by Patricia Fry
“We don’t know,” Adam said. “All Rags wanted to do was roll around in the weeds. He wouldn’t show us where he got the stuff from.”
“He caught a grasshopper,” Kira said. “We made him turn it loose.”
Adam chuckled. “Yeah, but he caught it again, so we took it away from him again and let it go way out in the orchard. I guess he was hungry, because all he wanted was that grasshopper.” Adam picked up the cat and carried him to his kibbles bowl. “Here, Rags, eat your cat food.” The boy watched as the cat lapped up some of the water and ambled off to parts unknown.
“I don’t think he was hungry. That’s not why he wanted that grasshopper,” Michael said. “He just likes to hunt.”
Savannah chuckled. “Yeah, he probably wanted to bring it in and put it in his stash.”“Have you looked in his stash lately?” Michael asked her.
When Savannah shook her head, Adam turned to Kira. “Hey, let’s go look and see what he’s been stealing, okay?”
“Whoa,” Savannah said. “How about eating dinner first? Go wash up, you two.”
“Okay,” Adam said. “Come on, Kira.”
****
An hour later, the two ten-year-olds trotted down the wide stairs toward the living room, each carrying an armload of contraband from Rags’s stash. “Look at this, Savannah,” Adam called as he bounded down the last few step, “look at what we found this time.”
They emptied their arms on top of the ottoman and Kira began naming the items. “An icky old tea bag, the baby’s tiny stuffed doggie…”
Savannah picked up the toy. “Oh, the one Colbi and Damon gave him.” She gazed at the cat, who was overseeing the unveiling of his treasures. “Darn it, Rags.”
“Look at this,” Adam said, “a shaving razor! He could have got cut, huh, Dad?”
Michael looked up from his newspaper. “Yeah, that’s not something you’d give to a cat or a dog.”
“He even took some of my toys, Dad, and the directions for playing one of my board games.”
Kira pointed. “I think this is a packet of medicine.”
While Savannah and Michael shook their heads in disgust, Gladys began to laugh. When she saw Savannah looking at her, she tried to stifle her mirth, only to burst out laughing again when Adam held up a fistful of dollar bills. He pulled another item out of the pile. “...and here’s a little purse with some earrings in it and a ring,” he said.
Suddenly, Gladys became sober. “Wait!” she shouted. “Let me see that pouch.” When Adam handed it to her, she held it against her chest and groused, “Well, that little thief. I wondered where this disappeared to. You can’t trust that cat at all, can you?”
Savannah snickered. “Not so funny when he takes your stuff, is it, Mom?”
Gladys simply flashed a quick look at Savannah, then began looking through the items more carefully.
“So did you find anything in there with a price tag on it?” Michael asked.
Adam shook his head. “No.”
“Just the usual, huh?” Savannah said. “…with the exception of the razor. That’s scary.” She picked it up and noticed, “The plastic guard’s in place.”
“But still,” Michael said, “we need to keep those out of his reach.”
“And where would that be?” Savannah challenged. “In a drawer or closet with a lock on it, in a room with a lock on the door, and maybe bars…and…and…spikes on the floor so he can’t walk close to it?”
Michael laughed. “You mean booby-trap it? Yeah, that ought to work.”
“Come on, Kira, let’s go booby-trap my room so Rags can’t get my toys anymore,” Adam suggested.
Savannah and Michael grinned at one another and he said, “That ought to keep them busy until I’ve finished reading my paper.”
But before he could pick up the daily news again, Lily approached him. “Daddy, play Little People cows.”
“Huh?”
“Maggie brought her a new Little People farm set,” Gladys said. “She loves giving the animals a ride on the tractor.” She stood up. “Michael, while you’re playing with her, I’m going upstairs to take a hot, relaxing bath.”
He looked at Savannah, who quickly stood and said, “I’d better pay the bills while I have the chance.”
Michael walked to the nearest intercom. “Adam, your sister wants to play…”
Adam cut in. “We’re working on our booby trap, Dad. I’ll play with her after that.”
“Okay,” Michael said, dropping his paper on the coffee table and mumbling, “I may get a chance to catch up on the news someday. The news will be old by then. I’ll be the only guy who doesn’t know what’s going on in the world…”
“Poor baby,” Savannah said, patting his face as she walked toward the office with her checkbook.
“Daddy play Little People?” Lily chirped excitedly.
He smiled at her. “Daddy would love to play Little People. Can I drive the tractor?”
“No!” she insisted. “Me! I drive tractor.” She looked around her play area, finally saying, “You feed the cows and pigs.”
Upon hearing that, both Savannah and Gladys, who was halfway up the staircase, burst out laughing.
Chapter 7
Sunday after church, the usual group began arriving at the Ivey home eager to feast on a plate of Max’s lasagna, Maggie’s chopped veggie salad with her homemade green goddess dressing, and Gladys’s trifle, for which she used strawberries from Antonio’s garden.
This time, along with the regulars Savannah and Michael had invited Bud’s parents, Edith and Gunther Bogart, and his grandmother, who liked to be called Oma.
“So what do you think about the news?” Michael asked them when they arrived.
“News?” Gunther asked.
When Michael looked askance, thinking maybe he had spoken out of turn, Oma said, “Oh, you mean the betrothal of our Bud and Brianna? We are most pleased.” She turned to her daughter and son-in-law. “Aren’t we?”
“Oh yes,” Edith said, smiling widely. “Finally, Bud will take a bride.”
“And a gem of a bride, at that,” Gunther said, winking. “Prize stock, if you ask me.”
As the Iveys ushered the group in, Gladys appeared from the kitchen. “Mom,” Savannah said, “I’d like you to meet Bud’s family, Edith and Gunther Bogart and his grandmother, Oma.” Savannah put one arm around Gladys. “This is my mother—and Brianna’s—Gladys Jordan.”
As the Bogarts and Gladys gushed over their joy at the pending marriage, Savannah’s attention was drawn to the next group of guests to arrive. “Colbi! Damon!” she called out, rushing to greet them as they stepped into the living room. Savannah hugged Colbi and gave Damon a peck on the cheek, then looked into the face of the baby he carried in his arms. “Oh, look at you,” Savannah cooed. “You’re a big girl now.” She smiled at the proud parents. “She’s beautiful. Hey, she does have red hair—red curly hair.”
“Who has red hair?” Michael asked, joining them.
“Look at Rosemary, Michael. Look how much she’s grown. Isn’t she gorgeous?”
“Yup,” Margaret said, as she came out of the kitchen, “our miniature Maureen O’Hara.”
Everyone laughed.
“I think it’s nice enough to eat outside. We’ve put up some umbrellas for shade,” Savannah said.
Colbi peered out a window. “Nice. Looks so inviting.”
“Do you want me to bring the playpen out for Rosemary?” Michael asked.
“No,” Iris said, reaching for the baby. “I’ll be holding her. Come to Grandma, little darling.”
“Iris,” Michael said in a serious tone, “how do you expect that child to learn to crawl or walk?”
“Yeah,” Damon said, “that could be a problem with those two around.”
“Those two?” Savannah asked.
He pointed at Craig. “He’s as bad as she is. They’re always fighting over who’s going to hold the baby.”
Colbi laughed. “Well, she’s starting to crawl, so we’ve managed to get her over that hurdle.”
Once everyone was seated outside and dinner was being served, Michael noticed Rags milling around the tables. “Adam, let’s put Rags in the house while we’re eating, okay?”
“Awww, Dad. He gets lonely in there.”
Michael spoke more sternly. “Put him back. You can go get him when we’re finished eating.”
“Okay,” the boy agreed. “Come on, Kira.”
When the children returned, Adam saw Lexie lying near Michael’s feet. “Hey Dad, why does Lexie get to stay out here while we eat and not Rags?”
“Because Lexie knows how to behave, that’s why.” He grinned at his son. “Now eat your meal.”
Colbi put her hand on Brianna’s arm. “So glad to see that you’re safe and looking well. What an ordeal you went through.”
“Yeah, it was no bed of roses. I was pretty scared. You just never know what it’s like to be a prisoner until it happens to you.”
Colbi choked up. “I know.”
Brianna looked at her and spoke more softly, “Oh yes, I’d forgotten about your nightmare. You were almost burned to death in that awful Internet scam situation you’d been reporting on.”
“You were?” Adam asked, wide-eyed.
Not wanting to alarm the children, Colbi smiled and said, “Yeah, and your cat saved me.”
“My cat?”
“Rags. He told Savannah where I was and Craig and Damon came to my rescue just in time.”
“Rags did that?” Kira asked.
“He had a…um paw in saving me too,” Brianna said.
“He did?” Adam asked. “I knew he was special, but I didn’t know he was that special.” He said under his breath, “A cat that special should be able to come outside with his family while we’re eating dinner.”
Michael grinned at his son.
Once dinner was over, the table had been cleared, and the adults were visiting and playing with the small children, Adam and Kira put Rags’s harness on him and brought him back outside.
Michael petted Rags as the cat walked past him on the end of the leash. “Hey, Adam, why don’t you see if he’ll show you where he found all that stuff? Maybe he’ll cooperate today.”
Craig laughed. “What stuff, Michael?”
“Oh, the kids came in a couple of days ago with a wallet, cigarette lighter, and some other stuff they say Rags brought to them when they were playing out here. They didn’t see where he got it from.”
“A wallet? Anything in it?” Craig asked.
“No, it was all new stuff,” Michael explained. “The price tags were still on everything.”
Craig cocked his head with interest. “Really?” He watched the kids and the cat in the distance for a while, then excused himself and wandered out to join them. “So you think he found that stuff out here, do you?”
“Hi, Mr. Detective,” Kira said. “Yes, we had him on the long leash and he could go pretty far while we were playing in the fort.”
“So we don’t know where he found it.” Adam waved his arms. “It could be anywhere around here.” He spoke to the cat. “Come on, Rags, show Mr. Detective where you found that stuff.”
“Maybe you’ve found it all,” Craig suggested.
“Do you think so?” Kira asked.
“Naw. There’s gotta be more stuff,” Adam said. “We haven’t looked everywhere yet. It might be farther out in the orchard or close to that old tree stump.”
“Who wants strawberry trifle?” Gladys called loudly enough for the children and Craig to hear.
“I do!” Adam shouted.
“Me too,” Kira said.
Adam looked at Craig. “What’s a trifle?”
“I’m not sure, but it has strawberries and I think cake and whipped cream.”
“Yum!” Adam said, rushing with Rags’s leash in his hand toward the picnic tables. “Yikes!” he complained when he stumbled and fell. “Rags!” he scolded.
“What happened?” Craig asked, chuckling.
“He stopped fast and made me trip.” Adam looked at the cat. “Hey, what’s he doing?” He pointed. “Is that the stash?” He stood up and rushed toward Rags. “Wow! Here it is. This must be where he got all that stuff. Look, there’s more in there.”
Craig leaned over next to the children and peered into the space. “It’s a burrow—for some sort of wild animal.” He moved closer and muttered, “Holy moly. Adam, want to get a bag from the house to put all this stuff in?”
“You’re going to take it?” he asked. “What if it belongs to someone?”
“It belongs to you and your folks now—it’s on your property. That is, unless it’s stolen; then it belongs to the store where it came from,” Craig explained.
“Okay, I’ll get a bag,” Adam said. He ran to where Savannah stood holding Teddy. “Savannah, we need a bag…or a box, maybe.”
She raised her eyebrows. “Oh, so you found something else?”
He nodded and gulped, trying to catch his breath. “Yes—a lot of it.”
“In the pantry, Adam,” she said. “On the door.”
Once he’d found a bag, he ran back to where Craig, Kira, and Rags waited. Lexie trotted after him. When the explorers returned, Adam said to those who had noticed, “Boy, did we find a lot of stuff. Mr. Detective says it’s probably from a…” he looked at Craig, “…what kind of ring?”
“Shoplifting ring,” Kira said.
“What kind of stuff?” Iris asked.
“Here, let’s dump it out on the table and…” Adam started.
“No, you don’t,” Gladys said as she approached carrying the dessert.
“But Grammy,” he protested.
“After we have our dessert, buddy,” Michael said gently. He motioned. “Just put the bag right here; we’ll look at what you found when we finish eating.”
“Wait, wait, wait,” Adam complained, under his breath. “I spend my whole life waiting.”
Those who heard his comment chuckled quietly.
Craig playfully slapped Adam on the back and said, “Welcome to the real world, kid.”
****
“Good lord,” Michael said once the table was cleared and Adam and Kira had spread the items from the paper bag over the top of it. “You found all of this in our yard?”
“Leave it to the Iveys to get caught up in the community’s crime scene,” Craig said, chuckling. “…and that cat of yours.”
Iris patted her husband on the back. “You should be glad Rags is such a big help with your job.”
Michael laughed. “Craig’s probably upset because the cat beat him to the clues. Rags solves more cases than they do down at the station, doesn’t he?”
“Well, I wouldn’t say that,” Craig huffed good-naturedly.
“Just look at this stuff,” Iris said, picking through it. “Wow! This necklace looks expensive.” She held it up against her chest, then looped it over her hand to give it a closer look. “Where did you say you found it?”
“In a burrow,” Kira said.
“A burrow?”
“Yes, for a rabbit, right Mr. Detective?”
“Or a fox or a badger,” Craig said. “It’s carefully tucked between that big old pepper tree and the wooden box where the irrigation controls are.”
“Then it was pretty well-hidden,” Savannah said. “We don’t use those controls anymore.”
Craig rubbed his chin. “Peculiar. That’s all I can say—peculiar.” He turned to Savannah. “Hey, is that raven still around—the one that was taking your things?”
“Not that I know of. But Craig, he certainly wouldn’t be flying into stores downtown and bringing back stuff like this.”
Iris laughed. “Yeah, just imagine a crow flying across town with this big toy truck in his mouth or that thong underwear.”
“Or that box with the necklace in it,” Kira said.
&nbs
p; Craig thinned his lips and scratched his head. “Puzzling. Mighty puzzling.” He took a deep breath. “Well, I’d better take these things downtown.”
“Has anyone reported anything missing?” Gladys asked.
“Some of it, yes. I just checked and the more expensive items have been reported—the pearl necklace and this bracelet, for example. I’m sure some of the other items haven’t been missed yet.” He stared down at the contraband. “Now, to find out who has access to that burrow and who’s been hiding stolen property there.”
“Hey,” Adam said, “Kira and I can sleep in my fort tonight and watch for the crook to return.”
“Yeah,” Kira said, wide-eyed.
Michael tilted his head. “Oh, I don’t know about that. I think the closest I’ll let you two to the loot burrow after dark is your bedroom windows.”
“Huh?”
“You can look out your windows and wake me up if you see anything.”
“Okay, we can do that, right, Kira?”
“Kira,” Savannah said, “I think your mom and dad are picking you up this afternoon.”
“Oh,” she said, frowning. “I forgot.”
“Call and see if you can stay just one more night,” Adam suggested eagerly. He looked at Savannah, then Michael. “It’s okay, isn’t it?”
“It’s okay with us,” Savannah said, “but I’m sure her folks would like to have her home.”
“Just one more night. We need to watch for that crook. Kira, call your mom and tell her it’s important,” Adam instructed.
“Okay,” Kira said. She asked Savannah, “Can I use your phone, please?”
Savannah handed it to her.
“Mom says it’s okay,” Kira reported minutes later. She frowned. “But she’s going to pick me up at eight tomorrow morning. I have to be ready.”
“Yay!” Adam cheered. He then said, “Hey Kira, we could set a trap. You know—string a rope across the yard so he falls in our fort or put a bucket of water up in a tree so it pours on him when he goes near the burrow.”
