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“What is it?” I asked

“I think it’s the raccoon.” She propped her oven mitt clad hands on her hips. “I was about to take my cake out of the oven. If it burns, Darryl’s going to bake me a new one, and I’ll be the proud owner of a coonskin cap.”

I bent down and peered between the legs of the table. The raccoon clasped my favorite sterling silver charm bracelet.

“He’s got the designer charm bracelet that Caiyan gave me.”

“The one he bought you after the fight over that eighties rock star?”

I scowled at her. “Yes, that one.”

“We should get that back. It could be valuable on eBay.”

“I’m not selling my bracelet on eBay.”

“Just saying, since Caiyan’s going to marry Satan’s bitch, you might want to gather up all the baubles and trade them in on a cruise to the Bahamas.”

The idea of Gertie and me lying on the beach in Bimini wasn’t unappealing. If Caiyan went through with the wedding, I’d reconsider, but right now I wanted the bracelet.

“How can we get my bracelet away from the little jewelry thief?”

“Stay there. I’m going to save my cake and get the broom.”

“What do I do if he runs out?”

“Grab him”

“What if he bites me?”

“He’s Darryl’s pet, I doubt he has rabies, but put these on in case he gets feisty.” She tossed me the oven mitts.

I stuck them on my hands and assumed a defensive position.

She returned a few minutes later, broom and laundry basket in hand. She handed me the basket. “When he runs out, trap him in the basket.”

I held the basket upside down with my oven mitts and waited to pounce.

“Get outta there critter!” She poke-checked it with the broom, and it shot out and headed in my direction.

I tossed the basket over it and did a victory dance.

The raccoon lifted the basket off, then hissed at me. My bracelet dangled from its furry lips.

I leapt and tackled it with the oven mitts. The raccoon broke free and crawled over my head and onto my back.

“Get him off! Get him off!” I squealed.

“Quit squirmin’ or I’ll hit you!” Gertie shouted.

“Hit me with wha—”

She swatted at the animal with the broom. The creature “oofed” as Gertie made contact. The power of the swing caused Gertie to lose her balance. She fell on top of me and I oofed as the creature went flying across the room, landing in Darryl’s arms as he entered the den.

“Tonto, what kind of mischief have you been up to?” Darryl cooed at the bandit.

The animal pointed a long accusatory finger at Gertie and me panting on the den floor.

“Your raccoon stole my bracelet,” I said to Darryl.

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