Page 24 of Dangerous Obsession

“Good idea.” He sat back in the chair and stretched out one long leg. “To answer your earlier question, I found her in the metal garbage can back by your fence.” He’d checked the area for the mama and any other kittens, but there was no sign of them.

She popped her head out of the fridge and held a small carton in her hand.

“I use that for my yard garbage. Oh my gosh.” She slammed the door shut. “Do you think someone dumped her in there?”

“People have done worse.” He’d seen too much firsthand evidence of that. “But I’m guessing that’s the sound you heard.”

“Well, that’s embarrassing. I should’ve checked first.” She set the carton on the counter. “I’m sorry you got tagged to be the one to babysit for me. I’m sure you have other things to do.”

“There’s no place I’d rather be.” He’d already planned to come see her, but she wasn’t ready to hear that just yet. They exchanged a long look, then he said, “You did the right thing, letting Dulce and Cole know about the note.”

“I hadn’t intended to, but she is like a bloodhound—she can sniff out when something’s wrong.” She grinned and shook her head.

Marigold poured some cream and a little bit of water into a small saucepan, gave them a quick stir, and set it on a burner. She turned the knob, and, after the distinctiveclick click clickof the pilot light, there was awhooshand the burner ignited.

“Would you like something to drink or eat? I have some leftover pizza.” She reached for the fridge handle.

“No, I’m good. Thanks.” The kitten climbed up his chest to his shoulders, curled up close to his neck, and fell asleep. “I know it’s only been a few minutes, but have you given any thought to what you want to do with this little one?”

He reached up and stroked his hand over the soft fur. The kitten lazily stretched out her front legs, splayed her paws open, curled them tight, and dug her teeny tiny claws into his T-shirt.

“It’s too late to do anything tonight.” She leaned back against the counter and crossed her arms. “I have a customer whose husband is a veterinarian. I’ll call his office in the morning and see if I can get her in to see him.”

“That’s probably a good idea.” Other than being thin, the kitten appeared to be pretty healthy, but better to be safe than sorry.

“What’s funny is, I’ve actually been kicking around the idea of getting a cat.” She turned and stirred the cream.

“Looks like fate might’ve decided for you.” The kitten’s little motor vibrated against the side of his neck. “Guess you’ll need to come up with a name.”

“A name? Hmm, I’ll have to think about that.” She turned the burner off and pushed off the counter. “While that cools, I’ll go grab that creepy note.”

Marigold hurried out of the kitchen, returned a moment later, and handed him the plastic bag with the yellow envelope, a piece of folded-up, lined, yellow paper torn from a legal pad, and an old card.

“That’s a card Cliff gave me when we first started dating.” She must’ve picked up on the question forming in his mind. “I have zero feelings for him beyond contempt and disgust. I only kept it because it reminds me of how stupid I was to believe him in the first place and to never be that stupid again.”

“Well, whatever the reason, it’s a good thing you did,” he said. “And just for the record, Marigold, you are far from stupid.”

“Thanks.” She pointed at the note. “Anyway, Cole said they might be able to get some DNA or fingerprints from it.”

“If anyone can find something, it’s Beatrice.” He’d met a lot of brilliant people in his life, but Dr. Beatrice Parker, soon to be O’Halleran, was on a whole other level. “She is a master at finding a needle in a haystack.”

“Yeah, she’s crazy smart, and I love the way she talks—using big words and technical terms for everything. And boy, she and Mathias are seriously gaga over each other.” She scooped up a spoonful of cream and tested the temperature on her wrist. “Perfect.”

Mathias O’Halleran, the quiet twin, as he was called, met Beatrice when she was hired to run the forensics operation for OSI. They worked a twisted serial killer case together that almost ended with the death of Michaleen O’Halleran, the family patriarch.

Viking read the note while she poured the cream into a saucer.

“Is there anyone else you can think of who might have sent this to you? Someone who might be upset with you about something?” Though he couldn’t imagine this kind, fun woman having any enemies.

Except her ex.

“I don’t think so.” She set the cream on the table and sat down. “Let’s see if she’ll eat.”

Viking lifted the kitten from his shoulder, and it jerked awake with a hiss. He set her face near the edge of the bowl. She sniffed a few times, then her little pink tongue peeked out and took a taste. Instinct kicked in and she started lapping up the cream and making throaty, growling noises.

“She may be little, but she’s tough.” His fingertip scratched the base of the kitten’s tail. “I think the noise you heard was from the lid to your yard garbage can. Someone probably put her inside, accidentally dropped the lid, and took off.”

“Well, you’re safe now, aren’t you, baby?” Marigold’s cutesy talk was so endearing, it took every bit of control he had not to scoop her up and set her in his lap.

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