by L A Morgan
“Where have you been all day?” were Michael’s first words.
“I could ask you the same question.”
“Didn’t you get my note?”
Laurel looked hastily around the floor, presuming that this note had been slipped under her door.
“You won’t find it there,” Michael quickly assured her. “I left it with the office manager. He said he would call you to come and pick it up.”
Laurel silently chastised herself for all the inconsiderate attributes she had bestowed upon Michael throughout that day.
Instead of mentioning her doubts, she said, “Where’s your sister?”
Michael glanced at his watch and replied, “She should be boarding her flight home right now. I just came from dropping her off at the airport.”
Laurel was more relieved than disappointed to hear this news. She could not believe that Kitty would be a welcome addition to her vacation felicity.
“Is that what you wrote about in your note?” she asked.
“Not exactly. I wrote to tell you that I was taking Kitty out to breakfast and then for a sightseeing ride. I also asked if you wanted to join us for lunch. We left pretty early. I knocked lightly at your door, but I guess you were sleeping.”
“I got up late today,” Laurel explained.
“We got back here a little after eleven, and I tried to find you then.”
“I went out to breakfast, then took a ride. I didn’t get back to the motel until after twelve.”
“We must have just missed you then. We had a long lunch, and after that, I took Kitty to the airport. I was in the lounge talking with her for the last couple hours. She was sorry that she didn’t get a chance to say goodbye to you.”
“I was afraid you’d gone home,” Laurel now admitted.
Michael looked surprised.
“I told you last night that I intended to stay,” he reminded her.
“I know, but with your sister arriving so unexpectedly, I thought you might have changed your mind.”
Michael looked at his watch again.
“It’s almost time for dinner,” he commented. “Instead of standing here in the doorway, we could be sitting in a cozy restaurant and ordering our meals. How does that sound to you?”
“Very nice.”
Looking down at her leisure attire, Laurel added, “Should I change into something better?”
“What you have on is fine.”
A short while later, they arrived at the restaurant Michael had chosen. The view would be unique for the area, since it had been built on a long pier that extended well out into the ocean. Laurel had seen it when she had walked on the beach. She had longed to look inside and now she got her chance.
“This pier and restaurant were modeled after a similar structure in Galveston, Texas,” Michael explained as they walked up the inclined ramp. “I saw it when I was on a business trip there once. The one in Galveston also has a gift shop, and they also charge admission to go out to the end of the pier.”
“How did you know that this one was built second?”
“I asked someone about it the other day.”
“Do you want to walk out to the end now?” Laurel asked.
“Let’s wait until after we eat. I’m hungry.”
“That’s fine with me.”
Once they were seated at a window table and had ordered cocktails, Michael said, “I want to thank you for whatever you said to Kitty last night. She came back to my room after you left her, and we talked for most of the night. For the first time in my life, I think I might be able to understand why she acts the way she does.”
“I’m so glad to hear that, Michael.”
The man shook his head with a warm smile.
“She was like a different person,” he continued. “I didn’t think Kitty was capable of opening up like that or talking without making the slightest pretense of being something she’s not. That was the best talk we ever had. For once, we didn’t quarrel about anything.”
“It’s about time the two of you got together.”
“I owe it all to you,” Michael said with solemn gratitude. “Whatever you told her made a deep impression.”
“Didn’t she tell you what I said?”
“Not in so many words. I was wondering about that.”
“It wasn’t really so much,” Laurel replied with a humble smile.
“It must have been something really intense to make a dent in Kitty’s thick shell. I’ve been trying to get through to her for years, and I’d just about given up hope.”
“It was good that you spent the day alone together. A third party would have only interfered with your reconciliation.”
“From experience, I can tell you that your brand of interference is only helpful,” Michael replied with a warm expression. “I wish you could have joined us for lunch so you could have seen the change you made in my sister. You might not have recognized her as the same person you met last night.”
“I’m sure that change was mostly inspired by the things you said to her.”
“Stop trying to deny the positive influence you had in this!” Michael said with a laugh. “Kitty never would have come back to me if you hadn’t spoken with her. No matter what you say, I’ll always give you full credit for helping me to get to know my sister.”
Laurel covered her blush behind her napkin as she pretended to dab at her lips. Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of the waitress with their cocktails.
They found the meal to be delicious, and the view, incomparable. The candle on their table flickered in the restaurant’s dim lighting. The low murmurs of the other patrons complimented the romantic atmosphere.
As they lingered over their coffee with companionable small-talk, Laurel found herself glancing frequently at the people who had strolled out to the end of the pier. One, in particular, caught her attention. It was a man that had been standing hunched over the wooden railing for the past half hour.
She could not see his face, but there was something about him that seemed familiar. This puzzled Laurel since she had met very few people during her stay at Myrtle Beach. At last, her curiosity compelled her to bring this to Michael’s attention.
“Do you see that man at the railing?” she asked, pointing in the appropriate direction.
“Yes,” Michael replied as he looked at her questioningly.
“Do you know him?”
Michael gave him another look and said, “I don’t think so. Does he look familiar to you?”
Laurel squinted in concentration. She could not pinpoint what it was about the man that caught her attention.
“I think so. He’s been standing there for the longest time. I can’t figure out what he’s doing.”
“What did it look like?”
“I’m not sure. He had some string or something that he tossed into the water.”
“It was probably a drop line. Some people fish without using a pole.”
“I guess that was it.”
Laurel took another swallow of her coffee, absent-mindedly gazing at the wedding ring on Michael’s hand. All of a sudden, pieces began to fit together in her mind. She looked out the window with an expression of astonishment.
Seeing this, Michael asked in concern, “What’s wrong?”
“That man! I think he’s The Cat!”
“Can you be sure?” Michael replied, turning in his seat so he could scrutinize the man more closely.
“I’m almost positive! He’s dressed all in dark clothing, but it isn’t just that. It’s the way he’s hunched over the railing. The last time I saw The Cat, he was hunched over some bushes in the exact same way! Look at his build, Michael!”
“He is about the same height and weight,” Michael said in agreement.
“What should we do?”
“If you feel fairly certain about this, it would be best to call the police immediately.”
Without another word, Laurel stood up and walked hastily to the restaur
ant’s front desk. Michael remained in his seat so he could continue to observe the suspect. The person at the front counter directed Laurel to a telephone booth near the entrance. With fumbling fingers, she dialed the police station and asked for Sergeant Shaw.
After several minutes of impatient waiting, the sergeant picked up the phone. Laurel quickly explained the circumstances, answering all of Sergeant Shaw’s detailed questions with agonizing slowness. She was in the process of telling him to hurry when Michael appeared at her side.
“He’s leaving!” he whispered urgently.
Laurel repeated this into the phone and added, “We’re going to follow him!”
Sergeant Shaw’s warning not to do this because it might be too dangerous was lost as the woman hastily replaced the receiver. Michael had already taken care of the check, so they quickly left the restaurant, attempting to look as natural as possible in case this man was indeed The Cat. Laurel quickly filled him in on her conversation with Sergeant Shaw.
The man she suspected had come around the side of the building, past the admittance fee area, and was now walking slowly back down the pier. From his stealthily smooth movements and the way he kept glancing suspiciously around him, Laurel’s hunch grew into certainty.
She held on tightly to Michael’s arm as they ambled along some twenty feet behind their suspect, not wanting to appear suspicious. Her nervous twitching might have given her away, but a squeeze from Michael’s hand and his reassuring smile brought her back under control.
The man stopped in front of one of the high-rise apartment buildings across the street from the pier. As he looked warily about, his gaze focused and stopped on the couple. In a quickly calculated gesture, Michael drew Laurel into his arms and kissed her. The suspect watched them for a moment, and then continued along his way.
The tense excitement of the situation was almost drowned beneath Laurel’s ardent response to Michael’s embrace. For a few seconds, that was all that mattered. Luckily, the man retained a tighter rein over his emotions.
He looked up just in time to see the person they were following walk toward the back of the building. The suspect must have felt confident that he was not being followed, for he did not bother to look behind him as Michael and Laurel shadowed him. When he got to the end of the complex, he turned the corner, moving out of sight.
Michael and Laurel quickened their pace. When they reached the back of the building, he put out his arm to hold her back as he peeked around the corner. Michael was just in time to see the suspect enter a back door. As he explained what had occurred, the couple hastily walked to the door and stopped there.
“Should we go in?” Laurel asked.
“No. The police should be here soon. We should go back to the front of the building to tell them where he went.”
They quickly retraced their steps. In a matter of minutes, several patrol cars arrived. They did not announce their presence with flashing lights or sirens. As the officers stepped out of their cars, Michael spotted Sergeant Shaw and waved for him to join them. He walked over to the couple with rapid strides.
“Where did the suspect go?”
“He went in the back door of this building a few minutes ago,” Laurel replied.
“Okay. You two wait here. We’ll check it out.”
Shaw signaled to his people and they all moved quickly along the side of the building. Laurel and Michael followed them, despite the sergeant’s order. When they got to the backdoor, the police quietly entered. In tense excitement, Laurel and Michael waited to see what would happen. All that could be heard was the normal sounds of the beach traffic.
“I wonder if they’ll catch him,” Laurel whispered.
“I just hope he’s really The Cat if they do. It would be embarrassing for us if we led them to arrest the wrong man,” Michael thoughtfully replied.
“I hadn’t thought about that,” Laurel murmured with a worried frown.
“Then, it’s time you did. We might have to make some humiliating apologies.”
“Could he sue us for false arrest?”
“I don’t think so, Laurel. If anyone gets sued, it will be the police department.”
“I’d hate to see Sergeant Shaw’s face under those circumstances.”
“Let’s hope you won’t have to.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
As the couple stood there talking, they glanced frequently at the door through which the police officers had gone. At the same time, a great deal of activity was occurring in the building. The detectives and uniformed officers had spread out in their search for The Cat. They moved quietly from floor to floor, listening for sounds of unusual activity.
As yet, there was no sign of the felon, who had made his way to the top story of the high-rise. It was a rather expensive complex. Many of the tenants were very wealthy.
The Cat had already scoped out his prey for the evening. It was a middle-aged couple from Costa Rica, who planned to return home the next day. The wife was a successful artist, who loved to collect emerald jewelry. About twenty minutes earlier, the couple had gone to a farewell dinner given by friends. They were not expected to return for several hours.
As soon as The Cat entered the building, he kept his face averted from the security cameras. Once he reached his victims’ door, he disarmed their alarm system with a small electronic device and slipped into the penthouse, silently, closing the door behind him. He knew that the couple did not have their valuables in a safety deposit box, so it had to be hidden in a private safe. The Cat was also aware that there were no security cameras in the apartment and that the staff had been given the night off. There were no pets that might alert the other residents of his presence.
Although he was fairly certain that nobody was there, he stopped and listened for a long moment. Caution was another key to his success. There were no unexpected sounds.
All was orderly in the apartment. Most of the family’s luggage had already been shipped back to Costa Rica. A number of packed bags were neatly stacked near the front door.
The jewel thief stealthily made his way from room to room. Although he was uncertain of where he would find the safe, The Cat was experienced in this area. He knew the places where it was most likely to be hidden. He smiled when he finally found it behind an unobtrusive wall hanging in the master bedroom. At that point, he took out his special listening equipment and went to work on the safe.
The law enforcement officials went about their business with as much speed and caution as the felon, but they were hindered by the size of the building and by not knowing where to go. Still, they managed to move on to the top floor in good time. The detective in charge then quietly ordered most of the plain-clothes officers to repeat their search of the lower stories.
Laurel started to feel impatient. She and Michael were still worried that they might have needlessly alarmed the police.
“If they don’t find him, they’re going to think we’re crazy,” she stated with a worried frown.
“Give them time,” Michael said consolingly.
“But they’ve been in there for ages!”
Glancing at his watch, the man replied, “It’s only been ten minutes.”
“That’s all?”
“It’s a big building, Laurel. The Cat seems to know what he’s doing. Did you really think they’d catch him right away?”
“Yes! It had to take him awhile to pick the door lock.”
“Professional thieves are experts at that sort of thing.”
“Do you think he’s carrying a gun?”
“He’d be foolish if he was. That would only compound his crime if they caught him.”
“I suppose you’re right,” Laurel admitted. After a moment, she added, “Are you sure you haven’t heard any gunshots?”
Michael laughed lightly.
“As I said, Laurel, it’s a big building. If there were, we wouldn’t be likely to hear them.”
Laurel stood back a few steps and looked up at the high-rise.
Smiling, Michael asked, “Do you expect to see The Cat scrambling down the side of the building?”
“It happens in movies!”
Michael smiled and shook his head.
At that moment, The Cat finished emptying the safe. This would be a good haul. He not only found a fortune in emeralds, but a large number of bearer bonds. The felon put all of the loot in a flat, black bag attached to his belt.
By this time, the detectives had made their way into the penthouse. They had finished searching the main rooms and were moving on to the bedrooms. While walking down the hallway to the bedrooms, one of them jostled a vase, causing it to fall. The man quickly caught it before it hit the tile floor, but the fragile item had clinked against the side of the marble-topped table where it had been situated.
The Cat looked up in alarm. Then he made his way to the sliding doors that led to a large terrace. His movements were graceful and noiseless.
As the detectives quickly searched the staff’s quarters, the felon moved onto the terrace, taking the time to close the glass door behind him. His trade had taught him to put fear behind if he hoped to succeed. It was time to enact his next precautionary plan.
The lead detective opened the door to the master suite. The others followed him through the sitting room and on to the bedroom. Everything looked to be in order.
Suddenly, the detective caught a movement out of the corner of his eye. It was The Cat. He was climbing up onto the railing that surrounded the terrace. By this time, he had pulled a black mask over the top of his face. His black, woolen cap covered his hair, leaving only his mouth and chin exposed.
As the detective yelled, the thief turned to give him a parting grin of victory. Then he jumped off the building. The others scrambled out to the terrace behind their leader.
When he was about a third of the way to the ground, The Cat opened his backpack and released the maneuverable, rectangular parasail that was attached. His descent immediately slowed, as he maneuvered the parasail into gentle, silent circles. The lead detective leaned over the railing to watch the felon glide safely to the ground and land behind some shrubbery at the rear of the building. He called out a quick command, and the police rapidly left the apartment.
