Pet Noir by Pati Nagle

head. “We could, and we could make a bust, but it would only get us these three guys. We want to kill the pipeline, which means we have to catch whoever’s originating these shipments from Stratoma.”
    â€œOh. Well, then the transport sting won’t help.”
    â€œIt might. If we can find out where the enhancers are ending up?”
    â€œEnd-users. Small fry. You want the big bosses, you go direct to Stratoma.”
    â€œYeah. Trouble is, that’s out of our jurisdiction. Stratoma’s based at Jupiter.”
    â€œTime to call Interstellar Police?”
    Devin chuckled. “You watch a lot of feeds?”
    I looked up from inspecting Devin’s mini-fridge. “Everyone keeps asking me that.”
    â€œInterstel doesn’t give a rat’s ass about our problems. We’re too far out, too small. They’re understaffed, they can’t even handle everything that goes on in the Solar system.”
    â€œOh.”
    â€œWe’re on our own. If we want to kill this enhancer run, it’s up to us.”
    â€œOh. Gee. Well, sorry I couldn’t be more help.”
    â€œThe transport sting is a good idea. We can talk it over with Chief Wright.”
    â€œIs there some kibble in that bag? I’m still hungry.”
    He got up and went to the kitchenette counter where he’d dumped the carryall of my stuff. “Yeah, there’s some kibble. You thirsty, too? Want some water?”
    â€œYes, please.”
    I purred and stropped against his legs. It usually got me an extra handful of kibble from Jill, but Devin just frowned down at me as he ran water at the sink.
    â€œHere.” He set two dishes down on the floor, my water bowl and my food dish.
    My own food dish. The special red one with “Leon” on it in spectrum-glitz letters. I frowned at it, suddenly not hungry for the kibble.
    â€œWhen can I go home?” I asked.
    Devin shrugged. “Search me. Better ask the chief.”
    â€œCan we go talk to him now?”
    â€œHe’s off duty by now. Have to wait until morning.”
    Things felt very wrong. I started pacing, roaming the walls of Devin’s one-room apartment. I paused at the door, sniffed underneath it, scratched at it. Intellectually I knew that getting it open wouldn’t solve anything, but my instincts told me I was trapped and I couldn’t help myself.
    â€œHey, what’s the matter?” Devin asked.
    â€œI want to go home.”
    His face took on a troubled expression. “Sorry, buddy. Afraid I can’t help you there.”
    I paced some more. It felt good to be moving around, even if it didn’t make me any happier.
    â€œListen, you want to watch the feeds?” Devin asked. “We can find a good movie. I’ll make popcorn.”
    I went under his bed. There was an old sweatshirt under there and some socks. Ordinarily I would have enjoyed checking out the smells, but I wasn’t in the mood.
    I heard him rummaging in the bag of stuff Jill had sent. A second later one of my toys appeared on the floor at the edge of the bed, a wand with a tuft of feathers on the end. One of my favorites. He wiggled it for a while, but I declined to play.
    â€œLeon? You OK?”
    I didn’t answer. I figured it was perfectly obvious that I was not, in fact, OK. I went back to the farthest, darkest corner and curled up with my back against the wall.
    â€œMa,” I called softly. “Ma.”

3. The Cold Truth

    I woke up when Devin’s alarm went off. I was on my feet in an instant, hair on end, totally confused. Overhead I could hear Devin grumbling and fumbling around, then the alarm shut off. By then I remembered where I was.
    Gamma Station. Rats and sleazy Molly’s and enhancer smugglers. Hell, pretty much.
    Devin snored, back asleep. This, I decided, was not acceptable. It was morning, so we could talk to the chief now, and I wanted to go home.
    I came out from under the bed, hopped