A MEOWvelous Witness (Klepto Cat Mystery Book 17) (14 page)

“You want to talk to Rochelle?”

“I’m thinking maybe I should, just for my own peace of mind. Savannah, if they put me on the stand now, in the state I’m in, I might confess to something crazy that isn’t at all true. If he takes me to court, I have to have clarity. I need to be sure of the truth. You know what a terrible liar I am.”

Savannah laughed. “Oh, yes. I remember that time we played poker with Michael and my aunt. You couldn’t even bluff successfully.” She laughed harder. “I’ve never seen anyone reveal their hand as transparently as you did.”

“Yeah, poker’s definitely not my game. So what do you think, Savannah? Could Rochelle hypnotize me and help me sort out what’s real and what’s pure brainwashing on Eugene’s part? I mean she was able to help your friend Arthur remember those awful things from his past.”

“Sure, I can see about setting up an appointment with Rochelle. When could you make the trip to see her?”

“Any time. It’s that important. I’m beginning to feel as though I’m losing touch. That man has me rattled—and the fact that he’s harassing Damon just makes me so angry, I could…”

“I’ll call her in the morning and I’ll let you know what she thinks, okay?”

“Yes, thank you. I look forward to hearing from you.”

“Hey, Iris, you went with Colbi to her doctor appointment, didn’t you?”

Her voice brightened. “Yes. Isn’t it good news?”

“Uh…”

“I’m absolutely delighted that she got a clean bill of health. I guess her imagination just got away from her. It’s wonderful knowing she’s okay—no horrible genetic disease.”

“Yes, yes it is. So you didn’t go in to see the doctor with her?”

“No. I offered to, but she asked me to wait for her. Why?”

“Oh nothing. I just wondered. Yes, it is super news. I couldn’t be happier for her.”

“Me, too. Now, if that awful man who doesn’t even want to call himself Damon’s father would just disappear, all would be wonderful in my family.”

“Iris,” Savannah said, “do you know who that tall, dark man was that I saw arguing with Damon last week? The one who originally claimed to be Damon’s father?”

“Hell, I don’t know. I can tell you Eugene Jackson is not tall or dark. In fact, he just got out of jail. He showed up here yesterday afternoon with his attorney—what a floozy. Doesn’t look like an attorney to me. Do you know what her name is?” she asked. Before Savannah could respond, she said, “Honey Babcock.” She laughed. “Honey Babcock. What kind of name is that for an attorney? She looks more like a…”

“A floozy?” Savannah said, laughing.

“Yes.”

“Iris, I told Craig I saw a woman matching that description with the tall man. She waited in the car while he badgered Damon. Now what’s she doing with your ex-husband? This is all rather mysterious, don’t you think? Are the three of them working together?”

“I don’t know, I’ve never seen the tall man. I don’t know who he is. He does have Damon confused, though. That guy came to him, claiming to be his father, then he disappears and Eugene gets out of jail and shows up at the newspaper office also claiming to be his father. I guess the other guy was willing to take whatever Damon would give him—he had discounted the presumed debt down to $20,000, then $5,000. Did you know that?”

“No. Gads, what a puzzle.”

“More like a nightmare.”

Savannah sighed deeply. “Well, Iris, I’ll contact Rochelle tomorrow and let you know what she says about a hypnosis session.”

****

“Iris, have you heard of Skype?” Savannah asked, the following morning when she called her.

“Huh? Oh, you mean that deal where you can see each other while chatting on the computer?”

“Yes. Well, Rochelle uses Skype sometimes for her sessions. If you’re open to trying it, she could work with you this week. What do you think?”

“Sure. Where do you get the camera? Hey wait, the boys talk through the computer to an exchange student they know in Germany sometimes and I think they have one of those. Yeah, I could use theirs if someone will show me how to do it.”

“Good. I’ll give you Rochelle’s number. Why don’t you call and set up a time?”

“Okay. Um Savannah, would you be with me?”

“During the session?”

“Yeah. I mean, what if I go to sleep and miss the important stuff?”

“Sure, I can do that. I’ll be away this morning—Lily has a play date with one of her little friends—but I could come over this afternoon or anytime tomorrow. Just let me know when.”

“Okay, it’ll have to be when my teenagers and my husband are gone from this chaotic house, so maybe tomorrow sometime, if Rochelle can do it then.”

“Yeah. Let me know.”

****

“Sorry I’m late,” Savannah said, as she slipped in through Iris’s front door the following afternoon. “I got a little sidetracked when I dropped Rags and Lily off at Colbi’s. Dolly and Rags are having a sleepover tonight. Did you know that?”

“What?” Iris said, frowning. “Why?”

“Well, Dolly misses him. You know they spent quite a bit of time together at the cabin and then in the mountains. I keep telling Colbi she needs to get Dolly a kitten.”

“Yeah, like that girl needs another complication,” Iris said sarcastically. “She’s not handling things very well, these days, do you think?”

“No. I agree. At least she’s decided on a dress. Now to get her to actually purchase it.” Savannah looked around the room. “Okay, where’s the Skype connection?”

“In here,” Iris motioned, leading her down the hallway.

As the two women stepped into one of the boys’ bedroom, Savannah was drawn to the bed. “Well, hi there, Tommy Kitty. Aren’t you a big boy? And handsome.” She said, smiling when the fluffy grey-and-white cat, responded enthusiastically to her cheek-scratches. “Oh, Iris, he’s yummy.”

“Yes, he’s quite a good cat and really attached to Chris and to Craig. He waits here most of the day for Chris to come home from school. Then he helps him do his homework. If the boys are out someplace, he’s in Craig’s lap.” She chuckled. “The two of them like to watch sports together.”

“It’s hard to think of how small and malnourished he was just a year or so ago when we found him all alone in Big Sur.”

Iris gazed at the cat, then quickly changed the subject. “By the way, thanks for coming over. I’m so nervous you’d think I was having a tooth pulled.”

Savannah laughed. “Sometimes hypnosis can be like pulling teeth. You never know what will come out.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of.”

“Are you sure you want me here?”

“I have no secrets from you. Of course, I want you here. Come on; I’m supposed to call when I’m ready.” Sitting down at the computer, she said, “Now, let’s see if I remember what Brett told me about how to work this thing.”

A little while later, Iris said into a microphone, “Hi, Rochelle. Hey, it works. I can see you. Can you see me?”

“You sound like a child playing peek-a-boo,” Savannah said, giggling a little.

Iris and Rochelle laughed. “Hi Iris. Hi Savannah,” Rochelle said. “You two look well this afternoon.”

“So do you,” Savannah said. “Hey, I’m going to slip out of sight and sit quietly over here with the cat while the two of you work. Iris wants me here, if you don’t mind.”

“Sure—good seeing you, Savannah. Okay, Iris, are you ready?”

It didn’t take long for Rochelle to talk Iris into a relaxed state and then she began asking questions: “Iris, I want you to go back in your memory to the day you married Eugene Jackson. What do you see happening on that day?”

Savannah noticed a slight smile dancing on Iris’s lips. “He was so handsome. It was a lovely day.” She giggled. “We ran away together—just wanted it to be the two of us.”

“How old were you, Iris?”

“Thirty-two.”

“Where did you meet Eugene Jackson?”

“At a party.”

“What do you remember about that party, Iris?”

“Dancing. Everyone wants to dance with me. I love to dance.”

“Is Eugene at the party?”

She hesitated. “Yes, I see him staring at me. Oh my God, here he comes. He’s cutting in.” Iris frowned. “George Patterson is not happy. But I’m dancing with the stranger anyway. He’s so good-looking in a kind of rugged way. And a good dancer.”

“This stranger, is he Eugene Jackson?”

“Yes.”

“Iris, what happens after you dance with Eugene?”

She hesitated before saying, “He wants to drive me home.”

“Did you go home with him?”

“Yes.”

“Then what happens?”

Iris thought for a moment. “We talk and talk. All night long we talk about anything and everything. I wanted to stay with him forever.” She smiled and said coyly, “He’s kissing me.”

“What are you feeling, Iris?”

“There are sparks. Lots of sparks.”

“What happens next?” Rochelle asked.

“We start dating.” She paused. “We go to the movies and take long rides.” She smiled. “Sometimes we stay at my house and…”

Rochelle interrupted. “Fast-forward, Iris, to the day you and Eugene Jackson get married.

“A beautiful day. Just the two of us. We are so in love.”

“And after your wedding day?” Rochelle said. “Go to a time a few months after your wedding. What is happening now?”

After pausing, Iris began to cry. “A mistake. It was an awful mistake. I’m pregnant and he’s mad.” She sobbed. “Fighting. Lots of fighting.”

“Okay, Iris,” Rochelle said, “let’s fast-forward to the day you have the baby.”

Iris sat quietly for a few moments.

“Iris. Where are you?”

“In the hospital holding my baby,” she said, smiling.

“Who’s with you?”

She hesitated. “I’m alone.”

“Where’s your husband?”

“Gone.”

“When is the next time you see Eugene Jackson?”

She thought for a while. “Monday.”

“What Monday?”

“This past Monday.”

“Did you have any communication with Eugene after your child was born until Monday?”

Iris shook her head.

“You never spoke to him again or saw him?”

“No.”

“Iris, did you receive any mail from him during the years your son was growing up?”

“No.”

“Did you receive any money from him during that time?”

She shook her head. “No.”

“Okay, Iris, I want you to wake up now at the count of three. One, two, three. You’re fully awake and you remember everything you experienced during the session.” She paused. “Iris how do you feel?”

“Good. Now I know. There was no money at all coming from him, not a phone call, nothing. But his mother was there for us.”

“His mother?”

“Yes, she was awfully nice. When she learned she had a grandson, she started visiting. She helped me a lot. She told me once that Eugene was in prison. She felt really bad about the way he had treated me and the fact that he had abandoned us. She tried in so many ways to make it up—to help cover her son’s tracks.”

“Did she give you money toward Damon’s care?” Savannah asked. When Iris looked at her, she said, “I’m just thinking maybe he believes he gave his mother money for the baby’s support. Is that where your ex-husband is coming from?”

“I don’t think so,” Iris said. “The paperwork Eugene’s attorney gave us shows money coming out of his own bank account directly to me. No,” she said, shaking her head, “they didn’t bring up his mother at all.” She paused. “She did help financially a couple of times and she brought Damon clothes and toys. She gave him his first tricycle.” She gazed into space. “I wonder if he remembers his Grammy Jackson.”

“Is she still living?” Savannah asked.

“I don’t know. I lost touch with her years ago.”

“I wonder what she knows about her son’s child-support habits—or lack thereof,” Savannah suggested. “Maybe she would testify on your behalf.”

“I wonder.” Iris said. “Might be worth a try to find her.”

“Well, ladies,” Rochelle said, “if you don’t need me any more today, I’d better get back to the gallery. Peter has a shipment of prints coming in and I said I’d help him display them.”

“Thank you, Rochelle,” Iris said. “I feel so much better. I’m sure now that there were no child-support payments. I should have been secure in my memory. I’ve pinched pennies for as long as I can remember and I’ve kept good records. I’m also a ninny.”

“A ninny?” Rochelle questioned.

“Yeah, I’m so afraid of making a mistake and being audited by the IRS that I’ve kept detailed records since the nineteen eighties.”

“Sounds like you’ve covered all your bases, Iris. So glad you’re feeling more confident now.” Rochelle waved. “See you all.”

“’Bye, Rochelle,” Savannah said. “Stay in touch.”

“Thank you, Savannah, for setting this up,” Iris said, once the Internet communication had ceased. “Whew! I really do feel lots better.”

Savannah put her hand on her friend’s arm. “So glad to hear it. We need you strong. Don’t want you falling apart.”

“Yeah, now if only I can maintain this surge of confidence I suddenly feel.” She faced Savannah. “Hey, I think I’ll see if I can contact Ellen.”

“Who?” Savannah asked.

“Ellen Jackson. Damon’s grandmother. Last I heard from her, she was living in a small town along the coast, not far from Eureka.” She typed something into the computer. “Hey, that’s her daughter,” she said, when a name popped up. “She ran a quilting shop back in the day. Looks like her shop’s still there. I’m going to contact her.”

“Well, I’ll leave you to your good memories. I need to get back. Michael and I are going on date night this evening and I have to go rescue Colbi from my daughter and get her ready to visit her great aunt and uncle.”

****

“This is so nice,” Savannah said, reaching for Michael’s hand as he drove toward their favorite Italian restaurant.

He gently rubbed her fingers. “Yes, I love our life and our little family, but I sure look forward to date night—just you and me.”

“Me, too.”

“You look beautiful tonight,” he said.

“Thank you, kind sir. You’re dapper this evening, too.”

“Dapper?” He laughed. “What does that actually mean?”

“I don’t exactly know, but I think it’s a good thing. You look good. Nice. Handsome.”

He winked at her. “Here we are. Ready?”