It wasn't until I heard from Mrs. Chen's daughter, who had been visiting her mother, when I saw her in the hall, that I had ever thought of the possibility of expanding up instead of over.
This would mess with my five-year plan, as I had almost paid off my apartment now, having to refinance for the new space, but it was worth it. I'd just have to call my five-year plan my seven-year plan as I'd have the loan paid off decades before its term.
The big 'if' here is, 'if' I can convince the building owner to sell to me. I know I'd have to pay a premium because he is already out my monthly rent once I bought my place, but I made it worth his while. I figure that since he is charging eighteen hundred a month to rent the little studios, that I'm going to have to offer around six hundred thousand, even though it is appraised at only four hundred thousand.
And Mr. DiAngelo has no problems taking advantage of me whenever building maintenance items pop up. I'm sure I footed a disproportionate share of the new air handling unit on the roof that was installed when the old chiller couldn't keep up with the scorching heat this year. So I'm sure that if he does decide to sell, it is going to cost me a pretty penny.
If it winds up being just pie in the sky, that's fine too as I love my place the way it is, it's cozy... and it's mine. I glanced at the bathroom door, and wondered, not for the first time if the pronoun would ever change to ours. I know. Slow down Fin, you haven't even slept together yet. My mind is always just looking at all the possible scenarios for any given circumstance. It's a curse.
When I heard Jane head out into her bedroom... we really needed to just move her clothes in here, I headed in to get cleaned up. Cal just padded through to her room, no doubt getting a free show I was jealous of as she got dressed.
I slid her door shut and locked it, getting a laughing, “Hey,” from her that made me smile.
Echoing her words, I chirped out, “You snooze, you lose, copper.” Then I squeaked and ran to the main door to lock it when I heard her moving. Ha! Take that!
We slipped into our morning routine after I showered. We walked Calvin, then I made us breakfast and prepared our lunches while she watched the morning news. I knew she was working on her cases too, she was acting too innocent.
We both paused when the news reported on the recovery of some of the money from the Broadway Cat burglaries. How had they found out about that? The chief of police must have spoken in a press release about it, no doubt bragging about how it was recovered on his watch.
A bit later, I savored Jane's goodbye kiss. “Bye Fin.”
I watched her almost saunter down the hall as I held the edge of the door to watch her ass sway as I squeaked out, “Bye Jane. Love you.” I slapped my hands over my mouth and almost slammed the door over my slip-up. I started muttering to myself as I banged the back of my head against the door, “Stupid, stupid, stupid.” In my defense, I was kiss drunk at the time. I know she didn't need to be pressured by me blurting out stuff like that, Jane didn't work the way most of us humans did.
I blushed at Calvin and said sarcastically, “Love you too boy.” He thought whatever I was saying was great fun as he cocked his head and wagged his tail in excitement. I asked, “Any chance she didn't hear me?” He didn't say anything. “I didn't think so. You're no help. Let's get to work shall we, furball?”
We geared up, and I snagged all the leashes and harnesses to stuff into my oversize shoulder bag. I hesitated at the door and then went to get a Tupperware of Calvin's kibble to put in my bag, just in case we saw that poor starving old Goldie again.
Once I clipped on his working bib, Calvin went into his dedicated professional mode. He took it as seriously as I did. Then we were off. “Let's go get the other boys, shall we?” It was Friday, that meant we added a fourth to our gaggle. Jarvis, the sweet and excitable English bulldog who we walked only on Monday and Fridays. He was such a silly guy who sneezed a lot, almost falling over every time he did. But his droopy jowls were sooooo cute and made him really popular when we were out on our walks through Central Park.
We walked the boys before lunch and then our three girls after lunch, but never ever together. A quick way to lose customers is if an oops causes someone's prize poodle to have German Shepard mutts. It's true, some walkers make that rookie mistake, and you can't come back from that, just like you can't come back from a Broken Leash if the owners find out. Both are quick ways to get blacklisted in the city.
I said after we picked up the boys at their various homes, “Ok boys, let's go class Manhattan up.” We looked goooood. I swear my fuzzy minions strutted along through the endless streams of people on the sidewalks, well until Jarvis sneezed and almost face planted. That got us some chuckles from around us. I shot the people a super cheesy grin before we started making our way to our destination again.
After they did their thing and I cleaned up their messes, we spent most of our time playing with a soft, foldable frisbee in the Sheep Meadow, then walking over to Strawberry Fields before the guys had to go back home. I really wish I could be with them all day, it must be lonely sitting at home alone as they wait for their moms and dads to come home. But I was happy to be there for them part of the day to let them have some fun and socialization.
That applied to me too. These dogs weren't just my clients, but my family and close friends and I was never alone because of them. What? Dogs are people too. Do you want to hear the story or not?
We dropped the boys off and then headed back to the park for lunch. I really love my job. Not only do I get to be around so many fuzzy tail waggers, but I spend more time in Central Park than anyone I knew. Where they sat behind a desk in their office, I got to sit in the grandeur of the park. Nature was my office.
I steered Calvin over to the row of benches by the tunnel near the Balto statue to sit and eat. I was hoping we'd see the Goldie again. Unfortunately, we had no such luck. I did note the increased mounted and foot patrols and the presence of a couple people from Animal Control scouring the park.
I was a little sad, knowing they were looking for the same dog as me, but I found myself smirking. That Golden Retriever was outsmarting them. I knew this because here they all were, still searching. They wouldn't be if they found him. If I found him first, I was going to do whatever I could to keep him out of doggie jail.
It wasn't until Calvin and I were heading back home after walking our fuzzy girls that my partner started to whine. I looked around to see a flash of muddy golden fur in some bushes following us. I looked around to see a mounted officer on the other side of East Drive trotting toward Rumsey Playfield.
Whistling innocently, Calvin and I made our way to the concealed dog. Goldie's tail started swishing though he remained just out of reach. He had another dirt caked plastic bag in his mouth. I unclipped Calvin and let them introduce themselves to each other.
That's the only ritual about dogs which made me squint an eye. I mean, come on, there has to be a better way to say hello than sniffing each other's butts. How awkward would it be for humans to do the same? Hard to act seductive in a bar or club with everyone bending over to find out what the others had for dinner. Eww.
They took to each other like old friends as I reached for the bag the newcomer had dropped. He saw and bounded to it and scooped it up before I could take it. I smiled at the wily boy as he looked at me expectantly. He was a smart dog. He was trading with me.
I looked into his soulful and hopeful brown eyes as I reached into my bag and pulled out the container of kibble and took the lid off and slid it toward him in the bushes. He was salivating as he dropped his bag and just about dove on the food once I moved out of grabbing distance. The poor guy was starving. Again I wondered how long he had been out here. His parents were likely worried sick and giving up hope of finding him.
He was a little skittish as I moved on my hands and knees into the bushes to retrieve the bag as he ate. I had the forethought to wear my dark brown dress today to avoid any stains in case we happened up
on Goldie. My poor white dress was a lost cause. I felt as if it deserved more dignity than its fate of becoming meticulously cut cleaning rags under my kitchen sink.
I opened the bag, which was lighter and lumpier than the one with the cash in it, and gasped. In individual Ziplock sandwich bags were pieces of spectacular looking jewelry or bags of loose jewels and gems.
I backed out of the bushes almost in a panic as I looked around, feeling as if everyone could see me and knew what I was holding. I slipped it into my shoulder bag. This time I was going to call Jane rather than getting arrested. See? I can learn too.
I tried to get around the bushes so that I could slip a slide leash over the dog's neck to hold him until I could get a harness on him, but he was too tricksy for me and bolted as soon as he finished eating. I snapped out, “Calvin, follow.” And my boy was off in a black and white blur of silky fur as he dashed after Goldie toward the north.
I grinned as I mumbled, “Run, run, as fast as you can, Mr. Gingerbread Man. My secret weapon is on your heels.” I pulled out my cell and loaded the PupFinder app. Calvin's collar now has a GPS in it.
It was a 'gift' from Jane. Though I know why she really got it for Cal. When I had been kidnapped, it had really scared her. I tried logic on her, but you don't logic a jerk cop. I had said that by the time she knew I was missing, Calvin had already escaped and ran to Central Park... familiar ground. So the GPS wouldn't have done her any good.
But now, I was going to use it to find where the wily retriever was going to ground. Just don't tell Jane that it wound up being useful, she'd get all smug with that smirky smirk of hers, and I'd never hear the end of it.
I moved into a half walk half jog north. I nodded to myself as I saw the little dog shaped icon on the map moving into the Ramble. I had an inkling that may be where the dog may have been hiding. The maze of paths, hills, rocky outcroppings and access to water were a stray dog's dream. Plenty of places to hide and water to drink. My homing Calvin was on the job!
I saw the icon stop, and it was steady for a while close to the Lake before it started moving erratically. What the fluffy heck was going on? I increased my stride to a jog as I entered the Ramble. A couple minutes later I saw Calvin leading an Animal Control officer and a mounted police officer on a merry chase.
I panicked and brought my fingers to my lips and let out a shrill whistle as I scanned around for the Goldie. I saw a patch of muddy golden fur disappear off a back path down toward the water. I realized that Calvin was pulling their attention from him. What a clever, clever boy.
Calvin slid to a stop at my whistle, and his head cocked as his ears pricked up. Then he was making a beeline toward me, his tail swishing as he barked once in greeting. He was having fun, the silly boy. He thought it was a grand game running the officers ragged. I clipped him into a leash as soon as he got to me to give me a big old wet slurping kiss when I crouched for him.
The Animal Control man with the snare in his hands was red-faced and out of breath as he arrived in front of me me with the mounted police officer trotting alongside. The man with the four-foot catch pole moved up to me. What a barbaric tool. It had a loop of metal cable at the end that they slung around the neck of an animal then pulled on the handle at the base of the pole to choke the poor things to control them.
He said, “Miss, I'll need to take that dog in. All animals are to be leashed at all times while outdoors and not in a fence. You can come pick him up at Animal Control and pay the fines. I have to write a citation.” My eyes narrowed dangerously at him.
I said slowly, emphasizing each word, “You're... not... taking... Calvin... anywhere.”
Then the mounted officer said patiently as he rested his arms loosely on the pommel of his saddle, “Ma'am.”
Ma'am? I shook my head and said in a tutorial tone as I cited appropriate code, “A dog trained with verbal and hand signs is considered to be under control equivalent to being leashed according to code. Calvin here is one of the best-trained service dogs you will ever find.”
I looked down, “Sit... down... roll over... back... heel.” Calvin must have known the game was over with my serious tone, so he was the consummate professional and executed each command with military precision. Then I made a hand signal, and he laid at my feet. I cocked a challenging eyebrow with precision Jessie would appreciate.
The man looked a bit frustrated as the police officer looked at him in question. I knew why they were here, and I didn't like it. They were looking for Goldie. I would do anything to keep him out of doggie jail. I would find him and get him back to his family.
The man said, “He was roaming free.”
I shook my head and wove a teeeny white lie. “I just sent him ahead, part of his training. You saw him come immediately when called when I saw you harassing him. I was in full control at all times.” Liar, liar, pants on fire. “Now do I need to make an inquiry as to why you are interfering with the training of a licensed support animal?”
The man blanched at that. Jane was not going to be amused if this got back to her. He said, “Hang on just a moment.” He stepped back to mumble into the radio he took off his hip, and I looked up to the amused looking officer who looked very familiar to me. Then I smiled when I realized I did know him. He was the officer that tagged along through the park with me when I had a protective detail when Calvin's mom had been killed, and Tanya McKnight was after me.
He reached up and tipped his hat and said, “Miss May.” Then he looked over at the Animal Control officer and started to ask me, “Does Detective McLeary...” He stopped when the other man rejoined us.
The man was clearly put out as he prompted, “Can I see his tags, Miss?”
I nodded and made the signal for Calvin to sit. He did, and the man crouched to look at his official working animal tags and his canine registration tag. Then he stood and took on a chastising manner as he scolded, “Just make sure to keep within sight of the animal at all time next time, please.”
I nodded in all seriousness. “Yes, sir.”
Then when he turned to look for his hat which he had lost sometime during his chase of Cal. I gave a goofy face at him and then blushed when the mounted officer snorted. Oops, forgot he was there.
I looked up at him sheepishly, and he gave a salute with a finger on his cap and inclined his head. “Miss May.” Then he twitched the reins, and his horse turned to follow the animal Control man.
I called out, “Have a great afternoon, Officer...”
He supplied without looking back, “Peters.”
I acknowledged, “Officer Peters.” The man sat a little taller in the saddle. I grinned. Damn, people in uniform were always nice to look at. And he had a pretty horse.
We dawdled until their search for the stray brought them over the hill, then Cal and I moved quickly to where I had seen the Goldie disappear. I looked down the steep trail and stone stairs to the old, sealed up, Ramble Cave down by the water. The unused path was almost fully overgrown, and I could just barely make out the cave below.
So this is where you've been hiding, huh, boy?
Chapter 4 – Gulp
I glanced around to make sure that nobody was looking our way, then I stepped over the little railing that stopped people from doing exactly what I was about to do. I made my way quickly down and out of sight to the Ramble Cave along the uneven stone stair path that was almost completely covered by the undergrowth now, stones heaving with the freezing and thawing of the ground over the years.
Guys in boats used to bring their dates to the cave by rowing across The Lake, since at night, the short but steep path down would be pretty treacherous. Unfortunately, they also left behind their trash. And others used the cave for... less scrupulous purposes. The city sealed up the cave for 'public safety' in the 1930s.
Calvin brought me along the narrow slip of shore beside the water, and around the rock outcropping which formed the cave. Don't fall in, Fin. Don't fall in, Fin. Then the slight
path widened as we went behind some bushes to find a nice cozy little secluded area no more than ten feet square. I could just make out the tourists in rowboats in the lake behind this natural screen.
Heh, I didn't fall in.
Don't look so disappointed.
This was a perfect spot to stay concealed. And I grinned at Goldie who was looking at the path behind me with a cocked head as his tail swished while I took out a leash and looped it in my hand for a quick snag. “Didn't think of this now did you boy? You got yourself cornered.”
He looked the other way, and I realized I wasn't as clever as I thought, Golden Retrievers loved the water and were excellent swimmers. I dug slowly into my bag with my free hand and pulled out the little baggie of liver snaps I used to train my clients as we went on our walks.
I opened the zip lock with my teeth then crouched, putting the bag at my feet and fishing one out and gave it to an eager Calvin. I glanced around seeing signs of nesting under the slight rock overhang, it looked fairly fresh and not well worn. “So this is where you've been staying huh boy?”
His attention was laser focused on me now instead of looking for a way out. More specifically his eyes were trained on the baggie at my feet. I fished out another and held it out to him. He took one step forward, his nose sniffing at the air and I could see him starting to salivate as a drop of that saliva dripped from his tongue.
I shrugged. “No? Ok.” I gave it to Calvin, who was no doubt wondering what he did to get rewarded like this, but he wasn't about to refuse. Opportunistic boy.
I smiled as I fished out another. This felt like enticing a baby to eat his strained beans. I held out another and said, “Mmmm.” He looked between Calvin and the liver snap. I shrugged and gave it to Calvin, who thought this to be a worthy game if his swishing tail and excited wiggling were any indication.
Case of the Gold Retriever Page 4
