Jenn McKinlay - Due Or Die

“Hmm, I think he’d find that more fair than being shoved in a book drop,” Emma said.

Lindsey sighed because she knew she was right. Still, she didn’t want a dog.

“So, I see that Nancy is gone. Does that mean Carrie was released?”

“Yes, just over an hour ago,” Emma said.

“So, she wasn’t arrested or anything?”

“No, why? Should she be?”

“No!”

“Relax, I’m just messing with you,” Emma said.

She winked and Lindsey said, “Funny, really, stop. You’re killing me.”

“You take it where you can.” Emma shrugged. “A word to the wise, though, I played Chief Daniels that message from Marjorie.”

“And?”

“He’s concerned, and he’s planning to pay her a visit,” Emma said. “For some reason, she’s focused on you, so keep your guard up.”

“I will,” Lindsey said.

With Emma’s warning ringing in her ears, Lindsey headed to the vet’s. It wasn’t a long walk, but the sun had already set and the streetlights, although helpful, didn’t really dispel the shadows that were making Lindsey twitchy. She didn’t really think that Marjorie was going to run her down or jump out from behind a trash can, but she couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that lingered over her like a stranger’s eyes watching her every step.

When she turned onto her street, just a few houses from the vet’s, a pair of headlights swung in her direction, catching her in their light. Startled, she felt her heart slam up into her throat like a brick.

BRIAR CREEK

PUBLIC LIBRARY

Lindsey did not want to have another go-round with Batty Bilson. If the chief had questioned her about the voice mail, Lindsey had no doubt that Batty was hunting her down for another little chat.

She should have asked Emma what the plan was so she could be prepared. As it was, she had no intention of engaging in another go-round with a nut burger. She began to jog, hoping her loafers didn’t slip on a patch of ice and send her and the puppy sprawling.

She could hear the vehicle behind her coming up fast, and she jumped onto the walkway that led to the Rubinskis’.

“Lindsey, wait! Hey, are you all right?” a deep voice shouted after her.

Lindsey stopped short and spun around to find Sully in his truck parked against the curb with his window down. She felt her heart resume beating in her chest as the dog wriggled around inside the bag, trying to get a good look at the owner of the deep voice.

She put her hand flat on her chest and sucked in a deep breath. “Oh, jeez, I thought you were Marjorie Bilson.”

“Nah, I’m too tall,” he said.

A laugh that was mostly relief escaped her. Height was the least of their differences, she thought as she puffed out a breath. She waited while he shut off the engine and stepped out of his truck.

“What have you got there?” he asked as he pointed to the bag.

“A new patient for Dr. Rubinski,” she said. “Someone shoved him in the book drop at the library, so I’m bringing him in to make sure he’s okay.”

“Are you serious?” he asked, looking appalled. “Someone stuck him in that big metal drawer?”

“Sadly, I am,” Lindsey said. “Poor guy, we have no idea how long he was stuck in there.

Sully held out his hand, and the fuzzy, black dog sniffed and licked him and then barked in approval. Sully reached up and ruffled his ears. The dog pushed against the bottom of the tote bag, trying to get to him.

“He seems to like you,” she said. “Interested?”

“Ah, I’m more of a beta fish kind of guy,” he said.

“You can’t snuggle a beta fish,” she said, using her best sales-pitch voice.

“Sure, you can,” he said. “You just hold up their bowl and puff out your cheeks. They love that.”

Lindsey rolled her eyes, turned and went up the walkway, following the signs that led to the office. In what she guessed used to be a free-standing garage, the vet practice had been built, complete with cat and dog paw prints leading the way into the entrance.

Sully fell into step beside her, and when she glanced at him, he said, “I just want to get a good look at the little guy.”

“Excellent and maybe you know someone who’d like a dog?” she asked. Just then the pup licked her chin and she looked down to see him gazing at her with warm brown eyes.

“Yeah, I think he’s already found his person,” Sully said.

“I work too much,” Lindsey protested. “And I don’t know how Nancy feels about dogs. She may not even let me keep him through the night.”

“Sure she will,” he said. “Nancy’s a softie. She lets Charlie live there, doesn’t she?”

“He’s housebroken,” she said.

“Barely,” he teased.

They entered the building and she approached the reception area. A young woman in scrubs greeted her and handed Lindsey a clipboard.

“Hi, Ms. Norris,” she said. “This is a form for new-patient information.”

“Here, I’ll watch him,” Sully said as he took the tote bag off her shoulder and let the puppy out.

“Thanks,” Lindsey said, and she sat down on the lone couch to fill out the forms. Given that she knew nothing about the dog, it went fairly quickly.

Sully and the puppy played on the floor while they waited. Lindsey noticed that Sully’s large square hands dwarfed the dog and yet he played with an innate gentleness that she found endearing.

“Ms. Norris,” the young woman called her. “We’re ready for you.”

Lindsey rose from her spot on the couch and Sully scooped the puppy up from the floor and followed her into the exam room.

Tom, Dr. Rubinski, was already there, and he took in the sight of the two of them with the dog with a large grin.

“Lindsey, we meet again,” he said. He held out his hand and they shook. “At least I’m wearing clothes this time.”

Sully raised his brows and looked in between them. Lindsey felt her face grow hot and she said, “He was in his pajamas the last time we met.”

“Oh, really?” Sully asked.

“As was his wife,” she added. “It was the night of the Batty incident.”

“Oh.” Sully smiled and shook hands with his friend. “I hope it wasn’t those embarrassing SpongeBob ones that you own.”

Tom laughed. “You’ll never forget those.”

“They’re burned on my retinas,” Sully agreed. He turned to Lindsey to explain. “We were on an overnight fishing trip on my boat, and when we decided to do some night fishing, he showed up on deck in these neon yellow pajamas. I’m pretty sure he scared all of the fish away.”

They both chuckled and Lindsey smiled. She could see there was a strong friendship between them. They looked to be about the same age, but where Tom’s blond hair was thinning at the top and his middle was developing a decided paunch, Sully’s thick chestnut curls barely showed any gray and he had the build of a man much younger than he was. She supposed that working outside kept him trim. Not that she thought about him or where he worked or his physique…much.

Thankfully, the puppy was not to be ignored, however, and he wriggled out of Sully’s arms to check out the newcomer.

Tom crouched down on the floor so as to be level with the puppy and held out his hand. The dog sniffed and licked and wriggled closer to the good doctor.

Tom ran his hands over him and listened to his heart and lungs with his stethoscope. He took the puppy’s temperature, apologizing for having to be so rude. The puppy had a hard time staying still, but Tom talked to him in a soothing voice, and Lindsey could swear the puppy was trying his hardest to be good.

When he finished the exam, the dog stood up on his hind legs and licked Tom’s face, and he simply said, “Oh, thank you, buddy. You’re a good dog, aren’t you?”