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“You better go change,” said Alec, who’d also joined them. “Or else you’ll catch a cold. Here.” He shrugged off his light sports jacket and handed it to Chase. “Remove your shirt and put this on.”

“I’m fine,” he said.

“That’s an order, Detective Kingsley,” said the Chief, warningly raising an eyebrow.

Grudgingly, he removed his shirt. As he did, there were gasps from their small audience, and women all along the shoreline gripped their smartphones even more intently than before.

Odelia grinned.“Careful, Chase. You don’t want to cause a scene.”

“Yeah, Chase,” Alec echoed. “Disturbing the peace. I’ll have to caution you.”

“You don’t caution the town hero who just saved a cat from drowning, boss,” said Chase, shrugging into his superior officer’s jacket. It was several sizes too big but it was warm and dry. “If you do, then you’ll cause a disturbance.”

Alec took in the swooning women.“I guess you’re right. At least take the man’s picture, Odelia.”

“Why?” asked Odelia, puzzled.

“For your story! For God’s sakes, woman. Are you a reporter or not? I can see the headline now. Hero Cop Saves Drowning Cat.” He clapped Chase on the shoulder. “This is the stuff of legend, son. You’re in the town annals now.”

“I’m just glad the little fellow is all right,” said Chase, giving Brutus a gentle stroke along his fur. Odelia had wrapped him up in her own sweater but he was still shivering violently. “Better take him to the vet,” he suggested, and he could have sworn that at the mention of the word ‘vet,’ all three cats started screaming bloody murder.

Chapter 10

While Chase was showing off his manly humps and bumps to an adoring crowd of ladies, I was recovering from the shock of watching one of my best friends almost end up in a watery grave.

“How are you, Brutus?” I asked.

He looked dazed, and nor did I wonder. If I’d been in his paws, I’d have looked dazed, too.

“I don’t think I’m an honorary duck,” he said finally.

“No, I could see that.”

“Good thing Chase was there to save you,” said Dooley.

We all looked up at the hero savior with admiration written all over our features. This wasn’t the first time Chase had had to save one of us. The last time it had been me, and Chase had rescued me from a ledge. I’d had an epiphany, then. Chase, with his long hair and masculine features, was nothing short of a come-again Jesus. Dooley actually believed he really was Jesus. The only thing missing was his sheep, but Chase had probably ditched his trusty barnyard animal for a Ford pickup truck. Even Jesus has to keep up with the times.

“The man is a miracle worker,” said Brutus reverently. “I didn’t believe you that time when you said he was Jesus, Dooley, but now I see you were right. He’s an amazing human.”

“And he’s your human,” I reminded Brutus.

“Not really. My real human is Chase’s mom, though now I consider your human my human.”

I know. It gets complicated. That’s because humans have a habit of passing their pets around like candy. A bad habit. Lucky for us Odelia is not like that. She’s already told us more than once that she’s our human for life, and I believe her. She’s one of those rare humans who keep their word, and who truly love their pets.

To my surprise, a small flock of ducks now waddled up onto shore and approached us. One duck hesitantly drew away from the pack.“When you said you could swim, I thought you were kidding,” said this duck. Judging from her feathers she was not only the spokesperson but also the leader of the pack. Though truth be told, I’m not an expert on ducks. “But you weren’t. You’re an amazing swimmer,” the duck continued.

“I am?” Brutus asked, surprised.

“Sure. The way you dove right to the hidden depths of this here pond of ours, and went in search of those tasty water bugs that like to lurk in the muck below…” She raised her eyes heavenward. “Amazing. How did you know that was where the best snacks were located?”

“I, um…”

“And you managed to snag two and haven’t even consumed them yet,” she said, gesturing with her beak to two water beetles happily frolicking on Brutus’s belly.

“Aargh!” he said, then quickly brushed them off with a flick of his paw.

They landed right in front of the duck, who stared from the beetles to Brutus.“May I, sir?” she asked, almost reverently.

“Sure. Go ahead. I, um, I’m not hungry.”

The duck gobbled up the beetles with a crunching sound—a horrible sight. “Thanks,” she said, after heaving a soft burp. “I appreciate it, Duck Burt.”

“Brutus,” Brutus corrected her.

“On behalf of our community,” said the duck, “I want to bid you welcome in our home, Duck Burt. Our pond is your pond. Our bugs are your bugs.” She then glanced at Dooley and I. “Are these your friends?”

“Yep. Max and Dooley. My best friends in all the world.”

The duck nodded in our direction.“You’re most welcome, too. Though the fat one should probably restrain himself. This is a small pond, and there are only so many bugs to go around.”