Part 11 (2/2)

She kept her wand in her purse, in case it was suddenly activated, but she'd begun adjusting to the reality of not having magic at her disposal.

”I'll probably give you a call in an hour or so to check on things,” Anica said as she headed for the door. ”Thanks again for doing this.”

”No problem.”

Not for Julie, maybe, but Anica hoped she hadn't just created an even bigger one for herself by letting this girl into her life.

Jasper listened to the conversation taking place outside the bedroom door. So Anica was leaving for the coffee shop. He could be really lucky and transform while she was gone. A man coming out of the bedroom would probably scare the s.h.i.+t out of the girl who was supposed to keep tabs on things, but he'd figure out some story to give her.

Maybe he'd bill himself as the irresponsible brother who liked to sleep in and therefore couldn't be counted on to take care of the new cat. It wasn't much of a story, but he wouldn't worry about what this girl, whose name seemed to be Julie, would think of him. Yes, he'd really like to transform right now.

And he couldn't understand why that wasn't happening. He'd taken in enough of that evil slime to make him sick to his stomach. He thoroughly agreed with Anica's statement that he wasn't feeling that well. The transformation potion was gross. He wouldn't care, though, if it worked.

It had worked before, although not until about eighteen hours later. He'd hoped that lapping up twenty times as much would speed the process. So far, all he had was ma.s.sive indigestion . . . and nothing to do.

So in the manner of cats everywhere, he slept, until voices outside the door woke him. The hackles on the back of his neck rose. Anica's voice wasn't one of them. The person talking to Julie was that Shoumatoff person who was dead set on relieving him of his precious boys.

Julie's voice got louder, as if she and that horrible woman were coming down the hall. He could also smell tuna, which if he happened to be a real cat would probably smell like ambrosia.

”Miss Shoumatoff,” Julie said, ”Anica doesn't want anybody bothering her new cat.”

”Anica will be grateful to me for taking care of this. I came by to see if she'd done it and renew my offer to handle it for her. Obviously she's too busy, so I'm taking charge.”

”Miss Shoumatoff, I don't think Anica's going to be happy if you-”

”Of course she will.”

As the voices drew closer to the door, Jasper decided he'd better head for cover. By the time the door opened and Shoumatoff the Castrator came through it, he was under the bed in the very middle. He could see two pairs of boots-one black pair that looked capable of stomping on kitty toes and another that looked as if they'd come from the Salvation Army. He could guess which ones belonged to Shoumatoff.

Orion had arrived, too, and was winding himself around the combat boots and meowing his head off. The smell of tuna was overpowering.

”I'm calling Anica,” Julie said. ”This is not right.”

”Go ahead. I'm sure she'll be thrilled that I'm handling this ch.o.r.e. I'll bet he went under the bed.” Shoumatoff's jowly face appeared, framed by the lace bed skirt. She looked like she was wearing an old-fas.h.i.+oned cap, sort of like Whistler's mother.

”I see you under there, you sneaky cat. Come get the tuna. Not you, Orion.” She shoved the orange tabby out of the way.

Jasper was outraged that she'd push Orion around like that. Tuna or no tuna this woman was bad news, and by G.o.d he was going to do something about it.

She edged the tuna under the bed, keeping hold of the can. Once Jasper thought he had enough of her arm to work with he attacked, sinking his teeth and claws in.

It wasn't the wisest plan. She yelled, but she was more agile than she looked. She reached under the bed with her free hand and grabbed him.

Hissing and spitting, he tried to use his claws on her, but she was bigger and stronger. She manhandled him into a carrier and slammed the door, but as she picked it up and started down the hall, he heard Julie yelling something about Anica's instructions.

”Now, Julie, you know this is for the best.”

”Anica said you're not to take him! Give me that!”

Jasper was flung around inside the carrier as the two women wrestled for it.

”Look, you left the front door open!” Shoumatoff said. ”What if Orion got out?”

”Oh, my G.o.d!” Abruptly Julie let go of the carrier. ”Orion, where are you? Stay right there, Miss Shoumatoff. Please don't leave. Orion! I can't lose both cats.”

Jasper's hope faded. He doubted Orion would leave the apartment, but he knew Julie would feel obligated to track down Anica's main cat, not the temporary stray. While Julie searched for Orion, Shoumatoff headed out of the apartment.

Jasper was so screwed.

Chapter 11.

As Anica ran down the sidewalk, her shoulder purse banging against her side, she dodged pedestrians as best she could, but she b.u.mped into several people and almost knocked over an older man. She called an apology over her shoulder and kept going. She was half a block away when a taxi pulled up in front of her building.

Edna Shoumatoff came down the steps with a pet carrier in one hand. Anica was out of breath from running and her attempt to call out was worthless.

If she'd ever needed magic, she needed it now. But there was no magic and Edna was getting into the cab headed for some clinic. Anica didn't even know which one. By the time she tracked Jasper down it might be too late.

She couldn't let that happen. With a burst of speed she reached the taxi and grabbed the door as it was closing. She gripped the carrier handle with both hands and braced her feet against the pavement.

Edna peered out at her. ”Anica, what's the problem?” She could barely speak as she gulped for air. ”Don't . . . take . . . him.”

”Someone needs to!”

Anica managed to speak without gasping. ”You can't just take someone's cat to be neutered without their permission.”

”You got a tomcat in there?” The cabdriver turned toward the backseat. ”Poor slob. I don't think you women fully appreciate how that affects a guy.”

”He's not a guy,” Edna said. ”He's a cat.”

Technically, he's also a guy. But Anica couldn't very well say that out loud.

”Cats have feelings, too,” the cab driver said.

They were gathering a crowd, and Anica was ready for this episode to be over. She reached in and grabbed one end of the pet carrier. ”Miss Shoumatoff, I promise you this cat is not an overpopulation problem. Let me have Jasper back.”

Edna held on to the carrier with a surprisingly strong grip for a woman her age. ”No!”

The cabdriver sighed. ”Make up your mind, okay, ladies? I'm not getting any richer sitting here by the curb.”

Anica pulled harder. ”I've made up my mind.”

”So have I!” Edna jerked the carrier from the other direction.

”Oh, thank G.o.d you're here!” Julie cried out from behind her. ”I'm so sorry, Anica!”

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