Free Alibis and Amethysts by Sharon Pape Page B

it,” Sierra chimed in, “but I think she deserves to have a real name, not
     just a designation.”
    Jaye knew she should have seen that coming. “I’m open to suggestions.”
    Sierra leaned forward with her elbows on her knees, studying the animal.
    “Did you do an Internet search to see if you could find any creature like her?” Daniel
     asked, clearly not interested in the naming game.
    “I haven’t had a chance, but my laptop’s in the bedroom if you want to give it a shot.”
     Daniel was off to the bedroom before she finished the sentence.
    “I’ve got it,” Sierra announced. “Since you’ve said she’s quite the little thief,
     how about Raffles, after the fictional British cat burglar?”
    It took Jaye a second to refocus on names. “Clever.”
    “Let’s see how our not-a-cat burglar likes it.” Sierra stood up and walked to the
     other end of the room. “Raffles,” she called, holding her arms out for encouragement.
     “Raffles.”
    Intent on grooming the fur on her left front leg, the not-a-cat didn’t even look up.
     Sierra tried calling her again. No reaction. Sierra sighed when a third attempt failed
     to interest her. “She’s not buying it. We need to come up with a different name.”
    “Give her a chance to get used to it,” Jaye said.
    While they were debating the issue, the not-a-cat made its way over to the door where
     Sierra had dropped her purse. After regarding it quietly for a minute, the animal
     grabbed the purse and took it into the corner, where she began rummaging through it.
     Sierra started laughing.
    “Drop it!” Jaye said sternly, getting to her feet. “Raffles, drop it!” She turned
     to her friend. “And
you
stop laughing.” Neither of them paid her any attention. The not-a-cat kept pulling
     things out of the purse, and Sierra kept right on laughing.
    “Raffles here has to learn some rules if she’s going to live around people,” Jaye
     protested, feeling like the mean parent who won’t let the kids have any fun.
    The not-a-cat had found a hard candy in the depths of Sierra’s purse and was busy
     unwrapping it. She popped it into her mouth, but a moment later her face contorted
     in a comical grimace. She spat out the candy and raced off to the kitchen, where the
     women could hear her noisily lapping water out of the bowl Jaye had refilled for her.
     By then Sierra was doubled over with laughter. She collapsed onto the hardwood floor
     as if her legs had turned to rubber. “Root beer,” she said, trying to catch her breath.
     “I guess it’s an acquired taste.”
    That was it. Between the not-a-cat’s reaction and Sierra’s words, Jaye also dissolved
     into a fit of laughter. Raffles didn’t seem to take exception to being the butt of
     their jokes. When she padded back into the room, she went straight to Sierra, reached
     into her pouch and withdrew a piece of bubble wrap, which she held out to her.
    “Thank you,” Sierra said, her laughter winding down to an occasional giggle. She looked
     across at Jaye. “The barter system you told me about?”
    Jaye nodded. It was another few seconds before she could stop sputtering and speak
     properly. “Even though she didn’t like the candy, I guess she feels obligated to pay
     you for it.”
    “Which makes her more ethical than most people I know.”
    Raffles looked from one of the women to the other and sighed loudly.
    “Something’s bothering her,” Sierra said. “Do you think she’s hungry?”
    “Maybe, but I don’t know if I have anything she’ll— Wait, I think there’s still one
     can of the tuna I keep on hand for you.” Jaye went off to the kitchen. The not-a-cat
     followed her as far as the kitchen doorway and sat down. From there she still had
     both women in view.
    Jaye returned with the tuna on a small plate. She set it down beside the animal. After
     one cautious sniff, one wary taste, Raffles used both hands to scoop the food into
     her mouth. In a matter of seconds, the