Page 21

Douglas looked around the Country Vet Clinic's lunch room. It was a fair-sized room, but just now it looked smaller with the full complement of staff... vet techs and assistants, lab techs, receptionists, housekeeping and maintenance... all crowded about the various tables and standing against the walls.

"I want to thank you all for ... " He broke off, realizing a couple of crucial people were missing, and glanced to the door with a puzzled frown. "Is Tamera coming?"

"She got stopped by Katerina in the hallway," Barbara, the office manager, said. "They should be along momentarily."

Before he could reply, a feline squall went up in the hallway, outraged yowls followed by the scrabble of claws on tile. A ball of brown and black fur tumbled into the room, hissing and spitting and snarling. He sighed, rubbing his forehead.

"Cat," Troy called, from where he stood at Douglas' side. One of the cats broke away, dashing across the floor to leap gracefully into his arms. From that safety, she turned her head and hissed at her brother, ears back.

Accustomed to the antics of the sibling Maine Coons, the staff snickered. Quick footsteps sounded from the hall, and Daniel appeared in the doorway. A high school senior, he worked part time in the clinic's barn. Douglas would be sad to lose him in the fall, when the boy went off to college.

"Sorry I'm late," Daniel told, dropping into the nearest vacant chair. "I was... WHOA!"

Everyone followed his gaze to the doorway, where a tall, lean cat strolled in. It had a short, ruddy brown coat, with long legs, a long body, and amazingly long tufts coming off its oversize ears. It paid no attention to the people gathered, but leapt onto the table where Barbara, the office manager, and Anna and Holly, the front office staff, sat. It reclined gracefully, blinking with large, luminous eyes.

Mouths dropped open, as everyone stared.

"What is it?" someone asked.

"I don't know, but it's obviously a wild cat of some kind. Is that even legal to be here?" Anna replied. "It must be tame, though. Do you think I could pet it? Its fur looks like velvet."

"It's a caracal," Douglas said, scowling at the cat. He pointed at her. "You. Down."

Those outrageous ears swiveled towards him, and he swore she grinned, but showed no inclination to move.

"Probably best to just get on with it," Troy advised his friend.

"Yeah. Okay, so the reason we've called this meeting today," Douglas said, then paused, giving his staff a chance to redirect their attention from the cats to Troy and him. The third partner, Suzanne, sat to one side. Already aware of shifters, she gave him an encouraging smile. He took a deep breath, and continued. "We called this meeting today, in light of the recent... er... revelations in the news."

"About the shapeshifters?" Daniel asked eagerly.

Anna looked excited, her eyes wide. "Do you think some of the animals we've treated here have been shifters?"

An excited babble arose, and Douglas held up his hand for silence.

"Not exactly." He looked at his partner and best friend. "Troy?"

Troy looked down at the long-haired tabby nestled in his arms. "Show time."

Cat flowed up his arm to balance precariously, all four mittened paws daintily placed on his broad shoulder. Wide gold eyes blinked at her audience, and Troy grinned proudly. "I married one."

There was a long moment of silence, before everyone burst into exclamations.

"Awesome!" That was Daniel.

"Katerina? That's Katerina?" Barbara demanded.

Beside her, Holly was laughing, pointing at Kit, who'd also leaped onto a table and was preening. "Then Kit has to be Kester, right? They're brother and sister, so...?"

From Troy's shoulder, Cat hissed at her brother, who yawned, showing off an excellent set of white fangs.

Barbara looked at the caracal draped across the table before her. "And this is?"

"That's Tamera," Douglas answered, grinning.

There was another burst of murmurs and the staff crowded round the two tables.

"But none of our patients?" Holly looked disappointed, as did Anna, sitting beside her.

Troy chuckled, as Cat licked his eyebrow. "Nope, sorry!"

Scanning the faces before him, as he was aware Troy and Suzanne also were doing, Douglas saw no signs of trouble. It stood to reason that people working in a veterinary clinic would be animal lovers, and not have a problem with shifters. He hadn't exactly expected a problem, but nonetheless, he was surprised at the surge of relief he felt.

"What made you decide to share this information with us today?" Barbara inquired with keen perception. "You could have kept it to yourself indefinitely."

Cat leaped off Troy's shoulder, trotted across the floor, and disappeared out the door, Kit on her heels.

"Tonight, Katerina and I are going to appear on national television, in a live interview on a talk show, hosted by an acquaintance of Katerina's, from back when she was on the fashion circuit," Troy told them, his deep voice rumbling. "She'll be shifting on camera, and talking about being a shifter. Answering questions, that sort of thing."

Katerina strolled back into the room, casually dressed in jeans and a cotton blouse, her small feet stuffed into sneakers. She grinned at everyone, her eyes gleaming merrily. "Hi."

"Come sit with us," Barbara demanded, standing to pull Katerina into a hug as she came near. "I can't believe it was you, all this time! Oh, my God, and that one time you pushed all my files off onto the floor!"

Katerina assumed an innocent expression, clearly holding back laughter. "Oops?"

Kester returned also, in human form, coming to sit close to his Chosen, Tamera, who was still draped across the table with feline grace. She gave the strange, plaintive cry peculiar to caracals, and nudged her head against his arm.

"So about this talk show?" Holly prompted.

"Yes, right. The journalist is one that I've worked with closely for years when I was a fashion designer," Katerina explained. "I trust her, and we've talked about this at some length over the last week. The idea is to try to be... I'm not sure of the right word," she said, scrunching up her nose. "Relatable?"

"That's as good as any," Kester said, stroking Tamera's ruff.

"The thing is," Douglas took over the meeting, "there will almost certainly be some blow-back on the clinic. We'll likely lose some patients. We'll likely gain some patients."

Barbara nodded her understanding, her eyes sharp with intelligence. "There'll be lookie-loos, too. Folks dropping by in hopes of seeing a shifter."

"Yes, exactly. I expect we'll be fending off the press, too. And," Douglas paused, making sure he had everyone's full attention. "There may be some negative consequences as well. We've got plans in place for a security team, but for purposes of full disclosure, we must make you aware there could be some element of danger at some point."

Suzanne, from where she sat, nodded. "The crazies," she said succinctly.

"Oh, man, and I have to leave for college in August," Daniel mourned, making Douglas laugh.

"What we want to make sure you understand is this." Suzanne leaned forward in her chair to tap the table before her. "We are here for you. You are all valued employees, and most of you have been with us for years. Given these... unusual... circumstances, we'll be understanding if anyone doesn't feel comfortable staying. We'll do all we can for you... referrals, letters of recommendation, and our best will, should you decide you might be better off elsewhere."

"We don't want to lose any of you," Douglas emphasized. "But we will understand if you feel you can't, or shouldn't, stay."

Around the room, heads were shaking.

"Heck, no!" Daniel exclaimed. "I'm already wanting to come back, and I haven't even left yet."

"You said there would be security?" This question was from Tom, one of their older vet techs who'd been with them since the clinic first opened its doors.

"Yes, absolutely," Douglas affirmed. "We're contracting with a security firm to provide around the clock security for the entire property, as well as outdoor cameras. Anyone coming early or staying late can be assured of an escort to and from their car."

"That's good enough for me," Tom he nodded, as did those around him.

"Wild horses couldn't keep me from this," Barbara burst out, her typical businesslike demeanor giving way to pure enthusiasm.

"Oh my gosh, this is so exciting," Anna enthused. She eyed the caracal, still sprawled on the table before her. "Is it weird that I want to pet my coworker?"

Tamera turned her head, giving a contented purr.

"But shifters aren't only cats, are they?" asked another vet tech, Pamela, her gaze on Tamera. "The one on that video, that was a fox."

Douglas shook his head. "Not at all. We have wolves, bobcats, a Great Pyrenees, and that's just that I'm aware of. Most of the local shifters are waiting for Katerina's interview first, and to see how that's received, before more decide if, and when, they will make themselves known."

"So if you all wouldn't mind keep this under your hats for now," Katerina added. She gave them a mischievous grin. "You can watch me tonight on TV."

"Aren't you nervous?" Holly wanted to know.

Katerina smiled, shaking her head. "Not really. As a fashion designer, I'm accustomed to being in the limelight, in front of the camera, to having paparazzi shoving flash bulbs and microphones in front of me. And Cat, well," she grinned, eyes dancing. "She just loves the attention. She can't wait to do her thing with the whole nation watching."

The room exploded with questions, and she took a step back, laughing, holding up her hands as if to ward them off. "I know, I know, everyone has all these questions. And that's why I'll be on stage tonight, answering them. Just tune in and watch. I'll be in on Monday, though, so I can answer any follow up questions you might have."

"I have an idea," Liam said, speaking up from his corner where he'd sat quietly during all this. Given his position in the community, he wasn't one of those coming out in public, not even to the clinic staff here. "Let's check with Angus and Renee at the West Side Inn, and see if they'll let us rent their dining room for the evening. We can have a live streaming party, and it's large enough you can bring family members as well. We can all watch together."

"That's a terrific idea," Kester approved. "Tamera and I'll be there too, if we do it."

"Yes!" Daniel punched the air, as the various employees signified their approval. He leaned forward eagerly. "But I gotta ask. How did you get to be a shifter? Did you, like, get bitten? Like in the werewolf tales?"

Katerina laughed, and Kester snickered.

"No, it's genetic. Our mom and dad were shifters, and our grandparents, and going back, well, forever."

"No one knows how and when shifters were created, or evolved, or whatever," Kester explained. "We have a whole branch of scientists and geneticists working on it."

"Switzerland," Katerina nodded.

"Hell," Daniel said, sulking. Others in the room echoed the disappointment.

"It'd be so cool to be a cat," Barbara said enviously, and Holly nodded her agreement.

"Not me, I'd be a hawk," Tom announced. "Can you imagine, soaring in the sky, the world beneath your wings?"

Douglas watched as the staff enthusiastically discussed their preferred animal forms. He caught Troy's eye and received a subtle nod. Time to wrap things up before the meeting devolved into pure speculation.

"Alright everyone," Douglas called out, raising his voice to be heard over the animated chatter. "I'll coordinate with Angus and Renee about using their dining room for a viewing party. Barbara, could you send out an email to everyone with the details once we have it confirmed?"

"Of course," Barbara replied, already pulling out her phone to make a note. "I'll include a head count for family members too."

"Perfect." Douglas straightened, assuming his more professional demeanor. "For now, that's it. Please remember, until after tomorrow night's interview, this information stays within these walls."

Tom raised his hand. "What about our families? Can we tell them when we get home?"

"Use your judgment," Douglas answered. "If you're planning to bring them to the viewing party, they'll need to know. Just make sure they understand the importance of keeping it quiet until after the interview airs."

Chairs scraped against the floor as people began standing. Daniel lingered, clearly bursting with more questions, but Holly grabbed his arm and steered him toward the door.

"Come on, those stalls won't clean themselves," she told him with a laugh.

Douglas watched, pride stirring in his chest, as his staff filed out, their excited whispers echoing down the hallway. The meeting had gone better than he'd dared hope. Not a single negative reaction among them.

Troy cleared his throat as the last of the staff filed out of the conference room. "Barbara, could you stay behind for a moment? Douglas, Katerina, and I need to discuss something with you."

Barbara paused, her notebook clutched to her chest. "Of course, Dr. Shelton."

As the door clicked shut, Troy leaned forward, his elbows resting on the polished oak table. "We're working on contingency plans, in case there's trouble after Katerina goes public tonight on national television."

Barbara's expression sobered immediately. "I can see that would be a good idea."

"Terrifying for me," Katerina confessed. "but Cat is thrilled. You know how she is about adulation, so she gets to show off in front of the world.."

"With Katerina being married to Troy," Douglas chimed in, "we're anticipating an influx of shifters coming here to the clinic, seeking help or even refuge."

Troy nodded. "We'd like to set up a kind of triage system here at the clinic for incoming shifters. Barbara, we were hoping you'd be willing to be their first point of contact."

Barbara blinked, her brow furrowing. "Me? But I'm not a?—"

"Exactly," Katerina interjected. "You're human, which makes you the perfect neutral party. Plus, you're already at the front desk."

"We'll have a roster of contacts," Troy assured her. "You'll simply be welcoming any who show up, and then passing them on to the right contact for what they need."

Barbara's eyes darted between the three of them. "I... I'm honored you'd trust me with this. But what if someone claims to be a shifter, but isn't? I won't be able to tell."

"That's where the triage comes in," Douglas explained. "It won't matter; if they say they're a shifter, simply contact whomever is on duty, and they'll take over from there."

"You talked a bit about the risks…. what if someone dangerous comes in?" Barbara's voice quavered slightly.

Katerina reached across the table, her slender hand engulfing Barbara's. "We'd never put you in harm's way. If you ever feel uncomfortable or threatened, of course you'll call for backup immediately. You'll have a list of contacts to program into your phone."

"Remember, we're going to have security," Douglas confirmed. "They'll be discreet, but they'll be close. We're having a panic button installed, too, like the kind they use in banks."

He exchanged glances with Troy and Katerina. The panic button would alert Jacinth, who could be here instantly in case of trouble. But that wasn't something Barbara needed to know.

Barbara took a deep breath. "Alright. I'm in. What do I do now?"

"Thank you, Barbara," Douglas said, his voice warm with gratitude. "We're still ironing out the details, but we'll set up a meeting soon to go over everything."

He watched as Barbara's shoulders relaxed, her earlier tension melting away. Her silvery blonde hair caught the light as she nodded, a determined glint in her eye. "Of course, Dr. Shelton. I'm happy to help in any way I can. Just let me know when you're ready to discuss the specifics."

"We'll probably have a sit-down with you and the other front desk staff, next week," Troy added. "That'll give us time to finalize our plans and get you a list of contacts."

"One other thing," Katerina added, her wide gold gaze solemn as she addressed Barbara. "The list of contacts you'll have include some shifters who aren't coming forward publicly. You must understand that this list must be kept absolutely confidential."

Barbara smiled, her earlier nervousness replaced by a look of keen interest. "I understand completely. I'm looking forward to learning more and doing my part to help."

"That went better than expected," Troy said, turning to Douglas and Katerina after Barbara had left. "Both meetings."

Douglas nodded, running a hand through his hair. "I was pretty sure the staff would be supportive, but their enthusiasm was more than I'd hoped for."

Katerina slipped her small hand into Troy's larger one, her fingers warm against his palm. "Daniel looked ready to burst with questions. I bet he'll be hanging around the clinic even after he starts college."

"Wouldn't surprise me at all," Troy chuckled, remembering the teenager's excited expression. He squeezed Katerina's hand gently. "Ready to head home, kitty cat? We should probably get some rest before we head to Manhattan this afternoon."

"Yes, please." Katerina stifled a yawn. "It's going to be a long day."

Troy turned to Douglas. "Have fun at the viewing party tonight."

"Oh, yeah, I'm not about to miss it. I'm going to see if Jacinth wants to get someone in to watch the kids, while we come to the inn. We'll bring Talya with us, too, or life won't be worth living for weeks after." Troy laughed, as did Katerina, and Douglas slapped his friend on the shoulder. "Get some rest, both of you. This is going to be... interesting."

They said their goodbyes and headed out to the parking lot. As Troy settled behind the wheel, he glanced at his wife. She was gazing out the window, her expression thoughtful, fingers absently playing with a strand of her wild black hair. He started the engine but didn't put the truck in gear just yet.

"You okay?" he asked softly.

Katerina turned to him, her gold eyes bright in the slanting sunlight. "Just processing everything. It feels more real now that we've told the staff."

Troy nodded, understanding exactly what she meant. Until now, their plans had felt somewhat abstract, but telling the clinic staff had made everything suddenly, startlingly concrete.