Page 2 of Soaring into the Midlife
Izora got close and scooped the little dog up like it weighed a few pounds.
"Okay, furball express to the pound," I said the trembling chihuahua’s chin as Izora held it with surprising gentleness.
"Hailey's right. Someone's bound to fall for those bug eyes in no time." Kendra dusted off her hands as if we'd already dropped the pooch at its next destination. “He’ll be adopted within days.”
"Absolutely not." Izora's words had that ancient vampire queen resonance to them that made it clear she wasn’t discussing or debating. She glared at us like we'd suggested deep-frying the little doggie. "This sweet creature isn't going to some pound."
"Whoa, Izzy, since when did you start a canine fan club?" I asked, my brows raised so high they could’ve flown off my forehead.
"Since now," she said firmly and then, to my utter shock, began cooing at the dog. "Aren't you just the cutest? Yes, you are!"
The chihuahua responded with enthusiastic licks, planting tiny wet kisses right on Izora's lips. If my heart still beat, it would've skipped a few from the sheer absurdity of the scene.
"Are we seeing this?" I said to Kendra, who looked equally gob-smacked. "The big, bad vamp queen, baby-talking a chihuahua?"
"Never thought I'd see the day." Kendra shook her head in disbelief.
"Let's get moving before she starts knitting it a sweater," I said, half-joking, but with Izora, you never knew.
"Agreed. We still have actual criminals to babysit." Kendra nodded toward the SUV where the fugitives waited, blissfully unaware of their supernatural chauffeurs.
"Come along, precious." Izora tucked the chihuahua under one arm, her steely gaze softening as she gazed at it. "You're with me now."
Izora stood up and addressed us with an authoritative tone that brooked no argument. "Let's go."
"Right," I said, still a bit dazed by the vampire queen's maternal display. "I guess now we have a dog."
Izora's eyes flashed with that ancient power of hers, softened only slightly by her new fuzzy companion. "No, Hailey. NowIhave a dog."
"Of course." Kendra grinned. "Because what's a queen without her royal hound?"
We climbed in the car, Izora sitting beside the biggest dog fighter. He glared at her, and she bared her teeth at him. “Izora,” I said sharply, and she put her lips back into place.
"Cozy enough?" Kendra asked, peering into the back as I took the wheel.
"Like sardines in a tin." I started the engine. "Only less fishy. Hopefully." I glanced back at Izora and her new mini-sidekick. "Next stop, justice served, with a side of kibble."
"Did you just...?" Kendra began, but I cut her off with a smirk.
"Yup, made a dog pun. Deal with it."
“I’m going to call you Courage,” Izora said. “You’re the bravest little boy that has ever lived, yes you are.”
Oh-kay. With that, I pulled out of the warehouse parking lot, the city lights guiding us toward the precinct, where hopefully the paperwork would be less painful than Izora's baby talk... or the inevitable shopping spree for Courage’s royal wardrobe.
Navigating through the narrow streets with a cargo of grumbling fugitives and a chihuahua that seemed to think he was a giant mastiff; I let out a breath of relief. The rearview mirror showed Izora keeping a watchful eye on our captives as she nuzzled Courage. Kendra turned in her seat so she could see everyone and talk to me at the same time.
"Where are Luke and Cleo, anyway?" Kendra asked, head cocked to one side as if she could magically summon them with her curiosity. "Shouldn't they be here, helping us stuff bad guys into clown cars?"
"Trust me." I took a sharp left at the traffic light. "Cleo's doing us a favor. She's been working with Luke on his skip-tracing skills."
"Ah." Kendra chuckled. "And how's that going? He hasn't charmed her into letting him off easy, has he?"
"Hardly." I snorted. "She's got him on a tight leash, figuratively speaking, of course. The last time I tried showing him the ropes, I nearly lost my mind. That charm power of his is no joke."
"Bet you're glad she stepped in," Kendra said.
"Like you wouldn't believe. If I had to deal with him for another day, I might've tossed him into the Atlantic... love him to bits, but patience isn't exactly my forte."