A MEOWvelous Witness (Klepto Cat Mystery Book 17) (16 page)

“Good Lord, Savannah.”

“We think it’s Damon’s father.”

“Where’s Damon? Is he there with you?”

“No, he’s across town on assignment and Harrison is back at school. Colbi was here by herself. Oh, I hear someone in the driveway; must be the sheriff.”

“Savannah, stay on the line until you’re sure, will you?”

“Oh, okay.” She looked out the window. “Yes, it’s Deputy Jim and…I think Deputy Ben. I’m going to hang up now. I should be home soon.”

She heard a long sigh, then, “Okay, hon. I’ll wait up for you.”

As she and Colbi stepped out onto the porch, Savannah noticed another car approaching. “Looks like the detective heard the news,” Savannah quipped. “Hi, Craig,” she called. “Bad news sure gets around fast, doesn’t it?”

He slipped out of the car and strolled toward the women. “Sure does,” he said under his breath.

“Hey, we thought you were out of town,” Colbi said, hugging the detective.

“Yeah, found what I needed earlier than I expected. Got home in time for dinner.” He looked at the two women. “So what do you know?” When they appeared confused, Craig asked, “What happened here tonight?”

Savannah noticed that the two deputies were also waiting for their answer, and she looked to Colbi for an explanation.

“Well, like I told Savannah, Dolly and Rags were all upset and nervous about something they saw out the window or maybe something they heard. I don’t know for sure.”

“Rags?” Deputy Ben said. “Isn’t that the cat?”

Savannah nodded. “Colbi got scared and called me. We went out to look around…”

“…and we found a body.” Colbi grabbed Craig’s arm. “I think it’s Damon’s father.”

“Well, I can’t say I’m sad to see that knucklehead go.” He took a deep breath. “Only finding him here doesn’t make me happy. Where is this body?” he asked.

Colbi pointed and the deputies quickly walked around to the west side of the house. “Over here, Detective,” Ben said, while Jim placed a call to the coroner.

“Tell me it’s natural causes or suicide—come on, make my day, will ya?” Craig quipped.

Ben shook his head. “Wish I could. Looks like whoever did this hated the man with a passion.” He looked at Craig. “Do you know who it is?”

Craig moved closer and stared into the dead man’s face, which was illuminated by Craig’s flashlight. “Yeah, ’fraid so. He used to be married to my wife.”

Not sure how to take that bit of information, Ben simply stared in Craig’s direction. “Looks to me like the body was dumped here, don’t you think so?” Craig asked. “See those drag marks, and the crumpled manner in which the body’s positioned?”

Ben walked to the police car and returned with a camera. “I know the coroner will get pictures, but I want some for our files, too, in case this
is
a homicide.”

“In case?” Craig asked. “You don’t think it is?”

“You never know until you complete an investigation. You’re aware of that, Sledge.”

Craig nodded, then looked around the area, using the beam of his flashlight.

“Savannah thought he jumped or fell from the second-story window,” Colbi said.

Savannah nodded. “Or the roof.”

“What would he be doing up there?” Craig asked.

“Heck if I know—I was just trying to make sense of it.”

“Where’s Damon?” Craig asked.

“On assignment. He thought he’d be home late, so he wasn’t planning to come over here tonight. Why?”

Craig ran his hand through his hair. “Well, I think he’s going to be first on the list of suspects, don’t you? Iris being second, and then me.” He looked at Colbi. “You might be on that list, too, young lady, since you were with Colbi when she found it.” He glared into Savannah’s eyes for a moment. “How long have you been here?”

“Oh, maybe half an hour, I guess.”

He looked from one to the other of the women and shook his head. “Doesn’t look good, ladies.”

“What do you mean?” Savannah asked, furrowing her brow.

“I don’t want to alarm you, but some may theorize that Colbi saw Jackson come onto her property and called you to come over here and help her attack him.”

“Us?” Savannah said, laughing. When she saw the look on Craig’s face, she immediately became solemn, asking, “You’re kidding, right?”

“Oh, Michael, I was so scared,” Savannah told him the next morning. “I mean, how suspicious does it look? It’s the middle of the night and Colbi and I find this guy who’s threatened her fiancé’s family and he’s dead outside her house.”

He took her hand. “I’m sure you two aren’t serious suspects.” He let out a sigh. “But Damon and Iris could be and maybe even Craig.”

“Yes, that’s what Craig said. I guess everyone will be questioned unless they find a clue as to what actually happened. You know, I need to call Iris. She must be terribly upset.”

“Why don’t you eat your breakfast, first, hon? Here, let me get you a glass of juice—eat your eggs.”

Savannah looked at the plate of scrambled eggs and sausage she’d prepared. “Juice sounds good.”

“Eat,” he instructed when he placed the glass in front of her. He looked around. “Did you bring Rags home last night?”

She nodded. “Yes. He’s around here someplace. Probably sleeping in. He had a long night, too.”

“Oh, there he is, in Buffy’s bed,” Michael noted. “Yeah, he looks exhausted.”

“You know the cats alerted Colbi to the body. They were going crazy at the window when I got there.”

He gazed at Rags and shook his head. “Well, I’m off. It should be a busy day at the clinic this morning. We’re neutering a litter of kittens and one of them may need major surgery if that testicle hasn’t dropped yet.” He winced. “Poor kitty will probably have to wear a cone for a while. It’s hard on a young one who’s so low to the ground and energetic. Have you ever watched a kitten try to deal with one of those things?” When she didn’t respond, he said, “Savannah.”

“Huh? Oh, good bye, Michael; have a good day at work.”

He leaned toward her and looked into her eyes. “I will, if you’ll snap out of it. Relax, will you? Everything’s going to be okay.”

“How can you say that, Michael?” she asked defiantly. “Some of our friends may be in awful trouble. I’m worried and I’m frightened for them. Colbi, especially, doesn’t need any more stress in her life.”

Wrapping his arms around her, he murmured, “I know. I’m concerned too. But let’s try not to let it interfere with what we have to do. How can we be a help to our friends if we allow this to drag us down? Now eat some breakfast and keep a stiff upper lip, will you?”

She grinned. “At the same time? That could be impossible.” Sitting up straighter, she said, “Okay Michael, you’re right of course. I’ll pull it together. Now, I’m going to call Iris.”

When Michael started to say something, she grinned up at him. “…after I eat.”

“Good girl,” he said, kissing her. “’Bye, hon.” He leaned over Lily as she sat in the highchair and kissed her on top of the head. “’Bye little hon. Love you.”

“’Bye, Da-da. ’Bye-bye,” Lily chirped, waving one pudgy hand.

“Hi Iris,” Savannah said into her cell phone several minutes later. “How’re you doing?”

“Well, good in some respects, awful in others, as you can imagine.”

“You mean, you’re glad the creep’s out of the way, but you’re concerned about being a suspect?”

“You’re absolutely right.”

“Have they talked to you yet?”

“Craig’s taking me down for the interrogation in an hour or so.”

“Interrogation?”

“Yeah, that’s what it seems like. And Damon… Oh my gosh, Savannah, Damon’s going to be a suspect pure and simple. I’m so frightened for him.”

“But he was on assignment last night. He has an alibi, doesn’t he?”

“Um, from what I understand, it was more of a stakeout. His boss sent him to watch a house to see if the resident went out anywhere—it’s one of those stories about a neighborhood peeping Tom. The problem is, no one knew Damon was there, obviously. He was hiding out, right? So no one can corroborate his alibi. Like Craig said, for all they know, he left his post, found the snake, and…you know… or he went to Colbi’s and found him sneaking around outside the house and....”

“Oh my gosh, Iris, that does put him in a precarious spot, doesn’t it?” She paused, then said, “You know, Michael and I saw Damon last night.”

“You did? At the stakeout place?”

“No. Um…he was…well, he was with Eugene Jackson.”

Savannah heard Iris gasp. “Where, Savannah? What were they doing?”

“Outside the newspaper office. We were going to the Italian restaurant up the street. They were arguing. Gads, I sure hope I don’t have to tell the authorities about it.”

“Well, what happened?” Iris asked.

“Nothing—words were exchanged and they went their separate ways.” Savannah added, “Oh, and the tall not-the-father was there, too.”

“What? Oh, you mean that dark-haired guy you saw with Damon at the newspaper office? Was he with Eugene?” she asked. She then said scornfully, “So they are working together, huh?”

“No, they didn’t seem to be together. Mr. Jackson and the floozy were together, and I noticed the other guy drive away after they left.” She chuckled. “He drives one of those vintage cars—you know, from your era. It was long, sleek, and turquoise.”

“Interesting. I’d better give Craig that information. I’m sure he’ll want to know.” Before Savannah could respond, Iris said, “Hey, I called Eugene’s mother this morning to tell her about—you know—what happened. I thought it was the right thing to do. Boy, was I wrong.”

“Why?” Savannah asked.

“Well, Eugene’s sister answered the phone. She wanted to know how I knew about this. I told her he came here and has been terrorizing us, trying to extort money from us in a big scam. She didn’t believe me. She said her brother has been a model citizen since he was last released from prison five years ago and that if he claimed I owed him money, I probably did. Savannah, she’s blaming me for his death. She said if I didn’t do it, someone from my family did, and she hopes we all burn in hell.” Iris began to cry.

“Oh Iris, I’m so sorry. That sure adds insult to injury, doesn’t it? I just don’t know what to say.” She paused, then asked, “What about his mother? You said you had a pretty good relationship with her at one time. Is she still living?”

“Uh-huh,” Iris said, trying to control her emotions. She caught her breath and continued, “Audrey wouldn’t let me speak with her. They live together now, I guess. I didn’t even get to find out anything about Ellen’s health. She must be in her late eighties now.”

After a brief silence, Savannah asked, “Is there anything I can do, Iris?”

“I don’t know what it would be. Just pray for us, that’s all.”

“Sure will. Stay in touch, will you?”

“Uh-huh. ’Bye, Savannah.”

****

“Where’s the newspaper?” Michael asked that evening after dinner.

“Um, I guess in that basket next to the front door. That’s as far as I got with it this afternoon. It’s been a busy day. I helped Helena do some heavy cleaning around here while Lily napped. It’s been a while since we’ve done that and I’m exhausted. Lily and I fertilized the orchard and we let Peaches run in the round corral. I got pictures of Peaches nuzzling Lily through the fence. Auntie came over for a visit. And I must have talked to everyone I know on the phone today.” Her eyes brightened. “Including Brianna. It’s been a while since we’ve had
sistah
time, as she calls it. We’re planning lunch soon—just us gals. And maybe a spa day. She says she’s been really busy in her practice.”

“That’s good. That means she’s getting a lot of patients. How does she like doctoring the elderly generation?”

Savannah smiled. “She seems to enjoy the seniors. She’s one of those with a heart for the aging soul.”

“Oh no!” Michael shouted after opening the daily news to the front page.

“What?” Savannah asked, fearfully.

“I don’t believe this,” he said, open-mouthed.

“What, Michael?” she asked, moving toward him and peering over his shoulder.

“Iris has confessed.”

“To what?” she shrieked.

“To the murder of her ex-husband.”

She eased down onto the ottoman near where Lily played with a musical toy. “Oh my gosh! Why?” she asked, looking stunned. “Why in God’s name would she do that?”

“Well, the article just says she walked into the station and confessed to the murder of Eugene Jackson.”

“Do they have her in jail?”

“She’s out on bail. I’m sure Craig arranged that.”

“Oh, he must be absolutely furious with her. What does she think she’s doing, anyway?”

Savannah stood, reached for her cell phone, and placed a call. “Iris, what in the blazes did you do?” When Iris didn’t respond, Savannah said, “Why did you do it?”

“To protect my family,” she said quietly.

“What do you mean?”

“Um, why put everyone else through all of this, when I’m the one to blame?”

“That’s ludicrous. What are you thinking, Iris? You did not kill that man. You don’t have it in you to kill anyone.”

“Oh, you just don’t know, Savannah. There’s a side to me that you didn’t know about. We all have a dark side. Now, I’d better go. I have things to do.”

“Iris!” Savannah said loudly, but her friend had hung up. Feeling helpless, she made another call. “Colbi, What’s she doing?”

“Who?”

Savannah hesitated before saying, “Haven’t you seen today’s paper? I mean, you work at the newspaper office…Damon works there. It’s on the front page.”

Colbi spoke almost mechanically. “Oh, you mean Iris? Yeah, I guess she has confessed.”

“She didn’t kill that man!” Savannah insisted.

“Yeah, you’re probably right.” Colbi paused. “Damon thinks she’s doing this to protect him. She must believe he did it.”

“Did he?”

“No!” came the immediate response. “No, he did not. Why would you even ask such a thing, Savannah?”

“I’m sorry, Colbi. I’m just so upset and confused by what’s happened.” She pulled her phone from her ear for a moment and then said into it, “Hey, Craig’s trying to call me. Can I call you back?”

“Well, if you want to, I guess,” Colbi said, her tone flat.