Page 41 of Rescue Them

“That sometimes you play down things so you don’t get hurt.But if you don’t take a chance… nothing good will happen.”

“Look who’s giving relationship advice.”

Lyle grinned.“Since I’m in one, I get to give it.Now, you need to rest.”He sat in the chair next to her bed.“And apparently you missed a lot of excitement while you were out of it.One of the people here told me that they arrested someone in the ER last night.His arm had been torn up in a dog attack, and apparently the police wanted him for dogfighting.”

“And you didn’t have anything to do with that?”She squeezed his hand.“I’m proud of you.Like your father, you have the courage to stand up for what you believe in.”

“Like Dad, hell.I take after you,” he told her.“And yeah.I saw him, and James and I called the police.They arrested him quickly if what I heard is correct.There have been a number of dogs that have gone missing, and they wanted to talk to him and couldn’t find him.So a good citizen told them where he could be located.”

“Changing the subject, I take it that things with James are getting pretty serious.”She closed her eyes, and Lyle wondered if he should actually answer or just let her rest.“Just because my eyes are closed doesn’t mean I don’t want to know.”

“Fine.I think so.I mean….”

“What?”

“I keep wondering when he’s going to figure out that I’m the most boring person on the planet and he’s going to want to find someone more interesting.”His mother snorted.She actually made that sound.“What was that for?”

“Okay.So let me get this straight.You meet James out at a dog shelter when you took your four new dogs so the vet could look at them.You volunteer, which is a nice thing to do, meet a guy you think is running fighting dogs.Then you follow him around town, and possibly out to a dogfight, and get the police to arrest him.”

“Ummm, okay?”He sighed.

“Am I missing something?”

“Yeah.I might have broken into the back of his truck to rescue the dogs he’d taken from the shelter, and in the process I took four other dogs he had that all turned out to be stolen.”God, his mom was going to pop her stitches.

“And after all that, you think James is going to leave you because you’re boring?Look, honey, I’ll let you in on a little secret.Passion is never boring.So if you really like James, then let him see what you’re passionate about.And for God’s sake, don’t go breaking into any trucks again, even if it is for a good reason.I don’t think my heart can take it.”She kissed his hand.“Now, go on and let me rest.Just hearing about what you’ve been doing is more excitement than I can take right now.”He got another smile.

“Are you sure?”

“I’ll be fine.You go, and take good care of Loopy for me.”

“I will.”He kissed her on the cheek and quietly left the room, passing one of the nurses as she made her way in to check on her.

Since Lyle had taken the day off, he headed home and was surrounded by five dogs as soon as he stepped inside.They were all happy to see him, and Lyle got each of them fed and put them out back for some time outside while he read a book from his chair near the door.He tensed when he saw Debbie and Kevin walking down the park trail, both of them watching him and the dogs.

Chapter 16

“HOW ISyour mom?”James asked when Lyle opened the door Wednesday after work.

“She’s doing well.The infection took longer than they expected to clear up, but they are going to send her home tomorrow.”He closed the door quickly so the dogs didn’t decide to try to make a run for it.

“Loopy is going to be happy to go back to Mom’s.He keeps sitting at the door like he’s waiting for her to come get him.”James knelt down, giving the dogs some pets.They settled on the sofa, and Lyle leaned against James, who liked holding him.“Have you heard anything from the police?”

“Yes.They checked out the area we found, and they agree that dogfights were being held there.He said they went out there in plain cars and clothes.Apparently the owner of the land knew that something has been happening back there, but they don’t think he’s involved.And Red told me that when they found the area where the fights are being held, they set up some cameras to keep an eye on the place.”

“And what about the guy from the hospital?”

“They were able to charge him with some minor offenses, but nothing that won’t get wheedled down to more than a fine.Unfortunately, I suspect we took most of the proof they would need when we got the dogs back.”That was the part he hated telling Lyle—their good deed may have hurt the investigation.

“So he gets off with a slap on the wrist, and we did all this for nothing.”

“No.First thing, they know where the fights are being held, which is a big step forward.What they really want are the people behind the whole thing.And they know that isn’t our guy.He’s just a participant.”

“So now what?”Lyle asked.

“We wait.That’s all we can do.Red told me that they have bits and pieces from their own investigation, so they have a picture of what’s going on.It seems that people know when and where to show up by a post on Nextdoor.It’s coded, but they know the account now, so they’re watching it to see when it posts again.”

Lyle sighed.“I hate these people.”