CATalyst for Clues

by Patricia Fry

  Keith laughed. “Tell me about it.” He then said, “We need to make sure our families are on board with this. Especially yours; it would be more difficult for them.”

  “Maybe not,” Michael said. When Keith looked at him, he continued, “What if we move to Colorado for a few weeks or months or whatever it takes to accomplish our goal?”

  Keith stopped and looked at his brother. “Yeah! Hey, there are some houses available for rent in our neighborhood right now—good-sized homes, actually, used for Airbnb—you know, they’re furnished and all.” He punched his brother good-naturedly. “We could be neighbors.”

  Michael smiled. “Now that would be cool. That might work, although it would be a big change for Savannah. As you said, I’ll have to talk to her about it and we’ll weigh the pros and cons.” He chuckled. “I know one thing for sure—she adores you all and would probably love being neighbors.”

  “Good then,” Keith said exuberantly. He raised one hand, saying, “We have a plan.”

  Michael gave him a high five.

  ****

  The following day as the two families made some preliminary plans for their search, Jess entered the great room of the mansion with Aggie. When the others saw his face, they knew. “Dad has died,” he confirmed.

  Holly and Savannah approached the grieving couple. As Holly led the elderly woman to a chair, Savannah hugged Jess. “I’m so sorry.”

  “Yeah,” he said, in an attempt to minimize her sympathetic gesture. “Thanks.”

  “Sorry, buddy,” Michael said, squeezing Jess’s shoulder as he walked past.

  “Yeah, it’s the pits,” Keith said.

  “He died again?” Adam asked quietly when Michael sat down near him.

  “Again?” Michael asked, puzzled.

  “Yeah, I thought he croak…I mean died when we all went to see him yesterday. I guess he was just sleeping.”

  Michael nodded. “Yes, son, he was just sleeping.”

  “Will there be services?” Holly asked.

  Jess shook his head. “Irene said Dad didn’t want any.”

  When Savannah noticed Aggie struggling with her emotions, she said, “But there’s no reason why we can’t honor him here this evening. We can all gather around with candles and share memories.”

  “Good idea,” Holly said.

  Aggie patted both women on the cheeks. “That would be wonderful. Yes, yes, let’s do that.”

  ****

  That evening as the men entertained the children and the women straightened the kitchen, Savannah’s phone chimed. She looked at the screen, walked into another room, and answered the call. “Hi, Marci. How are you? Are you out of surgery?”

  “Yes, it went okay. The boy is doing well, from what I understand.”

  “You’re feeling all right?”

  “Oh, a little woozy and there’s some pain, which I expected—but yeah, I’ll be fine. Savannah, I told Eric. He is not happy with me. I get it. He can’t understand why I didn’t tell him before this. I just hope he’ll forgive me. This has really driven a wedge between us, and it’s all my damn fault. First I keep a secret from him, then I make an important decision without telling him. Oh Savannah, I’ve messed up a perfectly good relationship and I don’t know how to fix it.”

  “I’m sorry, Marci. I wish I could help. I guess it’s just something that will take time to work out. I think you two will get back on the right track—but I’m guessing it could take time.”

  “Yeah, they say time heals everything, right?” she said somewhat sarcastically.

  “That’s right, but…”

  “But what?” Marci asked.

  “Well, there’s the issue of…”

  “I don’t want to hear it, Savannah. You want me to confess. Don’t you think I’ve done enough to make amends? I found Billy’s cat. I’ve given him a functioning part of my body, after all. Isn’t that enough, for God’s sake?”

  Savannah let out a sigh. “Marci, please try to stay calm. I’m sure it won’t help if you get upset. Everything’s going to work out. Just believe that, okay? Give Eric a little space. He’s had quite a shock. Men digest things differently than we do. Try to relax and visualize a good outcome. Will you do that?”

  “Okay. I’ll try.”

  “When will you go home?” Savannah asked.

  “Not for several days. When will you be home? Are you still in the east?”

  “Yes. We’re leaving tomorrow. Do you want us to bring Adam home? Do you need him to help? He can sure stay with us if that will be a help to you.”

  “Yeah, why don’t you keep him in Hammond? I have help and he’d just be bored…if you and Michael don’t mind, Savannah.”

  “Marci, I think you know that he’s as much a part of our family as Lily and Teddy are. He’s always welcome in our home.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Sure. Bye Marci. Be patient and relax. Things will work out.”

  “Who was that, hon?” Michael asked when she returned to the great room on her way to the kitchen.

  “Marci.” When he lowered his brow, she said, “She’s in the hospital. She decided to give a kidney to a little boy who needed it and wondered if we’d keep Adam for another week or so.”

  “Wow! Will we?” he said excitedly. “What did you tell her?”

  “I told her of course we will.”

  “Good, I’ll go tell him.”

  “Michael,” she said, grabbing his arm, “don’t worry him about her surgery, okay? Maybe he doesn’t even need to know about it. Marci will probably be recovered when we see her next and if she wants to tell him, she can.”

  He thought about it. “Yeah, you’re probably right. Okay.”

  ****

  Two weeks later, Michael and Savannah sat up talking in their living room after everyone else had gone to bed. Rags lay sprawled across one of Buffy’s pink canopy beds. Walter peered out from under a lightweight throw on his favorite plum-colored chair, and Buffy lay with her body pressed up against Savannah on the sofa. “Where’s Lexie?” she asked.

  Michael reached across Savannah’s lap and petted Buffy. “Probably in her bed. She and Adam had quite a tug-of-war earlier.”

  Savannah laughed. “They sure did.” She was quiet for a few moments, then asked, “Do you think we’ve listed everything we need to take with us to Colorado?”

  “If we’ve forgotten something, we’ll buy it when we get there.”

  “Well, some things are impossible to replace—like a favorite fingernail file or comfy shoes.”

  “I guess so, but I’m pretty sure we’ve packed what we need and more.”

  “It’s really hard when we don’t know how long we’ll be there.”

  “For at least a month. We signed a lease for a month, remember?”

  “Yes, and Helena’s niece and her husband signed on to stay in our house for a month, as well. It’ll sure be a comfort knowing that we have someone taking care of things here.” She turned to face him. “Helena said her niece is looking forward to doing some canning. I’m so glad the fruit won’t rot.”

  “Yes, it’s interesting how that all worked out. They needed a place to stay and we needed a house- and petsitter. Are you sure you don’t want to leave Rags and Buffy here?”

  “No. No way. First, Rags is way too much trouble and I don’t want to turn that responsibility over to any unsuspecting person. Second, I couldn’t live without him or my sweet Buffy,” she said, running her hand over Buffy’s silky fur. But I think the trip would be harder on Walter than it will be for him to get used to a new family.”

  “Yeah, you’re right—Rags and Buffy and especially Lexie will probably do better if we take them with us.” He winced. “I wish Adam were going with us. I’ve sure enjoyed him being here for these last two weeks.”

  “Yeah, I’ll miss him too—so will Lily and even Teddy. I love how excited Adam is about having a baby brother. And Teddy seems to relate t
o him in a special way.”

  “I’ve noticed that.” He took her hand. “I’ve sure learned that it’s something special to have a brother.” He cleared his throat and asked, “So, what’s our itinerary?”

  Savannah sighed. “Well, we’re taking Adam back to Marci’s and Eric’s tomorrow.” She looked at him. “Are you going with us?”

  “Yes.”

  “So you’re playing hooky?”

  “I no longer work at the Ivey Veterinary Clinic, remember? Bud’s in charge. I think they’ll do just fine.” He chuckled. “I promised Bud an open-ended leave of absence once I get back. He says he’ll need a vacation by then.” He turned to face her. “Speaking of Bud, how’s Brianna this week? I guess Craig finally caught up with the people behind her kidnapping, huh?”

  “Yes. The Goffs are behind bars—or at least they’ve been arrested. They could be out on bail, for all I know. I guess Bart Goff was furious when he found out Paul was taking some of the money they were extorting and hiding it away in his bomb shelter. Craig said that he called Paul a crook. Like the pot calling the kettle black, huh?”

  “So Paul was skimming from the top?”

  “Or asking for more ransom than the Goffs thought. Oh, and they found the missing girl. Evidently, the Carter brothers weren’t the only ones working the kidnap-for-ransom business for the Goffs. An accomplice in Utah decided he liked this girl and he kept her, rather than turning her loose. Goff collected the money and thought this guy had let her go. The girl was okay, though—just a bit thin and homesick.”

  “So Brianna can relax some, huh?” Michael said.

  “She’s nervous about testifying. But that probably won’t happen for several months—you know how long it can take for a case to go to trial. Hopefully she’ll enjoy focusing on her new practice. She starts working with Dr. Stevens next week and will probably go solo in a month or so.” She faced him. “Did you know that she has rented an apartment in that new complex on Bradbury Street?”

  “I thought she was moving in with Bud.”

  “No. She wants to maintain her own place until they get married next spring or summer. I think it’s a good decision.”

  “Why?”

  “Well, Brianna has a pattern of jumping into things with both feet. I think it’s good for her to take baby steps for a change.”

  ****

  “Hey, Adam, you’re loaded down there pretty good,” Eric said when he and Marci greeted the Ivey family the next morning.

  “Yeah, since I got to stay longer, we had to buy me some more clothes,” Adam explained. “I left some of them there for when I visit next time.”

  “Cool,” Eric said, helping the boy carry his things into the house.

  When Adam saw his mother, he dropped his duffle bag and gave her a warm hug. “Hi Mom,” he said.

  “I missed you,” she murmured.

  “I missed you too.” He looked around. “Hey, where’s Rose?”

  “Next door playing with Ellie. Come in, guys,” she invited. She looked down at Teddy in Savannah’s arms. “Look how much that boy of yours has grown. How old is he now?”

  “Six weeks,” Savannah said, smiling at the infant.

  “I two!” Lily exclaimed.

  “Yes,” Marci said, smiling, “you’re a big girl, aren’t you? Want to come in and play with Rose’s toys?”

  Lily nodded.

  Once Adam and Eric had deposited his bags in his bedroom, Adam asked Michael, “Dad, want to see if we can finish fixing that thing on my fort?”

  Michael looked at Eric. “I guess we could do that. Did you find some baling wire? Got some eye screws and pliers with wire cutters?”

  “I believe so,” Eric said, standing. He patted his wife’s shoulder. “Will you be okay?” he asked.

  Marci nodded.

  “Well, it looks like all’s well in your household,” Savannah said, smiling.

  “Yes, you were right…again. Eric lightened up. But then, I think I’ve relaxed some too.” She glanced in the direction the men and Adam had gone and spoke more quietly, “But I’m not healed. I still have some work to do.”

  “You mean from your surgery?”

  “No, that’s okay. It’s my psyche, if you will. I must confront that woman again—or be confronted by her. I’m not whole yet. I feel better now that I’ve done what I can to make sure they’re whole. But Savannah, I’m not whole and I want to—I need to, for my family—be whole.”

  Savannah smiled. “I know.”

  Marci grinned at Savannah rather sheepishly. “I know you know. I’ve heard your words, but I wasn’t able to absorb them until now. Savannah, I’m ready to confess.”

  “To the police?”

  “To the family. Do you think Michael would let you go with me this morning to do that? I so want you to be with me. I thought about taking Eric, but I’m not comfortable doing that. Would you go with me, please?”

  “Today? Now?”

  “If I don’t do it now, I may put it off again and I just don’t want to do that to myself.”

  “Okay,” Savannah said. “Let me check with Michael.”

  Half an hour later the two women pulled up in front of the Garnett home. Savannah chuckled. “I see Snickers in the window. He looks contended in that shard of sunshine there.” When Savannah noticed that Marci wasn’t making a move to get out of the car, she urged gently, “Ready to go?”

  “I guess so.” Marci opened the car door and stepped out. She stood and stared at the house for a moment, then moved forward toward the porch. Savannah followed.

  “Hello,” Rose Garnett said when she opened the door. She smiled. “Oh, it’s you. You’re the one who brought us back our Snickers. How are you?” She leaned toward Marci and Savannah and asked, teasing, “You haven’t brought us another cat, have you?”

  “No,” Marci said. “Mrs. Garnett, I’d like to talk to you, if I might.” When the woman just looked at her, she asked, “May we come in, please?”

  “Oh, yes,” she said, “I’m sorry, where are my manners? By all means, please come in.”

  Marci looked around. “Is Billy here?”

  “No. His father took him and Misty out for a treat so I could finish up the cookies I was making for a special celebration.” She leaned toward them and said, as if telling a secret, “We just got word that Billy’s kidney transplant is a success—no rejection, at least not yet, which is a great, great sign.”

  When Savannah noticed that Marci seemed unable to speak, she said, “That’s wonderful news. And he’s feeling okay?”

  “Oh yes, he’ll be back outside playing with his friends in no time. It’s a miracle.” She turned somber. “I didn’t want to face it, but the doctors had little hope that we’d find a kidney in time. I will be forever grateful to the donor—whoever he or she is and wherever they are. I pray for that generous person every day.”

  When Marci didn’t react, Savannah nudged her.

  “It was me,” Marci blurted. The room went silent and Marci spoke more quietly, her head bowed slightly. “I’m the donor. I gave Billy the kidney.” Before Rose could speak, Marci continued, “Rose, I’m the driver who hit your family—the hit-and-run driver. I’ve felt so guilty ever since; you just can’t imagine. And I decided that I had to find you and your family and do something to make restitution. So I found your cat.” She choked back tears. “It wasn’t enough. So I found out that I was a match for Billy and I gave him a kidney. I thought that would erase my guilt for the terrible thing I had done. But it hasn’t.” She swallowed hard and blotted at her eyes with a tissue. “So I decided that the only thing I can do—what my friend here has been telling me to do—is to confess. And I’m here now to do that. Mrs. Garnett, I’m so, so terribly sorry. I caused the accident and then I didn’t even have the courage to take responsibility.” She paused, then looked Rose in the eyes. “I’m not asking for your forgiveness. I don’t deserve that. I just needed to confess to you.
And I will be turning myself in at the police department this afternoon.”

  “Oh my goodness,” Mrs. Garnett said. “You poor soul. You didn’t mean to hurt us. It was an accident. And we’re just fine.” She joined Marci on the sofa. “Come here, child,” she said, taking Marci into her arms. “We never held a grudge against you. Don’t even give that a second thought.” She pulled back. “But we will be forever grateful to you for the beautiful gifts you have given us. You took nothing from us—but you’ve given us everything…everything.”

  Months of pent-up emotion seemed to pour from Marci and she sobbed uncontrollably. Once she’d regained her composure, she stood. “You have been most kind. Thank you for…well, for not hating me.” She turned to Savannah. “We need to go.”

  Before the women could leave, Rose Garnett asked, “Will you and your family come to our celebration this evening?”

  Marci shook her head and backed toward the door. “I don’t think so. I need to go talk to the police, you know. I may be in…”

  “Oh no, you won’t be going to jail,” the woman said. “Not if I can help it. So you’re going there now? Let me get my pocketbook. I’ll meet you there and I’ll tell them that as far as we’re concerned, you do not belong in a cell.”

  “But…” Marci started.

  “You go ahead. I’ll meet you there.” Rose started to walk away, then turned back. “By the way, what is your name?”

  “Marci Patterson.”

  “Well, Marci, thank you again. I’ll see you at the police station in ten minutes.”

  ****

  “So that’s what all the secrecy was about, huh?” Michael asked as he drove his family home an hour later. “That’s just bizarre—I can’t believe the lengths Marci went to in order to stay out of jail. Good Lord, she gave a kidney?”

  Savannah nodded. “She really had herself in an awful state.”

  “And you were her only confidante?”

  “I guess so. A wrong-place-at-the-wrong-time situation.”