“Where’d he go—how did he get away?”

  “It was as if he could see in the dark. It may have been someone who’s familiar with the area and the terrain, because he headed for the ravine. We figured we had him once we saw him disappear in there. But no—he somehow got out on the other side and just kept going.” He shook his head. “Man, he was fast.”

  “Did he arrive in a car? Maybe it’s parked outside the gate.”

  “We think he may have had someone pick him up. Or he had some sort of small vehicle stashed somewhere. He was one slippery dude. But he didn’t accomplish his goal, and that’s the good news.”

  Savannah wasn’t convinced. “But what’s to stop him from coming back?” she asked. “Aren’t the cats still in danger?”

  Craig cringed and nodded. “Unless we can find a lead. We’re desperate for a lead and that’s what we’ll focus on as soon as it gets light. In the meantime, let’s get some shut-eye. The guards just changed shifts, so they’re fresh.” He looked around at the others. “Night.”

  “Night, Craig,” Savannah said. She walked over to where Rags sat staring into the room at them and petted him. “He seems to have settled down. Maybe he’ll get some sleep, too.”

  “Yeah,” Craig said, “he woke me up from a nice dream. He must have sensed trouble.”

  Savannah and Michael made eye contact, then walked out into the hall toward their guest room.

  ****

  “Savannah dear, did you hear what happened last night?” June asked when she saw her guest enter the cat room with Lily the next morning.

  “Yes,” Savannah said. She acknowledged Craig, who sat holding a coffee mug. “Everyone’s okay, aren’t they? No one escaped or was harmed? All are accounted for?”

  June smiled. “Yes, thanks to Ragsdale and the detective, everyone is safe.”

  “Mrs. Balcomb, why don’t you have the outdoor cat pen wired to the alarm system?” Craig asked.

  “Well, there is no entrance from outside. The cats are never in there at night. And I saw no reason to wire it.”

  “But this guy was going to cut into the wire fencing in order to deposit the poisoned fish. An alarm system would have alerted us.”

  “We evidently don’t need an alarm system with Ragsdale,” she reasoned. “So do you know who it was, Detective?”

  He thinned his lips. “Not yet. We’re waiting for lab results. We may have gotten a fingerprint or two.”

  Everyone sat quietly for a moment, then Craig turned to Michael, who had just walked into the room. “Have you given any thought to who could have used one of your notepads to write Savannah’s cell number down?”

  Savannah and Michael both shook their head.

  “Heck, it could have been a client, a delivery person, the mailman, or a vagrant who rifled through our trash, for heaven’s sake,” Michael said.

  “Or someone who has visited or who works for a client who had a piece of that note paper,” Savannah said, “or…”

  Craig put his hand up to stop them. “I get it. You don’t have a clue.”

  “An even more daunting question is how did he get my cell number?”

  “What’s going on?” June asked, looking from Craig to Savannah. “Certainly these people aren’t after you, too.”

  “I don’t think so,” Savannah said.

  Michael smiled at his wife. “She seems to have a secret admirer.”

  “A stalker is more like it,” Savannah said, shuddering.

  June frowned. “Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.”

  “Yeah, we had to outrun him in the car last night,” Iris said, as she entered the room carrying a breakfast tray for June. “The rest of you can come into the dining room for your breakfast,” she added.

  “Won’t you join us, June?” Savannah invited.

  “Oh no, I don’t think so.” She then looked up at Savannah, glanced at Craig and Iris and said, “Yes. Yes, I’d like that very much.” She motioned for Iris to take her tray, and Craig helped her to stand. “Let’s dine like a civilized family, shall we?” She looked back at the cats, most of whom were eating the breakfast Colbi had prepared for them. “My babies won’t miss me and I do enjoy your company.”

  “Well, good,” Savannah said. She caught up with Iris. “Hey, Aunt Riss-Riss, what are we having?”

  “Veggie scramble and French toast with fruit,” she said. I made some vanilla coffee for those who want something different.”

  “Awww…” Craig started to say.

  She stopped him. “…and plain coffee for you, honey bun.”

  Just then Craig’s phone chimed. He answered, “Hello?” After a brief silence, he said, “Be right there.” He looked toward Iris.

  “I know, I know. Keep yours warm. Will do.”

  When Craig returned, most plates were nearly cleaned and all eyes were on him.

  “Well?” Savannah said.

  “Well, we didn’t find any fingerprints. The dude must have worn gloves during last night’s escapade.” When nearly everyone complained, he said, “But…”

  “But what?” Savannah asked.

  “But we hope to get a lead from wherever they bought the fish.”

  “So you have a busy day ahead huh, Craig?”

  He nodded. As he picked up his fork and began to eat his breakfast, he glanced around. “What are the rest of you doing today?”

  “I want to go home and pick up a few things—maybe do a load of laundry and make sure the other animals are okay,” Savannah said.

  “Heavens, Savannah,” June said, “pack them up and bring them over here—there’s always room for more. And a dog on the premises might not be a bad idea.” She squinted in Savannah’s and Michael’s direction. “You did tell me you have a dog among your menagerie, didn’t you?”

  Savannah nodded, then said, “Oh, I don’t know, June.”

  “Yeah, I think we’ve imposed enough of our family on you,” Michael said. “They’re just fine where they are. Savannah’s aunt is caring for them.”

  “Whatever you decide,” June said.

  “What about you, hon?” Savannah asked. “What do you have going today?”

  “Maybe I’ll challenge Damon to a game of tennis,” he said, grinning across the table at Iris’s oldest son.

  “And maybe I’ll take that challenge,” Damon said. He winked at June. “Only I have a date later this morning—right Miss Daisy…I mean, Miss June?”

  She gave him a scolding look, then smiled sweetly. “Right. We’re visiting my dear husband’s grave. It would have been his eightieth birthday today.”

  “My, my, Ms. June,” Colbi said impishly, “you robbed the cradle, did you?”

  June simply smiled demurely.

  Iris broke the silence that followed. “Well, I’m making lasagna today and a peach pie.”

  “Peach pie, this time of year?” Colbi asked.

  “Yes, thanks to Savannah’s canned peaches fresh from their orchard.”

  June’s eyes lit up. “Oh goodie. I hope it will be ready in time for my noontime meal.” Iris smiled and nodded.

  “Colbi, what are your plans for the day?” Savannah asked. “Want to hang out with Lily and me?”

  “I’d love it,” she said. “We haven’t done a girl thing in a while. But I need to be here when Rick comes to groom the kitties. I help with their nails and I get to comb some of them. Last time he was here, we got enough fur out of those cats to knit a sweater,” she quipped. She then said, “He’s coming at ten.”

  “Perfect,” Savannah said. “I’ll put Lily down around ten, so we’ll be ready to go by noon. We can stop and get something to eat.”

  “Oh no,” Colbi said, “not if that peach pie’s ready by then.” She turned to Iris. “You’re making more than one, aren’t you?”

  Iris looked at Dora and Edie, who both nodded.

  “Iris, I thought you were making them,” Savannah said.

  “Not without help. Dora’s the pie-crust whiz—she won first place at the county fair. Edie is the baking expert.”

  “What do you do, Mom,” Damon asked, laughing, “turn on the oven?”

  “Pretty much,” she said.

  Edie spoke up. “Oh no, she’s making the filling.”

  As the others chatted about their plans, Craig stood, placed his napkin on his empty plate, and announced, “Well, I’m off. See you all later.” Before leaving the room, he asked. “What time will the pie be ready?”

  Iris responded. “By noon.”

  “I’ll be back then,” he said, disappearing through the kitchen door.

  Just then a cell phone rang. “It’s mine,” June said. She picked it up and looked at the screen. “I don’t recognize the number.” After glancing around at the others, she took the call. “Hello?” She hesitated, then said excitedly, “Oh Sterling, how are you?” She listened for a moment before saying, “Yes.” Again she sat listening. “Yes. I think I can do that. I’ll let you know,” she said before ending the call and dropping the phone into her lap. “That was Sterling. He’s awake and he wants to see me. Savannah, he suggested you bring me to the hospital.” She paused. “He—and I—trust you.”

  “So does he know who stabbed him?” Savannah asked, her eyes wide.

  “I’m not sure that he does. He said he’d tell me all about it when I see him.” She spoke more softly, “You know, Savannah, he had come here to tell me something the day he was stabbed. I still don’t know what that was. He didn’t want to say anything over the phone. But I absolutely must know. His message could be the answer to all of our questions about the goings-ons around here. So can you take me there?”

  Savannah looked at Lily and then at Michael.

  “I can hang out with her,” Michael said. “I was going to work for a while this morning, but I’m sure Bud and Rick can handle things. You go and let June visit with her attorney.”

  ****

  “Looks like they have an emergency this morning,” Savannah observed as she pulled her SUV into the parking lot at the hospital ninety minutes later.

  “Yes, there certainly is a lot of activity.”

  Once they’d left the car and approached the entrance, an officer stopped them. “Sorry ladies, no one can go in.”

  “What?” June asked. “Why not?” She gasped. “Is it a bomb scare?”

  “It’s a crime scene. We may be clear of here in an hour or so, then you can come back. Are you here to visit a friend?” He looked at June with concern and asked, “You aren’t being admitted, are you?”

  She shook her head. “I need to see my attorney. He’s a patient and he’s expecting us.”

  Just then they heard another voice. “Savannah, Mrs. Balcomb, what are you doing here?”

  “Oh Craig, hi. What’s going on?” When he didn’t respond, Savannah said, “June has a meeting with her lawyer. Did you know he came out of the coma?”

  He looked at June and Savannah, sighing deeply. “Yes.” He then cleared his throat and looked down at the ground.

  “What’s wrong, Craig?”

  “I’m afraid he’s…been killed.”

  “What?” June said, her knees buckling a little.

  Craig grabbed her arm. “Here, let me help you back to your car. Where are you parked?”

  “Right there,” Savannah pointed, supporting June from the other side.

  Once the elderly woman was seated in the car, Craig asked, “Are you all right, Mrs. Balcomb?”

  “Well no, actually, I’m not. First someone brings poison to my cats and now…” she caught her breath. “Sterling is gone? Murdered, you say?”

  “Yes, it looks like someone smothered him. We’ve got the place on lockdown and we’re questioning staff, visitors…everyone.”

  “Dear God,” June said. “What will I do now?”

  Craig spoke more softly. “Go on back to the estate, Mrs. Balcomb. I’ll catch up with you there later and fill you in on what we’ve found.”

  Chapter 6

  It was eleven fifty-five by the time Savannah and June returned to the estate. “I thought I’d find you here,” Savannah said when she saw Michael sitting at the small kitchen table eating a piece of peach pie. Lily sat in her highchair next to him finishing off a small bowl of cooked carrots and peas. She also had charge of a self-feeding pouch full of pureed fruit.

  “Hi there, sweet thing,” Savannah said, kissing the baby. “Having lunch?”

  “I’m ready for that pie,” Colbi said, appearing in the kitchen behind Savannah. “Where’s the pie?” she asked, glancing around the kitchen.

  “On the windowsill, where else?” Dora said.

  Colbi looked confused. “Windowsill? People really do cool pies on the windowsill? I thought that was just something they did in old movies.” She looked at the wide sill above the sink counter. “Aren’t you afraid of thieves?”

  “You mean like horses, camels, or raccoons?” Savannah suggested, laughing.

  “Maybe a bear,” Colbi said, “or a bandit.” She moved closer to the sill. “Are they still there?”

  “They’re still there,” Iris said, picking up one of them. “Is Ms. June back?”

  Savannah nodded. “Yes. I think she’s ready for a bite to eat, then she and Damon are going out.”

  “How’d things go at the hospital?” Michael asked between bites. “You weren’t gone very long.”

  “No, we weren’t,” she said, easing into a chair.

  He stared across the table at her. “Why? What happened?” he asked.

  “The hospital was on lockdown. No one could go in or come out.”

  “What?” he asked.

  The others turned and stared at Savannah, waiting for more information.

  “Someone evidently killed him.”

  “Killed who?” Iris asked.

  “June’s attorney, Sterling Goss.”

  “Again?” Colbi asked. She added, “I mean, someone really wanted him dead, didn’t they?”

  Savannah nodded. “I guess so. Craig was there. He sent us home. June is pretty discouraged and sad.” She stood. “Oh, I came in here to get her a cup of tea. She might want a cup of that soup. I’ll take it to her.”

  Before she could pour the tea, Damon stepped into the kitchen. “She’d like the pie with her tea. I’ll get it.”

  “Hi, babe,” Colbi said, hugging Damon around the neck.

  He kissed her. “Are you going with Savannah this afternoon?” he asked.

  She nodded. “I think so. Are you still driving Miss Daisy?”

  “Yeah. Even after the blow she had this morning, she wants to visit her husband’s grave. That’s where we’re going.” He got Michael’s attention. “I’ll be back in time for that tennis match.”

  “Sounds good,” Michael said, standing. “I have an emergency at the clinic. Should be back in a couple of hours.”

  “Ready?” Colbi asked Savannah after they’d each enjoyed a piece of the pie.

  Savannah stood and lifted Lily from the high chair. “Sure am.” She wiped the baby’s hands and face. “Let’s go ’bye-bye, shall we?”

  “’Bye-bye,” Lily chirped, waving at those still in the kitchen.

  Once the two women and the baby were strapped into the car, Savannah said, “I think I’ll stop at Auntie’s before going home, if you don’t mind, Colbi.”

  “Not at all. I always enjoy seeing Maggie and Max.”

  “Hi,” Savannah called, seeing her aunt step out onto the porch of their home. “Everything okay at our house?” she asked as she unbuckled Lily and lifted her out of the car seat.

  “Auntie,” the baby called when she saw Margaret.

  “Hi, sweet pea,” Margaret said, reaching for her. “Yeah, everything seems to be in good order. Buffy is still Buffy-like, Walter is still…”

  “Let me guess, Walter-like…?” Savannah said, laughing. She looked more serious. “So there’s nothing out of the ordinary going on, huh?”

  Margaret shook her head, then said, “Well, except for…”

  “What?” Savannah asked, suspiciously.

  “Your phone. You seem to be getting a lot of messages. It’s ringing almost every time I’m over there.”

  “Really?” Savannah said, disgustedly. “I’d better take the tape to Craig.”

  “Why?” Margaret asked, looking confused.

  Savannah pressed her lips together, ran her hand down the baby’s back, and glanced at Colbi. “I’m getting…crank calls,” she confessed.

  “She has an unwanted admirer,” Colbi explained.

  “Oh no,” Margaret said. “Scary stuff or tame?”

  Savannah cringed a little. “It’s all scary when you don’t know who it is or what their intentions are, right?”

  Margaret and Colbi nodded.

  “Want me to go with you to hear the messages?” Margaret asked. “Maybe I’ll recognize the voice.”

  “Why, do you know someone who likes me?” Savannah asked.

  Margaret shrugged and shook her head. “No, not that I know of, I just thought…”

  Savannah motioned toward the car. “Yeah, jump in. Let’s go see what sweet nothings he’s spewing today.” She then said, “Blahhh. I hate this.”

  “Why does it bother you so much?” Colbi asked. “Has he made any threats?”

  “No, not really.” She scowled at Colbi. “Haven’t you ever been stalked before…a gorgeous girl like you?”

  “Uh, well, yeah, once. But I was pretty sure who it was and…” she smiled. “I was kinda flattered.”

  “When was this?” Savannah asked.

  “Fourth grade,” she said with a straight face.

  Savannah smirked. “Not the same, kiddo. Not the same at all.”

  As the women stepped into the kitchen of the Iveys’ home with Lily, Savannah looked around. She said, “You two stay here with the baby. Lexie, you come with me. Come on, girl.” When the afghan-mix dog balked, Savannah said, “Will a treat make a difference? Lexie, want a treat?”

  “Uh-oh,” Margaret said, “Buffy wants one, too.”

  Savannah watched the mostly Himalayan cat step out of her pink canopy bed, look around, then yawn and stretch. “Yeah, I’m delighted to see you too, girl,” Savannah said, laughing. She scratched Buffy behind one ear, then petted Lexie. Reaching into a drawer, she pulled out two treat packets and distributed some to both Lexie and Buffy before going in search of Walter, who was, as usual, playing camouflage on his favorite plum-colored chair.