Patricia Fry - Klepto Cat 05 - The Colony Cat Caper by Patricia Fry Page B

floats.”
    “Okay!” He looked down at the cat that had been attacking his cord and said, “I think we’re tired now. Can we go eat?”
    “Sure,” Michael said. “Let me set the traps again and we’ll be off.” Once that task was accomplished, Michael folded the chairs and headed for the car, carrying them.
    Adam followed along, continuing to drag the cord. He looked up at Savannah and said, “Hey, maybe Rags, Walter, and Buffy will want to play cat-fish.”
    “Could be,” she said. Then she asked Adam, “Did you bring another pair of jeans?”
    “Yeah, I think so. Why?” he asked.
    “I want to wash the ones you’re wearing. You and your cat-fish really got those dirty.”
    ***
    Later, Savannah carried a load of jeans into the service porch, including Adam’s pair. He had since changed his clothes. Before tossing the jeans into the washer, she checked all the pockets for tissue, money and other things left-behind. When she got to Adam’s jeans, she was pleased to discover that he had done a pretty good job of emptying his pockets. The front pockets were empty, except for a little dirt, which she dumped into a nearby trash can. She squeezed the back pockets, however, and felt something in one of them. She reached in and pulled out a photograph. Hmm, she thought. I wonder where he got this? She stuffed it into one of her pockets, started the washing machine, and headed back out to the wrap-around porch where Michael stood grilling the wieners and Adam sat nibbling on chips out of a bag. “Hey Adam, where’d you get this?” she asked holding up the photograph.
    “Oh, that’s one of my treasures. I found it way behind the big house.”
    When she looked puzzled, Michael said, “The Fischer building. We walked around to the other side. Do you know who it is?”
    “No,” she said takin g another quick look. And then she stopped and looked hard at the photograph. “Wait!” she said, causing Adam to stop mid-bite and Michael to look up from the grill. Savannah tapped her finger against the photo. “This is the same guy in that picture Colbi found at her house after the meeting, only…” she hesitated “…in a different pose.”
    “Who is it?” Michael asked, walking over to take a look.
    “I don’t have the slightest idea. Never saw him before. Iris thinks she might have seen him or his dad in the diner.” She continued to stare down at the picture. “He’s really rather non-descript—he looks slight, blond, really nothing outstanding about him. He’s not bad looking, but…”
    “You mean no pimples or scars or crossed eyes…?” Michael said.
    Adam laughed, which spurred Michael on. “No tongue sticking out…” He stuck his tongue out in an attempt to look scary.
    Adam laughed louder.
    “No fang teeth,” Michael said eerily. “No…”
    “No cat ears,” Adam said laughing.
    “Yeah, no cat ears or dog nose…”
    “You two are silly,” Savannah said grinning and shaking her head.
    ***
    After two days of fun and frolic with Adam, Savannah and Michael drove him home. On their way back, Savannah said, “So what are we going to do about our trapping project?”
    “ Our trapping project?” Michael asked, winking over at her.
    She smiled, arched her eyebrows.
    “Yeah, okay,” he said, “I guess I’m involved, whether I want to be or not.” He thought for a moment and then said, “I don’t know, Savannah. I think Max is right—it seems that the traps are being sabotaged.”
    “I wonder who could be doing it and why?”
    Michael was quiet for a while and then he asked, “Do you know anyone who has outside video cameras? Maybe you could set up cameras and catch someone in action.”
    Savannah straightened her po sture and turned in her seat. “I love it! Yes, that’s what we’ll do. I’m calling Auntie right now.”

Chapter Six
    “Yoo-hoo,” Margaret called as she stepped into Savannah’s and Michael’s living room Monday just after noon. “Shouldn’t leave your