Stitch by Jaime Lewis (ebook reader online .txt) 📗

was what I had been told. Their vaccinations were done by me, not the person signing veterinarian on those documents.”

She glared at Stitch. “He was smuggling in puppies probably from those puppy mill places you read about, and then selling them. He used me. He manipulated me and used me to aid his criminal activity.” A thought then hit her, and she turned sharply to look at Alex and the guys. “Do you think Dr. Walters knew that Willow had caught on to his operation, and he did something to her?”

Ace looked at Stitch and then back to her. “It’s possible, Mia.”

Tink gathered all of the papers and tucked them back into the envelope. “I’ll go give Detective McDonnell a call.” He looked over at Mia. “He will probably want to talk to you, honey.”

“I’ll do whatever they need me to do. I’ll even go back to New York if I have to.”

A round of “no’s” echoed around the table, then Stitch draped his arm over her shoulders and pulled her close. “You’re not leaving my side.”

Chapter Twenty-One

The next morning Elijah was in a panic.  He moved around his penthouse like a man on a mission. How could his men have been so stupid and careless?  He nor Claus knew which one had abducted and murdered the girl found in the river because nobody was fessing up, but when he did find the person responsible, the next body the police pulled out of the river would be theirs. That was if Demitri didn’t get his hands on the perpetrator first. Whoever it was had used one of Demitri’s cars.

“Elijah, calm down. We got this. The police don’t have any hard evidence on you. If they did, they would’ve taken you in for questioning last night, not wait until the morning and schedule a meeting with you.”  Lawrence, Elijah’s attorney, said as he took a sip of coffee and laid down the newspaper.

Elijah couldn’t understand how calm Lawrence could be. Detective McDonnell was due to arrive any minute to question him about the girl found last night in the river. And, since items belonging to the victim had been found near his warehouse, it was standard procedure that the police would want to question him.

He stopped and leaned against the kitchen counter. Christ, he was becoming paranoid.  With the cops honing in on him, maybe, he just needed to cut his losses and ditch the operation. He’d made more than enough money to live off of.

A knock sounded at the door. He took a deep breath, knowing this wasn’t going to be easy.  At least Lawrence was here and could handle the Detective in case the questioning got out of hand.

◆◆◆

Mia couldn’t stop laughing as Stitch’s dad told some funny stories from his days in the SEALs.  Non-classified stories, of course. Mainly how the guys liked to pull pranks on one another. She could see where Stitch got his looks from. He was the spitting image of his dad. They were both very handsome men.

Things were off to a good start with his parents. She had been extremely nervous on the ride over to their house. It took Stitch pulling over on the side of the road and talking to her to calm her nerves. Well, that and kissing her senseless seemed to settle her down. She still wasn’t sure why the nerves hit her because she normally dealt with meeting new people all the time in her career. But Stitch’s mom and dad weren’t just any new people. Stitch’s parents were people that she needed to impress, considering she was planning on being with Stitch for the long haul.

“So Mia, Stitch tells us that you are a vet. Where about in the city is that located?” Robin asked as they sat around the living room talking. Mia sat on the sofa across from her. Stitch and his dad were pouring drinks for everyone.

“Not too far from Times Square.” She noticed that Stitch had stopped what he was doing and was watching her. Mia wanted his parents to know her intentions. “But, I don’t think I’ll be heading back there.”

Stitch’s mom looked surprised.  “Really?  Why?”

Stitch sat down next to her and put his arm around her. “Because Mia has decided to look for a job here in town.”

Robin’s eyes twinkled. “That is wonderful news.”

Stitch locked eyes with Mia. “Yes, it is the best news.”  He looked back toward his parents. “She and I are going to live in the rental I have until we find some property we both like.”

“Well, then, Mia, you should consider stopping at the shelter and clinic I volunteer at.”

“Mom is a big animal lover, especially dogs. She spends one or two days a week at the local animal shelter volunteering. Right, mom?”

Robin’s eyes lit up.  “Oh, yes, I could spend every day there.  However, your father has a conniption every time I tell him I’m going there.” She glanced over at Stitch’s dad and winked, “he says it is a bad influence on me.  It’s hard when I have to leave the dogs.”

It was magical seeing the love between the two, and Mia could see where Stitch got his romantic and gentle side from.  There was still that spark of young love between them. Something she hoped to have after being married for as many years as they were.

“What type of shelter is it?” Mia found herself asking more about the shelter that Robin volunteered at.

“Oh, it is a wonderful place. A no-kill shelter, and owned and operated by a local vet. His name is Dr. Katz.  When he expanded his practice a couple of years ago, he opened the shelter. He has a small staff to run the shelter.  The manager there, I believe her name is Grace, she pretty much does everything around the place.  She is a lovely young woman, a little on the shy side.  She graduated college a year or two ago. She has really helped Dr. Katz grow