“What’s up, buttercup?” Lil called. Lil had spent most of the morning checking up on everyone, fielding questions and concerns.
“Bug hasn’t got a partner.”
“Oh, no. Where’s Cyril?” Lil looked around the crowded office for the older gentleman.
“In the city hospital, receiving a titanium hip apparently.”
“Bugger!” Lil exhaled loudly.
“That’s what I said. What do we do now? I don’t want him to be the only one without a friend.” Alyssa really hated the idea that Bug was going to miss out.
“You’ll just have to take him, Al. Anyway, he will be back with the others in the evening.”
“I’m going to be in and out of here though, Lil. I have meetings across the city. I can’t take Bug with me.”
“Obviously. He can stay with me when you have to go out. It’s no big deal.”
It felt like a big deal to Alyssa, though. Bug had been with the sanctuary for two years now and it pained her to see him overlooked time and time again. Why was it always this little fella that got left behind?
“Okay, I’ll take him with me today. I’m just going to wander around the offices, making sure everyone is good to go.”
“What do you think I’ve been doing all morning, Al?” Lil rolled her eyes. She was more than used to Alyssa and her controlling ways.
“I know, I know. Just let me do it for my own peace of mind, okay?”
“Go on, off you go, your ladyship. Check on your lowly workers.”
“You’re an arse.” Alyssa laughed. Alright, so she could do with learning to let go of the reins a bit more, but it was hard. Four Paws was Alyssa’s baby, her dream come true, and she would do anything to make sure it succeeded. This relationship with Crawford’s was a huge step. The connection she’d forged with Richard Crawford meant tremendous opportunities for the sanctuary, and Alyssa wasn’t about to fluff that up.
Richard had talked about fundraisers and adoption parties. Everything Alyssa dreamed of was in her grasp. That’s why these two months had to go perfectly.
“Okay, Bug, let’s…Bug?” Alyssa turned on her heel and frantically searched her immediate surroundings. The spot where Bug had been sitting was now empty. “Lil, where is he?”
“Bug?” Lil called. Both women split off, searching around the feet of office workers. There was no sign of him.
“Shit, shit, shit,” Alyssa hissed. How in god’s name had she managed to lose him?
“Don’t panic, Al. He couldn’t have gone far. It’s not like he can open doors. He’s two feet tall on his hind legs. You’ll see, we will find him curled up next to a radiator or something.
The next half an hour was a frantic search of the office floor. Crawford’s HQ occupied the entire tower, and Alyssa had dogs spread over all twenty floors.
“Start on the other levels. I know it’s unlikely that he left this office, but we have to check. He’s definitely not here right now.” Alyssa was panicking. Of all the stupid things she couldhave done today, misplacing a dog that was in her care was not something she thought would happen, but here she was. Shaking her head at her idiocy, Alyssa set off to comb Crawford’s HQ.
Alyssa’s legs were on fire. Any other day, she would have thought she was in decent physical shape. Not now though. Running up and down stairs gave Alyssa a painful reality check. Breathing was also becoming a problem, but she couldn’t stop. Alyssa’s mind came up with terrible scenarios. What if Bug had been snatched? What if he was scared and alone, trapped somewhere? Sheer dread settled over her body like a weighted blanket.
Lord knew how much time had passed, but Alyssa finally found herself on the topmost floor. By the look of the décor and furniture, it was the floor where all the higher ups worked. Expensive leather sofas and glass walls occupied the entire area.
The office was empty save for Terry, the security guard who had just exited an office in the far corner. “Ah, Ms Fox, just the person. Ms Crawford wants to see you.”
“I can’t right now, Terry. I’m on the lookout for our resident escape artist.”
Bug had been known to disappear now and then. In the rescue centre it wasn’t a big deal. There were only so many places he could go, and he never went far. Usually it was to the sunny spot in Lil’s office. That dog was a sun worshipper through and through.
“Are you looking for a little Cocker Spaniel by any chance?”
Alyssa rounded on Terry, grabbing his very thick arms. “Yes, I am. Have you seen him?”
“He’s alright. In fact, that’s why Ms Crawford wants to speak to you. She found him in her office.”
