by Patricia Fry
“Gads,” Savannah said. “What’s he accused of?”
“That, I don’t know yet. I just feel so out of the loop and helpless. He probably needs help, and I’m unable to do anything because I don’t know anything.”
“Mom,” Savannah said gently, “why don’t you ask Craig if he can shed some light on the situation? Although…”
“Although what?” she asked.
“Well…”
Gladys frowned at her daughter. “Vannie, are you thinking that Karl might actually be guilty of whatever it is he’s been arrested for? Is that what you’re afraid of—that Craig might tell me something I don’t want to hear?” She looked sternly at Savannah. “That can’t be the case. That won’t happen. Karl has done nothing wrong, I’m sure of it. I know the man and…”
“Mom,” Savannah said pleadingly.
“No,” Gladys insisted. “I won’t even consider it.” She stood up. “Yes, I’d like to speak with Craig to find out if he knows anything or if he can find out anything.” She walked toward the door, turned, and asked curtly, “Coming?”
“Yes,” Savannah said, catching up to her mother. The two of them approached Craig as he sat allowing Rosemary and Teddy to run small toy trucks across his feet and up his legs. “Hey, Craig,” Savannah said, “can we talk to you?” She chuckled, “Oh, excuse me. I didn’t know you were doubling as a highway, or are you a parking garage?”
“I’m not sure,” he said, “I hope they don’t ruin my shine.”
“Your shine?” Savannah repeated. “Craig, you’re wearing sport shoes.”
He looked down. “Oh, yeah.” He stood up and led the women away from the play area. “What can I help you two with?” He squinted at Savannah. “You aren’t missing another cat, are you, or dog or horse?”
Gladys looked at Savannah, who asked, “Do you want me to leave?”
“No. Please stay,” Gladys said, grasping Savannah’s arm.
Craig looked from Gladys to Savannah. “What is it?”
“Well, it seems that Karl has been arrested,” Gladys said quietly, “and I’m a little worried.”
“Why?” Craig asked. “I mean, why was he arrested?”
“I don’t know. That’s why I’m worried. I understand it’s a case of mistaken identity, but he’s still in custody as far as I know.” She huffed. “I guess part of it is the not knowing. I need to know he’s okay.” She looked at Craig. “Could you possibly find out what’s going on?”
“Where was he arrested, Gladys?” Craig asked.
“I think the sheriff came to his home here in Hammond. His daughter texted me. She doesn’t know much about this either, but Karl evidently asked her to tell me he wouldn’t make it over here until maybe later. Craig, can you find out anything more?”
“Well, Gladys,” Craig said, “even if I can shed some light on what’s going on, I’m not sure I’d be able to talk to you about it. I mean, if you were his wife…”
“Oh.” She frowned. “Yeah, that makes sense, I guess. I hadn’t thought about that. It’s an awkward place to be—so close, yet without privileges.”
“I’m afraid so,” the detective said. “There are a lot of couples in your situation.”
“Yes, but we’re not youngsters,” Gladys said.
“I know, but for the most part, society hasn’t evolved, if that’s the right word, to the point where non-related couples have the same rights as do those who are married or related by blood. Know what I mean?”
“I guess I do, Craig. But I consider myself a close friend. Even a close friend doesn’t have rights?”
“I’m afraid not—not without the consent of the other friend. But, Gladys, this isn’t to say that there’s anything private going on. Let me see what I can find out, okay?”
“Yes, thank you, Craig.”
When Gladys turned to walk away, Savannah caught up to her and put her arm around her shoulders. “Hey, let’s go get some of that spiked lemonade Iris brought, want to? I hear Mattie made it and that it’s spectacular.”
“Oh, I guess so,” Gladys said with a sigh.
Just then Lily approached, holding Teddy by the hand. “I think he’s stinky, Mommy. Aunt Ris-Ris said he’s stinky and needs his diaper changed.”
“Sure, honey,” Savannah said. “I’ll take him. Thank you for being such a big girl. She kissed Lily’s cheek, then picked up Teddy and carried him into the house. When she returned she saw Gladys with Lily on her lap. Craig sat across from her. She rushed to join them.
“Truck,” Teddy said, pointing to where several small children played.
“You want to go play with your trucks?” Savannah asked. “Lily, would you take your brother to the play area, please?” When Lily balked, she said, “I see that Rosemary needs help putting that dolly’s hat on.” Lily scooted off Gladys’s lap and started to run off when Savannah called her back. “Lily, you’re forgetting something.”
The child laughed. “Oh, Teddy. Come on, Teddy,” she urged.
“Now that’s worrisome,” Savannah said. “She’s already becoming forgetful like her mother.”
Craig chuckled.
Gladys remained rigid.
“Well, I learned a couple of things,” Craig said. “Karl is saying it was an intentional case of mistaken identity. According to Karl, it was deliberate, and it has evidently happened before. At least that’s what I’m being told. That was Karl’s statement when they picked him up. He’s being held while they check out his story. So that’s all I know.” He patted Gladys’s hand and said, “Now there’s nothing for you to worry about. He’s okay. I’m sure he’ll be joining you here later if not sooner, once they straighten this thing out.”
“I sure hope so,” Gladys said. “Poor guy. Who would do this to someone like Karl?”
“Unfortunately, it’s people like Karl who make the best scapegoats,” Craig said.
“Craig, want to join Mom and me in a glass of that spiked lemonade?” Savannah asked.
His eyes lit up. “Did Mattie make it?”
“Yes.”
“Then absolutely. Lead the way,” he said, taking both women’s arms and ushering them across the yard to the refreshment table.
The threesome had been enjoying their lemonade for a few moments when Janice Fischer joined them. “Savannah,” she greeted, “I want to ask you something.”
“Hi, Janice. What?”
“Well, I was talking to Vivian about the relationship Rags and your new cat have established. Vivian said that you told her there was a calico in his litter.” She cocked her head. “Have you ever done a genetic search on Rags? I mean, don’t you wonder what his siblings are like as adult cats?”
“What?” Savannah asked. “Locate Rags’s siblings? No. I’ve never heard of that being done. How would one go about it?”
“It can be quite a challenge, but sometimes very successful and interesting. You know where he came from—I mean you’ve had him since he was young, right?” When Savannah nodded, Janice continued, “With the Internet and DNA testing, you just might be able to find his littermates.”
“Oh my gosh, wouldn’t that be a kick?” Savannah said. “Yes, I do know something about his beginnings, and I wrote about it from my memory in his meowmoir.” She thought for a moment. “But to know something about Rags’s ancestry…that could be really interesting, revealing, and probably worth another book. If not for the story that would be revealed, then possibly just to show that people can trace their cat’s ancestry.”
“I know someone who’s involved in the scientific study of cat DNA. I can give you her contact information, if you’re interested,” Janice said.
“You know a cat genealogist?” Savannah asked.
Janice winced. “Well, I don’t think she uses that term to describe what she does. She’s more of a cat-DNA expert—a scientist who’s interested in cat genetics. She generally works with breeders—you know, verifying parentage in show cats and things like that. But I’ll bet she’d be in
terested in helping you to locate information about Rags’s familial or ancestral background. Want her contact information?”
“Absolutely,” Savannah agreed. “The idea thrills me. Yes, I’d love to pick her brain and start my own research on Rags. In fact, I’ll make that my summer project. I’ll be home with the children and at the same time engaged in something fascinating and fun. Hey, Janice, thanks for the idea. I’m excited.”
“Excited about what?” Margaret asked, walking up.
“Trying to find Rags’s littermates.” Savannah faced her aunt. “Wouldn’t it be interesting to find out what kind of personalities they have? We might learn where Rags’s got his crazy habits.”
“Cat genealogy? Margaret said, mulling over the idea. “Is there such a thing?”
“Well, I actually have the names of the other people who owned Rags before I got him, and the name of the pet-store manager where I adopted him. I think he should be able to put me in touch with the people who own Rags’s mother.”
Margaret cocked her head in thought. “Vannie, are you sure you want to take a chance on uncovering any Rags clones? What if you find out there’s a whole generation of these cats who are a menace to society? Zowie!” she yelped, “This could open a can of worms for sure.”
“Oh Auntie, that’s not going to happen. Just think of what a fascinating project this could be,” Savannah said with a shimmy. “Yes, I want to see what I can find out, and I actually know where to start.”
****
The last of the guests were leaving that afternoon when Savannah noticed Gladys and Craig standing out near the gazebo talking. Savannah hugged her sister and Bud, waved at Alicia’s family as they drove out of the driveway, then checked to make sure Michael was with the children. She joined her mother and the detective. “Is everything okay?” she asked. “Did Karl get released?”
Craig shook his head. “I’m afraid not yet.” He took a deep breath. “I was just telling your mother that things aren’t going very well. Karl has summoned his lawyer.”
Gladys gasped. “Why, for heaven’s sake, if it’s a case of mistaken identity?”
Craig tightened his jaw. “It’s more complicated than that, I guess. New evidence is coming to light, and…”
“Evidence of what?” Gladys demanded. “If Karl said he didn’t do this, he didn’t do it. What’s he accused of, anyway, Craig? Running a stoplight? He wouldn’t do that.”
“I’m afraid it’s more serious than that, Gladys,” Craig said.
“Oh no,” Savannah muttered, putting an arm around her mother’s shoulders. “What is it, Craig?”
He blew out a breath through pursed lips, ran his hand through his hair, and said, “Well, it’s going to come out. You might as well know…”
“Know what, Craig?”
“Well, Gladys,” he said, taking her hand, “he’s been accused of a pretty serious hit and run incident.”
“What?” she shrieked. “No, Craig! That’s impossible. Karl wouldn’t…”
“There’s evidence, Gladys. And evidently motive. It doesn’t look good.”
Craig lurched forward to help Savannah support Gladys when she became weak-kneed and began to faint.
Stay in touch with Patricia Fry, author of the Klepto Cat Mysteries
Subscribe to her Catscapades Blog: http://www.matilijapress.com/catscapades
Visit Klepto Cat Mysteries http://kleptocatmysteries.com .
Contact Patricia Fry here: [email protected]
Facebook: Like the Klepto Cat Mysteries on Facebook
All of the books in the Klepto Cat Mystery Series.
