Searching for Always(93)

They were outside the police station, ready to do a drive-by check. The early afternoon had been perfect. Ideal. When he returned, Arilyn greeted him at the doorway with no clothes, proving she had a secret bad girl inside he’d managed to spring loose. They’d spent the rest of the morning in bed, exploring all the ways he could make her scream, and he’d barely had enough time to get back to Pinky before racing to work.

Another small puddle greeted him along with a suffering, mournful expression of doggy unhappiness. Stone took the dog out, redid her water-food routine, and ripped out a new squeaky toy. Pinky refused to touch it. Just sat in the middle of the room, refusing to budge but asking for something he couldn’t seem to figure out.

“See, this is why I don’t have a dog,” he offered, buttoning up his uniform. “This is also why I got a divorce. I’m busy. I don’t know how to make you happy. I have to go to work and bring home the money. Do you understand?” Stone finished dressing, grabbed his stuff, and paused at the door. “I gotta go. I’ll be back in eight hours and we’ll spend some time together. Okay?”

Nothing. Well, what the hell did he expect? He was talking to a damn dog.

Frustrated and pissed off, he opened the door.

Then heard it.

Whimpering.

Stone turned his head. Pinky had dropped her head in full grieving mode. Body shaking, little moans of distress emitted from her mouth. A shiver raced down his spine. No. Oh, God, this was worse than a woman crying. He rubbed his hands over his face and prayed for it to stop. How could she go from isolated silence to codependency so soon?

“Don’t. I can’t take you to work. I drive in a police car and you’d hate it.”

Pinky lifted her head and whined again. Took a few steps toward the door, cocking her head as if asking the all-important question. Can I go with you please?

“Absolutely not. You’ll be fine. Hang out, take a nap, chew on a bone. I’ll be back later.”

He shut the door. A few steps toward the car, he stopped cold, listening to the eerie, sad whine of the dog. Crying.

Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck.

He opened the door, grabbed the ridiculous pink collar and leash Arilyn had bought, and scooped Pinky up in his arms. The dog barely took up his whole hand, and immediately snuggled into the crook of his arm. Then Stone did the unthinkable, the impossible, and the insane.

He brought Pinky to work with him.

Devine was still staring in shock through the window at the dog sitting in the backseat. “That thing is a dog?” he asked in a high-pitched tone. “Are you kidding me? Trying to pull a practical joke? Is it real?”

Stone rolled his eyes. “Just get in the damn car, please, before the rest of the dingbats come out here. It’s a Chihuahua.”

Devine slid into the front seat, glancing back. “I know what a Chihuahua is, and that ain’t one. Where’s its fur?”

“Gone. Well, I called it Rat Fink, but Arilyn got pissed.”

“Ah, now I get it! This is the one you tried to get me to take. You slept with her, and this is your punishment!”

“Shut up, Devine.”

His partner belted out a laugh, shaking his head. “Thought you hated dogs.”

“I do, but like I said, this one was abused, and the shelter was crowded, and she couldn’t take the dog because it has issues.”

“Issues, huh? You two are perfect for each other. What’s the rat fink’s name?”

“Pinky,” he mumbled. He winced, waiting for the inevitable.

“You’re fucking kidding me.”

Damned if he didn’t feel a flush stain his cheeks. So humiliating. “No.”

“Her collar is actually pink. I told you she’s a foo-foo dog!”

“She’s tough. Arilyn named her, for God’s sake, not me. And she’s only mine temporarily.”

“Why does it have to come with us? Dogs are left home all the time.”

Stone made a right and headed into the neighborhood where they’d nabbed Pinky. “I know. I tried. She was shaking and crying, and I was afraid if I didn’t take her, something bad would happen.”

Devine laughed harder. “You are such a sucker. Dogs hate being alone, they all do it.”

“I’m telling you, this is different. Look, it’s only tonight. I’m begging you not to tell the guys or I’m gonna have to take shit for this stunt for the rest of my life. Then I’d have to transfer.”

Devine wiped his eyes, looking happy over this complication. “Fine. But you owe me.”

“Fine.” They drove in silence for a while, scanning the quiet surroundings. Pinky was surprisingly well behaved. She sat perfectly still and stared out the window. Stone could use a little action tonight, but Verily seemed determined to keep the peace. “You find anything else out on that property I told you about?”