Hostile Witness (Sanctuary, Inc. #1)

Chapter 10

10

A spiky-haired blonde looked up from her computer as Tia entered Bayside Animal Hospital. “Tia, how nice to see you! Remember me?”

“Casey? Congratulations on the veterinary hospital and your engagement to Mike.” Tia pulled her in for a quick hug.

“You here to see Flynn?”

“Yes. Is it okay to spend a few minutes with him?”

“Sure, follow me. He isn’t sedated, and we have him in his own padded crate so he doesn’t hurt his stitches. He’s spent the majority of the day drinking water and eating again.” Casey opened Flynn’s crate and gave him a soft whistle, encouraging him to come out. The dog gingerly stood on all four legs, lumbered from the opening, and sat while Casey changed the dressing and rubbed ointment on a couple of his injured areas.

The phone rang in the office.

“Tia, do you mind watching Flynn while I answer the phone?”

“Sure, go ahead. I’ll stay with him.” She stretched out her hand to Flynn. He took a step in her direction and sniffed. Then to Tia’s surprise, he took another step, whined a couple of times, and set his head on her knee.

“Aw, you poor thing,” she whispered. “You’re such a good dog. I’m glad to see you up and moving.” She stroked the fur around his ears and forehead, careful to avoid his neck and torso, where the stitches were.

“Your lieutenant would be so proud of your valiant effort to save her from the freak that killed her. If she could, she’d make sure you had someone who would love you the rest of your days.”

Flynn offered Tia his paw.

“They’re going to find the bastard who took her from you, buddy. I just know the police will find whoever did this to you.”

Casey was laughing in the distance with whomever was on the phone. Would the powers that be allow a civilian to have Flynn? Granted, she didn’t have time to train a puppy, but Flynn was ready to go. And Tia really liked him and admired his bravery. But what if one of Lieutenant Plante’s relatives wanted to take him? She could live with that as long as whoever drove away with Flynn would appreciate everything he’d done and be good to him.

Maybe she could talk to her uncle about adopting him.

No. Not after ignoring her family for so long. Tia peered into the dog’s amber-colored eyes. “As long as you didn’t drain my savings account every six months, you and I could be good friends, don’t you think?” Flynn licked her hand again as she kissed the top of his head and scratched behind his ears.

Casey entered the room as she ended her phone conversation. “Well, I see Mike was right. This dog has taken quite a liking to you. He doesn’t lick my hand.”

Tia’s eyes brimmed with moisture. “Hey, Casey, let me know if anyone tries to claim him, okay? I’ll give you my phone number. How long do you think he’ll be here?”

“I’m not sure. If he were a civilian dog, we’d let the owners take him home tomorrow so he could recover in his own surroundings. But this situation is different because he’ll never go back to his handler’s home. There’s a local nonprofit animal-rights group that has offered to cover his boarding fees until this coming Saturday. After that, Mike and I have agreed to keep him here for at least another week, on the house. I’ll tell you what—give me your number, and we’ll touch base toward the end of the week.”

“That would be great, thanks. Is it true that Flynn doesn’t like to be groomed?”

Casey burst out laughing. “Oh, you have no idea. Margie brought him here for his shots, and it would take two or three of us to hold him down just to clip his nails afterward. He’d take the shots like a trooper, but he’d have none of the grooming. We haven’t figured out why he hates it so much. Margie agreed one time to have him sedated so we could do everything all at once, but she didn’t like anesthetizing him for a simple grooming. I don’t blame her.

“She told us she’d configured something at home that would keep him still, and we taught her how to clean the ears, trim the nails, and give him a good wash and brushing in about thirty minutes. Margie was a resourceful woman who was full of laughter, and she loved her Flynn.”

Tia’s chest ached with emotion. If only she’d had a chance to meet Margie when she was alive. “Is he allowed to have a t - r - e - a - t ? I’d love to give him one.”

Casey placed a couple of soft dog chews in her hand. “You’re welcome here anytime. We’re open until at least six in the evening. Come with me, and I’ll put your number in my phone. See if you can get him to follow us. The movement would do him good. He has a limp from his service years, and it’s time he started walking more to keep his mobility intact.”

Flynn gulped down one of the treats without even chewing. Tia called his name. He meandered his way to the lobby, where she gave him the other treat while giving Casey her number. Tia bent down and asked Flynn for his paw again, and he obliged her.

“Thanks for everything. I’ll stop by in a day or two.” The two women hugged a little more fiercely this time.

Tia gazed at the front window of Bayside Animal Hospital, where Flynn sat eyeing her car. He lifted his paw onto the glass. Damn, she was a goner for that dog.