Meow for the Money (A Klepto Cat Mystery Book 14) (15 page)

“Did you arrest Petra Salvo?”

“Not yet.” He looked at the cat. “So where’s the powder?”

“Here,” Michael said, handing the small packet to him.

Craig opened it and smelled the contents. “Hmmm, seems suspicious, doesn’t it? I’ll ask Jim to have it analyzed. We should have a response sometime tomorrow.”

****

It was quite early the following morning when Craig called Savannah on her cell phone. “Can you tell me who stayed in that room before you and Michael came to the estate?”

“No,” she said. She then asked, “Craig, you should know; you went with the staff when they gathered their stuff on move-out day, didn’t you?”

“Sure, I went with one of them and the security guards were assigned to the others. I didn’t go to that room.”

“Oh, well, let me ask. June’s right here.” Savannah pulled the phone from her ear. “June, we’re staying in the third room to the left in that hallway on the west wing. Can you tell me whose room that was before we moved in?”

“Gwendolyn; my main chef. That’s where she stayed.”

When Savannah relayed the message to Craig, he asked, “Does she know how I can reach Gwendolyn?”

“He wants to know where Gwendolyn is now,” Savannah said.

“She probably took a room with her sister out past the fire station. I can get that address for you if you give me a moment.”

Two hours later, Craig appeared in the cat room where Savannah, Colbi, Nola, and June were playing with the cats. “You ladies have a tough life,” he said, laughing.

Savannah huffed. “What do you mean? This is work. We’re working here,” she said, while wriggling a feather toy in Shadow’s direction.

“Working?” he asked, looking suspiciously at them.

“Yeah,” Colbi said in all seriousness, “Nola and I are their personal trainers. It’s important they get their daily exercise.”

When Craig looked at June, she grinned. “That’s right. It’s their workout time.” She then gazed at him. “Did you find Gwendolyn? Why did you want to see her, anyway?”

He rubbed his chin and cleared his throat. “Um, well, something was found in her room and I wanted to know where it came from. Gwendolyn Harris said she moved out of that room two weeks before you sent them away. She said Megan Vale wanted to trade rooms with her.”

“Heavens, why?” June asked. “That doesn’t make sense.”

Craig explained. “Ms. Harris told me that Ms. Vale decided it was too noisy in her room and she wanted one farther away from the kitchen.”

June raised her eyebrows. “Well, I didn’t know about that arrangement. But then I’m the last to know about a lot of things that go on around here.”

“This may be enough evidence to get a search warrant for Ms. Vale’s home or car, or wherever she’s living or storing her things,” Craig said.

“Detective, I believe she’s using one of our sheds here on the grounds for storage. Most of the staff who live here do.”

“Oh really? Do you have a key, Mrs. Balcomb?”

“Yeah, there should be keys to all the storage units hanging in the laundry room.”

Craig thought for a moment. “I’ll need a warrant, though, or whatever I find might not be accepted as evidence. I’ll see if I can get that process started this afternoon.” He turned to Savannah. “Would you tell Iris I might be late tonight? We expect the orderly in this evening and we want to question her as soon as possible.”

“Sure, I’ll tell her.”

Just then his phone buzzed. “Excuse me,” he said, walking out of the room. When he returned a few minutes later, he said, “…the best laid plans…”

“What do you mean, Craig?” Savannah asked. “Will you be home early after all?”

“I doubt it, not with another homicide in our midst.”

“What?” she said.

June’s jaw dropped.

Craig thinned his lips, then sat down near June and looked into her eyes. “Mrs. Balcomb, your cook, Gwendolyn was found dead a little while ago outside her sister’s home.”

“Oh no,” June said, aghast. “That poor woman. What happened? You say it was a homicide? Are you sure it wasn’t a heart attack? She wasn’t in very good health. I’ve been worried about her, lately.”

Craig shook his head. “Looks like she was attacked, all right, but not from the inside—from the outside. Blunt-force trauma.”

“But why?” she asked.

He looked at June. “Why did Sterling Goss die? Why did your driver die?”

June reached out for Savannah’s hand. “I must make it known that I’ve changed my will—that what they each get is a lump sum and that’s it. How can I get that word to them before they kill each other off?”

“Mrs. Balcomb, I advise you to stay out of it. Let your attorney handle it. Have you already made the changes?” Craig asked. When June nodded, he said, “Have your attorney summon the three of them into her office for the announcement. We don’t want any of them anywhere near here until this mess is cleared up. Understood?”

“Yes sir,” June said, unsmiling. “Thank you for all that you have done and you, too Savannah. You’ve all made a horrendous situation tolerable and almost enjoyable at times. If only I didn’t have this heavy load on my shoulders. I’m too far along in my life to be carrying such a burden.” She looked up into the ceiling. “Why oh why didn’t this challenge come along when I was more able to handle it?”

Savannah cringed. “June, you know God doesn’t give us more than we can carry. You’re handling yourself and this awful mess with grace. I’m sure He’s smiling down on you.”

“Well maybe so, but He sure must be disappointed in the others—those who are trying to harm His beautiful creatures,” she said, petting Mazie Mae and Tinker while tears rolled down her cheeks.

Nola grimaced and rose to comfort June. Kneeling next to her, she said, “Your kitties are all just fine, Ms. June. Please try not to worry. You have a lot of people protecting them—a lot of people who care.”

****

“Good morning, all,” Craig said the following day as he entered the dining room for breakfast.

Upon seeing him, Savannah and June both set their utensils down. Savannah asked, “Craig, what happened last night? What did you find out?”

The two women waited for his response.

“Well, it looks like Gwendolyn Harris fell. Her sister said she thinks she’s been having small strokes and it’s possible that she simply fell hard and hit her head on the edge of a cement step.”

June let out a sigh. “Well, as sad as I am about Gwendolyn’s death, it’s certainly a relief to know she wasn’t brutalized. I must call her family and offer my condolences.” Her eyes met Craig’s. “What about Petra and Megan…and Jody?”

He chuckled. “Well, Ms. Vale was furious when she found out your stepson had been in the sack with Lorrie Cowgill.”

“Who’s Lorrie Cowgill?” June asked.

“Yeah, we need a program,” Iris said, spreading jelly on her toast.

“Lorrie’s the orderly who was seduced by Petra Salvo. She was reluctant at first to talk to us. She still thought Petra would meet her on that romantic island and they’d live happily ever after. When we caught up with her, it didn’t take her long to realize she was never going to see that smooth-talking stepson of yours again, except maybe in court. Then she thought it might be to her advantage to tell what happened, since she figured he would get the blame, not her. Not a very bright gal…” Craig observed.

“So, what did you find out?” Savannah asked.

“Lorrie smothered Sterling Goss and claims that Petra blackmailed her into doing it.”

“Blackmail?”

“Yeah, he romanced her, but he also dug up some dirt on her and threatened to use it if she crossed him. It would have meant her job and probably some jail time. Hospital administrators don’t like it when employees help themselves to the drugs.”

“Wow! He picked a good one to go in cahoots with, didn’t he?” Savannah said.

“Yes, he seems to do his homework. He’s been stringing her along for a while. I suspect he’s into abusing prescription drugs himself.”

June sat stunned. “My, my,” she murmured, “just when you think you know someone… Detective,” she said, “do you know who killed Andrew?”

“Not conclusively, but we’re still pretty sure he died because he was trying to protect the little boy. We believe he saw someone running off with the child and tried to stop him or her.”

“Her?” June said, surprised.

Craig winced. “I can’t say anything more. Don’t want to taint that investigation.”

“What a tangled web we weave,” June muttered.

Just then Dora stepped into the doorway. “Your attorney’s here, Ms. June.”

“Oh, thank you. Would you take her to the cat room? I’ll meet you in there. And have someone bring tea, would you, please?”

“Certainly,” Dora said, hurrying out of the room.

“Where’s Nola?” June asked, lifting herself out of the chair. “Good heavens, has anyone seen her today? Nothing has happened to that sweet girl, has it?”

“No, June,” Savannah said, putting her hand on the elderly woman’s arm. “I’m sure she’s fine. I saw her just a little while ago with Colbi. They were grooming some of the cats.”

“Oh thank heavens,” June said with a sigh. “Well, I want her in the meeting this morning. I guess we’ll find her in the cat room.”

“Mrs. Balcomb,” Craig said, as she started to walk away, “have you done a background check on this girl?”

“Who, Nola? Well no, Detective. I haven’t had a chance, yet…why?”

“Don’t you think it would be a good idea?”

She thought for a moment, then shook her head. “I know she’s the one. She has a genuine passion for animals. She will take care of my cats the way I want them cared for. I have no qualms about this girl, and that’s that.”

“Well, Mrs. Balcomb,” Craig said, “I hope you don’t mind, but I took it upon myself to do a little checking.”

“How dare you!” June shouted. “My business dealings are none of your concern. Don’t you know that if I thought there was a problem, I have the resources to get any information I want or need? I saw no reason to check on Nola Kat. None whatsoever.” She started to walk away, then turned and narrowed her eyes, asking more quietly, “So what did you learn?”

He smiled broadly. “Nothing. She has a clean record. Was a good student. Her employers and those who she volunteered for love her. Looks like you’ve made a good choice there, Mrs. Balcomb.”

June smiled and nodded her head. “You don’t live to be ninety and not develop some good instincts.”

“Too bad you can’t choose your relatives,” Craig said, as she reached the doorway.

She smiled weakly and walked slowly down the hall toward the cat room.

****

Later that afternoon, Savannah, who had done a grocery-run, returned to the estate in time to see Craig and a couple of sheriff’s officers poring through a variety of items laid out on the ground in front of a storage shed. Once the kitchen crew had unloaded her car, she trudged out with Lily to see what progress the men were making.

“Here’s the original sedative bottle,” Craig said, disgustedly. Using gloves, he held it up for Savannah to see. “From Straley Community Hospital—probably courtesy of the orderly Lorrie Cowgill.”

“So it is a sedative. It wasn’t designed to harm June, right?”

He looked at Savannah over the rim of his reading glasses. “There’s always a danger when inexperienced people administer any sort of medication.” He looked at the container, then set it down out of the way. “Yeah, these people had a plan—a fairly elaborate plan, actually. But the queen bee will prevail.”

“Queen Bee? You mean, June?”

He nodded. “Yes, as we pull their plan apart little by little and reveal who these people really are, I hope Mrs. Balcomb can stand tall through it all. I’m afraid I don’t have a pretty picture to show her.”

“Sounds like you’ve uncovered more than just the origin of the sedative.”

Craig pressed his lips together. “You got that right, kid. And it’s all coming together. I may have a bombshell to share over dinner tonight.”

“Morning, Craig,” Savannah greeted when she saw him enter the dining room the following morning. “We missed you at dinner last night.”

“Yeah, I kinda got sidetracked. Didn’t make it back until darn near midnight.”

“So what is it?” she whispered as he lowered himself into an empty chair next to her.

“What?” he asked.

“The bombshell. We waited to hear about it last night.”

“All in good time, Savannah,” he said quietly. “All in good time.” He glanced around at the others and noticed they were involved in lively chatter, sharing stories of their experiences as domestics and caretakers for the cats.

“Mazie Mae took a swipe at Tabitha yesterday,” Colbi announced. “I think she’s miffed because Rags is spending more time with the tabby than with her.”

Michael chuckled. “A woman scorned, huh?”

“Yeah, and Rags seems to be loving it, that scoundrel.” She continued, “He’s not discouraging attention from either one of his ‘ladies.’”

Savannah sighed. “How are we ever going to get him to come home?”

“You aren’t thinking of leaving me, are you?” June asked.

Savannah smiled. “Well yes, June. At some point Michael and I must take our children home.” When she saw the look of disappointment on the woman’s face, she said, “But we won’t leave you until things are settled here. Promise.”

“Speaking of settling things here…” Craig started. When he saw that all eyes were on him, he continued, “I think we’ve made some progress in our investigation.”

“Oh good,” June said. “Who have you convicted?”

He grimaced. “Well, no one, yet. But we’re close to understanding what’s been going on and why.”

“Detective,” June said, “I think we all know who’s involved and why. Some of those close to me want my money.”

“Yeah,” Craig chuckled, “that seems to be the main motivation. But we can’t make arrests based on what we think is in someone’s head. We need evidence and, hopefully, we can get some confessions. We always try to go after a confession.”

“What kind of torture do you use these days?” Damon asked, tongue in cheek.

Craig grinned. “Some perps believe our tactics border on torture, when they get caught with their pants down…” he glanced around the table, “…figuratively speaking, of course, ladies.” Addressing June, he said more quietly, “We arrested your stepson last night.”

June stared at Craig. “Can’t say that I’m not disappointed.” She sat straight. “But if that’s where he belongs, that’s where he belongs. What did he do, actually, Detective?”

“May I speak here?” he asked, motioning around the table. “Or would you rather we talk in private?”

June glanced at the others. “Speak freely, Detective. These are my friends. It’ll all come out in the papers, anyway.” She shook her head in disbelief, clasping her hands under her chin. “Princeton would be so upset with that boy, rest his soul.” She looked at Craig. “So tell me—what is his part in all this?”

“He’s been arrested on suspicion of hiring an orderly to smother your attorney in his hospital bed and to steal that sedative they were giving you in your tea.”

“He’s responsible for killing Sterling?” she asked, her voice weak and her eyes filling with tears.

Craig grimaced, nodding slightly.

“Was he trying to kill me?” she asked, her voice cracking.

Craig shook his head. “I don’t think so. I believe he wanted power of attorney and he thought if he proved you incompetent—if you were too confused to act on your own behalf—he could get it and then use his ‘charisma’ with you, Megan, and Jody to manipulate your estate to his benefit.”

She cringed. “Sounds like him. Oh Petra, Petra,” she said, shaking her head slowly. She looked around the room. “He had such promise. He could have done marvelous things in this world. He has a wonderful mind, but somehow it became infected by greed.” She looked at Craig. “What about Megan? Was she involved with giving me the sedative? You said you found the evidence in her room.”

“Yes, and we found the bottle in her storage unit. But I’m not sure she actually administered it—at least not to her knowledge. We’re still working on that question. It could be a plant.” He leaned forward. “Did you know that your cook Gwendolyn Harris kept a journal? She logged everything she did in a day.”

“Oh my,” June said. “I knew she was a dedicated employee, but…I had no idea…”

“It appears that she began the practice after something that happened in her last job. Did you know, Mrs. Balcomb, that she was involved in a nasty investigation involving extortion and attempted murder at another place where she worked?”

June gasped. “My God, no!”

“It doesn’t appear that she did anything wrong, but that experience taught her to keep track of everything in case she ever needed to defend herself again.” He paused before saying, “We believe she’s the one who was spiking your tea, but not through any maliciousness on her part.”

“Good Lord,” Michael said, “what did she think she was putting in there, vitamins?”

“That’s a good question…a detail that has not been revealed, yet.” Craig softened his voice and spoke to June. “I think someone may have convinced her it would help with your memory. It appears that she was tricked into believing she was helping you in some way.”

June placed her teacup in the saucer. “Makes sense. Gwendolyn would step forward on my behalf. But she could be a tad naïve. Tell me, Detective, why did she feel it necessary to hide the powder in such a way?”

Craig cleared his throat. “Well, it seems that Petra, probably in an attempt to keep someone from discovering the sedative, told your cook that it is highly attractive and dangerous to cats, and she needed to put it where the cats wouldn’t find it. Gwendolyn even talked to her sister about this. She joked about how difficult it was to find a place to hide the powder from the cats. Some of them, she said, could open drawers and climb up onto the bookshelves. Her solution was to tape the powder to the bottom shelf of her nightstand.” He chuckled. “…and then it was a cat who found it.”

“Leave it to Rags,” Michael said, laughing.

“Always on the job,” Damon added.

“And that’s where I’d better go—on the job,” Craig quipped, as he scooted his chair from the table. “See ya’ll later.” Within a few minutes, he returned and approached Savannah. “Um, would you like to go with me to talk to Jody Santos?”

“Oh, uh, well,” she stammered. “When?” She pulled back and looked into Craig’s eyes. “Why me?”

“Around ten thirty this morning.” He peered at her. “Why? Well, female suspects interview better when there’s a woman present—in particular, one out of uniform.”

When Savannah hesitated, Iris, who had overheard the conversation, said, “Lily can hang out with me.”

“Oh, Iris, she’s a handful and you have kitchen duties,” Savannah protested.

“Edie’s making her three-squash soup for lunch today and Dora’s baking bread.” She smiled brightly, “I get a day off and I’d love to spend it with Lily.”

“Okay, then.” Savannah turned to Craig. “Yes, I can go with you.”

“I’ll pick you up around ten fifteen.”

****

“Wow, she lives in luxury too, doesn’t she?” Savannah said when Craig pulled his unmarked official car up in front of Jody Santos’s house.

By the time the pair exited the car and walked most of the distance toward the house, Jody had opened the oversized door slowly and looked out. “Hello, Detective. Just a minute,” she said, closing the door. A moment later, she opened it, holding her toddler in her arms. Before she could speak, a young Mexican woman rushed into the foyer and took the boy from her. “Gracias,” Jody said, watching them leave the room. She turned to Craig and Savannah. “Let’s go into the living room, shall we?”

She seems somewhat more poised this morning,
Savannah thought as she followed the younger woman into a spacious living room.
And she’s certainly dressed more tastefully,
she observed.
She doesn’t look so anorexic and anemic when she dresses well.
Savannah chuckled to herself.
I’ll have to remember that. I have more color to my skin than she does, but I don’t have much more meat on my bones.

“Thank you,” Craig said, easing into a wingback chair across from Jody. He motioned for Savannah to sit to his left. Clearing his throat, he said, “Mrs. Santos. I appreciate you seeing me today.”

“Well, it was either cooperate or find myself in an interrogation room downtown, right, Detective?”

He nodded. “Pretty much, I’m afraid. Now, the reasons I’m here are twofold. One, I need you to talk to me about Petra Salvo and…”

Before Craig could continue, Savannah noticed Jody stiffen.
She’s not as relaxed about all this as she pretends.

“And what?” Jody asked.

“And, I want to know how you fit into his…little scheme.”

Savannah watched as the woman’s eyes darted around the room.
Looks like she’s searching for a way out,
she observed silently.
Maybe she hopes she’ll just disintegrate into fairy dust.
Savannah smirked inwardly.
Settle down and pay attention,
she told herself.

“First, Mrs. Santos,” Craig said, “what do you know about the sedative that was being given to your aunt?”

“Nothing,” she said, maybe too quickly. When Craig remained silent and simply sat staring at her, she looked down at her hands and wiped them on her slacks. She picked up a coffee mug and took a sip of the beverage.

She looks like a deer in headlights,
Savannah observed,
or a rabbit caught in the cabbage patch. This ought to be interesting,
she thought, looking from Jody to Craig. Jody nearly dropped her coffee cup when she heard his next question.

“Mrs. Santos, who took your child from the room where he was sleeping at the estate back on…” he looked at his notes, “…January tenth?”

“What?” Jody asked, her eyes as big as dinner plates.

“Did Petra Salvo take him or did you hire someone?”

“Wait!” the woman shouted. “What are you suggesting? Are you out of your mind? Why would Petra take Carlo? Why would I hire someone to take my son?”

Craig spoke more calmly. “Are you telling me that you don’t know who took the boy? Do you want me to believe that you were not involved in the ransom scheme?” When Jody seemed as if she might begin to hyperventilate, Craig changed his tone. “It must have been hard for you to agree to such a horrendous conspiracy—letting your little boy go like that.” He rubbed his chin and peered at the woman. “Although, it wasn’t as if Carlo was with a stranger, was it? The boy knew the kidnapper and so did you…but did you know he could kill? Once you found that out, did it ever occur to you that he might even kill your son if he was pushed into a corner?”

Jody’s eyes filled with tears and Craig sat quietly as she wept, her carefully applied mascara darkening the area around her eyes.

Savannah glanced at Craig, who motioned for her to comfort Jody. She grabbed a box of tissues sitting nearby and eased next to Jody on the settee, offering her one. He continued, “It must hurt to find out that someone you trusted isn’t trustworthy, Mrs. Santos. I’m sorry about that.” Craig then raised his voice. “How do you think your aunt feels to learn that everyone she thought she could trust is out to sabotage all that she’s worked for and harm all that she cares anything about?”

Jody began to sob. “I didn’t want to hurt Aunt J. It was all…” she started. She took a deep breath and blotted the area around her eyes with a tissue. “I’d never harm Aunt J. She’s the only family I have in this world—well, except for my husband and son.” She sighed deeply. “I thought Petra was family, too.”

Craig grinned. “He’s a sweet-talker, isn’t he?”

She nodded.

“He knows how to find your vulnerable spot and work with it to get his way.” He spoke more softly. “He makes a friend feel valued and a woman feel…well, you know, don’t you, Mrs. Santos? And once he has you where he wants you, he starts using things against you. Is that the way it is, Jody? Do you mind if I call you, Jody?”

She took a ragged breath and shook her head.

“What did he have on you Jody?” When she didn’t answer, he asked, “What secret did he hold against you to make you do the things you did…or did you do them on your own? Was it your idea to fake the kidnapping of your son for ransom, Jody?”

“Oh no. It wasn’t my idea. I only went along with…” Suddenly, she stopped talking and glanced at the detective.

Craig took advantage of the moment. “Why, Jody? Why did you go along with it? What was Petra holding over your head?” When he saw her struggling, he asked, “Did he have you convinced that it wasn’t really kidnapping if the boy’s father had him?”

At that, Savannah gulped and stared at Craig. She became aware that Jody had stopped weeping, but the woman’s whole body seemed to tremble now.

Craig used the opportunity to add tension to the moment by not speaking. Finally, he said, “Your husband doesn’t know Petra is Carlo’s father, does he?”

What?
Savannah thought.
Wait a minute. What’s going on here? Things are moving too fast for me. Petra is Carlo’s father?

“No,” Jody said quietly, “Ernesto doesn’t know and I want to keep it that way.” She blew into a tissue then looked at Craig and spoke haltingly. “Yes, Petra was…blackmailing me. If I…didn’t go along with his plans to get more…money from my aunt, he was going to tell Ernesto and my aunt everything—how I had too much to drink…at my wedding and snuck out to meet Petra after Ernesto went to sleep. Oh yes, Petra would have been more than happy to tell Ernesto what’s been going on under his nose for the past two years.” She sobbed. “And I couldn’t stop it. He wouldn’t leave me alone. When he started harassing my aunt, I tried to end it with him, but he became ugly and more demanding.”

“Jody,” Craig said quietly, “did Petra kill Andrew Pritchard?”

She looked down at her hands as they twisted the tissue. Suddenly, she raised her eyes to meet his and nodded. “He didn’t mean to, the old man got in his face—tried to take Carlo away from him. Petra told him to mind his own business, that everything was under control, but Drew saw it differently. He must have thought Carlo was in danger and he fought to get him away from Petra. Petra pushed him and he must have fallen on a spade he’d been using in the garden. It was an accident, don’t you see? Petra didn’t mean for Drew to die.”