She slowly bobbed her head from side to side a couple of times. “That would explain the time when Imani was little and I found a puppy in her bed when she was supposed to be napping. Puppy was wearing her clothes, no less, and I couldnotfind that girl.”
Badger stared for a moment, processing that, shocked that another revelation could top the earlier one about Hamish. “Beg pardon?”
“She swore she didn’t have a dog. When I went back into her room to look again after I couldn’t find her anywhere in the house, she was sitting there, andsworethere wasn’t a dog. Not proud of myself, but I spanked hersohard for lying to me like that and scarin’ me. Never did find that dog.”
Badger was rarely rendered speechless.
Like now.
It took him a moment to gather his thoughts. “What kind of dog?”
“One of those little short-legged things. Like the Queen has.”
He grabbed his phone and found a picture of a corgi puppy to show her. “Like that?”
She peered at it. “Yes, only darker brown in places.”
“Did she ever do it again?”
“Oh, ho ho, you best believe she didnot. I didn’t raise any liars, let me tell you what.”
“I meant did ye ever see the dog again?”
“No sir. I figured she must have somehow got it through her window. We lived in a little house but it was a single story.”
Badger wasn’t sure how to proceed because he’d honestly never run into a situation quite like this before. “How old was she when this happened, do ye reckon?”
“Tiny thing. Couldn’t have been more than three.” She thought about it. “She had to be younger than four, because we moved not too long before her fourth birthday into a new house close by, little larger.”
He needed a moment.
A looong moment. Finally, he remembered something else to ask. “Did Hamish mention anything about family? Where he came from? Where he was going?”
“I remember he said he had a brother he hated. Older brother. Maybe another brother or two. And maybe a sister? I got the feeling the older brother is why he left wherever he was from. I remember he said he wasn’t in town long. He was heading first to Boston, and then out to…” She pursed her lips. “It’s just so hard to remember sometimes. I’m sorry.”
This was likely the most she’d spoken in months, goosed by the influence of his Prime powers on her. He rested his hand on her arm again, focusing. “Just think about the memory, Corrine. Think about that night. You don’t have to talk, just remember and relive it as best ye can.”
She closed her eyes and Badger tagged along, trying not to interfere so he didn’t taint her memories.
The good-bye that night, as she hugged Hamish and kissed him in his hotel room.
“You ever think about moving to St. Louis?”he asked.
“Why should I do that?”
“Maybe tomorrow night I can convince you why.”
She smiled.“We’ll see.”
“Another night of fun, at least?”He offered her a playful smile.“I mean it though. About coming with me. Friend of mine from the war offered me a job at his car dealership. St. Louis Car Company.”
She laughed.“Such an inspired name.”
“Seriously. I’m settling down there. It’ll be a good opportunity.”
“We’ll have to talk about it. Tomorrow night.”
Although she knew she wouldn’t be talking with him, because she left the next morning.
