“Oh, that’s a hard one. I would never ignore or neglect a cat if it was in need, if that’s what you mean.”

  “Well, I want to hire someone to take over the complete care of my eight cats.”

  “Nine,” Savannah said, smiling.

  “Oh yes, nine. I guess I’m in denial,” June said, chuckling. “I want a full-time caretaker for now and especially for when I’m gone.”

  “Are you taking a trip?” Nola asked, innocently.

  June laughed. “No, I mean, when I leave this earthly plane. I want to hire someone who will reside here, on the premises, and care for my cats for as long as they live. This someone will get a salary and, when the last kitty’s gone, there will be a bonus enough to buy a home, start your own shelter, or whatever you choose to do.”

  “Oh that sounds wonderful. Gosh, I’d love to be considered for that job. My very own pack of kitties in such a lovely setting. That would be a dream come true,” she said. “I suppose I could even use my business background to manage things related to the kitties.”

  June looked at Savannah, raised her eyebrows, and smiled.

  “June,” Savannah said, “have you ever considered turning the estate into a ranch for cats? I mean, you have a whole ravine full of feral cats out there.”

  “You do?” Nola asked. “Oh my gosh, that would be so awesome. Yes, I would apply for a job like that in a hot minute.” She grinned. “Where do I sign up?”

  “Hmmm, a kitty ranch,” June said. She smiled at Nola. “Yes, awesome, indeed. Let me think about it for a day or so and you think about it, too.” She studied Nola for a moment, then turned to Savannah. “Do we have any spare rooms left?”

  Savannah nodded. “Yes, two or three, actually.”

  “Good. Nola, would you like to bring your things here and stay? That way we could get to know one another and you could become more familiar with the kitties. I’d like to have you start helping with the feeding and grooming, if you don’t mind. Of course, I’ll pay you for your time. Would you consider that?”

  “Absolutely,” Nola said, her eyes wide. “I need to take my mom’s car back to her and get my things together. I could have her drive me back in an hour or so. Is that okay?”

  “Yes. Savannah, would you show Nola Kat a suitable room and introduce her to Colbi? Let her know they’ll be working together. I’m sure Colbi will appreciate having the help.”

  ****

  “Hi, Rags,” Savannah said, when she saw the big cat enter their guest room later that night. “Come to kiss us goodnight, boy?” she murmured. She ran her hand along his back as she lay propped up in her bed, checking e-mail on her phone.

  “What’s he doing there?” Michael asked when he came out of the bathroom.

  “What?” Savannah sat upright to look in Rags’s direction.

  “Well, he’s clawing at something under that shelf.”

  “Crazy cat,” Savannah said, scratching his tummy. “Ever notice that he spends just about as much time upside down as he does right side up?”

  “Yeah, he does expose himself a lot, doesn’t he?” Michael said, chuckling.

  Just then Rags jumped to his feet and peered suspiciously under the shelf.

  “What is that?” Michael asked, reaching down and picking up a small plastic bag. “It’s a powder of some sort.”

  Rags, in the meantime, sat at his feet looking up at the package.

  “Michael,” Savannah said, “that looks suspicious, don’t you think? I mean, there’s tape on it.” She climbed out of the bed and felt around under the nightstand. “I’ll bet it was taped to the bottom of this thing. I’m going to call Craig. It might be a clue in what’s been going on here with June.”

  “Or, it’s someone’s drug stash,” Michael reasoned.

  “Either way, I’m going to tell Craig,” Savannah insisted. Into the phone, she said, “Hi, Craig, we just found a suspicious package in the room where we’re staying at the estate. It has a powder inside and it was taped to the bottom of a nightstand.”

  “How’d you find it?” he asked, chuckling. “What were you and Michael doing, anyway?”

  “Craig,” she scolded, “it was Rags. He was on his back, rolling around, and he evidently spotted it. Want us to save it for you? Where are you, anyway?”

  “Outside the cat room—where’s your room?”

  “Left hallway, third door to the left.”

  “Are you decent?”

  “Yes, come on down.” When he stepped inside the room, Savannah said, “I didn’t know you were on the premises.”

  “Just got back from a little meeting with Petra Salvo when I got your call. He claims he’s innocent of everything. He knows nothing about nothing. I think he’ll change his tune when the gal he jilted shows up.”

  “Gal? What gal?” she asked.

  “The orderly he manipulated into smothering the life out of Sterling Goss.”

  “Wow. He sure must have a way with the ladies. So where is this gal? Do you have her in custody?” she asked.

  He shook his head. “Not yet, but I think we’re closing in. She’s on an island, for Pete’s sake; where’s she going to hide?”

  “An island?” Savannah asked. “How did you find out about her, anyway?”

  He grimaced. “I don’t think Lorrie was very well thought of among her co-workers. They seemed all too eager to breach her confidence when it came to her torrid relationship with a good-looking, wealthy playboy. One of them even saw the airline tickets he gave her and remembered the destination—an island in the Bahamas.”

  “Did you arrest Petra Salvo?”

  “Not yet.” He looked at the cat. “So where’s the powder?”

  “Here,” Michael said, handing the small packet to him.

  Craig opened it and smelled the contents. “Hmmm, seems suspicious, doesn’t it? I’ll ask Jim to have it analyzed. We should have a response sometime tomorrow.”

  ****

  It was quite early the following morning when Craig called Savannah on her cell phone. “Can you tell me who stayed in that room before you and Michael came to the estate?”

  “No,” she said. She then asked, “Craig, you should know; you went with the staff when they gathered their stuff on move-out day, didn’t you?”

  “Sure, I went with one of them and the security guards were assigned to the others. I didn’t go to that room.”

  “Oh, well, let me ask. June’s right here.” Savannah pulled the phone from her ear. “June, we’re staying in the third room to the left in that hallway on the west wing. Can you tell me whose room that was before we moved in?”

  “Gwendolyn; my main chef. That’s where she stayed.”

  When Savannah relayed the message to Craig, he asked, “Does she know how I can reach Gwendolyn?”

  “He wants to know where Gwendolyn is now,” Savannah said.

  “She probably took a room with her sister out past the fire station. I can get that address for you if you give me a moment.”

  Two hours later, Craig appeared in the cat room where Savannah, Colbi, Nola, and June were playing with the cats. “You ladies have a tough life,” he said, laughing.

  Savannah huffed. “What do you mean? This is work. We’re working here,” she said, while wriggling a feather toy in Shadow’s direction.

  “Working?” he asked, looking suspiciously at them.

  “Yeah,” Colbi said in all seriousness, “Nola and I are their personal trainers. It’s important they get their daily exercise.”

  When Craig looked at June, she grinned. “That’s right. It’s their workout time.” She then gazed at him. “Did you find Gwendolyn? Why did you want to see her, anyway?”

  He rubbed his chin and cleared his throat. “Um, well, something was found in her room and I wanted to know where it came from. Gwendolyn Harris said she moved out of that room two weeks before you sent them away. She said Megan Vale wanted to trade rooms with her.”

  “Heavens, why?” June asked. “That doesn’t make sense.”

  Craig explained. “Ms. Harris told me that Ms. Vale decided it was too noisy in her room and she wanted one farther away from the kitchen.”

  June raised her eyebrows. “Well, I didn’t know about that arrangement. But then I’m the last to know about a lot of things that go on around here.”

  “This may be enough evidence to get a search warrant for Ms. Vale’s home or car, or wherever she’s living or storing her things,” Craig said.

  “Detective, I believe she’s using one of our sheds here on the grounds for storage. Most of the staff who live here do.”

  “Oh really? Do you have a key, Mrs. Balcomb?”

  “Yeah, there should be keys to all the storage units hanging in the laundry room.”

  Craig thought for a moment. “I’ll need a warrant, though, or whatever I find might not be accepted as evidence. I’ll see if I can get that process started this afternoon.” He turned to Savannah. “Would you tell Iris I might be late tonight? We expect the orderly in this evening and we want to question her as soon as possible.”

  “Sure, I’ll tell her.”

  Just then his phone buzzed. “Excuse me,” he said, walking out of the room. When he returned a few minutes later, he said, “…the best laid plans…”

  “What do you mean, Craig?” Savannah asked. “Will you be home early after all?”

  “I doubt it, not with another homicide in our midst.”

  “What?” she said.

  June’s jaw dropped.

  Craig thinned his lips, then sat down near June and looked into her eyes. “Mrs. Balcomb, your cook, Gwendolyn was found dead a little while ago outside her sister’s home.”

  “Oh no,” June said, aghast. “That poor woman. What happened? You say it was a homicide? Are you sure it wasn’t a heart attack? She wasn’t in very good health. I’ve been worried about her, lately.”

  Craig shook his head. “Looks like she was attacked, all right, but not from the inside—from the outside. Blunt-force trauma.”

  “But why?” she asked.

  He looked at June. “Why did Sterling Goss die? Why did your driver die?”

  June reached out for Savannah’s hand. “I must make it known that I’ve changed my will—that what they each get is a lump sum and that’s it. How can I get that word to them before they kill each other off?”

  “Mrs. Balcomb, I advise you to stay out of it. Let your attorney handle it. Have you already made the changes?” Craig asked. When June nodded, he said, “Have your attorney summon the three of them into her office for the announcement. We don’t want any of them anywhere near here until this mess is cleared up. Understood?”

  “Yes sir,” June said, unsmiling. “Thank you for all that you have done and you, too Savannah. You’ve all made a horrendous situation tolerable and almost enjoyable at times. If only I didn’t have this heavy load on my shoulders. I’m too far along in my life to be carrying such a burden.” She looked up into the ceiling. “Why oh why didn’t this challenge come along when I was more able to handle it?”

  Savannah cringed. “June, you know God doesn’t give us more than we can carry. You’re handling yourself and this awful mess with grace. I’m sure He’s smiling down on you.”

  “Well maybe so, but He sure must be disappointed in the others—those who are trying to harm His beautiful creatures,” she said, petting Mazie Mae and Tinker while tears rolled down her cheeks.

  Nola grimaced and rose to comfort June. Kneeling next to her, she said, “Your kitties are all just fine, Ms. June. Please try not to worry. You have a lot of people protecting them—a lot of people who care.”

  ****

  “Good morning, all,” Craig said the following day as he entered the dining room for breakfast.

  Upon seeing him, Savannah and June both set their utensils down. Savannah asked, “Craig, what happened last night? What did you find out?”

  The two women waited for his response.

  “Well, it looks like Gwendolyn Harris fell. Her sister said she thinks she’s been having small strokes and it’s possible that she simply fell hard and hit her head on the edge of a cement step.”

  June let out a sigh. “Well, as sad as I am about Gwendolyn’s death, it’s certainly a relief to know she wasn’t brutalized. I must call her family and offer my condolences.” Her eyes met Craig’s. “What about Petra and Megan…and Jody?”

  He chuckled. “Well, Ms. Vale was furious when she found out your stepson had been in the sack with Lorrie Cowgill.”

  “Who’s Lorrie Cowgill?” June asked.

  “Yeah, we need a program,” Iris said, spreading jelly on her toast.

  “Lorrie’s the orderly who was seduced by Petra Salvo. She was reluctant at first to talk to us. She still thought Petra would meet her on that romantic island and they’d live happily ever after. When we caught up with her, it didn’t take her long to realize she was never going to see that smooth-talking stepson of yours again, except maybe in court. Then she thought it might be to her advantage to tell what happened, since she figured he would get the blame, not her. Not a very bright gal…” Craig observed.

  “So, what did you find out?” Savannah asked.

  “Lorrie smothered Sterling Goss and claims that Petra blackmailed her into doing it.”

  “Blackmail?”

  “Yeah, he romanced her, but he also dug up some dirt on her and threatened to use it if she crossed him. It would have meant her job and probably some jail time. Hospital administrators don’t like it when employees help themselves to the drugs.”

  “Wow! He picked a good one to go in cahoots with, didn’t he?” Savannah said.

  “Yes, he seems to do his homework. He’s been stringing her along for a while. I suspect he’s into abusing prescription drugs himself.”

  June sat stunned. “My, my,” she murmured, “just when you think you know someone… Detective,” she said, “do you know who killed Andrew?”

  “Not conclusively, but we’re still pretty sure he died because he was trying to protect the little boy. We believe he saw someone running off with the child and tried to stop him or her.”

  “Her?” June said, surprised.

  Craig winced. “I can’t say anything more. Don’t want to taint that investigation.”

  “What a tangled web we weave,” June muttered.

  Just then Dora stepped into the doorway. “Your attorney’s here, Ms. June.”

  “Oh, thank you. Would you take her to the cat room? I’ll meet you in there. And have someone bring tea, would you, please?”

  “Certainly,” Dora said, hurrying out of the room.

  “Where’s Nola?” June asked, lifting herself out of the chair. “Good heavens, has anyone seen her today? Nothing has happened to that sweet girl, has it?”

  “No, June,” Savannah said, putting her hand on the elderly woman’s arm. “I’m sure she’s fine. I saw her just a little while ago with Colbi. They were grooming some of the cats.”

  “Oh thank heavens,” June said with a sigh. “Well, I want her in the meeting this morning. I guess we’ll find her in the cat room.”

  “Mrs. Balcomb,” Craig said, as she started to walk away, “have you done a background check on this girl?”

  “Who, Nola? Well no, Detective. I haven’t had a chance, yet…why?”

  “Don’t you think it would be a good idea?”

  She thought for a moment, then shook her head. “I know she’s the one. She has a genuine passion for animals. She will take care of my cats the way I want them cared for. I have no qualms about this girl, and that’s that.”

  “Well, Mrs. Balcomb,” Craig said, “I hope you don’t mind, but I took it upon myself to do a little checking.”

  “How dare you!” June shouted. “My business dealings are none of your concern. Don’t you know that if I thought there was a problem, I have the resources to get any information I want or need? I saw no reason to check on Nola Kat. None whatsoever.” She started to walk away, then turned and narrowed her eyes, asking more quietly, “So what did you learn?”

  He smiled broadly. “Nothing. She has a clean record. Was a good student. Her employers and those who she volunteered for love her. Looks like you’ve made a good choice there, Mrs. Balcomb.”

  June smiled and nodded her head. “You don’t live to be ninety and not develop some good instincts.”

  “Too bad you can’t choose your relatives,” Craig said, as she reached the doorway.

  She smiled weakly and walked slowly down the hall toward the cat room.

  ****

  Later that afternoon, Savannah, who had done a grocery-run, returned to the estate in time to see Craig and a couple of sheriff’s officers poring through a variety of items laid out on the ground in front of a storage shed. Once the kitchen crew had unloaded her car, she trudged out with Lily to see what progress the men were making.

  “Here’s the original sedative bottle,” Craig said, disgustedly. Using gloves, he held it up for Savannah to see. “From Straley Community Hospital—probably courtesy of the orderly Lorrie Cowgill.”

  “So it is a sedative. It wasn’t designed to harm June, right?”

  He looked at Savannah over the rim of his reading glasses. “There’s always a danger when inexperienced people administer any sort of medication.” He looked at the container, then set it down out of the way. “Yeah, these people had a plan—a fairly elaborate plan, actually. But the queen bee will prevail.”

  “Queen Bee? You mean, June?”

  He nodded. “Yes, as we pull their plan apart little by little and reveal who these people really are, I hope Mrs. Balcomb can stand tall through it all. I’m afraid I don’t have a pretty picture to show her.”

  “Sounds like you’ve uncovered more than just the origin of the sedative.”

  Craig pressed his lips together. “You got that right, kid. And it’s all coming together. I may have a bombshell to share over dinner tonight.”