I scoop Ember in my arms as if she were a pile of newspapers, instead of the fluffy terminator I had dreamed of and exit. Time for my back-up plan. I head to Paige’s office. She’s the lead trainer, and an ex-veterinarian. Chief will listen to her medical expertise, proving the dog isn’t fit for duty. Well, unfit forme.
Then I remember someone’s waiting in the lobby. Clara McAllister. World record holder for the longest grudge.
“Good morning, Officer Langston.” Clara’s clipped tone matches her demeanor. She shifts her crimson ponytail to one side when she spots Ember. She’s even shorter than usual standing next to the twelve-foot Christmas tree wearing a white puffer jacket, jeans, and heels. Her shoulder length hair is as long as mine now, but her ponytail’s tighter—much like that judgmental brow. Some things never change.
I’m really not in the mood for an ex-childhood friend stuck in the past. “Clara, we’ve known each other for years. Please, just call me Kez?—”
“May I pet her?” she interrupts.
Fine. “Of course.”
Her back to me, Clara kneels and points a toy microphone with paw prints in Ember’s face. “And you must be the famous puppy with the elite sniffer. Much cuter than the pictures.”
I shouldn’t have enjoyed Ember’s low growl, but it was satisfying. At least we havesomethingin common.
I toss Ember a sock like a treat. “What do you mean by elite sniffer?”
“Pembroke Welsh Corgis have a great sense of smell. Did you not do your research?” Clara’s judgemental brow climbs higher.
“Of course I did.” No point in doing research when I’m getting a new dog.
Her attention returns the puppy. “Does your back hurt from carrying the team?”
I’d laugh if that came from anyone else. “I’m happy to answer any questions,” I say coldly. Anything to move this interview along.
No response. She continues as if I’m not standing here. I fight my eyeroll and cross both arms.
“No need,” she finally says after snapping a selfie with Ember. “I have everything I came for. Thank you, Officer Langston.”
A thin smile later, she’s gone.
I shake my head. Hoping we’d be friends again is useless. Time to focus. Ruminating about the past only reminds me of everything I lost a decade ago.
Ten minutes later, I’m lying on Paige’s faux leather futon, feet dangling. My ears still burn from walking in the crispmountain air, or maybe it’s just from sheer frustration. My nose wrinkles from the smell of disinfectant and rubber dog toys.
“First, I nearly blew through my savings because some jackass kept outbidding me for the cabin. Then I get Ember, who whines all night. So, I put her in my bed. But she whines there too. When she finally falls asleep, she drapes herself across the mattress like she pays rent. And the socks! Oh, don’t get me started. She doesn’t just steal them, she lines them up in little organized piles.” I take a breath. “Thankfully, she doesn’t eat them.”
On the floor, Ember’s doing her signature sploot, back legs kicked out as she aggressively gnaws an elk antler while guarding blue fabric. Wait. That’s my good sock. How did she even get that?
Paige’s keyboard taps continue. “Uh-huh.”
“All I want is to give my mom a nice surprise with memories of dad in the cabin we rented nearly every Christmas. I can’t start my vacation this way. Not with Ember.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Chief won’t listen to me, but she’ll respect your opinion.”
Paige clicks her pen. “And how does that make you feel?”
I sit up and massage my temples. “Don’t patronize me.”
She sees I’m serious, probably noticing the bags under my eyes. She adjusts her polo shirt and walks over. “I know new dogs are a lot of work, but my god, Kez. Ember is apuppy. Did you expect her to sniff out narcotics straight out of the womb?”
Duke probably did. “No. But Ember is…she’s not a typical dog. Will you please take another look at her?Please?”
I silently wait as Paige examines the dog from head to nub tail.
“Look at those big ears.” She scratches behind one with a grin. “I bet nothing gets past you. Certainly not Kez’s bullshit.”
