Before Ramon could escort him out, the prisoner, no longer wearing his mask, looked Savannah in the eye. He nodded in her direction. “That’s who you should be arresting. She and her friend have the jewels. All I did was try to get them back to…to turn them in. Yeah, I was just doing my job. She’s the thief. She and her girlfriend.”

  “Okay, that’s enough, hotshot,” Ramon warned. “Come on, let’s go.” But before he could lead the prisoner out, Craig stopped him.

  “Wait, what is that you say? You don’t have the jewels?”

  “No. She does. When I got there that night and finally found the hiding place, it was empty.” He glared at Savannah. “She’s gotta have the stuff.”

  “What?” Savannah screeched.

  Craig put his hand out to silence her, then said to Ramon, “Never mind. Just take him in. I’ll be down to book him.”

  “What does he mean, accusing me of having the jewelry?” Savannah asked once Ramon had led Detective Milner out of the house. “All Holly and I found, other than what Rags brought into the house, was that one earring. We turned it all over to the police.” Her voice becoming shrill, she said, “What is he talking about, Craig? I haven’t done anything. I don’t know where that jewelry is.”

  “I know, honey,” Craig said. “The man’s lying.” He started to leave, then he turned back, tilted his head, and said, “Unless…”

  “Unless what?” Savannah asked.

  Craig thinned his lips. “Well, unless someone beat him to the stash.” He chuckled. “Now wouldn’t that be an interesting twist to a convoluted case?” He waved as he stepped out the door, leaving the others speechless.

  When Savannah saw Michael glancing around the room, she asked, “What are you looking for?”

  “Your cat.”

  “Why?”

  “I want to check him over.” Michael handed Lily to her and walked out of the room, calling, “Rags; here, kitty-kitty.”

  Savannah quickly followed after him. “Why, what happened? Do you think he’s hurt?”

  He faced her. “Well, when I went at the guy with the fireplace poker, Rags was still attached to his arm and he was flailing all around. You heard the gun go off…”

  “Yes. Oh no, Rags wasn’t shot, was he? I saw him come in here, but he wasn’t bleeding.”

  Michael shook his head. “No. I don’t think he was shot, but the guy slammed his arm against the wall trying to shake Rags loose and he hit pretty hard.”

  “Poor baby,” Savannah said, joining Michael in the search for her cat.

  Several minutes later they still hadn’t located Rags. As they returned to the living room, Michael scowled. “Oh no,” he said, rushing toward the front door. “He probably slipped out through that broken window panel. Dang it. I forgot about that.”

  Savannah gazed at the damage, then opened the door. “Rags!” she called. “Come on Rags. Kitty-kitty-kitty!”

  A little while later, after no amount of calling resulted in locating Rags, Michael put his arm around Savannah. “Okay, I’ve boarded up the window. I imagine he’s hiding, either inside or outside the house. He’s probably pretty scared after that ordeal. What do you say we put the children back to bed and get some sleep? He’ll either come out of hiding inside here someplace or we’ll find him on the porch in the morning.” When Savannah balked, he chuckled. “He’s probably out there bunked down with your horse—you know, where it’s quiet.”

  “Could be,” Savannah agreed. “Yes, let’s get some sleep.” She yawned. “I’m so tired.” She handed Lily to Michael and took the baby from her mother. He squirmed and started to fuss and she asked, “What time is it, anyway?”

  “One thirty,” Michael said, heading with Lily toward her bedroom. He winced. “Time for him to eat, huh?”

  “Yeah, I’m afraid he’s on that schedule again—seven, ten, and two. Let’s just hope he’ll go back to sleep for a while.”

  When Michael returned from Lily’s room, he approached Savannah and took the baby. “Here, you go get some sleep. I’ll heat one of his bottles.” When she started to protest, he said, “Go on. Us guys will be just fine.” He headed into the kitchen with the baby. “We can do this, can’t we, champ? First we’ll start heating the bottle, then I’ll change you so you’re all comfy. Are you ready for this?” he cooed to the baby.

  Chapter 10

  Savannah slept restlessly until around five o’clock, then she slept soundly for an hour. When she finally woke up and realized what time it was, she leaped out of bed. Within just a few minutes, she was dressed and headed out to call for Rags, but she still couldn’t find him. She felt that awful pang in the pit of her stomach. Where is he? Gads, I hope he’s not hurt badly. While she continued calling and searching, she became aware of a car approaching. She glanced up and saw that it was Margaret. “Hi Auntie,” she called, walking toward the Jeep Liberty. “What are you doing out so early?”

  “Just bringing your boy home.”

  “My boy?” Savannah asked, momentarily confused. When Margaret nodded toward the passenger seat, Savannah shouted, “Rags! Auntie, where did you find him?”

  “In the shelter. Max went out to feed this morning and discovered him curled up with our newest little guest, Sissy.” She faced Savannah. “How’d he get out this time?”

  “Well, an intruder broke the stained-glass window alongside the front door last night and threatened us with a gun. We think Rags must have escaped before Michael could board it up. You know how he is; he’ll take any opportunity.”

  Margaret stared into Savannah’s eyes. “An intruder?”

  “Yeah, didn’t you hear the alarm and the gunshots?”

  Margaret shook her head. Obviously stunned, she said, “No. When did all this happen?

  We were out past midnight. Got home around two, actually.” She cocked her head. “Who was it? What happened?” She looked horrified. “There were gunshots?”

  Savannah nodded while she reached into the car and picked up Rags. When he pulled back from her and she noticed that his back leg was quivering, she said, “He’s hurt.”

  “Yeah, he doesn’t seem to be feeling very well. I had a little trouble getting him out of the pen.”

  “How did he get into the pen with the new cat?”

  “Oh, he wasn’t in the pen with her. He crawled into the one next to her—it was vacant—and I found him snuggled up against the wire on his side and she was snuggled against the wire from her side. Yeah, he’s really lethargic today. I wondered if he was sick.”

  Savannah carefully picked up the cat and headed for the house. “Come in, Auntie, and have a cup of coffee. I want Michael to look him over. He was afraid Rags might have been injured last night.” When Savannah stepped into the kitchen, she called out, “Michael, we found Rags. Michael!”

  He came into the room just as Savannah’s phone rang. She picked it up, saying, “Who’s calling this early?” She looked at the screen and announced, “It’s Bert! I hope everything’s okay.” She gently handed Rags to Michael and took the call. “Hi, Bert. How are you feeling?”

  “Almost as good as new,” she said. “Hey, how’s Rags? Lucy wants to know.” She chuckled. “So do I!”

  “Well, Michael’s checking him over as we speak. He had a bit of an accident last night and then he got out and spent the night at my aunt’s place with her cats.”

  “Yeah.” Margaret pulled out her cell phone. “Here’s a picture.”

  “Oh my gosh,” Savannah said into the phone. “My aunt just showed me a picture of Rags lying next to a cat that looks just like Lucy. I’ll have to send it to you. She’s almost identical.”

  “Awww,” Bert said. “Well, he must miss her as much as she misses him. Savannah, she just isn’t herself. She really seems to be pining for him. Of course, part of her problem might be that I’ve confined her to the house since her recent escapade.”

  “No doubt,” Savannah said. “Will she tolerate a harness? Can you take her out on a leash?”

  “I haven’t tried it yet, but that’s going to be my next move where she’s concerned. In fact, it may be a necessity because we’re doing some traveling soon.”

  “Oh?”

  “Yeah, that’s what I called you about. My sister out there near San Francisco is going in for surgery next week and she has no one. I told her I’d come and help her out, but I must bring Lucy. Linda is eager to have the help, of course, but I’m afraid she has asthma and one thing that seems to set her off is a cat. She was practically bedridden the last time she visited me because of Lucy, and she’s never been back. I don’t blame her. Anyway, I was wondering if, by any chance…”

  “Of course, Bert. Yes. Bring Lucy here. Oh, Rags will love it…only…”

  “Only what? Is there a problem?”

  “I hope not. It’s just that Rags being Rags, we don’t know when we’re going to lose track of him, like last night.”

  Before Savannah could finish her thought, Michael appeared with Rags in a carrier and announced, “Looks like he might have a broken leg. I’m taking him to the clinic for an x-ray. I also want to check him over for possible internal injuries.”

  “Oh no,” Savannah groaned.

  “What?” Bert asked. “Is something wrong?”

  “I’m sorry, Bert. Yes, Michael said he thinks Rags has a broken leg. He’s going to take him to the clinic for an x-ray. Listen, I’ll call you back. I want to go with him. But yes, Lucy is certainly welcome.” She cringed. “And if Rags has a broken leg, he’ll need all the sweet kitty support he can get. Seeing Lucy will surely cheer him up. Let me know your plans, will you?”

  After ending the call, Savannah asked, “Auntie, want to drive me to the clinic? I’m sure Michael will stay. It’s almost time to open.” She said to Michael. “You haven’t had breakfast.” She patted his arm. “I’ll go get you a breakfast sandwich while you x-ray Rags.” She then called up into the stairwell, “Mom, are you up?”

  Gladys appeared at the top of the stairs, “Yes, just on my way down. Why?”

  “I was hoping you could feed the kids. I’m going with Auntie and Michael to get Rags checked out.” She frowned. “Michael thinks his leg’s broken.”

  Gladys peered into the carrier. “Oh, poor Rags. I’m sorry.” She then said to Savannah. “Yeah, I can take over here. You go on.”

  “Forty minutes before we open,” Michael said as he unlocked the back door to the Ivey Veterinary Clinic and ushered the two women in. It took thirty minutes to complete the exam and put a cast on the lower portion of Rags’s leg. “We’re lucky it’s not a bad fracture,” he said, stroking the cat’s fur. “He shouldn’t be out of commission for long.” He chuckled. “As you know, animals learn pretty quickly to take things like this in stride.”

  Savannah kissed her husband. “Thank you, hon. Okay if I put him in a recovery pen while we run out and get you some breakfast?”

  “Sure,” he said. “Hurry back; I’m hungry.”

  When Savannah and her aunt returned to the clinic, they were greeted by Scarlett, Michael’s longtime receptionist. “I see Rags is a patient again,” Scarlett chirped. She frowned. “Broken leg, huh? He does get himself in some doozies of predicaments.”

  “Hi, Scarlett,” Savannah said. “Yes, he does.” Suddenly she stopped and looked around. She furrowed her brow.

  Margaret carped. “Vannie, I almost ran into you!”

  “Oh,” Savannah said. “Do you smell that?”

  “What?” Margaret asked.

  Scarlett looked puzzled. “Is it coffee? I just turned on the coffee pot back in the lunchroom.”

  Savannah shook her head. “No, it’s a scent—like cologne.” She approached Scarlett. “Are you wearing perfume or a body spray maybe?”

  Scarlett thought for a moment, then said, “No. Actually, I got up kind of late.” As if sharing a secret, she said, “I just did a lick and a promise this morning, as my dad used to say.” She tilted her head. “Why?”

  “I don’t know. It’s gone now, but I got a whiff of a familiar scent.” She waved her hand in front of her. “Oh, sometimes I think my nose is too sensitive.”

  “Yeah, and she’s good at putting it where doesn’t belong,” Margaret quipped.

  Savannah smirked playfully at her aunt.

  “Wait,” Scarlett said. “There was a woman in here a few minutes ago. Heck, you must have seen her in the parking lot. She left just before you came in. I’m not all that tuned into fragrances, but I did notice hers. I’ll bet that’s what you’re smelling, Dr. Savannah.”

  Margaret chuckled. “Dr. Savannah? It’s more like Mommy Savannah now, isn’t it?”

  “Well, she’s still Dr. Savannah around here,” Scarlett insisted. “You will be coming back to work here someday, won’t you?”

  Savannah smiled. “I might.” She held up the small bag she carried. “Hey, I’d better deliver this to Dr. Mike before it gets any colder. And I need to get Rags. Be right back.” When she returned with Rags in the carrier, she approached the receptionist, “Scarlett, tell me about the woman who was here before we came in.”

  The petite brunette took a breath. “Well, actually she’s not a client. She’s some sort of survey-taker. It was her second time in here. This time she just had just a few questions, but last time she wanted to know things like who owns the business, how long have you and Dr. Mike owned it, do you live on the premises, do you have a family…things like that.”

  Savannah was quiet for a moment, then said, “Oh, that’s kind of odd. I wonder what company or agency she’s with. Did she leave a card?”

  “Um, no, I don’t think so. She just told me there was no need to bother Dr. Mike—that the questions were all simple and informal and she was sure I could answer them.” When she noticed Savannah’s expression, she asked, “Did I do something wrong? I’m sorry.”

  “Oh no, I’m sure you didn’t. It’s okay. I can’t imagine what that’s about, but hey, if she comes in again, would you tell her to contact me directly? And get her card, will you?”

  “Sure will.” Before Scarlett could continue, a client walked in with a sheltie on a leash and she greeted him.

  Savannah watched for a moment, then picked up the carrier and led her aunt out of the reception room and into the parking lot. She glanced around and caught a glimpse of a silver sedan easing out of the lot onto the street.

  “Have you had breakfast?” Margaret asked as she drove Savannah and Rags home. When her niece didn’t respond, she poked her with a finger and said, “Vannie!”

  “Oh…um…I’m sorry. Breakfast? No. Have you? Want to join us for breakfast?”

  “I thought you’d never ask,” Margaret said curtly. “What are you having?”

  “I don’t know, but, when Mom’s in charge, it’s always something yummy. Hey, can we stop by your place and get that large pen for Rags? Is it available right now? I’d like to keep him quiet for at least a few days if I can.”

  “Sure. Poor boy. So he hiked all the way over to our place last night with a busted leg?”

  “I guess he did. He must have felt he’d be safer there than here with gunshots and all. I’m so glad you’re there for our little vagabond. Thank you for bringing him home and thank—what’s her name—Sissy? I’ll have to take her a treat later.”

  “Yes, a treat would be nice. But what the little thing needs more than anything is a home.”

  “Sorry, we’re full up. And I guess we’re going to have a feline guest for a while this summer.”

  “Who?” Margaret asked.

  “Remember I told you about the cat friend Rags met in Colorado? He found her when she was stuck in a pipe and left to die. Bert, Lucy’s mom, said Lucy’s still pining for Rags. And I must say, he has seemed a little sad since we got home. I’ve wondered if he misses her. The little Sissy cat in the picture you showed me is almost Lucy’s twin. Do you suppose he looks at her as a sort of surrogate Lucy?”

  “Pshaw, Vannie, I suppose anything’s possible, especially with that cat of yours. Yeah, let’s stop in and get the pen and you can meet Sissy.” Her face lit up when she said, “Maybe Lucy’s mom would like to have a matching pair.”

  “Could be,” Savannah said.

  ****

  “So how’s the patient?” Michael asked when he arrived home that evening.

  “Not in very good spirits. As we learned the last time he was injured, he’s not a good patient. He gets kind of depressed and demanding, don’t you think so?”

  “Yes. He does manage to complicate things when he’s ailing or injured. Nothing seems to suit him.”

  Savannah chuckled. “He’s used to having his way. He is a star, after all. He probably feels he’s entitled.”

  Michael grinned. “Do you like the cast I designed?”

  “Yeah. Pretty clever. Where did you find that casting fabric?”

  “Oh, Pam likes to research new things in veterinary supplies and she’s always coming up with something crazy. I thought it would cheer him up.” He walked to the pen, carefully lifted Rags out, and sat down with him on his lap. “You’ll feel better soon, boy.”

  Savannah petted Rags. “And you’ll cheer up once you see Lucy.” She peered into his eyes. “Yes, Lucy’s coming to visit.”

  Savannah and Michael both laughed when Rags responded with a clear meow.

  Savannah shook her finger at him. “But you’d better be on your best behavior. No shenanigans now.” She smiled. “I’m just glad it was a hairline fracture and that he won’t be laid up for long.”

  “So what are you going to focus on now that most of the canning is done and that awful ordeal is behind us? Rags’s memoirs?”

  She nodded. “Yes. I hope that the only adventures we’re involved in for the rest of the summer—in fact, the rest of the year—are those that I’m writing about.”

  Savannah’s phone rang. She looked at the screen. “It’s Craig. Hi, Craig. Thank you for being there for us last night. Boy, that was a surprise to learn that the bad guy was the detective. I would never have guessed. So you’re sure Wayne didn’t have anything to do with anything? Did you find the loot?”