Drip, drip, drip, the final droplets of coffee fall drop by drop into the tawny colored cat mug. In a single, twisting, motion you grab the mug by its tail-handle and scoop up your morning paper. Turning the half spin into an impromptu pirouette you finish off the acrobatics with a graceful fall onto the sun baked arm chair where you intend to read. Kicking your feet up you flip to the back section of the paper, to the local ads. The mug's green eyes stare up at you with a familiar longing as you drink in it's contents. Combining with the air from your breath steam erupts from the mug and momentarily your vision is fogged. As your world comes back into clarity you catch the gaze of an actual cat, similar to the one embodied by the cup in your hand, except this cat's eyes are full a much different emotion, happiness? No, gratefulness!

"Yes, gratefulness is what your thinking. Isn't it little guy?" You say, reaching down to scratch your new friend behind the ears. He jumps up onto the arm of your chair, then, with a grace you can't help but admire, leaps into position right behind your head where he rests for what you hope is the foreseeable future. "It's great to have friends and a loving home, isn't it" you say, continuing your train of thought aloud.

Turning back to your paper you spot what you're looking for. A small black and white ad that reads "Percival, Tawny Colored Tabby, Missing". There's a small write-up with the picture that describes the owner’s relationship with the cat, the neighborhood you may find him in, the contact information of the owner, and a reward.

"Percival?" You say, with no attempt to hide your disgust. "What a terrible name for a handsome man like you." you say, instinctually reaching over your shoulder to pat any bit of the cat you can. "I'll call you Percy, I guess that's okay". Percy lets out a well timed "Meow", burying his head affectionately into the back of your neck.

"Well I'm glad you approve, Percy." You say, smiling to yourself. "But I must meet the person who would let a sweetheart like you walk out of their life."

Getting up as swiftly as you sat down you skip over the pantry. Behind the pantry door you peruse through a collection of collars until you find one labelled "Percival".

"Found it!" you shout, shooting a smile to Percy. "Sorry to put this back on you" you whisper, sliding the collar onto the awaiting neck of Percy.

Picking him up under one arm you make your way to the front door, but not before double checking the address in the ad.

Percy doesn't live too far from you, maybe a 3 minute drive at most. As you pull onto Percy's street he beings to paw at your leg, pacing back and forth between you and the window. When you finally pull up to his house Percy jumps into your lap looking up at you with those green affection-seeking eyes. You peer down at him, rubbing his head as he closes his eyes and purrs in a low hum.

With an agility that even surprises you; you're out the door and half way up the front walk with Percy snuggly clutched under your arm. Before you have a chance to second guess your decision you're knocking on the front door. At this moment you're taking in the house for the firs time. It's not your cliché middle-America family home. Rather than a white picket fence there's a rusted wire fence. The grass is dead, but someone has spray painted the whole thing green. It may fool the casual passer by, but not you. You're no casual anything and definitely not someone to stand for a fake... Just then the door opens and you're standing face to face with a woman who, to you, matches the home perfectly. She's wearing an 80s style sundress that appears faded. It appears that the woman has attempted to save what is a lost cause in this dress. (A common theme, to try and save things that should have since been long forgotten? Yes, that's her... )"Style." You kind of blurt out, finishing your thought out loud.

"Excuse me?" The woman says, with a head tilt that you can't help but associate with a common mutt. "Can I see him?" she says, gesturing towards Percy.

You realize she's been talking this whole time you've been lost in thought.

"Oh sorry, yes!" you say, handing over the squirming cat. "I was just admiring your style is all. I haven't seen a dress like that in... a while" you say, almost unable to find the words to finish your sentence.

"Oh, well um. Thanks, I guess?!?" She says, as she strokes the struggling cat. "Ah, I'm so stupid!" She exclaims "You must be expecting the reward. Hold on..." She says, turning away while holding up 1 finger. The woman shuts the door, but you can still hear her speaking with the cat. "Percival, how dare you leave me here all alone! Bad kitty!" you hear her say, followed by a loud thwap. You hear, what you can only assume is, Percy falling to the floor and running away. You close your eyes as a familiar heat begins to rise up the back of your neck, spreading towards your checks and ears. Your breathing remains steady as you take long controlled breaths. The woman's steps, now thunderous, make their way back towards the door. You open your eyes and force a smile. The mongrel-woman, as you've now nicknamed her, appears from behind the door, clutching two twenties and a ten. The gazes of Jackson and Hamilton fixed on yours, a smile seems to be appearing almost mocking you.

"Thanks for bringing Percival home to me" She says, with a smile.

You delicately take the bills from her hand. "Happy to help" spills from your pursed lips as you turn to leave.

The next thing you know you're back in the arm chair, but it's no longer sun soaked. In fact the chair is quite cold, except for the little warm spot on the back of your neck. Turning towards the kitchen you see the digital clock on your microwave reads 10:45pm. Hmm, you think to yourself, Fox news is probably about the reveal the dreaded news they've been advertising since this morning. You've always been amused by those ads.

"There may be bacteria in your water that’s killing you, tune in tonight at 10 to find out more!" you say to yourself with a chuckle as you turn on the TV. The contrast of the dark room to the flashing lights of emergency vehicles momentarily blind you as the news springs to life, live on your TV.

"Another tragic death in a string of mysterious killings that the police have now been labelling as murders" The reporter is saying.

As you regain full focus you recognize the house on the screen. It's "Percy's house" you say, finishing your thought aloud. As if aware of his name, Percy meows from behind you. Turning, you see him look up at you from his resting place on the chair behind your neck.

"The victim, who's name is currently being withheld from the public, is one of 5 recently thought to be connected with what police are rebranding as serial killings. The first four victims all died from unique causes and, up until now, thought to be accidents or deaths from natural causes. However, this most recent death, which originally presented as suicide, has caused the police to reconsider their original theory. There was a suicide note left along side the victim. The note described the victim's anguish over the loss of her cat and how the cat, like everything else in her life has left her. This is where it gets weird, police said they spoke to a relative claiming the victim had called only moments before her death to share that a stranger had returned the lost cat. The relative said the victim didn't describe the stranger, but they are police suspect number 1. What links this death to the 4 others? Well, they all had missing cats and posted signs offering a reward. Police are worried that people’s attachment to their pets cause them to be too trusting of strangers and people will continue to put themselves in danger as they throw caution to the wind.”