Chapter 7: The Unexpected Job

Anna pulled out her phone again and dialed the number on Zane's business card. "Hello, Zane? This is Anna. You know the one who was at the wrong house earlier? Yeah I'm in that taxi right behind you, I need to talk to you. I may have a job for you." She hung up the phone and then immediately swerved the car in front of him, screaching to a halt.

Ethan frowned. He knew this wasn't going to end well. It's not often that potential clients chase him down in stolen taxis. And whenever that did happen, things always got much worse from that point on.

Anna go out and started to speak. "Anyway, you seem like a nice guy, and I have some business to attend to that will have me indisposed for a while. Whatever Suki has planned for you I can get called off if you watch my cats for me? It's just for 2 or 3 days tops."

Already trying to forget the events of the past couple minutes, Zane seemed hesitant about continuing the conversation. But then he though there could be some potential profit in this. Perhaps she will need an attorney or something someday and he'll have managed to have made a good impression with Anna. He saw this as a great business opportunity, so he humored her.

"Ok, Sure, I guess so… But only if you can guarantee the little gray one won't cut me up as soon as you look away". It was obvious he was afraid from the uneasiness in his voice and he did not want to underestimate Anna, that was for sure.

"Oh yes," She replied, "I have them all packed up in packing peanuts in the backseat already."

"Really?" he asked her.

Anna laughed. "No not really, so do you want the job or not?"

He thought for a second. He knew he was going to regret it but she was pretty and really seemed like she wanted his help. Reluctantly he nodded. "Yes."

Anna decided to seal the deal and play up her appreciation. "Oh thank you so much, I don't know what I would do without you." She knew her plans were falling into place. Get the cats over to his house, and let the fun begin. Most likely she wouldn't have to worry about him ever again and the cats would be out of the way for a little bit at least. "You'll have to accept payment after I get back, I haven't a thing on me."

Anna handed him the carrying cases that contained the three cats. "Now remember don't feed them after midnight and don't get them wet." She cautioned "Or they'll try to rent Gremlins at the local video store." After that, Anna got back in the taxi and drove away.

The walk home was uneventful but Zane couldn't help but feel he'd gotten himself in way over his head. He could swear that there was snickering coming from the carrying case the whole way home.

Finally arriving at Zane's home, he opened the case once he was inside and let the cats out. They seemed to make themselves at home almost immediately. Someone had stuck 'Hi My Name Is' stickers on their backs. Tigerlily, the oldest gray cat sat in the middle of the house where she could have a view of the whole house. She stared at Zane wherever he went which made him feel quite uncomfortable. She also never stopped giving him an evil look.

Suki, the black cat walked around like she owned the place, and plopped down in a chair and started licking herself. While Zane was distracted with Suki's performance, the kitten, Cleopatra scoped out the house, analyzing security concerns, tapping the phones, and ran around until she knew the exact layout of the house. Then she came back to relay the information to Tigerlily who looked less then interested the whole time. Zane caught a glimpse of the cats, who immediately stopped meowing to each other and looked at him like he had two heads.

Zane had no idea what was going on. But he was suspicious. He tried to watch them for as long as he could before he got really tired, and eventually went to bed because he had a big day in the morning.

The plan that the cats had been working on was set in motion finally. Tigerlily followed him to bed and laid at his feet. Suki and Cleo disappeared into another room and waited. After a little while, after they were sure Zane was asleep, Suki went into Zane's office while Cleo went into the bedroom.

Suddenly, Zane was awakened by a fan bouncing off of his head. "What the heck?" He scanned the dark room, and could find no movement anywhere. Was someone trying to kill him? He just lay there with horror as the pain in his head still throbbed. Was it a ghost? Tigerlily and Cleo stared at him for a moment before Tigerlily gave him the paw. Meanwhile, there was a banging and falling noise in the other room. What could it be? Zane was too scared to find out. Then the sound of a power drill and hammering. Moments later, silence again.

When Zane awoke the next morning, he noticed all three cats in the kitchen, and they immediately scattered when he entered the room. They were collaborating, he knew it.

The bruise on his head still hurt, and he so he walked over and took some pain killers from the medicine cabinet. Zane knew this was going to be a long day. He thought to himself "Where did that trapdoor in the floor come from? That wasn't there yesterday."