“Darn,” Savannah said. She motioned for everyone to be quiet. “Listen.”

  Ellen put her hands up to her chest. “Oh, I hear her. Yes, that sounds like Lucy. She has one of those soft little voices. Where is she?”

  “I think she’s under that piece of plywood, in a hole there; maybe that’s an old septic tank.”

  Michael ran his hand through his hair. “How did she get in there, is the question. From where I stand, I can’t see any way she could have climbed under there on her own.”

  “No she couldn’t, Dad,” Adam said, wide-eyed. “Savannah moved a bunch of stuff off that wood…bricks and pipes and stuff.”

  Michael shook his head disgustedly. “So the homeowner probably put her in there and stacked all that stuff on top to make sure she couldn’t escape. The….”

  “Never mind,” Savannah said, patting his arm. “Little ears, you know.”

  Adam sniggered. “Dad, Savannah said hell.”

  The others chuckled when Savannah attempted to conceal her embarrassment.

  “So what are we going to do?” Ellen asked.

  “First things first,” Michael said. He called out, “Hello in there. Mr…” He asked the teens, “What’s his name?”

  “Fields.”

  Michael raised his voice again. “Mr. Fields, I’d like to talk to you. Please come out, will you?”

  There was no response.

  “Mr. Fields, if you don’t come out and let us rescue the cat, we’re going to call the police.”

  Just then they heard a voice from behind them. “He’s not going to help you.”

  Michael turned and saw a middle-aged man in jeans and a striped polo shirt who asked, “What’s the problem, anyway?”

  “We think he has trapped a cat in there,” Michael explained, “and he won’t let her out or let us in to get her.” He gestured toward the gate. “He’s locked us out.”

  The man tightened his lips. “If the cat’s in danger, which it most likely is, since it’s on his property, I’d climb over that gate.”

  “Does he own a gun?” Michael asked. “Or a big dog?”

  “Naw,” the man said. “He’s just an angry old bag of wind. Go on in there and get the cat. I’ll help you restrain the old guy if it comes to that.”

  Michael nodded. “That’s not such a bad idea.”

  “I’ll go in,” Zach offered.

  Michael thought for a moment, then said, “You know, I’d rather not encourage you to do something that may be illegal. It could come back to bite you and me both. Better that I do it myself.” With a boost from the young man, Michael eased over the gate and walked toward where he could still hear muffled cat mews. Just as he started to lift the plywood, the old man appeared.

  “Who are you? What do you want?” he screamed.

  “I want the cat,” Michael said emphatically.

  “Get off my property.”

  “Oh come on, Ken, let them get the cat,” the neighbor said from the other side of the gate.

  Ken Fields smirked. “You’re not gonna get that cat outta there. He’s stuck. He can’t get out. That’s why I covered him up, so I don’t hafta hear the squalling.”

  “You mean you left the poor cat to die?” Michael practically shouted. “What’s wrong with you, man?” He proceeded to lift the plywood, then stood up straight and muttered, “Good lord.”

  “What is it?” Ellen asked in a panic. “What’s wrong?”

  Michael turned and announced, “He’s right. She’s stuck down inside a pipe.”

  Savannah gasped. “A pipe?”

  Michael glanced around the area. “Yeah, it was probably part of a fence post at some point.” After surveying the situation more closely, Michael said, “We’re going to need some sort of equipment to get her out of there.” He faced the elderly man. “How long has she been here like this?”

  “All night, I guess.” He complained, “What kind of equipment? You’re not going to invade my privacy and peace by bringing in a bunch of noisy equipment, especially just to help a dumb cat.”

  “Oh yes we are,” Michael said, pulling his phone from his pocket. Before making a call, he said, “Savannah, bring Rags in here will you? She’s upset. He’ll calm her.” When he remembered that the gate was locked, he said to the elderly man, “Now unlock the gate or we’ll knock down that wood fence of yours.”

  “Better do as he says, Ken,” the neighbor suggested firmly but calmly.

  Mr. Fields scowled, took a set of keys out of his pocket, and unlocked the gate.

  Savannah walked into the backyard with Rags and urged him to get down into the shallow pit with the terrified cat. “It’s okay, sweet girl. You’re going to be okay,” she cooed. She turned to the others and said, “She’s gray and white and fluffy, like you said. Must be your grandmother’s cat.”

  Ellen let out a sigh. “Oh, poor Lucy.”

  Michael grinned. “Lucy, huh?”

  When Rags saw the cat down inside the pipe, he began mewing and chirping softly.

  “I think it’s working,” Savannah reported a few minutes later. “She doesn’t seem so panicked.” She petted Rags. “Good job, boy. Keep talking to Lucy.”

  Meanwhile, the neighbor said to Michael, “My business is construction; let me get some of my men out here to see if we can break down that pipe or maybe dig out below it. Then you’d better call a veterinarian. That cat may need treatment.”

  Michael chuckled. “Well, my business is veterinary; so I guess we’re covered, although I don’t have a medical bag with me. So we’d probably better put a call in to her regular vet.”

  “What’s going on?” a woman shrieked from behind them. “Where’s my Lucy?” She raised a fist. “Ken Fields, if you’ve done something to my cat, I’ll…”

  “Oh simmer down, you crazy old cat lady,” the elderly man said. “I haven’t laid a hand on the mangy beast.”

  Ellen approached her grandmother. “Nana, how did you get here?”

  “Your cousin came and got me—told me you’d found Lucy, but that she’s…oh, my dear God, she’s not dead, is she?”

  Michael faced the woman and spoke gently, “She’s okay. She has somehow caught herself up inside a pipe and she doesn’t seem to be able to get out. We have help on the way. I think she’s going to be just fine.” When the woman still seemed shaken, he suggested, “Here, come on, I’ll show you. It’ll do her good to hear your voice.”

  “Yeah,” Mr. Fields shouted sarcastically, “the more the merrier! Might as well invite the whole United States National Guard. A man sure can’t get no privacy around here, even in his own home.”

  When the woman started to retort, Michael said, “Oh, don’t pay any attention to him.”

  She huffed and spouted, “Never have; might as well not start now. Grumpy old man,” she said under her breath.

  Hearing this, Adam looked wide-eyed at Ellen and Zach, who grinned back at him.

  Meanwhile, the woman asked Michael, “By the way, who are you people?”

  As he led her to where Savannah and Rags sat, he said, “I’m Michael Ivey; my wife, Savannah, has been keeping your kitty company.” He said to Savannah, “Hon, this is Lucy’s mom.”

  “Oh, she’ll be glad to see you,” Savannah said. “She’s stuck in that pipe. See her down there?”

  “My poor baby,” the woman wailed. “Lucy, Mommy’s here.” She looked at Savannah. “Are you sure she alive?”

  “Yes, she’s been talking up a storm.”

  The woman looked surprised. “She’s talking?”

  Savannah smiled. “Yes. I’m afraid she’s telling us her life story.” She put one hand on the woman’s arm. “We’ve sent for some equipment that might help us to free her. In the meantime, I know it will calm her to know you’re here.”

  After the woman had spoken to the frightened cat for a few moments, she faced Savannah. “So who are you people? And where did you come from? You don’t live around here, do you?”

  “No. We’re traveling through. We stopped to let our children and the animals stretch their legs. We saw your grandchildren searching for your cat and…”

  “Oh, they’re dear, dear people,” the woman said. “…always there when I need them.” She leaned toward Savannah and smiled. “Nice that they live so close to me.” She carefully stepped into the shallow pit, sat down next to Savannah, and offered her hand. “I’m Roberta Evans. They call me Bert.”

  “Hi, Bert,” Savannah said smiling.

  Just then Bert pointed at Rags. “What’s that cat doing in here? Is he the one who led my Lucy astray?”

  Savannah laughed. “No. He’s our cat. He travels with us. His name’s Rags. Actually, Bert, he has calmed Lucy down quite a bit.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes, Nana,” Ellen said from the other side of the gate. “It was pretty awesome. He just mewed softly to her and you could tell that she relaxed. She doesn’t sound as scared.”

  Tears came to Bert’s eyes. “Bless you, boy,” she said, reaching out and petting Rags. She turned to Savannah. “He really did that? What cat does that?”

  By then, a few other neighbors had come out of their homes to see what was going on. One woman said, “Wait! Did you say his name’s Rags?”

  Savannah shaded her eyes, peered at the woman, and nodded.

  “I saw that documentary he was in. That was your cat, wasn’t it?”

  Savannah smiled. “Sure was.”

  “He does all kinds of smart things,” the woman said to the others who had gathered. “He even solves crimes for the police department.”

  Bert squinted to see the woman. “Oh Alice, have you been sipping your husband’s brandy?”

  “No, Bert. Listen, he has some sort of special powers over other animals.”

  “Well, I don’t know about that,” Michael said, chuckling, “but he does seem to be sensitive to animals and people.”

  Savannah nodded. “Yes, he’s very clear about those he likes and those he doesn’t like.”

  “Move aside!” someone shouted. “Let the crew in.”

  “Oh good,” Savannah said, standing and moving back with Rags. She took Bert’s arm to assist her amidst the rubble.

  As the workmen moved forward to look the situation over, Michael joined them. He said, “I think the problem is she can’t get traction on the inside of that pipe. Obviously, there’s an elbow or something stopping her from going down any deeper. As you can see, she’s about three feet down; she’s wedged in there and can’t push herself into a jump, and the sides are too slick for her to get a foothold and climb out.”

  One of the men said, “It seems as though the simple solution would be to cut the pipe down so she can pull herself out or we can help her to get out.”

  “That’s my thought,” Michael said.

  “Okay, bring in the pipe cutter!” the man called.

  “Wait,” Michael said, “we’ll want to protect her from the shavings.” He looked around. “Does anyone have a small blanket or rag or…?”

  “Here,” a woman called out, “use my scarf.” She moved forward and handed it to Michael and he stuffed it down into the pipe so that it covered the cat.

  Michael’s plan worked like a charm. Once a section of the pipe had been cut off and he’d carefully removed the scarf, along with the metal slivers, Lucy was able to crawl out, but she immediately collapsed.

  “What’s wrong with her?” Bert shouted. “Has she been injured?” She snarled at the curmudgeonly Mr. Fields, “If you laid a hand on her…”

  Michael spoke in a calming voice. “I think she’s just stiff from being in that cramped position all night.” He picked up the fluffy gray-and-white cat, moved some clutter from an old picnic table, then placed her on the flat surface and began gently massaging her legs. He motioned for Bert to join him. “Talk to her,” he suggested.

  “Oh, Lucy,” she crooned, “Mommy missed you so much. I was so worried. You’re okay now, sweet baby girl. Mommy’s going to take you home and keep you safe. No more running around outside for you.”

  “Yeah, she might make that decision for herself after this ordeal,” Savannah suggested. When Bert looked at her, she explained, “The next time she sees an opportunity to escape, she may just run the other way.”

  Bert laughed. “You could be right.” She then asked, “What’s she looking for. Oh, your cat. I think she wants your cat. Rags, right?”

  Savannah nodded. She lifted Rags onto the tabletop and the two cats began rubbing against each other in a dance of sorts. When Lucy sat down and stared at him, he licked the top of her head, then her ears.

  “Look at her little face,” Bert said, laughing. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen her so happy.” She ran her hand over Rags’s fur. “She sure does need a bath, doesn’t she, boy? In fact,” she announced, “Ms. Lucy, the first stop is the veterinarian, and then we’re going to the groomer.”

  “Now if I know cats,” Michael said, “that will be the real clincher when it comes to keeping her indoors and out of trouble.”

  Bert cocked her head. “What?”

  “If the consequences are a visit to the vet and the groomer…”

  Everyone laughed.

  Michael glanced around and gazed out over the group, which had started to dwindle. He asked, “Does anyone have some fresh water we can give the cat?”

  “Water?” Bert questioned.

  “She could be dehydrated,” he explained.

  At the same time, Savannah looked around the yard in search of something to use as a bowl. She picked up what turned out to be two paper bowls stuck together. She removed the dirty one and held the cleaner bowl while a woman poured water from a bottle into it. She then carefully carried it to where Lucy was still recovering. Lucy looked at the water offering and turned away. Rags, on the other hand, began to lap at the water. When Lucy saw this, she joined him.

  “Good,” Michael said. “Good girl.”

  Bert watched her drink the water for several moments, then she reached for Michael’s hand. “Thank you so much.” She turned to Savannah. “And you too. You’re so kind to have gotten involved. I’m awfully thankful that you did.” She reached out and petted Rags again. “Well, will you look at that? She sure seems to adore your cat.”

  Savannah smiled while watching Lucy head-butt and rub against Rags. Then Rags lay down and Lucy lay right next to him. Several people pulled out their cell phones and took pictures.

  Bert put her hand on Savannah’s arm. “So where do you people live? I know Lucy is going to want to visit Rags.” She clasped her hands under her chin and looked to the heavens. “…her hero.”

  “We live in California, but we’re staying just about fifty miles west of here for another ten days or so. We’d be delighted to have you and Lucy visit.” She pulled out her phone. “Give me your number or your email address and I’ll send you our address—that is, if you’re serious.”

  “I’m serious,” Bert said.

  Once Savannah had given Bert their contact information, she said, “Mom!”

  When Adam looked up at her inquisitively, she explained, “Grammy’s probably worried sick. How long have we been gone, anyway?”

  Michael looked at his watch. “About forty minutes. Yes, we’d better get back there before she calls out a search party for us.”

  Chapter 4

  That evening over a pizza dinner at the Iveys’ temporary home, Keith said, “So Savannah, you had a little excitement today, did you?”

  She smirked playfully at her brother-in-law. “Yeah. We thought we were just going to take a break from the drive.”

  Michael chuckled. “But not when you’re traveling with Rags.”

  Adam swallowed quickly and blurted, “He found a cat stuck in a pipe.”

  “And he made a friend,” Savannah added. “I think they’re going to visit us here before we go back to Hammond.” She glanced at Rags, who was sprawled out in one of Buffy’s pink canopy beds. “He sure liked Lucy. In fact, he seemed kind of depressed all the way home after their little tête-à-tête.”

  “Yes,” Gladys groused, “he did a lot of caterwauling from the back seat after that, didn’t he, Adam?”

  The boy nodded. “I had to cover my ears, he was so loud. Meow! Meow!” He asked Savannah, “Do you think he really wanted to stay with Lucy?”

  She shrugged. “I don’t know; he sure liked her.”

  Holly smiled at the boy, then asked Savannah and Michael, “How’s Buffy? Is she happy to be back with her family?” She chuckled. “My aunt said she was sure a love bug while we were gone, especially these last few days. She must have really missed you guys. Aunt Fay caught her sleeping with Sammy-kitty yesterday when she came to feed.”

  “And he let her?” Keith asked. “That cat’s kind of particular. He doesn’t like strange bedfellows.”

  “Yeah, Aunt Fay said he was fine with it.” She laughed. “Now he’ll probably be escaping and coming up here to visit her.”

  “Send him up,” Michael said. “The more the merrier.”

  Savannah smiled at him. “It was so nice of your aunt to take care of her while we were gone. I didn’t think she’d adjust well to the mountain adventure and as it turns out, I’m glad we didn’t take her up there.”

  Michael nodded. “She was better off here, even if she does miss us when we’re gone.”

  Savannah ran her hand over Buffy’s fur as the Himalayan-mix rubbed against her leg. “She’s such a sweetheart,” she murmured.

  “Hey, Gladys,” Michael said, gazing in the direction she was staring, “what do you see?”

  “I was trying to figure out what that is on the floor over there.”

  “What?” he asked. “A fur ball?”

  “Fur ball?” she questioned.

  “You know, what the cats hack up once in a while.”

  “No. It’s shiny—it sparkles. Maybe a sequin.”

  “Where?” Cassie asked, looking in that direction. “I’ll go see,” she said slipping from her chair. “It’s a jewel,” she exclaimed, holding it up for the others to see. “A tiny jewel, like a diamond.”