Cooley's Panther: Felidae, #1

By Jody Wallace

Miss Nicola Johansen, otherwise known as Cooley, relies on the predictability of her suburban subdivision to keep her feeling safe. When she spies a black panther slinking along her back fence in the wee hours of the morning, her comfortable life is shaken like a maraca. Repeated calls to the cops result in an investigation, and a finger of blame is pointed at the mysterious man who lives in 2201 down the street. Like the fact his yard is a disgrace wasn't enough reason to suspect that man of nefarious dealings--the animal pens behind his house are the clincher.

 

But what happens when Cooley finds out the mysterious man isn't quite the scofflaw she assumed? What happens when she finds out he's absolutely…magnetic?

 

This short story is the prequel to STALKING EVAN.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Meankitty Publishing
• Release date: Aug 3, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201940362

Jody Wallace

Jody Wallace’s 30+ titles include sf/f romance, paranormal romance, and contemporary romance. Her fiction features diverse protagonists, action, adventure, and humor. Her readers frequently comment on her great characters, suspenseful stories, and intriguing and creative world building. When describing her methods, Jody says: “There are two sides to every story. I aim to tell the third. And I add cats regardless.” Outside of her fiction career, Jody has employed her Master’s Degree in Creative Writing to work as a college English instructor, technical documents editor, market analyst, web designer, and all around pain in the butt. To discover other books by Ms. Wallace, visit her website at http://www.jodywallace.com  Ms. Wallace’s newsletter: https://www.jodywallace.com/newsletter/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/jodywallace Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JodyWallaceAuthor To discover meankitties, visit the cat’s website at http://www.meankitty.com

Book preview

COOLEY’S PANTHER

By

Jody Wallace

COOLEY’S PANTHER

By Jody Wallace

Felidae #1

Meankitty Publishing

Copyright ©2011 Jody Wallace

Cover by Laideebug Digital

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This ebook is licensed for the original buyer only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people at sharing sites, loops, discussion boards or through other means. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Author’s Note for Readers: There is an excerpt for STALKING EVAN at the end of this story to give you a taste of what comes next.

About the Book:

MISS NICOLA JOHANSEN, otherwise known as Cooley, relies on the predictability of her suburban subdivision to keep her feeling safe. When she spies a black panther slinking along her back fence in the wee hours of the morning, her comfortable life is shaken like a maraca. Repeated calls to the cops result in an investigation, and a finger of blame is pointed at the mysterious man who lives in 2201 down the street. Like the fact his yard is a disgrace wasn't enough reason to suspect that man of nefarious dealings—the animal pens behind his house are the clincher.

But what happens when Cooley finds out the mysterious man isn't quite the scofflaw she assumed? What happens when she finds out he's absolutely...magnetic?

This short story is the prequel to STALKING EVAN.

Chapter 1

The police were first to arrive, some twenty minutes after she called. Cooley had just finished printing out the digital photo of the panther she’d spotted in her back yard. It was about six thirty in the morning, and the day wasn’t yet as muggy and hot as it would get this afternoon.

Look here. She met Officer Mofield on her flagstone porch and shoved the print-out into the uniformed woman’s hands. Tell me that’s not a panther. Well, really, a leopard, but panther’s the most common name for the black ones.

Cooley, you have to quit making prank... Holy moly! That’s some alley cat. When did you take this? The officer dropped one hand to her hip and unsnapped her weapon holster, eyeing the neat hedge that lined Cooley’s front porch with suspicious eyes.

About five this morning, right before sunrise. Cooley’s heart raced with the excitement of the finally vindicated. The zoo denies it, but after they misplaced those gazelles last year they probably don’t want to publicize another escapee.

Officer Mofield shook her head. They’d be legally obligated to report something like that.

The officer’s doubt didn’t change the fact the