Meow for the Money (A Klepto Cat Mystery Book 14) (11 page)

“Thank you,” she said, smiling broadly. She glanced around the room. “Gosh, it’s a great turnout, isn’t it? Hey, there’s Shelly.” She waved, calling, “Hi girlfriend!”

“Hi there, photographer of the year,” Shelly quipped, rushing up and hugging Savannah warmly. She nodded toward Michael, then focused on the photo display. “Beautiful, just beautiful.” She peered at Savannah. “If I’d known you were going to beat me out, I wouldn’t have encouraged you to enter.”

Savannah looked sheepish for a moment, then said, “You placed, didn’t you?” She put her hand on Shelly’s arm. “In fact, I never did find out who won the contest. Do you know?”

Shelly grinned and pointed.

When Savannah saw a large photo with a blue ribbon hanging next to it, she moved closer, Shelly at her side. “It’s yours!” she exclaimed before even looking at the name next to the picture. “You won?” she asked excitedly.

Shelly nodded, a wide smile on her face.

Savannah tilted her head. “But you said…”

“Yeah, my other entry only got an honorable mention.”

Savannah focused on the winning photo again. “Well, congratulations, girl. I’m so proud of you. And to think you won with the shot we took together that day we rode out near the river with our cameras. I didn’t even consider entering mine.” She added, “But I don’t think my picture turned out as nice as this one. It’s gorgeous.”

Shelly leaned toward Savannah in confidence. “Photoshop.”

“Ohhh,” Savannah said. She raised her eyebrows. “When are you going to Hawaii?”

“I guess next month.” Shelly grabbed Savannah’s arm. “Want to go?”

“Well…I…” she glanced at Michael.

“All you have to do is pay your way,” Shelly explained. “They get a group rate. Deadline’s coming up. I’ll get some information to you.”

“Okay, do that. I’ll think about it.”

Just then Craig walked up to Savannah and put his arm loosely around her shoulders. “Don’t look now, but I want you to check out that dude standing against the wall directly to your right.” He squeezed her shoulder. “Be nonchalant.” Then facing her, he said, “Okay, look now.”

Savannah turned and peered in the direction Craig indicated. “Who, where?” she asked.

He moved closer to her, saying quietly, “The guy in the green t-shirt, wearing shades and drinking punch. Do you know him?”

Savannah studied the man for a moment, then shook her head. “No, I don’t think so. Who is he?”

“Well, he appeared to be staring at you.”

Savannah looked across the room again. “No, he doesn’t look familiar.”

Just then, the pair watched as Shelly walked up to the man and kissed him. Savannah turned to Craig. “Are you sure he was looking at me? I think he was probably watching Shelly. Looks like she knows him pretty well.”

“Uh, well…” Craig stammered. “I guess you’re right.” He chuckled. “False alarm. As you were,” he said, grinning sheepishly.

She lowered her brow. “As I was?”

“Oh, that’s military talk,” he said thinning his lips. “Come on, I’ll buy you a cup of punch.”

“Where are Iris and Michael?” she asked, looking around.

“Arguing over some of the judges’ choices.”

Savannah faked a frown. “Really? They don’t think I deserved to win second?”

“No, they think you should have won first and second with your two great photos.”

“Oh, how sweet.”

“Hello, Savannah.”

Savannah turned in the direction of the voice and saw a man standing about an inch taller than her five feet nine and a half height and wearing a heavy dark beard. She cocked her head, then creased her brow in uncertainty. “Travis?”

“Yeah, it’s me,” he said, quickly scanning her up and down with one glance. “How are you?”

“Great,” she said. She looked around. “What are you doing here?”

“Just passing through. Saw your name on one of those photographs earlier today, heard about the party, and decided to stop in and say hi. You won something, didn’t you?”

Craig cleared his throat and Savannah quickly said, “Oh Travis, this is Craig Sledge. Craig, this is an old…friend of mine.”

The two men nodded toward one another, Travis peering inquisitively at the detective. “Your husband?” he asked.

Savannah grinned. “No, a friend. My husband’s over there,” she pointed, “…with Craig’s wife.”

Just then a petite woman walked up to Travis. He reached around her waist, hugging her to him. “This is Millie. She’s a model.” He looked at Savannah. “Maybe she could model for you.” He turned to the willowy blond. “This is Savannah, the photographer, and her friend…”

“Craig,” he said, reaching his hand out to the woman.

Savannah nodded, then said, “Well, I’d better get back to my husband. Nice seeing you, Travis, and to meet you, Millie. Take care.” Before walking away, she turned and asked, “How long will you be staying?”

“We’re leaving tonight,” Travis said. “Just wanted to say hi and see how you’re doing.”

“Yeah,” Millie said, “we’re heading for Seattle. I have a modeling job there.”

Savannah smiled. “Cool. Well, good luck to you both.”

****

An hour later, the Sledges and the Iveys were on their way to the estate in Craig’s car, discussing some of the photographs they’d seen at the exhibit and some of the people they’d met, when Savannah’s cell phone rang. “Hello?” she said.

“Hi, beautiful. I sure enjoyed seeing you in person tonight. Can’t wait to get to know you better.”

“Darn,” Savannah said, ending the call and dropping her phone in her lap.

“What is it, hon?” Michael asked.

“It was him,” she said. “Michael, he was there tonight and now he has my cell phone number. How did he get it? What’s going on?”

“You didn’t see anything suspicious?” Michael asked. “Do you think it was that old boyfriend of yours? What’s his name…Trevor?”

“Travis,” she said. “I don’t think so…I mean, he has a girlfriend with him and all.” She tapped Craig on the shoulder. “You spoke with Travis. Did you get any weird vibes from him?”

He grimaced. “You never know, Savannah, but no, I didn’t think there was anything suspicious or odd about his behavior.” He paused. “I’d like to check the register. Did you notice they had a guest book? There was a place to make a comment. Maybe your ‘admirer’ is obsessed enough to leave his name and a comment. Who was in charge of that shindig anyway, Savannah? I’ll contact them and get that book.” All of a sudden, Craig ceased talking. He stared into the rearview mirror for a few moments before saying, “I think someone’s tailing us. I wonder if it’s lover boy.”

Savannah turned in the backseat to peer out the window. “Are you sure?”

“Well, there’s one way to find out,” Craig said, quickly veering right into a cul-de-sac. “If he follows, either he lives here, he’s lost, or he’s tailing us.”

Everyone held their breath as Craig pulled out of the cul-de-sac onto the main road.

“Well, I guess he lives there,” Michael said when he noticed the other car didn’t follow them out. He relaxed against the back of the seat.

“Don’t be too sure,” Craig said, slowing down a little and watching in his rearview mirror. “Here he comes.” As Craig sped up in compliance with the speed limit, he asked his passengers, “Okay, shall we let him catch us so we can see who it is, or shall we lose him?”

“I want to see who it is,” Iris said wide-eyed.

Michael scowled. “I’d like to face off with him.”

“Savannah,” Craig asked, “want to meet your admirer?”

“Not really,” she said, under her breath. “Let’s lose him and get back to the estate.”

Craig nodded, then made a call. “Sheriff dispatch, this is Detective Sledge. Would you have someone get the license number on a silver Nissan sedan? It’s right behind me going east on River Road just past Fifth. I can’t get the license number from my vantage point. Thanks.” He turned to Savannah and Michael. “We’ll let him tail us until a deputy shows up, then we’ll lose him and head home.”

When Savannah let out a sigh, Michael reached over and squeezed her hand, giving her a strained smile.

“Okay, there’s the black-and-white,” Craig said. Into his phone he asked, “Did you get the number? Good. I’m going to lose him; why don’t you keep an eye on him. See where he goes. Let me know if you get an ID on the driver, okay?” Once he’d had it confirmed, he said to his passengers, “Hold on,” as he turned a sharp right, then a quick left and headed down an alley. When he got toward the end of it, he shut off his lights. “There they go,” he said, noticing the silver Nissan and the sheriff’s car both driving past, heading south. As he eased out onto the roadway driving north, he said, “Let’s go back and check on things at the estate.”

“Lights are still on,” Savannah noticed as they pulled up in front of the house.

“It’s only nine,” Iris said quietly, stepping through the front door. “She’s been staying up until nine thirty or so. The kitties get active toward evening and she likes to watch them play for a while.”

However, when they entered the cat room they saw June lying peacefully on the daybed. “Brrr, it’s chilly in here,” Savannah said. “And she doesn’t have a blanket.”

“Here it is at the end of the bed,” Iris said, lifting a corner of it. “Excuse me, Tondra Sue, or are you Bentley?”

In the meantime, Savannah touched the woman’s shoulder to rouse her. “June?” She frowned in Iris’s direction. “Gads, she’s cold. Give me that blanket.” Pulling it up over the woman, she called, “June? June?”

When there was no response, Craig rushed to her side. He leaned down and then announced, “She’s just sleeping soundly. She probably doesn’t have her hearing aids in. “Mrs. Balcomb,” he called more loudly as he shook her shoulder in an attempt to awaken her.

“Oh, Detective,” June said, opening her eyes and glancing around. “You’re all back from your night out, I see.” She raised into a sitting position. “Did you have a nice time?” She locked eyes with Savannah. “Were there lots of admirers for your photography?”

Savannah leaned over the woman and draped the blanket over her shoulders. “Oh yes, it was a marvelous evening. Aren’t you cold?” she asked her. “You feel cold.”

June frowned, then shivered. “Yes, I guess I am a little. Thank you,” she said, pulling the blanket more tightly around her.

“Oh, you guys are back,” Colbi said, stepping into the room. “I was just coming to get Ms. June and accompany her to bed.” She smiled at the elderly woman. “Are you ready?”

“Where’s Lily?” Savannah asked.

“Oh, she’s sleeping away in your room. Damon’s with her.” She giggled. “I caught him making a little too much noise in there a while ago. I swear he was trying to wake her up so he could play with her.”

Everyone laughed.

“So are you ready, Ms. June? I can take you up now,” Colbi offered.

“Yeah, I guess I am,” she said, standing with Craig’s help. She glanced around the room. “I was snoozing here with the kitties. Night babies,” she cooed. She then scanned the area again. “Where’s Rags?”

“We didn’t see him when we came in,” Savannah said. “I don’t see Tabitha, either. Surely, they’re together.”

“Yes, I’m certain of it,” June said, turning to look around at the cats. “She likes to hunker down in that big blue tunnel. They might be in there.”

“I’ll look,” Colbi offered. “Yup, that’s where they are. She’s all curled up in there and Rags is sitting at attention…” she laughed. “…like a sentry at the other end of it.” She peered into the tunnel again and said, “He seems to be looking at something. What is it, Rags? Do you see something?” She moved to where she had a better view. “I think he hears something. His ears are going crazy.”

“Going crazy?” Michael repeated, chuckling.

“Yeah, you know, like antennae.”

“Let me see,” Craig said, moving toward where Colbi knelt. “Hey Rags, what’s going on?” he asked, as if he expected a response. But all he got was a quick glance then Rags continued his staring vigil. Craig stood, brushed some of the cat hair off his knees, and headed for the door. “I’d better go have a look.”

“Oh no, is someone trying to get to the kitties?” June asked.

“I don’t think so,” Savannah assured her, “but we can wait here while Craig checks things out, okay?” She urged June to sit down again on the edge of the daybed.

Several minutes had passed by the time Craig returned. He shook his head. “Well, two things,” he reported.

“What?” Savannah asked, while the others stared in anticipation.

“I got a call back from the sheriff’s office.” He grimaced. “The guy who was tailing us was driving a stolen car.”

“Oh, that’s a bummer,” Michael said. “Did they see who he was?”

“No, he gave them the slip.” He hesitated before saying, “He abandoned the car at a strip mall. He went into a convenience store, but he never came out—must have seen the cops and escaped through a back door. He left the car unlocked and they found something interesting inside.”

“Oh?” Savannah said, shuddering, not sure she wanted to hear the rest.

Craig gazed at Savannah. “A slip of paper with your cell phone number on it.”

“Yeah, well, we know he got my number from somewhere—but where? There are no registries for cell numbers, are there? Do you think he got it from someone who was there tonight? Who would that be? Shelly and you guys are the only ones who have this number.”

“Does Travis have it?” Craig asked.

She cringed. “He sure could. I have the same number I had when I dated him. So are we back to suspecting Travis?”

“Not necessarily. The officer said the number was written on a tell-tale slip of paper.”

“Tell-tale?” Michael questioned.

“Yeah, it had the Ivey Veterinary Clinic logo on it.”

“What?” Savannah said. “Someone who works at the clinic?” She looked to Michael for comfort or comment.

After digesting the information, Michael said, “Well, it could be anyone who’s been there, picked up a prescription or instructions. Heck, we give away those little pads with our logo all the time.” He let out a sigh. “That doesn’t narrow it down much, does it?”

“So what’s the other thing, Craig? Are we all set to go to bed and be safe?” Iris asked, pleadingly.

He grimaced, then said, “Yes, because I’ll be spending the night in here with the cats.”