Threat of Darkness(32)
“Yes.” She sniffled. “Like what?”
“Hopefully, we’ll know it when we see it.”
“You don’t think he just wandered off?”
“No,” John said flatly. “I suspect he either slipped out when someone opened the door or…”
“Or what?”
“Or, he’s been dognapped.”
NINE
Samantha couldn’t believe her ears. “Dognapped? But who? Why?”
“Who is the biggest question. If the dog knew the person who took him he probably went willingly. If he didn’t, I think we’d better keep an eye out for signs that his kidnapper is suffering from a dog bite.”
“You call the police. I’ll call the hospital,” Samantha said, eager to have something to do besides worry and weep. She hated any show of weakness and had thought she was too strong-willed to succumb to it—until her best friend had disappeared. Worse, she’d shed tears all over John’s uniform shirt. What must he think of her?
Stepping aside, she took her cell phone from the pocket of her scrub top and called the E.R.
When she was done explaining the situation she looked to her companion. His expression was not encouraging.
“No one has come to the E.R. complaining of a dog bite. What did your chief say?”
“That he’s not going to consider a lost dog as a crime. Unless we can come up with something else that gives him a better reason to investigate, we’re on our own.”
“Then let’s go.” She grabbed his hand to hurry him along.
“Wait. Stop and think. Since nobody jimmied the door locks we need to look more closely at the windows. You had them all latched, right?”
“Yes. I double-checked every one before I went to bed last night.”
“Okay. Then the next order of business is for us to go over the yard and look for tracks.”
“Brutus is out there all the time. His paw prints will be everywhere.”
“It’s impressions from strange boots or shoes we’re looking for, especially if they happen to be next to the most recent tracks left by the dog. And while we’re at it, keep an eye out for signs of injury—not to Brutus, to whoever took him.”
“He still might have wandered off. He’s been known to chase armadillos.”
“It’s been daylight from the time you left for work until now. Armadillos are nocturnal.”
“I know. I just…” She knew if she kept talking her voice would falter so she quieted. This whole predicament seemed impossible. She had thought about someone trying to get at her by waging personal attacks but it had never occurred to her that anybody would be evil enough to take out their animosity on a defenseless animal like Brutus.
Why not? she immediately asked herself. People abused their own children all the time. What was to keep them from hurting a dog? She’d rescued Brutus from that very situation once and she’d do whatever it took to save him a second time.
If they could find him before it was too late.
* * *
John checked the interior of the dilapidated barn and found nothing, then slowly circled the house, his eyes on the ground, his hand grasping Samantha’s so he’d be certain of exactly where she was every second.
Suddenly, she gave a yank.
He whirled, the heel of his free hand jumping to the butt of his holstered sidearm. “What? What do you see?”
“There.” She was pointing up. “That ladder. It’s usually in the barn. I’ve never needed it so I’m not positive it’s the one I keep out there but it sure looks the same.”
His chin lifted, his gaze settling on the second story. “Do you use the attic much?”
“No. I haven’t been up there in years. Elvina and I emptied it long before she passed away.”
“Well, somebody’s been messing around up there,” John said. He started for the base of the ladder, made sure it was well positioned, then put a boot on the bottom rung. “Stay here. I’ll go check it out.”
The obstinate look on Sam’s face told him what her opinion was long before she opened her mouth to speak.
“No way, mister. If you’re going up, I’m going up.”
“You can steady the ladder for me.”
“In a pig’s eye.”
“Sweet talk will get you nowhere, Ms. Rochard. We can either stand here arguing or you can back off and let me do my job. Your call.”
“If I wasn’t so worried about Brutus you know exactly what I’d do.” Nevertheless she took several steps back, cleared the way for him and spread her arms wide. “All right. You win. Go ahead.”