Five Million Dollar Cat (A Novella) by Laura Lond

Author:Laura Lond
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: suspense, mystery, pets, cat, cats, animal shelter, cat story, cat adoption, book for cat lovers
Publisher: Laura Lond

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As she drove to the Holiday Inn where she worked in the housekeeping department, Amy kept thinking about the situation. Linda was coming back from vacation next week; that meant Amy was going to baby sit in the mornings again. She wanted to apply for that part-time dishwasher job and check whether the McDonald’s was hiring, too. If either one panned out, she’d be back to working crazy hours. Never home. Had she made Milton’s life worse? At the shelter, he had the company of other cats and volunteers.

She did some math, calculating whether she could afford not getting a part-time job and for how long. When she had lost her waitress job, she was lucky to pick up babysitting, and it helped to stay afloat—just barely. She could probably live with “just barely” for some time. Even that would have her gone from morning to evening, but at least it wouldn’t be early morning, and she’d have Saturdays and Sundays off, like all normal people do. That is, if the shift manager would not make her work Saturdays, as she often did.

Amy sighed and, for the first time, thought of the quarter million dollars promised to her with longing. Could it really happen? Oh, if only it could! She’d get out of this rat race, take a moment to breathe, to think what she wanted to do with her life. She could take her time to find a decent job she’d enjoy, or not work at all for a while. She could go back to college and complete her degree. She could actually do it online! Stay home with Milton all day. Become a vet, as she’d always dreamed. Volunteer at the shelter all she wanted. Donate to animal shelters, too.

Amy stopped herself, knowing too well how dreams could crash, leaving bitter disappointment. Better not think of it.

She grew cold as it dawned on her that the law firm could call any moment. She was not ready for that call. She was no actress; she’d sound false and give herself away, tip them off that she knew about the five million. Perhaps they would mail a letter? Please, God, let them send a letter instead!

Amy turned her cell phone off as she arrived to work—she had to, it was the company policy—and felt relieved, wishing she didn’t have to turn it back on later. She couldn’t stop thinking about it throughout her shift, inventing believable ways to respond to The Call as she vacuumed, changed beds, replaced towels, soap, and shampoo in the bathrooms.

I’m gonna be a nervous wreck before this is over. Jack Miller, I hate you.

The phone rang the moment she turned it on after work, in the middle of the parking lot. Amy panicked, instantly forgetting her rehearsed reactions. It was eleven at night, she thought she was safe, at least for today. Surely the lawyers wouldn’t call so late?

Hands trembling, she looked at the number. Whew! It was Mom.

“Hi, dear, how are you?”

As always, her mother’s familiar voice soothed Amy.

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