“I’mnot sure. I had no problem allowing Liberty to keep For All with her while Icame tomy appointment with you. Of course, she is my sister. But today, handing him over to that woman was like giving my baby away.”
“Isee,”Dr. Saunders said.“For All has been like a security blanket for you since Dan gave him to you.He’sbeen stable,something thatwas yours even when your life was uncertain. Today, you have allowed a separation to happen.That connection was severed, even if only temporarily. That may be what you are feeling.”
Justus shook her head.“I’mnot surethat’swhat it is. I checked this place out. Rafferty and I both did before Imade the decisionto make an appointment. I was confident about taking him there.”
“Even that wasn’t the same as you actually leaving him there,” Dr. Saunders said.
“Imagine a mother leaving her child the first day at daycare or kindergarten, whichever is their first separation. You may think this is a silly analogy, but it is quite similar. The same kindof anxiety canbe feltby the mother leaving her child for the first time that you felt today.”
Justus laughed.
“You may not believe me, but I assure you it can be real.”
“I’msure, but …”Her cell phone rang, and she looked down.“I’msorry. I thought I put that on silent, but it is the groomers. Something must have gone wrong. Do you mind if I take this?”
Dr. Saunders motioned for her to answer.
“This is Justus.”
“It’sConnie at Paws Grooming.I’msorry to bother you, but I wanted to call. There is a man here to pick up For All. He said you sent him to get him for you, but heisn’tthe man who was with you when you dropped him off today.Thisis his first visit, and we do not let our pets go with anyone without theowner’spermission.”
“No!” Justus shouted, scrambling to her feet. “Call the police if you must, but don’t let him have my dog!” She ended the call and looked at an aghast Dr. Saunders. “Someone’s at the groomer’s claiming I sent him to pick up For All.”
Without waiting for Dr. Saunders reply, she punchedRafferty’snumber in as she rushed to the door.“Come quick. Someone tried to snatch For All at the groomers. We have to go there now.”
“I’llcall with your next appointment,”Dr. Saunders calledto heras she disappeared out the door.
Justusdidn’twait for the elevator; she descended the stairs to the first floor and ran out of the building to find Rafferty rushing toward her from the park. He pulled her into his arms, and she felt his heart’s rapid pace matching hers.
“Tell me what happened,” he said. “Someone tried to take For All?”
“Yes,” she gasped, trying to slow her breathing. “The groomer called and said some man showed up saying I’d told him to pick up For All for me. Who knew I was taking him to the groomer’s? Is this related to the abduction? This doesn’t make any sense!”
“What else did the groomer tell you?” he asked as they headed for the car.
“That they don’t release pets like that without checking with the owners first. I told them to call the police.”
Rafferty nodded. “Good thinking. Let’s go.”
He pushed the envelope with the speed limit all the way back to the groomers. They parked close to the storefront and hurried to the establishment.
“Act casual when we go inside,”Rafferty instructed as they headed inside.“Wedon’twant to alarm anyone when we go in, or tip the guy off. Wedon’tknow what stall tactic they used to detain him.”
“Okay,”Justus said. She took a deep breath, but her heart was still hammering at the thought of losing her precious For All.
When they entered, Justus noticed a man sitting on a bench near a window. Keeping her walk slow, she went to the counter and identified herself to the woman and what she wanted, Rafferty joined her, and keeping her voice low, she asked, The man on the bench. Is that him?”
The woman gave the briefest of nods, kept her gaze on Justus’ face and mouthed.
“Did you call the police?” Justus asked.
“I did. I’ll let the groomer know you’re here.”
Taking Rafferty’s hand, Justus led him to a bench facing the man. They smiled and she hoped they looked like a couple in love, while wondering how long it would be before the groomer appeared. Maybe the staff was waiting for the police to arrive?
A uniformed officer with a leashed K-9 came inside.
“Hello,”the lady behind the counter said.“Are you here for your appointment?”
