Patricia Fry - Klepto Cat 05 - The Colony Cat Caper (22 page)

“Either way, we’ll ge
t a new slant on things from down below. Are you ready?”

Gonzalez took a deep breath. “I’d rather be golfing, boating, hiking, parachuting, getting a root canal…”

Craig laughed. “Oh come on now, this might be more fun than you think,” he said, slipping on a headband flashlight.

Gonzalez smirked. “Sure, let’s go.”

“Back off, kitties,” Craig said, his voice muffled by his face mask. “Through poop, barf, and whatever, we’re comin’ in.”

“Yuk.” Gonzalez said. And then he remarked, “At least there’s enough r
oom to crawl—glad you got these knee pads.” Suddenly, he stopped. “Whoa! What was that?”

“What?” Craig turned and looked at his partner, who had been following his knee prints.

“I guess a cat—a big cat. It came from somewhere above. Creepy.”

“Well, you’
re scaring them as much as they’re scaring you.”

“Yeah, them and their friends the spiders, snakes, and other creepy crawlees.” Gonzalez said. “Yeow, I think I got bit.”

“By what?” Craig asked.

“A rat maybe.” In a few seconds, he said, “Naw, I just craw
led across a rock—a pointy, sharp one.”

“Tsk-tsk,” Craig said shaking his head as he continued to crawl on gloved hands and padded knees. “Ahhh, if my calculations are correct, I think we’re getting close.” In a few more
seconds he said, “Yes, that looks like the place. There’s a tube angling down beneath the floor over there. Do you suppose that’s where the gems are?”

“Criminy,” Gonzalez said using his own head flashlight to scrutinize the situation. “That’s quite an elaborate setup. What do you suppose
it was originally designed for?”

“It’s hard to say,” Craig said, pushing up to a sitting position. He then reached over and began examining the tube. “It’s solid. There doesn’t seem to be an opening,” he said, removing one glove and feeling along the side
s and bottom of the tube.

“It’s at a strange angle, don’t you think?” Gonzalez observed. “What’s it made of—could we saw into it?”

“Yeah, we probably could, actually. Good idea. But I think there’s something between this tube,” he said, tapping it with his knuckle,” and the compartment we saw on top. If I’m not mistaken, there’s another chamber between the two.” He scowled, “…like a maze. And it appears it’s on purpose—intentional.”

“But why?” Gonzalez asked.

“My guess is that Anson Fischer was either brilliant or crazy.” He motioned to Gonzalez, “Let’s go find us something that will cut into this thing.” He looked around using his head flashlight and said, “Looks like an easier way out over there. Let’s see if we can jimmy that screen off.”

A few minutes later, Gonzalez said, “I guess we owe them a new crawl-space cover, you damaged that one pretty bad when you kicked it out.”

Craig looked at him and said, sarcastically, “Yeah, we really hampered their beautification efforts didn’t we?”

“Who’s that?” Gonzalez asked as he removed his protective gear.

Craig looked around. “Where?” When he spotted a uniformed officer, he said, “Oh, I’ve ordered security out here until we know where those damn gems are—here or on their way across the border with Chandler.”

“They haven’t caught up with him yet?”

“Not as far as I know,” Craig said. “I think we would have gotten the memo.” He slipped out of his overalls. “But with those guys on the loose and no bead on the gems, I’ve ordered security here, and there will be no more trapping out here, either. We’ll allow staff from the Iveys’ clinic to come out and feed the cats once a day. That’s it…at least until we catch up with Chandler and the gems.” He folded up the gear and shoved it into the trunk of his car. “Now let’s go see if we can find a saw that’ll cut through that metal tube.”

***

The following afternoon as the Iveys drove home from the hospital with their daughter, Michael said, “Boy, you weren’t kidding about all the stuff it takes for a baby. Our family would have never fit in your old Honda.”

“Well, we won’t always be hauling around vases of flowers,” Savannah said with a chuckle. “But yeah, babies come with a lot of baggage.” She looked over at the sleeping baby in the infant car
seat next to her and smiled.

“Welcome home,” Gladys greeted as the little family entered through the front door, baby Lily secure in Savannah’s arms.

“Hi Sis,” Brianna said, rushing in from the dining room. “Let me get a look at my niece.”

“Let’s let S
avannah get comfortable,” Michael said. “Here, I’ll take the baby and you cozy down in the big chair.”

Savannah chuckled. “Yeah, I guess there’s room for all of us,” she said motioning toward the chair and ottoman, which already accommodated two members o
f their cat menagerie.

“Come on, Rags,” Gladys said, lifting the large cat. “Make room for Mama.”

“Hi Ragsie,” Savannah said, reaching out with one hand and ruffling the fur on his cheeks. “Buffy’s fine—leave her there on the ottoman, Mom.” After handing the baby bundle to Michael, she settled into the chair.

Brianna, in the meantime, had walked over to Michael and was staring down at little Lily. “Oh Sis, what a doll!” she said. She choked back emotion and said, “You did good, girl.”

“What about me?” Michael said feigning hurt feelings.

Brianna laughed. “You too, Michael. Good job.” She softened her demeanor as she peered down at the still-sleeping baby girl and said, “She is really something—perfect. I just love her. Can I hold her?” she asked expecta
ntly.

“Uh…well…” Michael stammered. He looked over at Savannah, who had a wide smile on her face.

“Sure, you can hold her, Sis.”

Brianna started to reach for the baby when Savannah added, “But I think Nana should have first dibs, don’t you?”

Brianna stepped back as if hurt. She looked at Gladys and then Savannah and said, “I suppose so. But I’m next in line. Hurry, Mom—get your turn over so I can have mine.”

“Oh, go ahead Bri,” Gladys said. “I’ll go finish dinner. I can hold her later.” She ran her han
d over the baby’s head. Lily made a face and Gladys and Michael laughed. Gladys then started to walk away when she said, “Can I get you something to drink, Vannie?”

“Oh yes, Mom. Thank you. Water would be great.”

After Michael had handed over his daughter to Brianna, he carried in the rest of the baby’s things. With Savannah’s guidance, he placed the flowers around the living room. He had just set a teddy-bear-shaped vase with pink baby roses on the coffee table when his phone rang. He pulled it from his jeans pocket and said, “It’s Iris.”

“Hi Iris,” he said into the phone

“Hi Papa. How’s the baby?”

“Spectacular,” he said with a wide grin.

“Uh, can I come see her?”

“
Sure, Iris. You can come any time. We just got home. Gladys has everything under control here; we’re just hanging out. Sure, come on over.”

“Okay. And Michael…Craig says he wants to talk to you about something. Okay if he comes along?”

“Of course.”

“We’
ll see you in a few, then.”

By the time Iris and Craig arrived, the baby had awakened and began to cry in Brianna’s arms. “Now what?” Brianna asked looking perplexed.

“I’ll take her,” Gladys said. “She may have a wet diaper.” She waved quickly to Iris and Craig as they walked in through the front door and then she rushed toward the nursery with the baby in her arms. When Gladys returned, she handed the pink bundle to Savannah.

“Oh, there she is,” Iris said, walking over and staring down at the baby.

Craig joined Iris. “Look at all that pink,” he said. He watched Iris coo over the baby for a few minutes and then he said, “Now that is one pretty little bundle you got there. So…so…girlie.”

Savannah looked up at them. “Neither of you have had a girl-type, h
ave you?”

Both Craig and Iris shook their heads.

“No, I had the one boy who didn’t live to be a man,” Craig said solemnly.

“And I have three boys—gave birth to only one of them, of course.” She smiled down at Lily and said, “I always wanted a little gir
l.”

Craig snapped, “Well don’t look at me.”

“Don’t worry,” she said. “I’m finished with kids—once this batch is grown, that’s it for me. I’m too old,” the attractive fifty-seven-year-old said. She leaned toward the baby, touching her little hands as they curled into fists toward her mouth. “But how fun it will be to watch you grow up,” she said softly.

“Yeah, it will be a kick, won’t it?” Craig said. He then glanced briefly at Savannah before saying to Lily, “And if you’re half as savvy as your mother, y
ou’ll make a fine detective.”

“Yeah, with that and what your cat-brother can teach you…” Iris said, laughing.

Craig spun around and said to Michael, “Speaking of your cat…”

“Uh-oh,” Michael said. He then sat up straight and looked the detective in the e
ye. “You know, Craig, Rags may have to start charging for his services now that we have a new mouth to feed.”

Craig took on a serious tone. “And I’d pay, too. He has been one valuable resource to our department.”

Michael stood and ushered the detective into the dining room. “So what is it you need him to do now, Craig?” he asked.

“We think we’ve found the gems, but we can’t get to them. We already know that Rags can reach them. It looks like they’re hung up in a tight elbow joint. I believe the cat could
either push or pull them through. Do you think he would do it?”

“Well, he’s a cat, Craig. As you know, cats don’t do things on command.”

“Yeah, if there’s nothing else I’ve learned from you about cats, I have picked up on that,” he said with a chuckle.

“But yeah,” Michael said. “I’m willing to take him out there again, if you think it will help to resolve your case. When?”

“As soon as possible, Michael. As soon as possible.”

Michael glanced back into the living room and said, “Let’
s run it by Savannah first, okay?”

***

The next evening Michael and Rags met Craig out at the Fischer building.

“What’s with the cat food?” Craig asked when he saw Michael enter the gate carrying a large bag of kibbles.

“I told Bud and Spence that I’d do the feeding tonight, since I’m out here already,” he said, opening the bag and pouring food into the bowls. He then filled the cats’ water bowls. When he walked back to the truck, he opened the passenger door and said, “Okay Rags, time for you to earn your keep. Now let’s don’t disappoint the detective, okay? We need to find those little white pouches full of pretty stones for him.”

Before lifting the carrier, he looked in at the cat through the wire and noticed he was staring up at him as if concentrati
ng on what he was saying. Michael smiled and then said, “Come on, buddy,” as he lifted the carrier from the seat and walked toward the gate. “You have your own key now, Craig?” Michael observed as he watched the detective open the door to the building.

“Y
eah, borrowed it from Anson Fischer’s ex-wife,” he said.

“The plot thickens, huh? Where did you find her?”

“Right here in town. Maybe you know her; she has some of those white cats. Her name’s Janice Tuttle.”

“Oh sure, I know her. She brings her angoras
to us. Gosh, small world, isn’t it?”

“Yes, too small for us and those crooks; let’s put this case to bed—get those gems out of temptation’s reach.” He led Michael to the opening in the wall and slid the board back.

Rags perked up and started pawing at the door to the carrier. “Looks like he wants to go in there,” Michael said. He opened the carrier door, snapped on the tether, and Rags walked out, heading right for the opening. Michael followed along behind him. “Gosh, he’s going right on in there,” he said.

“Cool,” Craig said. “That’s what I was hoping for. Now, if he’ll just bring us what we’re after. Can you do that, Rags, old boy?”

Michael let the tether slip through his fingers until it was about half swallowed up in the tunnel. He glanced at the end that remained and shook his head. “He can’t get out under the building, can he, Craig?”

“No.”

“He stopped,” Michael said.

Craig held a flashlight steady into the tunnel. The men could see the cat. “He’s turning around and coming this way,” Craig said
. “He’s got something.”

Craig moved his head so Michael could peer inside the opening. “Yeah, it’s one of those pouches. Wow, good boy, Rags,” Michael said. “Bring it on out.” Suddenly he saw the cat sit down and drop the pouch. “No,” Michael said, “bring
it to us. Come on Rags.”

“It’s okay,” Craig said. “We can reach it from here.”

As the men watched, however, Rags picked up the pouch again and walked out through the small tunnel opening.

“Good boy,” Michael said, petting the cat and rubbing him all ov
er. He took the pouch from Rags and handed it to Craig, who promptly peered into the bag.