Chapter 3A cloak of nighttime darkness would have swallowed up the Waller County, Texas animal shelter’s dreary expanse of dark green, painted concrete and black tile were it not for an illuminated exit sign at each end and the tiny TV playing up front. The sum offered just enough light to make metal bars gleam and blinking yellow and brown eyes glow behind them as several restless canines and felines stirred.
“Sleep, little ones.” Dario sat in an orange hard plastic chair beside Mama Cat’s cage as she purred in his ghostly arms. “You definitely know I’m here,” he whispered to her.
“And so am I.”
“Dondre?” Dario didn’t quite dare look.
“Up here.”
Then he focused too high, at the ceiling.
“Close enough to touch, not flying above.”
A half chuckle brought one from Dario. “Oh. There.”
