Jethro 6 Snippet 6

Sitrep: I received the manuscript back from Rea last night. She said it kept her on her toes the entire time. That is 5 for 5 with everyone saying pretty much the same thing! :D
I added the rest of the material and shot it off to Goodlifeguide.com for final formatting this morning.

So, we should be seeing it published later this week.

Still fighting sinus headaches. The weather and stuff are messing with me.

On to the snippet!

Chapter 4

Kathy's World

Shanti McClintock finished her rounds and returned her vehicle to the trooper parking structure. She still preferred the ground car over an air car but she could see how having an air car was an advantage in response time.

Could they make a car that did both? Did they have them? She made a mental note to look into it as she waited for her ride home.

"Getting ready?" Deputy Danielle asked.

She rolled her green eyes. "I'm not even packed. I get to do that tonight," she said with a weary shake of her head.

"When is your flight?"

"Tomorrow at nine," she admitted.

He nodded. "Nervous?"

The Neosnow leopard nodded. "I've been on orbital hops before but this is an entirely different kettle of fish. We're going to be trapped in the shuttle for who knows how long before we get to the ship, then trapped in the ship."

"You keep seeing yourself as trapped. You realize you are prejudicing yourself? Building up anxiety? It might not be that bad."

She shook her head as he made a right turn and flicked her ears. "Maybe a little," she admitted after a moment.

"Or maybe a lot. Maybe you should have traveled coach in stasis?"

She shivered. "I don't like the idea of going asleep and never knowing if you are going to wake up again or when," she admitted.

He nodded. "Point. But it is better than going stir-crazy on the ship."

"I'm more worried about the kittens," she admitted. "They haven't traveled either, not like this."

"Ah," he said as he pulled down the road her house was on. Spring had sprung, and the area was beautiful despite it being nightfall. It was all tastefully lit, something she liked too. Solar lights were coming around on the planet to light walk ways and other spaces. As a Neo, she had excellent night vision however and didn't care for them in most cases. Now they made the homes look homey.

She chuffed.

"What?"

"I'm already getting homesick, and I haven't even left yet," she admitted.

"You'll do fine. You've got plenty to read?"

"Yeah. I downloaded an entire romance series. The blazing hot trials of Myoshi Kyoto," she said with a female grin.

He squirmed. "You women and those gaudy romance novels," he mock grumbled with a shake of his head. "At least we men keep our porn out of sight most of the time."

"It's not porn!"

"Excuse me? Have we met? Besides, my mate read that series already."

"Don't you dare tell me how it goes!"

"I'm not going to. Fine, be that way."

They continued down the stretch of road. When he neared her driveway, he slowed up. "I will say …"

She growled at him, ears back.

"That I read a few passages and they put some of the guy porn to shame," he said as they pulled up to the side of her drive.

She glowered at him, but he merely flicked his ears and grinned.

"Thanks for the ride," she mock huffed as she pulled the handle and got out.

"Sure thing, boss. Got everything?" he said with a smile in his voice.

"Yeah. Get out of here before I find another reason to put you on grave," she growled, slamming the door harder than it needed to be. She even pretended to give the truck a kick as he took off.

She shook her head and turned to see the porch light come on and the door open with a familiar small form in silhouette within.

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Lil Red felt torn as she hugged Shanti and then stepped aside to let the Neoleopard come into the house. Shanti had her gear from work in duffel; she'd even cleaned her locker out at work. Red took charge of the dirty laundry. It was a tough haul though, massing nearly her own body weight.

"It's not heavy just bulky," she grumbled as usual. White clattered in the kitchen so she managed the load herself.

She grimaced as she dealt with the dirty smelly laundry. It was a good temporary distraction though, and kept her busy until White declared dinner was ready.

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