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“I can dig up something with his name and phone number. But if I get his license or registration? Jackpot. I wouldn’t want you to give your dog back to an irresponsible owner. Or worse.”
ChapterFive
AIN’T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH – Marvin Gaye and Tammi Tarrell
After hoursof sitting in a sandwich shop calling online rental listings and praying he’d need one that allowed big dogs, John grabbed his phone the moment it rang. It read RESTRICTED on the screen, and his mouth suddenly went dry. “John Bryson.” He held his breath, waiting for a response.
“I’m calling about a message from the animal shelter about the dog I adopted,” a woman spoke hesitantly.
Thank you, God!“Yes. Thank you for calling.” He could breathe again, though this didn’t mean she would give him Boss. “When I returned from deployment yesterday, my ex-girlfriend told me he died before admitting her new boyfriend took him to the shelter.”
“If he is your dog, he’s very much alive,” she assured him. “I guess we should meet to work this out.”
Some of the weight lifted off him, like dropping a forty-pound rucksack. He’d thought of a dozen reasons she might refuse to give Boss back to him. Boss might be her kids’ beloved pet. Or she would blame him for leaving Boss with Britney in the first place—like he was blaming himself. “Name the time and the place, and I’ll be there. I can come now or in the morning.”
“Hang on a second.”
He couldn’t make out her muffled exchange with another person.Please don’t let her be talking with her kids.He wanted Boss, but he couldn’t break kids’ hearts. He’d suck it up if Boss were in the loving home he deserved.
“I can bring Bruce to meet you at Arnette Park near the airport in half an hour.”
“I’ll be there. I’m driving a black truck. Wearing jeans, a reddish T-shirt, and a black ball cap.”
“I’ll have Bruce. I’m sure you can’t miss him.”
“I’ll see you there. And—thank you.”
John headed straight there. After he parked, he debated. Was waiting inside or outside his truck friendlier? He got out and tried to look chill, leaning against the truck rather than pacing as the minutes slowly ticked past.
Even though he arrived fifteen minutes early and the woman hadn’t given her name, nor had she said what kind of car she drove, that didn’t keep him from checking for Boss when a vehicle arrived.
Except it was a police officer who cruised slowly past. He nodded to her. His empty stomach clenched when she backed up, stopped a few feet away from him, and put her window down.
“Good evening, officer,” said John.
“Can I see your license and registration?”
Shit, not now. “What’s the problem?”
“Your registration sticker is expired.”
He looked down at his plate. Yep, last month. She had to notice this now? “I just got back from an overseas deployment yesterday,” he explained, opening his wallet and handing over his license and military ID. “I haven’t gotten my mail yet.” He didn’t have a clue what Britney had done with his mail.
“Registration.” The officer didn’t let up.
“It’s in my glove compartment.”
“Do you have any weapons in the vehicle?”
“No ma’am.” There was a locked gun case in one of the boxes still in the back of his truck, but he didn’t know which one. He retrieved his registration and handed it to the officer, who already had his license and history displayed on her iPad screen.
“You can wait by your vehicle.” She rolled up her window and was on her phone in seconds. He didn’t have a record, so she couldn’t run him in, which was good because he was not leaving this park for anything.
Could he not catch a break? Give me a warning or—heck, a ticket. Just move on. The last thing he needed was for the woman who adopted Boss to have second thoughts about meeting him because she saw him getting hassled by a cop. All he wanted was a fair shot at getting his dog back.
* * *
Elizabeth accepted Jillian’s call.“We’re almost there. Did you find out anything?”
