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“I’m talking about you. He’ll let you down.”
“Well, I’ll give him that chance.”
He nods like he figured as much. “If you’re free tomorrow night, I can come by with a few ingredients and we can cook something.”
“Sure. Whatever works for you and your schedule.”
He lifts a white shopping bag and holds it out to me.
I take it from him and peer inside. “What’s all this?”
“I picked up a few things at Lowe’s today to help you with your sanding. I noticed the tools you have aren’t the right ones. If the sandpaper is too coarse, you’ll sand right through the spackle and you’ll have to start over again.”
I blink down at the contents in the bag. “Thanks. That’s very… nice of you.”
“You say it like you’re surprised.”
Iamsurprised. Surprised at the act of kindness. Surprised that he cares. Surprised that he thought of me at all.
I hike a shoulder. “You are a cop, after all.”
“I can be nice.” He smirks. “When I want to be.”
Now ask me why that sends a shiver down my spine.
6
Phoenix
Daily Affirmation: “I am attracting a new person into my life, and I won’t let myself question this person’s intentions.”
“How are you with loud noises?”
“Fine, I guess.” I scrunch my nose. “Why?”
The owner of the animal shelter, Sadie, grimaces. “When I open the next door, all the dogs start barking. It can be really overwhelming.” She leads me down a short hallway. “The dogs either get excited or agitated when they see someone. Some can be really aggressive. Poor things have been through so much.”
I frown. “I hate that a place like this even has to exist.”
“Better than living on the streets.”
“True.”Until they get put down.
Sadie swings open the door, and my shoulders jump up to my ears. She wasn’t kidding about the noise. The barking ranges from high pitch yapping to larger dogs with deep bass, mixed with sad howls. Floor-to-ceiling chain-link gates line the room. Some dogs look like they haven’t had a meal in months, while others are missing patches of hair.
“I wish I could take them all home.”
Sadie heaves a sigh. “I think about it every night when I clock out of here.” She points to the far end of the room. “That’s where your crew is. I kept each litter in the same cage because they’re so young. A litter needs to keep each other company.”
When we stop, I crouch down, linking my fingers through the first gate. “Oh my god. They’re adorable.”
Playful puppies tumble over each other, wrestling and nibbling on whatever they can get their little teeth on.
“These are Labs. There are Malteses and Yorkies over there.” I follow her finger as she rattles off the different breeds. “Beagles, Dachshunds, and over in the last stall are the Pits. Those will likely be the first to go.”
To go?My eyes widen as I push to stand. “What? Why?”
“Everyone wants the small, cute dogs. Pit bulls are commonly used for fighting, and they have a stigma surrounding them. The dangerous ones get euthanized immediately.”
