by Patricia Fry
Melanie patted Savannah's arm. "You guys come to LA next time."
"I'll consider that an invitation," Michael quipped.
When Jake began fidgeting in his chair, Jimmy asked, "What's wrong with you?" He laughed. "You're ready to go home now, aren't you? Do you have a hot date tomorrow?"
"Go or stay, either one's fine with me," Jake said. "Just tell me your plans so I can make mine."
"Okay, be ready to leave by eight tomorrow morning. Can you do that?" Jimmy asked.
"Sure," Jake said, "I'll go get my stuff together." He walked quickly through the door and disappeared into the house.
"He sure doesn't sit still for long," Blake noted.
"Yeah, how many times this weekend did he take off out into those trees?" Belinda asked. "What was that about?"
"And he has to start now getting ready to leave by eight tomorrow?" Roxy said. "What does he have to get ready?"
"Yeah," Melanie laughed, "and he didn't even finish his hamburger."
"Great burgers, by the way," Blake praised. "They had a lot of flavor."
"Compliments go to the groom," Michael said. "He's the one who seasoned them and kept an eye on them while we had that horseshoe playoff game."
Everyone saluted and celebrated Bud.
Ron asked, "Bud, were the beans your creation too?"
He shook his head. "No, Max is the true chef among us."
"Max," Roxy said, "they were amazing. Do you give out your recipes?"
Margaret laughed. "He probably wouldn't know how to follow one if he had one."
"No kidding," Rose said. "So, Max, do you memorize the ingredients and measurements, or do you make it different every time?"
Max chuckled. "A little of both." He winked at Roxy. "Glad you liked this rendition."
Minutes later, Michael asked, "Adam, where are you boys going?"
"Joshua and I want to play catch. We're going to get my mitts."
Michael frowned. "Well you'd better get a move on. You don't have much daylight left. I don't want anyone getting hit with a ball."
"Sure," Adam said, walking into the house with Joshua. He returned quickly and reported, "Rags is really—what do you call it—like nervous or something."
Savannah chuckled. "Antsy?
"Yes," Adam said, "and squirmy and maybe even mad."
"Mad?" Michael repeated, laughing. "What does he have to be mad about?"
"Cause he's in that cage," Joshua said.
"Yeah," Adam agreed. "He wants out. Can I let him out?"
Savannah took a deep breath. "I guess so. Put his harness on him and bring him out here, will you?"
"Okay. Come on, Joshua."
Minutes later, Adam returned to the deck. "Excuse me," he said, interrupting a conversation between Savannah and Margaret. "Rags won't come to me. He ran upstairs."
"That's okay," Savannah said. "I'll watch for him. If he comes out here, I'll see him. You go ahead and play."
"But Savannah, I think something's wrong," Adam said. "Rags acts like he wants me to come with him up the stairs."
Michael chuckled. "That's okay. Go ahead if you want to."
Fidgeting, Adam said more quietly, "I think he went in Jake's room."
"Oh," Michael said. "Well, knock on the door and ask him to let you get the cat."
"But, Dad, I think something's wrong. It's the way Rags is acting."
Michael squeezed his son's shoulder and stood up. "Okay, I'll go with you," he said, taking long strides into the house and up the staircase.
When Michael returned, Savannah asked, "So what's going on?"
"Well, Rags had gone into Jake's room and Jake closed the door. I guess he didn't know the cat was in there. Rags is helping Adam and Joshua get the ball equipment now." He chuckled. "By the time they get out here it will be too dark to play." Just then, Jake rejoined them on the deck. Michael said, "Oh, you're back. All packed and ready to go?"
Jake glared at Michael. "I'm just a joke to you, aren't I, high-and-mighty, Michael?"
"What?" Michael questioned. "Where did that come from?"
Jake huffed, walked off the porch, and disappeared into the stand of trees.
"Where's he going?" Savannah asked. She chuckled. "It's really dark in that dense grove."
"Who knows where he goes and why?" Jimmy said. "He hears a very different drumbeat than most people do."
"Like Rags does," Savannah said under her breath.
"Dad," Adam said, bursting through the kitchen door.
"Adam, manners," Michael corrected.
"Dad, I don't have time for that. Come quick! Rags found something burning and I think it's…"
"…going to explode," Joshua blurted.
"What?" Michael barked.
"We put it out," Adam said. "Rags found it. He got away from us and ran upstairs acting all crazy. We smelled something and Joshua opened Jake's bedroom door—you know, to my old room, and…"
"Yeah," Joshua continued, "we think it was started with gasoline and some kind of powder…"
"One curtain was all twisted up and on fire, and…"
"Good lord," Michael said. When he saw that the others probably hadn't heard his conversation with the boys, he stood up and darted into the house.
"We put out the fire," Adam called after him as he and Joshua followed.
"Where's Rags?" Michael asked, yanking the baby gate back and running up the stairs.
"I brought him out of the room and closed the door," Adam said. "I don't know where he went."
Michael stormed into the room at the top of the stairs and looked around. He pulled the charred curtain off the rod and tossed it aside, away from the gasoline-soaked bedding. "Damn him," Michael snarled.
"Is it going to explode, Mr. Michael?" Joshua asked, standing at the doorway to Jake's room.
Just then, Adam called, "Dad, come quick."
"What?" Michael said, running into the hallway.
"In here!" Adam shouted. "Rags wanted to go in this room, so I opened the door and…
"More fire!" Joshua screamed.
Michael ran into the room, pulled the quilt off the bed, and threw it over a smoldering piece of clothing. "Roxy's dress," he said under his breath. He stomped on the quilt, checked to make sure the fire was out, then opened the window in that room and in Jake's room. "Check Grammy's room!" he shouted, running into the bathroom. He opened the linen closet and drawers to make sure nothing else was burning.
"No fire in Grammy's room," Adam reported.
"Let's look around downstairs!" Michael called, hastening his pace. "You boys go scout around in the kitchen and service porch." He ran through the living room into the hallway and the master bedroom. When he returned to the kitchen, he said, "Everything seems to be okay down here." He clenched his teeth. "Wait until I get my hands on that…"
"Where's Rags?" Adam asked, glancing around.
"Did he go outside? Look out on the deck." Michael instructed.
"Not there," Adam said moments later. "Savannah said he didn't come out."
Michael clenched his jaw. "I'd better go make sure he's not…" he started, running back up the stairs. Adam and Joshua followed, trying to keep up. Michael opened the door to Jake's room again and called for the cat. When there was no response, he went across the hall and opened the door to Roxy's and Blake's room.
Adam pushed Gladys's bedroom door open and looked around inside. "He's not up here. He must be downstairs somewhere. "Raaags!" the boy called, trotting down the stairs.
Michael stood in the hallway looking from one door to the other, then he walked toward the bathroom again. "Rags!" he called. "Where are you? Rags!" He looked around in the bathroom, then walked back into the hall and toward the staircase, when he heard something. He listened. It's coming from the linen closet. Did I close him in there? he thought. He pulled open the closet and there among the towels and sheets sat Rags. "How'd you get in there?" he asked. "Come on boy," he urged. "Come on," he repeated. When Rags simply stared
out at him, he said, "Rags, I don't have time for your tomfoolery." He reached for the cat. "Come on now."
"You found him?" Adam asked, running down the hallway toward his father. "What's he doing in there?"
"Darned if I know," Michael said, lifting the cat from amidst the linens.
Michael started to close the closet door when Joshua said, "Wait." He moved forward and reached into the closet. "What's this? I think the cat was sitting on it."
"No!" Michael shouted, before the boy could get his hands on it.
Joshua jumped back as if he'd been shocked.
"What is that, Dad?" Adam asked, wide-eyed.
More quietly, Michael said, "It looks like it could be some sort of explosive device." He raised his voice and demanded, "You two get out of here!" When the boys hesitated, he shouted, "Go!" He then added, "Wait." He pushed Rags into Adam's arms. "Now go!"
Chapter Five
Moments later Michael returned to the deck. He bellowed, "Where's Jake?" When no one spoke, he shouted again, "Where is he?"
"I don't know," Jimmy said. "I saw him go into those trees a while ago."
"He hasn't come back?" Michael asked.
"No," Jimmy said. "Why, Michael? What's wrong?"
"I don't have time to explain." He raised his voice. "Listen, I want all of you to grab your chairs and take them out there near Jimmy's RV." When they hesitated, he yelled, "Now! I'll explain later. Just do it." He picked up Rose's and Gladys's chairs. "Go, ladies. I'm right behind you." Once he had them settled, he returned to help Ron with Melanie, who was still hobbling on her injured foot. He glanced around and saw that Savannah had both of their children already settled, so he scooped up Belle and ran with her to where the others were gathering. "The cats," he muttered, running back to the house. He soon returned with Glori and Buffy.
When Jimmy saw Michael struggling to carry the large pen, he rushed to help. "Now will you tell us what this is all about?" Jimmy asked, once they'd placed the pen out near where the others sat.
"Yeah," Blake said, holding tightly to Nate, "what's going on?"
Michael looked around at the group. "Is everyone here?"
"Everyone except my brother," Jimmy said. "God knows where he is." He lurched forward. "Michael is he all right? He hasn't hurt himself or anything, has he?" He started to head for the house.
"No, Jimmy. He's not in the house," Michael said.
"Yeah, I saw him go into those trees a while ago," Roxy said. "Should someone go get him?"
Michael thought about her suggestion, then said, "Naw. He's okay. What I want to tell you is that the boys found…"
"It was Rags, Dad," Adam said. "Rags found it."
"What?" Blake asked.
"Well, someone…" Disgustedly, he said, "It was probably Jake…"
"What did he do, Michael?" Jimmy asked. "Tell me, and I'll…"
Before Jimmy could continue, Michael said, "He started some fires in the house."
"What?" several people exclaimed.
Ron stood up. "Did you put them out?"
Michael nodded.
"Then what are we doing out here if the fire's out?" Blake insisted.
"Yeah," Belinda said, chuckling. "That's kind of silly, isn't it?"
Michael cleared his throat and started to speak when Max said, "The cops are here, and the fire department."
Blake stood up. "Are you sure the fire's out?"
"Michael," Margaret screeched, "What's going on?"
He cringed. "I think he left an explosive device behind."
Max lurched forward. "In the house? What makes you think so? Can't we put it in water or something?"
Several others spoke at once as Michael tried to answer. He glanced toward the emergency vehicles and said, "I'd better go answer their questions first."
"I'm going with you," Max said, walking hurriedly to keep up.
After Michael explained to the sheriff's deputy what he had found, the emergency crew gathered to discuss their strategy. That's when Michael saw a familiar face appear. "Craig," he said, "what brings you out?"
"Your call," the detective responded. "So what's going on? You say you found a bomb?"
"I don't know if you'd call it a bomb," Michael said, "but it appears to be some sort of explosive device." He swallowed hard. "Actually, Rags led us to the fires and the device. Otherwise…" he looked around nervously, "…well, who knows what would have happened."
"Fires?" Craig questioned. "More than one?"
Michael nodded. "I put out two gasoline fires upstairs just now." Quietly, he added, "It looked to me as though there was some gunpowder scattered across the area, too."
"Well, that's not good," Craig said.
"No, it's sure not, dammit." Michael growled.
Craig grinned. "So you say the cat found it?"
Michael nodded.
Craig asked, "Did he tell you who did this?"
Michael let out a deep sigh. "I'm pretty sure it was Savannah's cousin Jake." He looked back at the rest of the family, who were huddled near Jimmy's RV, and explained, "Jake stormed out of the house earlier and headed into those trees. We haven't seen him since. He's kind of an odd guy."
"Yeah, I caught onto that watching him at the wedding," Craig said.
"You were watching him?" Max asked.
Craig grinned. "Yeah, I watch people. It's what I do—you know, size them up and all—look for the criminal profile." He grimaced. "I saw the possibility of a criminal profile with that guy. He's troubled. I could tell that. It occurred to me that he could be a time-bomb ready to explode. He seemed very uncomfortable at the wedding. He's kind of a misfit, isn't he?"
Michael nodded. "But I don't remember him being this distant and difficult and on the defensive when I've seen him in the past. It hasn't been pleasant having him around this time."
Craig asked, "So everyone's over there behind that RV?"
Michael nodded.
"Okay. The bomb squad is preparing now to go inside. You've done the right thing by moving everyone away from the house. Go on now and join them. Let us do our job."
Reluctantly, Michael walked back to where the others waited. Max followed.
"My God," Margaret said, grabbing Max's arm when he lowered himself into the chair next to her. "What if it catches our place on fire when it explodes? The cats? We need to evacuate the cats."
Max put his arm around her and rubbed her shoulder. "It's going to be okay, Maggie. The bomb squad is getting ready to go in. Michael said it's a small thing. Probably wouldn't do much damage if it were to go off." He added. "If it starts a fire, the fire department's here."
Roxy began to cry.
"What's wrong, Mommy?" Nate asked.
"Nothing," Rose said, in an attempt to calm the child. "Mommy's okay, sweetie." She said to Roxy, "I'm sure this is all just a big mistake."
"What if it's not? What if someone really is trying to blow us up?" Melanie screeched.
Michael looked at Savannah, who had both of their children in her lap. He could see the fear in her eyes when she asked, "How big is the…um…what you found?"
"Small. Really small." When he saw her pull her phone out, he asked, "Who are you calling?"
"Craig, who else?"
"He's here," Michael said.
"Who's Craig?" Belinda asked, her arms wrapped tightly around Belle.
"Iris's husband," Savannah said. "You met him at the wedding."
"Is he some sort of super hero or something?" Ron asked. "What's he going to do?"
"He's a detective," Savannah explained. She sighed. "Good, I'm glad he's here."
"Jimmy, I think we should go home," Belinda said.
Roxy stood up. "Yes, Blake, I want to go now."
"Just settle down, everyone," Michael instructed. "What we don't need is panic." He looked toward the trees. "What I want to do now is find Jake."
"Do you think he had something to do with this?" Jimmy asked.
Michael stared at him for a minute. "That's w
hat I want to ask him."
Jimmy fidgeted in his chair, then stood up. "Well, as long as we have to sit out here, let me bring out some lanterns. It's getting darker by the minute."
"Good idea," Michael agreed, also standing up. He walked with Jimmy toward the door of the RV. "Can I borrow a flashlight? I'm going to see if I can find your brother."
"I'll go with you," Bud said. When Bri tried to stop him, he assured her, "We'll be back in a jiff." He kissed her and walked away with Michael. The two men returned a short time later with Jake.
Even in the glow of the lanterns, Jimmy could see the anger in Michael's face and he observed Jake's unruly manner. "What's going on?" he insisted.
"I think your brother has something to say. Then—well, we can take a vote on this, but I think we need to talk to the sheriff."
"Why, for cripe's sake?" Jimmy shouted.
Michael grimaced. "You all know about the supposed accidents we've had around here—some of them potentially dangerous." When no one spoke, he continued, "Jimmy, you lost the power to your RV, Mel and Gladys fell, there was a snake in Brianna's bouquet, the horses got loose…"
"That was Jake?" Belinda screeched.
"Really?" Rose said, frowning. "Jake, what's wrong with you? Your dad raised you better than that."
"Don't preach that garbage to me about my good-for-nothing father!" Jake screamed. "I'm so sick of everyone thinking he was such an ideal role model, a hard worker," he mimicked, "an upstanding member of the church. That's crap. He sure didn't have any warm fuzzies or even time for me when I needed it."
"That's not true," Jimmy said. "Why, Dad…" he started.
"You have your reality, Jimmy, and I have mine," Jake snarled
"So you did all those things trying to hurt us?" Savannah asked quietly. "You must have animosity toward us too. Why, Jake?"
He sneered. "You can't prove I did any of that stuff. It all seemed like accidents to me. He glared at Savannah. "But do I have animosity? You better believe I do. Toward all of you. You, Vannie—goodie—two—shoes with the perfect husband, perfect children, perfect home, living your own life without any thought for me. And you three aunts, what did you ever do to help me when I needed it?"
