I led the policeman and Mrs. Miller inside, Lili clutching my hand. In the basket, Marsa lay curled around a pile of puppies.
“The shelter’s missing a litter,” the officer said gently.
My stomach dropped—had Marsa carried them home? Mrs. Miller huffed. “I saw your cat with them.”
But the officer only smiled. “Cats sometimes adopt babies. Looks like she thought they needed her.”
Lili’s voice trembled. “Will they be okay?”
“They’ll be safe,” he promised. Even Mrs. Miller softened. “Your cat’s got a heart of gold.”
As the puppies were carried out, I stroked Marsa’s fur. “You did something wonderful,” I whispered.
Lili beamed. “She’s a superhero.”
And she was.
