Well, my landlord is making me get rid of him. What with the fleas and all, but how could I just kick that adorable face out on the street?" you reach into the box on Lassiter's desk and remove the stray boy cat who mews and scratches in protest. "Careful, Lassie, he's still got his claws."

Lassiter's face turns a special shade of purple and really, isn't that what Christmas is all about?

"Spencer," he growls, his voice dropping to a register you hadn't known human voices could reach.

The tone in his voice attracts Juliet's attention. She has a cup of coffee in her hands as she returns to her desk.

"What'd you do, Shawn?" she asks, her voice gravely matching her face. Is she, dear God, she's actually siding with Lassie!

The cat is still clawing at you. He grabs hold of your holiday sweater and you try delicately to remove the paw without harming yourself, the cat, or the sweater.

"I couldn't take the little boy cat to the shelter. They'll kill him! Look in these eyes and try to condemn this cat to death."

With an annoyed grunt, Lassie knocks the empty box to the ground.

"Come on, Lassie," you say, just a hint of a whine in your words. "I know horses are more your thing, but give him a chance. Look at him and tell him you're going to kill him," you hold the no-longer-attached cat out. "If you can do that, I'll take him to the shelter."

Lassiter, his face color now back to its normal shade, rolls his eyes but, remarkably, then makes eye contact with the cat.

A) If Lassiter loves the cat, go to chapter 18 B) If Lassiter hates the cat, go to chapter 19 C) If Buzz walks in with Mauler, go to chapter 20