“Not for now”, replied quickly Jim Jaspers with a serene, expressionless face

“How sad…”

“But you know, I’ve got plenty of stuff on my hands. Mostly about work”

“It’s weird…”. But the phrase went unfinished. Some rythmical scratching made Ms. Smith turn her head, quizzically searching for the source.

“Oh… you’ve got to excuse me now. It’s my cat. Or rather, it’s a stray cat I’m keeping until I can bring it back to his owners. Please, keep talking”

“Oh, it’s nothing. I just keep wondering at how strange things are. Youngsters always want to leave such a boring place, and sometimes they even do it, yet you seem so young and confident… and eager to stay.”

“Yes, indeed”, replied him with a smile, taking the old maid out.

A loud thump came from the door. Then a young woman, bound to a chair, grunted behind an half-dislodged gag.

“Shush, Cat. Ransom or not, I will not stand anymore your defiance.”

Cathy Drew, 21 yrs old, “escaped” her home just a week ago. Her folks later got a call…

Just work