GLORIOUS ISIS OF FAIRVIEW by SPENSE RATED FRPT

Originally written for the Tracy Island Writers Forum 2008 Three Item Challenge.

The Challenge: Write a story which features three items as an important part of the plot:
a boomerang, a message in a bottle and a fluffy kitty.

"What the . . ." Scott Tracy's explanation of surprise caught his brother's attention, as much by the shifting of the blade he was holding for his brother as by his vocal comment.

Virgil looked up from the engine of the Mole he was bent over. Covered with grease, he looked up in irritation. "Scott! Hold it steady!"

"Sorry Virg," Scott apologized. He realigned the blade, and handed over the wrench the engineer had requested. "I could have sworn I saw a cat."

"What?" came the confused reply as the second Tracy brother quickly tightened up the bolts holding the blade. All the Tracys tended to speak in shorthand to each other, Scott and Virgil more than most, but this time Virgil was lost. "Okay, you can let go now," Virgil finished, then straightened up and stretched his back. "Now, what was that?"

"I thought I saw a cat," Scott enunciated clearly.

Virgil grinned in spite of the interruption, his sense of humor bubbling up to the surface. "You taut you taw a puddy tat?" he quoted from an old cartoon.

Scott gave a bark of laughter. "I can't believe I said that," he admitted, snickering in appreciation of his brother's quick mind. "But seriously, right over there." He pointed at the large bay which all the heavy machinery pods opened onto.

"You're losing your mind, Scott," Virgil grinned after glancing around at the clearly empty bay. Then, not realizing he was covered with engine grease, he wiped his face with an equally oil slicked hand.

"That didn't help much," Scott pointed out helpfully as he turned his attention back to the spacious hangar. "You just smeared it all around your face."

"Bite me," was the amiable reply.

Scott searched the bay again, shaking his head in confusion.

"Scott, we don't have pet cats on the island. They all get eaten by the wildlife. You know that."

"I know! But I swear . . ."

"Guys!" Gordon interrupted Scott mid sentence as he came skidding into the bay at top speed.

"What!" came the irritated reply in tandem - both tenor and bass voices at once.

Gordon stopped cold, eyes widening. "Wow. Tracys in stereo. Did you ever think about taking that show on the road?"

Scott felt his temper fraying. Gordon did tend to have that effect. "Gordon, what?"

"Have you seen Isis?"

Virgil snorted. "The goddess? No, I can't say that I have," he deadpanned.

Gordon grinned in appreciation. "No. Not that Isis. And I didn't name her. Don't blame me."

Scott brow wrinkled. "Isis?"

"Isis. Actually, 'Glorious Isis of Fairview'." Gordon nodded seriously, eyes twinkling. "A cat."

"I TOLD you I saw a cat," Scott rounded on Virgil.

"Yes. Yes, you did." Then, "You did say 'Glorious Isis of Fairview'?"

"Oh, so you did see her!" Gordon looked pleased. "Alan would kill me if I lost her. And yes, that is her full name."

"Please tell me you’re kidding," Virgil muttered.

Scott rubbed his face with his hands. If Alan and Gordon were involved, this could get complicated. "Gordon, explain. Please."

Gordon nodded cheerfully. "No problem. You know how much TinTin loves cats?"

His brother's nodded knowingly. TinTin was absolutely crazy about felines. And having lost several cats to the island wildlife, and following the resulting many tears and grief, she'd finally given up, much to the relief of the Tracy men. That didn't change the issues of 'Cat Fancier' that found their way to the island, however.

"And you know how much she loves Persians?" Gordon prompted.

Again, Scott and Virgil nodded knowingly. They'd heard about cats, Persians in particular for years. To the point that when she started in on the subject, all the Tracy boys made themselves scarce. Alan included. First to disappear, actually.

"Well Alan got Isis as a surprise for TinTin. She's a purebred Persian. And I guess she's really well known from cat shows. Apparently she was on the cover of TinTin's last magazine and she's been gushing about her ever since. So Alan had some time on his hands since it's been so quiet, and he tracked down the cat's owner."

Scott laughed. "I can just see Alan searching for show cats on the web. Must be different from his usual car searches."

Gordon grinned in knowing agreement. "It's been pretty funny. And you wouldn't believe what he had to go through to get the owner to part with her. And the price he paid?" Gordon just whistled and shook his head.

"And you lost her?" Virgil laughed.

Gordon ignored him and continued. "He's going to give her to TinTin tonight, and I'm babysitting in the meantime. Or cat sitting, I guess you'd say."

"And you lost her," Scott grinned.

"No!" Gordon said emphatically.

"Well then how do you explain the fact that you’re looking for her?" Virgil grinned, sitting back on the Mole and exchanging amused looks with his elder brother.

"Well . . ." Gordon started, looking shifty. "Isis is only a year and a half old and kind of playful."

"Straight story, Gordon," Scott said emphatically, grinning as he poked a finger in Gordon's chest.

Gordon gave a martyred sigh. "Okay, okay. Alan has this whole evening planned for TinTin. So, he's taking her down to the lagoon for a moonlight picnic. You know, champagne, lobster, smoked salmon, grapes, that kind of thing. Anyway, there is going to be a bottle with a message in it. An old one, with a message in it, looking like it washed up the cut from the ocean."

Scott raised an eyebrow at Virgil. "Things have been way too quiet lately. Not enough rescues to keep younger brothers busy."

Virgil nodded. "Idle hands are the devil's workshop."

Gordon snorted. "Yeah, well, it has been quiet. And no, don't look at me. This is all Alan's idea."

He continued. "So, anyway, the message is going to be kind of a treasure hunt. Alan wrote a riddle on antique paper, and the end will be in TinTin's room. I'll have Isis in there, complete with her bed, and dish, and brushes when TinTin figures it out."

Scott and Virgil burst out laughing. "Brushes?" Scott snickered.

Gordon grinned. "Oh yeah. You should see the cat bed. And the rhinestone collar." Gordon suddenly looked thoughtful. "You know, they might actually be diamonds. Considering the price Alan paid . . ." He trailed off, momentarily sidetracked. Then, getting back to the original subject, "Alan talking to the old owner was a hoot. I've never seen him at such a loss."

Virgil grinned. "And I bet you secretly recorded it."

Gordon's Cheshire grin was his answer.

"Saving it for some other time?" Scott suggested.

"Let's just say its future ammunition."

"Okay, well, how did you lose the cat?"

Gordon looked chagrined. "Well, she's kind of playful."

"You said that already," Virgil pointed out.

I was trying to keep her corralled in my room, with all her stuff." Gordon rolled his eyes. "It's been a job, believe me. I was about ready to break out my boomerang, hoping that would keep her entertained. And now, so close to zero hour, Kyrano taps on my door. When I opened it, she snuck out! Kyrano is checking the garden."

"Have you told Alan yet?" Scott asked.

"No," Gordon grimaced. "He's already down at the lagoon with TinTin."

"Oh! It is dark already. Where'd the day go anyway," Scott said, grinning at Gordon. "Goes fast when you’re having fun. Or cat sitting."

"Shut up."

"Ouch," Virgil said sympathetically. "What time are you supposed to have her in TinTin's room, anyway?"

"In exactly an hour." Gordon was starting to sweat.

"Well, how hard can it be to collect a cat?" Virgil asked sensibly, earning a glare from both Scott and Gordon.

"You'll help?" Gordon's relief was palpable.

"Oh, we'll help, but you owe us," Scott laughed.

Virgil climbed off the mole shaking his head. "Geez, the things we do for family! Here kitty, kitty, kitty!"

"Oh, Alan, look! There's a bottle in the lagoon!" TinTin said, looking carefully at the water shining in the moonlight.

"Really? Where?" Alan said, leaning forward and looking.

"There!" TinTin pointed.

Hidden by the bushes, Virgil and Kyrano looked at each other then slowly backed away. Kyrano had found himself recruited into the chase when he came down to announce that dinner would be served later than usual. Once he understood the urgency (and the fact that his daughter was about to receive her dream gift), he was easily persuaded to help.

"She's found the bottle already. Gordon is going to freak!" Virgil whispered.

"I believe you're right. We had best get back."

"I can't believe it's this hard to collect a cat!" Scott said, wiping his hair back off his sweaty forehead. He craned his head back looking up near the top of some nearby scaffolding. A small, furry, white dot looked back at him.

Gordon was looking more than stressed. "Alan is going to absolutely kill me," he muttered.

Scott shrugged. "At least he can only do it once."

Gordon looked at him incredously. "Is that supposed to be comforting?"

Scott just shrugged tiredly back. They'd covered the bay from end to end about five times in pursuit of the errant ball of fluff. She was obviously having the time of her life. "Do you think she's ever been let loose in her life?"

Gordon just rolled his shoulder, trying to stretch it out. "Don't know. Probably not. Especially the way she's acting."

"Breaking for freedom, I guess," Scott said rubbing the back of his neck and rolling his head. "Whoa! There she goes again!"

And Scott and Gordon were off in pursuit once more.

"Did you get her yet?" Virgil came pounding back into the bay, Kyrano on his heels.

"Shut the door!" Scott yelled as a white streak headed for the newly opened space.

Virgil slammed it shut just in time. The indefinable white ball of fur ricchocheted off the closed door like a rubber ball, then picked up speed in a new direction back into the bay. The line of cat, followed by Scott, Gordon, Virgil and rounded out by Kyrano headed across the open expanse of the bay towards Pod number one. Scott barely stopped in time to keep for going nose to metal wall as the cat changed direction and easily scaled the pod. Unfortunately, the chasers were not able to defy gravity like the cat had seemingly managed to.

"What are we going to do?" Gordon was desperate now, as he looked up at the white face looking down at them from the top of the pod, approximately 2 complete stories straight up. "Alan will be taking TinTin up any minute now!"

Panting heavily, the four pursuers looked up at the cat.

"I think she's laughing at us," Scott said in disgust.

"I would too, if I didn't think I was about to die," Gordon added, panting heavily.

"Anybody noticed that Persian cats look like somebody bashed in their faces?" Virgil added.

Scott and Gordon looked at him in amazement at the apparent non sequitur.

"Well, they do!" Virgil defended himself.

"Do you really see a face on that thing? It's got too much hair! I don't think it really has eyes. Or a mouth. Or nose. At least I haven't seen any!" Scott looked at his brother in amazement.

"You have better eyesight than I do, Virg," Gordon grumbled.

"You know," Kyrano said thoughtfully, "your boomerang idea may not be that bad."

Three heads swiveled towards him. Kyrano hid a smile. Sometimes the Tracy siblings had no idea how much they resembled a comedy team. "Gordon, Virgil mentioned your comment about a boomerang. Do you have one?"

Gordon's eyes widened in surprise. " . . . Yeah," he said warily.

"Would you get it please?" Kyrano said calmly.

"It's in Four," Gordon replied.

"It's in Four?" Virgil repeated incredously. "Why do you have a boomerang in a submarine?"

"Because I was looking at it," Gordon defended himself.

"Would you retrieve it please?" Kyrano broke into the growing argument. Redirection worked best with any Tracy family member, Grandma on down.

"Sure," Gordon replied, still uncertain.

"A boomerang?" Scott looked at the long time retainer. "None of us really know how to use one. Virgil about took himself out the last time he tried to throw one."

"Hey!"

"Well, you did!"

"I don't believe it will be a problem. I believe Gordon has been practicing."

Three heads (plus one furry face from far above) swiveled to look at Gordon, who was trotting back towards the group.

"Gordon, if you please."

"Sure, Kyrano. But I was just joking."

"Oh, I think we'll be surprised."

"You can use that thing?" Virgil looked at his brother, surprised.

"Shut up, Virg," Gordon muttered, concentrating. Eyeing the cat far above, Gordon measured the distance, then let fly.

The boomerang sailed neatly up into the upper reaches of the big bay, expertly aimed to apex at the cat. Five sets of eyes, four human and one feline (the white furball really DID have eyes, Scott thought) watched the weapon's easy flight through the air. Mesmerized, the cat was clearly fascinated with the flying object. The white ball of fluff suddenly developed an appendage as a here fore unseen paw tried to catch the close flying obstacle.

Then without fanfare, as the boomerang began it's return trip, the cat neatly skittered down the side of the pod, aimed as unerringly as the boomerang directly for Gordon. Scott neatly picked the u-shaped weapon out of the air leaving Gordon free to capture the escapee.

"Go Gordon!" Scott directed pointing toward the door.

Gordon didn't need any encouragement. He headed for the door, the white puff ball emitting a loud purr as he ran for the door. At least Isis had been clearly enjoying her outing.

Scott, Virgil and Kyrano all looked at each other silently for a moment.

"A boomerang," Virgil commented blankly.

"Cats like movement," Scott shrugged.

"Thinking out a problem will generally result in a reasonable solution," Kyrano commented.

Silence reigned for a few moments as they contemplated the solution.

"Live is never dull around here," Scott finally said.

"Even when we don't have any rescues!" Virgil agreed.

Kyrano merely grinned. The Tracys provided more entertainment than any movie possibly could.

Breakfast the next morning was spent admiring TinTin's new pet. Isis spent most of the meal purring contentedly on her new mistress's lap. Clearly, the whole plan had worked to perfection. TinTin glowed, and Alan could obviously do no wrong in her eyes. The whole Tracy clan heard all about the cat's pedigree, show record, and how delicate she was.

Gordon, Scott and Virgil all exchanged covert looks at the last.

By the time the meal was breaking up and the island's inhabitants were splitting off to their day, Alan snagged Gordon and got him off to a corner.

"Gordon," Alan hissed, looking around furtively. "Did anything seem off about Isis yesterday when you were hiding her?"

Gordon felt cold. How on earth could he have possibly found out? He was going to kill Scott and Virg. He stalled for time, hedging. "What do you mean?"

"I mean Isis seems really tired. Remember how much energy she had when we saw her at her old owner's? Do you think she's getting sick? Should I call the vet?"

"No, I think she's fine. Probably just the transition."

Alan looked relieved. Clapping his hand on his brother's shoulder, he answered, "Yeah, that must be it. Thanks Gordo. Great way to liven up a quiet time on the island, huh?"

"Oh, yeah. Great Alan. Just great," Gordon agreed tiredly, offering up a sickly grin, thinking he'd had as much livening up as he could handle for a while.