Patricia Fry - Klepto Cat 04 - Undercover Cat by Patricia Fry

closer and heard the little cat sneeze. “You don’t look so good,” he said, concern in his voice. What would Colbi do? What should I do? How do you help a wild cat? Maybe I should try to catch it and take it to Dr. Ivey. I wonder if I need heavy gloves. He thought for a few moments and then said, “Hell cat, if you need help, you’d just better let me grab you.”
    Damon reached with one hand through the opening where a board was missing under the first step from the top. The kitten hissed quietly and stepped back. “Damn. Come on cat. I’m not going to hurt you. I’m going to see if we can get you some help so you’ll feel better.” He reached out again, angled one hand behind the little cat and was able to grab a handful of his long fur. He eased the kitten through the hole and held it up where he could get a good look at it. “You really are shaking, little one. You feel cold.” He put both hands around the kitten and pressed it to him. You’re coming with me,” he said. He looked over at his car and frowned. “ Wanna go for a ride? Sure hope so,” he said under his breath.
    Damon walked over to his car and opened the back door. He looked around for something he could wrap the kitten in. In the meantime, the little guy began to squirm in his hands. He looked down at him and then had an idea. He slipped the small cat inside his jacket and zipped it part way up. The cat did not protest. Damon went back to where he’d left the bag of food, loaded it into the car, and then, being careful not to disturb the kitten, he climbed in behind the wheel and started the car. The engine sound and the crunching of gravel and dirt under his tires seemed to startle the kitten, but he soon settled down. In fact, Damon thought the shivering had been replaced by a purr.
    The dashboard clock said seven thirty. I wonder if it’s too early to call Dr. Ivey. I don’t know what time his clinic opens. Never been there. Never had a reason to go there. He put one hand against the kitten and heard a tiny mew. “I guess you’re okay in there.”
    He reached over to the passenger seat and picked up his phone. Halfway to work now, on a surface street, he pulled over and called his mother to get the Ivey’s phone number. He made the call: “Oh, hello Savannah,” he said. “This is Damon—Iris’s son. Uh, what time does your clinic open?”
    “Oh hi, Damon.” She paused and then said in all sincerity, “You’ve been in our thoughts. We’re so sorry to hear about Colbi.”
    “What? What have you heard?” he asked, panic in his voice.
    She hesitated. “That she’s missing.”
    “Yes,” he said, grimacing. “I thought maybe you’d heard something new.”
    “No. I sure hope they find her soon. You must be worried sick.”
    “Yes. It’s been awful.” He hesitated. “Um, the reason I’m calling, I have this cat. I think he’s sick.”
    “You have a cat, Damon?”
    “Well, not my cat. There are all these cats at Colbi’s place. I’ve been feeding them while she’s…gone, you know. And I think one of them is sick. I wondered if I could bring it in.”
    “It’s sick? Sure. Let me get Michael for you.”
    “Hi Damon. You have a sick cat?” Michael asked.
    “Yeah, I think so. It’s shivering and I haven’t seen it eat anything.”
    “Where did you get it?”
    “Like I told Savannah, it’s one of those that Colbi feeds out at her place.”
    “Where are you, Damon?”
    “On my way to work at the paper. I have an appointment at nine thirty.”
    “How about this, can you bring the cat to the clinic in fifteen minutes? I’ll go in a little early this morning and meet you there. We’ll take a look and see what’s going on with the kitty.”
    “Oh, that would be great. Thank you, Dr. Ivey—um, Michael.” He hesitated and then said, “Um, where is your clinic?”
    Michael gave Damon the address and, after hanging up, told Savannah, “I’m going in early this morning. I’ll see you later today.”
    It