Shielded In The Shadows

“Pregnant women do have sex, you know.” Why in the hell had he said that?

“Presumably with the father of their child, and even if not, I’ve never been one to do things just because someone else does.”

Now that didn’t surprise him. He liked it when she didn’t surprise him.

“You get a chance to get out to that drugstore today?” she asked.

It took him a second to realize she was talking about the Heber case and red lipstick.

“Yes. The clerk wasn’t there. She called in, apparently has a sick child. I asked if they’d mind showing me their surveillance tape, but they said not without a warrant. I’ve got someone working on that now.”

Her nod seemed approving. He approved of it.

Wanted to ask her to dinner.

Or to just push some things aside and have sex right there on her desk.

He stood instead. “I have to get home and feed my cat.” Headed for the door.

“You have a cat?”

“Kind of.”

“Was it there when I was?” she asked.

“Yeah. It hasn’t left in weeks.”

“I didn’t see it.”

“It doesn’t come out much when other people are around. Or when I’m there alone, either.” He assumed the thing made itself at home when he was gone, though. There was cat hair everywhere.

“What’s its name?”

Her round of questioning seemed to hold doubt. As though she thought he was making up an excuse to get out of there, which he was. He’d fed the cat that morning. He had to go because he wanted so much to stay. Emma Martin was becoming a threat to promises he’d made to himself, promises that could not be broken.

“I have no idea.”

“You have a cat, but it doesn’t have a name?”

“Well, it might have one, I just don’t know. I’m guessing not, though.”

“Is it male or female?” She sure was making a lot out of very little.

“Not sure of that, either,” he admitted.

“Where’d you get it?”

“I didn’t get it. It got me. Came walking in the door one night when I got home. No collar. I assumed it’s feral.”

“And you let it stay?” she asked.

“It’s easier than trying to get it to leave. Damn thing scratches like hell if I try to pick it up.”

“Seriously.”

“Seriously.”

Emma nodded. Was smiling. “Do you have a litter box?”