I led the officer and Mrs. Miller into the living room, Lili clutching my hand. In the basket, Marsa lay curled protectively around a litter of puppies.
“Ma’am,” the officer said gently, “these pups were reported missing from the shelter.”
My heart sank. Mrs. Miller admitted she’d seen Marsa carrying them in one by one. Embarrassed, I explained I hadn’t known.
The officer just smiled. “Cats sometimes adopt animals in need. She was only trying to help.”
“Will the puppies be okay?” Lili asked softly.
“They’ll be safe,” he assured her.
As the officer carried them out, Marsa stayed calm, almost proud. Mrs. Miller sighed. “Your cat’s got a heart of gold.”
When the door closed, Lili whispered, “She’s like a superhero.”
I hugged Marsa and smiled. “Yes, she is.”
