Paint the Town Dead by Nancy Haddock Page A

entered.
    â€œSee? They waited for you to invite them in. You’re their pack alpha.”
    â€œEven I know cats don’t do packs. Is it odd that they aren’t sniffing around? That would be normal, right?”
    He shrugged. “Could be they’re more than just well behaved. Could be they’ve been trained.”
    â€œIt’s kinda creepy. I mean, shouldn’t they be more playful? Inquisitive?”
    â€œThey might be both when they feel more secure. For now, they’ll be perfect ladies, won’t you?” He knelt to scratch each of them under their chins. “Look at it this way. If the doc knows them from her practice, they’ll be gone tomorrow. Houseguests for just one night.”
    Who was I kidding? Even if I left them alone in the workroom, I’d be up checking on them all night.
    â€œAll right, but you’re helping me clean any messes,” I said, looking down at all three of their pleading, adorable faces.
    â€œDone,” he said as he rose and crossed the few steps to open my stairwell door. “Come on, critters.”
    The preternaturally quiet animals stayed seated.
    â€œOh, for heaven’s sake.” I stood on the first step, bent down, and clapped my hands. “Let’s go.”
    The cat emitted a gravelly
mreow
, the dog bayed a
bark-aroo
, and both bounded up the stairs.
    I threw Eric a frantic, “Oh, no,” and charged up behind them, but they weren’t tearing up my apartment. I found them sitting beside the kitchen peninsula, the dog softlypanting, the cat with her tail curled around her. I could’ve sworn they smiled.
    Eric entered with a food bag under each arm, a food dish in each hand. I took the bowls, rinsed them, and opened the bags while he went back down for the next load.
    Not sure how much to feed the critters, I read the directions on the bag, estimated their weights, and scooped the food with a measuring cup. The dog and cat perked their ears as soon as the nuggets hit the bowls, but they waited until I put the dishes on the floor under the window to calmly walk over. One sniff, though, and they dug in.
    Eric caught me smiling at them as he filled the water bowls that had been outside and set them near their food.
    â€œTold you it wouldn’t be so bad.”
    â€œThey’ve been here five minutes.”
    â€œFive good minutes. I like your place. I didn’t realize the kitchen would be so big. What’s your square footage?”
    â€œTwelve hundred, give or take. I feel like I’m rattling around in here compared to sharing an apartment.”
    â€œThe place is more modern than I thought it would be, too. Did you update it?”
    â€œSherry did when Vonnie and her husband leased the building. She did the bathroom, too. You’ve never been up here?”
    â€œNever had the occasion to be, and that’s a good thing considering my line of work.”
    â€œTrue. Well, the Vances took good care of the place,” I said, absently caressing the rounded edge of the stone-look countertop on the peninsula. The darker browns in the fake vein complemented the dark hardwood floor.
    â€œWill you show me around? You need to decide where you want the litter box.”
    â€œDefinitely not in the kitchen. Where do you suggest?”
    â€œBathroom?”
    â€œI don’t know. The stacking washer and dryer are in there,and that takes up floor space.” Plus I wasn’t keen on facing a litter box every morning and night.
    I opened the door that accessed the bath from the living room, and immediately noticed I’d left the other door open. The one that led to my bedroom. At least I’d picked up my clothes and made my bed.
    I knew the minute Eric spotted the bed because he stilled, and I was thrown deep in one of those awkward moments.
    I heard a snuffling rustle and the dog trotted in via the bedroom, plopping down near the claw foot tub. An instant later, she was followed