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“It’s Dr. Whittaker, officer.” I take a step closer to him. We’re almost standing nose-to-nose.
Officer Brant inserts himself into the standoff. “A horse may not be impounded, Dr. Whittaker, but it can be euthanized.”
I didn’t see that coming. My hands shake as I grope for the counter to hold myself up. “And who would do that? I am a vet, and I would never do such a thing to a healthy animal.”
“You’re not the only veterinarian in town,” Sergeant Levine sneers.
I suck in a breath. “Dr. Broughton reported the horse?” I can’t believe it. Erik and I may not be on the best of terms, and he can be mercenary, but he would never put down a healthy animal.
“It doesn’t matter who called it in. Are you or are you not harbouring a horse on this property?”
Lullaby inopportunely brays.
Sergeant Levine looks at me blandly as he brushes by me and heads to the back, followed by Officer Brant.
I trail behind them. “Don’t you need a search warrant?” I say, trying to stall.
Apparently, my question doesn’t warrant a reply.
The Sergeant throws open the backdoor and the men step into the makeshift corral.
Lullaby looks up like she’s happy to see them.
“They’re not friendlies,” I tell her.
“Ma’am. This is illegal,” Officer Brant says in dismay.
I stretch my face to sky as I let the ‘ma’am’ reference go. There are bigger hills to die on. “It’s only until I can rehome her. She’s been abused and is still under medical supervision.”
Sergeant Levine turns to Officer Brandt. “Cite her.” He pins me with a hard stare. “You have 24-hours to remove the horse from the premises. If you do not, it will be confiscated and euthanized.” He stalks out.
Office Brandt writes out the citation. “You’ll have to inform us of where you’ve removed the horse to. It can’t be someone’s back yard still within the city limits.” He hands me the paperwork. “Twenty-four hours, Dr. Whittaker.” He looks at Lullaby with regret. “It’d be a shame. She’s a nice horse.”
Tears wet my eyes, but I hold on to them as I show him out. “Good day, Officer,” I say as I shut the door and lean against it.
Once my emotions are under control, I call Erik. “You bastard!” I seethe. “Why would you rat me out about Lullaby? Sure, you’re an asshole, but I didn’t realize you were scum too. How could you agree to put down a healthy animal?”
Erik seems to be confused. “Lullaby? What are you talking about?”
“Don’t play dumb with me. My horse, Lullaby!”
“Horse?” Erik echoes. “I don’t know anything about a horse.”
I was with Erik long enough to know that he isn’t a liar. Not even the white lies. It’s another reason our relationship didn’t work. “Someone told the police about the horse I was keeping behind my clinic.”
He pauses. “You’re keeping a horse behind your clinic? Jesus, Evanee, what’s wrong with you?”
I blink rapidly, missing Trigger, wishing he were here, then remembering that I need to talk to him about the Blackbeards. “She needed a home and I’m trying to find her one… why am I even justifying this to you?” My mind is racing. “If you didn’t report me, then who, Erik? Who?”
He sighs. “Who’ve you pissed off lately, Evanee? Think about that and you’ll have your answer.”
He ends the call.
I throw myself into the reception chair wondering what the hell happened to Wendy. I need her here to talk to, to help me figure this out. Who have I made angry lately? I think back to the party and go through the various faces. The ol’ ladies? Well, some were less welcoming than others. Slag, for example, but I doubt she’d go to that kind of effort. Same with Verity. Plus, how would they know about Lullaby? The passarounds were friendly enough, though I know they were faking it, but I put them in the same box as the ol’ ladies. None of them would think to come to my clinic and climb over a six-foot-tall fence to look for a horse.
The Blackbeards? No, they’d come in through the front door. Which they did.
Maybe Trigger’s dad didn’t like… ah. The lightbulb goes off. Not Trigger’s dad. Reporting the horse is something petty; something my father would do. Not to get me in trouble, but to make me second guess my choices. I shiver as I think of the VP and Enforcer who paid me the earlier visit. Did dad have a hand in that too?
