Read Online The Fashion Hound Murders by Elaine Viets - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Elaine Viets
Ads: Link
cats live longer.”
They filled out a one-page application. Amelia asked for either Harry or Teddy. Teddy had been adopted earlier that day, the adoption counselor said, but Harry was still available. Amelia could meet him in the “get acquainted” room.
Josie and Amelia sat with a nervous Harry in the cell-like room. Harry was an optical illusion. He looked skinny, but he was a solid fellow with long legs and a whiplike tail. His short brown fur had thick, squiggly black stripes. The colors were muted brown and black, but the effect was oddly loud.
Shining out of these winter forest colors were enormous green eyes. Harry’s huge ears moved like satellite dishes, following the conversation.
“He looks scared, Mom,” Amelia said.
“He should be. What happens today will determine the rest of his life.” Josie wished she hadn’t sounded so solemn. “Don’t worry, honey, he’s not the only cat in the world. If he doesn’t work out, we’ll keep coming back until we find the perfect one for you.”
Amelia unfolded the photo her grandfather had e-mailed to her. Young Nate had Cookie the striped cat hoisted on his shoulder. Both had carefree grins.
“Daddy’s cat looks just like Harry,” Amelia said. “See how Harry’s stripes turn into sort of circles on his sides? He has a white chest and white fur around his mouth. He’s the reincarnation of Cookie.”
“He’s very pretty,” Josie said. She didn’t have the heart to say that nearly every brown tabby looked like Nate’s cat. I’m sort of a human tabby, Josie thought. I’m cute, brown-haired, but nothing special.
Harry approached them, sniffing loudly. Amelia sat perfectly still and didn’t try to touch the cat. Harry sniffed her shoes, then checked out Josie’s shoes. He tentatively batted Josie’s key chain with one brown paw, then stalked and attacked her purse, tangling himself in the long strap. Josie carefully unwound the cat from her purse.
Amelia giggled.
Harry pounced on Amelia’s shoestring.
“He’s so cute,” Amelia said. “Can we get him, Mom?”
“As long as he’s declawed,” Josie said. “Let’s ask the counselor about that.”
“Only the front claws are removed,” the adoption counselor said. “Cats need their back claws to defend themselves. You could get a good scratching post rather than de claw him. Many people think declawing is cruel.”
“So is attacking my couch,” Josie said. “I won’t be home all day to guard it. Declawing is better than no adoption.”
“Let me call our veterinarian staff.” The counselor punched in a number, then reported back. “Your cat can be scheduled for the procedure at seven tomorrow morning. Harry can stay here tonight.”
“But what if someone adopts him?” Amelia said.
“They won’t. We’ll put your name on his temporary collar. You can pick him up tomorrow after his surgery. We’ll give you a call when he’s ready.”
“Can’t we take him home now?” Amelia asked.
“You could, but you’d introduce him to a strange house for one night, then bring him back here again early in the morning. That’s very stressful. We’ll prepare him for surgery and make sure he has no food or water after midnight. These are familiar surroundings for Harry right now.”
Josie paid the adoption fee and collected her paperwork and discounts for cat food and medical care. “That was quick,” she said. “We were out in an hour.”
“What if Harry dies during surgery?” Amelia asked as they hurried down the broad sidewalk to their car. It was growing darker and colder.
“The Humane Society has good vets. Harry is young and healthy. He won’t die.”
“But Daddy died in the hospital,” Amelia said.
“Your daddy was very sick,” Josie said.
Your daddy was a drunk and he was murdered, she thought. But Josie was still worried. My daughter has had too many losses. What will I do if that cat dies? People die during minor surgery all the time. They die from
They filled out a one-page application. Amelia asked for either Harry or Teddy. Teddy had been adopted earlier that day, the adoption counselor said, but Harry was still available. Amelia could meet him in the “get acquainted” room.
Josie and Amelia sat with a nervous Harry in the cell-like room. Harry was an optical illusion. He looked skinny, but he was a solid fellow with long legs and a whiplike tail. His short brown fur had thick, squiggly black stripes. The colors were muted brown and black, but the effect was oddly loud.
Shining out of these winter forest colors were enormous green eyes. Harry’s huge ears moved like satellite dishes, following the conversation.
“He looks scared, Mom,” Amelia said.
“He should be. What happens today will determine the rest of his life.” Josie wished she hadn’t sounded so solemn. “Don’t worry, honey, he’s not the only cat in the world. If he doesn’t work out, we’ll keep coming back until we find the perfect one for you.”
Amelia unfolded the photo her grandfather had e-mailed to her. Young Nate had Cookie the striped cat hoisted on his shoulder. Both had carefree grins.
“Daddy’s cat looks just like Harry,” Amelia said. “See how Harry’s stripes turn into sort of circles on his sides? He has a white chest and white fur around his mouth. He’s the reincarnation of Cookie.”
“He’s very pretty,” Josie said. She didn’t have the heart to say that nearly every brown tabby looked like Nate’s cat. I’m sort of a human tabby, Josie thought. I’m cute, brown-haired, but nothing special.
Harry approached them, sniffing loudly. Amelia sat perfectly still and didn’t try to touch the cat. Harry sniffed her shoes, then checked out Josie’s shoes. He tentatively batted Josie’s key chain with one brown paw, then stalked and attacked her purse, tangling himself in the long strap. Josie carefully unwound the cat from her purse.
Amelia giggled.
Harry pounced on Amelia’s shoestring.
“He’s so cute,” Amelia said. “Can we get him, Mom?”
“As long as he’s declawed,” Josie said. “Let’s ask the counselor about that.”
“Only the front claws are removed,” the adoption counselor said. “Cats need their back claws to defend themselves. You could get a good scratching post rather than de claw him. Many people think declawing is cruel.”
“So is attacking my couch,” Josie said. “I won’t be home all day to guard it. Declawing is better than no adoption.”
“Let me call our veterinarian staff.” The counselor punched in a number, then reported back. “Your cat can be scheduled for the procedure at seven tomorrow morning. Harry can stay here tonight.”
“But what if someone adopts him?” Amelia said.
“They won’t. We’ll put your name on his temporary collar. You can pick him up tomorrow after his surgery. We’ll give you a call when he’s ready.”
“Can’t we take him home now?” Amelia asked.
“You could, but you’d introduce him to a strange house for one night, then bring him back here again early in the morning. That’s very stressful. We’ll prepare him for surgery and make sure he has no food or water after midnight. These are familiar surroundings for Harry right now.”
Josie paid the adoption fee and collected her paperwork and discounts for cat food and medical care. “That was quick,” she said. “We were out in an hour.”
“What if Harry dies during surgery?” Amelia asked as they hurried down the broad sidewalk to their car. It was growing darker and colder.
“The Humane Society has good vets. Harry is young and healthy. He won’t die.”
“But Daddy died in the hospital,” Amelia said.
“Your daddy was very sick,” Josie said.
Your daddy was a drunk and he was murdered, she thought. But Josie was still worried. My daughter has had too many losses. What will I do if that cat dies? People die during minor surgery all the time. They die from
Similar Books
