Fear Familiar Bundle (158 page)

Jennifer, James and Familiar stood on the front porch of Eugene's house at the direct order of Chief Craig Bixley, who stood inside with Eugene. Jennifer held the black cat, knowing that if she put him down and Familiar attacked the police chief again they might well shoot him.

"Take it easy," she whispered to the growling cat. "We'll get him out."

Familiar caught sight of the chief and spat at him.

"That cat may be rabid," Bixley said, tugging his hat tighter on his head. Long streaks of blood had dried on his right hand— the hand that had reached to handcuff Eugene Legander.

"Cats are an excellent judge of character," Eugene said, his dignity unruffled by the prospect of spending the night in jail. "Familiar has determined that you have no character," he said to Bixley. "Please be advised that if you continue with this charade of justice I will sue the pants off you and the city."

"Grand Street Press will see to it that all legal avenues are pursued," Jennifer said through the screen door. She moved to open it, but James restrained her.

"Don't give them any grounds to arrest you," he cautioned in a quiet voice, his large hand warm on her shoulder. "Eugene needs you out here."

Caution had never been her strong suit, but Jennifer heeded his words. "You're right, and I know you need to get to the newspaper."

"True, but now I need to see if they're actually going to charge Eugene. And on what grounds."

"Right." Jennifer slumped against the wall, still holding on to an unhappy Familiar. The reality of James's presence hit her with full force. For a time she'd deluded herself that he was there to support her, to help her, and because he might care just a little about Eugene. "Another story for the paper."

The expression on her face cut James deeply. "Eugene Legander's arrest is news." He didn't have to defend his profession. He hadn't orchestrated the turn of events that had brought him to Eugene's door on the tail of the local authorities and Anna Green. Jennifer had asked him to follow the car containing Bixley and Green. Crush had been right behind the police chief. One glance at Jennifer's face and James had sighed. Lucky for Crush Bonbon, he'd left the cavalcade, or Jennifer would have physically attacked him. Not to mention what Familiar might have done. He gave the angry feline a wary glance. The cat could do some serious damage if he took a mind.

Back pressed against the wall, Jennifer knew she owed James an apology. He'd taken her to Eugene's— at her request. He was here because of her. And he was a reporter. She'd known that about him from the beginning. Her real anger was at Chief Bixley and Anna Green, who was hiding out in the chief's car. How had she managed to persuade Bixley to make an arrest? Bixley wasn't brilliant, but he wasn't completely brain-dead.

And Crush Bonbon. He was definitely cruising for a bruising. She closed her eyes and tried not to think of him.

The screen door swung open and Eugene descended the steps between the two police officers. Bixley brought up the rear.

"I promise you, Bixley, this is going to be the most expensive mistake you've ever made," Jennifer said. "Anna Green is using you. She can use Eugene's arrest in her campaign and claim credit for it, which she will do unless it backfires. Then you can be certain she's going to stick you with the blame." Jennifer struggled to keep Familiar in her arms. He was growling at the chief.

James stepped out of the shadow of a porch column. "Mighty coincidental that Anna Green was plugging her campaign into the antiviolence movement and now you're here making an arrest."

"Remove yourself," Bixley said, puffing out his chest.

"Let me introduce myself, Chief. I'm James Tenet, reporter for the newspaper."

Bixley blanched. "What are you doing here?"

"I was covering Mrs. Green's speech and followed her here. Mighty big coincidence, wouldn't you say?"

"I don't know, Tenet. I'm not involved in politics. I'm paid to uphold the law and protect the innocent citizens of this town."

"And Mr. Legander isn't a citizen?" James knew he was stepping over the line of professional objectivity, but it was so clearly a case of politics that he couldn't let it go without pointing it out.

"Look, Eugene Legander may be involved in the disappearance of two children. You know, those little people who can't drive or defend themselves."

"
May,
Chief. May. That's the key word. You have no proof. You've let yourself be bullied by a woman seeking public office. She's using you to make herself look good. Now let me ask you one question. If all of this blows up in your face, who will pay the price? Will Anna Green be around to pick up the tab for a gigantic lawsuit, which I'm sure Ms. Barkley will file on behalf of her client. Grand Street Press will also sue for damages. That could run into the millions. And the city will have to pay. Right?"

"Well, that's not going to happen," Bixley blustered. "We're not really arresting Mr. Legander." He looked down the street to the car where Anna Green waited for him. "We're just going to take him in for questioning."

"Now that's a horse of a different color." James winked at Jennifer, gratified by the look of glee on her face. He might have stepped outside journalistic objectivity, but he had also prevented an expensive lawsuit that the city could not afford, and Eugene would be spared the humiliation of an unwarranted arrest.

"Then I'll come along with Eugene to give him a ride home," Jennifer said. She stepped to the front door and put Familiar inside. "Wait here, Familiar. We'll be right back. Entertain yourself with AnnaLoulou." She slammed the door before the cat could make a break for freedom.

Bixley's look told her what he thought of someone who talked to a cat. She eyed him back with one arched brow. "Ready? I'm sure Eugene wants to get back in time to watch the reruns of 'Dynasty.' He likes it with the sound off so he can make up his own dialogue." She sailed past Bixley and stopped at the sidewalk to wait for James.

"I can't thank you enough," she whispered as she took his hand. "You saved Eugene a lot of embarrassment, not to mention some time in a holding cell."

"Eugene doesn't need to go to jail. It's wrong that they're taking him in for questioning. This could wait until morning. He's answered all the questions put to him by local authorities and the FBI." James's voice was harsh. "This is a miscarriage of justice."

"And it ain't over until the fat lady sings," Jennifer vowed. She pressed his hand hard. "I'll take care of Eugene."

"I know you will." He took her small hand in his large one and brought it to his chest. "I have to write the story."

She smiled up at him. "I know. It is your job, like protecting Eugene is mine."

"Then let's go. I'll drop you by your house so you can pick up your car."

Impulsively Jennifer rose up on her tiptoes and placed a kiss on his cheek. "Thank you, James."

Before she could step back, his hands circled her waist and held her. The kiss he gave her was not chaste or sedate, his hands moving up her back to cradle her. His hungry mouth held hers, claiming her with an intensity that made her dizzy. But not too dizzy to kiss him back. Her arms twined around his neck and her fingers caught his thick, dark hair as she gave herself to the feel of his lips on hers, his body against hers.

At last they broke apart, both slightly unsettled by the power of the emotions they'd unleashed. He touched her lips lightly with his finger, a devilish smile lighting his face. "You're more than welcome."

A
NNA
L
OULOU
, what an aristocrat! She's sprawled along the mantel pretending that I don't exist. Eyes closed, tail flicking seductively, she is totally alert. Ah, the quiver of a whisker as I change my position on the sofa. She's aware of me. Extremely aware. And I shall sit here on the green suede sofa and enjoy her beauty and charm— while I wait for Jennifer to return with Eugene.

I have a bone to pick with Jennifer. She may be smart and beautiful, but she has to learn that I do not appreciate being locked in a house. That dimwit Bixley would never have taken Eugene had I been left in charge. The absurdity of it!

And so far, not a single clue has been turned up to find those missing children. The human brain is simply not capable of logical deduction. Therefore, I have taken on the task. I will find little Mimi and that rambunctious Tommy.

Mimi was abducted from the woods. She put up something of a fight, and though no one else has bothered to check, I've ascertained that Eugene Legander has no scratch marks on him, except for a few on one arm made by a rosebush in his garden. Tommy Franklin is something of a little scrapper, too. I don't believe he was taken without a fight.

As soon as I get out of here, I'm going to take a gander at Crush Bonbon. I expect to find some flesh missing from his neck or his arms. That would be a basic piece of evidence.

Crush could easily have been at the park when Mimi was snatched, and he was at the library just before Tommy disappeared. What better alibi than to have been there and left! He's probably smarter than the average bear.

But in all fairness, Crush isn't the only suspect. I see that Charles J. P. Frost has something to gain— his daughter. And, also, as hard as it is to believe, Mrs. Frost could be behind all of this. Both are in a terrible child custody battle. If the father took her, he could make the mother look like a neglectful parent. If the mother took her, she could be planning on hiding her out in case the custody battle goes against her. It might sound farfetched, but I read those magazines at the newsstand on the corner of Jefferson and Ninth. There's a lot of craziness in families that break apart. And as we all know, humanoids aren't the most rational species in the universe.

The one thing that bothers me with the parents' scenario is the pages of Eugene's work left behind. Jennifer could be in serious trouble for taking that manuscript page from the library. I found it crumpled in her jacket pocket. If Bixley and that crowd ever finds out she tampered with evidence, she's going to a jail cell faster than you can say boo.

I could be off on the wrong track here, but Trained Observer that I am, I did notice something interesting about that manuscript page. Jennifer realizes it is an abduction scene, of sorts, but the page number at the top was also x-ed out and a new number written in. The original number was ninety-five. The new number, written in a very unstable hand, I might add, is ninety-eight. Since I've been confined in this house like a common prisoner, I did manage to check Eugene's original manuscript pages. They are perfectly paginated, something any editor would appreciate. And the page should have been ninety-five. So that leads me to believe that ninety-eight is a significant numeral. But how or why, I haven't any idea. This gives me a very creepy sensation, as if the kidnapper is someone who considers himself very smart. Much smarter than Eugene or Jennifer or the cops or anyone else who might be looking for these kids. It's as if the kidnapper is playing with us— deliberately tossing clues at us that we're too dense to pick up on. Or, at least, the humanoids aren't exactly setting the woods on fire with brilliant leaps of deduction.

As interesting as the puzzle is, I can't help but wonder where the children have been stashed. My feline instincts tell me that they're being held against their will, but that they haven't been injured. At least, not physically. I don't imagine being abducted and held is good for any kid's emotional development. But at least Mimi isn't alone now. Or that's what I feel. And Tommy seemed like a kid with a lot on the stick.

The other interesting point is that a ransom note hasn't been received. If I had to make a kitty prediction, I'd say another child will disappear. And in the not too distant future.

Hey! What's that noise outside the back screen porch? Someone is prowling around Eugene's garden! Drat! The door is locked and the windows are bolted down. I know I could pry one up— if I had the time and some tools. But I'll have to settle for pulling down the blinds.

Ah, a satisfying crash, but I fear it frightened away whoever was out there. Yes, they climbed the back gate and I hear their footsteps on the drive! Blast my clumsiness! I didn't even get a glance at them!

"L
OOK
! Someone's running down the street!" For the second time Jennifer had discovered someone skulking around Eugene's house. The dark shadow disappeared among the shrubs of the Johnson house just as she jumped out of the car.

"Don't go." Eugene's soft command made her turn quickly back to him.

"Are you okay?"

"Perfectly. But you aren't exactly armed to take down an intruder." Eugene's observation was made with a dry tone. "Let's have a glass of port instead. I have the feeling we're overlooking something very important, and very simple."

The intruder was long gone, and Jennifer gave up any thoughts of chasing after him. The foliage along Eugene's street was dense and healthy. There were a million places to hide.

They hurried up the walk to the front porch and in a moment Eugene ushered her inside.

"Ouch!" Jennifer felt the swat of an angry cat paw. "Familiar!" She shook her leg but he only dug his claws in deeper.

"Now, now." Eugene bent down and lifted the cat with ease. "He's paying you back for locking him in the house. Familiar is a free agent. He likes to make his own decisions." He stroked the cat. "He deeply resents the fact that you imprisoned him."

"Meow!" Familiar nuzzled under Eugene's chin, his motor running like an outboard.

"Disgusting." Jennifer flopped down on the sofa. "If you can tear yourself away from that manipulative cat, I'd like a glass of brandy, or maybe some Drambuie. Even better, do you have any Baileys?" She let her head fall back against the overstuffed sofa. "I can't believe this day. And I haven't even begun to deal with Crush Bonbon."