stared at her for a moment before insisting, “We need to get those cats out of there. I think that shed’s about ready to go.”

  “Like I said,” Iris explained, “we have workers coming tomorrow to move it and find out why it’s sinking and…”

  Just then they heard another loud creak.

  “We can’t wait until tomorrow,” Caroline insisted. “We have to act now, and I mean right now!” She shouted toward the shed, “Hey, you down there, get out of there now! Get out and let the cats out! The shed’s on unstable ground. Now!” she bellowed.

  The women waited and listened. Finally they heard a muffled voice from below. “Okay. Help me with the cats.”

  Wide-eyed, Iris shouted, “Where are you? How do you get out of there?”

  “Behind the shed. Lift the pallet,” the hushed voice said.

  “Come on ladies,” Savannah said, leading the women to the other side of the shed. She pointed. “There it is.” She handed Margaret her flashlight and she, Iris, and Caroline lifted the pallet to one side. She gasped.

  “Holy cow!” Margaret said.

  Iris was dumbstruck. “Unbelievable.”