Read Online A Little Christmas Jingle by Michele Dunaway - Free Book Online Page A

“Billy’s relatives? His own family?”
    â€œYes. Jingle bit the aunt’s son, and she decided to punish the dog by ending his life. She bragged on Facebook, saying all dogs don’t go to heaven and ‘smell that doggie smoke.’”
    â€œYou have to be kidding me. That’s sick.” Kat’s whole body shook from the horrible revelation.
    â€œSick’s an understatement. I’ll be arresting her and her boyfriend within days. We only need a few more digital footprint pieces on the boyfriend, and we’ll pick them both up. I want rock-solid arrests. I want convictions.”
    Kat did too. She rubbed Jingle’s paw, her touch gentle. Mr. Simons had loved Pebbles more than anything, and he’d gone home heartbroken. The people who’d hurt Jingle were the worst kind on earth. Kat’s fury raged and her body shook.
    â€œHey, what’s wrong?”
    The day overwhelmed. “I just had to put a cat down and watch his owner unravel. This poor defenseless baby. Sweet Jingle. How could she do such a thing. … I … I … I’d …”
    Kat shuddered as well-controlled emotions broke through the dam. A tear dropped and then another, and she furiously wiped them away.
    â€œHey.” Jack folded her into his arms, and she went without hesitation. Cocooned, as if she belonged. “Yeah, I’d like to kill her too. But since that’s not an option, I’m going to personally arrest her and her boyfriend and make sure it’s the day’s top news story. She’s going to do hard time if I have anything to say about it. They both are.”
    Kat sniffled, tried to stem the flow. “Justice is slow.”
    â€œWe’re building an airtight case. They won’t get away with this.”
    â€œI hope so. For Jingle’s sake.” Kat stepped out of Jack’s embrace. She’d liked being in his arms a little too much. “I have to check on the kennels.”
    â€œCan I tag along?”
    Drained, Kat simply nodded. She didn’t want to argue anymore. Jack followed as she went to visit both the stray animals and those being boarded. He helped her pet the excited dogs, scratched the heads of the purring cats. He had a magical touch. Cats rubbed against him, dogs quieted as he scratched behind their ears.
    â€œI am really sorry about the cat.”
    His tenderness struck the right cord. “Me, too. It’s a part of life, but it’s heartbreaking.”
    They greeted a few more of her animals. “I’m sorry about how we left things today. That was not my intention. I wasn’t trying to ambush you. You’re different from most women I’ve met. In a good way.”
    He couldn’t put his finger on how, or why, but like the detective he was, knew he couldn’t stop until he’d figured out the mystery. She didn’t answer, just absorbed his words as she went to the next cat cage.
    â€œSo who’s this?” he asked, and he trailed her, enjoying her company as she gave him some background on each animal. He wasn’t in any real rush. She was his sole focus. “Are you sleeping here again?”
    â€œYes. My partner says he’ll stay tomorrow night. We have couches in our offices for just such purposes and with Jingle’s condition, in case anything happens, I don’t want to leave him alone too long. There is a staff member here, even on Sundays.”
    â€œYou run a first-rate operation. You are impressive, Kat. I’ve never met someone as dedicated as you.”
    He smiled, and his compliment warmed her heart. He reached out and touched her arm, and the simple movement stirring a dormant fire, a fire she needed to squelch lest she get burned. “Now that I am a partner, we shouldn’t let things get muddled, especially as you are investigating me.”
    â€œI responded to the complaint and dismissed it. It’s clear there’s no