The Purrfect Lie (Klepto Cat Mystery Book 12) (12 page)

“How nice!” Savannah eased into a chair with Lily and opened the attached card. “Oh look, Lily—a kitty.”

“Ki-ki,” Lily said, staring at the card.

Savannah turned it over and saw Jenna’s signature on the back. “You made this.”

Jenna nodded and smiled.

“I heard your mom say you’re an artist.” She looked the card over again and said, “Gosh, you’re good. This is gorgeous.” She held it to her chest. “I’m going to frame it for her room. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome—she’s welcome,” Jenna said. “Open the package.”

“Oh, there’s more?” Savannah said, laughing.

Jenna motioned toward her parents. “It’s from all of us.”

“How nice. Let’s see what it is, Lily,” she said, urging the baby to help her tear into the gift wrap.

“Books,” Savannah said. “Beautiful books full of animals. Thank you so much. She loves her books.”

“Yeah, she won’t be able to tear these.” Michael said as he examined one of the books. “Hey look, punkin’, the critters have fur and feathers you can feel. Cool,” he said, smiling at the others.

“And check this out,” Jenna said. “When you touch the animal, it makes a sound.”

“What?” Savannah said. She opened one of the books and touched the cow.
Moooooo
.

“Oh, these are adorable. Thank you.”

“Bradley loves his,” Jenna said. “I thought Lily would, too.”

“Perfect. Well, I’d better get her over to where her friends are playing. Don’t want her to miss out. Help yourself to punch. Helena has prepared a whole table full of finger foods and salads. Hope you came hungry.”

Savannah promptly returned Lily to the children’s play area, which amounted to nothing more than an over-sized quilt spread on the lawn and covered with toys. The doting grandparents and a few friends circled the blanket and took turns interacting with the babies. “Who’s this?” Savannah asked, smiling at a little boy who sat playing with a race car.

Just then, she heard a familiar voice behind her. “Hi Cuz.”

Savannah turned. “Roxy,” she said enthusiastically, hugging her. “Is this your little guy?”

The slightly younger woman nodded and the two women fell easily into a lively conversation. After chatting with Roxy, Gladys, and some of the aunts and uncles for a few minutes, Savannah excused herself and went in search of Michael. When she found him, he was deep in conversation with their gardener Antonio and his wife. She greeted the couple warmly, then asked her husband, “So, are they coming over?”

Michael grimaced. “Maybe. He said Lenore isn’t feeling well. They might come later if she feels like it. In the meantime, we should keep things down for neighbors who want to sleep…or think,” he mimicked, using a grouchy tone.

Savannah shook her head slowly. She then said, concern in her voice, “I hope Lenore is okay. Maybe I should check on her later. I don’t think they have any family around.”

Just then, they heard Craig say, “Well, I’ll be. Look who’s joining the party.” “Arthur, Suzette,” Savannah called, as she approached them. “I’m so glad you could be here.” She hugged them both. “You’ll make Lily’s day.”

“Oh, I’d say her day is already pretty special—look at all the guests, balloons, food…” Arthur said. “What a festive party. Are Ms. Colbi and Damon going to write it up for the newspaper? Looks like the social event of the year.”

“Hi guy,” Craig said, as he joined the group. He shook hands with Arthur, then gave him a one-armed guy-hug before warmly acknowledging Suzette.

“Where is she?” Arthur asked, holding up a large package. “We brought her something.”

“Thank you,” Savannah said. She turned and pointed toward the quilt, then frowned. “Good question, where is she?” She shaded her eyes and scanned the area, finally saying, “Oh, there she is. Damon’s pushing her in her new swing. Come on,” she gestured. “She’ll be glad to see you.”

Just then, ten-year-old Adam rushed up to Savannah with Charlotte and Joshua. “We’re ready to play the treasure-hunt game. Can we do it, huh?”

“Well, hi, Charlotte,” Savannah said, hugging the girl. “I didn’t see you come in. Is your mom here?”

“Yeth,” she said. She pointed. “Over there with my thithter…getting drinkth.”

“Oh yes, I see them at the punch table.” When Reba glanced in her direction, Savannah shouted, “Hi! Welcome!”

Reba returned the wave.

Savannah turned her attention back to the kids. “So, you think it’s time for the treasure hunt?” She smiled as Adam and Charlotte bounced up and down and nodded. Joshua was more reserved. “Okay, there’s a stack of treasure maps on the kitchen counter. Want to get them? And bring those little bags, too, please.”

She watched as the trio scampered off toward the house.

“Cute kids,” Suzette said.

“The taller boy with the dark hair is Michael’s son Adam,” Savannah explained.

“Oh yes, I can see that,” Arthur said. “Spitting image.”

“The other boy is my cousin’s stepson and Charlotte is a good friend. Arthur, you’d get along well with her; she adores cats. She’s really good with them…helps my aunt out at their shelter a lot.”

Arthur stared in the direction the kids had run. “Does she have Down syndrome?”

“Yes. She’s a delight.”

“Seems like it,” Suzette said.

“How old is she?” Arthur asked.

“She’s around sixteen now, I think.”

“Hmmm, cute little girl,” Suzette said.

“Okay, come surprise the birthday girl,” Savannah said, leading the couple to where Damon was pushing Lily in the swing, and now Cole pushed Bradley in the second swing.

“Looks like you’re putting her to sleep,” Arthur said as he approached Damon.

“Oh, hi there Arthur,” Damon said, reaching out for a handshake. “Good to see you again, guy.” Damon looked around for Colbi. When he spotted her, he called out, “Colbi, Arthur’s here.”

Colbi rushed to greet the young man and he introduced her to Suzette. “Gosh, you’re even smaller than I am,” Colbi said to the petite woman, and they both laughed.

“Not by much,” Suzette said.

“Yeah, you could be matching bookends,” Damon observed.

“Hey, you’re right,” Arthur said. “…same size, same hair style.”

The two women smiled at one another.

“We brought you something, Lily,” Arthur said.

Damon stopped the swing when he saw Lily hold her arms out toward Arthur, who handed the package to Suzette so he could pick up the baby.

Together Arthur, Suzette, and Lily tore into the package and Lily’s face lit up when she saw that it contained a little ride-in, push-car just her size. Arthur placed her in it and proceeded to push her around as she held onto the steering wheel.

By then, the older children had returned holding a handful of treasure maps.

“Good job,” Savannah said. “Now, let’s find out who wants to play, then we’ll have them choose teams. We’ll give them a map and they go out and find the items. Whoever finds the most items gets a prize.”

“We want Rags on our team,” Adam said.

Charlotte nodded excitedly. “Yeth, we want Ragth on our team.”

“Who’s Rags?” Joshua asked. “That cat in there?” He looked puzzled.

“He’s not a usual cat,” Adam said earnestly. “He finds things all the time. He’s a good hunter.”

“Yeah,” Charlotte agreed. “A good hunter.”

“But he can’t read a map,” Savannah reminded the children with a smile. When they insisted on taking Rags with them, she said, “Well, I guess it’s okay, but be sure to hold on tightly to his leash. He’s been a little too adventurous lately.”

Adam glanced at Charlotte. “We will. Come on; let’s go get him.”

When the children returned, Savannah handed Adam a large bell. “Here, clang this to get everyone’s attention.”

Savannah looked around at the crowd and cringed upon seeing the guests’ reactions to the clanging. Some of them covered their ears with their hands. She saw Arthur pick up Lily out of the push car and hold her to him when she cried from fright. “Oh no,” she said, stopping Adam from ringing the bell. “I think maybe that was overkill.” When the kids looked confused, she said, “It scared Lily and hurt some of our guests’ ears.”

Adam gazed out over the group, appearing concerned for a moment. He then said, “Well, it worked. Everyone’s looking.”

“Yeah,” Charlotte said, “tell them about the game.”

“Okay,” Savannah said more loudly. “Now that we have your attention…” She cringed a little. “Sorry it was so loud.” She glanced in Arthur’s direction and saw that Lily was sitting on his lap playing with a large rag doll Craig and Iris had given her. “We’re going to have a treasure hunt. Everyone who wants to go on a treasure hunt can choose teams, then come up here and get a map.”

“What’s the prize?” Craig called out.

“What does it matter?” Michael asked, playfully.

“I’m not going to participate if the prize isn’t worth it,” he said.

“Oh Craig,” Savannah urged, “come up here and choose a team. It’s a good prize. You’ll see.”

Almost everyone started creating teams, and the children handed out the treasure maps.

“Who drew the map?” Margaret wanted to know.

“I did,” Savannah said, proudly.

“I thought so,” Margaret chuckled. She then asked, pointing at the cat, “What’s he doing out here?”

“He’s on our team, Aunt Maggie,” Adam explained.

“Oh, unfair advantage,” Max said, grinning.

Adam retorted playfully, “You have lots of cats, Uncle Max. You can go get one of yours if you want.”

“I want to be on Adam’s team with the cat,” Craig said.

“No, you’re on my team,” Iris said. “You have to keep me from falling in gopher holes with these shoes.”

Savannah lifted one finger in the air. “Which reminds me, Iris.” She walked to the wrap-around porch and snagged a pair of walking shoes. “Here, fashionista. Put these on. I don’t want you breaking your neck out there.”

“Heck with my neck. I don’t want to break a heel off my new designer thrift-store shoes.” She took the sport shoes and smiled at Savannah. “Thanks, girlfriend.”

Savannah watched as almost everyone headed out across the property, following copies of her crudely-drawn map.

“This is hilarious,” Michael said, putting his arm around his wife. “They’re having a blast out there. Good idea, hon.”

“And you thought…” she started.

“I know, I was skeptical. But look how much fun everyone’s having. Even Craig is getting into the game.”

“Well, it’s right up his alley, being an investigator and all. He might even win.”

Just then Jenna walked up to the couple. “What a cool idea—look at my mom and dad out there beating the bushes for those treasures.”

“Why don’t you join them? I’ll watch Bradley.”

“Oh no. He’s a little overwhelmed by the crowd. I think I’ll let him have a quiet moment. Maybe he’ll fall asleep.”

Savannah looked over at the boy. “He’s enjoying all of Lily’s new toys, isn’t he?”

“Yes. He especially likes the little piano. I guess he’s going to be a musician like his father.”

“Cole is a musician?” Savannah asked.

“Yeah,” Michael cut in, “he told me he has a band and they actually play in lounges.”

“Cool,” Savannah said. “After working hours? I mean, he sells insurance, doesn’t he?”

Jenna nodded.

“It looks like Adam and Charlotte could use some help. I think I’ll join them,” Michael said, excusing himself.

“Let’s go sit down and relax, shall we?” Savannah suggested. She glanced around to check on Lily, then said, “Looks like Arthur and Suzette are taking good care of her.”

“How do you know them?” Jenna asked.

“Oh, it’s a long story. Rags, the cat out there with Michael’s son, was featured in a documentary and we were invited to this amazing mansion in Frisco for the premiere.” She hesitated. “We met Arthur there. He lived in the mansion, actually.” She scanned the area with her eyes. “He and Suzette were both burned as children and met in a burn center. They’re really wonderful people,” she added.

“They seem to be. Cole and I enjoyed chatting with them.”

Savannah peered at Jenna, then said, “You know, I met someone who looks a lot like you the other day.”

“Really?” Jenna chuckled. “I’ve heard that we all have a double somewhere.”

“Yes. I actually mistook her for you at first, but she’s a little thinner and her hair’s darker and…well, a very different style.”

Jenna looked off into space. “Sometimes I dream of having a sister.”

“Oh, you wish you had a sister?”

She looked at Savannah. “No, I mean I dream that I actually have a sister who looks like me. We’re children and we play together all the time and have so much fun. Before I wake up, my dream turns dark and it ends leaving me feeling really awful. I hate that dream.”

“Does it happen often?” Savannah asked, concern in her voice.

Jenna thought for a moment, then said, “A handful of times every year—especially around my birthday. I almost hate to see June fifth come around every year, because I know I’ll get that dream.”

“Your birthday’s in June? Me, too. So you’re a Gemini—a twin, huh? It’s the sign of communication and creativity.” Savannah thought for a moment and said, “You communicate through your art, don’t you?”

Jenna smiled. She picked up her son and placed him on her lap. “Yes, I suppose I do.”

Suddenly, Savannah looked out toward the orchard. “What’s going on?” she asked, standing and shading her eyes.

“Oh, they’re probably fighting over one of the treasures,” Jenna said, laughing.

Savannah was quiet for a moment. “No. No, Jenna, I think there’s something wrong. I’d better go check,” she said, rushing toward the group that had gathered just south of the orchard.

When she saw Craig walking away from the crowd, his phone up to his ear, she suddenly felt sick.
God, someone’s hurt,
she thought. “Lily! Where’s Lily?” she shouted.

Just then, she felt Michael’s hand on her arm. “She’s fine. She’s right there with your sister and your mom.”

Savannah relaxed a little and turned toward her husband. “What happened? Is someone hurt?”

He nodded. “It’s Lenore Crankshaw. She’s lying unconscious out behind their house. It looks like she might have been on her way over here. She was carrying a little gift bag.”