Meow for the Money (A Klepto Cat Mystery Book 14) (18 page)
Read Meow for the Money (A Klepto Cat Mystery Book 14) Online
Authors: Patricia Fry
“Here, let’s sit down, shall we?” Nola said, leading the elderly woman to the settee.
“June, you’re the most popular gal at the party,” Savannah said as she sat next to her with Lily on her lap. She reached across June for Nola’s hand, squeezed it, and smiled. She then looked June in the eyes and started to speak.
“Never mind,” June said, waving her hand in Savannah’s direction. “You’ll just make me weep.” She then took a deep breath. “Savannah, you’ve been a lifesaver in so many ways. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for…your friendship. You’ve done…well, you’ve brought peace to my world and I just can’t thank you enough.” June smiled at the baby. “And I’ve so enjoyed having this cherub in my home. There will be a bit of sunshine missing when you leave here.” She turned to Nola. “But I have a new ray of sunshine to brighten my days, don’t I?”
Savannah smiled at Nola. “You sure do, June. And you have a wonderful project to look forward to. When will the construction begin?”
“Immediately,” June said. She signaled across the room. “Oh Dr. Mike!” she called.
Michael excused himself from a conversation with Damon and took his usual long strides toward the hostess. “Dr. Mike, I’d like you to look at the initial sketch our architect has rendered. Would you do that?” She turned to Nola. “Not only is Dr. Mike an excellent veterinarian who knows about cats and their habits, but he knows construction. I’ve asked him to review any plans we commission for the cat complex before we give a final okay.” She glanced across at the others and said, “Max will also be a consultant.”
Nola smiled up at Michael and nodded.
“Sure. I’ll be happy to. How about if I come by after work tomorrow and we’ll go over the plans?” Michael then offered, “June, can I get you a glass of bubbly and a plate of hors d’ oeuvres?”
She thought for a moment and said, “Yes. Now is fine.”
“I’ll help you,” Nola said, standing and walking away with Michael.
Just then, Craig walked over and sat down next to June. He took her hand. “You look wonderful this evening.”
She smiled widely. “All because of you, Detective…you and your wonderful, wonderful friends.”
“They’re your friends, too, June,” Savannah said.
“Oh yes, they are, indeed.” She turned to Craig. “So what’s next, Detective?”
“Well, Mrs. Balcomb, you’ll most likely have to testify in court.” When she slumped a little, he added, “Maybe we can get away with a deposition from you—a sworn statement, so you won’t have to appear. In fact, with the charge of murder—maybe two charges—they might not even go into the extortion issue and catnapping. So your presence may not be required.”
“Jody—my niece—will she go to jail?”
“I doubt it.”
June glanced around to make sure she wouldn’t be heard, then lowered her voice. “Detective, did you know that my niece and my stepson were…romantic? Oh, you brought me the information about their hand-holding episode, but it seems they were actually…” she whispered, “…intimate.”
“She told you?” he asked, obviously surprised.
“Yes, I suppose she thought someone else would, so she wanted to give me
her
version, along with all of the excuses.” She grimaced and leaned closer to Craig. “Have they determined…” she started.
He grinned and nodded. “Yes. Good news. Your grandnephew is not Petra’s son. Ernesto is his father, and he’s the father of the baby she’s carrying.”
“She’s pregnant?” June asked, her eyes wide.
Craig looked sheepish. “Oh, I guess that was for your niece to tell you. And I’m sure she will.”
“Well, I’m glad to hear that my late husband’s son has not spawned any children to carry on his…” she snickered “…legacy of destruction.” She shook her head. “I can’t believe all the anguish and chaos he has brought to this household.” She took a deep breath before asking, “And Megan…whatever will become of Megan?”
“I think she plans to leave the country with her latest beau,” Craig said. “His home base is Asia and I believe she’s going with him. So your regular staff will be back on duty tomorrow?” he asked.
“Yes, with a few changes. Poor Gwendolyn has been replaced. Nola, and I believe the new chef, will work out just fine.” Her eyes brightened. “He’s bringing his two Savannahs to live here at the cat ranch.”
“Savannahs?” Craig asked, looking confused.
“They’re beautiful cats…a cross between a domestic cat and a serval…a mid-sized wild African cat.”
“Exotic,” Craig said. “Who will take Megan’s place?”
“Nola, of course. She will be my right
and
left hand.”
****
Two months later, the same group gathered again to celebrate the opening of Hammond’s new cat ranch. They were joined by most members of the Hammond Cat Alliance, representatives from the local humane society, government dignitaries, and other interested parties.
“Isn’t it a puzzle, Savannah,” June said that day, “how something so evil can bring about something so beautiful? Here we are celebrating a magnificent new space for the indoor kitties as well as the outdoor ferals, with room and staff to help another several dozen cats.” She glanced around at the facility, catching Nola’s eye and smiling across the yard at her. “It’s a dream come true, Savannah. A dream come true.” She then motioned to a man who promptly took the mic and announced, “Please, may we have everyone’s attention? It’s time for the unveiling. Please, all gather around.”
June took Savannah’s hand and smiled up at her, as Nola made her way to the small temporary stage. After thanking their supporters on behalf of June Balcomb, Nola said, “It is with a great deal of thought and discussion that June has decided on a name and a logo for the ranch. She wanted you all to be here for the unveiling.”
June squeezed Savannah’s hand as she watched Nola pull the ropes that raised the screen to reveal the new sign. Nola continued. “It reads: ‘Ragsdale Ranch for All Cats.’” She glanced out over the group, adding, “The plaque below says, ‘In honor of Rags, one very special cat.’”
Other books in the Klepto Cat Mystery series
Catnapped
(Book 1)
When Savannah Jordan agrees to help her aunt while she recovers from a broken foot, she doesn’t expect to walk into a mystery, become part of a not-quite-legal surveillance team, be kidnapped by a deranged stranger and meet a steaming hot veterinarian.
Beloved neighborhood cats are missing—the community can only guess at their fate—and Aunt Margaret’s life is being threatened. Is it because she has a clue to the missing cats or is it something more sinister? Of course, as in all of the Klepto Cat Mysteries, Rags, an ordinary cat with a most unusual habit, has a paw in saving the day.
If you like light mysteries with only a little terror, if you’re infatuated by interesting cats and if you love a love story, you must read this book.
Cat-Eye Witness
(Book 2)
Savannah and Aunt Margaret open the old Forster home to the Hammond Cat Alliance for a fundraiser to help rehabilitate the abused horses rescued months earlier from the catnappers.
Before the afternoon is over, the collected funds go missing and someone is murdered in an upstairs bedroom.
Suspicion surrounds Iris, a local waitress and Savannah’s new best friend. The only witness to the murder is Rags, Savannah’s cat. With the assistance of a cat psychic and Rags’s good friend, Charlotte (the young girl with Downs), the cat helps to “paw” the killer… but not before an attempt is made on Rags’s life. The case is solved only after Rags comes face-to-face with the killer for the second time.
Detective Craig Sledge is new to this book, as is Damon, Iris’s errant son. Sledge finds this to be one of the muddiest cases he has ever worked, with inconsistent clues and no apparent motive. He’s constantly surprised, perplexed and impressed by the cat’s uncanny ability to come up with clues he has missed. His fascination with the attractive Iris Clampton also mystifies the detective.
In this story, one of the rescued horses goes into labor and there’s a night of high drama at the ole corral as veterinarians Savannah and Michael work to save the foal. This experience renews Savannah’s deep interest in horses and riding, which ultimately serves to help her bond with a very important surprise character who finds his way into her life and Michael’s just as they prepare to say their wedding vows.
While Rags is the animal star, he isn’t the only animal featured in this story. Layla is back in all of her tangerine feline beauty. And Rags makes friends with Buffy, a perky almost Himalayan cat and the inseparable duo, Walter, an all black cat and his sidekick, Lexie, a charming Afghan mix dog. Savannah’s new ride, Peaches, also debuts in this story. An incident with this mare adds another dimension to Savannah’s and Michael’s relationship. Can he hold her with open arms?
Some say this is a love story with a mystery in the background. And it’s a story of family and friendship as newlyweds Margaret and Max continue to be a meaningful part of Savannah’s and Michael’s world.
Sleight of Paw
(Book 3)
In this story, Michael Ivey, the local veterinarian (Savannah’s new husband) is attacked by an enraged client and then later accused of this man’s murder. The evidence quickly stacks up against Michael, until Rags, Savannah’s kleptomaniac cat, starts digging up clues implicating the unlikely suspect.
Coinciding with the details of this challenge is the discovery that the old house, which the couple purchased from Savannah’s aunt, is cursed. Is this why the couple has not been blessed with a child?
Savannah’s sister Brianna comes for a visit. She teams up with the Iveys’ vet tech, Bud, to discover how to break the gypsy spell and they fall hard for each other. Will their courtship be strengthened or weakened by a frightening carjacking incident?
Detective Craig Sledge is prominent in this story as the lead investigator in the murder case. As usual, he engages in some creative tactics to get the information and the confessions he’s after. He has also become embedded in Savannah’s friend, Iris’s family. He’s dating Iris and helping with her son, Damon’s rehabilitation in prison. If you read the 2
nd
in the series, you know that Rags (the cat) helped to put Damon in jail.
Undercover Cat
(Book 4)
A popular local journalist goes missing just before she has the opportunity to turn in her story exposing unscrupulous cat hoarders. Not only is Colbi a friend of Savannah’s and Michael’s, Damon (now out of prison and employed by the local newspaper) has a strong personal interest in her. In fact, Damon breaks some rules and some trusts in his search for Colbi.
Is this a love connection? It’s doubtful because Colbi is a strong advocate for the feral cat population and Damon hates cats—or so he believes.
Colbi’s rescue is almost too late. She needs time to heal both physically and emotionally. So the Iveys invite her to recuperate in their home. Just when Colbi begins to feel safe, a body is discovered in the Iveys’ orchard and Rags (their kleptomaniac cat) goes missing. Can someone in a nearby homeless camp shed some light on the evolving mystery?
The Colony Cat Caper
(Book 5)
Savannah Ivey, a veterinarian out on maternity leave; her aunt Margaret, the founder of the Hammond Cat Alliance; and Colbi Stanton, a reporter for the local newspaper take on a cat colony at an old, abandoned building. Odd activity around the place makes them wonder if it actually is vacant; some believe it’s occupied by something other-worldly.
When a stranger comes to town and suggests the Alliance open the old building to a fund-raiser, everyone gets involved, including Rags, Savannah’s kleptomaniac cat. He finds something that day that stirs a lot of people—both law-abiding and crooks—into action. Are the feral cats and their caretakers in serious danger? What (or who) lurks inside the old building? What secrets does it hide? And who has the key that unlocks the mystery?
The Celebrity Cat Caper
(Book 6)
Rags, the kleptomaniac cat, opens up a whole new bag of tricks, when he becomes a therapy cat in a children's reading program. A documentary film crew arrives to capture the cat in action and they get more than they bargained for. Find out how Rags handles his sudden celebrity status.
In this story, Savannah and Michael Ivey invite strangers into their home during a torrential rainstorm and learn that one of them has a sinister past. Someone is murdered, Savannah is stalked, Michael's life is threatened, and Rags helps to uncover an old mystery that, until now, has everyone baffled.
The Iveys' baby Lily is three-and-a-half-months old and, along with nine-year-old Adam, provides some sweet and warm moments throughout this fast-moving story with many twists and turns.
The Corral Cat Caper
(Book 7)
The Corral Cat Caper features a lot of horse energy. It's rich in adventure of the feline as well as equine sort. In one scene, Rags attempt to save their sweet kitty, Buffy, from a catnapper and Savannah helplessly watches this drama unfold via a surveillance camera app on her phone.
This story is full of sweet and evil surprises, unexpected twists and turns, and plenty of action and adventure.
The Gallery Cat Caper
(Book 8)
An old friend of Michael’s, who has become a successful artist, invites the entire Ivey family to his beach house. But their vacation is not all fun-and-games. It appears that someone is out to get the artist; and the Iveys and their friends keep stumbling upon clues to the tangled mystery.
Rags is up to his old klepto tricks, and it’s a good thing because, not only do his uncat-like antics prove to be amusing, he manages to save two lives.
Join the hilarity and suspense as this mystery unfolds. Enjoy some of your favorite human and animal characters as well as a few new ones, all of them giving this story a light and rich quality.
Mansion of Meows
(Book 9)
Rags's documentary is scheduled to debut. The showing will take place at the investor's San Francisco mansion, where the Ivey family and film crew will stay. Of course, the mansion holds secrets and Rags is instrumental in letting the cats out of the bag.
Savannah and Aunt Margaret share another daring adventure and, of course, find themselves in deeper than they expected.
This mystery may be the most eerie in the Klepto Cat Mystery series.
PAWtners in Crime
(Book 10)
When Michael and Savannah invite young burn victim and heir Arthur Spence into their home, they don’t expect danger to follow. The sensationalism around his family’s dark secrets have the paparazzi in a photo-snapping frenzy and the young man isn’t yet equipped to deal with their shenanigans. Are they issuing the unnerving threats to Arthur’s life, or is it a beloved family member? Rags, the kleptomaniac cat, has a new PAWtner in fighting crime and what a team they make. They delight in sticking their noses and digging their claws into the facts of the frightening matter. Hold onto your seats—there are some harrowing moments in this story, and some startling surprises.
PAWSitively Sinister
(Book 11)
The Ivey family travel to San Francisco to help Arthur and his long-time friend, Suzette, clean out the mansion. News of the massive estate sale lures a variety of people, including former residents and long-ago visitors, each carrying stories of bizarre activities occurring there in the past.
When the klepto cat, Rags and his pawtner Koko make some ghastly and ghostly discoveries, everyone goes into research mode and they’re stunned by what they uncover - evidence of people gone missing, a treasure-trove of loot, and spirits unable to rest. This is by far the most PAWSitively Sinister story in the series.
The Purrfect Lie
(Book 12)
When the Iveys and the Sheridans find a deathbed confession letter, Savannah and her Aunt Margaret spring into action. Is Savannah’s imagination playing tricks on her or has she stumbled upon the unaware kidnap victim mentioned in the letter? In the meantime, there’s trouble at the Sheridans’ cat shelter and Rags, the kleptomaniac cat, leaps right into the middle of the tangled mess. Only the cat knows who is putting his feline friends in danger. Meet some interesting new characters in this story and be prepared to laugh and to cry. The feel-good ending is worth the admission price of this book.
A Picture-Purrfect Christmas
(Book 13)
A spellbinding story of love, hope, and a child's innocent Christmas dreams. When Savannah Ivey agrees to teach photography to a group of at-risk children, she doesn't expect a sweet-spirited little crippled girl to steal her heart and become an important part of her family. Even Rags, the kleptomaniac cat, is captivated by the child named Marissa. When she goes missing, everyone, including Rags, experiences the pain of loss.
Detective Craig Sledge fears that Marissa's unscrupulous, non-custodial father may be behind her disappearance and the search escalates into high gear. When even a pack of rescue dogs can't find the child, the detective turns to Rags and everyone prays for a Christmas miracle. Can Rags succeed where the others have failed?
While this story involves some intense drama, it will also make you smile and even laugh out loud. Bring out the tissues for the beautiful ending. A Picture-Purrfect Christmas is one of those feel-good holiday stories you'll want to read over and over again.
