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Some of the other Corsicans watched over her and kept her supplied with baby animals to feed. I hoped they had a plan for what to do with her when all the baby animals were full. Or were there enough puppies and kittens that the first ones would be hungry again by the time she finished with the last? Looking around, I didn’t discount the possibility.
    What worried me was the fact that neither Vivian nor Louise seemed to take the slightest notice of what the other was doing. Were both aware of having a rival and studiously ignoring her? Or was some kind of confrontation brewing? I hoped not. Or if it was, I hoped I could be far, far away when it happened.
    Rob, on the other hand, appeared eager to capture any fireworks on the little pocket video camera he’d gotten for Christmas. He moved among the volunteers, ostensibly filming them all, but he seemed to pay particular attention to Vivian and Louise.
    Or maybe just Vivian. Was he interested in her as a woman, or only as the most likely source of drama that he could film? I could probably figure it out if I stayed around a little while. But if Rob was trying to capture Vivian on the rebound, I’d find out soon enough.
    I decided it was high time I checked on the boys. Or at least used them as an excuse to get away from the barn, where any minute now someone might suggest that I use my newfound maternal skills on an orphaned beagle. I waved farewell to the Corsicans and headed back to the house, where I ran into the chief packing up to leave.
    “Thank you for your hospitality,” he said, as courteously as if I’d served him a gourmet dinner instead of merely staying out of his way while he interviewed a few witnesses.
    “You’re welcome,” I said. “I hope the investigation goes well.”
    He peered at me over his glasses for a few moments, frowning slightly.
    “Something wrong?” I asked.
    “Get some rest, Meg,” he said. “You look done in.”
    I nodded. He frowned at me for a few more moments, then shook his head, as if doubting I’d follow his advice, wished me a good morning, and left.
    Perhaps I should have reassured him that I had every intention of following his advice.
    I detoured through the kitchen and stayed long enough to restore it to some semblance of order. Rob had accused me of becoming a neatnik since the babies were born, which was ridiculous. If anything my housekeeping standards had plummeted. But I’d also quickly learned that it was much easier to keep up than to catch up . The dirty diapers alone would bury us in a few days if we didn’t keep after them. So I made time for a little triage in the kitchen, lulled by the peaceful silence I could hear over the nursery monitor.
    I got carried away, and it was nearly eight before I finished in the kitchen. For once, I’d done more than triage. The pale gray countertops and white-painted cabinets gleamed and the countertops and the heavy oak table contained only the things that were supposed to live there. I took a long, satisfied look. I even thought of running upstairs for my camera to take a few shots. It might be weeks before the room looked this good again.
    I was pushing the button to start the dishwasher when Rob sidled in.
    “Um … Meg? Could you help us with something? Just for a minute?”

Chapter 4
    “Help you with what?” I turned around and tried not to frown as I waited to hear more. Evidently I failed.
    “See!” he exclaimed. “That’s exactly what you need to do to him. Give him that stern, maternal look.”
    I wasn’t sure I liked that thought.
    “Who are we talking about?”
    “The guy who’s here to take the animals away,” he said.
    “Rob, you’re a lawyer. Can’t you deal with him?”
    “He’s got an official order and everything.”
    I was opening my mouth to say something harsh—something that would probably have included the words “grow up.” But I reminded myself that there was a reason Rob made his living as a designer of bizarre computer games