Kate James - The Truth About Hope

Retreating as he was, Einstein smacked against the door, shutting it as he did. Jock was narrowing the gap between them, and Einstein no longer had the option of fleeing. He drew himself in as much as he could, trying to become invisible—an impossible feat for a dog his size. Jock shot out a hand toward the doorknob just above Einstein’s head. Fearing he was going to be struck, Einstein gave a sharp, terrified bark.

Jock pulled his hand back quickly, but his face was livid. “Threatening me , are you? We’ll see who comes out on top.” Moving swiftly, he looped his tie around Einstein’s neck, twisted to tighten it and tugged the dog forward so he could open the door. He dragged the petrified dog along the hall, down the stairs and through the front vestibule past a wide-eyed Priscilla.

She hurried after him. “Mr. Wilson, what are you doing?”

“Taking this mongrel to the pound, where he should’ve been taken in the first place.”

“You can’t do that,” she pleaded.

He threw her a contemptuous look. “Watch me.”

“What about Hope? She’ll be devastated! It’s my fault. I was supposed to be watching him. Please let me have him, and I’ll make sure he doesn’t bother you again.”

“Too late for that. This dog...” He yanked the tie, making Einstein whimper. “He spilled my wine, growled at me, and I’m sure if I wasn’t quicker than he was, he would’ve taken a bite out of my hand, too.”

Priscilla cast her eyes to the cringing, pitiful Einstein. “Please leave him with me,” she implored. “I’ll take him to the pound if that’s what you really want.”

“We’re not going through that again. I can’t trust you to do it. I’m personally taking him and having him put down like the dangerous animal he is.”

“He’s not dangerous—”

“Quiet!” Jock roared. “You dare to question me?” He wagged the index finger of his free hand at her. “Another word from you, and you’ll be out on your ear, too.”

“But Hope...”

“My daughter is my business. You two have gotten too close for my liking. But that’s for later. Right now, this creature is going to the pound.” He hauled Einstein across the floor and out the door, banging it shut behind him.

CHAPTER SIX

PRISCILLA PACED ANXIOUSLY in front of the window of the upstairs sitting room. It had an unobstructed view of the driveway, so she’d know right away when Hope returned. Why didn’t that girl ever carry her mobile phone? But Priscilla knew the answer. She didn’t have many people she wanted to talk to. Priscilla had tried reaching Hope at the hospital, but they’d sent her on an errand and couldn’t reach her either.

Priscilla fretted that time was very much of the essence. She had no doubt that Mr. Wilson had taken Einstein to a pound and—true to his word—claimed him to be a threat and ordered him put down. By checking the last number dialed on his office phone, she’d identified the animal shelter Mr. Wilson had selected. She’d tried to call repeatedly, without success. If Hope wasn’t home soon, Priscilla would go there, even though she knew she’d lose her job if Mr. Wilson found out. She worried about how she’d support Molly if that happened, but she had to do what was right. What kind of role model would she be to her beloved little girl if she didn’t?

Just as Priscilla reached for the phone to call a taxi, Hope’s Audi rounded the curve. Priscilla dashed down the stairs and outside, grabbing Hope’s arms before she had a chance to get out of the car. “Something terrible has happened. Your father took Einstein—”

“Took him? Took him where?”

“He took Einstein to have him...put down.”

“What are you talking about?” Hope screamed, shrugging free of Priscilla’s hold. She was frantic. “Do you know where he took him?”

Priscilla reached in her pocket and pulled out a crumpled piece of paper. “Here. I wrote down their number, too. I’ve been calling and calling, but it goes to voice mail every time. I’ve left a few urgent messages.”

“Okay, keep trying. Call me on my cell if you reach someone.”

“You don’t have it with you.”

“Right.” Hope was about to run inside.

“No. Don’t waste time. Here.” Priscilla took her own phone out of her pocket and handed it to Hope.

* * *

HOPE GRABBED THE phone and jumped back in her car. Speeding down the driveway, she was thankful for the first time that her father had bought her the little Audi. She hardly slowed at the foot of the drive and screeched out onto the road, cutting off another vehicle. A long, loud horn blast followed.

Glancing at the slip of paper on which Priscilla had written the address of the shelter, Hope set her navigation system through voice command. It wasn’t that far, but rush-hour traffic was bound to slow her down.

Please don’t let me be too late. Please don’t let me be too late, she chanted. She would’ve shot through the changing lights if not for the person ahead of her, who stopped his vehicle when the light turned amber. She tapped the steering wheel impatiently. “Come on. Come on. ” When the lights changed, she waited for oncoming traffic to clear and roared past the vehicle in front of her. An approaching van had to swerve to avoid colliding with her. Another horn blared just as she was pulling back into her own lane. Cutting it that close had scared her. She’d be no good to Einstein if she got in an accident while trying to get to him. She slowed her speed and prayed she’d get there in time.

When Hope finally reached the animal facility she was shaking uncontrollably. She leaped out of her vehicle and ran in through the front door. Not seeing anyone at the counter, she rushed around it and into the back, where she could hear animal noises. A tall, slender man was bent over a bag of kibble, measuring food into metal dishes. She called out to him and he straightened, surprise evident on his face. “You’re not allowed back here.”

Hope skidded to a stop, her eyes desperately searching the small, rusty cages around them, looking for Einstein. Not seeing him, she feared the worst. She grasped the man’s arms. “I’m sorry, but you have to help me,” she pleaded with dry, heaving sobs. “My dog was brought in here earlier today, to be put down. It’s a huge mistake. He’s not dangerous. He’s as gentle as they come. It was my father. He never liked him and I need to get him. My dog, I mean—not my father.”

“Whoa. Slow down, will you. I didn’t catch all of that, but we don’t have anyone here today who can euthanize animals.”

The relief that coursed through Hope was instantaneous. “Okay. Okay. So please show me where Einstein is, so I can take him home.”

“Einstein? The large black-and-white dog, looks mostly like a Lab?”

“Yes!” Hope almost cried with relief. “Please take me to him.”

“I’m afraid I can’t.”

“What do you mean you can’t?” She cried. “You have to.”

“No. No. I would if I could. I can’t . He’s not here.”

“Where is he?”

“I was just coming on shift when that dude dropped him off. He claimed the dog was vicious and unpredictable. Said the dog had tried to attack him.”

“That is such a lie! Einstein wouldn’t hurt a mouse. Where is he?”

“Nancy, the other staffer who was here, took him. I have to admit, he didn’t seem mean to either of us. He was more terrified than anything, if you ask me. Well, since we don’t have anyone here to euthanize animals, as I told you, and we’re at capacity right now, Nancy arranged for the city’s animal control department to pick him up.”

“No!” Hope shouted. “He’s not dangerous. Where did they take him?”