by Patricia Fry
“I’m sorry, Rochelle. I shouldn’t be bothering you, it’s just that…”
“No bother, Savannah. I’m always glad to help, but I don’t want to lead you astray with cloudy images. Let me be quiet for a moment, will you?” When Rochelle spoke into the phone again, she said, “Okay, Savannah, it is a farm environment I’m seeing. There are farm animals and they’re around Brianna, not you.”
“Oh, that’s interesting,” Savannah said with renewed energy in her voice. “I talked to Brianna a while ago and I could hear farm animals. Rochelle, is she in any danger?”
“I’m not sure. I think she believes she is. But I don’t know the reality of it.”
“What about Rags? Can you tell us where Rags is?”
Rochelle took a deep breath. “I sense that he was in a car.” She was quiet for a moment, then said, “...heading toward Mexico. But I don’t think that’s still the case. I’m sorry, Savannah. If anything else comes to me…”
“Thank you, dear friend. And thank Peter for the use of the house. It’s so superior to a crummy hotel. We really appreciate it.”
“You’re welcome. Good luck.”
Once she ended the call, Savannah saw that the others were waiting for her report. She winced. “All Rochelle can tell me is that Brianna’s surrounded by farm animals. But we already knew that. And that Rags was, but probably isn’t still, in a car heading south, which we also already knew.”
Margaret chuckled. “Maybe Bruce is taking Rags to Tijuana to have him stuffed with drugs to smuggle back across the border.”
Savannah did not see the humor in her aunt’s words. She faced the detective. “Craig, how about if I call the tech people? Maybe there’s something wrong with the gadget and they can reset it or something.” After spending several minutes on the phone with three different technicians, Savannah was told that the device had been dismantled or turned off. She sat back against the seat. “Now what?”
Craig grimaced. “Let’s say a little prayer and hope Bruce reconnects it.”
Just then, Savannah’s phone chimed. “It’s Rochelle,” she announced. Into the phone, she said, “Hi, Rochelle. Has anything else occurred to you?”
“Well, I’m convinced the animals around Brianna are farm animals. She’s not close to a city, but on the outskirts.” Rochelle let out a sigh. “It appears to be a farm or maybe a petting zoo. I can’t be sure.”
“Yeah, I believe you’re right. As I told you earlier, I spoke with Bri and I heard those farm animals and this weird, but familiar whistling sound.” She laughed briefly. “I guess I’d better meditate to see if I can identify that.”
“Yes, Savannah, you could do that. Just relax and concentrate only on that sound. See what images or thoughts come to you.”
“I’ll try,” Savannah promised.
“Oh, wait,” Rochelle said. “Just on the off-chance that it’s helpful, I sense a striped bird. Actually several striped birds. Could it be killdeer? Those are the only striped birds I know of—or maybe some sort of exotic bird someone is raising. But Savannah, I think this is a big bird, not a regular tweetie bird.”
“Hmmm,” Savannah said. “Yeah, there’s the killdeer, and some kinds of sparrows have striped effects in their feathers.”
“Yeah,” Rochelle said, “I don’t know what it was, but I thought I’d mention it just in case…”
“Okay,” Savannah said. “Thanks. I’ll try that meditation.” After ending the call, she said to the others, “Rochelle doesn’t know what that whistling sound could be. The only thing that occurred to her was a striped bird. She suggested I do some meditating to see if anything comes to my mind.”
Before Savannah could attain a relaxed state, Margaret began throwing out ideas. “What I heard could be a teakettle or a toy, like Craig suggested, or a dolphin, or a kiwi.”
Craig made a face. “A kiwi? You mean the fruit?”
“No,” Margaret said. “Don’t be silly. It’s a bird—a New Zealand bird.”
“A bird,” Savannah muttered. She sat straight, her eyes wide. “Emu. That’s what it was, an emu chick. I’m sure of it. Emus were one of my projects in veterinary school and I remember the sound they made. The chicks are striped like Rochelle said.” She looked at Craig, then Margaret. “It could be an emu ranch.” She began tapping on her phone. “Let’s hope it’s a bona fide emu ranch and not just a small farm with a few emus on it. Okay, here we go—write these addresses down, Auntie.”
“That’s five of them,” Margaret said, after copying the addresses. “So we should start focusing on emu ranches?”
Savannah nodded.
“What do we have so far?” Craig asked. “Read off the addresses. Savannah, can you pinpoint some of them? We may as well not look too far beyond the city. Remember, it took our guy thirty-eight minutes to get to where Brianna is.”
“Good point, Craig.” She grinned. “I guess that’s why you’re the detective.”
He smirked playfully at her. “Just check those addresses, will you? As close as I can figure, we’re fifteen miles from Paul Carter’s house. Hey, there’s a café. I’m going to pull in so we’ll have better light while we try to figure this out. Anyone thirsty?” he asked. “I’d like a piece of pie and coffee myself.”
****
Forty minutes later, they left the café with a plan.
“Our first stop is the Barker place,” Savannah said. “Take a left here and another left in about five miles.” Once they reached that point, she directed Craig to turn right and drive another few miles on a gravel road in order to reach the ranch.
“It’s quiet out here,” Craig said, lowering his window. “Doesn’t look like anyone’s home.”
Margaret pointed. “Listen, I hear something rustling over there. What is that? Where’s your flashlight, Vannie?”
“Now let’s not get too excited,” Craig cautioned. “We don’t want to create a commotion.”
“I don’t hear any barnyard animals,” Savannah whispered. “But there is something in the brush.” She strained to see what it was when finally she yelped. “Oh, a deer. Look, a big buck.”
“Yeah.” Margaret said, quietly. “He is big.”
“I don’t think this farm is operational anymore,” Savannah said. “The sign’s broken and there’s a hole in the fence over there. There are no cars around.”
“Perfect place to hide someone,” Craig murmured.
“But where are the barnyard animals we heard?”
“Sleeping?” Craig sat silently for a few moments, then said, “Give me the light.” He took it and stepped out of the car. When he returned, he said, “Abandoned. Let’s go.”
“Dang, that was a waste of time,” Margaret said.
“Yeah,” Craig agreed impatiently. “Where to next?”
As he turned the car around, Savannah took a deep breath and gave him new directions. “Go right at the fork, then drive eight miles and turn left. You’ll take a dirt road for another five miles. It’s the Larkspur Ranch.”
He sighed deeply. “Let’s hope this isn’t another wild-goose chase.”
****
“I wish people would keep their profile information current!” Craig complained as he drove away from the Larkspur Ranch nearly an hour later. “The owner said the emus have been gone for nearly two years. And all he runs are pigs.” He looked at Savannah and grumbled, “Where to now?”
“Back on the main road. You know where that is.” She muttered, “Emus, farm animals, Geronimo.” Then she shouted, “Geronimo!”
Craig looked confused. “What? Are you getting ready to take a leap or something?”
“No! Craig,” she said excitedly, “I just remembered—that was the name of one of our childhood cats—Geronimo!”
“I remember that cat,” Margaret said. “Didn’t he jump off the roof or out of a tree or something?”
“Yes, which is why we named him Geronimo. When Brianna shouted ‘Geronimo,’ she might have been
trying to give me a clue. But what does it mean?” She pursed her lips and exhaled while thinking. Finally, she said, “Wait! We found that kitten at a ranch way out in the boonies.” She turned and asked meekly, “Do you suppose that’s where Brianna and Rags are—either there or someplace near there? Yes, I think that’s what she was trying to tell me; that she’s at the place where we found Geronimo. Let’s go!” she shouted, pointing ahead.
“Do you have an address?” Craig asked.
“Or a name we could look up?” Margaret added.
Savannah studied the list again and jammed a finger into the page. “I think that’s it!” she shouted. “West Hills Emu Colony. Come on. We need to get Rags back and find Brianna before that jerk discovers we don’t have any money for him.”
“What’s the address, Savannah?” Craig asked. Once she’d given it to him, he made a call.
Meanwhile, Savannah set her phone’s GPS app. “Turn right here, take the next on-ramp and we drive about fifteen miles to the Granger turnoff.” She looked at Craig as he drove. “What will we do when we get there?”
“Well, I wish we had your cat so he could show us where she is on the property. I guess we’ll have to play it by ear.”
Savannah scrunched down in her seat, her mind racing from one what-if to another. Nearly fifteen minutes later, she said, “Here’s the turnoff. Turn here, then make a right. We’ll be on surface streets, then we come to an unpaved road.”
After another five minutes or so, Craig looked at the clock on the dashboard. “Savannah, do you know where the meeting place is—where we’re supposed to meet that dude at midnight?”
She nodded. “We’re nearly to our destination. Gads, I actually remember this place.”
“How far from here is it?” he asked, pulling over onto the shoulder next to a barbed-wire fence.
“How far is what?” Savannah asked.
“The meeting place—you know, the feed store.”
Savannah checked her phone. “I’d guess about twenty or thirty minutes. Yup, twenty-five minutes,” she confirmed.
“It’s not quite eleven now,” Craig said. “So he probably hasn’t left yet. Let’s hope he’s the only one out here. I don’t want to try fighting off a bunch of guys.”
Savannah and Margaret laughed guardedly.
“Hey, there’s a critter,” Craig said as he started to pull back onto the dirt road. “Look at those eyes reflect the light from our headlights. What is that scary thing, a raccoon? Possum?”
Margaret and Savannah leaned forward to look out the windshield, when Savannah shouted, “Rags! Oh my gosh, it’s Rags!”
Chapter 5
After looking around to make sure they weren’t being watched, Savannah opened the car door and stepped out. “Rags,” she whispered loudly. “Come here, boy.”
“Are you sure that’s Rags, Vannie? What would he be doing out here?”
Savannah smirked at her aunt. “I can’t imagine why you’re surprised. Yes, it’s Rags. Come on boy,” she said, leaning over and coaxing him to her. She picked him up and hugged him, kissing his furry cheek. “Am I ever glad to see you!”
Once Savannah had eased into the car with Rags, Craig petted him. “Good to have you back on the right team, buddy. But you didn’t do your job very well. Where’s that expensive GPS gizmo I bought for you?”
“Yeah, I’ll have to spring for another new harness and leash, too,” Savannah complained.
Craig shifted in his seat. “Okay, now we can make a plan.”
“How’s that?” Savannah asked.
“We have our secret weapon back.” He looked at Rags and grimaced. “Just wish you had your leash, boy.” He shook his head. “Guess we’ll have to wing it.” He got out of the car, opened the back door, and picked up a small canvas bag.
“What’s that?” Margaret asked, recoiling a bit. “Have I been sitting back here with a machine gun at my feet all afternoon?”
Craig muffled a chuckle. “Tools. They probably have her locked up somewhere, don’t you imagine?” He picked up Rags and said, “You ladies stay here; Rags’ll show me where she is. Savannah, I want you to turn the car around and when you see us return with Brianna, be ready to speed away—just in case anyone spots us and tries to get her back. The cops should be here about that time, so we may be safe—but just in case, be ready to burn rubber, okay?”
Savannah saluted. “Yes sir.” Her voice softened. “Be careful, Craig, Rags.”
After what seemed like an eternity, Margaret finally hissed from the back seat, “Here they come!” She squinted. “It looks like he has Brianna with him. Oh no!”
“What?” Savannah asked, panicked.
“Someone’s chasing them. Be ready to take off, Vannie.” Margaret opened the rear passenger door. “Wait until I tell you.” After what seemed to be a very long sixty seconds, Craig and Brianna dove into the car. “Go!” Margaret shouted.
It wasn’t until after she’d accelerated that Savannah heard the car door slam. She glanced in the rearview mirror. “Do you have Brianna?” she asked, her voice shrill, “…and Rags?”
“I’m here,” Brianna said, patting her sister’s shoulder.
“And we have your cat,” Craig confirmed. He lifted Rags onto the front seat. “Here he is, none the worse for wear. And he did his job like the pro that he is.”
“Wow!!” Brianna said, trying to catch her breath. “And I thought the adventure trip was intense…” She reached over the seat and grabbed Savannah’s shoulders. “So good to see you, Sis.”
Savannah put one hand on Brianna’s. “You too. Gosh, you gave us a scare. What happened, anyway?”
“Why don’t we go someplace safe and let Brianna tell her story,” Craig suggested. He spoke more quietly, “Or we could all get some sleep and talk about it when we’re fresh in the morning.” He turned to Brianna, who was snuggling in Margaret’s arms. “Want to call anyone?” he asked, offering her his phone.
She smiled. “Sure do. Poor Bud; he must have been out of his mind wondering what stupid thing I was doing now.” She took Craig’s phone and made the call. “Hi Bud. Sorry to wake you.”
“Brianna! Oh my gosh, Brianna, where are you? I’ve been worried sick. Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m okay now. I’m with Craig and my family. I think we’re going to get some sleep, then drive home tomorrow. I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?” She paused, then said more quietly, “I have a lot I want to talk about with you.”
“Where are you staying?”
“Where are we staying, Vannie? Do we have rooms?”
“Yes, we’re at Peter’s beach house.”
She raised her eyebrows. “Cool.” Then she said into the phone, “We’re at Peter’s beach house. Night-night, babe. I missed you so much.”
“Now call your mother,” Savannah insisted.
“Gosh, I hate to wake her up.”
“She’s probably not sleeping. In fact, she may be up with Teddy about now. Call!”
“Hello, Mom?”
“Bri? Is that you, Bri?”
“Yes, Mom. I’m safe. I’m with Vannie and Craig and Aunt Marg. I’ll be home tomorrow. And, guess what? No more chasing adventures for me. I had enough of that to last a lifetime.”
“Glad to hear it, honey. Thank you for calling. I’ll see you tomorrow. Oh wait, Michael’s up.” She heard her tell him, “It’s Brianna. She’s with Craig, Vannie, and Maggie. She’s okay.” She then said into the phone, “Bri, he wants to talk to your sister.”
“Here, Sis,” Brianna said. “It’s Michael.”
“Hi honey.” Savannah chuckled. “I’m driving the getaway car, so can’t talk long.” She then said in a more serious tone, “It’s over, Michael. Brianna’s safe. We’ll be home tomorrow.”
“Thank heavens. Oh, I have a call on my phone.” He chuckled. “It’s Max. He probably saw the lights on over here. I’ll say goodbye now and give Max the good news. Love you.”
Once she�
�d ended the call, she handed the phone into the back seat. “Auntie, Michael’s talking to Max.”
“Oh, he’s up at this ungodly hour, too, is he?” Margaret said, choking up a little.
Meanwhile, Savannah glanced at Craig in the rearview mirror. “So where’s Bruce?”
“Well, he’s the one who was chasing us. He and some other dude.”
“That was Pablo,” Brianna said quietly.
Craig coughed and cleared his throat. “We passed a couple of unmarked cars once we hit the main road just now. I’m sure they’ll have those knuckleheads collared and on their way to jail within the hour.”
“Oh no,” Brianna said, “who’s going to take care of the animals?” When everyone looked at her, she said, “Well, animals have feelings too, you know, and needs.”
Savannah made brief eye contact with her aunt, then asked her sister, “So when did you come to this monumental awareness…I mean, about animals?”
Brianna remained quiet for a moment, then said, “Those beautiful animals saved my life.”
“How?” Margaret asked compassionately.
Sounding a little weepy, Brianna murmured, “Can we talk about this in the morning? I’m exhausted.” She smiled at Margaret. “I imagine all of you are too.”
“Good idea,” Craig said. “We’ll be back at the resort in a little over an hour or so—right driver?”
Savannah nodded. “Yup. Or sooner. Traffic’s light this time of night.”
****
The following morning just after eight, as the foursome prepared to leave the beach house, Craig heard a knock at the door. He looked out the window, then opened the door wide. “Well, look who’s here. Come in! Come in!”
“Oh my gosh, Bud,” Brianna said when she saw him walk into the room. “Am I ever glad to see you!” She ran into his arms and held onto him for a very long time.
