by Patricia Fry
“Yes,” Leah said. “That would be awesome. You could take turns getting up with the baby,” she teased.
“…and feed him what,” Edwin asked, “a hamburger?”
“We don’t want to put you out,” Bea said to Savannah.
“No trouble. We have food coming in—should be enough for us all, if I know the source.”
Michael looked confused. “From where?” he asked.
“Max and Harrison got together and prepared a meal for us.” She looked at her watch. “In fact, they should be here any time.”
“Harrison’s coming?” Leah asked, looking apprehensive.
“I think that’s the plan,” Savannah said. She turned to Bea. “Let me show you to your room and you can get settled while I put a salad together.”
“Can I help you in the kitchen?” Bea asked.
“Sure, want to help me set the table?” She turned to Michael. “Why don’t you open a bottle of wine, hon?”
“Ohhh, that sounds good,” Edwin said.
Michael grinned. “We should make it champagne. It seems there’s a lot to celebrate around here these days.”
“Yes, there is,” Bea said, hugging Leah and kissing the baby. “Let’s do have a glass of champagne to celebrate. She spoke sternly to her daughter. “Not you—you’re nursing.”
“Don’t worry, Mom, I have no desire to drink alcohol.” She turned to Savannah. “Got sparkling cider?”
Half an hour later, there was a knock on the front door. “Dinner’s served,” Max called as he and Margaret stepped inside carrying pans and bowls.
“Hi,” Savannah called out. When she spotted Harrison hobbling in behind them on crutches, she said, “Oh, hi, Harrison. You’re getting along pretty good there.”
“Yeah, he even kept up with me in the kitchen,” Max said. He chuckled. “He scooted around on that old walker we bought when I had that toe surgery last year.”
“Did you learn a lot, Harrison?” Savannah asked.
“Boy, did I. Flavors. It’s all about the flavors. I learned a lot, but there’s tons more to know.”
“It’s mostly experimentation,” Max said. “I’m afraid Savannah’s going to have a mad scientist in her kitchen this evening.”
Everyone laughed.
“Hi,” Harrison said, breathlessly when he saw Leah walking toward him with the baby. He hobbled to her on the crutches and kissed the baby, then kissed her.
She turned to the couple on the sofa. “Harrison, these are my parents, Edwin and Bea Benton. Mom and Dad, this is Harrison Lee.”
“Stanton,” he corrected. When Leah looked confused, he said, “Never did make a legal name change. Stanton’s an okay name, don’t you think?”
She smiled and nodded. “It’s fine with me.”
“The baby doesn’t look like you,” Bea said.
“Mom,” Leah scolded.
“Well, he doesn’t. This man’s blond and blue-eyed, for heaven’s sake.”
“Well, he looks like me, don’t you think? And Dad,” she added.
“He could look like a squirrel and I’d still love him,” Harrison said.
Leah smiled lovingly at him and urged him to sit down and get off his feet. “Harrison’s going to be a chef,” she said to her folks.
Just then, Max returned from the kitchen. “He’s a natural, this guy.”
Margaret chimed in. “Well, I think they had entirely too much fun in the kitchen this afternoon.”
Max and Harrison exchanged grins, then Max said, “He’s going to be an asset in any kitchen he chooses to work in.”
“Because he keeps things lively?” Edwin asked.
“That, and the fact that he’s organized, stays calm under pressure, and he truly enjoys the process.”
“I enjoy the results, too,” Harrison added. He turned to Leah. “Wait until you taste what we made.”
“Shall we serve it?” Savannah suggested. “Looks like enough for an army.”
“I’m not hungry,” Harrison announced. When everyone looked at him, he explained, “I did too much sampling.”
“Well, let’s have a toast before we eat,” Michael suggested. “I’ll get more bubbly.”
“I’ll get more glasses,” Savannah offered.
Leah handed the baby to Harrison, who took him eagerly, and she said, “Come on, Mom, maybe we can help.”
“Sure,” Bea agreed, touching the baby affectionately as she walked past.
****
After waving goodbye to the Bentons the following day, Savannah and Leah stepped into the house and Savannah asked, “So, what’s the plan, kiddo? What have you decided to do?”
“Well, I want the baby to be a little older before we get on a plane. I’ll ask the doctor what he thinks about that. Maybe when he’s six weeks or two months old, I’ll fly with him to Idaho and try to put up with my folks.”
Savannah frowned. “I thought you got along just fine. They seemed to embrace you fully.”
“Well, I guess you couldn’t read between the lines. Savannah, you saw how my mother is. She’s such an opinionated, bigoted woman.”
Savannah laughed. “It’s hard for two women to share a home—a baby—especially a kitchen. It’s just one of those facts of life we have to deal with.”
“Oh, that’s not encouraging. I guess I need to get over it, huh? It is her home, after all—she can be the head honcho and I can stand it—it’s only temporary, right? But Charlie is my baby!”
Savannah nodded. “So how long do you think you’ll stay there?”
She shrugged. “Maybe a few months. Harrison may take a shortcut to culinary school. Max knows a chef in Straley who he worked with in Chicago. He’s getting ready to retire from a really good job at a fine restaurant and he’s agreed to bring Harrison aboard, once he’s getting around better. If this chef sees the promise in him that Max does, he’ll train him to take his place, with the restaurant owner’s okay, of course. There are some contingencies, but Harrison is pretty determined and focused. He knows that if he wants me and baby Charlie, he’ll have to bring home the bacon.”
“Well, put,” Savannah said. “What happened to the carnival idea?”
Leah let out a sigh. “It’s still a possibility, but if this other job works out and the timing’s right, it just makes sense to both of us to take that opportunity. Know what I mean?”
Savannah smiled and nodded. “Then you’ll move back here to the Stanton home?”
“Yeah. Colbi and Damon plan to be married in May, so we’ll see how things are then with me, with the baby, and with Harrison and we’ll decide which direction to go.”
“Good for you, Leah. You’re going to have a good life, you know it?”
****
That night at dinner, the Iveys and Leah were chattering about all that had transpired in the past few weeks, when Rags sauntered into the room.
“Watcha got there, Rags, old boy?” Michael asked. “Does anyone know what that is? Leah, it’s not yours, is it?”
“Looks like he shredded something, doesn’t it?” Savannah said. She started to reach for the piece of paper, when Rags picked it up and ran out of the room. “Oh, there’s my phone,” she said. “I’ll be right back. Hi Craig,” she said into the phone. “How are you?”
“Good, and you?”
“We’re super here. Everything’s amazingly super. We’re sure enjoying the baby. Michael walked the floor with him this afternoon while Lily, Leah, and I took a nap.”
“Is he that fussy?” Craig asked.
“Actually, no. He’s a really good baby. I think Michael has the baby bug. He just walked him for fun. When I woke up, I found him sound asleep in the recliner with the baby snoozing away on his chest.”
Craig chuckled. He then cleared his throat and said, “Did you and Leah get a good look at that red suitcase?”
“Well yeah, I guess,” she said. “It was pretty gross and smelly.”
> “Did you notice the marks around that slit-open area?”
“Marks?” she said. “Not really. I don’t remember marks.”
“Well, I’d like you and Michael to take a look at it.”
“Why?” she asked. “I don’t really want to get near that stinky thing again if it isn’t absolutely necessary.”
“Savannah, I think they’re claw marks.”
“Claw marks?”
“Yes, from a cat.” He paused. “I’d like to bring it over, have you and Michael take a look, and tell me what you think.” He then added, “Don’t worry, we had the thing washed.”
“You washed off evidence?”
“No, we took what we believe we needed and then cleaned it. That’s when we got a better look at the area that was torn open. I can be there in ten minutes with the suitcase, is that okay?”
“Sure,” she said. “We’re almost finished eating dinner.”
“Craig’s bringing our old suitcase over here in a few minutes,” she announced when she returned to the table.
Leah made a face. “Ewww.”
“He said he cleaned it up.”
“Why is he bringing it here?” Michael asked.
“He wants us to look at the opening Leah made in it. He seems to think there’s something suspicious about it.”
Ten minutes later, the doorbell rang.
“Come on in, Craig,” Michael greeted.
“How is everyone tonight?” the detective asked as he stepped inside carrying a garbage bag.
“Good,” Michael said.
“Hi, Craig, have you met Charlie yet?” Savannah asked as she walked toward him cradling the baby.
Setting the bag down, he said, “Oh, well look at this little guy. Isn’t he a fine specimen?”
“Fine specimen?” Savannah repeated, laughing.
Craig cleared his throat and glanced around at the others. “Well, he is a good-looking baby as far as babies go. I mean…” he stuttered.
“Never mind, Craig. Come in and sit down,” she invited. “Want coffee?”
“Sure do,” he said, sitting near where Lily played with one of her musical toys. “Hi there, peanut,” he said to her.
“Ba-bee,” Lily said, pointing.
“Yes, that’s a baby, all right.”
“I’ll get the coffee,” Leah said. “Black?”
Craig nodded.
“So, did you bring the grimy suitcase?” Savannah asked, sitting across from the detective.
“Yes, and I think you’re going to be interested in what I found. But, first tell me this—did Rags have access to this bag before you set it out for the rubbish truck?”
Savannah and Michael made eye contact. She said, “Well, I guess he must have, actually. I mean, it sat in here behind the sofa for a few days before trash day. Why?”
He walked over to the trash bag and pulled the suitcase out of it. “I want you to take a look at something. Does this look like cat claw marks to you?”
Both Michael and Savannah walked closer to the bag. “Gosh, it sure does,” he said. “Looks like the cat was pretty darned determined, too.”
“Wait a minute,” Savannah said, handing the baby to Michael and stepping behind the sofa. She gave the sofa a shove and got down on her knees. “Oh, my gosh, look at this,” she said, holding her fingers out to Craig and Michael. “Whoever was clawing at it did it right here—there are still a few strings of the fabric under the sofa.” She looked at Michael. “Rags.” Putting her hands up to her mouth, she said, “Do you think he…oh, my gosh, could he have pulled that open before we set it out for trash pickup?”
Michael sat down with the infant. “You know, Rags is attracted to glue. We have to wrestle packages away from him when we get something from UPS with tape on it or a glued flap. It’s like catnip to him. So he might have been trying to get at the glued area there.”
“And maybe the envelope slipped out once it was in the garbage truck or when it got to the dump,” Craig said.
“Or…” Savannah said, raising her eyebrows. “Rags!” she called, heading toward the stairway where she’d seen him last. “I see you up on the landing, Rags. Where’s that paper you had a while ago?”
“Oh, my gosh,” Leah said. “Do you think the cat took the note and the key?” She glanced at the baby in Michael’s arms and rushed after Savannah. “Has it been in the house all this time?”
She and Savannah disappeared into the room where Rags typically hid his treasures. When they returned, Savannah said, “We can’t find it anywhere, darn him.”
“Well, it’s pretty important that you do, Savannah. Think about where he usually hides things,” the detective instructed.
“Craig, that’s what we’ve been doing,” she said impatiently. “Give us some time and we’ll do a more thorough search. Knowing him, it could be just about anywhere.”
Suddenly, Savannah stiffened. “Wait, Charlotte brought me an envelope she found in his stash last week when she was here. I didn’t recognize it, so I just dropped it in the trash basket in the office. Let me see if it’s still there.”
“Yes, that’s the envelope,” Leah said when Savannah returned with it. “Oh, my gosh, it’s here somewhere!” She pointed. “Look, the envelope is torn like the paper Rags had, don’t you think so?” She shouted, “The key! The key must be here, too! Is it in the envelope?”
Once the women determined the envelope was empty, Michael shook his head, saying in disbelief, “So the key that Harrison got assaulted over and his friend died over was here all the time?”
“Looks that way, Michael,” Craig said. Under his breath, he added, “Which means the danger probably isn’t over.” He peered at Leah.
“You have Pono and Ano in jail, don’t you?” she asked.
He nodded. “But we haven’t found this Lani that you mentioned. Word on the street is that she could be on her way here.”
“Oh no,” Savannah said, clutching her hands to her chest.
Leah slumped, tears edging from under her eyelids. She walked over and took Charlie from Michael and held him close.
“What do you suggest we do, Craig?” Michael asked.
“Find what was in that envelope,” he demanded. He rubbed his chin in contemplation. “I’ll put it out on the street that there’s an exchange taking place with a key from Honolulu and hope that Lani and her people get the memo.”
“Then what?” Savannah asked.
“It’s a sting,” Craig explained. “We want to lure them into a trap.”
“What if they don’t get the memo?” Savannah asked.
He looked at her, then Michael. “They’ll probably come here or go to Colbi’s looking for it.”
“So you think they know where Leah and Harrison are?”
“I’m absolutely sure of it. These people are privy to a pipeline that you wouldn’t believe. That’s why I’m going to suggest you all go over to your aunt’s this evening. Do you think they’d let you have a sleepover?”
Savannah nodded. “What about Colbi, Damon…”
“And Harrison,” Leah added, her voice higher-pitched than normal.
“They’ll be at my house with Iris and a couple of deputies.” He grinned. “We have you covered. Now let’s see if we can find that key and the document, then I want you to skedaddle. Got it?”
Savannah and Leah nodded rather mechanically while Michael walked around checking all the doors and windows and setting the alarm. “I’ll call Maggie and Max,” he said.
In the meantime, Leah laid the baby down on the sofa and she, Savannah, and Craig began searching through the house, scouring the kitchen and service porch, including the litter-boxes, searching item-by-item in Rags’s stash, poring through trash baskets and under furniture, until Leah shouted, “I found something! I think this is part of it!”
“Where?” Craig said.
“In Lily’s toy box—it had slipped down along one side of
it. It’s just a scrap. But it looks like part of the address.”
Craig took the slip of paper and examined it, then called, “Find anything in his closet, Savannah?”
Her voice was muffled. “No. I’m checking the rest of the room.”
“Don’t forget to look under the blankets!” Michael shouted.
“Oh yeah,” she said.
“Under the blankets?” Craig asked.
“Yes, he used to hide things in our bed, if you can imagine, and in our shoes, too.”
“Shoes,” Leah said. “Okay if I check your closet?” she asked.
“Go for it, hon,” Michael said. “Good idea.”
“Bingo!” they heard Savannah shout after a few minutes.
“Did you find it?”
“Well, I think I found another piece of it,” she said, rushing toward Craig.
He took both pieces and laid them side by side on the dining room table. “Yup. Another piece to the puzzle.”
“Buffy’s bed!” Savannah said, heading for the pink canopy bed. “Excuse me, queen bee,” she said, lifting the fluffy cat. After feeling inside the bed, picking it up and shaking it, she decided there was no foreign matter there. Next she walked toward Walter as he lay partially hidden under a maroon throw on a chair in the living room. “Sorry, Walter,” she said, nudging him from his perch and examining the chair and the blanket. “Nothing.” She moved toward the dog’s bed in the kitchen. “You’re next, Lexie.” As she stepped closer, Lexie leaped from her bed and Savannah picked it up. When she did so, a piece of paper floated from it, landing at her feet. “Here’s another piece,” she said, taking it to Craig.
“It looks like there’s one section missing,” he said. “We have only part of what appears to be contact information for Lani.” He glanced around at everyone. “The key. We need to find that key.”
Just then Savannah’s eyes widened. She rushed into the living room and gave the sofa a shove. Dropping to her knees, she lifted the edge of the large area rug and shouted, “Here it is! I found the key!” Standing, she said, “Rags likes to push things under the rugs, then dig them out and play with them. It looks like he found the key, played with it for a while, and left it under there.”
