She put her hand on his arm. “Thank heavens for that. You remained really calm. I’m impressed.” She furrowed her brow. “But, Michael, who would do that? Who would purposely want to make us crash?” She speculated, “Probably teens in the neighborhood with nothing better to do than vandalize cars. Someone should teach them how dangerous that could be. That could have been…”

  “I know. That’s all I’ve been thinking about…what if we’d been on the windy part of the road when it blew or what if a semi had been passing us when it happened and I lost my cool.”

  She patted his arm. “But that wasn’t the case, was it? You kept the car steady and we’re just fine.” She faced him abruptly. “Did you check the other tires?”

  “Sure did. They’re okay.”

  They’d driven several more miles when Savannah said, “Michael, I wonder if it was that crazy Wayne who did it. You know, I suspect him of blowing up the house and planting those notes and things to frighten us. He might have been the one with the gun last night. I don’t trust him, Michael. He probably thinks we’re a danger to him—that we’ll figure out it was him who held us hostage. Now that he has the jewels and whatever else of value that was in the house, he wants to quiet me.” When Michael didn’t respond, she said, “Hey. A penny for your thoughts.” She tried to make eye contact. “What’s got you so tense?”

  “Tense?”

  “Yeah, look at your white knuckles on the steering wheel.” She rubbed his arm and asked quietly, “What is it, Michael?”

  “Well, it may mean absolutely nothing, but the tire man back there said that, while he was replacing the tire, one of his employees stopped a theft.”

  “Oh?” Savannah questioned. “Someone tried to rob them?”

  “No,” he said. He cleared his throat. “Us.”

  “Us?” she repeated. “What do you mean?”

  “Well, I guess someone backed up to our trailer while it was parked on the lot there at the tire shop and started to hook up to it.”

  Savannah glanced back at the rented trailer they were towing which was filled with their belongings. She scowled. “Well, that’s not right. Who would do that and in broad daylight?” She tilted her head thinking, “And why?”

  He shook his head. “I don’t know. A desperate man, I guess. When the employee confronted him, he made some excuse about being paid to take the trailer and he drove off. They have a description of the car and all. Actually it was a truck. The police may be calling us with questions if they actually pursue the case. I mean nothing was taken—or so it seems. One of the tie-down straps had been loosened. It didn’t appear that anything had been taken, but we’ll know more about that when we get home and unpack.”

  After driving in silence for several miles, Michael said, “I have to wonder…”

  “What, Michael?” she asked, quietly.

  “If the person who paid that guy to steal the trailer is the same one who slashed the tire. But why?” he asked. “What do we have that someone would want that desperately?”

  “So you really do think someone wanted to hurt us.” Before Michael could respond, Savannah said, “Holly!”

  “What about her?”

  “She may be in danger too.”

  When he realized that he’d probably opened a can of worms with Savannah—that he’d caused her undue worry, he spoke more calmly, “Now, honey, I doubt that. It was probably a random act or the tire man could be wrong.” He smiled at her. “How about if we just relax and enjoy the rest of our trip home. Shall we do that? We have another day and a half or so on the road.”

  She thought about it for a moment, then said quietly, “I’ll sure be glad to get home and feel safe again.”

  ****

  Two days later, after a hearty breakfast, the family started the last leg of their trip home.

  “What day is this, anyway?” Michael asked.

  “Um…Thursday. We should be home tomorrow, right? We seem to be making good time,” Savannah said.

  Michael nodded. “Yeah, I’m afraid to stop.”

  “Why?” Savannah asked, frowning.

  “Why?” he laughed good-naturedly. “Because every time we stop you and your cat get tangled up in someone else’s drama.”

  Savannah sat back and grinned. Just then her phone chimed and she dug it out of her purse. “Hi, Holly.”

  “Hi. How’s the trip going?”

  “Good.” She chuckled. “Michael was just saying how smoothly it’s going this time. Except for…”

  “Except for what?”

  Savannah glanced into the backseat briefly, then lowered her voice. “We had a blowout Tuesday and the tire expert doesn’t think it was an accident. Then someone tried to steal our trailer full of our things.”

  “What? Oh, Savannah, I’m sorry. Is everyone okay? They didn’t take anything, did they?”

  “Yes, we’re okay. How are you?”

  Holly hesitated before saying, “Well, something weird has happened here too.”

  “What?” Savannah asked, holding her breath.

  “You know that body you found under the garage floor?”

  Savannah shuddered. “Don’t remind me.”

  “It was a cop.”

  “A cop?”

  “Yeah, they figure that whoever took the jewelry must have been seen by a police officer who was keeping an eye on the place. Or maybe a neighbor saw someone go inside and they called the cops. Anyway, he got killed and stashed under the garage floor there.”

  “Oh my gosh. That’s awful,” Savannah said. “So, do they know what was taken? I mean have they revealed what was involved in that ancient robbery?”

  “Yes,” Holly gushed. “It was a quite a few pieces of very valuable jewelry—one-of-a- kind stuff—and I guess a lot of cash. But they aren’t actually sure the stuff was still there in the house. I mean, what thief would take all that stuff and never spend it or sell it or whatever, unless…”

  “Unless what?” Savannah asked.

  “Well I suppose Dino senior might have died before he could enjoy it. He might have planned to keep it hidden until the heat was off.”

  Savannah chuckled. “The heat was off?” she repeated. “Been watching police shows lately?”

  “Yeah, yeah,” Holly snarked. She became more serious when saying, “But they have no way of knowing what was left in that original hidey-hole, if anything.”

  Savannah was quiet for a moment, then she said, “One living person knows, doesn’t he?” Before Holly could respond, she asked, “Have you seen your neighbor Wayne around lately? Or has he gone into hiding?”

  “Yeah, he’s still there. He doesn’t seem to have changed his habits any, as far as I can tell.” She then said, “Oh, and they also found another body that hasn’t been identified yet. Evidently he had been dead for a long time.”

  “Oh my gosh, in the same place? Did they find it in the same place?”

  “Yes, I think so,” Holly said.

  “Oh!” Savannah remarked.

  “Oh, what?” Holly asked. “You sound like you have an idea.”

  “Yeah, I’ll bet that was Clyde.” She spoke more excitedly. “And…and…maybe he was part of the burglary ring and he was threatening Dino Verano, so he got himself killed and stashed under the garage where the jewelry was hidden.” She paused, then said, “Holly, it makes sense. Why else would someone board up the house and leave for ten years?”

  Holly was quiet for a moment, then said, “Hmmm. You really do have an active imagination, don’t you?” She laughed. “I can’t wait to read Rags’s memoirs.” Before Savannah could respond, Holly said, “Hey, someone’s at the door. Gotta go. Safe travels.”

  ****

  The Ivey family had unpacked and settled back into their home by the time Saturday morning rolled around. Savannah poured her mother a cup of coffee. “I’m so eager to get together with everyone tomorrow after church. I’ve really missed them.”

  “You’ve talked to your aunt and Colbi, haven’t you?” Gladys asked. “And Brianna was here with Bud last night.”

  “Yes. It was great seeing them and learning what’s been going on around here.” She joined Gladys on the sofa, where she was playing with Teddy. “But I haven’t had a chance to catch up with Iris and Craig.” She grinned. “I want to tell Craig about the excitement in Colorado. He’ll probably get a kick out of that. I even thought about calling him a couple of times while we were there to ask him for help or advice or something.”

  “I’ll bet you’re glad to have all that behind you,” Gladys said. “Do you feel safe now that you’re back in your own home?”

  “I sure do.”

  After thinking about it for a moment, Gladys said, “Well, Vannie, you were kind of asking for trouble in Colorado, don’t you think so?”

  “Asking for trouble? Mom, what do you mean? I certainly didn’t want any trouble.”

  “You went down to that house knowing you could be putting yourself and Holly in danger.”

  Savannah said more quietly, “So you’re mad at me too, huh?”

  “A little disappointed, yes. Why? Is Michael mad at you?”

  “Well, maybe not mad, but yeah—disappointed. I feel like a naughty little girl.”

  Gladys grinned. “Good, because you are.” Her tone more serious, she said, “Honey, I’m sure that Michael is upset because of how close you and Holly came to being in that house when…” She teared up. “I mean, you were minutes—maybe seconds—away from being…”

  Savannah put her arms around her mother. “Yeah, that was close. But we’re fine. Holly and I are just fine and the danger’s over. We’re all safe.” As she reached for her cup of coffee, she saw something out the window. “Hey, who’s that?”

  “Who?” Gladys asked.

  “I don’t know, someone just drove part of the way up the driveway, then backed out. I guess he had the wrong address. That happens out here.” She stood up. “Hey, let’s fix some breakfast, shall we? I’d like to work on Rags’s memoirs today. I’ve put myself on a deadline.”

  “How’s that coming?” Gladys asked, picking up Teddy and following Savannah into the kitchen. She laid the baby in the rocking swing.

  Savannah opened the refrigerator and removed a carton of eggs. “I’m not having much luck with the deadline, but I am enjoying the process. It’s kinda fun. And I’m pleased with the way it’s coming together. I’m just about ready to let some of you read it—you know, to make sure it’s interesting, organized logically, and all. I thought I should get some feedback before I put too much work into the editing.”

  “Can’t wait,” Gladys said, washing her hands in the sink. She then grinned at Savannah. “How does one end a memoir about a living person?” She nodded toward Rags. “Or, in this case, a living cat?”

  Savannah thinned her lips. “Actually, I’m not quite sure.”

  “Who’s hosting the friends-and-family lunch tomorrow?” Michael asked when he stepped into the kitchen with Lily on his shoulders.

  “Rags!” Lily shouted, pointing.

  “Yes, Rags is on his window perch, isn’t he?” Michael said. “What’s he looking at?” He moved toward the window, bouncing for Lily’s benefit.

  “Got yourself a horsie there, Lily?” Savannah said, smiling.

  “Daddy my horsie,” Lily chirped.

  “Yes, I see that.” When she noticed Michael straining to see something through the window, she asked, “What is it?”

  “I don’t know. Rags sure is excited about something out there.”

  Savannah approached and petted Rags. “Oh, he’s probably just looking for Peaches. He misses his Lucy kitty and he misses his horse-friend.” She picked up the oversized cat and snuggled with him. “Life’s tough, isn’t it, Ragsie? But don’t fret. You have me and Buffy and Walter and Lexie…”

  “Speaking of Lexie, I’ll bet she’s ready to go out.” Michael turned to Savannah. “Did you take her out yet?”

  She released the cat onto the floor and washed her hands. “No. Not yet.” She broke several eggs into a bowl and whisked them while she heated a little butter in a pan. “Go ahead. But don’t get involved in a project out there. Breakfast is coming right up.”

  “It’s ready!” Savannah called to him several minutes later.

  Gladys filled four small glasses with orange juice. “It sure was nice of Helena and Maria to make that pan of cinnamon rolls for our arrival home.”

  “And to make sure we had eggs and milk…” Savannah added while she prepared a plate for Lily. “Helena is a jewel, isn’t she? So thoughtful.”

  “Yes, she is,” Gladys agreed. “She loves your family very much.”

  Savannah smiled. She addressed Michael. “What do you have planned for today?”

  He took a sip of juice and buttered a cinnamon roll. “I’d like to clean out the tack room and maybe straighten up my tool shed.”

  “Sounds ambitious,” Gladys said.

  Savannah laughed. “Not really. Mom, have you ever been inside the tack room or his tool shed?” When Gladys shook her head, Savannah said, “They’re more like showrooms or exhibit halls. If Michael wanted a new career, he could easily become a personal organizer—you know, for closets, offices, homes, garages…”

  Michael winked at Gladys and admonished his wife, “Now, let’s not get carried away.”

  “This I must see,” Gladys said. “If there’s anything I appreciate it’s an organized space.”

  Michael grinned. “Well, great. I’m glad someone appreciates my talents. I’d love to take you on a tour after breakfast.”

  “So things went well at the clinic while you were gone?” Savannah asked, sitting down at her place next to Lily.

  “Yes, I guess so. You heard Bud’s report last night. Sounds like he and Pam kept things moving like clockwork. That’s something else I want to do today—spend some time at the clinic going over the books. I’ll probably do that after lunch.” He looked across the table at Savannah. “What are you doing today, hon?”

  “Well, Mom and the kids have been invited over to Auntie’s and Max’s for a while and I thought I’d take the opportunity to go grocery shopping.”

  “Sounds like everyone’s busy.” Once he’d finished his breakfast, Michael stood and carried his plate to the kitchen counter. “I’ll see you all later.” He opened the door for Lexie, then looked back at Gladys. “Come on out when you’re finished and I’ll show you around.”

  Gladys nodded.

  Savannah had bathed and dressed Lily by the time Gladys returned to the house. She found Savannah and the children in the living room watching Lily stack her building blocks. She chuckled. “He is one organized man, your husband. Very neat.”

  “Except for when he’s making sawdust,” Savannah said. “Then I have to clean up after him.”

  “Well, I’m impressed.” Gladys laughed again. “His tool shed even smells good.”

  Savannah looked puzzled. “It smells good?”

  “Yeah, there was a lovely aroma of some sort in there.” Gladys leaned toward Savannah and spoke as if in confidence, “Don’t tell him I said this, but the scent he uses out there has a feminine quality to it.” She shook her head. “I wouldn’t encourage him to invite his man friends in there.” She asked, “What is it, do you know? A candle or a spray?”

  Savannah raised her eyebrows. “Heck, I don’t know. I never noticed that before. Did you ask him?”

  Gladys shook her head. “No, I didn’t want to interrupt his rehearsed tour.”

  ****

  Later that afternoon, Savannah dropped her mother and the children next door at her aunt’s and headed to the grocery store. When she returned to her home, she unloaded the groceries, taking three trips to cart them into the kitchen before locking the door behind her. She’d started putting things away when she heard a low growl. She turned and saw Rags crouched, his ears flat, staring into the dining room. “What’s wrong, Rags?” she asked. She looked toward the staircase, then back at the cat. “What’s got you so riled up, boy? I don’t see anything.”

  She went back to her task, but then she heard something else. Someone’s in this house, she thought. I feel it. She glanced down at Rags again. He knows it too. He’s definitely upset about something. She ran toward the door, but before she could unlock it to escape, she heard a man’s voice behind her.

  “Well, hello again.”

  She turned and came face to face with a masked man. My God, she thought, he’s the one who threatened Holly and me in the Verano home that night. “What are you doing here?” she demanded, her voice catching a little.

  “I’ve been here for a few days waiting for you. Waiting for you to be alone so we could have a little talk.” He nodded toward the kitchen door. “Nice of you to leave that open for me just now.”

  She focused on his hands. Empty. “What do you want?” she asked.

  “Well, you figure it out. You’re a smart girl, right?”

  When he moved closer to Savannah, Rags spat at him and hissed. The man pulled out a handgun, aimed it at the cat, and snarled, “You’d better keep him away from me.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t want to hurt a dumb animal, but I will to keep him from digging his claws into me again. What’s wrong with that cat, anyway? Is he rabid?”

  Savannah stared hard at the man, rage rising to the surface. “Who are you and what do you want?” She narrowed her eyes. “You’re Wayne aren’t you? Or are you Wayne’s father? I never quite figured that out.”

  “Wayne?” the intruder said chuckling. “Who’s Wayne? Hey, yeah, I’ll be Wayne if you want me to.”

  She was on a roll now. “Are you related to the Veranos? Is that how you knew about the jewelry heist?”