“That will do it.”
Deke moved down the edge of the river and studied the yellow
cone that marked the spot where the other hand lay. Even in the cold it had already degraded and could easily have been overlooked as not human. “Was he in the water?”
“I’d say so. My guess is the parts were first tossed into a bag and then into the river. Everyone thinks the river will keep their secrets, but it doesn’t take much for the bag to tear and its contents to float to the top. Head is likely out there somewhere.”
“If these parts connect to my body, why leave it exposed in one location and dump the hands and feet in the river?”
She shrugged. “Maybe our killer likes a puzzle.”
The torso. The bag with Deidre’s card. Now the hands and a foot. Felt more like a trail of bread crumbs.
“How long has he been out here?”
“That’s hard to say. Cold distorts everything. Maybe the prints will match a missing persons report.”
He grinned. “Thanks for the tip.”
“Always here to help, bro.”
He rose, his joints creaking as he straightened. “Don’t know what I’d do without you.”
She raised a gloved hand and gave him a thumbs-up. “Keep me posted on what the medical examiner says. This one is a curiosity.”
“Will do.”
Leah didn’t sleep well the night before. Alex had followed her home from the mall, and as he pulled away, a police cruiser had parked in front of her town house. Two hours later, when she saw another set of headlights flash through her window, she’d risen and peeked through the curtain. Another cop car arrived, the officers spoke, and then the first car drove away, leaving the new guy to babysit.
Fatigue itched her eyes as she arrived at the clinic early to walk the dogs. She and Dr. Nelson traded shifts, and today was her day on. They had three patients in the kennel: a cat that had been injured in a fight, the dog that had been hit by the car, and the black dog, the spay from yesterday.
The black dog, the healthiest of the three, barked and wagged her tail when Leah entered the kennel. The cat meowed and the dog with the broken leg looked up at her, then went back to sleep. Dr. Nelson had told her the dog remained on heavy painkillers and would be slow for a few more days. The good news was, he was going home today.
She moved to the black dog’s cage, smiling as she got closer. The dog, Charlie, barked, clearly excited to see her. She grabbed a leash from the rack by the back door and opened the dog’s crate. The young dog bounded out of the cage and into Leah’s arms. Laughing, she quickly slipped a collar and leash around its neck and led her out back. Despite the cold, the dog barked and jumped, grateful to be free. She quickly took care of her business. Leah, pleased with the dog’s quick recovery, took her around the parking lot, letting her sniff and dig in the dirt before the cold forced her back inside.
While Charlie watched, she cleaned out the dog’s crate and set fresh food and water in there for her. The dog eagerly went back into the crate and ate.
Leah closed the crate door and checked the dog’s chart. No complications. No issues. So why hadn’t the owner returned for her?
By the time Leah had cleaned out the cages and fed the other animals, Gail arrived.
“So what’s with the Lab?” Leah couldn’t hide her interest. “Where’s the owner?”
“I don’t know. I called three times yesterday and never got an answer. I don’t know if there’s a problem, or maybe he decided the bill was too much for him.”
Leah frowned. This dog wouldn’t be the first abandoned at the vet when a bill couldn’t be paid. “That’s too bad.”
“From what Dr. Nelson said, the guy was a little odd. On the way in and out, he kept looking around the clinic, as if he were searching for something.”
“Like what?” Vet clinics had to be careful of drug thefts; many of the meds they used were stored on-site.
“I don’t know. But I double-checked the medicine supply room and made sure it was locked before I left each day.”
“Give me his number and I’ll call him.”
Gail moved to the front office and dug the number from a file in the active clients bin.
Leah took the phone and dialed. The phone rang once, twice, and then, on the third ring, she got a message: “This is Brian. I can’t take your call right now, but leave a number. I’ll call back.”
Leah listened to the deep voice, half-searching for traces of Philip’s voice, but found none. “Brian, this is Dr. Carson at the Nelson Animal Hospital. We have your dog here and she’s ready to go home. Would you come by today, or better yet, call us this morning so we’ll know when to expect you.” She rattled off the number and hung up. “We’ll see if that gets results.”
“Like I said, I left three messages for the guy and he’s yet to call me back.”
“Just seems odd.” Black dogs were common but this one reminded her of a dog she once wanted when she was married to Philip. The owner vanishes. Dogs and cats were abandoned by pet owners all the time. But none of this felt ordinary.
As Leah left the voice-mail message, he sat in front of his computer, watching a live feed of her standing in the office of the vet hospital. She’d washed her hair and dried it, leaving it to hang loose and full around her face. He’d always loved the touch of her hair after it had been freshly washed and dried. So soft. He wondered if Leah’s hair smelled of roses or honeysuckle.
He replayed the message on his cell phone and listened to her voice. She was sexy. Hot. And he couldn’t wait until they stood face-to-face.
It’s just a matter of time before you take that dog. A matter of time. I picked her because I knew you’d want her. Take the dog, Leah; you know you want it.
He glanced at the calendar. Their anniversary was in four days and he’d bring this little adventure to an end. He touched his fingertip to the screen and traced it over the curve of her jaw and along the column of her neck.
He rose from the desk and moved to the closet, where a simple white dress hung. She’d left it behind when she’d left him, but he’d kept it, savoring and hating the memories they’d shared.
He heard footsteps and glanced at the ceiling above. Shutting off the screen, he climbed the stairs and padded to the back bedroom, where a naked woman searched for her clothes.
“Leaving so soon?” he asked.
She turned and smiled. “Got work this morning, baby.”
Dark mascara smudged under her eyes and her cheeks looked hollow, her skin sallow in the morning light. Last night, in the bar, she’d reminded him of Leah just a little.
Still, seeing her naked, with the sound of Leah’s voice still echoing in his head, he got hard. Smiling, he moved toward her and traced a hand along her collarbone. He’d sliced his knife along Deidre’s collarbone exactly there just days ago.
“You have a few minutes, don’t you?”
She smiled. “You never told me your name.”
“It’s Brian.” He laid his palm at the base of her throat. So easy to cut into the tender flesh of the neck.
She took his hand in hers and led him toward the bed. And soon he was inside her. As he moved, he closed his eyes and pictured Leah. So small. So petite and, soon, all his once again.
Chapter Eighteen
Saturday, January 21, 3 P.M.
Leah finished her shift at three. Before leaving, she went into the kennel to check on the black dog, who immediately sat up and wagged her tail. The cat had been picked up, and so had the dog hit by the car. All had been happy, tearful reunions that had made her smile.
But there’d been no call from Charlie’s owner today, and she’d begun to wonder if he was returning. People faced with a vet bill did abandon their animals at the clinic. She stared at the dog. The dog stared back, doleful eyes, wagging tail.
She threaded her fingers through the bars and let the dog lick her fingers. Something inside her softened. Released. Taking the dog was a huge risk. So much could happen. “When you look at me, you know you’re breaking my heart.” No one wanted to take Charlie to the shelter, and Gail was tal
king about placing an ad.
“You’re a sweet girl, Charlie.” The dog barked and wagged her tail faster.
More ice melted and fell away from her heart. Warmth spread, and the sensation scared the hell out of her. Unshed tears stung the back of her eyes. She’d be wise to keep her distance from the dog. Better for everyone. Too easy for her to love and too easy for Philip to destroy.
The dog licked Leah’s hand and wagged her tail. Ignoring her better judgment, she opened the cage, and the dog bounded up to her, nuzzling close. The dog smelled musty and would need a bath when her stitches healed, but that was easily done. She imagined all the supplies she’d need for a dog.
Suddenly, the idea of returning to a solitary home saddened her. Half-living, her aunt had once said. Her husband’s knife blade had nearly taken her life, and fear tried to steal it now.
Defiance burned bright. “Charlie. I like the name Charlie even though you are a girl. Do you think you want to stick with that?” The dog nudged her fingers. “I can’t make you any promises, but we could try one night. How’s that? Your owner might call, or you just might hate living with me. I’m a bit of a neurotic.”
The dog barked.
She went to a wall of collars and chose a red one that might be the right size and slipped it around Charlie’s neck. The dog barked with excitment. This can’t be a good idea.
She hooked a leash on the dog’s collar, and with her purse slung over her shoulder, the two headed out the back door. After a quick spin around the parking lot, she loaded up on a few basic supplies to get them through the night and they got in her car. Charlie settled in the passenger seat, clearly staking a claim.
Because of her early morning call, she’d missed her run, and as tempted as she was to go to the gym, she understood it really wouldn’t be possible tonight with Charlie. The dog would need her full attention tonight. As they drove through the city streets, she detailed all the reasons why this was such a bad idea. Expense. Time. Commitment. Philip.