“Not yet, but we learned a little more about Clyde Smythe—the other body under the Verano house. He was Dino Senior’s partner in one of his businesses. According to what our researchers have found, the two men had a falling out—a parting of the ways—a year or so after that big heist. Verano even turned over some evidence of threats to the police, supposedly fearing for his life. And guess what? They were notes written on small pieces of paper splattered with what looked like blood just like the ones you were finding in that house.”

  Savannah gasped. “Where did they find them? At the police station?”

  “Yes,” Craig said. “In some evidence boxes that had been stored in the building since the 1940s. But that evidence wasn’t related to the robbery. Those were two different cases. I guess there was no evidence to connect the two…at least not until now.” He laughed. “Not until your cat got involved.”

  “And Dino Senior didn’t like being threatened and decided to take things into his own hands, huh? He killed his partner and hid him in that hidey-hole,” Savannah surmised.

  “I guess so,” Craig said, “along with some of those threatening notes and, most likely, the jewelry.”

  “So Rags was bringing those notes into the house along with the jewelry and that awful bloody scarf. Darn cat!”

  Craig cleared his throat. “Yeah, it’s pretty amazing to think that stuff was hidden away for all those years. But something doesn’t add up. You’d think someone would have noticed once the body started decomposing.”

  “Yes, but remember I told you that Dino boarded up the house at one point and left for about ten years. I’ll bet that’s the reason. By the time the place was opened up again, it would be livable, right?”

  “Uh-huh. And then Dino Senior died. It could be that he and Clyde Smythe were the only living souls who knew the identity of the robbers. Man, that was one tight secret. It appears that both men took the truth to the grave.” Craig hesitated, then added, “Or did they?”

  “Huh?” Savannah said. “What are you thinking?”

  Craig coughed and cleared his throat. “Well, I tend to believe Milner when he says he doesn’t have the jewels. Either he’s telling the truth or he’s an Academy Award-quality actor.”

  “But he was going to shoot me,” Savannah complained.

  “I doubt it,” Craig said. “I think he just wanted to scare you. He certainly wouldn’t shoot to kill, anyway—not if he believes you have the jewels.”

  Savannah was quiet for a moment, then she said, “So Craig, if he doesn’t have them and if Holly and I don’t have them, and they’re not in the house, where are they? Who has them?”

  “That’s what I’d like to know.” Craig chuckled. “Oh, I didn’t tell you about the twist to this whole thing, did I?”

  Savannah spoke hesitantly. “What twist?”

  “Well, you knew that the guy you suspected, Wayne Morrison, was in custody.”

  “Yes.”

  “And you had Milner convinced that Morrison was somehow involved. We think that Milner may have planted the jewelry at Morrison’s house so he could get a search warrant.”

  “So Wayne has the jewelry?” Savannah asked more loudly.

  Craig chuckled. “Well, it turns out, what they found outside Morrison’s house was a piece that had already been turned in as evidence. But this wasn’t discovered until later. Milner must have planted it so a search warrant would be issued. When nothing was found, Milner used his clout to have Morrison released into his custody. That was yesterday.”

  “What?” Savannah shrieked. “Yesterday? Why?”

  “Yeah, probably in the wee hours of the morning,” Craig said. “I guess he thought there was an outside chance that Morrison was involved—that he really did have the jewelry. Presumably, when he decided that Morrison was innocent, the detective conked the poor guy on the head, tied him up, and left him on the train tracks to wait for the early daylight train. Then he hopped a plane to Frisco and made his way to your house to see if he could get you to cough up the jewels. Holly would have been next.”

  “Oh my gosh. So Wayne’s dead?”

  “Oh no. Some drunk who was just coming down from a binge found Morrison and released him some twenty minutes before the train barreled through there.”

  “Wow!” Savannah said, shaking her head. “So when you came here last night, you knew who you were waiting for.”

  “Yes,” Craig said under his breath. “And I was pretty sure it would be a delicate operation to spoil whatever little plan Milner had. I figured it would take some intricate trickery and it did.”

  “It did?” she asked. “What trickery? As I saw it, you got here almost too late. Where were you, anyway?”

  “I guess you had no way of knowing, Savannah, but you were never in danger. We were watching the guy. And like I said, he wasn’t going to hurt you as long as he thought you knew where the jewels were.” He paused. “I’m sure sorry that Rags got in the way and that he got hurt. I’m real sorry about that, but I knew you’d all be okay. Our plan was to give him some time and space to incriminate himself, which he did. We figured that when given some rope, he’d get cocky and start confessing.”

  “Gads, Craig, that was pretty risky, wasn’t it? I mean, what if…”

  “No need for what-ifs. You’re fine. Your family is okay. And Milner will never see the light of day again, except in a prison yard.”

  “And the jewelry?” Savannah questioned. “Do you think what Rags pulled out from under the garage is all that was left from that robbery?”

  “Now that’s anyone’s guess.” Craig paused, then asked, “So, honey, what do you have planned for the rest of the summer? Anything exciting?”

  “I sure hope not,” she said, flatly. “I don’t want to be involved in anything more exciting than taking care of my family and working on Rags’s memoirs.”

  Chapter 11

  Two days later Savannah heard the doorbell ring. Good, she thought, taking a quick peek at Teddy, it didn’t disturb the baby. She hurried to the front door and opened it quickly, saying, “Hey, Auntie, what’s up with…” But it wasn’t Margaret who was at the door. It was a stranger—a woman dressed in jeans and a pullover sweatshirt. Her dark-blond, blunt-cut hair fanned across her shoulders. “Oh, hello. I was expecting my aunt.”

  “I’m sorry,” the woman said. “My car broke down out on the highway. My cell phone died and I just wondered if I could use your phone to call for help.”

  “Oh, sure,” Savannah said. She then narrowed her eyes and peered at the woman. “You walked all the way back here to find a phone?”

  “Yeah, well, no one was home up front there.”

  Savannah stepped out and looked in the direction of her aunt’s house—her closest neighbor. “Hmmm. That’s strange,” she muttered. She studied the woman for a moment, then said, “Yeah, sure, come in.” She led her to the landline phone. When Teddy began to fuss, she started to excuse herself, but stopped, instead, and stared at the woman. There’s that scent again, she thought. She’s wearing that scent. What is it? Should I ask her? When Teddy cried out again, she excused herself, walked back to where he lay in the rocker swing, and picked him up.

  Within a few moments, the woman returned to the living room where Savannah comforted little Teddy. “Thank you. You’re a life saver. They’re coming out right away to give me a tow.” She started to head toward the door, then held out her hand. “By the way, I’m Sharon. Sharon…um…Summers.”

  Savannah shook hands with her. “Savannah Ivey.” She stared at the woman for a moment. Is it rude to ask what fragrance a woman is wearing? I guess it’s not if you really want to know. It’s so definitive. Only I can’t decide if I like it or not. Maybe I should…

  Before she could finish her thought, the front door opened and Margaret stepped in. “Oh, sorry, didn’t know you had company. I just brought your mom and daughter home.”

  “Thanks,” Savannah said.

  “Hi, Mommy!” Lily shouted, running into the house. She held up a colorful paper chain. “I made this. I made this,” she repeated.

  “It’s beautiful,” Savannah said. “Good job, Lily.” When she saw her mother and her aunt smiling at the stranger, she said, “This is…a…Sharon. Her car broke down. She came in to use the phone.” She addressed Margaret, “She said you weren’t home.”

  Margaret looked surprised. “I was home.” She smiled. “We were pretty involved in our craft, though, so maybe I didn’t hear the bell.” She reached out and took Teddy from Savannah. “Come here, you little cutie. Want to come see Auntie?”

  “What is that you’re wearing?” Gladys asked, moving closer to the stranger.

  “Wearing?” Sharon questioned, glancing down at her clothes.

  “That fragrance,” Gladys explained. “It’s lovely. It’s familiar. What is it?”

  “Oh, um…” before she could respond, a phone began ringing from her pocket. Flustered, Sharon looked sheepishly at Savannah, then removed her phone and looked at it. “I guess I just temporarily lost the signal. Well, listen, I’d better be on my way. The tow-truck driver should be here shortly.” She waved as she turned to leave. “Thank you all. Bye now.”

  When Gladys saw Savannah standing at the door staring after Sharon, she asked, “What’s wrong, Vannie? You look concerned.”

  “Looks like she’s driving a silver sedan,” she said as if she were thinking out loud. “I see it parked out on the highway.”

  “Yeah, that must be her car,” Gladys agreed. “Is it significant?”

  “Oh, um…I guess not. Hey, tell me about your little party,” she said, stepping inside and closing the door behind her. She was interested, of course, but her mind was somewhere else. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was brewing—that maybe the case they’d just put to bed wasn’t quite asleep after all.

  Patricia Fry and Her Books

  Stay in touch with Patricia Fry, author of the Klepto Cat Mysteries

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  Other books in the Klepto Cat Mystery series

  Catnapped (Book 1)

  When Savannah Jordan agrees to help her aunt while she recovers from a broken foot, she doesn’t expect to walk into a mystery, become part of a not-quite-legal surveillance team, be kidnapped by a deranged stranger and meet a steaming hot veterinarian.

  Beloved neighborhood cats are missing—the community can only guess at their fate—and Aunt Margaret’s life is being threatened. Is it because she has a clue to the missing cats or is it something more sinister? Of course, as in all of the Klepto Cat Mysteries, Rags, an ordinary cat with a most unusual habit, has a paw in saving the day.

  If you like light mysteries with only a little terror, if you’re infatuated by interesting cats and if you love a love story, you must read this book.

  Available at Amazon.

  Cat-Eye Witness (Book 2)

  Savannah and Aunt Margaret open the old Forster home to the Hammond Cat Alliance for a fundraiser to help rehabilitate the abused horses rescued months earlier from the catnappers.

  Before the afternoon is over, the collected funds go missing and someone is murdered in an upstairs bedroom.

  Suspicion surrounds Iris, a local waitress and Savannah’s new best friend. The only witness to the murder is Rags, Savannah’s cat. With the assistance of a cat psychic and Rags’s good friend, Charlotte (the young girl with Downs), the cat helps to “paw” the killer… but not before an attempt is made on Rags’s life. The case is solved only after Rags comes face-to-face with the killer for the second time.

  Detective Craig Sledge is new to this book, as is Damon, Iris’s errant son. Sledge finds this to be one of the muddiest cases he has ever worked, with inconsistent clues and no apparent motive. He’s constantly surprised, perplexed and impressed by the cat’s uncanny ability to come up with clues he has missed. His fascination with the attractive Iris Clampton also mystifies the detective.

  In this story, one of the rescued horses goes into labor and there’s a night of high drama at the ole corral as veterinarians Savannah and Michael work to save the foal. This experience renews Savannah’s deep interest in horses and riding, which ultimately serves to help her bond with a very important surprise character who finds his way into her life and Michael’s just as they prepare to say their wedding vows.

  While Rags is the animal star, he isn’t the only animal featured in this story. Layla is back in all of her tangerine feline beauty. And Rags makes friends with Buffy, a perky almost Himalayan cat and the inseparable duo, Walter, an all black cat and his sidekick, Lexie, a charming Afghan mix dog. Savannah’s new ride, Peaches, also debuts in this story. An incident with this mare adds another dimension to Savannah’s and Michael’s relationship. Can he hold her with open arms?

  Some say this is a love story with a mystery in the background. And it’s a story of family and friendship as newlyweds Margaret and Max continue to be a meaningful part of Savannah’s and Michael’s world.

  Available at Amazon.

  Sleight of Paw (Book 3)

  In this story, Michael Ivey, the local veterinarian (Savannah’s new husband) is attacked by an enraged client and then later accused of this man’s murder. The evidence quickly stacks up against Michael, until Rags, Savannah’s kleptomaniac cat, starts digging up clues implicating the unlikely suspect.

  Coinciding with the details of this challenge is the discovery that the old house, which the couple purchased from Savannah’s aunt, is cursed. Is this why the couple has not been blessed with a child?

  Savannah’s sister Brianna comes for a visit. She teams up with the Iveys’ vet tech, Bud, to discover how to break the gypsy spell and they fall hard for each other. Will their courtship be strengthened or weakened by a frightening carjacking incident?

  Detective Craig Sledge is prominent in this story as the lead investigator in the murder case. As usual, he engages in some creative tactics to get the information and the confessions he’s after. He has also become embedded in Savannah’s friend, Iris’s family. He’s dating Iris and helping with her son, Damon’s rehabilitation in prison. If you read the 2nd in the series, you know that Rags (the cat) helped to put Damon in jail.

  Available at Amazom.

  Undercover Cat (Book 4)

  A popular local journalist goes missing just before she has the opportunity to turn in her story exposing unscrupulous cat hoarders. Not only is Colbi a friend of Savannah’s and Michael’s, Damon (now out of prison and employed by the local newspaper) has a strong personal interest in her. In fact, Damon breaks some rules and some trusts in his search for Colbi.

  Is this a love connection? It’s doubtful because Colbi is a strong advocate for the feral cat population and Damon hates cats—or so he believes.

  Colbi’s rescue is almost too late. She needs time to heal both physically and emotionally. So the Iveys invite her to recuperate in their home. Just when Colbi begins to feel safe, a body is discovered in the Iveys’ orchard and Rags (their kleptomaniac cat) goes missing. Can someone in a nearby homeless camp shed some light on the evolving mystery?

  Available at Amazon.

  The Colony Cat Caper (Book 5)

  Savannah Ivey, a veterinarian out on maternity leave; her aunt Margaret, the founder of the Hammond Cat Alliance; and Colbi Stanton, a reporter for the local newspaper take on a cat colony at an old, abandoned building. Odd activity around the place makes them wonder if it actually is vacant; some believe it’s occupied by something other-worldly.

  When a stranger comes to town and suggests the Alliance open the old building to a fund-raiser, everyone gets involved, including Rags, Savannah’s kleptomaniac cat. He finds something that day that stirs a lot of people—both law-abiding and crooks—into action. Are the feral cats and their caretakers in serious danger? What (or who) lurks inside the old building? What secrets does it hide? And who has the key that unlocks the mystery?

  Available at Amazon.

  The Celebrity Cat Caper (Book 6)

  Rags, the kleptomaniac cat, opens up a whole new bag of tricks, when he becomes a therapy cat in a children's reading program. A documentary film crew arrives to capture the cat in action and they get more than they bargained for. Find out how Rags handles his sudden celebrity status.

  In this story, Savannah and Michael Ivey invite strangers into their home during a torrential rainstorm and learn that one of them has a sinister past. Someone is murdered, Savannah is stalked, Michael's life is threatened, and Rags helps to uncover an old mystery that, until now, has everyone baffled.

  The Iveys' baby Lily is three-and-a-half-months old and, along with nine-year-old Adam, provides some sweet and warm moments throughout this fast-moving story with many twists and turns.

  Avalable at Amazon

  The Corral Cat Caper (Book 7)

  The Corral Cat Caper features a lot of horse energy. It's rich in adventure of the feline as well as equine sort. In one scene, Rags attempt to save their sweet kitty, Buffy, from a catnapper and Savannah helplessly watches this drama unfold via a surveillance camera app on her phone.

  This story is full of sweet and evil surprises, unexpected twists and turns, and plenty of action and adventure.

  Available at Amazon

  The Gallery Cat Caper (Book 8)

  An old friend of Michael’s, who has become a successful artist, invites the entire Ivey family to his beach house. But their vacation is not all fun-and-games. It appears that someone is out to get the artist; and the Iveys and their friends keep stumbling upon clues to the tangled mystery.