The door opened, and a woman in a long white coat withDr. Kumariembroidered over the chest pocket entered, her eyes going straight to the injured dog.
"Hello, lovely girl," she crooned, gently touching the dog's head, quickly examining her, and then giving her an injection. "Here's a bit of pain medicine for you, sweetheart. We'll have you feeling better in no time, won't we? Who's a good girl?"
The dog's tail lifted in a hesitant wag. The medication must have taken effect immediately, thank goodness.
Dr. Kumari raised her head and smiled at me and Jack. "We'll fix her right up, I promise. Phin, if you'd bring the portable x-ray? This looks like a simple fracture, but there may be internal injuries. How did this happen?"
"Car accident," I told her. "She darted out in front of a woman's car by my shop, and we brought her right here."
Dr. Kumari's shoulders relaxed slightly, and I realized she may have been concerned thatwehad hurt the dog. Vets probably saw awful things.
"I'm Tess Callahan. I own Dead End Pawn. And this is Jack Shepherd, from Tiger's Eye Investigations."
"Charithra Kumari. The new vet in town, although you probably knew that," she said, with a lovely, lilting accent, flashing a bright smile at us.
As they moved the machine into place, Jack and I retreated to the corner of the room, out of the way, and I studied Dr. Kumari.
She was tiny, as short as Molly, with dark hair rolled up in a chignon and golden-brown skin. She had gorgeous dark brown eyes that shone with intelligence as she focused her gaze on the dog.
I started to ask her about why she'd moved to Dead End to start her practice, but I'd barely opened my mouth to speak when Jack suddenly grabbed my arm and pushed me behind him.
"You just told her: 'You're going to be okay. You're safe. What a beautiful girl you are,'" he said in a flat voice.
Dr. Kumari's eyes flared wide, and she looked almost … afraid?
But why?
I pulled my arm out of Jack's grasp and moved to stand next to him. "What is going on, exactly?"
"I'd like to know that, too," he said in a dangerously low voice. "Dr. Kumari, are you a witch?"
5
Tess
The vet straightened her shoulders, her mouth flattening into a grim line. "I am not. I simply have a gift with animals. Which you somehow heard. So, my question, Mr. Shepherd, is this: areyoua witch?"
"Okay. What is happening? I want to know right now," I said firmly.
Dr. Kumari blew out a shaky breath. "Your friend heard what I said to the dog and just repeated it word for word."
I shrugged, relieved. "Oh, is that all? He has superior hearing—"
"What she said telepathically, Tess." Jack's face was grim. "What kind of gift?"
"I can communicate with animals on a nonverbal level," she said. "What I don't understand is how you heard me. Are you a telepath, too?"
Phin's mouth made an O of understanding. "No, or at least I don't think so, Charithra. He's a tiger."
Her eyes widened. "You'rethe tiger shifter?"
Jack nodded, the tension in his face relaxing. "I am. So that's probably why I heard you."
She nodded. "Okay. This is fascinating, but we'll have to discuss it later. Right now, I need to set and cast this sweet girl's leg. Please wait for us in the waiting area."
I wrapped my fingers around Jack's and led him out of the exam room. I took a seat, but he paced restlessly.
"Not everybody is a potential enemy, Jack," I finally said, after he crossed in front of me for the tenth time. "There are many people in Dead End with supernatural gifts, you know. It may be why she moved here."
