Ok, his smirk told me that this was maybe not my finest moment as he teased, “I thought you didn't approve of Fin using one to 'interfere' with police business. What was it? Endangering civilians?”
I exhaled and asked calmly, “You going to be a sanctimonious prick about this, or are you going to help out Fin?”
He gave a self-satisfied grin when he said, “Maybe a little of both.” Then he sobered and asked as he looked up from his cell. “Is she going to be ok?”
I just looked at him. I couldn't guarantee anything, we still didn't know if she was even hurt. But Calvin and Oscar being here didn't bode well, and it weighed heavily in my gut.
So instead I just said, “We'll find her.” Then I added, almost grudgingly, “Thanks, Raife.”
He just nodded and then started typing on his cell.
I crouched to retrieve the leashes and said, “Come on Cal, let's go get you checked out.” I
exchanged one last look with the man then walked the dogs to my car. I winced every time Calvin limped.
On a whim, I called Jess. She answered first ring, her voice hopeful, “Hey Five-O.” It was always so counter-intuitive, that tone of hopefulness, and the lilt in the nickname she gave me, it always made me feel guilty like I was the one who dumped her, not the other way around. But she knows that she can't have it both ways.
I still felt a bit of a blush burning my cheeks when I responded, “Hey Jess. Can I ask a favor?”
She was chipper as she said almost suggestively, a purr in her tone, “Oh? What kind of favor?”
I shook my head trying hard not to smile. The girl had a body that wouldn't quit, and she knew how to use it. We had started out in a purely physical relationship until we made the mistake of getting to know each other. And once you got past all her sexy bravado, I found Jessie impossible to not love.
She had depth which she hid away and didn't let most people see.
I prompted, “I know you're at work, but is there any chance I could talk you into taking a little break and dropping by my place to see if Fin is there? She's not answering her phone.”
She paused then answered with suspicion and a little concern in her tone, “Yeah. I'll get Mel to cover. What's going on?” Did I mention she was a little too smart for her own good?
I could never lie to her so I confided, “Some dog walkers found Calvin in the park, he's injured, and I can't contact Finnegan.”
I heard her cuss under her breath, “Shit.” Then she said, “Ok, I'm going now. I'll call when I get there.” That was genuine concern in her voice. It was so very odd to hear how fond your ex is of your crush. It normally made me feel... well, guilty I suppose if I'm going to be honest with myself. But it also warmed me inside knowing that my two favorite girls got along so well. Which still strikes me as odd since when we were dating, Jess was pretty territorial and brutal to other women sniffing around.
And she positively despised lipstick lesbians.
I nodded to myself and said, “Thanks, Jess, you're the best.”
She absently said, “Love you.”
I automatically replied, “Love you too,” as I hung up. I hesitated then just smiled, I bet she didn't even realize we said it. It had become second nature, after saying it for so long. And just because we weren't together anymore, didn't mean I didn't love her. I still did, though I could feel the love taking on forms other than romantic now. Was I finally starting to move on?
I loaded the boys up in the car then did a quick search for the nearest veterinary clinic. One caught my eye, Rosemont. There was something in Nadine Mueller's papers about them. I headed that way as I listened to the chatter on the police band, hoping to hear something on my all points bulletin on Fin.
Chapter 7 – Making Calls
When I arrived at Rosemont, the woman at the reception desk went into motion the moment we stepped through the door, seeing Calvin limping.
She was around the counter and crouching in front of him before I could even say a word. “Hi boy.
That looks painful. Let's take a peek.” She looked up at me questioningly as she gingerly touched his leg, her other hand rubbing his jaw by the blood and pulling down his lip to show his fangs.
I said, “My roommate and her dog were in an accident. His leg looks swollen, and I wanted to...”
She was listening as she took Cal's leash from me starting to hustle him toward a hall, iterrupting with, “We'll get some x-rays, and the doc will check him over.” She hesitated when Oscar finally registered in her head, her attention had been laser-focused on Calvin. You could easily see the short, plump woman's compassion for animals. She was in the right profession.
Her brow furrowed as she asked, “Burt?”
I looked at Oscar and the woman when I asked, “You know this dog?” Then I rolled my eyes internally. I had picked this vet because I recognized the name from my investigation.
She nodded. “That's Burt. Nadine Mueller's dog.”
I think my badge and gun had just registered with her as her eyes widened in concern and mild alarm as she asked, “Was Miss Mueller in the same accident?”
I shook my head, not wanting to share the poor woman's demise. She looked at him then me and said, “That's Burt. Nadine is a great Doxy Mom. She was livid when the DNA tests came back. But she still loves him to death even though he isn't a purebred like the breeders tried to say. She was going to try to get a partial refund from them.”
Burt? Who the hell names a dog Burt? Then again, who the hell names a dog Sir Calvin Cornelius Fluffytoes? I just shook my head. I'll never understand dog owners. But then again, I felt sick to my stomach that Calvin was hurt. Was I becoming a dog person? I blame Finny.
I sighed and sat in the waiting room chairs and checked my cell. Ah good the warrant came through for Nadine's email. The techs copied me with the last three weeks to go through. So I sat back, using the distraction of the case keep my mind off of Fin. My almost irrational fear for her safety and my tied up guts told me just how important the little spitfire had become to me.
God Fin, where are you?
Jess called while I was waiting on Calvin, and she joined me at the vet for moral support. I was thankful for her presence, and it made some of the knots go away as I realized she was there as much for Fin as for me. She just sat silently holding my hand in the next chair as I tried to keep my mind off
Fin and Calvin and on work as I went through the seemingly endless emails.
Nadine was loved by her fans.
Jessie let go of my hand and I smiled at her as I watched her play with Oscar... I'm not calling him Burt. And she just kept a hand on my leg as I worked my case the best I could on my small screen, wishing I had brought in my go bag that had my tablet in it.
Her contact letting me know I wasn't alone in my worry. Shit! Garrett! I had left him high and dry, he needed to know Fin was missing. I excused myself and stepped out into the late afternoon furnace.
After getting an earful from the overprotective brother, I promised to meet him at Fin and my place after Calvin got out. I had to calm my rising sense of dread for a couple minutes before rejoining Jess inside. Something was niggling in the back of my head about the situation that I couldn't place a finger on. Fucking cop gut never just spoke plainly to me, but something was there.
I was starting to sit with Jess when my cell started buzzing, then I felt a bit lightheaded when I saw the name on the screen. “Fuck...” Winfred Oleander May... Fin's mom. I was hip deep in the shit now. I'd get Garrett for this.
I stood back up and held a finger up to Jess as I headed for the door again, “Winnie.”
I held the phone at arm's length at her shouted response, “Don't you Winnie me, Jane!”
“Yes ma'am, I mean no ma'am, I mean...” I was so dead.
After a bit of backpedaling and begging forgiveness, I promised to be at the apartment when she got to the city from Liberty in a couple hours. I can face down thieves, thugs, and killers... that woman terrifi
es me. How could I ever hope to have something more with Fin if I can't stay in her mom's good graces?
The worst thing was, Fin was missing, and the APB wasn't turning anything up. I felt helpless for the first time in my life.
I drove the silly mutts home, Jess followed. I was relieved to find that there was just some bruising and a little swelling of Calvin's front leg, and nothing was broken. By the lack of blood on his pelt and his gleaming silky fur, it was clear he had even been washed and groomed. They gave me an anti-inflammatory for him and said he'd be tender the next few days.
I had watched them scan his microchip with a wand when we signed out. My cop gut twinged at that and I didn't know why.
I almost had a heart attack when the bill came to almost four hundred dollars, but relaxed a bit when they said they'd put it on Finnegan's account when they learned this was 'the' Calvin. The chip must have told them that. I should have known, probably every vet in the city knew Fin.
I parked in Fin's spot in the underground parking a block from our place and walked the boys home.
Jess had somehow found a parking spot for her own car right on the street and was waiting for us up front. Sometimes I wonder if parking is a superpower of hers. I hesitated when the dogs clattered up the stairs when we heard voices. Jess took my hand and gave it a squeeze of encouragement.
I shot the redhead a thankful look then steeled myself, putting on my cop face and went up to face Fin's brother and sister-in-law.
We reached the landing, and I exhaled seeing the other Mays petting the dogs. My facade broke into a smile when I saw Rebecca almost turning herself inside out as she gushed over Oscar. I was barely able to school my face again as they saw me and stood.
I put out a hand. “Garrett.” He eyeballed me. It was still mind-blowing to me that the tall ruggedly handsome man was the twin of someone so small and delicate like Fin. And even I knew a pretty man when I saw one... he was one.
He hesitantly shook then asked, “Any word?”
I shook my head as I offered a hand to Rebecca. “Becky.”
She shook her head, and the free-climbing fitness instructor pulled me into a hug. “None of that nonsense. We're practically family Jane. How are you holding up?”
She was worried about me? I gave her shoulders a squeeze then we stepped back. I glanced at Jess then blurted, “Jessie, this is Fin's twin brother Garrett May, and his lovely wife, Rebecca. Gar, Becky, Jessie Freeman, my... ummm, friend.” God, it has been over three months, and it still felt weird not introducing her as my girlfriend.
She complained, “And Fin's friend too.”
I inclined my head as she shook their hands, her eyebrow arcing almost imperceptibly as she looked at Becky. I knew all of Jessie's tells, she thought the rock climbing instructor was just as hot as the rest of us did.
She teased Gar as I moved past them to unlock the door, “Twin? We're talking the same adorable tiny spitfire here? Yay tall?” She held a hand at waist level.
Garrett chuckled amiably, and I held the door open for them all to enter. The dogs, not to be outdone, flowed in first, their body language showing their excitement about the strange human pack following on their heels.
I hesitated when I closed the door, seeing the little metal mail holder on the side table which Fin had labeled... 'mail.' I smiled. I made the mistake of checking the mail once, only to find it threw her routine into a tizzy. I never made that mistake again... now only Fin gets the mail.
But as much as she has her days almost robotically planned, she has been adjusting her routines to
include me and some of the randomness I injected upon her super structured days. And that inclusion though it seemed to cause chaos in her days, made me feel... special... like I mattered to her. Even if she was yelling at me half the time.
I hung my go bag on the peg by the door labeled with my name. I smiled at the thought that I was also changing to accommodate her in my life as well as to make life with me easier for her. Before, I would have just dropped my things wherever.
I motioned everyone toward the sitting area in front of the balcony doors. “Can I get anyone something to drink?”
Gar blurted out, “How about telling me where my sister...”
Becky cut him short with the lightest touch on his arm, he calmed almost instantly. I hid a smile, Fin had the exact same effect on me. Oh shit, was I whipped like that? No... it was patience, almost loving. There is a minor difference. He said with a sigh of resignation and acknowledgment to his new bride, “Sorry, Jane.”
I sighed and said, “She isn't technically missing yet, so my hands are tied.” I held up a hand to stop his rebuke as his girl led him to the couch and pulled him down to sit. “Though I do have an APB out for her since she may be hurt. But if she is still missing tomorrow, we can do more once a report is filed.”
Jess offered, “She might just be out looking for Calvin herself and hasn't thought to check in.” We all nodded at that though I could see none of us believed that. Someone as structured and organized as Fin, who printed, laminated, and labeled contingency plans for her contingency plans, wouldn't just forget to call to let someone know.
Gar exhaled, and Bek offered, “Water?” The man nodded, and she stood, “Let me give you a hand, Jane.”
I glanced at Jess, and she gave me an almost playful smirk and said far too innocently, “Apple juice if you got it.” I grinned and flipped her off. For that, apple juice was exactly what she'd get instead of one of the few beers that Fin let me pretend to hide in the crisper in the fridge labeled, “Jane's Contraband.”
As Bek and I put the drinks on a tray, she gave my arm a little squeeze. She was such an awesome lady, I could see why Gar fell for her. She was concerned about everyone. I patted her hand then offered to the group as I brought the tray over, “I was thinking we could all take a piece of her contact list and do some calling. I'm sure she's talked with someone today.”
I know it was busy work, but you never knew what could help. It was the same with police work, which is why I was going through Nadine Mueller's receipts, bank records, and emails.
Again something was buzzing in the back of my mind, telling me I was missing something. For some reason I glanced at the junk drawer from where I sat in the recliner across from the others on the sofa while Calvin curled in at my feet.
My attention was pulled to the couch when Oscar jumped up and turned upside down on Becky's lap. She was all smiles as she rubbed his belly. The juvenile part of my brain thinking that rubbing a wiener was funny.
I stood again, stepping over Calvin, who opted to stay where he was, the poor guy was probably sore. I went to the kitchen and sighed as I went through the lists hanging from a clip on the side of the fridge until I found the five pages of contacts... laminated, front and back... and labeled... I almost snorted. God, I loved – umm, that she did that.
I stowed my gun in the cupboard above the refigerator, a habit of mine, and then went back to the others and handed them part of the list. We all pulled out our cells, and the dialing frenzy began. I caught the silly look on Jess' face as she pretended to not have any concept of the juice in her hand.
Ok, so the smartass was funny.
I put the news on on the television. For background noise I told the others, but it was actually for a far darker purpose, and my gut tied itself in knots as I kept my attention peripherally on it. I knew all too well the kinds of things that happened in this city when a pretty girl vanished. But Fin was ok, right? She had to be.
I looked at stressed looking Calvin, who was panting and looking at the door like he was expecting Fin to walk in at any moment. I whispered to myself as I patted his side, “I wish you could tell me where she is, boy.”
I started with my part of the list, my nerves calming at the sense of structure of the familiar activity.
It was tasks like this which comprised a lot of what I did. Gathering information, eliminating possibilities, and distilling it all down to something
useable to help those in need or to be a voice for those who couldn't speak for themselves anymore.
We hadn't been at it long when I froze, feeling my pulse quicken and the blood drain from my face when there was a knock at the door. I swallowed hard, all eyes were on me. I closed my eyes and shoved myself to my feet with stiff arms. Jess' eyes widened when she realized who it would be and I shook my head once when she started to get up to take the task from me.
I cringed, squinting an eye when I heard Winfred May knocking again and her voice calling out,
“Jane Marie McLeary, you open this door right now.”
I called out in a voice that sounded like a trepidatious teen, “Coming, Winnie.” I noted Calvin was limping to the door with me, his tail wagging hesitantly. He loved Winnie, but I think he was hoping it
was his packmate, Fin.
I opened the door, and Finnegan's mom stood there staring at me, looking a bit frazzled and disheveled, worry creasing her brow. The woman, who looked so much like her daughter, just much taller, squinted an eye at me and asked as she plowed past me while moving into the apartment, “Any news?”
I shook my head as I closed the door behind her. She noted Cal favoring a leg as he whimpered for her attention. She squatted, giving him some good scratches, “Oh you poor thing.” Why did that sound so accusing and why was she looking at me?
My favorite of Fin's sister-in-laws... fine her only sister-in-law but still my favorite because she came to my rescue, called out as they stood, “Winnie, leave the poor woman alone. It isn't her fault Fin is missing. She's... well she's Fin.”
The sad but crooked smirk on the elder May's face was the signal I could breathe again, I never knew what to do around the wicked woman. She exhaled slowly and said, “There is that.” Then when she gave me a hug of both greeting and shared consolation, I came to a realization. She was treating me like the 'bad boyfriend.'
But Fin and I weren't... but they all acted like... I needed to get control of the situation, so I offered as I ushered her toward her other children. “Can I get you something to drink?”
Case of the Hot Dog Page 8
