“Ryan, I never thought Bow would be found. We were all so worried. Even Miguel loved her. He was so upset when we told him she was missing. Where did you find her?”
“Bowditch Point.”
“And we were there yesterday.” I was irked. “We should have looked for her. Isn’t that where Miss Delia found her years ago? I guess after witnessing the murder, she headed for the last place she felt safe, poor kitty.”
“That’s quite a trip for a cat to make on foot, especially with all the extra people and cars here for the season. How do you think she managed without getting hurt?” Bridgy wondered aloud.
“The thing is,” Ryan faltered, “Bow wasn’t alone. We found her with Skully.”
Chapter Twenty-one ||||||||||||||||||||
Bridgy and I both started talking at once.
“Bow was with Skully?”
“Why did Skully have her?”
Ryan shook his head.
“No idea. An early-morning jogger found Skully, bloody and unconscious, next to his canoe at the tip of the Point in Bowditch. Looked to be that way for hours. Bow was sitting right next to his shoulder. When the jogger tried to render aid, Bow scratched and clawed at him, so he stopped trying and called 911. Dispatch sent us and called the Animal Rescue League as backup. We weren’t much help. Bow fought to keep our guys away from Skully. Nobody wanted to hurt her, but we had to get him looked at. Animal Rescue showed up, and one of their ace handlers coaxed the little spitfire into the carrier. To stop her pitiful crying, Animal Rescue set the carrier right next to Skully until the EMTs took him away. I talked Animal Rescue into letting me bring her to you. Before I can turn her over, you have to promise to bring her for a checkup right away. Never know what she’s been through the past few days. The Animal Rescue folks want an update after a vet takes a look at her.”
“And Skully, what happened to him?” Bridgy was biting her lower lip.
Ryan grimaced. “We don’t know. He was at water’s edge. Looks like he was pulling his boat in or pushing it out when he slipped and hit his head. He was mega lucky. He was unconscious and his nose was inches from the high tide watermark. He could have been swept into the Gulf, a goner for sure.”
My mind was whirling like a dervish. I couldn’t see this as an accident. Skully was a boatman, rowing up and down the Gulf of Mexico his entire life. Delia was attacked and now Skully. It was all too much of a coincidence for me to accept.
Bridgy asked, “Will he make it?”
“Too soon to tell.” Ryan was as emotionless as his job warranted. Still, he showed a kind heart. “So, can I leave the cat with you? It’s you or Animal Rescue. You’ll take her to be checked?”
I didn’t hesitate. “Absolutely. And, please, we definitely want to know as soon as there is any change in Skully’s condition.”
“Ten-four. I have to get back. Busy day. Thanks for taking care of the cat. I’d give her a farewell pet, but the mood she’s in, she’d probably bite off my finger.”
Ryan half jogged over to his department car and peeled out of the parking lot.
Bridgy picked up the milk container and said, “I better get this inside before it sours. And then we should get Bow cleaned up and checked. I want to go with you to drop her off at Miss Augusta’s. I’m sure Bow will be a measure of comfort.”
“Augusta’s allergic. She can’t take Bow.”
I looked at Bridgy, who was biting her lip again. I knew she was thinking what I was about to say out loud.