Buddy lowered his head and dropped the frisbee in front of the Pekingese.The little dog trotted close and licked his nose twice to indicate forgiveness, then picked up the frisbee and trotted back to his owner.The Pekingese’s owner smirked knowingly at Greg, who lifted a hand and chuckled as Buddy watched the Pekingese chase the frisbee, this time without interfering.
“Mischievous little dogs, huh?”a voice to Greg’s left said.
He turned to see a woman about ten years younger than him taking the leash off her own border collie.The dog saw Buddy and practically jumped out of her skin.Buddy grinned.“Yeah, they sure are.Mischievous, anyway.I don’t know about little, but you’re a little younger than me, so maybe you can still keep up with them.”
The woman laughed politely and extended a hand.Greg noticed the wedding ring with a touch of disappointment, but it faded quickly, along with all trace of attraction.One benefit of growing older was the ability to interact with women without the compulsive need to fantasize about romance.She was a fellow dog owner and someone to chat about collies with.That was just fine.
“How old is yours?”she asked, gesturing at Buddy, who was now playing with the female collie and showing signs of much more attraction than his owner felt.
“He’s four.”
“Three,” she replied.“And it looks like she’s been smitten.”
Greg watched the female pup nip playfully at Buddy’s tail, then run off, panting excitedly, when Buddy chased her.He chuckled as the dogs continued to flirt.“Yeah, good thing I got him fixed, or you might be dealing with puppies in a few months.”
She giggled.“No thanks.I got Rosie fixed the day she was old enough.It’s hard enough handlingoneball of constant energy.I don’t know what I’d do with a whole litter.”
“I feel you,” Greg agreed.“I tease Buddy sometimes and tell him I should have gotten a Persian Cat instead.”
“See, but then you’d have to deal with the hair.”
“That’s a good point.Not to mention I would have no reason to ever leave my couch without Buddy.”
“They sure keep you young,” she said.“I’m Laura, by the way.”She laughed.“I didn’t even think to introduce myself.”
“Greg.And neither did I.I tend to think of myself as Buddy’s dad, anyway.”
She laughed.“Yeah, I used to turn my nose up when people talked about their pets as kids, but I get it now.”
Greg’s smile softened as he watched his Buddy lead Rosie to the storage shed at the far end of the park, tail wagging.They couldn’t do anything more than pretend since they were both fixed, but it was cute that they still wanted time alone.“Yeah.They’re family.”
“They are,” Laura agreed.“It took a while to convince my husband, but now I’m pretty sure he loves Rosie more than I do.Normally he’d be taking her to the dog park, but he has a conference in New York that’s keeping him out of town for the next week.”
Greg opened his mouth to reply, but his words were cut off by frantic barking from behind the shed.Buddy and Rosie poked their heads out and stared wide-eyed at their owners, barking feverishly.
Greg’s smile faded.He got to his feet with a grunt of effort and jogged toward the shed, new friend forgotten.
That friend quickly outstripped Greg, concern for her dog overriding any consideration for how she looked running in her heels and tight skirt.She reached the shed while Greg was still a dozen yards away.Whatever she saw caused her to jump back and shriek in pure terror.
Alligator, Greg thought, his fear causing him to forget that unlike his native Florida, Virginia didn’t have alligators.
He rounded the corner, and the blood drained from his face.Not an alligator.A dog.A golden retriever, fur matted, eyes glazed and shellshocked, stood guard next to the stiff, dead body of a man about the same age as Greg’s father.
Laura screamed again, and Greg said, “Get the dogs out of here,” meaningGet yourself out of here.
Laura snapped out of it, and the dogs obediently followed her away.The collies, anyway.The retriever stood right where he was and where Greg knew he would remain, probably until animal control sedated him so they could get his owner’s body out of the way.
He pulled his phone from his pocket, hands trembling, and dialed nine-one-one while a crowd gathered nearby.“Hello, police?I have a dead body to report.”
CHAPTER SIX
Faith’s fork paused halfway to her mouth as she watched the news story in shock.“Oh my God.”
Turk barked inquisitively, then looked up at the TV.The headline read SECOND BODY FOUND IN STAFFORD COUNTY DOG PARK IN AS MANY DAYS.
Turk barked again, this time in alarm.Obviously, he couldn’t read the headline, but he knew a police cordon and a body covered in a sheet when he saw one.
“Residents of Stafford County are in shock once more as the body of a second dog owner was discovered at the Stafford Courthouse dog park at twelve-forty-five this afternoon.”
