Leann Sweeney - The Cat, the Wife and the Weapon

Yoshi seemed to settle with Finn’s touch and I held my hand out to the dog palm down. He sniffed at it briefly and I could see his small, muscular body relax even more. In a gentle tone, I said, “It’ll be fine, Yoshi. You can come, too.”

He stared at me and cocked his head. If dogs could smile, I’d just seen it happen.

I picked up the leash, deciding to handle Yoshi so Tom could help Finn. Just as I did, the sound of a cell phone playing the William Tell Overture blared from its spot on the end table beside the sofa.

Bob answered, remained quiet for a few seconds and then said, “Our missing man is right here. Talk to him yourself.” He held the phone out to Tom. “Deputy Candace Carson wants to speak to you in the worst way. Seems you’ve got every hot woman in town on your roster and I must say, your deputy friend is smokin’.”

Tom walked over and snatched the phone from Bob, his patience close to completely evaporated. “Tom here,” he said abruptly.

He listened intently and his expression grew troubled. I saw him glance at the backpack before he said, “Yes, I know him. You want me to come to the scene and confirm?” A few more seconds passed and he said, “I’m on my way.” He clicked off the phone and handed it back to Bob.

“What’s happening?” I asked.

Tom glanced down at Finn, who was now leaning back against the cushions looking groggier than ever. Yoshi’s head rested in his lap. Tom took my arm and turned us away from Finn. “Can I ask a huge favor?” he whispered.

“Whatever you need,” I said.

“Get Finn medical help. I don’t care how; just get him checked out. If you can avoid giving his name, that’s good, but I know you have to do this your way.”

“Sure. But what did Candace want?”

Tom stared at the floor. “She found my phone. Nolan had it.”

“Okay,” I said slowly. “But you said something about identifying someone?”

“Nolan wrecked my car,” Tom said.

“Oh boy. Not good about your car, but it could be good in another way. They can arrest him for kidnapping and assaulting you. They can—”

“Damn hard to arrest a dead man.”

Tom took off immediately in his work van without a word to Bob, the obviously unwelcome brother who showed no inclination to follow Tom’s earlier instructions to leave the premises.

As I helped Finn to his feet, I looked over at Bob and said, “If a woman named Hilary calls or comes by, I don’t think Tom would appreciate you telling her anything.”

Bob smiled. He always seemed to be smiling and it was getting on my last nerve.

He said, “I know Hilary. I won’t say anything about her kid being here.”

Finn peered at Bob. “Who are you?”

“You and I met once or twice a long time ago, Finn,” he said. “I won’t hold it against you that you don’t remember me. Go with the nice lady and get yourself fixed up.”

Bob knows Finn and Hilary. Makes sense, since Tom was married to Hilary. How much more of Tom’s past will spill out before the end of this very long day? Seems like years since I came back to town earlier today.

Making sense of Tom’s relationships with his family could wait. Right now, I had to help Finn. I took Yoshi by the leash and cupped the kid’s elbow with my other hand.

Bob held up the backpack. “Don’t forget this,” he said. “I saw a few treats for the dog in there.”

I grabbed it on our way out and slipped it over one shoulder. Even with the gun gone, the pack was still heavy. Seemed as if Finn brought along everything important to him when he made the journey here.

The night was unpleasantly cold, the first bite of winter snapping at us as I urged Finn into the backseat where he could lie down. I always have at least one quilt in my car and I covered him up. Yoshi whimpered as he settled alongside his best friend. I started the engine and turned on the heat.

Since taking Finn inside an emergency room with a dog in tow would be frowned upon, to say the least, I pulled out my phone and called Shawn Cuddahee for help. He and his wife, Allison, owned the Mercy Animal Sanctuary and had become my good friends. I was hoping Shawn could separate Yoshi and Finn with as little emotional trauma as possible.

Allison answered.

“What can I do for you, Jillian?” she asked.

I explained I needed a spot for a dog, hopefully just for overnight, because I had to take a young man to get medical treatment.

She said, “Oh no. I am so sorry. I’m not at the sanctuary. I’m getting help for a pregnant bulldog. They always have difficult labors and she’ll need a C-section. I’m at the vet clinic. Are you on the road already?”

“I will be in about thirty seconds. I guess I’ll have to leave the dog in my van when I take the kid in to see a doctor. It’s not terribly cold out and—”

“You heading to the hospital?” she asked.

“Too far. I think there’s a new emergency clinic about twenty miles north,” I said.

“You’re right. Just opened in a strip center near the interstate. Since you have no idea how long you’ll be, I’ll meet you in the parking lot and pick up the dog. Doc Jensen has the situation under control here.”

I put the phone on speaker and started to back up. “You already have an emergency of your own. I can call Kara if I get in a bind.”

“This happens all the time with bulldogs, so it’s not an emergency. I will meet you,” Allison said firmly. “See you soon, sweetie.” She disconnected.

On the drive out of town, I glanced in the rearview mirror every so often. Finn’s eyes were closed and Yoshi’s head rested on his arm. When I finally pulled into the small shopping center, I was surprised to find the lot nearly deserted. But a neon sign flashed 24 Hour Emergency Care in the storefront at the far end. I saw Allison’s truck pull in right next to me when I parked. What timing.

Even with the heat on, the van was chilly. Good thing I had a quilt to cover Finn. All he wore for a jacket was his black hoodie. I wondered then if it was stained with blood, too. Impossible to tell.

I unlocked the van and Allison climbed into the front seat. With her eyes trained on Yoshi and Finn, she said, “You want me to take the dog to the sanctuary?”

“If you can,” I said.

She was staring at Yoshi with a kind but take-charge expression. I’d seen her work miracles with animals using that look.

“Who’s this?” she asked, never taking her eyes off the dog.

“Yoshi,” I said.

“Yoshi’s a rat terrier, I see,” Allison said. “This might be a challenge. Very possessive dogs.” She still smiled, still stared and kept her tone even.

“I need to get this kid inside.” I tried to keep the urgency I felt out of my voice, but wasn’t sure I succeeded.

“Hey, Yoshi,” Allison said. She reached her hand between the front seats. “Everything’s gonna be okay. Have a sniff, friend.”

Yoshi’s neck stretched and he smelled her hand. His ears flattened and he started to blink. He suddenly looked incredibly sad.

“I’m here to help you and Finn, baby,” she said. Then she thumped the side of her chest with her right hand. “Yoshi, come.”

Tail wagging, he wiggled between the seats and into Allison’s arms. “Jillian’s gonna take care of your friend and you’re gonna stay with me, baby.”

Yoshi started licking her face. The Dog Whisperer’s got nothing on you, Allison, I thought as I pushed the button to slide open the van’s side door.

“I think it might be better if we waited here,” Allison said cheerfully, her arms wrapped around Yoshi.

I left the van running and roused Finn who, thank goodness, was just asleep and not unconscious.