“Shh. Quiet, Watch,” Jessie whispered when she heard Watch growling. “It’s too early to get up.”
Watch did not agree with Jessie and growled long and low. When Jessie’s eyes adjusted to the darkness, she saw Watch looking out the bedroom window over the driveway. Jessie was wide awake now and went to the window, too.
She stroked Watch’s alert ears. “What is it, boy?”
Jessie didn’t really need Watch’s answer. Under the streetlamp, she could see the outlines of a pickup truck parked on the street. Whoever was in the car was smoking and flicking ashes out the window every few minutes.
“I don’t know if that’s the truck, but I’m not taking any chances,” Jessie told Watch.
She tiptoed down the hall to the phone table and dialed the Greenfield Police Department. “Hello, hello, this is Jessie Alden,” she whispered into the phone. “I’m calling to report a suspicious … oh, hello, Officer Lawler. Yes, I know it’s early, but that’s why I’m calling. There’s a truck parked in front of my grandfather’s house, and I think there might be some men in it who’ve been bothering Miss Newcombe on Fox Den Road and my family, too. Could a policeman drive by our house just in case they’re going to make trouble? Yes, thank you.”
“Whew,” Jessie said when she put down the phone.
“What are you whewing about?” Henry said, making Jessie practically jump out of her robe. “It’s five o’clock in the morning.”
“I know. That’s why I just called Officer Lawler at the police station to check on that suspicious truck out there. See,” she whispered. “Careful, don’t get in front of the window. They might see you.”
Henry pulled aside the curtain carefully and stood off to the side. “Hey, they’re getting out and walking toward Grandfather’s car. I’m going out there.”
When Henry put his hand on the light-switch, Jessie stopped him. “Don’t do that. Maybe this time we can catch them doing something while they think we’re asleep. Officer Lawler said he was leaving right away.”
Henry rubbed his eyes. “You’re right.”
Jessie and Henry tiptoed downstairs. The kitchen window was open a few inches to let in the night air. Henry and Jessie crouched down near the sink where they couldn’t be seen but right where they could hear the men whispering to each other.
“Four bum tires ought to do the trick,” one voice said. “Sam, where’s that knife you always carry?”
Jessie grabbed Henry’s arm. “Oh, no, I think they’re going to slash the tires so we can’t use Grandfather’s car today!”
Jessie and Henry were listening so hard to make out what the men were saying, they didn’t hear Officer Lawler’s cruiser pull up.
“Hands behind your back!” a deep voice shouted.
Henry and Jessie heard the men’s knife clatter to the driveway. That’s when the kitchen lights went on.
“Heavens, me, why are you both huddled by the sink?” Mrs. McGregor asked.
Benny came in next, carrying his blanket, followed by Violet, who was blinking hard and trying to figure out what the commotion was all about.
“My goodness,” Mr. Alden said when he came into the kitchen to find five people all up at this very early hour. “I’m not leaving for the capital for hours. I hope you’ll all quietly go back to bed before we wake up Miss Newcombe.”
“But Grandfather—” Jessie began.
“You see, the police are—”
“My word, there’s the doorbell!” Mrs. McGregor said. “I must be dreaming. That’s the only explanation for why I’m down in this chilly kitchen with everyone instead of in my nice warm bed.”
Mr. Alden led the way to the front hall and opened the door. “Why, Officer Lawler, you’re the last person I expected to see on my porch at this hour.”
“That may be, Mr. Alden,” the policeman said, “but one of your quick-thinking grandchildren helped me catch three vandals who were trying to slash your tires. I’m afraid they did some damage to one of them, but the other tires are fine.”
Mr. Alden put his arm around Jessie. “I’ll bet this is our detective. She’s the only one who looks wide awake enough to find the phone, let alone dial the right number for the police station.”
Jessie shivered, but she felt warm inside. “Are those men from the Wolf Demolition Company, Officer Lawler?”
The policeman checked his notepad. “That’s a good name for what they are— wolves who hunt in the night. But I’ve got them caged, all right. They’re locked up in the backseat of my cruiser. So if you’ll file a complaint later today, we can register the arrest.” Officer Lawler tipped his cap. “Good-night, or maybe I should say good-morning.”
“I’d better get some coffee perking,” Mrs. McGregor said. “I know you’ve all got a busy day ahead.”
An hour later, everyone, including Miss Newcombe, was wide awake, dressed, and ready to get on with that busy day.
“Benny and I changed the bad tire, Grandfather,” Henry said. “I started the engine for a minute, and the gas gauge needle is on full.”
Mr. Alden said, “I’m sorry not to have my backseat drivers on this trip, but I know you’ll want to get the animal shelter business straightened out now that Miss Newcombe is back. And, Clara, I imagine you’ll want to phone Dr. Scott.”
Miss Newcombe took Mr. Alden’s hand into hers. “Thank you, James. I feel like a new person today after the first restful sleep I’ve had in two weeks. Knowing I can go back to my own home, well, it means everything to me.”
“You can thank my grandchildren for that, Clara,” Mr. Alden said. He patted his suit pocket. “Well, the deed is in here, and I’ll pick up the will from your lawyer on the way out of town. So we’re all set.”
After everyone waved off Mr. Alden, they went out to the boxcar to check on the animals.
Miss Newcombe’s step was young and lively this morning. “I can hardly wait to see my dear cats curled on their favorite chairs. And I know it will cheer me to see Lad and Lady running in the meadows and through the woods. Not that they haven’t loved your boxcar,” the elderly lady told the Aldens when they peeked into the boxcar. “All of you did a wonderful job making a home for them.”
Violet’s thank-you could hardly be heard. She was blinking back tears.
Miss Newcombe handed her a white hanky. “I know just how you feel, dear. It will be hard to part from your new friends. That’s why I want you to come visit me whenever you want. I think I’ll start getting newspaper delivery again to keep up with the news— news of the Aldens!”
This made even Violet laugh, and everyone was still laughing when Dr. Scott drove up in her station wagon to pick up Miss Newcombe and her pets.
She gave Miss Newcombe a huge hug. “Why, Clara Newcombe! Imagine keeping a secret from me all these years. I must be better at figuring out animals than people not to guess that you were the founder of the Greenfield Animal Shelter.”
Miss Newcombe’s cheeks got pinker than ever. “That’s all right, Mary. There were reasons I was so secretive, but now, thanks to all of you, I don’t have to be.”
“Is it time?” Henry asked in a quieter voice than usual.
Miss Newcombe smiled. “You can get the leashes and cages for the ride home.”
Henry called Miss Newcombe’s two dogs. “Here, Lad. Come here, Lady.”
The dogs stood nice and still while Henry fastened on their leashes. He opened the back of Dr. Scott’s station wagon and let the dogs in. Up front, he cleared some space for two cat carriers. “We should be able to fit Patches and Midnight up here, and the gray cat in a cage in back.”
Violet slid the gray cat’s cage across the backseat where there was just enough room for it.
Miss Newcombe looked puzzled. “Why are you giving me this cat?” she asked.
Violet checked inside the carrier to make sure she had the right animal. “Isn’t she yours? She was in the boxcar the night you brought Lady here, remember? That rainy night?”
Miss Newcombe shook her head. “Why, I found that cat wandering outside the boxcar that night. I thought she lived in the boxcar already and had just gotten out. So I put her in an empty cage. She isn’t mine.”
At this news, Violet broke into a big smile. “Maybe we’ll get to keep one of the strays, after all. Now that the Greenfield Animal Shelter can stay open, our boxcar will be practically empty.” She opened the cage and lifted the pretty gray Persian in her arms. “And I do like this fluffy cat.”
Unlike Patches and Midnight, the gray cat was a shy one and never went too far from the boxcar or from people.
“She’s such a frightened one, isn’t she?” Violet asked. “I’d hoped that with the other cats gone, she would look around the yard a bit more.”
“She must have been an indoor cat, she’s so shy of every little thing,” Henry told his sister.
“And every big thing,” Benny said. He pointed to Watch, who was standing nearby and not a bit pleased with all the attention this ball of fur was getting.
The gray cat looked terrified of Watch.
Violet stroked the frightened Persian. “Poor cat. That gives me an idea. I know someone who would like you very much,” she said before she ran into the house.
Everyone looked puzzled, especially Benny. “Where does Violet want to send this cat, Jessie?”
Benny didn’t have to wait long for an answer. Violet was back in no time. “It’s all set,” she announced. “I’m sending this cat to the O’Connors, you know, the mother and the little boy who found Lad wandering around near their apartment. Jeffrey wanted a pet so much, especially a nice cat. And this is a nice cat! So I called the number they gave me when we met them and told them all about this cat. They’ll be over right away to pick her up.”
“Then we’d better pick her up,” Benny said. He bent down to catch the Persian. “Animals always run away just when you need them.”
Miss Newcombe’s eyes were twinkling. “Sometimes people run away when you need them, too!”
“But we always find them,” Benny said.
“I am glad you found me,” Miss Newcombe said. “I won’t run away again. I’ll be nearby with my dear pets and my dear new friends!” |