There’s no such thing as a typical day at Helping Paws Animal Shelter, and this wasn’t the first time I’ve had a soggy box waiting for me on the doorstep with a disgruntled cat inside.

However, this was the first time the cat talked to me.

What did the barista put in my coffee?

Persephone insists she’s been catnapped, and she’s witnessed an art heist. There’s a huge reward for the safe return of the painting, and that money could go a long way to helping all our animals find their forever homes.

Now I have to convince the gallery owner and her associates—including the suspicious but adorable Henry the Hottie—that I can find the priceless painting.

I don’t know a thing about art, but here I am, at an exhibit opening, wearing a dress called Lucky and co-conspiring with a talking cat. Typical days? They’re a thing of the past, especially if Persephone and I can crack the case and catch the thief.

Bailey Booth