I sat in a worn velvet chair, which instantly molded to my body and made me feel relaxed. I detected the faintest scent of something earthy, like the vetiver oil I used on my feet sometimes when I had trouble sleeping.
"Macy," he repeated, rolling the word on his tongue as if for good measure. "Is that a family name?"
"Yes. It was my grandma's name." Grandma Hatfield had urged my mom to reconsider naming me something so old-fashioned, but according to Auntie A, Mom wouldn't hear of changing it. After disliking my name all through high school, somewhere in my twenties I'd realized it fit me well, so I'd embraced it.
"Lovely," he said. "Now, Macy. You said you're in distress about your recent divorce. How about you walk me through that experience?"
I gave a relatively short recount of Jake's numerous sins, but at some point the soft chair and the earthy smells and the waterfall combined into some kind of truth-telling trifecta for me, and I wound up delving further into my past.
I told the doc about my parents' deaths.
We had lived in a small house situated next to a creek from my birth until I was two years old. A freak flood occurred that November, sweeping away bridges and swelling rivers to unheard-of heights. This, in turn, flooded the creeks.
According to Bo, who was six when the flood hit in the middle of the night, Dad had carried us kids up to safety, tucking us in a cave on top of the hill before going back to get Mom, who had somehow gotten lost in the dark. Police later discovered that there must have been a rock-laden mudslide that plowed into the back of the house, which had pinned Mom to the ground. By the time Dad clambered back inside, the waters had risen so much, they were both trapped as the weakened house collapsed on top of them.
The sound of the waterfall seemed to have grown deafening as I once again imagined the watery grave my parents had to succumb to. "Would you mind turning that off?" I asked.
"Of course," the doctor said. His eyes were wide behind his glasses, but he managed to hold onto some level of equanimity. "This has obviously shaped who you are today. Now, you strike me as a very strong person, but perhaps it would be worthwhile to talk about this more." He glanced at his watch, and the room felt heavy with silence. The drummers had apparently gone home. I realized how vulnerable I was, sitting in a possibly empty building with a complete stranger. I wished I'd thought to bring the serrated pocket knife Bo had given me, just in case the doc wasn't so safe to be alone with.
I stood, anxious to leave, then realized I hadn't asked him anything about Coal. "Sure. Let's set up another appointment," I said. "Maybe next week?"
"Let me check my calendar." The doctor tapped at his tablet screen.
I continued, "It's so quiet, isn't it? You know, the other night when I came to a class here, I could've sworn there was a big dog barking upstairs."
The doctor didn't even look up or register surprise. "Yes—was that a couple nights ago? I heard it, too. I figured Jedi brought his dog to work again. He's not supposed to, but occasionally he does." He looked up from his screen. "How about Monday next week, same time?"
"I'll call back if that works for me," I said, unsure whether I could actually afford another session. I might wind up canceling—and I was strangely disappointed by that possibility.
I tried to shake the sinking realization that the dog treat and the barking could be explained by Jedi bringing his own dog to work that night. "So, what kind of dog does Jedi have?" I asked.
Doc Schneider stood. "A bigger dog...boxer, I believe?" He escorted me to the door.
I pried for information one last time. "My friend says the golfing is great here. I heard the last golf instructor was kind of rude...is there another one lined up yet?"
The doctor shook his head. "They've been interviewing, but no one's been hired. And the last golf instructor wasn't rude at all. Although I suppose he might have struck some people as abrasive. For example, his personality and our director's personality didn't seem to line up well. But he got along with most everyone else."
"Aren't personalities so interesting? I've been looking into Myers-Briggs, but I don't think I've figured mine out yet. Was there anyone the golf instructor got on really well with?"
Now I was probably coming across as too nosy, but it was worth finding out if Gerard was particularly close to anyone other than Katie.
"He did tell me that he was interested in Katie Givens, our masseuse, but I didn't get the impression the feeling was mutual—"
A cheery voice sounded in the hallway. "Hello, Mark."
Katie was walking our way, in all her tan, tall glory. She wore a close-fitting workout outfit and looked like she'd been jogging...in the dark?
Had she been standing on the steps, listening in on our conversation?
She pointed at me. "Macy Hatfield, right? How's that big doggie doing?"
Was she putting me on? This must be a show for the doctor, as if she didn't know Coal had been dognapped.
I refused to play along. "He's gone," I said bluntly. "Someone stole him."
Katie's face shifted and she gave me a convincingly sympathetic look. "You're kidding me! When did this happen?"
"Actually, it was the same day you came over and tried to buy him from me." I smiled, feeling rather relentless. If she had my dog, I wanted him back. I couldn't outright accuse her, but I could dance around it with the kind of dagger-cloaked Southern politeness that let her know I was onto her.
"I'm pretty sure Gerard would've had him microchipped when he was a puppy." She gave a slow blink of her fake eyelashes. "He was an expensive dog."
I caught my breath, wishing I'd thought of that. Of course Coal would've been microchipped. I'd call the nearby veterinary clinics tomorrow and see if they knew how to find him.
I gave awkward waves to the doctor and Katie. "Sure. Thanks. Thanks to both of you." I knew I was muttering like a moron.
Katie swooped in on the doctor like she had her own issues to work through, so I hastily retreated down the stairs.
Once I got to my car, I rolled down the window for fresh air to clear my head. I hoped I hadn't come off as unhinged with Doc Schneider. I didn't need medication, I just needed time, at least when it came to getting over Jake. As for my parents, I would never finish grieving for them, but I'd learned to live with the fact they were gone long ago.
Far off in the distance, I heard a dog bark. I knew I was imagining things to think the bark sounded lonely. Now that I knew Jedi had a dog that frequented Ivy Hill (probably secretly, since Alice had said she didn't like canines), I had to admit that I might have been looking in the wrong direction for Coal. Especially given Katie's response when I told her he'd been dognapped—she had seemed genuinely surprised, even helpful, as she'd tried to encourage me about the microchip possibility. Maybe she was a great actress—after all, she'd been lying when she told me Gerard and she had been close—but somehow her surprise over his disappearance seemed legitimate.
I was back to square one with no idea as to who would've had a motive to steal Coal.
12
I woke early from restless dreams in which I'd found Coal locked in a dark cage while someone chased me with a golf club. Maybe my subconscious was confirming that the dognapping and the murder were connected.
I called Detective Hatcher to see if he had any updates, but he said there hadn't been any reported sightings of Coal. He sounded apologetic and not particularly hopeful. I figured he might be working Gerard's homicide, as well, which would obviously take precedence over my missing dog. I repressed my urge to ask him if there'd been any leads in Gerard's case and bid him a good morning.
I wasn't looking my best when I made my way to the cafe. I'd run a pick through my hair, which had only succeeded in making my pillow-induced cowlick stand up more. I was wearing the same jeans I'd worn yesterday and a plaid shirt that had shrunk in the wash, so I'd thrown a tank top under it that didn't quite match. Of course, Milo happened to be working the counter, and it was clear from his quirked lip and li
ngering stare that my appearance didn't really hit the mark today.
After traipsing into the dog petting room, I busied myself with straightening chew toys and re-organizing pet shampoo and other products on the shelves. Summer arrived with dogs in tow, and I only listened with half an ear as she elaborated on their canine idiosyncrasies.
"Macy." She shifted the leashes to one hand and walked over to me, placing her free hand on my shoulder. "You okay? You seem a little...spaced out?"
Yeah, I might be a little spacey. After all, my dog had been stolen, my house ransacked, and all my search efforts had been thwarted. Although I did have one possible lead on Coal, which I proceeded to follow up on.
"Summer, tell me about microchips. How do they work?"
"Animal microchips, you mean? Well, they're about the size of a grain of rice and they're usually injected between the shoulder blades of a pet. They can be scanned by animal control officers or shelters like ours to make sure strays don't already have a home."
"Did you notice if Coal was microchipped when he was brought in?"
"Yes, I think I scanned his."
My pulse throbbed in my hands. "So could we find him that way? You know, hunt down his microchip?"
Summer's deep brown eyes softened. "No, honey, we can't use it to track him. Now if someone picks him up and scans that chip, they'll know where to return him. But it's not like a homing device."
I sat down, dropping my face into my hands. I couldn't stand feeling so helpless.
"Here ya go, sis." Bo's voice filled the room and he handed me a warm mug. I wrapped my hands around it and savored the strong taste of our house blend, complete with extra cream and sugar.
I looked up, wiping at my eyes. Summer and Bo were both looking at me with such concern, I made an effort to pull myself together.
"It'll be okay," I said, wishing I could convince myself. "Summer, could you text me names and numbers of local vets? If I find the vet Gerard used, I'll have them list me as the contact person for Coal's microchip."
Summer nodded. "I'll be happy to." She passed the dog leashes to Bo. "I need to get back to the shelter. You think someone could make one of those?" She pointed at my drink and sniffed the air. "That's the best-smelling coffee I've ever smelled."
"Sure, I'll fix you one," Bo said, unleashing the dogs and ushering Summer through the dog gate.
I took another long, heartening sip of my brew, and as my senses started to wake up, I realized that Bo's tone of voice had changed when he'd offered to make Summer that coffee. But how exactly had it changed? I sifted through my memories of my brother, trying to slap a label on it.
Interested. That was the word. He was no longer feeling apathetic toward Summer, as he had before. He was showing interest in her.
I grinned as I took another swig of coffee. Bo did find Summer attractive, whether he'd admit it or not. Could the carefree ex-Mennonite pull my brother from his endless loop of regret over his muddled engagement?
I sure hoped she'd give it a try.
I was nearing the end of my work hours when Jedi sauntered into the cafe. I tossed a treat to my anxious schnauzer mix, walking him closer to the divider wall so I could covertly eavesdrop.
"Matcha tea, no sugar, local honey," Jedi said to Bo. His tone was snooty as he added, "I assume you have local honey?"
Bo clenched his jaw before answering. "Yes. Not only do I have local honey, it's ethically sourced with natural pollen and enzymes."
I had no idea what Bo was talking about, but apparently Jedi did, because he gave a smug nod and moved to the end of the counter to wait for his drink. I could just imagine Jedi telling Bo his energy was in the wrong place or that he was living on a lower plane today. I'd love to see how that played out. There was something about Jedi that I didn't trust.
And it only took a moment for me to realize that Jedi didn't care for me, either. Once he picked up his tea, he started walking toward the dog area...until he caught a glimpse of me. He turned and wheeled out of the cafe, sloshing green drips across the floor.
Bo shook his head and started murmuring to Charity, who'd brought fresh éclairs to restock the first batch that had sold out. I was glad she'd taken Alice's suggestion to heart and added them to the menu. It was clear from her response to Bo that she wasn't impressed with Jedi's attitude, either.
Why had I scared him off, I wondered? Had he felt guilty about something—like perhaps stealing my dog or raiding my house?
I leashed the jittery schnauzer and was about to take him out for a bathroom run when my phone rang. The voice on the other end was the last one I expected.
"Is this Macy? Hi, this is Katie Givens from over at Ivy Hill."
"Oh, yes. Hello?" I was at a loss for words.
She rushed on. "Listen, I found your dog."
My hands gave an involuntary tremble. As if sensing my weakness, the schnauzer gave a tremendous yank and pulled the leash from my hand. He raced directly to a man who'd entered the dog section, repeatedly jumping on the charcoal leg of his suit.
"No, down!" I hurried over to grab the leash, nearly dropping my phone in the process. "Sorry," I murmured to the man, who had backed up into a bench.
"Everything okay?" Katie asked.
I pulled the leash tight and sat down. "If you really found my dog, then yes, everything is great! Where is he?"
She lowered her voice. "I'm at work now. I'll explain when you get here, but you'd better come soon. Meet me in the Ivy Hill parking lot and I'll show you where he is. I'll be watching for you." She hung up abruptly.
My mind raced as I took the schnauzer out to relieve himself, hoping that would take some of the bounciness out of him. The entire thing could be a setup, from start to finish. Katie could've stolen Coal, searched him for the tag, then decided to unload him on me when she couldn't find it.
I wasn't stupid enough to meet her alone, even though it was the middle of the day. Besides, it would be easiest to transport Coal in Bo's truck.
The man in the suit had busied himself petting the other dogs, but he hesitantly asked if he could have a chance to pet the schnauzer, too. I led the frisky dog over to him and slowly took him off-leash. Raising on his hind legs, the schnauzer danced from side to side. To my surprise, the stodgy businessman cracked a smile and chuckled.
I was discovering that part of the fun of this job was watching customers pair up with dogs. People could surprise you with the characteristics they looked for in canine companions.
Jimmy arrived, ready to take over for me, so I briefed him on today's dogs. The burly man brought an unflappable sense of calm along with him, probably well-honed from his years of driving the high school bus. He was ecstatic when I told him the news that Coal had been located. "You get going, Miss Macy. I won't have any trouble holding down the fort here."
I gave him an appreciative smile and headed into the cafe. Bo put the finishing touches on a customer's coffee, then came around the counter to talk.
"What's up? You look excited."
I gave a little bounce of joy. "Someone found Coal!" I told him about Katie's call.
Without my asking, Bo volunteered to take me over in his truck. I felt a rush of appreciation for my brother. No matter what life threw at me, no matter how far apart we were, he'd always have my back.
If Katie happened to be lying and had designed some kind of trap for me, she was going to get a little surprise when I pulled up with my brother. She wasn't going to finagle her way out of this thing without telling me where Coal was.
13
When I stepped out of the truck, Katie immediately came out to greet me. I grabbed Coal's leash and stuffed a few dog treats in my pocket as Katie began to explain.
"We have to walk out to the golf course," she said. "He's in a shed out there."
"How—"
"I don't know. I went down to meet the new golf instructor, Austin—Alice hired him a couple of days ago. I caught the sound of a dog barking near the woods, so I followed the no
ise to a storage shed. Your dog's in there."
She started walking toward the course and Bo fell into step alongside me. Katie didn't seem the least bit concerned at the sight of my brother, so it was possible she was actually telling the truth. Her long blonde hair flipped from side to side as she strode along.
"Austin hadn't heard the dog." She frowned. "But he doesn't hear anything, I think. He comes to work with his headphones in and leaves them in unless he's meeting with a client. I was lucky your dog was barking—he seemed worn out when I saw him. He's in a big plastic crate, although it looks like someone's been giving him food and water, and they must be walking him, since it didn't smell awful in there."
Or maybe he'd just been moved to the crate recently after being hidden somewhere else. I looked at Katie as she charged along in her dress pants. Had she taken Coal, hidden him at her house, then decided to put him in the shed and "reveal" him to me once she gave up on finding the metal tag?
I still couldn't rule that idea out.
When we reached the battered shed, Bo walked up to the door with Katie while I hung back. I tried to mentally prepare myself for the worst. Would Coal be traumatized? Emaciated? Would he even recognize me?
As they opened the door, a dog gave a weak bark. It sounded pitiful.
I stepped closer, trying to peer into the darkness of the shed. The dog's barks faded into half-hearted yelps. I finally caught sight of Coal's huge face when he smashed his nose against the metal door of his crate. With a gasp of relief, I stepped right up and stuck my hand out to him. He immediately began to lick at the door, trying to get to me.
My brother worked the spring latch and opened the door. The moment he was free, Coal didn't hesitate; he bounded straight out, inadvertently knocking me to the ground. He sat down on my stomach and started licking my face.
I gave him a long hug, then asked Bo to pull Coal off so I could struggle to my feet. Katie almost looked teary-eyed, but she'd already proven to be a good faker when she lied about her close relationship with Gerard, so I wasn't buying it.
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