“Will he be able to go home tonight?”Jock pinned the vet with watchful eyes.“Maynard, I mean.”
“Not tonight, and maybe not for a couple more.He has about a dozen open and weeping wounds, and I’d like to get him past the danger point for infection before I let him out of here.”The vet stepped back from the table and leaned a hip against the cabinet behind him.“I’m going to report this to the cops.If they find the original owner, and they don’t have anything to do with the abuse, you might have a fight to keep Maynard.”
“If and when that happens, we’ll sort it out.Best thing for the dog.That’s the goal.”
“Love you, Jake.”Silly’s voice had turned soft and sweet, and Jock suddenly had to fight against going hard.
He cleared his throat, then responded, “Love you, too, Silly.”
“I’m going to finish up this client, and then I’ll see you when you get home.”
“Okay.Be safe, baby.”
“You, too, Jock.”
He waited for her to hang up, then shoved the device back into the front pocket of his jeans.
“Maynard will be coming home with me once he’s well enough.”
“Wasn’t expecting anything else, brother.”Ace clapped a hand on Jock’s shoulder.
The vet picked up a vial and a syringe, then drew a measured amount of the liquid into the barrel.He injected it into the IV tubing and set a basin half filled with soapy water on the counter.“I’m going to document everything for the cops.Just in case we find out who did this.We’ll photo first, then take samples, and then finally wash him, in case there’s residual chemicals on his skin.This is not going to be pleasant for him.”He cocked one eyebrow at Jock.“You got him through this?”
“I got him.”Jock encircled Maynard with his arms again, holding both of them still.“I got you, boy.”
It took hours for the vet to be confident he’d mitigated any further damage.He’d taken photos from every angle and meticulously labeled samples of fur and burned skin before he began the tedious process of gently washing every inch of the dog.They’d taken a break about halfway through, and Kent had reported the abuse to the local cops.Jock had listened in on the call and gave details that would assist the cops.
“Why were you in the area, Mr.Tinney?”
Hearing his government name was always a jolt, and he paused to take in a slow breath.“I was dropping off an article of clothing with the leather alteration shop.I heard the whining and tracked down the source.”
“The dog.”
“Yes, the dog.”Goes without saying.Why does the po-po always turn everything into “oh, you’re a biker—you must be in the wrong?”
“Did you notice anyone leaving the area?Or anything else that could help us locate the abuser?”
“No, not when I pulled up and parked, and not when I walked back out of the shop a few minutes later.The street was quiet and empty.So much so that when I got off the bike, I could hear the engine cooling down.”Too much info, asshole.Keep it to the dog.Jock could feel his muscles tightening as his anxiety started to grow.You did nothing wrong.
Kent reached over and took the phone from Jock.He spoke into it for a few minutes, the sound merely background noise, hardly audible over the roaring in Jock’s ears.Something I can see: Maynard.Something I can hear: Maynard.Something I can feel: Maynard.He cradled the dog in his arms again, resting his forehead against Maynard’s.The dog shifted and lapped at the side of Jock’s face.The pain medication the vet had provided was still working in full force, letting Maynard breeze through the debridement of the burned areas.
Kent made a noise, and Jock looked up.“What?”
“It’s just that this is shitty for the dogs used as bait.Likely they wanted him weakened, but because he doesn’t have any bite wounds, he never made it into the circle.That’s a very good thing.He’s got a little touch of pneumonia.We’ll get that taken care of.”Kent moved to the little refrigerator underneath the cabinet.“I’ll do IV meds while he’s here and give you pills when you go home.He could benefit from a few breathing treatments too.”
“Tell me what to do, Doc.”Jock gave Maynard’s backside a good scratch, earning himself another face washing from the dog.
“Shake this.”The vet handed over an inhaler and a tube.“Give it a good shake, then insert the inhaler in the tube and hold it up to his nose.Two pumps will do it.”
“Okay.Like this?”He supported Maynard’s chin as he positioned the tube in front of his face.
“Just right.Maybe ten seconds.Just enough time for him to get a good four or five breaths out of the application.I’ll make a note of the time so we can give him another in three or four hours.”
“Just tell me what to do.”
You never did take orders, Jake.
He jerked and looked around the room.Nobody.Didn’t really expect anyone, didja?
