"I prefer my pets quiet and much, much less—um fluffy." He slid his uniform coat off the back of the kitchen chair and bent to brush tufts of Persian hair from his trousers. After he'd finished, Wrong-Way Rachel made one more pass around his legs, depositing a fresh batch of fur. He exhaled loudly. "Aw come on, Z-man. She's not so bad. She has ninja moves that would make you jealous." With one socked foot, Erin scooted Rachel away from his uniform. Was she really sticking up for that infernal cat? "I promise I will keep looking until I find the kid. I've tapped all my sources and everyone is out looking, but nobody has seen hide nor hair of Gunther or Lily since the fire. I was out to his place today and there is no one around. His old truck is in the driveway but they are gone." Dodging the affectionate dog in the hallway, Zimmerman made his way to the front door, where his enormous boots stood side-by-side like two soldiers in the entrance.
