Savannah took the baby and snuggled with him, taking in his intoxicating infant scent. She reached for Michael’s hand. “Come sit with us.” Once they were seated and the baby was nursing, she said, “Okay. It sounds like there’s no reason for us to freak out. There’s nothing ominous going on, huh?”

  “That’s right, hon. Now shall we enjoy the rest of our stay here in Colorado?”

  “Yes. Good idea. Thanks, Michael.” She pulled him close and kissed him.

  He kissed her back, then lifted the nursing blanket and ran his hand gently over the baby’s head. He then stood up and called, “Adam, are you finished dumping the trash?”

  “Yeah,” the boy said after coming into the house with the dog. “Lexie and I’ve been talking to a neighbor. He wanted to know what kind of dog she is. I told him Afghanistan. Is that right, Dad?”

  “Yeah, close,” Michael said, chuckling. “Are you ready to go to the sporting goods store with Uncle Keith and me?”

  “Sure am,” the boy said.

  “Okay, go wash up.” Michael frowned at his son. “Did you sleep in that shirt?”

  Adam looked down at what he was wearing. “Yes, I did.”

  “Go change it, will you? And wash up.” Michael grinned a crooked grin. “Comb your hair and see if you can get that cowlick to settle down a bit.”

  Adam studied his dad’s hair for a moment. “I will if you will,” he teased.

  Once Adam had scurried up the stairs, Savannah laughed. “Touché. Michael, you have the same cowlick as he does. Let him use some of your stuff. Although, I like it when you guys wear your hair au naturel.” When Michael stared at her for a moment, she said, “Well, you’re just going to a sporting goods store, for heaven’s sake.”

  By the time Adam returned, Teddy was finished eating and Savannah called out, “Adam, Lucy’s coming to visit Rags this afternoon. I guess she misses him a lot.”

  “Awesome,” he said. “When’s she coming?”

  “After lunch. You should be back in time to see her.”

  ****

  Bert arrived with Lucy at a little after one o’clock. “Nice place,” Bert said when Savannah invited her in. “I was in this house once on a home tour probably twenty years ago. A fund-raiser, you know. The senior Veranos lived here then—Dino and Isabella.” She shook her head. “Actually, I think he was Dino Junior. The one who lives here now, I believe, is the third Dino Verano, if my memory serves me.” She winked at Savannah. “I used to volunteer at the museum, you see… Well, the original Verano was Rocco or Rico. That’s it, Rico. He named his only son Dino and that name has continued on down the line.”

  Savannah chuckled. “I don’t think the current Dino Verano has passed the name on. As I understand it, their boy’s name is Steven or Stevie. A far cry from an Italian name.”

  “It sure is,” Bert agreed.

  “Did you know them?” Savannah asked.

  Bert shook her head. “Only of them. The original Dino—Dino Senior—had quite a reputation.” She flashed a smile at Savannah. “The wealthy usually do stand out. He was a politician of sorts and a businessman.” She frowned. “Although I don’t know what business, really. What I do know is that he liked to flaunt his wealth and he was always donating to this charity or heading up that committee.” She winked. “He seemed to like the limelight.” Suddenly, the woman flinched and leaned over holding her side.

  Alarmed, Savannah asked, “Is something wrong?”

  “I don’t know,” Bert said. “I’ve been having these twinges on and off all morning. I thought they’d go away—figured it was something I ate.”

  Savannah took Bert’s arm. “Here, let’s sit down.”

  Bert eased down onto the sofa and winced. “I don’t think they’re getting any better.” She looked at Savannah. “I wonder if I should cancel my massage appointment. I don’t actually feel like doing it today.”

  Savannah nodded. “That’s probably a good idea. Maybe you should be seen by a doctor instead. Want me to take you to an emergency clinic—you know, urgent care? I imagine there’s one around here someplace.”

  Bert thought about it for a moment. “I really don’t want to. That isn’t on my schedule. Let me just relax for a few minutes and see if it goes away on its own.”

  “Sure,” Savannah said. “I’ll get you a glass of water—or would you prefer coffee or tea?”

  “Tea sounds wonderful. Thank you.”

  “Hello,” Gladys said, walking into the room as Savannah headed toward the kitchen. “I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Savannah’s mother, Gladys. I understand my daughter and her cat helped find your kitty.” She peered toward the cat carrier sitting at Bert’s feet. “Is she in there?”

  “Yes, hello,” Bert said, standing up. “I’m Roberta…Bert. Nice to meet you. Is it okay if I let Lucy out?” She glanced around. “Where’s Rags?”

  “Let’s see, this time of day he’s usually napping.” Gladys scanned the room. “Oh, here he comes.” She spoke to the cat, “Rags, you have a guest.”

  But Rags seemed to know. He walked straight to the carrier and began sniffing it.

  “Hi there, boy,” Bert said, sitting back down on the sofa. When he looked up at her and meowed, she petted him saying, “It’s good to see you again too. I brought Lucy to play with you.” She opened the carrier, but before Lucy could come out, Rags stepped inside and began sniffing her.

  “Well, let her come out,” Rags,” Savannah said when she returned with the tea. She placed two cups on a nearby table and reached for Rags.

  Bert waved her hand in the air. “Oh, he’s okay.” Suddenly she doubled over again. “Ow,” she said.

  Gladys rushed to Bert’s side. “Oh dear. Is something wrong? Here, why don’t you lie back on the sofa?”

  Bert shook her head. “No, I’m okay. It kind of comes and goes.”

  Savannah stared at Bert. “You know, I think you should see a doctor. Something could be wrong—your appendix, gall bladder, or maybe a blockage of some sort.”

  Bert gave Savannah a puzzled look. “You talk like a doctor.”

  Gladys chuckled. “She is a doctor—a veterinarian.” She then asked, concern in her tone, “Are you ill?”

  “Well, I didn’t think so,” Bert said. “I’ve just been having these twinges that are becoming kind of painful. Savannah, if you don’t mind, I think you’re right. Maybe I should get this checked out.” She looked down at the cats. “Oh my, I sure didn’t mean to disrupt your day to this degree.”

  “No problem.” Savannah asked Gladys, “Mom, can you watch the children while I take Bert to an urgent-care facility?” Before Gladys could answer, Savannah said, “I’d better call Holly and find out where one is.”

  It didn’t take the urgent-care doctor long to determine that Bert needed some tests and maybe surgery. He sent the women to the community hospital, where they admitted Bert.

  “Is there anyone I can call for you?” Savannah asked.

  Bert sighed. “Yes. I guess I should let my daughter know where I am. She can tell the rest of the family if there’s a need for that. But I can call her.” She removed her cell phone from her purse. “You go on back to your family and the cats.” She closed her eyes for a moment. “Oh, Lucy. What about Lucy?”

  “Now don’t you worry about your sweet kitty. We’ll take good care of her.” Savannah grinned. “I’m sure Rags won’t let her out of his sight.”

  “Thank you so much, Savannah. You’re a dear. It seems that your family is making a habit of coming to my rescue. First my cat and now me.”

  Savannah patted Bert’s hand. “Now call me when you find out what it is and let me know if you need anything.” She glanced at the cell phone in Bert’s hand. “I can see that you’ll need a charger for your phone. It’s like mine. If they want to keep you, I’ll bring one, along with a toothbrush, comb, and whatever else you need. Be thinking about a list, will you? And call me when you know what’s going on.”

  “Sure will.” She doubled over just as a nurse walked in.

  “Hmmm,” the perky middle-aged nurse said. “Looks like appendicitis to me? Ever had an attack before?” she asked.

  Bert shook her head and repeated in a strained voice, “Appendicitis?”

  “Don’t quote me. We have to do some tests first. But that’s my guess.” The nurse handed Bert a faded and slightly frayed cotton hospital gown. “Now, I want you to change into this designer frock. Your fans will be clamoring to get a closer look at you very soon.”

  “I’m going on the red carpet, am I?” Bert joked.

  “Naw, I’m afraid everything here’s white.”

  Bert chuckled. “I like a nurse with a sense of humor. I think we’re going to get along marvelously.”

  “Well, I’ll leave you, then, Bert,” Savannah said, patting her shoulder. “I’ll check with you later this afternoon.”

  ****

  “Hi, Mom. How is everyone?” Savannah asked when she stepped into their living room a little while later.

  “Fine. Holly came and got Lily. I guess Bethany misses her.” She smiled. “I don’t know what these children will do when we go home. They’ve become so close.”

  Savannah nodded. “They sure have. They even fight like siblings. Have you noticed that?”

  “Oh yes,” Gladys said. She then explained, “So the little girls are at Holly’s playing dress-up with Cassie. Teddy and I took a nap.”

  Savannah smiled. “Good.” She looked around the room and spoke to the dog, who was curled up in her bed, then asked her mother, “Where are the cats? I didn’t formally welcome Miss Lucy to our home.”

  Gladys looked around. “I don’t know. They were tearing around here earlier. They sure do have fun together.” She chuckled. “Even Buffy joined them in a game of chase at one point. It was so cute.” She pointed. “There’s one. Oh, that’s Buffy. Yeah, I don’t know where the other two went.”

  “I’ll find them,” Savannah said, heading into the kitchen. “Rags,” she called. “Here, kitty-kitty-kitty. Where are you guys?” She checked the service porch and bathroom, then walked into the hallway and shouted for Rags again. “Lucy?” she called, “Kitty-kitty?” She peered into each of the downstairs bedrooms, then walked up the staircase. “Rags, Lucy…” she called again. “Treats! Rags, want a treat?”

  After a few minutes, Savannah returned to the living room. “Mom, I can’t find them. Is there any way they could have gotten out? Maybe they sneaked out when Holly was here. Have you seen them since Holly left with Lily?”

  Gladys thought about it and said, “Um…I think so.” She shook her head. “I’m not sure, actually. What about the garage? Did you check in there? I ran a load of laundry earlier.” She chuckled. “Actually, they have that little kitty door, so they don’t need to wait for someone to let them into the garage.”

  “That’s right. I’m not used to an attached garage…or a kitty door.” She hastened her pace through the kitchen to the garage door, stepped inside, and turned on the light. “Rags!” she called. “Lucy! Here, kitty-kitty.” When the cats didn’t appear, she picked up a flashlight and began shining it around, finally returning to the living room, announcing frantically, “Mom, I can’t find them. They must have somehow gotten out. Oh my gosh, what will I tell Bert? This is awful.”

  “I’m sure they won’t go far, honey. Let me check on Teddy, then we’ll go outside and look around the yard.”

  Savannah rushed to the front door and out onto the porch, calling, “Rags! Lucy! Kitty-kitty.” She looked carefully around the yard, peering in and behind the shrubs. She hurriedly searched the right side of the house, then the left. She walked into the backyard calling for the cats. When she stepped around to the left side of the house again, she heard a voice.

  “Lose something?”

  Savannah turned abruptly and saw a woman of about sixty-five on her hands and knees weeding a small flower bed at an adjacent property. “Oh hello. Yes, two cats. They’re both gray and white, one’s large and one’s smaller with longer fur. Have you seen them?”

  The woman frowned and shook her head. “No. I saw a cat down the street a ways a couple of days ago, but he was black—solid black.” The woman shaded her eyes with one hand and looked up at Savannah. “Are you renting the Verano’s place?”

  “Yes,” Savannah said absent-mindedly while glancing in every direction, hoping to see the cats.

  “You haven’t been there much.”

  “No. We stayed at a mountain lodge for a few weeks. Just got back yesterday. She grimaced. “Darn. We’re taking care of a friend’s cat. We just have to find her and our own naughty cat. Would you let me know if you see them?”

  “Sure will,” the woman said.

  Savannah smiled. “Thanks. I’d appreciate it.”

  “Did you find them?” Gladys asked when she caught up with Savannah.

  She rubbed her hand over what felt like a rock in the pit of her stomach. “No. I think I’ll walk down to Holly’s and see if she knows where a runaway cat might go and who I should talk to.” She called out, “I’ll be back in a few minutes, Mom.” She was disappointed when it appeared that Holly wouldn’t be much help.

  “Our cats are pretty content to stay inside,” Holly explained, “so we haven’t had a problem like this. But I’ve heard that the guy in the house on the corner is kind of odd when it comes to animals.” Holly rolled her eyes. “Well, he’s just kind of odd.”

  Savannah lowered her brow. “How so?”

  “The rumor is he collects animals—all kinds of animals—and he isn’t above luring other people’s cats into his home. You don’t see many cats around here because of him. I know a couple of neighbors who let their cats go outside and they’ve had to rescue them from that guy a time or two. He’s reluctant to let them go once he gets his hands on them. He claims the neighbors aren’t taking good care of their cats.”

  “Does he take care of them?” Savannah asked. “I mean, is he a hoarder who takes in so many animals he can’t possibly care for them all?”

  “It doesn’t seem like it,” Holly said. “He’s actually a client of Keith’s. He takes cats and an occasional dog to the clinic for inoculations, diagnosis, and such.” She laughed. “Keith once confiscated a cat he brought in because Keith knew it belonged to the little girl across the street. The poor child had been crying herself to sleep every night because she missed Fuzzy.”

  Savannah gazed out Holly’s living room window at the house on the corner. “So he lives there? I wonder if he has Rags and Lucy.”

  “He might.” Holly chuckled. “You may also find some of Lily’s toys, your shoes, the welcome mat, and Teddy’s stroller down at his place.”

  Savannah looked confused. “What?”

  “Yeah, the guy seems to have a problem determining boundaries where other people’s property is concerned.” She chuckled and motioned around the cul-de-sac. “You notice no one has any cute benches or potted plants or statues in their front yard. It’s because of Wayne Morrison. He thinks all those things belong to him.”

  “So is he a thief or just loony-tunes?”

  “Probably a little of both,” Holly said.

  “Hmmm. I guess I should go see him. Want to come with me—you know, for protection and support?”

  Holly thought for a moment, then said, “I think he’s harmless. But yeah, I can go with you if you want to wait until the guys get home.”

  “Oh. Well I’d better just go by myself, then. Will you watch from here in case he does something weird?”

  “Sure,” Holly said.

  Savannah walked down the block past another house to the corner, then crossed the street. Glancing back at Holly, who stood on her porch, she swallowed hard and knocked on the door. After a long wait a woman of about seventy answered the door and Savannah said, “Hello, I’m looking for two cats. I’m wondering if you’ve seen them.”

  “Sonny!” the woman shrieked. “Someone wants some cats.”

  Immediately, a man in his late forties or early fifties appeared. “What cats? Just any cats? How’d you know I have cats?” He cocked his head and squinted at her. “Who are you, anyway? Do I know you?”

  Savannah shook her head. “No. I’m Savannah. I’m staying in the neighborhood for a few more days. No, I’m not after just any cats. I’m looking for two gray-and-white cats. Have you seen them?”

  “I don’t think I have any that color. How about a black one? I have two black cats.” He started to turn into the room. “Let me show them to you.”

  “No, no, no,” Savannah said. “I’ve lost two cats and I’m trying to find them. I’m just wondering if you found them first. Wayne, is it? Did you find them?”

  Wayne glared at her. “Shame on you for losing your cats. You must not be a very good cat person if you lost them. How did you lose them, anyway? Did they run away from you?”

  Savannah winced. “I think someone accidently opened a door and they escaped.”

  “You should be punished for letting that happen,” Wayne scolded. He narrowed his eyes menacingly. “Maybe I’ll find a way to punish you. It’s shameful, just shameful!” he spat, closing the door abruptly.

  “He doesn’t have them, huh?” Holly called out as Savannah approached her at a fast clip.

  “No, I guess not.” She glanced back at the Morrison house briefly. “He sure comes on strong, doesn’t he?”

  “What did he say?” Holly asked.

  “He thinks I should be punished for letting the cats get out.” She focused on Holly’s eyes. “Do you think he would tell me the truth? He said he doesn’t have them and he hasn’t seen them. Is he a thief and a liar or just a thief?”

  Holly winced. “Gosh, I don’t really know.”

  Savannah studied Holly’s face for a moment, then slumped. “Oh my gosh, I’ve lost Bert’s beautiful cat. Not to mention Rags. What am I going to do? What will I tell her?”