The ImPAWssible Mission

by Patricia Fry

  The man stepped out of the truck and scrutinized the car. “Good parking job, Son. Did you have help?”

  “No. I did it myself,” he said with a wide grin.

  “The boy drives a car? What is he, nine or ten?” Craig asked, as he approached River and his father.

  “Who’re you?” the man asked, brusquely.

  “Just a friend, I hope. I’m Craig.” He nodded toward Savannah and introduced her. “Your son, there, had lunch with us while he was waiting for you.”

  “Oh he did, did he?” the man asked gruffly. He started to dig into his pocket. “How much was his bill?”

  Craig put up his hand. “No, no. He was our guest. We invited him and we enjoyed his company.”

  The man continued to look suspiciously at Craig. He glanced at Savannah, then noticed Rags wandering around her feet at the end of his leash. “What’s that?” he asked.

  “It’s a cat, Dad,” River said. “That’s Rags. He’s like some sort of special cat. Not just an ordinary cat like the mine cats.”

  “Is that so?” the man asked.

  “May I ask your name?” Craig pushed.

  “Oh…um…yeah, I guess. I’m Mel—short for Melvin.”

  Savannah felt a chortle rising in her throat. When Melvin looked at her, she said, “It’s just that your children have such great native-American names, I expected something like Leaping Frog or Wily Coyote…”

  River busted up laughing, but his father remained stoic, saying quietly, “Yeah, well, there’s nothing wrong with Melvin, is there?”

  “No. Of course not,” Savannah said, feeling the blush of embarrassment on her cheeks.

  River seemed to believe it was his responsibility to explain. “Dad doesn’t come from the native people. My mother is almost all Miwok.” He stood proudly and added, “I’m almost half.” He looked up at his father and grinned. “Dad’s the only redneck in our family.”

  Mel grimaced and kicked a rock with the toe of his boot. He nudged the boy. “Hey, let’s go fishing.” Before turning away, he nodded and said curtly, “Thanks for including my son in your lunch.”

  “He’s a delightful young man,” Savannah said, smiling.

  Mel stared at her for a moment, then turned with River and walked toward their car.

  “What do you suppose is wrong with that man’s voice?” Savannah asked once she and Craig were on their way up the road to Milner’s property.

  Craig raised his eyebrows. “I’d say that he met with some sort of accident at some point. It’s as if his vocal chords are damaged.”

  “It sounds like it’s uncomfortable to talk.” She was quiet for a short while, then she said, “You gave that kid a lot of information.”

  “Did I?”

  “Yeah. You as much as told him we’re here on police business—you know, when you were talking about how Rags helps the department. River told me he isn’t very good at keeping a secret. Well, I don’t think that’s because he’s a tattletale or anything; he’s just honest and open.” She smiled. “Neat kid. I like him.”

  “Yes, and he could be useful.”

  She faced him. “Useful? You’re going to use River? He’s only a child. Are you sure it’s safe to involve him? What do you have in mind?”

  “I’m not exactly sure, yet,” Craig admitted. “I need to see what I find out first—you know, sort of feel my way around.”

  She shook her head in frustration. “Well, you certainly weren’t very guarded back there. By now, everyone in town—all ninety-seven of them—probably knows that we’re here and why.”

  Craig took a defensive stance. “I didn’t tell anyone why we’re here, did you?”

  “No. I don’t even know why we’re here,” she carped. “What would I tell? I have nothing to tell. Why are we here, anyway?”

  “Oh, you do too know why we’re here—to see if Milner hid the jewelry up here.” Thinking out loud, he said, “It’s very likely that he brought it up himself by car, perhaps, since he was close by in Hammond, badgering you. It would have taken him, what—half a day at most to deliver the stuff.”

  “From Colorado?”

  “No. It would be two or three days from Colorado if he drove.”

  “I still don’t know why he didn’t just stay here,” Savannah remarked. “He would have gone scot-free.”

  “No he wouldn’t,” Craig argued, “and he knows it. He’s not playing with a full deck in my opinion, but he’s savvy enough to understand where he’s made mistakes. He’s going to pay his dues—you know, do his stint in prison, and then, when he gets out on good behavior, he’ll pick up the stuff and disappear an ultra-wealthy man. At least I believe that’s his plan.”

  “Okay, so now what?” Savannah asked.

  Before Craig could respond, they heard a horrendous thud. Savannah yelped when she felt herself being jostled from side to side. She looked down into the canyon on her right and cringed at what she feared would happen next. She managed to find the grab bar and hold on tightly, a scream close to the surface.

  Once the car came to a safe stop a few yards down the dirt road, Craig pulled on the emergency brake and asked breathlessly, “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah,” she said, looking up at the roof of the car, part of which was caved in. “What happened?”

  “I guess a boulder must have rolled off the hillside and landed on the car. Dang it! I hate the paperwork that goes with having an accident in one of these vehicles.”

  “There’s a huge dent in the roof and we could have been killed and you’re worried about paperwork?” Savannah complained.

  Craig smirked at her, then muttered, “I sure hope it was an accident.”

  That got Savannah’s attention. “Why wouldn’t it be? Craig, what do you know that I don’t know? Are we in danger?”

  “No, I don’t think so. It’s just my suspicious mind. Nothing, in my world, happens without a sinister reason. Know what I mean?”

  “I sure hope your cynicism is misplaced in this circumstance,” she asserted.

  He squinted at her. “Huh?” He took a breath and said, “Okay, I want you to do something for me. I’m going to continue driving along slowly. I want you to climb into the backseat and look up on that hillside where the rock came from. Tell me what you see.”

  “Climb over the seat? Sheesh, Craig. I’m no teenager anymore.”

  He chuckled. “You’re closer to sixteen than I am. Come on, you can do it. Hurry, will you?”

  Savannah climbed over the seat, crawled into the back of the car, and peered out the window toward the hillside. “Craig,” she hissed, “I see someone. He’s standing next to a pile of boulders watching us.”

  “Just as I thought,” Craig murmured. “Can you get a picture?”

  “Well, hand me my phone and I probably can, but he’s at quite a distance.”

  “It’s okay. We may be able to ID him using some of the forensic equipment they have downtown.”

  She took the phone from Craig and quickly snapped a couple of pictures. “Okay, got it. Let’s go before he throws more rocks at us.”

  “I wonder how he knew about us,” Craig said. “Or do they discourage all visitors out here?”

  “River’s dad didn’t seem too welcoming, did he?”

  “No, I noticed that,” Craig said. “And I rather expected it.”

  “You expected what? Attempted murder?”

  “No, Savannah, but some sort of acknowledgement.”

  “Acknowledgement?” She shook her head in frustration. “So that’s what you call it!”

  He grinned at her. After driving for a little while longer, he pointed. “There’s a house on the hill there. I believe that’s Milner’s place. Let’s go see who’s house-sitting, shall we?” As he parked, Craig added, “Oh, and let’s leave the cat in the car. He has his litter box and water. It’s fairly cool out now. He’ll be okay in the car for, say, fifteen minutes, won’t he?”

&n
bsp; Savannah looked around and decided. “Yeah. But lock it, okay?”

  “He can open a car door?”

  “You never know,” she said. “Mostly, I’m worried about someone taking him or letting him out.”

  Craig started to get out of the car, then said, “Let me see that picture you got of the guy on the hillside.”

  Savannah found the photo on her phone and handed it to Craig.

  “Uh-huh,” he murmured. He zoomed in on the man. Once he’d scrutinized the picture, he handed the phone back to her. “Yeah, he should be easy enough to ID.”

  Savannah studied the picture, then turned off her phone and stepped out of the car. She looked back in time to see Craig pull a small bottle of whiskey out from under his seat and take a swig. He swished it around in his mouth and swallowed as if savoring the flavor. He then got out of the car and started to walk briskly up the wooden steps that led to a modest wood-frame home. Savannah had to skip a little to catch up with him.

  Before they reached the house, a Mexican man stepped out of the shadows and demanded, “What do you want?”

  “Oh, hello,” Craig said. “We’re looking for Señor Milner. Is he home?”

  The man looked the detective up and down, then he gazed for a moment at Savannah. “Who wants to know?”

  “I’m Craig, this is Savannah.” He laughed. “We’re old friends of Six-Martini Milner. We’re vacationing in the area and thought we’d stop in and have a drink with him. Is he home?”

  The man shook his head. “Not today or tomorrow or for many days after that.”

  Craig dropped his head and moaned, “Oh no. We’ve missed him? Where is he, on one of his European vacations? He’s not still working in Colorado, is he? I’d heard he gave up that job.” Craig winked. “For much better things.” More exuberantly, he said, “Hey, is he out spending all of that…” He stopped himself. “Oh, sorry. I guess I shouldn’t be talking out of turn.” He glanced around as if embarrassed, then asked the man, “So when do you expect him back?”

  “Maybe days, maybe weeks, maybe years. We do not know.”

  “Oh.” Craig turned to Savannah. “Where will we stay this evening?” He winced and said to the man confidentially, “I had a few little nips just now on my way up the road—you know a coupla chugs of some good stuff.” He leaned toward the man and said, “…good whiskey.” He pulled back and lamented, “Now I can’t drive. It wouldn’t be safe. Would it be okay if we sleep in our car? We won’t be in the way, will we?”

  “Si,” the man said, waving his arm toward their car. “Go sleep it off mister, then vamoose out of here.”

  Before Craig could respond, they heard a woman’s voice. “Send them up here, Miguel. “We can’t turn away friends of the boss man. They can stay one night here. With Wolf and Raven off to college, we have room for guests.” She gestured to Craig and Savannah, “Come, come.”

  Craig bowed. “How gracious of you, Señora. Gracias.”

  “Just watch your step,” she said. We don’t need anyone falling down the stairs.” When she noticed the caved-in roof of their SUV, she frowned. “What happened to your car?”

  Craig and Savannah stared down at it. He said, “I don’t know. I think a rock fell off the cliff on our way in through the canyon.”

  After thinking about what he’d said, the woman addressed Miguel, “Help them bring their things in.” She said to Craig, “You may as well get them now—then you have just one trip to make up the steps.” She put her hands on her hips and looked sternly at Craig. “In your condition, these many steps can be a challenge.” She turned away, saying, “I’ll go put some coffee on.”

  Before she disappeared into the house, Savannah called out, “Can I bring my cat?”

  The woman stepped back out onto the porch and frowned. “Cat? A cat inside the house?”

  “Yes,” Savannah said. “He’s a pet. He won’t be any trouble. I promise.”

  The woman shrugged. “I guess it is okay. Bring him. We’ll adjust.” She shook her head as she turned to go back into the house. “A cat! That’s curious.”

  “We sure do appreciate this,” Craig said, purposely slurring his words a little as he and Savannah entered the home with Rags and their overnight bags. “I thought I’d find Six-Martini Milner here. Just a few weeks ago he said he was heading this way with…” He looked sheepish. “Well, with something he couldn’t wait to show me, actually.”

  The woman studied Craig for a moment, then asked Savannah, “Why are you traveling with a cat?”

  “There was no one to leave him with at home,” Savannah lied. “He’s a good traveler.” When Savannah became aware that the woman continued to stare at Rags, she held out one hand and said, “I’m Savannah.”

  “Sybil,” the woman said. She laughed. “But I prefer my Native American name, White Fox.”

  “White Fox,” Savannah repeated. “I like that.”

  “What name do you prefer?” the woman asked.

  “Well, Savannah, I guess. That’s my only name.” She then asked, “Are you River’s mother?”

  She stared hard into Savannah’s face. “Yes. Do you know my son?”

  Savannah smiled warmly. “We met him down at the diner. He’s a lovely boy. He reminds me of Adam, my husband’s son, whom we love very much.”

  The woman relaxed a little. “He is a wonderful boy. He’s fishing now with his father. He’ll be home before the sun goes down.”

  “And your husband—will he return with him?” Savannah asked.

  “Oh no,” the woman said. “He’s on a long-haul run and he just stopped over for the fishing trip. He’ll leave again after they catch their limit. Do you like fried fish? We hope to have a mess of them for our evening meal.”

  Savannah nodded. She looked at Craig as he approached Miguel, who stood at the kitchen door. “This is for you,” Craig said, handing him the small bottle of whiskey.

  “Thank you, Señor,” Miguel said enthusiastically.

  Craig smiled. “Enjoy.”

  Meanwhile, White Fox watched as Craig returned to where Savannah stood. She studied both of them. “Let me show you to your room,” she offered. Before turning away, she narrowed her eyes and asked, “Do you want one room or two?”

  “Two,” they both responded. Savannah broke the silence that followed. “Do you live here in this house?”

  “Only when Mr. Milner is gone. Our home is on the other side of the mine shaft.”

  That got Craig’s attention. “Mine shaft?”

  “Yes, we mine gold here and gems.”

  “Gold and gems?” Craig questioned.

  “Yes, it’s a unique area where traces of both are evident if you’re willing to work hard. And Señor Milner makes sure that the men do. He pays Miguel well to keep the men working. My son, Wolf, wanted to go into the mining business as a student of Señor Milner, but I refuse to let that happen. I made Wolf promise to get an education first. Then if he still wants to live the life, he’ll at least have an edge. I’d rather he be a mine owner than a mine worker. But practically the only way you can gain ownership of a mine is to be born into a family that holds a deed. Sure, you can still petition to work a mine belonging to someone else, with a whole lot of dos and don’ts, as you can imagine, and a large percentage of your take.”

  “Sounds discouraging,” Craig said, “for those not born into a mining family.”

  White Fox smiled and nodded. She motioned for Craig and Savannah to follow. When they reached the door to a room, she stopped and looked at them. “So you do not sleep together?” she asked.

  “No,” Craig and Savannah said in unison.

  The woman looked from one to the other, then said, “Okay, Savannah, you can have this room. Will the cat go outside overnight?”

  “Oh no,” Savannah said. “He stays with me.” She stepped into the room with her bag and with Rags on the leash. When White Fox lingered in the doorway with a frown on her face, Savannah asked, “Is someth
ing wrong?”

  “Um…oh no. I…um…I guess not,” the woman stuttered. White Fox noticed the couple staring at her and she explained, “It’s just that we don’t…well, Señor Milner…he doesn’t… We don’t usually have guests in this room. Señor Milner says this room is off-limits.” She thinned her lips, then smiled. “But I’m sure it will be okay just for this one night.” She bowed slightly as she backed out of the doorway. “Let me know if you need anything, Savannah.”

  When the others had moved on down the hallway, Savannah closed the door, sat down on the bed, and let out a long breath. She unpacked a blouse and her pjs, set up Rags’s water and food bowls, watched the cat explore the small room, then she lay down on the bed and fell asleep. She was awakened by a rap at the door.

  “Supper in fifteen minutes,” the muffled voice said.

  It took Savannah a moment to get her bearings. She looked at Rags, who was curled up next to her, then called out, “Okay. Thank you.” She rubbed her eyes and petted Rags. “I guess we fell asleep, didn’t we, buddy?” She sat on the edge of the small bed and mentally regrouped. “Looks like you ate some of your kibbles.” She then remembered something, “Oh, we didn’t bring in your litter box. Sorry boy. I’ll go get it. She slipped on her shoes and headed for the door. When she stepped out into the hallway, she ran smack into someone. “Oh, sorry,” she said, stepping back.

  The man grumbled and continued on down the hall.

  That’s Melvin…River’s dad. I thought he was on a long-haul with his truck. Hmmm, must have changed his mind. Just then Savannah saw Craig come out of a room farther down the hall. When he waved, she said, “Hi, Craig. I guess they’re going to feed us supper.”

  “Yeah, White Bear…um…”

  Savannah chuckled quietly. “White Fox.”

  “Whatever. Well, she mentioned the possibility of fried freshly caught fish.”

  Savannah drew closer to Craig and said quietly, “River’s dad, Melvin’s back.”

  “He is?” Craig asked. He tightened his lips. “I wonder what caused his change of plans. No doubt it was us.”

  Savannah stared at him, finally asking, “What do you mean?”

  “I’m not sure yet. Shall we go eat?”