Her Undercover Refuge

by Linda O. Johnston

  “I hope things work out and that I get to see you soon,” she told Dan. And she meant it.

  * * *

  Scott had seen Nella in the shelter area walking Baby alongside Muriel with Mocha. He’d stayed away, standing in the cool air outside the building where breakfast would be served, since their body language as they talked in what appeared to be a serious conversation suggested to him that Nella was quizzing Muriel about her background while apparently working with the dogs on their obedience.

  Though he said good morning to some staff members as they walked past him into the building, he wasn’t ready to go in yet, so he checked his phone for anything new from the Chance PD, although nothing of any note appeared to be going on. Nothing likely to affect the shelter anyway.

  He remained there when Nella and Muriel took the dogs into their building and emerged quickly on their own.

  He saw when Nella got on her phone, and Muriel headed his direction, toward the eating area, without her. He remained there anyway, waiting for Nella.

  Which was silly, he knew. But he wanted to talk with her. Eat breakfast alongside her.

  Find out who she was talking to—and if she had learned anything more to help determine who’d issued that damned threat.

  That was his excuse anyway.

  He also figured she’d inform him if she found anything useful he should know.

  Enough, damn it. She was his employee. He didn’t need to hang out with her any more than he did with any of his other managers.

  Their dinner last night, talking over pertinent matters about the shelter, didn’t change that.

  Nor did their brief and inappropriate good-night kiss.

  He started to enter the building—then saw Nella end her call and walk in his direction.

  Well, it wouldn’t hurt now if he remained here and asked for any updates she might have.

  She reached him quickly. “Everything okay?” he said.

  “If what you’re asking is whether I got Muriel to talk to me, I did. She probably didn’t say anything you don’t already know, but we should discuss it. And something else, as well. But after breakfast, since we ought to go inside and join the group, and they don’t need to hear any of the stuff I want to talk over with you.”

  Which pushed Scott’s curiosity up a notch. But Nella didn’t sound as if anything was urgent, so it could wait.

  Besides, whatever it was gave him a reason to spend some time with her alone, after breakfast, and—

  Enough already, he ordered himself again.

  Soon, they were in the line to pick up food. Sara helped Telma and Bibi dish out eggs and more, so he figured she was done cooking for that morning. Cooking remained Sara’s primary function since she still hadn’t cozied up to any dogs or most other animals.

  Scott got two fried eggs, over medium, plus some toast. He noticed that Nella stuck with scrambled eggs and toast.

  They soon sat beside each other at one of the tables farthest back from the one containing food—after they both also got coffee. Scott made certain to sit where he faced most of the others so he could watch them and their surroundings. All seemed fine.

  Until Muriel stood and approached them.

  “I’ve been telling people about how you did such a great job training Baby this morning,” she said to Nella. “We all try with whatever dogs we’re walking, of course, but not as many commands as you gave her, and not always with such good results. Maybe we could all work together later this morning, and you could give us a lesson. I think we have another potential adopter coming in this afternoon, right?” She looked toward Scott.

  “Probably not today, although we’ll have some soon,” he said. He didn’t mention it, but Dr. Moran, the therapist who came weekly to talk to some of the residents, would be there that afternoon. Some were already scheduled to meet with her, including their newcomer, Alice.

  “Well, if you can show off a dog who knows some commands, that adoption is more likely, right?” she asked Scott.

  He nodded.

  “I’d be glad to show you all what I know, but I’m hardly a skilled dog trainer.” Nella was looking at Muriel now.

  “That’s not what I saw,” Muriel responded, her hands on her hips.

  “The more we all do to help each other, the better,” Scott said. “And I’d love to see what you can do.” He smiled at Nella, who nodded.

  “Okay,” she said, “but only for half an hour or so this time, if that’s okay. After that, I’d like to talk to you.” Since he’d met up with her here this morning, he’d had a sense she had something besides Muriel on her mind and now he felt certain of it.

  “Fine,” Scott said. “For now, let’s bring on the dogs.”

  Chapter 14

  “Hey, where are you two going?” asked Warren as Nella and Scott stood and started walking away from the still-filled table. Warren had sat across from them beyond Kathy and Leonard and now he stood to face them.

  “In a bit, we’ll work with a few of you to see who can train dogs the best,” Nella replied. “Why don’t you finish here and go grab a dog? Rover or Bruno? You like them best, right?”

  “That’s right,” Warren replied. “Sounds good. Let me finish my breakfast and go get a dog, then I’ll find both of you and whatever dogs you’re training. We’ll have fun. You can teach me, and maybe I can teach you, even though you’re both in charge together, of course. Right? Yeah. Anyone else interested?”

  A few other staff members volunteered to join them.

  “Good. See you later.” Warren plunked himself back down and grabbed a piece of toast from his plate.

  Scott led Nella to the table where the coffee sat. He filled a paper cup and put a sleeve on it. “One to go,” he said. “How about you? I gather you want to talk a little before we get any dogs out.”

  “I’d love some.” Nella was perfectly happy also grabbing a cup of coffee before getting together with Scott to describe her earlier conversation with Muriel. Plus, she wanted to ask if it was okay for Dan to come here tomorrow to research this place with the idea of possibly setting up something similar in L.A., as she’d mentioned to Scott before.

  That, of course, reminded her that Jon would also be coming. She would have to talk to them about the missing gang members, of course, and might show her appreciation again for the way Jon helped her on the task force. And in case he appeared to have anything else on his mind about her, she knew she could be cordial without giving him any ideas about following up with her, even on a friendly basis. She didn’t need to feel guilty that she wasn’t as interested in him as he was in her.

  “Let’s take a quick peek into the cat house,” Scott said. He clearly wanted to spend a little time on this conversation since that building was at the other end of the path, but that was fine with Nella. They would still have time to work with the dogs and staff members soon. It was fairly early in the morning.

  As they started down the path, cups of coffee in their hands, Nella said, “I assume you want to know how things went this morning in my conversation with Muriel.”

  “That’s right,” Scott responded, and so Nella told him what Muriel and she had spoken about.

  “I feel sorry for her—as I do with so many other staff members,” Nella finished. “She shouldn’t have had to deal with a malicious security guy that way. I’m glad she remained friendly with some cops, but I wish I could tell from what she said whether her security nemesis has found her here. He might have the resources to locate her.”

  “You’re right.” Scott stopped on the pathway near the building that included the cat house. “But that might be too obvious. Plus, since her circumstances were special, and her original tormenter had potential resources to find her, I’m still in touch with the police who sent her here in the first place. I gave them a call after the threat, and they’re still keeping an eye on the gua
rd. Best they can tell, he’s just doing his normal thing of ostensibly protecting people and property in whatever building he’s supposed to be monitoring—and he seems to be going after another woman employee there, so they’ve made themselves a bit obvious, plus I gather the company’s PR department has told him to back down.”

  “So our threatened staff member probably isn’t Muriel.” Nella looked at Scott, who nodded. As their eyes met, she felt her usual unwanted interest in the guy and remembered Warren’s teasing.

  She had to be more careful. Her feelings might be showing.

  “That’s what I think,” Scott said. “Even so, the therapist I mentioned to you before will be here later today, and Muriel is one of those scheduled to see her, as is Alice and a couple more. Now, should we go say meow to some cats?”

  Nella smiled. “One thing first, though.”

  She felt glad that some of those in need got an opportunity to talk to a therapist and eventually to get beyond the heartache they must still feel from their pasts. She’d even talked to a therapist once after losing Lou on the gang task force and thought she’d felt a little better—although remembering what happened still hurt.

  She took a sip of coffee as they stood there and she explained to Scott how Dan now wanted to do something about his own interest in opening a shelter similar to this one. “He wants to come check out the Chance Animal Shelter tomorrow,” she said. “And he wants to bring along Sergeant Jon Frost, who also worked with me, including on the gang task force.” She tried not to allow her tone to give away her opinion of Jon joining Dan, but she apparently wasn’t totally successful.

  “Is there anything the matter with both of them coming?” Scott’s face had taken on a concerned frown. “If you’re okay with it, I am, but if not—”

  “Then I’ll let Dan know it’s fine. Jon can be a bit over-the-top at times, but he’s basically a dedicated cop and a good guy—especially if he wants to help Dan open a people and animal shelter in their jurisdiction.”

  “Okay. Just keep me informed. I had no problem with Dan knowing about this shelter and even sending me a wonderful new manager—”

  He winked at Nella, which got her pulse pounding, and then he took a sip of coffee. So did she, wishing this time that it was something a bit stronger, like that good wine Scott had shared. But not in the morning.

  “I’m not so sure about the wonderful part,” she said, “but this new manager is certainly glad to be here. For a lot of reasons. Including getting away from that ugly gang stuff. Dan admitted that a few members still haven’t been rounded up.”

  “Really?” Scott looked her square in the face. “Is Dan working on it?”

  “I’m sure he’s trying to.” Nella didn’t want to talk about it anymore. She’d at least mentioned it to Scott, who should be aware of it. But now she said, “Are you ready to get some dogs out and work with them along with some staff members? I’d like to—and when I was with Muriel this morning I pulled out some memories of K-9 training that I’ve observed that encourages immediate obedience, and tried using it with Baby.”

  “Our Baby? Pug Baby? Wish I’d seen that.”

  “I can show you as part of our demo. And when I was strict with her—and gave her treats when she obeyed—she really did a pretty fair job.”

  “Great. Well, you can train Baby and some of our staff members—including Warren—and maybe me, too,” Scott said. “Oh, and by the way, you should know there’s a facility called Chance K-9 Ranch nearby, where people are taught how to train their dogs as pets, service dogs and K-9s.”

  “Interesting. Maybe I’ll try to visit someday.”

  With that, they turned and strode through the cat house, then the small animal part of the structure at the far end. Nella enjoyed seeing all of them but didn’t take the time to remove any from their enclosures, or even reach inside to stroke them. This time. She’d come back when she had a chance.

  Soon, they returned to the outer area where some staff members had begun to congregate. Telma and Camp were there, too.

  And Nella felt good that she and the others were going to work with some dogs and get them even more prepared to find their forever homes, while also giving the human residents here at the shelter something worthwhile to perk up their spirits.

  * * *

  Scott watched with both pleasure and amusement as a few staff members ducked inside a couple of buildings and came out a short while later with leashed dogs.

  Nella, Telma and Camp joined them. Scott felt tempted as well, but for now he would just watch.

  This was, after all, the secondary but still important reason for this shelter to exist. Finding new homes for needy pets was what they were ostensibly all about, the face they put on for the rest of the world. It was true, though it wasn’t everything.

  And having dogs trained certainly made them potentially more adoptable to people seeking new pets to bring home.

  “Okay, now, everyone watch Nella,” Muriel called to the others. She had the little terrier mix, Mocha, with her, and the dog appeared better behaved than Scott remembered, sitting on the paving beside Muriel and staring up at her as if awaiting a treat.

  Warren was there, too, of course, since he’d committed to join this class while they were in the dining area. He had brought out Bruno, the Doberman.

  The dogs with most other staff members besides Nella, including Bruno, didn’t seem as obedient as Baby, and maybe Mocha. Some sat beside their current handlers, and others pulled at the ends of their leashes, sometimes sniffing one another. Fun to watch, but that wasn’t what they were all there for.

  Scott focused his attention on Nella, who similarly had Baby on a leash beside her. He was too far away to hear the commands she gave, but he could see some of her hand signals. They included sit, come, stay, heel, the standard ones, as Baby appeared ecstatic to obey them right away. It didn’t hurt that Nella gave her a treat with each successful obeyed command.

  Then she did a couple more things that appeared possibly a result of watching police K-9s being trained. One was retrieve, and she threw what appeared to be a sock she’d pulled from her pocket. At first, Baby appeared confused, but Nella gave the command again and walked the dog at heel to go get the sock. The next time, apparently, Baby knew enough to retrieve it herself.

  Interesting that Nella, though clearly not an expert, knew a lot about dog training. All the more reason for this shelter being perfect for her—and for the animals she worked with, as well as the staff members she could teach these skills to.

  “Okay,” Nella finally said, “I’m done. I don’t know many other commands, but why don’t you all work with your dogs now and see how many you can get them to obey? Do you all have treats with you?”

  They apparently did, and Scott figured they’d been forewarned.

  They spent another twenty minutes going over commands in the warming sun of Chance’s midday. As far as Scott could tell, most dogs appeared at least somewhat obedient—a good omen for their eventual adoption. The experience also introduced some helpful skills to the staff members who stayed at the shelter—even if they eventually left and had dogs in their lives.

  “Okay, everyone,” Nella finally called. “You’re all on your own. You can continue working with the dogs you have with you now, or take them back to their enclosures. But I hope I’ve been at least some help.”

  Apparently they all thought so, since suddenly the mostly silent enclosed shelter area was filled with sounds of humans clapping and cheering and calling out thank-yous.

  Scott cringed a bit. He didn’t like the idea of the shelter being obvious for any reason. But late in the morning like this it was unlikely there were many people nearby, and even if there were, people inside animal shelters could certainly cheer the resident pets for some reason or another.

  He nevertheless decided this would be a good time to go into the offi
ce and check the security camera monitors to be certain no one lurked outside wanting to find out what all the noise was about.

  As he turned to head that way, Nella joined him, Baby still leashed at her side.

  He stopped. “Good show,” he said. “I’ll cheer you on like the others, if you wish.”

  “What I wish is to bring my friend Baby back to her enclosure and take a breather. It’s fun giving training demonstrations, even short ones, especially since I didn’t know I had the skills to do it particularly well.” Her face was flushed a bit, which didn’t detract from how lovely it was. And she appeared a bit flustered, as if she was embarrassed.

  “You clearly do.” Nodding, Scott turned and said, “I’ll go with you to return Baby inside, then why don’t you come with me? I’ll be doing some administrative stuff for the shelter—heading up to the office, checking some security cameras, that kind of thing. As a manager, you need to learn more of that, too, and not only work with animals and residents. And I may have another potential new staff member coming in a few days whom I’ll want you to interview.”

  “Sounds perfect.” Her smile lit up her face, and he had a sudden, unbidden urge to give her a kiss. A brief, nonsuggestive one, certainly—but definitely not a good idea here, where some staff members including Warren, as well as Camp and Telma, had formed their own circle and were each working with a dog.

  Nella and he quickly returned Baby to behind her indoor fence, and Scott felt a little sorry for the dog, since at the moment there weren’t any other pups in this part of the building.

  “I hope she doesn’t get too lonesome right now,” Nella said, echoing Scott’s thoughts.

  “I’m sure it won’t be for long,” Scott responded.

  He watched Nella hang the leash Baby had been wearing on a hook along the wall where most of the other hooks were currently empty. He noticed she didn’t return any treats to the jar hanging on the wall and figured she must have been generous to the obedient pup in her charge.