My eyes widen, and I whisper, “The gate was open…”
“Yeah, we can’t find him. Okay.” Mav disconnects. “She’s coming right over.”
“He’s chipped…” I try to think as I walk around the room.
“So that’s like GPS? Is there an app on your phone? Like Life 360?”
“I wish.” Pain pierces the side of my temple. “It just means if he’s taken to a shelter, they’ll scan it and identify him.”
“That’s something at least.” Maverick puts both handson the back of his head. “What the hell? Spanky never runs away.”
“Oh, Maverick!” The panic wins, and I sit on the floor right in the middle of the living room crying. “If something happens to him…”
“Nothing’s going to happen to him.” Mav rushes over to sit on the floor beside me, and his voice is fierce as he pulls me into a hug. “What was the name of that punk with the plastic nut?”
“The guy from the dog show?” I jerk back, eyes wide. “You think he had something to do with this?”
“Gina? Are you okay?” The front door flies open, and Haddy rushes in with Gavin holding baby Lucy right behind her. “Did you find him? What can we do?”
“No… I don’t know…” My throat aches, and I can’t stop the tears flooding my cheeks.
“We’ll span out over the neighborhood,” Gavin says. “Did you call Owen and Heather? They can help us.”
“Good idea!” Mav whips out his phone, tapping fast.
“This was not the call I expected to get.” Haddy holds my arm as I slowly get up off the floor. “I thought you’d call about the flowers.”
Nodding, I sniff, wiping my cheeks. “They’re really beautiful… Thank you…” But I can’t be happy right now. “We’ve got to find Spanky.”
Her lips press together, and she takes my hand. “Come on. Let’s go.”
We run out into the yard, and immediately start jogging our usual dog-walking route around the neighborhood. Adrenaline drives me, and I strain my eyes, looking up and down the sidewalks, looking into backyards as I call his name.
Haddy does the same on the opposite side of the street.
It’s all wrong. Spanky doesn’t run away. He’s playful and impish, but he likes being with us. He doesn’t want to leave home.
We’ve circled all our routes, and when we meet up again at the house, Owen is there with Heather and Maddie.
He walks straight to me, pulling me into his arms. “We’re going to find him.”
“Daddy, can’t Ladybird help us?” Maddie tugs on her dad’s arm. “You told me she can find anything. She’s a bloodhound!”
My eyes widen, and I step back, meeting Owen’s equally wide eyes. “Of course!” We practically shout.
If anyone can find Spanky, it’s his best girl. Holding hands, Owen and I jog the short distance to his house.
“I haven’t even checked on Ladybird since I got back,” he says. “Heather had dinner ready, and I was catching up with Maddie…”
“It’s okay!” I don’t know why he’s apologizing to me.
I follow him through the house, out to the back patio where I notice Ladybird’s cage is set up with her big cedar-filled cushion and a few chew toys.
Owen stops so fast, I literally run into him with a softoof!
“Sorry,” he whispers, turning around to catch me, then he nods his head towards the pen. “Look.”
My brow furrows, and I look around his arm to see…
