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“Lead the way.”
I took off, staying as far away from the edge of the pavement on the busy road as I could get. It was early, but the June sun already blazed. Sweat misted my forehead. I swiped away a drop as it trickled down my cheek. A dirt streak was left down my arm. Crap. Probably had that on my face now.
I moved as fast as I could. Once I was almost to the back entrance of the racetrack, I slipped into the tree line. Even in the shade, the thick humid air made it hard to breathe.
When I could see the gate, I peered to make sure the lock was as I’d left it before I emerged from the woods. The chain was secured, but the padlock was unlatched.
I scurried to loosen the chain, careful to stay quiet. I froze when a golf cart in the distance inside the fence whizzed by. I exhaled heavily when it kept going.
Creak.
I swung the gate open.
The van crept down the road toward me.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
My heartbeats thundered in my ears. The dogs were so close to being saved. At least I prayed I’d made the right call.
The brakes squealed when the van rolled to a stop just inside the gate. I closed it and fixed the chain so it appeared to be locked again.
This is for the dogs.
I shoved down my nerves, opened the passenger side door, and climbed inside. “That way.” I pointed to the kennels.
The old woman gunned it across the parking lot. “You can leave your backpack in here.”
“No,” I snapped quickly, hanging on to the straps for dear life.
She kept driving, unbothered by my outburst. “How many people will be around?”
“There shouldn’t be any. The handlers started working the first group about a half hour ago.” I pointed again. “Stop here. Let me make sure it’s clear.”
She released a grunt of agreement.
I hopped out and slid a window up on the back side of the building. They locked the doors but never this window. It was an easy in and out. I shimmied inside. The scent of dogs hit my nose the way it always did. I couldn’t ever exactly describe the smell . . . only that it washome.
I waited a beat and listened.
The dogs had barked like mad the first few times I came in and out, but they didn’t make a sound now. I crept to the row of kennels.
Lola was curled up, her body jerking with unsteady breaths. I unlatched her door. She lifted her eyes but not her head, as if the effort were too much.
“You’re gonna be safe soon,” I promised. I didn’t know that old woman in the van, but from the moment we’d spoken on the phone, I’d trusted she could help these poor creatures.
The door swung open, sunlight streaming inside. I froze but exhaled with relief when it was just the old lady.
“Are we doing this today?” Frown lines formed around her eyes when she saw Lola. “Can she walk?”
I shook my head. “I don’t think so.”
The lady stooped and gently scooped Lola off the floor. How could she pick up a dog of that size? I was less than half her age and it was a struggle. But she marched out to the van, so I opened Jasper’s and Finn’s kennels.
They followed me out to the van, and we loaded them inside. The two of them went without straying as if they knew we were helping them.
There was no time for goodbye. If we didn’t hurry we’d be caught.
I kissed both their noses.
