The cat wriggles contentedly under Rita's fingers, the purring starting up again like a tiny, furry engine.

"I... guess I'll take your word for it." No, he's no expert, but he lacks the ability to verify what she says, so he doesn't have any other choice, does he?

"I'm not from around here, either. My sisters and I just moved here last year." Wherever she's come from, he gets the feeling it's a lot farther than Seattle, at least as far as bearing any relationship to ordinary life goes ...