Catch a Shadow Read Online Free Page B

was side-by-side identical units. She and Sam each had large living rooms, eat-in kitchens immediately behind the living room, then a large bath that she’d modernized, and finally a roomy bedroom at the back. They shared a screened front porch.
    It was a remnant of a true neighborhood that had since been redeveloped into luxury apartment buildings. Four houses remained, including her duplex, but growing taxes would soon squeeze her out.
    Still, she loved it. She could walk to a neighborhood grocery, an art museum, and symphony hall, or run in the large city park a half block away. She’d bought it ten years earlier, using the insurance policy her grandfather had left. Sam’s rent paid the taxes. He’d also become her best friend, though there were no romantic feelings between them.
    She put Sam’s Spade down on the floor. She’d tried to feed the half-wild kitten when he had appeared on their steps a year ago, but he wouldn’t have anything to do with her. Spade wanted Sam. Sam had resisted adopting him. His hours were too odd, and he liked being a free spirit without attachments. He’d finally given up and taken him in, and now he was as silly about the “damn cat” as she was about Merlin. He was going to call him Cat, but she prevailed when she suggested naming him after his favorite fictional detective.
    She gave Merlin some dried fruit and seeds and left the door to his cage open so he could fly from room to room with her. Spade followed them.
    First the pizza. She nuked it, poured a diet cola, and sat at the kitchen table.
    The sealed letter was still there, like the proverbial elephant, on the table. She longed to open it, but it was not meant for her. That darn conscience again.
    After finishing the pizza, she went to her computer in the bedroom and Googled Mark Cable. There were a thousand Mark Cables. Same with Mitch Edwards.
    So little to go on .
    â€œNight,” squawked Merlin. She left the computer and went over to where he perched on the back of the small couch. Spade sat next to him. Surprisingly, these two misfits had found companionship with each other.
    She rubbed Merlin’s head, and he chucked with delight. The parrot had been an unexpected addition to her household. A friend involved with animal rescue had asked her to take care of Merlin for several days. The bird had been found abandoned in a crack house and had pecked away most of his feathers, making him unadoptable.
    She’d been just getting over a divorce and had lost her job. She agreed to keep him for two weeks.
    Two weeks had turned into three years. Now she couldn’t imagine life without the cranky and talkative African Grey parrot, but he required more attention than a cat or dog. Parrots, she’d learned, were sociable birds and did not do well being alone for long periods of time. Sam had turned out to be a great parrot sitter.
    Now she found herself talking to the bird. He liked it, and it enabled her to think aloud. “I took a letter today from a patient,” she said. “Shouldn’t have done it. Shouldn’t have made a promise. Might end up jobless again, and then you and I will be on the street.”
    He tipped his head, listening intently.
    â€œNot so good, heh?”
    He flew to her shoulder. He was uncanny at recognizing her moods. “Like Kirke,” he said.
    â€œI’m glad,” she replied, smoothing his head feathers. “But that doesn’t solve my problem.”
    He cackled.
    â€œI’ll give it a day, try to find this guy, and if I can’t, well then I’ll just say I forgot about it and give it to the hospital.”
    â€œDandy,” the parrot said.
    She grinned at that. She’d said the word once, and Merlin had picked up on it, just as he did on other words that attracted him. Something about the sound. He would hear a word or sound he liked, then spend days practicing it, driving her to near madness. Sometimes it