I Kissed a Dog

chapter 4-5

Managing to remain silent on our drive back to the park was more difficult than I’d expected. Zane, on the other hand, seemed unaffected by my simmering rage. His slight grin signaled he was enjoying life — including no significant worries about my unpredictable emotions. He tried once to apologize. I didn’t give him a chance.

Pressed against the passenger door, I pictured myself with steam shooting out my ears and a torrent of unladylike words pouring from my mouth. Instead, I kept my mouth clamped shut and plotted what I’d say to Luke when I issued my ultimatum.

Zane broke the silence, his smile vanishing. “Not good.”

Startled, I peered out the window. There were three police cruisers and one unmarked car by the wildlife park’s front entrance. People milled around, some looking dazed.

Zane parked and we waited by his car.

“Not good at all,” I agreed, wondering if one of our predators had somehow gotten loose and attacked a visitor. A vision of a vicious Butch the Lion crossed my mind.

Spotting Zane’s car, Luke broke away from the group and jogged over. “Chloe, I don’t know how to tell you this.” He kept his head down, unable to make eye contact.

“What?” Panic’s cold hand squeezed my windpipe. I gasped, but couldn’t catch my breath.

The last thing I saw before succumbing to darkness was Zane’s face leaning over me.

***





“She’s coming around,” a relieved voice announced.

My first thought was one of absolute embarrassment. I’d swooned in front of half the town, a ton of tourists, law enforcement officials, and worst of all — Zane — had once again caught me in his arms. That thought gave me a twinge of unwanted pleasure.

“What happened?” I remembered why I’d had a panic attack in the first place. Luke had been sharing bad news. When no one answered, I pushed myself into a sitting position. “Please, I’m fine.”

Glancing around the room, I realized I was in Luke’s office on his leather couch. Zane, Luke, and Officer Tate from this morning, were looking down at me.

Luke pulled up a chair and took my hand.

This was getting weirder by the minute. Why couldn’t they just get it over with? I’d already determined there’d been another murder — a person I knew on a personal level.

“Will ...” Luke looked at Officer Tate.

“Miss, I’m sorry to meet you again under these circumstances, but Will Mills was found stabbed in his bed, about sixty minutes ago.”

“How? Who found him?” Confusion wrapped around me like a thick fog. Fearing I might faint again, I squeezed Luke’s hand.

Not Will. It couldn’t be true. I’d dated him a few times. Nothing serious, but he was a good friend. We worked together. I liked him.

“When he didn’t show up for work, and I couldn’t reach him, I called his brother.” Luke shook his head, but didn’t relax his grip on my hand.

“He never misses work,” I said absently.

“That’s what concerned me,” Luke agreed.

I knew this was difficult for Luke too. He made a point of being concerned about all his employees. As much as we all bickered, we were one big family. Will had been the one that kept us laughing.

“I know you’re all grieving and in shock,” Officer Tate said, lowering his voice. “But, Ms. Carpenter, your boss shared a little more about your special ability. By the way, you were right about Barney.”

I nodded, anticipating his next words. Using my talent for police business wasn’t something I’d ever wanted, or considered. I’d refused my stepdad’s requests for help on cases several times.

“We’d like you to come to Will’s house, hoping you might spend some time with his dog and …”

I groaned. Not a dog! Why couldn’t it be a parrot, maybe a goldfish?

“Are you o —?”

“Go on,” I sighed. Of course I’d have to chat with a dog. Danger and dogs, the two things that I’d sworn off that just kept coming back to torment me.

“He had a dog and cat. Can you communicate with both?”

“Yes. Can we get this over with? I’m pretty overwhelmed right now.” That was an understatement.

“I’ll go with you,” Zane offered, extending his hand.

Stunned by his suggestion, I wasn’t sure how to respond. Last I checked I was furious with him. And now I’d have to delay my heart-to-heart with Luke. Today wasn’t the day for employee quarrels. Under the circumstances, I realized how petty I’d behaved at the restaurant. A man had wanted to pay for my lunch. Like that was a crime.

Aware three men were waiting for my answer, I snapped at Zane, “If you insist.”

Ignoring his hand I stood, my legs trembling. I couldn’t handle a repeat of our earlier electric encounter. Touching was off limits when it came to Zane Marshall, no matter how tempted I was to test whatever it was I felt between us.

I hated to admit, despite the craziness unfolding around us, I was undeniably curious about Zane’s motives for wanting to accompany me and was shocked by what he said next.

“I thought I might offer to care for Will’s pets, if the family doesn’t want them.” He shrugged. “I’ve got a thing for animals.”

Every time I was ready to write Zane off, he said or did something chivalrous. Maybe I’d find a daisy on the way back so I could play the old “he loves me; he loves me not” game with the words changed to: “I love him; I love him not.”

Much to my relief, I rode in the squad car’s front seat with Officer Tate. Zane looked cramped in the back. I was beginning to understand he would look confined just about anywhere. He was an imposing man. I love him not; I reminded myself for the umpteenth time since we’d left work.

We pulled into Will’s gravel driveway about thirty minutes later. I could see his treasured quads parked off to the side of the garage. He’d been a great driver, somewhat of a daredevil, but good enough to convince me into taking a long thrill ride on the dunes last summer. It was almost impossible for me to accept that he was dead — killed — and would never ride again.

The police team swarming over his property like flies on a corpse is what convinced me.

“This way,” Officer Tate directed.

Several colleagues acknowledged him but gave me cautious looks. I wondered if they knew the reason for my presence. If so, they weren’t sold on my special skills. I recognized the FBI agent from the news. He glanced our way without any official acknowledgment.

My arm hairs stood at full attention when his eyes met mine. He gave me what my mom referred to as the major heebie jeebies. I decided right then I didn’t like or trust Agent Green. Zane wasn’t the only one with good instincts.

“You ready?” Before I realized what he was doing, Zane rested his hand on my arm. The electricity remained, but this time it felt less intense, yet no less pleasurable. His touch provided a calm and confident feeling I was grateful for.

You are a good woman echoed through my tumultuous thoughts. As much as I’d like to believe otherwise, Zane was the reassuring presence I was desperate for right now.

Remembering why I was here, I nodded at Officer Tate. “Take me to talk with the animals.” I hoped I sounded halfway pleasant — anything to slice through the gloom that hung over the crime scene. My earlier morning cheer had been replaced by a grim sense of duty.

Exiting Will’s house, a woman approached. “You must be Chloe Carpenter. I’m Detective Davis. You are?” She looked at Zane with open approval.

“Dr. Marshall. I’m the new wildlife vet down at the park.” He extended his hand.

She disregarded it and jotted something in her flip pad; the evidence of her approval gone like it’d never existed, replaced with suspicion. “I may want to talk with you later, Dr. Marshall.”

I attempted to swallow my surprise. So, not all women were automatically under his spell. Even more unexpected, though, was my intense desire to protect him from her probing eyes. As if aware of my intentions, she gave a curt nod and strode away.

Inside the house, everything appeared undisturbed. A man was dusting for prints and other law enforcement personnel were removing plastic bags of evidence.

I couldn’t begin to imagine how I’d feel right now had we been lovers. Once again, my commitment to maintaining my virginity had saved me from additional heartache.

“Here’s Junior. The cat took off.” Another officer led a young pit bull into the room.

I confirmed the puppy’s leash was secure. I’d never forgotten or forgiven the pit bull that had escaped with my favorite shoe.

“Hey, little guy.” I had to admit he was adorable. His stubbed-tail wiggled and he yipped, excited by the attention. “You sure are cute.” He squirmed and pranced around us more like a pony than a pit. I realized I’d have to hold him and get him settled down if I was going to retrieve any information other than: Pet me! Pet me! I like you! Pet me!

After some reassuring whispers and gentle strokes, Junior calmed; his round puppy-eyes melting into mine. For a brief scary second, I couldn’t see or hear anything. Then the memories roared into my mind like a tornado. Woman. Sex. She smelled like a dog. The pictures were beyond my wildest and most horrifying nightmares.

A redheaded woman was clinging to Will like a rider on a bucking bronco, her head thrown back in ecstasy. Following their vigorous coupling, everything blurred. She changed into something I couldn’t explain. Either that or she’d let a wolf the size of a grizzly into the bedroom.

All I knew for certain was that Will hadn’t been stabbed.

He’d been ripped to shreds.

“Oh. My. God.” I couldn’t begin to barricade the pain exploding from my mouth in waves of wailing.

Zane lifted me to my feet, pulling me against his hard chest, cradling me. He let me sob; winding his fingers through my curls, while I released every painful memory I’d unwittingly clung to until now. Feeling safe in his arms, I dared to wonder what might happen next.

How would I explain what the dog had so vividly communicated? Who would believe me?

***