“Hmmm.” Brett said. “Seems as though we’re in the wrong place. Maybe we should be watching the front of the building.”

  “Let’s go,” Craig said. He suggested, “Spread out, everyone, and keep a keen eye.”

  Fifteen minutes had gone by when the men gathered again. “Nothing,” Michael said. “Did you see anything, Craig, Max?”

  “Nope.”

  “Not a thing.”

  “This is bull!” Damon exclaimed. He looked up at the roof. “Maybe they’re coming in from above.”

  “Hmmm,” Craig said. “Could be, I guess. Michael? Max?”

  The two men looked at each other and Max said, “It’s possible. You have tree branches hanging over the roof.”

  “Yeah,” Michael agreed. “It could be that they’re climbing the trees and dropping down from above, but how do we monitor that activity?”

  Rupert suggested, “We can station ourselves near the trees. There are three trees, so two at each station.”

  “Let’s give it a try,” Damon agreed.

  Another thirty minutes had gone by when the men decided to call their mission off, and go inside for a cup of coffee.

  “I’ll make it,” Mattie offered. “Want cookies? They’re chocolate brownie cookies.” She grinned. “I made up the recipe.”

  “Sure,” Craig said. “I’m always willing to be your guinea pig.”

  The other men chimed in as well. “Me, too,”

  “Sounds good.”

  “Thanks, Mattie.”

  “So how did you do?” Colbi asked, standing up and joining the men. “What did you see?”

  “A raccoon, a couple of bats, moths, and…” Craig started.

  “A big old hoot owl,” Max added.

  “No cats?”

  “No cats,” Michael confirmed.

  “Is it time for bed?” Nola asked, peering through the swinging door into the kitchen. She entered and Luke followed.

  “How’s it going?” Craig asked.

  “Well,” Nola started, “we saw the dark tiger-stripe cat again, and a couple of young ones showed themselves.”

  “Showed themselves?” Colbi asked. “Where were they?”

  “We don’t know,” Luke said. “They sneaked up on us. All of a sudden they were just there.”

  “That’s how it’s been, mostly,” Mattie said after starting a pot of coffee. “Now you see it, now you don’t, or vice versa.”

  “So we don’t know anything more than we did when we started, right?” Michael asked.

  Everyone agreed.

  “I wonder how the gals on the second-floor are doing,” Nola said.

  “They’re probably taking a nap—it’s so quiet up there,” Luke quipped. He yawned. “That’s what I’d be doing.”

  “Why don’t we go check on them?” Colbi suggested.

  “Okay,” Nola said, following Colbi into the dining room and up the stairs. “Hello,” she called quietly when they reached the second floor landing. “Where are you girls?” She jumped a little. “Oh, hi there, kitty,” she greeted when a white cat with black markings sauntered past.

  “Where are you guys?” Colbi called in a hushed voice.

  Suddenly the door to the attic room opened and Margaret said, “In here. Come quick.”

  “What’s going on?” Colbi asked scootinginto the room.

  Margaret closed the door behind them. “Just check out all these beauties.”

  Nola looked around. “Wow! You ladies found cats, didn’t you?”

  “No, they found us,” Savannah said.

  “Boy, did they,” Iris confirmed. She slumped a little. “But we still don’t know where they’re coming from or where they’ve been.” She faced Savannah, Margaret, and Janice. “Do we?”

  They each shook their head.

  Janice pointed. “Look, we have a ballerina, a gentleman, a bunny rabbit, and I think he’s a spider.”

  “Wow!” Nola said. “This is crazy. I mean, I’ve seen a lot of cats in a lot of different situations, but I’ve never seen…” She paused. “So you didn’t see where they came from? Where were they when you first noticed them?”

  “Yeah, we saw them come from closets from behind the cat trees, under the bed, but did we learn anything? No,” Iris cranked.

  “What about Rags?” Colbi asked, petting him. “Did he make any discoveries?”

  Savannah huffed. “No. He just greeted each of the cats as if he was some sort of host with the most. To him it was as if cats coming out of closets and drawers and jumping off shelves was normal. He simply enjoyed the festivities.”

  “How many cats are in here?” Nola asked, glancing around.

  Iris looked at her notes. “We logged eight, not counting four of my cuddle cats. Maggie said there are a couple of tuxedo cats in one of the bathrooms.”

  Nola shook her head. “June is going to freak out.” When the others looked at her, she said, “She can’t believe what’s been going on around here. She was sure it would be resolved this evening.”

  “Well, the night’s not over,” Janice reminded her.

  “What are you suggesting?” Colbi asked. “By the way, the men all came inside. They’re having refreshments as we speak.”

  “Brownie cookies?” Iris squealed.

  Colbi nodded.

  “Did they see cats?” Savannah asked.

  Colbi shook her head.

  “Not a one,” Nola said. “They even watched some trees to see if cats were climbing up onto the roof and getting in that way.”

  “Really?” Iris said, disbelieving. “And no cats?”

  “They’re all inside, I guess,” Nola said. “So what do you want to do with them—I mean, those cats that don’t belong to you?”

  Iris looked at Savannah, then the others. “What do you gals suggest? You’re the experts.”

  “Feed them,” Margaret said.

  “Bring in more litter boxes,” Savannah added, laughing.

  Janice concurred. “Yes, from what you tell us, Iris, they’ll disappear as clandestinely as they appeared. So just leave them be, I guess.” Under her breath she said, “I just hope they have a home.”

  “They have to,” Savannah said. “Look at what good shape they’re in. They’re nice cats—social with people and each other. In fact…”

  “In fact what?” Margaret asked.

  “Well, they’re almost too good to be true.”

  “They peed on the floor and knocked over two vases,” Iris reminded her.

  “Yeah, but…”

  “Yeah, but what?” Iris pushed.

  “Yeah, but there’s just something serene and …what’s the word I want?” Savannah asked.

  “Elegant?” Colbi offered.

  “Yes,” Savannah said, “and they have panache. Is that the word? They’re just neat and beautiful creatures.”

  “Want them?” Iris asked.

  Savannah smirked at Iris playfully, then looped her arm in hers, picked up Rags’s leash, and said, “Let’s go get some brownie cookies.”

  Chapter Four

  “So Rags wasn’t any help at all?” Craig asked as everyone sat around the dining room table enjoying refreshments.

  Savannah shook her head. “No, but he sure had a nice time meeting all those new kitties.”

  “I just wish I knew where they are coming from,” Iris said, quietly.

  “Well, let’s consider the cats themselves,” Nola said. When the others looked at her, she explained, “You described them as elegant, beautiful, healthy, social, so they must belong to someone…someone who takes great pride in their cats.”

  “But who would let cats like these out to roam the neighborhood?” Margaret carped.

  “And who would keep so many cats?” Colbi asked.

  “A hoarder?” Damon suggested.

  “Maybe,” Nola said. “Is there such a thing as a credible hoarder—someone who takes really good care of numbers of cats like this?”

  “They’re not getting such good care if the cats are running away from home,” Luke blurted.

  “Exactly,” Savannah said, “unless…”

  “Unless what?” Luke asked.

  “Unless the cats are actually sneaking out without their owner knowing it.” She sat up straighter. “Hey, guys, maybe there’s someone out there who’s having the same dilemma we have here—their cats are leaving and returning and they either don’t know it or they’re mystified by it.” She turned to Iris. “What do you know about your neighbors?”

  “What neighbors?” she asked facetiously. “We’re a city block from both housing tracts. There’s an old farmhouse across the road. Their property looks tacky; I can’t imagine they’d keep such nice cats…” she chuckled, “…and dress them up in fancy duds.”

  “Maybe you should put up a found notice,” Mattie suggested.

  “Yeah,” Brett said, “found, a dozen runaway cats.”

  “But they aren’t here all the time,” Iris protested.

  “Are you sure?” Janice asked. “Maybe they’re living inside your cabinets and closets and they just come out once in a while.”

  Iris shuddered. “I hate to think of that many cats pooping and peeing in our closets.

  Besides, what are they eating? I’m certainly not feeding them.”

  “Well,” Ruth started, glancing guiltily at Mattie.

  “What? Are you girls feeding the cats?” she demanded.

  “How can we not?” Mattie protested. “The food’s down for the cuddle cats all the time, and I have to say, we’re going through a lot of cat food lately.”

  “You’ve also found cats in the pantry,” Savannah said. “What’s in there that they could be eating—kitty-kibbles?” She yawned. “So we still have a mystery on our hands and I’m too tired to put any more energy into trying to solve it. Can we go to bed now?” she whined.

  “Sure,” Iris said. “Let’s do that. Maybe tomorrow you can call Rochelle and get her take on what’s happening.”

  “Oh, I talked to her about it this afternoon—or was that yesterday? What time is it, anyway?”

  “Twelve thirty.”

  “Then yesterday.”

  “What did she say?” Iris asked eagerly. “I’ve been trying to sort through it all,” Savannah said.

  “I guess the main thing I got fromwhat she said is that we should involve Rags, and that it would be risky, but worthwhile. She also mentioned theater arts—but she didn’t know what that meant.” When no one commented, she suggested, “Iris, how about if you and I walk around the neighborhood one day and ask a few questions? We just might hit on something. Do you know any of your neighbors?”

  “Not really. A few came to an open house we had around the holidays last year. That’s all. They seemed to be normal folks.” Iris nodded. “Yeah, I like your idea. I’m available tomorrow…um I mean today, and, as you can tell, frantic to bring this chapter of the inn’s crazy occurrences to a close.”

  “Okay,” Savannah said, “how about this: I’ll come over after lunch when the kids go down for their nap.”

  “Great. Yes.”

  “What are you girls going to do?” Margaret asked, after finishing a conversation with Mattie about her brownie cookies.

  “We’re going to visit some of the people who live around here,” Savannah said, “and hope to get a clue to this crazy mystery. Want to help?”

  “Sure I do,” Margaret said. “After lunch? Pick me up.”

  “Okay. It’ll be around twelve thirty.”

  “Sounds good. Should I bring my magnifying glass?” Margaret quipped.

  “What?” Iris asked.

  “To look for clues.”

  ◆◆◆

  “Hi, Auntie. Are you rested up after last night?” Savannah asked the next afternoon when Margaret approached her car.

  “That was some wild pajama party,” Margaret said. “What a convoluted case.” She slid into the front seat. “I’ve been involved in a lot of cat rescues, but never anything quite like this. I mean, beautiful, healthy cats coming out of the woodwork…”

  “Yeah, it does seem like they’re coming out of the woodwork.” Savannah winced. “I just hope we can get some answers today about what’s going on.”

  Margaret took a deep breath. “If not, what will Iris do?”

  “I’m pretty sure she’ll rely on you, me, and maybe Nola for a solution—possibly have us trap the cats, but she doesn’t want to turn the cats over to a shelter or make any decisions until she knows more about what’s going on. Frankly, I think she’s close to her breaking point. So our goal today is to find out if the cats belong to someone in the neighborhood.”

  Margaret nodded. “Surely we’ll score. Where else could they be coming from?”

  The two women arrived at the Kaiser Inn minutes later and found Iris waiting for them in the dining room.

  “Ready?” Savannah asked.

  “I sure am,” Iris said. She cringed. “I just hope…”

  “What?” Margaret urged.

  “That we get some answers today. Maggie, did you bring your magnifying glass?”

  “Better than that,” Margaret said, “I brought my horse sense about cats…make that cat sense. As Vannie knows, I’ve dealt with a lot of cats and people. I can usually size up cat owners pretty accurately.”

  “I’m counting on it, Maggie.” Iris let out a sigh. “This situation has kicked my butt.”

  Savannah asked, “How’d things go after we left this morning, Iris?”

  “Pretty much the same-old, same-old. The cats have been coming and going and eating and pooping. I’m going to need a dump-truck load of litter. I’ll have to turn one of the bathrooms into a sandbox.”

  “You don’t have to adopt them all,” Savannah reminded her.

  Iris stiffened. “No, but for the time being, I feel responsible. I keep thinking they must have come to me for a reason.”

  Craig, who had been sitting at the dining room table eating a piece of apple pie, stood up, hugged his wife, and said, “Well, good luck with your investigation this afternoon, ladies. Call me if you run into anything criminal or interesting.” He nodded to Savannah and Margaret, then glanced around Savannah’s feet. “You didn’t bring my deputy?”

  Savannah shook her head. “No, we don’t need Rags slowing us down. I guess if we come across anything suspicious, we can ask for his assistance.”

  “Okay,” he said, giving a quick wave as he left.

  “Is Chris here yet?” Savannah asked.

  “No,” Iris said. “He should be here in time for supper.”

  “How long has it been since you’ve seen your number-three son?” Margaret asked.

  “Almost a year. He’s going to school in San Diego, you know, and he took a semester off to work with one of those home-building volunteer groups. He’s pretty sure he wants to be an architect. He’s ready now to buckle down and finish school.”

  “So nice to see all of your boys doing well,” Savannah said.

  Iris beamed. “I was pretty sure the two younger boys would make something of their lives even after their mother died and their no-good father left me to care for them. They were good boys and I sure didn’t want to let them down. Hell, I was the only real parent they’d ever known, even though I was sort of dropped into the situation. So glad I stepped up to the plate.” She choked up when saying, “Those two have been a real blessing.” She rolled her eyes. “Now my own son—he was…well, you know, Maggie, a nightmare.” She smiled. “But I’m awfully proud of Damon now.”

  “As you should be,” Savannah said. “He has really cleaned up his act. He’s a wonderful human being, husband, father…”

  She nodded. “Yup, my three sons are all on the right track. If only I could say the same about all the cats in my life.” She edged a piece of paper from her pocket and laid it on the table. “Okay, here’s the layout of this area.” She planted her finger to the far left. “This is our closest neighbor. I’d like to talk to the people who live here, then we’ll head over to this tract. If we have time, I’d also like to snoop around over here,” she said, pointing at a crude drawing of the development to the right of the inn.

  “Lead the way,” Margaret said, slipping a water bottle out of her jacket pocket and taking a sip.

  “Oh, hey,” Savannah said as they walked toward the front door, “I have pictures of some of the cats. I printed them out this morning.”

  “Great idea,” Iris said.

  When a small black cat with a white splotch on her back walked into the room, Savannah said, “Wait, I haven’t seen this beauty before. Let me take a picture of her.”

  “Yes, she’s new,” Iris said. “Cute, isn’t she? Look, the white is in the shape of a bird flying. Isn’t that cool?”

  “Sure is,” Margaret said. “Unique. Okay, so we’re going to that farmhouse? It’s likely that at least some of the cats are coming from there, I guess, only…”

  “Only what?” Iris asked.

  “Only these cats are cleaner than those you usually see on farm property.”

  “Are we walking or driving?” Savannah asked.

  “Let’s walk,” Iris said.

  Savannah agreed.

  “I thought so,” Margaret grumped. “You two stilt-ladies had better not leave me behind. Remember, I have to take three steps to your every one.”

  Iris chuckled. “Want to ride in the wheelbarrow?”

  “Funny,” Margaret griped.

  “Okay, what are we going to say?” Iris asked as they approached the farmhouse.

  “Do you have cats?” Margaret suggested. “Have they been going missing?”

  “All right. That’s straightforward,” Iris agreed. However, when a woman opened the door to them, Iris seemed to be tongue-tied and Savannah stepped forward.

  “Hi, I’m Savannah. This is my aunt, Margaret Sheridan, and our friend, Iris Sledge.”

  The woman started to close the door, mumbling, “Not interested in your religious views.”

  “Wait!” Savannah shouted. “We came to talk about cats, not religion.”

  The woman opened the door wider. “Cats? What about cats?”

  “We’re wondering if you’re missing any cats,” Iris said.

  “Gosh, I don’t know. Why?”