Chapter 19: Chapter 19

He found a room with dim, soft lighting. It didn’t have much in the way of furniture—not for humans anyway—but had a lot of cat beds, a couple of tall elaborate play towers, and various ramps and shelves on the walls, forming walkways for the cats, so they could climb high. Boxes of cat toys stood against the walls. There was even a cat-sized exercise wheel. Several pairs of eyes, flashing in reflected light, watched Dez from the high shelves or the top platforms of the play towers. They probably felt safer up there, with all the noise and strange voices. A few braver souls had remained on the floor, but hiding inside various kitty houses and small pop-up tents.

Dez put his fists on his hips and looked around. “Right, who’s in charge here?” he asked, voice mock stern. The cats continued to stare. Well, he knew the best way to a cat’s heart.