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They took off after Fezzi, who hadn’t slowed his pace. A siren blared in the near distance. A few seconds later, emergency lights flashed near the end of the road. The firefighters were nearly there.
Roger rushed in and aimed his extinguisher at the flames on the west side of the compound. Dogs swarmed around, leaving off barking in vicious howls at the fire so they could jump against Sunny’s legs and lick her hands and arms. “Did they all make it out?” she shouted, though she doubted Roger could hear her. “The dogs?”
Chevy ran behind them, nipping at their heels and herding them away from the smoke. Sunny counted them, saying their names as she went, touching each one, her heart pounding in her chest as her gaze wove frantically among the pack.
Smokey Bear. Sneakers. Butter Bits.
Some of them barked excitedly at the firefighters, who were just now stretching a long hose through the yard and toward the blazing cabin, while others cowered in the bushes. Chevy relentlessly tried to collect them all, leaving Sunny to think she might have some sheepdog or heeler in her.
Tubby. Ranger.Willy.
Water shot out the hose, drenching the building as firefighters ordered Roger back, away from the fire.
Sinbad and Calypso shot out of the bushes, where they’d obviously been hiding. Who was left? Was anyone left?
“Humphrey,” Sunny said, her skin going cold. “Where’s Humphrey?” She turned to Roger, who was again by her side. He had a helpless expression, his face matching the faded blue hoodie he always wore. “He’s the only one who wouldn’t run,” Sunny whispered. “He hid inside that cage. Do you think...?” Sunny pictured the little beagle, huddled in the cage, rearing from everybody’s touch. Even loud noises didn’t send him running. He just balled up harder.
Sunny bolted toward the enclosure. The flames were nearly doused, and about two-thirds of the structure was still intact, but the other third had been wrecked completely, the roof caved in, charred beams sticking up like giant burned matches.
It smelled like wet ashes and singed wood. All the food bins were half-burned and soaking wet. Saint Francis was a giant lump of coal. Humphrey’s empty cage peeked out from the rubble, the metal blackened.
Just then, a firefighter emerged from the building, holding a blanket that enveloped a small form. “No,” Sunny whispered. Her hand went to her mouth as her throat sealed up with smoke and grit.
“Stay back, ma’am.” Another firefighter held his arm out and pushed against her chest, guiding her away from the compound. “Too much smoke.”
Sunny ignored them, her gaze on the blanket. One corner slid away. Tufts of fur poked up from the mass, which was covered in soot. “Found a pet,” the firefighter said as he drew near. “I’m sorry, ma’am. This one didn’t make it. Probably died from smoke inhalation.”
“No,” Sunny repeated, her voice caught up in a choking sob. “Humphrey.”
“Let me have him.” A voice boomed over Sunny’s shoulder. Pete shoved in front of Sunny and took the bundle from the firefighter. His ball cap was missing, his hair mussed from sleep. He wore a pair of long pajama pants covered in images of the starshipEnterpriseand a white T-shirt. “Text Dr. Winters. Now. And your sister.”
“Cici’s out of town.”
“Text Dr. Winters.”
“I’m doing it.”
Pete kneeled on the ground and opened the blanket, adjusting Humphrey so he was on his side. He laid a hand on Humphrey’s chest for about two seconds, then leaned his cheek in close to his muzzle. He took Humphrey’s leg and pressed his elbow back toward his chest, then pressed his fingers there, touching Humphrey’s wrist and finally the rear pad on Humphrey’s foot.
“Does he have a pulse?” Sunny’s voice was barely audible, even to her own ears.
Pete ignored her, opened Humphrey’s mouth and swiped out what looked like vomit. He pulled Humphrey’s tongue forward, then covered Humphrey’s mouth and nose with his own and blew gently. Sunny watched Humphrey’s chest rise. Pete drew back and let the air escape, then drew Humphrey’s elbow back again, positioned his hands and gave him chest compressions. Pete repeated the breath and chest compressions while Sunny stared in silence, her own breath held as Pete continued to share his with the little beagle.
Sunny covered her face with her hands and tried to steady her feet. It wouldn’t work. It was too late. Humphrey, who had been abused his entire life, had died in a fire. A sweet little animal who wouldn’t hurt anyone had been rewarded by living a life of torture and suffocation. Sunny slid her hands into her hair and squeezed. The pain at her scalp kept her from sinking to her knees. Janice Matteri wasn’t all bark, after all. She’d sworn to get even, and she had. In the worst imaginable way.
Sunny would’ve preferred a gun to her own head. Anything but this.
Pete assessed Humphrey, then continued with his chest compressions and blows of air.
Sunny couldn’t hide anywhere. She desperately wanted to hide, to escape the devastation she felt. She let the sobs come until something heavy went around her shoulders. One of the firefighters had draped her with a blanket. He didn’t look more than a teenager.
Sunny swiped away her tears and looked around at the mess, the chaos of the dogs and the ruin of their home. Roger watched in silence with bloodshot eyes.
“Ma’am.” The elder of the two firefighters turned to her. “You live here?”
“Yes,” Sunny said. It felt like her body floated above the wreckage. Her ears buzzed. She leaned over and coughed a few times, to clear her lungs of the smoke and ash. “This is Roger,” she choked, between her tears. “We both live here.”
“Anyone else? What about all these other buildings you have on the property?” The firefighter pointed out some of the cabins, farther off in the distance but still visible through the trees. Thankfully, the fire had not reached them.
