Meow for the Money (A Klepto Cat Mystery Book 14) (13 page)

“Not without help. Dora’s the pie-crust whiz—she won first place at the county fair. Edie is the baking expert.”

“What do
you
do, Mom,” Damon asked, laughing, “turn on the oven?”

“Pretty much,” she said.

Edie spoke up. “Oh no, she’s making the filling.”

As the others chatted about their plans, Craig stood, placed his napkin on his empty plate, and announced, “Well, I’m off. See you all later.” Before leaving the room, he asked. “What time will the pie be ready?”

Iris responded. “By noon.”

“I’ll be back then,” he said, disappearing through the kitchen door.

Just then a cell phone rang. “It’s mine,” June said. She picked it up and looked at the screen. “I don’t recognize the number.” After glancing around at the others, she took the call. “Hello?” She hesitated, then said excitedly, “Oh Sterling, how are you?” She listened for a moment before saying, “Yes.” Again she sat listening. “Yes. I think I can do that. I’ll let you know,” she said before ending the call and dropping the phone into her lap. “That was Sterling. He’s awake and he wants to see me. Savannah, he suggested
you
bring me to the hospital.” She paused. “He—and I—trust you.”

“So does he know who stabbed him?” Savannah asked, her eyes wide.

“I’m not sure that he does. He said he’d tell me all about it when I see him.” She spoke more softly, “You know, Savannah, he had come here to tell me something the day he was stabbed. I still don’t know what that was. He didn’t want to say anything over the phone. But I absolutely must know. His message could be the answer to all of our questions about the goings-ons around here. So can you take me there?”

Savannah looked at Lily and then at Michael.

“I can hang out with her,” Michael said. “I was going to work for a while this morning, but I’m sure Bud and Rick can handle things. You go and let June visit with her attorney.”

****

“Looks like they have an emergency this morning,” Savannah observed as she pulled her SUV into the parking lot at the hospital ninety minutes later.

“Yes, there certainly is a lot of activity.”

Once they’d left the car and approached the entrance, an officer stopped them. “Sorry ladies, no one can go in.”

“What?” June asked. “Why not?” She gasped. “Is it a bomb scare?”

“It’s a crime scene. We may be clear of here in an hour or so, then you can come back. Are you here to visit a friend?” He looked at June with concern and asked, “You aren’t being admitted, are you?”

She shook her head. “I need to see my attorney. He’s a patient and he’s expecting us.”

Just then they heard another voice. “Savannah, Mrs. Balcomb, what are you doing here?”

“Oh Craig, hi. What’s going on?” When he didn’t respond, Savannah said, “June has a meeting with her lawyer. Did you know he came out of the coma?”

He looked at June and Savannah, sighing deeply. “Yes.” He then cleared his throat and looked down at the ground.

“What’s wrong, Craig?”

“I’m afraid he’s…been killed.”

“What?” June said, her knees buckling a little.

Craig grabbed her arm. “Here, let me help you back to your car. Where are you parked?”

“Right there,” Savannah pointed, supporting June from the other side.

Once the elderly woman was seated in the car, Craig asked, “Are you all right, Mrs. Balcomb?”

“Well no, actually, I’m not. First someone brings poison to my cats and now…” she caught her breath. “Sterling is gone? Murdered, you say?”

“Yes, it looks like someone smothered him. We’ve got the place on lockdown and we’re questioning staff, visitors…everyone.”

“Dear God,” June said. “What will I do now?”

Craig spoke more softly. “Go on back to the estate, Mrs. Balcomb. I’ll catch up with you there later and fill you in on what we’ve found.”

It was eleven fifty-five by the time Savannah and June returned to the estate. “I thought I’d find you here,” Savannah said when she saw Michael sitting at the small kitchen table eating a piece of peach pie. Lily sat in her highchair next to him finishing off a small bowl of cooked carrots and peas. She also had charge of a self-feeding pouch full of pureed fruit.

“Hi there, sweet thing,” Savannah said, kissing the baby. “Having lunch?”

“I’m ready for that pie,” Colbi said, appearing in the kitchen behind Savannah. “Where’s the pie?” she asked, glancing around the kitchen.

“On the windowsill, where else?” Dora said.

Colbi looked confused. “Windowsill? People really do cool pies on the windowsill? I thought that was just something they did in old movies.” She looked at the wide sill above the sink counter. “Aren’t you afraid of thieves?”

“You mean like horses, camels, or raccoons?” Savannah suggested, laughing.

“Maybe a bear,” Colbi said, “or a bandit.” She moved closer to the sill. “Are they still there?”

“They’re still there,” Iris said, picking up one of them. “Is Ms. June back?”

Savannah nodded. “Yes. I think she’s ready for a bite to eat, then she and Damon are going out.”

“How’d things go at the hospital?” Michael asked between bites. “You weren’t gone very long.”

“No, we weren’t,” she said, easing into a chair.

He stared across the table at her. “Why? What happened?” he asked.

“The hospital was on lockdown. No one could go in or come out.”

“What?” he asked.

The others turned and stared at Savannah, waiting for more information.

“Someone evidently killed him.”

“Killed who?” Iris asked.

“June’s attorney, Sterling Goss.”

“Again?” Colbi asked. She added, “I mean, someone really wanted him dead, didn’t they?”

Savannah nodded. “I guess so. Craig was there. He sent us home. June is pretty discouraged and sad.” She stood. “Oh, I came in here to get her a cup of tea. She might want a cup of that soup. I’ll take it to her.”

Before she could pour the tea, Damon stepped into the kitchen. “She’d like the pie with her tea. I’ll get it.”

“Hi, babe,” Colbi said, hugging Damon around the neck.

He kissed her. “Are you going with Savannah this afternoon?” he asked.

She nodded. “I think so. Are you still driving Miss Daisy?”

“Yeah. Even after the blow she had this morning, she wants to visit her husband’s grave. That’s where we’re going.” He got Michael’s attention. “I’ll be back in time for that tennis match.”

“Sounds good,” Michael said, standing. “I have an emergency at the clinic. Should be back in a couple of hours.”

“Ready?” Colbi asked Savannah after they’d each enjoyed a piece of the pie.

Savannah stood and lifted Lily from the high chair. “Sure am.” She wiped the baby’s hands and face. “Let’s go ’bye-bye, shall we?”

“’Bye-bye,” Lily chirped, waving at those still in the kitchen.

Once the two women and the baby were strapped into the car, Savannah said, “I think I’ll stop at Auntie’s before going home, if you don’t mind, Colbi.”

“Not at all. I always enjoy seeing Maggie and Max.”

“Hi,” Savannah called, seeing her aunt step out onto the porch of their home. “Everything okay at our house?” she asked as she unbuckled Lily and lifted her out of the car seat.

“Auntie,” the baby called when she saw Margaret.

“Hi, sweet pea,” Margaret said, reaching for her. “Yeah, everything seems to be in good order. Buffy is still Buffy-like, Walter is still…”

“Let me guess, Walter-like…?” Savannah said, laughing. She looked more serious. “So there’s nothing out of the ordinary going on, huh?”

Margaret shook her head, then said, “Well, except for…”

“What?” Savannah asked, suspiciously.

“Your phone. You seem to be getting a lot of messages. It’s ringing almost every time I’m over there.”

“Really?” Savannah said, disgustedly. “I’d better take the tape to Craig.”

“Why?” Margaret asked, looking confused.

Savannah pressed her lips together, ran her hand down the baby’s back, and glanced at Colbi. “I’m getting…crank calls,” she confessed.

“She has an unwanted admirer,” Colbi explained.

“Oh no,” Margaret said. “Scary stuff or tame?”

Savannah cringed a little. “It’s all scary when you don’t know who it is or what their intentions are, right?”

Margaret and Colbi nodded.

“Want me to go with you to hear the messages?” Margaret asked. “Maybe I’ll recognize the voice.”

“Why, do you know someone who likes me?” Savannah asked.

Margaret shrugged and shook her head. “No, not that I know of, I just thought…”

Savannah motioned toward the car. “Yeah, jump in. Let’s go see what sweet nothings he’s spewing today.” She then said, “Blahhh. I hate this.”

“Why does it bother you so much?” Colbi asked. “Has he made any threats?”

“No, not really.” She scowled at Colbi. “Haven’t you ever been stalked before…a gorgeous girl like you?”

“Uh, well, yeah, once. But I was pretty sure who it was and…” she smiled. “I was kinda flattered.”

“When was this?” Savannah asked.

“Fourth grade,” she said with a straight face.

Savannah smirked. “Not the same, kiddo. Not the same at all.”

As the women stepped into the kitchen of the Iveys’ home with Lily, Savannah looked around. She said, “You two stay here with the baby. Lexie, you come with me. Come on, girl.” When the afghan-mix dog balked, Savannah said, “Will a treat make a difference? Lexie, want a treat?”

“Uh-oh,” Margaret said, “Buffy wants one, too.”

Savannah watched the mostly Himalayan cat step out of her pink canopy bed, look around, then yawn and stretch. “Yeah, I’m delighted to see you too, girl,” Savannah said, laughing. She scratched Buffy behind one ear, then petted Lexie. Reaching into a drawer, she pulled out two treat packets and distributed some to both Lexie and Buffy before going in search of Walter, who was, as usual, playing camouflage on his favorite plum-colored chair.

“Cookie,” Lily said, pointing at the packages.

“You want a cookie?” Savannah asked. “Auntie, I think there are some of her teething biscuits in the pantry.” She then said to the dog, “Okay, Lexie, let’s go exploring.”

“Do you see anything out of order?” Colbi asked as the two women and the dog moved through the house, in and out of rooms, up and down the staircase.

“No. Everything looks normal.” Savannah peered at Colbi and said, hesitantly, “Well, let’s go check the messages, shall we?” She took one look at the phone and gasped. “Gads, eleven messages. All from him, do you suppose?” She asked her aunt, then Colbi, “Do I want to hear these?”

“It’s up to you,” Margaret said, following Lily as she toddled into the living room.

“Guess I should know what I’m up against. Maybe he left a clue that will help us catch him.” She raised her finger and rather dramatically pushed the “play” button.

After listening to the messages—six from the stalker, three telemarketers, and two hang-ups—Savannah let out a sigh. “Well, he’s relentless.”

“He’s obsessed,” Colbi said.

Margaret laughed. “Oh, Vannie, you sure can attract them, can’t you?”

“Not on purpose,” she said defiantly.

“Well, it sounds like you were awfully nice to this guy somewhere along the line—nice enough that he can’t get you out of his mind.”

“He sounds young,” Colbi said, “and kinda immature, if you ask me.”

“Well, he’s in luuuv,” Margaret exaggerated. “Hey, what did he say about wanting to treat you like the real woman that you are?”

“Oh stop it,” Savannah said, sternly. “Gives me the creeps. Who does he think he is?”

“Casanova? Romeo?” Colbi suggested.

“How does he know me? I can’t even imagine. His voice isn’t one bit familiar.”

“But he sure seems to know you,” Margaret said. “Think about some of the men you’ve met in passing recently.”

Colbi jumped in, “Yeah, but you might not know him at all—he might have just seen you someplace.”

“That’s right; where have you been lately?” Margaret asked.

“The mall, June’s estate, the clinic, the grocery store…”

Colbi challenged, “Hey, what stores in the mall?”

“Oh you know, the usual: camera shop, bookstore, baby shop…”

“Smoothie stand,” Margaret added. She looked at Colbi. “We like to get a smoothie after our mall walk.”

“Can you think of anyone who acted a little too friendly at any of those places?” Colbi asked.

Savannah shook her head, her mind reeling. She then said, “When I saw Travis the other night, I thought for sure it was him. But the voice is different. Anyway, he seemed happy with the girl he was with.”

Just then the phone rang. The women stood looking at it and then at each other. Savannah thought about it and finally decided to answer it. “Hello?”

There was a long silence. “Hello?” she said again.

“Who is this?” the voice asked.

“Savannah Ivey, who’s this?”

“I think you know who it is,” he said. “I’ve been calling; why don’t you return my calls? You blocked my calls on your cell. That wasn’t nice. I just want to talk to you.”

“About what?” she asked, glancing at Colbi and Margaret.

“Uh…about us, that’s what.”

“Listen, there is no
us
,” she said sternly.

He paused, then said, “That’s what you think. Uh…there’s something you should know about me. I always get what I want and I want you.”

“That’s crazy,” she said. She paused before adding, “Do I know you?”

“Yes.”

“Do I know your name?”

After some hesitation, the voice said, “Probably not.”

“Where do I know you from? Can you tell me that?” When he didn’t respond, she said, “The bar down on Second Street?”

She heard him laugh. “No.”

“The mall?”

“Uh…maybe.”

“Look, if we’re going to get together, you’ll have to tell me who you are.”

“Yeah, I guess that’s right.” There was a pause, then he said almost breathlessly, “Okay, meet me in the parking lot at Mason’s Mini-Mart in forty-five minutes. Park on the far edge of the lot under that row of trees. I’ll be there waiting for you.”

“All right. I’ll see you then.”

“Savannah?” he said.

“Yes?”

“I really am crazy about you.”

The line went dead.

“You’re going to meet him?” Colbi asked disbelieving.

“Well, maybe,” she said. “But I’m hoping Craig will meet him. I’m calling him now. She took the tape out of the answering machine and put it in her purse, then made the call to Craig using her cell phone. “Hello Craig—oh darn…” She turned toward Margaret and Colbi. “It’s his answering service.” Into the phone, she said, “Hello, Craig, this is Savannah. I’m meeting the creep who’s been stalking me in…” She looked at the clock on the wall. “…in forty minutes in the parking lot at Mason’s Mini-Mart. Can you be there? He wants me to meet him on the east side where the trees are.” She thought for a moment, then said, “Unless I hear from you, Colbi, my aunt, and I are going to see who in the heck it is, once and for all.”

Thirty-five minutes later, Margaret pulled into the street directly behind the mini-mart parking lot with Savannah, Colbi, and baby Lily in her Jeep Liberty.

“Good idea, using
your
car, Auntie,” Savannah said. “Maybe we can find out who it is without being seen.”

“Yeah, but if he parks on the other side of those trees,” Colbi said, “we might not be able to see him.”

“Dang, you’re right. Our view’s obstructed.” She looked at her phone. “I wish Craig would call and tell us what to do.”

“Or what not to do,” Margaret said, cringing a little.

Savannah thought for a moment. “Okay, I’m turning off my ringer and going over to that stand of trees.” She glanced at the other two women. “Colbi, why don’t you come with me?”

“Me? Why me?” she complained.

“Come on,” she urged, “we just want to get a look at him, then we’re outta here, okay?”

Colbi thinned her lips. “Okay, I guess.”

“I’ll stay with Lily,” Margaret said.

“Come on, it’s almost time,” Savannah urged. “We should be able to see him from those bushes right over there.” Once they’d reached the spot Savannah indicated, she said, “Now crouch down out of sight.”

“I feel silly,” Colbi whispered, giggling. “Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve felt this silly?”

Savannah smirked playfully. “You mean you haven’t hidden in the bushes and spied on anyone, lately?” She laughed quietly. “You live a dull life.” Several minutes later, Savannah whispered, “Where is he?”

“I think you’ve been stood up, girlfriend,” Colbi said, chuckling.

“Well, if that isn’t insulting.”

Colbi snickered. “Maybe he saw us pull up and didn’t want to be confronted by a whole herd of women.”

“Could be, I guess. Let’s get back to the estate, shall we?”

“So he was a no-show, huh?” Margaret said, grinning, once the other two women returned to the car.

“Yes,” Colbi said, “and Savannah’s insulted.”

“No, I’m not,” she said defending herself.

“You said you were.”

“I wasn’t serious. Oh Craig’s calling back. Hi Craig,” she said into her phone.

“So did you meet your stalker?” he asked, chuckling.

“No.” She paused. “I can’t believe you’re not angry with me for coming over here.”

“Well, Savannah, I don’t think you’re in any danger.”

“Really? Why do you say that?”

“Well, I know who your admirer is and I just don’t think he’s a threat.”

“What?” she said, her voice accelerated. “He stalks, steals cars, and you don’t think he’s a threat?”

“No. The car he stole was his folks’. They didn’t know he took it and when they found out it was him, they didn’t press charges.”

“His parents?”

“Yes, and you might know who his parents are, actually. They take their pets to your clinic and we believe he wrote the note on a piece of paper his mother brought home from the clinic after her last visit. Your receptionist had given her the name of a dog groomer.”

“Oh? So how old is my stalker, anyway?” she asked rather hesitantly.