Claws and Effect Read Online Free Page A

what?”
The rotund gray kitty leapt onto the remaining free kitchen chair.
    â€œYou want money. Get your fat butt out there and earn some.”
    â€œVery funny.”
    â€œYou could do shakedowns. People do it. Ask a small fee for not tearing up gardens, not leaving partially digested mice on the front steps, and not raiding the refrigerator.”
    Before unflattering words could be spoken, Harry leaned over, face-to-face with the cats. “I can’t hear myself think.”
    â€œThey certainly have many opinions,” Susan said. “Not unlike their mother.”
    â€œM-m-m.” Harry glanced out the window. “Damn.”
    Susan turned to observe.
    â€œMore snow,”
Tucker lamented. Being low to the ground, she had to plow through snow. It was the only time she admitted to admiring larger canines.

3
    â€œSpike!” Isabelle Otey shouted from the sidelines as Harry, on the opposing team, rose up in the air, fist punching into the volleyball. Although Isabelle’s main sport was basketball, she loved most team sports and she enjoyed knowing the “townies,” as residents of the county were called by UVA students. Languishing on the sidelines, she supported her team vocally.
    Isabelle’s team, knowing of Harry’s skill, crouched in preparation but not only was Harry strong, she was smart. She spiked the ball where they weren’t.
    â€œGame,” the ref called as the score reached 21 to 18.
    â€œRocket arm.” Cynthia Cooper slapped Harry on the back.
    Isabelle, her crutches leaning against the bleachers, called out to Harry, “Too good, Mary Minor. You’re too good.”
    Throwing a towel around her neck, Harry joined the coach of the opposing team. Coop, a deputy on the county’s police force, joined them.
    â€œIsabelle, they need you. Basketball team, too.” Cynthia sat next to her.
    â€œFour more weeks. You know it isn’t really painful, the swelling went down fast but I don’t want to go through this again so I’m doing what Dr. Buxton told me. What scares me more than anything is going out to the car, walking across the ice with crutches.”
    â€œCalling for rain tomorrow.” Harry wiped her face with the white towel. “The good thing is it will melt some of the snow. Bad thing, won’t melt all of it and at night everything will be more ice.”
    â€œKeeps me busy.” Cynthia grinned. “I have to earn my salary somehow. You know, most people are pretty reasonable about fender benders. A few lose it.”
    â€œYou must see a lot of stuff.” Isabelle couldn’t imagine being a law-enforcement officer. She envisioned a career as a pro basketball player.
    â€œMostly car wrecks, drunks, a few thefts and”—she smiled devilishly—“the occasional murder.”
    â€œI wonder if I could kill anyone.”
    â€œIsabelle, you’d be amazed at what you could do if your life depended on it,” Cynthia said, running her fingers through her blonde hair.
    â€œSure. Self-defense, but I read about these serial killers in the paper or people who just go to a convenience store with a shotgun and blow everyone to bits.”
    â€œI have a few uncharitable thoughts in the post office from time to time,” Harry giggled.
    â€œOh, Harry, you couldn’t kill anyone—unless it was self-defense, of course,” Isabelle said.
    â€œIt’s not a subject I’ve thought much about. What about you, Coop? You’re the professional.”
    â€œMost murders have a motive. Jealousy, inheritance money. The usual stuff. But every now and then one will come along that makes you believe some people are born evil. From my point of view our whole system allows them to get away with it.”
    â€œAre we going to have the discussion about suspending civil rights?” Harry asked Coop.
    â€œNo, we are not because I’m going to hit the showers. I’ve got a