didn’t want Alex to overhear my conversation and realize how really worried I was. Alex had been trapped in a damaged building during a storm when she was a child, so she already had a quite natural fear of heavy wind.
“Donovan,” Salinger answered on the first ring, “I’m kind of busy right now, so I’ll have to call you back if you want to talk about the murder case.”
“I’m worried about Zak and the guys. They went fishing this morning and no one is answering their phone.”
I heard a loud crackling sound. The storm must be messing with the cell reception, as I’d suspected. The call was breaking up, so I could only pick out every third or fourth word before the line went dead. What I did manage to hear was capsize , help , and casualties .
Oh God, let them be okay.
I tried Salinger’s number again, but it went straight to voice mail. I left a message asking him to call and then headed back downstairs.
“So?” Ellie whispered once I returned to the kitchen.
“The reception was bad, so I couldn’t make out what he was saying,” I said, sort of honestly. Why worry Ellie when I really didn’t know anything? “I’ll keep trying. How’s the soup coming along?”
“I decided on a simple white bean and chicken soup. It’s quick to prepare and will keep well if we don’t finish it. I thought I’d make some corn bread, if you have the ingredients.”
“I’m not sure,” I said. “Zak takes care of most of the cooking and shopping. Feel free to use whatever you find. I’m going to go check on Alex and the kittens.”
I tried to suppress my urge to panic as I made my way to the laundry room. Capsize , help , and casualties sounded bad, but it didn’t necessarily mean Zak was in trouble. Salinger could have been saying that Zak was holed up in one of the lakeside bars because he’d realized the boat might capsize due to all the wind and he didn’t want to have to call for help or risk any casualties .
Even I knew I was kidding myself. I had a knot in my stomach that wouldn’t go away. The urge to take action was overwhelming, but really, what could I do? I had no idea where Zak and the guys might be, and even if I did know, I had to trust him to take care of things. My responsibility at the moment was Alex.
“How’s our mama doing?” I whispered to Alex.
She looked up at me and grinned. I could see she at least had forgotten all about the storm.
“We have three babies now. The black one, the orange and white one, and now a gray one.”
I sat down on the floor next to Alex.
“Do you think there are more?” she asked.
I glanced at Mama. “It’s hard to tell from here, but I’m guessing one more. Two at the most.”
“It’s really fascinating to watch the kittens being born. You’re so lucky to have a job where you get to rescue animals every day. When I grow up I want to run a shelter just like you.”
While I was flattered, I was certain that Alex, with her superior intelligence, was destined for bigger things, but I didn’t say so. Instead, I put my arm around her shoulder and watched baby number four, a pure white kitten, being born as I prayed that Zak, Levi, Pi, Scooter, and Tucker were all okay.
“Remember before, when you asked me if I wanted a cat of my own?” Alex said as we watched the mama nurse her babies.
“You changed your mind?” I guessed.
“It would be fun to keep one of the kittens,” Alex admitted. “Do you think Marlow and Spade would mind?”
“I can’t guarantee they would like the kitten, but I’m sure they would get used to it after a time. Marlow can be playful, but Spade is set in his ways. My guess is that if you introduce a kitten into the mix, Spade at least would find somewhere other than your bedroom to hang out.”
Alex didn’t say anything. I was certain the intelligent little girl was calculating all the options.
“Will the cat family stay in the laundry room?” she asked.
“No. We’ll move them upstairs once Mama
“Donovan,” Salinger answered on the first ring, “I’m kind of busy right now, so I’ll have to call you back if you want to talk about the murder case.”
“I’m worried about Zak and the guys. They went fishing this morning and no one is answering their phone.”
I heard a loud crackling sound. The storm must be messing with the cell reception, as I’d suspected. The call was breaking up, so I could only pick out every third or fourth word before the line went dead. What I did manage to hear was capsize , help , and casualties .
Oh God, let them be okay.
I tried Salinger’s number again, but it went straight to voice mail. I left a message asking him to call and then headed back downstairs.
“So?” Ellie whispered once I returned to the kitchen.
“The reception was bad, so I couldn’t make out what he was saying,” I said, sort of honestly. Why worry Ellie when I really didn’t know anything? “I’ll keep trying. How’s the soup coming along?”
“I decided on a simple white bean and chicken soup. It’s quick to prepare and will keep well if we don’t finish it. I thought I’d make some corn bread, if you have the ingredients.”
“I’m not sure,” I said. “Zak takes care of most of the cooking and shopping. Feel free to use whatever you find. I’m going to go check on Alex and the kittens.”
I tried to suppress my urge to panic as I made my way to the laundry room. Capsize , help , and casualties sounded bad, but it didn’t necessarily mean Zak was in trouble. Salinger could have been saying that Zak was holed up in one of the lakeside bars because he’d realized the boat might capsize due to all the wind and he didn’t want to have to call for help or risk any casualties .
Even I knew I was kidding myself. I had a knot in my stomach that wouldn’t go away. The urge to take action was overwhelming, but really, what could I do? I had no idea where Zak and the guys might be, and even if I did know, I had to trust him to take care of things. My responsibility at the moment was Alex.
“How’s our mama doing?” I whispered to Alex.
She looked up at me and grinned. I could see she at least had forgotten all about the storm.
“We have three babies now. The black one, the orange and white one, and now a gray one.”
I sat down on the floor next to Alex.
“Do you think there are more?” she asked.
I glanced at Mama. “It’s hard to tell from here, but I’m guessing one more. Two at the most.”
“It’s really fascinating to watch the kittens being born. You’re so lucky to have a job where you get to rescue animals every day. When I grow up I want to run a shelter just like you.”
While I was flattered, I was certain that Alex, with her superior intelligence, was destined for bigger things, but I didn’t say so. Instead, I put my arm around her shoulder and watched baby number four, a pure white kitten, being born as I prayed that Zak, Levi, Pi, Scooter, and Tucker were all okay.
“Remember before, when you asked me if I wanted a cat of my own?” Alex said as we watched the mama nurse her babies.
“You changed your mind?” I guessed.
“It would be fun to keep one of the kittens,” Alex admitted. “Do you think Marlow and Spade would mind?”
“I can’t guarantee they would like the kitten, but I’m sure they would get used to it after a time. Marlow can be playful, but Spade is set in his ways. My guess is that if you introduce a kitten into the mix, Spade at least would find somewhere other than your bedroom to hang out.”
Alex didn’t say anything. I was certain the intelligent little girl was calculating all the options.
“Will the cat family stay in the laundry room?” she asked.
“No. We’ll move them upstairs once Mama
Similar Books
