Mac the Knife
"I have court in five. Why don't you come to my place later this afternoon? We can have dinner and then go over the case?" Harm suggested. He was talking to Lillian Desmoines, a colleague from Great Lakes. He looked at Mac. "Do you mind?" Since the two women just spent their lunch hour exchanging stories about their boyfriends she shook her head. "No. But play nice." Harm chuckled. He knew exactly what she meant.
A few hours later there was the expected knock on the door. Harm walked over to open it, in the meantime making sure none of the kittens could escape. He opened de door slightly, telling Lillian to come in quickly. She had changed into civvies, now wearing jeans and a loose knit sweater.
"I hope you're not allergic to cats or mind cat hair on your cloths. I forgot to ask earlier."
No but …" she looked around "how many cats do you have?"
"Now, well, one. The little calico over there." He pointed at the windowsill where Mackenzie was sitting and watching the street.
Lillian looked bewildered and made a futile attempt to count the kittens crowding her feet. Harm chuckled.
"My neighbour Jennifer had to leave town in order to look after her sick mum. I agreed to take care of her cat Mac. But it turned out Mac was pregnant, so suddenly I had one adult cat and seven kittens on my hands. I gave them all names starting with Mac. Unfortunately Jennifer's mum took a turn for the worse and she is still in California," he explained.
"So you're stuck with the family." Lillian couldn't hide her amusement.
"Yes. We are trying to find them new homes but up till now not much luck. But do sit down, dinner will be ready soon."
After dinner they spread out the paperwork on the table. But working is not easy when you share your house with seven lively kittens. After a while Harm decided to put them to bed early. In a few scoops he rounded them up and placed them into the cage. A loud protesting choir of meows was his reward but he didn't care. At least they would get some work done. It wasn't before long, though, that Lillian felt something climbing her leg. Apparently Harm had missed one little cat. She carefully lowered her hand and was greeted with a butt of a little head before the kitten turned around a few times and made itself comfortable in her lap.
It was almost half pas ten then they decided to call it a day. Harm stood up and offered another drink.
"A cup of tea would be nice," Lillian agreed and pushed her chair back. Harm's eyes widened. "Mac the Knife, what are you doing there?"
"Oh, leave him, he was just napping on my lap," Lillian pleaded. With a shrug Harm went to make the promised tea. When he came back he placed the cup on the small table next to her, he bent over to pick up the kitten and bring him to his brothers and sisters.
But Mac the Knife was not having it. He hooked his little claws securely into the loose material of her sweater, clearly not intending to let go any time soon. When Harm tried again, he bared his teeth, growled and his whole body language seemed to radiate 'this is my human!'
Lillian laughed out loud. "So you don't want to let go, little kitty cat. What's your name?"
"That is Mac the Knife," Harm told her. "Let go, Mac."
Once again he tried to pry the little claws out of the jumper but to no avail. The kitten hissed and clung on. That is, until he couldn't hold any longer. Then he jumped off Lillian's lap and sped off. Harm turned around to see where he had gone and noticed the little cat taking refuge under a chair. There he turned and waited, claws ready. When Harm approached he snarled again. Harm didn't flinch, he bent down to scoop the kitten up. But then …
"D**n, you little rat!"
Harm jumped back and looked at his hand where four bloody marks bore witness that Mac the Knife was not going anywhere without a fight. With another muffled curse and an angry glare Harm headed for the bathroom to tend his wounds. When he returned, his hand was cleaned and covered with several bandages. He looked around to find his attacker and found him once again on the lap of the visitor. He purred loudly and definitely looked triumphant.
When Harm approached the animal braced himself, ready to strike again.
Lillian bit back a smile. "Wow, you're one feisty little thing." She tickled him behind his ear. The cat tilted his little head and purred. For now Harm decided to sit and drink his tea.
Tea gone though, it was time for Lillian to leave. And now it was her turn to slowly entangle herself from her catty admirer who had fallen asleep once more, his front paws firmly wrapped around her wrist.
Mac the Knife meowed protesting but did nothing. She lifted him up to eye height. He dangled helplessly and harmlessly in her grip, still purring.
"What do I do with you, pussycat?"
"Meow."
"Maybe I should keep you." She looked at Harm. "I used to have a cat but the past years I have been on deployment so often I couldn't have a pet. But now I have a roommate who is a civilian and my boyfriend lives nearby so I have cat sitters when I'm out of town."
"Are you sure?" Harm asked. "You saw, he can be feisty."
Lillian bit back a smile "I saw that." She cuddled Mac the Knife against her cheek and was rewarded with a lick. "I think he likes me."
"I think he does," Harm smiled wryly. He rubbed his hand. "Well, I'd like him to have a good home but how are you going to do it? Transport him, I mean."
"I have to think of that. And I suppose I have to discuss it with my roommate," she frowned. "Maybe it's better if I let you now for sure tomorrow, if that's okay with you?"
"Fine with me," Harm told her.
Lillian rose. "Shall I put him in the cage?" Harm nodded, grateful to avoid another encounter with four razor-sharp claws. Lillian carried her new best friend over to Harm's bedroom and carefully dropped him through the hatch onto the pillow.
"Be good to daddy," she cooed. Harm pulled a face but kept silent.
They said their goodbyes, Lillian promising to call as soon as possible.
When he crawled into his bed Harm looked at the cat's cage. Mac the Knife sat on the highest plateau of the scratch pole, looking down on him. The tip of his tail flicked and his amber eyes glowed. Harm put his head down on the pillow. He knew when he was defeated.
Saturday morning
The knock on the door was early.When Harm went to open, Lillian was standing there, a cat carrier in her arms.
"Come in," Harm invited.
"Thanks." She put the carrier next to the door
At the sound of her voice a flash of black and white fur emerged from the bedroom. It bumped against the visitor's legs and deftly clawed its way up. There he started to rub his little face against her cheek, alternated with suspicious glares at Harm, daring him to interfere. `Mine` his whole demeanour said and Harm knew better that to come between Mac the Knife and his human.
"Can I get you a drink?" he asked instead.
"Thanks, but no thanks. My boyfriend is waiting downstairs in the car."
"Fine. I have a little bag for you with Mac the Knife's stuff. His paperwork from the vet; he will need his second shots in a few days. And a tin of kitten food and a bag of kitten kibble." He handed over the items.
"Thanks, I already bought him a food bowl, a water bowl and a little blanket. And look, who is to be a pretty boy?"
She put the kitten down and crouched next to him, pulling a dark blue collar with little rhinestones out of her pocket. Mac the Knife didn't protest when she put it round his neck. Then she started him to guide him into the carrier. Harm bent down to give him a farewell pet but that wasn't to the liking of the animal, who hissed once more to his foster dad.
"Hey, hey," Lillian berated him. "Be nice to Harm; he took good care of you."To Harm's amazement the fierce kitten seemed to listen and let Harm pet him for a moment. Then he turned around and, with his tail held high, he walked into the carrier. There he turned around again and sat himself with an expression on his face telling the world he was ready to go.
"Mraow," he said impatiently.
Both the humans laughed.
"He is right; we should go," Lillian announced. "Harm, thank you very much. I'm very happy with my new feline friend."
"No, thank you," Harm protested. "I'm happy Mac the Knife found a good home."
Lillian hung the bag on her arm and picked the carrier up. Harm held the door for her. And so Mac the Knife disappeared out of his life without looking back for a second.
Harm returned to his chores. 'Two down, five to go' he thought.