“It did.” Devon shrugged. “But she asked for a chance to work with the dogs, and she convinced me that she could help take care of them.” She held up her hand. “She just took a job as kennel help. She didn’t claim any special abilities.”
“That came later?” Caleb asked.
Devon nodded. “I could tell you the stories, but all you need to know is that Margaret is fairly amazing. She still works with the dogs, but I occasionally call her if I need her.”
“I can’t believe you’d trust her,” Jane said.
“Yes, you can,” Devon said. “Everyone trusts Margaret. You let her go in and look at Toby, didn’t you?”
“But that’s before I—” She headed for the exam-room door. “I’m going to see what she’s doing to him.”
“Go ahead. She won’t mind,” Devon said. “Just let her keep on working with him.”
“I don’t care if she’d mind or—” Jane stopped as she opened the door.
Margaret was on the floor holding Toby in her arms as he was stretched over her lap. Monty was lying quietly beside them, so close he was touching Toby.
She looked up at Jane in the doorway and shook her head. “Not yet. Soon.” She was gently stroking Toby’s neck. “Soon…”
Jane stiffened. What did she mean? Was Toby fading?
“No,” Devon said behind her. “No danger. She’d tell you if it were near.”
Toby’s eyes were open, and he was licking Margaret’s hand.
“Shh, rest.” Margaret was hugging him, holding him closer. “You don’t have to show me.”
Love.
Jane could almost see the love bonding Margaret and Toby together as a visible force.
“Satisfied?” Devon asked quietly.
Jane nodded jerkily and backed out of the room. “How long?”
“She said soon.” Devon strode toward the cabinet across the room. “Coffee?”
Jane shook her head. “I don’t want anything. I just want to know. I’m feeling so damn helpless.”
“Join the club.” She poured coffee into a Styrofoam cup. “It’s my worst nightmare. That’s why I let Margaret talk me into using her the first time she came and asked me to let her try to find out what was making my greyhound sick.”
“And did she do it?”
“Yes.” She sipped the coffee. “But it took two more cases before I stopped telling myself that it was coincidence or luck.” Her lips twisted. “I still use science first; and then whatever works.”
“And Margaret Douglas usually works?” Caleb’s gaze was narrowed on Devon’s face. “But you’re still scared and shaky.”
She shrugged. “I like to be in control. Control doesn’t seem to be a factor when Margaret is involved. I can’t be sure if she’s even in control of what’s going on. She told me once it was just nature. I’d be happier if there was—”
“We have about four hours.” Margaret was standing in the doorway. “You’ll have to flush out Toby’s entire system and replace the blood.”
Devon frowned. “Flush out the system?”
“It’s poison,” Margaret said soberly. “Slow-acting but it’s had time to take hold and is probably attacking some of his organs. Get rid of it.”
“Poison?” Jane repeated. “No way. He had toxicology tests in London.”
“And I gave him a couple when I brought him in,” Devon said.
“He’s not had any stomach issues,” Jane said. “And I’m supercareful of what he eats.”
“Poison,” Margaret said again. “By injection in the ruff of his neck. You can probably find evidence if you look for it, Devon. But I wouldn’t take the time. We don’t have much left. I called Jeff, your assistant, and told him to get back out of bed and get here fast. Flush Toby out and give him a general antidote and antibiotic.”
“You’re sure it’s poison?” Devon asked.
“Toby’s sure. He remembers.” Her lips tightened grimly. “Whoever did it leaned down, petted him, then gave him the injection.”
“That’s crazy,” Jane said. “I’d know if—” She stopped. Arguing wasn’t going to do any good. “Even if she’s right, this seems like a radical treatment, Devon.”
“Not as radical as it sounds.”
“Is it dangerous?”
“Everything is dangerous in Toby’s state.” She put her cup down and headed for the exam room. “But doing nothing is the most dangerous of all.”