Thankfully, it was dark, and we tried to stay in the shadows, given the fact that Ginger was wrapped in foil and plastic. My nerves were on high alert. Ginger seemed nervous, too, sniffing the air, her head on a swivel looking for danger. Thankfully, she stayed close to me as I’d instructed, except for a quick potty break near a tree surrounded by sidewalk.
I spotted Gray’s car parked in front of the Tequila Palace. My footsteps quickened as we approached the car. I opened the door and let Ginger in before hopping in myself.
“No one followed you?”
“Not that I could tell. But we did have some friends in the lobby.”
“Bald Guy?”
“No, some nervous dude I’m calling Mr. Whiny who didn’t see any of us even though we passed within five feet of him. He called his boss and whined about the job. Definitely not professionals.”
“Then who are they?” I asked as I buckled myself in and Gray pulled away from the restaurant.
“That’s the question,” Gray said and quickly caught me up. “Let’s see if we can figure out what the hell is going on with this dog.”
“I think that’s a very good idea,” I agreed as Ginger pressed her body tightly against mine.
Chapter Seventeen
Lexi
The emergency clinic was tucked between a neon-lit pawn shop and a sex toy store, which felt both very Atlantic City and very weird at the same time. The moment Gray pulled into the parking lot, Ginger sat up straight in the back seat, foil wrap crinkling.
“Park in the back,” I suggested. “Easy exit if we need it.”
Gray nodded and parked the car at the back of the clinic. “You sound more like Slash every day.”
“What can I say? He’s rubbing off on me,” I said, shrugging. I smoothed the foil on Ginger’s back before we all climbed out of the car. “Okay, everyone, stay calm, don’t freak out the staff, and if anyone asks why Ginger is wrapped like yesterday’s leftovers, let me handle it.”
Everyone agreed while Ginger blinked at me, serene and unbothered.
Inside, the waiting room smelled like antiseptic and stale coffee. A young vet tech who looked like he should be surfing instead of sitting behind a desk raised an eyebrow as we approached.
“Hey. Welcome. You’ve got an emergency?” he asked.
“Yes,” I said. “The dog…she’s acting really strange. Definitely an emergency neurological issue.”
He looked at Ginger and then at the four of us, a frown on his face. “What’s the foil for?”
I could almost hear him thinking aloud that it was the four of us who had the neurological issue. “It calms her. Strange, I know, but whatever works to get her here.”
The tech considered for a moment. “Ooookay. Wait here a moment, please.”
He disappeared into the back and came out a few minutes later. “As soon as we get this paperwork filled out, Dr. Partridge will see you in Room Three.”
I reached into my purse and unwound bills, placing a stack that totaled a thousand dollars on the counter. “We just want to see the vet quickly, get some information, and then we’re gone. The dog is a stray and we’re tourists, so we just want to make sure the dog is okay and move on. No paperwork needed. We’ll pay in full up front.”
The tech’s eyes widened, but he didn’t say anything. Instead, he picked up the money and headed toward the back again. “I’ll be right back.”
“Was that a good idea?” Basia hissed at me.
“Do you want to spend twenty minutes we don’t have on paperwork?” I countered.
Dr. Partridge arrived two minutes later, a short brunette in a white coat with a brisk, kind face. She stopped in her tracks when she saw Ginger. “Is that dog wrapped in aluminum foil?”
I cleared my throat. “Yes. Yes, she is. It’s a calming technique.”
She stared at me for a moment and then the other girls. “No collar? No leash?”
