Feline Fatale Read Free Page A

harder to claw me in an attempt to get away. Instead, she became absolutely docile in my hands.
    “Good girl,” I praised, as I hugged her against my chest—clad in a sweatshirt on this Saturday in January, rather than one of the nicer garments I wore on days I both pet-sat and practiced law. I’d be heading to my law office later, but no client meetings were scheduled, so dressing down was de rigueur.
    “Mrrrow,” responded Lady Cuddles, rubbing her small, fuzzy face against me, her eyes closed in what appeared to be ecstasy.
    She definitely lived up to the cuddly part of her name. I hugged her closer, won over by her sweet change of mood.
    I unwrapped James’s shirt from my hands and handed it back. “Thanks,” I said. “And thanks, also, for sticking up for pets’ rights against Margaret and friends. Do you really think they could outlaw residents’ keeping animals here?” That would be awful for Wanda, who had become chief pet-sitter at the complex since moving in a few months ago. Many condo owners were in the film industry—surprise! Burbank is an adjunct of the Hollywood area—and they often traveled for meetings and movie shoots. That kept my fellow PSCSC member nice and busy, along with clients she’d had before she moved there.
    “Not if I can help it,” James replied grimly. “A lot of us own pets and, far as I know, we all care for them responsibly. Not too much noise, or droppings not picked up, or anything like that. Margaret’ll face a lot of opposition if she tries to change anything. We’d all rather get rid of her than our beloved animals.”
    “But those other people—”
    “The Bertinettis?”
    I hadn’t heard their last name before. “Ruth and Teddy?”
    James nodded, then shrugged. His expression was mildly bemused. “I don’t know them well. They moved in about six months ago, and I don’t think they have any pets. But the idea of their moving here and wanting to make major changes like that . . .” He scowled. “They can go right back to wherever they came from, if that’s their attitude. And I’ll do all I can to keep any of them from any position of authority here.”
    Lady Cuddles wiggled in my arms. “I’d better get her back home,” I told James. “I’ll let Wanda know everything that went on here this afternoon. She’ll probably be in touch with you to help work out a plan to protect pet ownership. If you don’t hear from her first, please contact her.”
    “Thanks, Kendra. I’m glad to have met you.” He seemed to really see me for the first time. Did I detect a glimmer of interest? Probably, since his gaze headed toward my left hand, which clutched Lady Cuddles. I wore no ring.
    But my emotions were definitely involved with someone else. Someone really outstanding.
    I made sure my smile in return was remote. “I’ll be interested to hear, from Wanda, what happens around here.”
     
    AS I SUSPECTED, I had to guess at how Lady Cuddles wound up where she’d been. A window in her owners’ unit was raised so slightly that I couldn’t imagine one of James’s guinea pigs slipping through, let alone a kitten. Of course, a few guinea pigs grow big, so that might not be an appropriate analogy. In any event, Lady Cuddles must be basically boneless to have gotten through there. The window opened onto a balcony several feet from the balcony of the adjoining unit. The building’s outer wall was stucco, not entirely smooth but not easy to get kitty claws into for edging along it. Had Lady Cuddles leaped?
    I might never know, but I did see a window open next door. Still, how would she have gotten out of that unit and into the hall?
    I asked her, before all this surmising made my brain ache. She looked at me with her baby blue eyes, her pointed little ears at attention and her small white whiskers twitching. She was so adorable that I had to hug her again.
    I have to admit I’m more of a dog person than a cat lover. My own furkid is a tricolor Cavalier King