by Patricia Fry
Savannah glanced at Ruth and noticed that she was sobbing softly. "Did you get a chance to know Karen?" she asked, gently.
Ruth nodded. "I have cared for the children since they were born. After Arthur's... accident," she said, hesitantly, "Mrs. Peyton told the rest of the staff that I was her personal assistant, so no one would be suspicious when I stayed on." She looked wide-eyed at Craig and Savannah. "She told everyone that Arthur was dead, you know. Even Mr. Peyton believes he's dead."
Craig urged the boy, "So tell me about the fire."
"Well, I'm there at Mrs. Smith's... cabin and she starts drinking. She'd lit all these candles. One evidently was too close to a curtain and, after I went to my room that night, it caught fire. I woke up and smelled the smoke. I rushed to my bedroom door." He spoke more softly, shaking his head as if in disbelief. "It was locked. I thought maybe the fire had melted the lock or something had fallen on the other side of the door so I couldn't open it. I was kind of in a fog. So I climbed out my window. When I didn't see Mrs. Smith outside anywhere, I rushed inside the back door where her bedroom was. I couldn't find her, so I started calling for her. The next thing I knew, something came down hard on my head and I blacked out."
"Like a beam?" Savannah asked.
Arthur shook his head slowly. "Maybe, but honestly, the fire hadn't reached that area of the house yet. I don't recall any flames—just smoke." He spoke more quietly. "I think someone hit me with something."
Craig grimaced.
"When I woke up, I was in an ambulance on my way to a burn center. I'm told that some hunters had come along and got me out before the house collapsed. I don't know how long I lay passed out on the floor." He looked at his hands. "Evidently, long enough for the fire to reach that part of the house."
He sat quietly for a moment and then looked up. "I think Mother figured out what had happened. She must have known there was foul play—both of her children had been involved in serious accidents within days of each other... I think she thought my life was in danger. She wanted to protect me, but she also wanted to protect her money and her lifestyle. So I became her biggest lie."
Savannah walked behind Arthur and put her hands on his shoulders. "I'm so sorry," she said.
He reached up and patted her hand. "That means a lot, Ms. Savannah. Thank you."
She saw that Ruth was dabbing at her eyes.
Arthur looked at her, too. "If it wasn't for Ruthie, I don't think I'd have made it," he whispered.
"And it will be because of Ruth that you'll get out of here," Craig said. He added, "Okay, Arthur. I think we have what we need for now. You relax and get some rest. Call me when you're ready to leave for good and we'll be here to pick you up."
"Make it twelve thirty tomorrow night. I'll come outside through the kitchen at twelve thirty."
Craig raised his eyebrows and glanced at Savannah. "Okay. We'll be here then. I'll pick you up outside the kitchen door."
"Yes, only... "
"Only what?" he asked.
He reached down and picked up the Siamese cat that was lying at his feet. "My cats. What will happen to my cats?"
Craig looked at Savannah, who said, "They'll be okay for a day or two, don't you think? Do you have enough dry food to leave for them, along with their litter boxes?"
"I can take care of them," Ruth said.
Craig peered at her. "That would be a good idea. I was going to suggest that you leave, but if you would stay and take care of the cats, it might help Arthur more easily make the adjustment. At any time if you feel you're in danger, please contact me immediately. We will get you out of here."
"And we can have someone come in and rescue the cats. How many did you say you have?" Savannah asked.
He looked down at the cat in his lap. "Maybe a dozen."
"More like two dozen," Ruth said, smiling.
"Can I take Karen?"
Craig nodded. "Yes, bring the cat. Do you have a carrier for her?"
"Yes, Mr. Sledge. Thank you."
"Then we'll see you outside the kitchen at twelve thirty tomorrow evening," Craig said. He reached out to shake Arthur's hand. Arthur timidly placed his scarred hand in Craig's and shook it gently.
Chapter 12
Savannah spent a good part of the following day at a small motel close to the police station, reading, and lounging near the pool while Craig tended to business. She took a late afternoon nap, then got a bite to eat. She was watching a movie on TV when her cell phone rang.
"Hi Craig," she said. "What's up?"
"Sorry to ignore you all day, kiddo," he said, "but there was a lot going on and I had to stay on task."
"Not a problem," she said, yawning. "I enjoyed the chance to really relax."
Craig was quiet for a moment and then he said, "So, are you ready to rumble?"
"Yeah, I guess. What's the plan?"
"I'll meet you out at the car in ten minutes."
It was midnight when Craig and Savannah arrived at the mansion. They parked behind Rob's and Cheryl's bungalow. "I guess they're still here," he remarked.
"Were they supposed to leave?" Savannah asked.
"Yeah, a few days ago."
"But they want to follow through with the mystery."
Craig suggested, "Let's check in with them. Looks like they're still up." When Rob answered the door, Craig asked, "Hey, how's the investigation going?"
"I could ask you the same thing?" Rob said. "Come in. What are you doing out here this late at night?"
"Well, you're not going to believe it, but we're here to pick up Arthur."
"No kidding!" he said. "He's decided to give up the killer? Who is it?"
Craig thinned his lips. "How about we discuss that once we get him to a safe place. What have you two got? Still interviewing staff?"
"Yeah, having a great time with them. Some are more forthcoming than others, but most are happy to tell their stories."
"Yeah," Cheryl said, "it's interesting to hear how this place is managed and the drama that goes on between some of the staff."
"You got that right. The backbiting and the cliques and... " He laughed. "It's a real Peyton Place, if you ask me." He then said, "I hear Ruth's leaving."
Cheryl chuckled. "I hope it's nothing I said."
"Ruth?" Craig asked. "Now where did you hear that? Who do you suppose she told?"
"A couple of the staff mentioned it. No one appeared to be too upset. Some seem to feel she gets special treatment and favors. They say she's gone a lot and they don't know where she goes, but they're convinced she gets her pay, anyway. Seems to be a lot of jealousy there."
Craig gave Savannah a knowing look. "Interesting how news travels through a place like this." He looked at his watch. "Hey, gotta go. I'll have something for you tomorrow—a big story."
"Okay." Rob walked with Craig and Savannah to the French doors. "You two be careful."
Once they were inside Craig's unmarked car, he drove around slowly to the other side of the bungalows, lights off, and stopped just west of the kitchen entrance.
"There he is," Savannah said. "He has little Karen with him."
Suddenly, headlights from an oncoming car lighted up the area and Arthur quickly darted back inside the mansion.
"Oh God," Craig said. He pressed the button to roll the passenger window down and called out, "Arthur, come on, get in." He heard nothing, so he got out of the car and rushed to the kitchen door. "Arthur," he called.
"No! Go! Leave me," he said.
Craig hissed, "I'm not leaving you. Get in the car. Give me the cat."
As Craig reached for the cat carrier, Arthur pulled back, then said, "Oh no! I left my key in the room. I can't get back in. What will I do if Mr. Peyton sees me?"
"He won't see you if you get in the car now," Craig whispered loudly.
In the meantime, Savannah ducked down in the passenger seat until the oncoming car turned and the headlights m
oved away. "Craig," she called in a loud whisper, "we're in the clear. Come on." She waited and watched, panic beginning to overtake her. Where are they? she wondered.What are they doing? Finally, she spotted Craig walking out the door carrying the cat carrier and ushering Arthur toward the car. Savannah jumped out of the car and opened the back door. Taking the carrier, she raced to the other side of the car and slid it in the backseat while Craig helped Arthur climb in next to it. Suddenly, they heard a booming voice. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"
"Duck!" Craig hissed to Arthur as he slammed the car door shut. Savannah quickly closed the left rear door and the couple rushed to the front of the car in an attempt to distract from their passenger. "Good evening, Mr. Peyton," Craig said, casually. "Just stopped by to see Rob and Cheryl one last time before I head home."
"Oh, Mr. Sledge, it's you." He looked over at Savannah, who was standing next to the closed driver's door. He scratched his head. "Where's your husband?"
"The rest of our party went to bed early," she said. "I left my purse in Rob's bungalow and Craig agreed to bring me over so I could pick it up before we leave for home in the morning. In fact, Craig," she said, "we'd better get back to the motel."
"Yes," Craig said. "Good evening, Mr. Peyton." He waited for the man to walk away before he opened the car door, so the interior lights wouldn't reveal who was in the backseat. It seemed like an eternity of waiting, but finally they were home free.
As Charles walked toward the front of the house, however, he met one of his security guards. "Where were you just now, Thompson?" he shouted. "There are people on the property. Why weren't you there questioning them? Good God, man, someone could walk away with the entire place."
In the meantime, Craig rushed around to the driver's side door and Savannah raced to the other side, preparing to occupy the front passenger seat. They'd both opened the car doors when they heard another voice a few feet away call out, "Charles!" Craig looked toward the voice and saw Mrs. Peyton step out through the kitchen door. "Charles!" she called again. Just then, Henrietta noticed Craig's car, and when the interior lights came on, she could see her son in the backseat. "Arthur!" she screeched.
"What are you caterwauling about, Henrietta?" Charles grumbled, as he strode around from the front of the house.
"Nothing," she said, panic in her voice and fear in her eyes.
Before Craig could get into the car, the security guard came around the corner, bent on doing his job. "Something wrong, Mrs. Peyton?" he asked.
"No," she said, shaking her head vigorously. But she wasn't convincing, and the guard rushed to the car and grabbed Craig before he could enter it.
"Go, Savannah!" Craig shouted, pushing away from the door and kicking it shut.
At that, Savannah jumped into the passenger seat, scrambled across the console into the driver's seat, and quickly started the car. Before she could drive away, however, Charles Peyton moved in front of the car.
She quickly hit the door locks. From the backseat, she heard Arthur cry out, "Oh God, oh God, what have I done?"
"What's going on, Henrietta?" Charles shouted. "Have these people taken something from the house?" When she didn't respond, he tried to peer into the car through the tinted glass. "Open the door!" he demanded. "Open the door, now!" Just then, another security guard showed up. He rushed toward Charles, his hand on his sidearm.
There was just enough light shining into the car that Savannah could see Craig's phone in the console. She picked it up and started going through his contacts. Bob, Bob, she thought. His colleague's name is Bob... Walker... here it is. She quickly placed a call, speaking fast into the phone. "I'm with Craig Sledge. There's trouble here at the Peyton mansion. Can you help us out?"
"Yes, I know about the mission tonight—something went wrong, eh?"
"Yes, please hurry."
"We're on our way."
Savannah peered out at the second armed guard and Charles Peyton as they walked around the car. They came back to the driver's side door and began tapping on the window.
"Open up," the guard said, sternly. "Open up or I'll break the window."
"Stay in the car, Savannah!" Craig roared.
Although, she shook with fright, she attempted to console Arthur. "The police are on their way," she whispered. "Everything's going to be okay."
"I sure didn't expect it to happen this way, Ms Savannah."
"Neither did we, Arthur. Neither did we."
"Do you think he saw me?" he asked.
"I don't think so. The windows are tinted; you can't easily see inside from the outside." She turned toward the boy. "How are you feeling?"
"A little scared," he said. "My life has been serene and calm... well, I've seen drama on TV, but I haven't lived it since... well, since the fire, I guess." He was quiet for a few seconds, then added, "I don't really like it much."
Savannah grinned. "Most stable people don't like drama." She turned in her seat. "Hey, do you hear that? Police sirens."
Arthur let out a deep sigh and Savannah reached back and patted his knee. "We're almost home free. You just hang in there. It'll be okay." Looking at him, she said, "Remember, you have done nothing wrong."
"Now you'll be in trouble," Charles Peyton shouted in Craig's direction. "The cops are here. You're going down for trespassing and burglary." He then frowned and asked his wife, who was leaning against the kitchen doorjamb as if she would faint at any moment. "What else is he suspected of, Henrietta?"
"Kidnapping!" she screeched.
"Kidnapping? What are you talking about, woman?"
Henrietta put her hands up to her mouth and stepped back. "Nothing, Charles. Nothing."
Charles looked at her and then glanced at the car again. He moved closer and peered in at Savannah through the passenger-side window, which wasn't as darkly tinted as the back ones. He could see what looked like a pile of clothes in the backseat. "What's back there?" he shouted, straining to see.
Henrietta rushed up to him and pulled at his jacket. "Nothing. I didn't know what I was saying. The police are here now, Charles. Let's have Mr. Sledge arrested and let Savannah go. She didn't do anything. Please, Charles."
Just then, the first police car screamed up the dirt driveway and stopped crossways so as to prevent anyone from leaving the property. That's when Savannah noticed Rob and Cheryl standing outside their bungalow, watching the drama play out. She grinned a little when she noticed that Rob was secretly videoing the scene with his phone.
Two policemen excited the car. "What's going on?" one of them asked as he approached the guard, who was still holding Craig.
Charles rushed up to the policeman, "This man was trespassing on our property and he may have taken something of ours." He pointed. "It's in the car with the woman."
"No!" Henrietta protested, rushing to stop the policeman, who had been told to go check out the car.
Just then, another car appeared.
Looks like an unmarked police car, Savannah thought, straining to see who it was. "I think this is your salvation, Arthur," she said. "If I'm right, the man getting out of the black car is going to help set you free."
Arthur peered over the edge of the backseat. "Sure hope so."
"Would you step out of the car, please?" the tall black man in slacks and sport coat ordered as he approached the driver's side of Craig's car.
Savannah rolled the window down just a little and asked, "Who are you?"
"It's okay, ma'am, I'm Chief Bob Walker. I've been working with Sledge."
"Oh, thank heavens," Savannah said with a sigh of relief. She opened the door and stepped out. "I'm Savannah Ivey."
"I know," he said. "Sorry you had to get tangled up in this debacle. Would you stand over there with your friends, please?" he motioned toward Rob and Cheryl.
Savannah wondered how he knew they were her friends. She glanced at them and back at the chief. He motioned with his head for
her to do as he said and she complied.
Chief Walker peered in through the driver's door of Craig's car toward the backseat and said, "Would you please step out, sir?"
The boy did not move.
"Just step out of the car, would you?" he said.
When Arthur didn't comply, Savannah walked toward the chief. "Sir, he may come out for me."
Bob Walker looked at her for a moment and then at the lump he could see in the car. He stepped back and nodded.
Savannah opened the rear car door and said, "Arthur, it's time to do the reveal. There's no other way. Our plan didn't go as hoped, but it will be okay. Would you step out of the car with me? I'll stay with you, if you like."
"Okay," the boy said, shifting to a sitting position. "Karen," he said.
"She can stay right here for now. We just need you to face your biggest fear."
"How do you know what my biggest fear is?"
"Facing your mother and stepfather, right?"
"Yes," he said quietly.
"Come on. You can do it. You have to do it. There's no turning back now."
Arthur put his hand affectionately on the cat carrier and then scooted out of the backseat. He stood, slightly stooped, next to Savannah.
Savannah noticed that in the meantime Craig had been released from the guard's grip and two policemen were keeping their eyes on the Peytons and the security guards. Savannah took Arthur's hand and, along with the chief, they walked toward where the others stood lined up in front of the massive house. When Henrietta saw Arthur, she began to sob. "No, no," she said, shaking her head.
Arthur dropped Savannah's hand and she watched him walk toward Charles Peyton, whose jaw drop and eyes widened. "What the... ?" He grimaced. "Who... are you?"
"Oh, you know me, Father," Arthur said sarcastically. "Remember, you used to pretend you cared about me and Karen."
Charles took a step back, his face twisted in anguish. "Arthur?" he croaked.
The boy continued to move toward Charles, seeming to delight in the man's agony. "Yes, it's me. I've been living under your phony feet all these years, just waiting for the day when you'd learn that you are broke."
