That night I talked to Natalie in the kitchen, when I went to visit Dad. She had gotten up and gone there, and I followed suit a few moments later.

"How'd the house call go?" I asked her casually.

"Great, Bibi had a respiratory infection, so I administered antibiotics" she opened the fridge, and gave me a beer, while getting a sprite for herself.

"Any reason why the owner didn't want to go to the clinic?" I got the bottle opener and used it.

"She's got limited mobility" Natalie replied

"That's interesting because cause it looked like you were snooping" I countered calmly.

"I was trying to see if anyone was home, when I saw that there wasn't, I began to realize that it was the wrong house." she insisted.

"Come on!" I snapped at her. "You're doing it again!"

"What?" She put down her drink.

"Investigating, and getting in over your head!" I replied sardonically.

"Don..." she began.

"Look, you've got a knack for pissing people off, and probably have as many enemies as I do!" I interrupted. "Or more."

"Look..."

"You look!" I snapped again. "You're a vet, not an investigator. Whatever suspicions you have, take them to the police, understood?" With that, I left the kitchen in a huff.

"You okay Donnie?" Dad asked me when I rejoined him.

"Hard day at work" I muttered and turned my attention to the TV.

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The next day I went to snoop at Henderson's place since Don had interrupted me the day before. Unfortunately, this led me nowhere, and I went home disappointed. I was late for dinner, and to boot, Don was there.

"Sorry I'm late, Babe" I apologized to Alan after we kissed. "I had some things to do before I could get home"

"I know what that is like." Don said neutrally.

After we ate, I began to pick up the dishes as it was my turn to do them.

"Let me help you" Don offered.

"You're offering to help with the dishes?" Alan asked in surprise.

"Why not?" Don shrugged. "Natalie looks a little tired right now"

With a raised eyebrow, Alan excused himself to go to the living room.

"I'll rinse and you load" Don said quickly. "And we can talk."

After a few minutes, he asked. "Why were you late?"

Just then, his phone rang, and he answered it.

"I gotta go," he said after hanging up. "But this conversation isn't over!" Don said goodbye to Alan, and was out the door.

I continued my investigation for the next few days, and the following Sunday, upon arriving from having dinner and watching a movie, we found out that the house had been broken into. The door was open, all of our pictures were on the floor, the sofas lay, the kichen floor was full of utencils as well asbroken placts, andour clothes were everywhere .. I felt violated,scaredand worried about my pets.

"What the hell?" Alan looked around in shock. "I'd better call Don"

"I'll call the cops" I told him.

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As I worked at my desk, Dad called me.

"We've been robbed!" he said frantically.

"What?"

"The house is a mess! Someone broke in!" Dad said.

"I'll be there" I promised. "Just be careful and don't' touch anything!"

"We'll be careful" Dad promised. I gave him some more reassurances, and we hung up.

If something happens to dad because of that woman, the gloves are coming off!

TBC