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The whirring computer in Harlow’s lap vibrated and roared, the popcorn ceiling above her initially unrecognizable. She had to remember where she was for a moment, collecting herself. She looked down to her lap and noticed she had left her laptop open, but somehow it hadn’t fallen off of the bed as she’d slept.
Harlow squinted and looked at the white computer screen in front of her, which still showed a job search site. She noted that it was already ten thirty. Not only was she going to have to hurry if she wanted to avoid the late room fee, but she was late to start her job hunt.
But something else caught her eye. On the page, she immediately noted a job listing for Wisteria Hill as a veterinary assistant. The job listing was fairly straightforward—on-the-job training as needed, no degree required, must be good with animals. This seemed incredibly promising.
Harlow put yesterday’s plans to the back of her mind and decided this would be her first plan of attack. She left her room in a hurry, relieved that nobody, save for the cleaning lady, would see the state of her housekeeping, which she admitted to herself was slovenly.
She approached the front desk. Thankfully, the clerk was ready for her, and she didn’t have to ring for him. She felt rude ringing the bell, especially after last night.
“I’d like to book one more night, please,” she told the clerk.
“Sorry, no can do,” he told her. “We’re packed tonight. No rooms available.”
Harlow looked at him for a second to verify that he was serious and then looked outside to the empty parking lot.
“I’m only joking.” He chuckled simply. “It’s on the house.”
Harlow buckled and then sized him up again to check his sincerity. “That’s very kind of you, but I could never do that. You need the business.”
“Oh, do I?” He laughed absentmindedly. “The way I see it, you need the shelter, and I need the company.”
Seeing Harlow’s hesitation, he added, “I’ve seen people with that look in your eye, not sure where they’re going or where their next meal’s coming from. It breaks my heart.”
Harlow froze, not sure what to do. She couldn’t deny this man’s business the revenue it needed, and she worried there might be strings attached.
“I’ve made a lifetime of money. This place will probably die with me. But if you’re doing better in a week, you can pay back what you owe me.” He began typing something into the desk computer, letting out a raspy cough. In his mind, it seemed like the matter was resolved, and he would hear no more objections.
“Can I at least get your name?” Harlow asked.
He nodded politely. “It’s Dave.”
“Thank you, Dave. From the bottom of my heart.”
He muttered something under his breath and then smiled up at her genuinely.
“Can I ask you a question?” Harlow asked. He stopped typing and looked up at her expectantly. “Do you know how I get to Wisteria Hill?”
“It’s a few blocks that way.” Dave gestured to the east. “You really can’t miss it. Big blue building with a solid white fence and some lilac bushes in front.”
“Thank you again!” Harlow tipped her head in gratitude before rushing out.
“Stop in anytime,” he told her, and she could feel he was genuine.
As she exited the office, she could immediately sense something in the air. Despite how well the day seemed to be going so far, she had a very bad feeling, and she couldn’t place why, like somebody was watching her.
Looking across the street, she saw nothing out of the ordinary, except for the luxury out-of-place car parked in front of the post office.
Somebody in this town must have been enormously wealthy, she thought. She wasn’t sure why the vehicle felt so out of place, other than that it definitely smelled or looked off. With a shake of her head, she recalled the directions Dave had given her and headed east.
The entire way there, she felt the hairs on the back of her neck standing up at full attention and never stopped looking over her shoulder. There was never anything or anybody behind her, but she kept getting a faint whiff of something. Sandalwood, she thought. Or was it jasmine?
Harlow rationalized that maybe she had just let paranoia get the better of her. She couldn’t have expected to uproot her life and not be haunted by roaming ghosts. Part of her wondered what would happen if Vincent chose to give chase—if he somehow followed her to this small town, in the middle of nowhere.
A few minutes later, she arrived at Wisteria Hill without incident, kicking herself for her irrational fears. She was safe here. There were no fellow wolves, and Vincent had no reason to pursue her. As evidenced by how he had treated her, he didn’t care whether she lived or died.
She was surprised by how busy the vet was in a town this small, and on a Saturday of all days. Had she driven here, she would have had nowhere to park.
All around her, strangers transferred pets into kennels and cages into cars, bringing and carrying home cats and dogs and parakeets and snakes. To Harlow, it looked like many had been badly injured, perhaps in a fight with a large animal.
