A WOOF IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING by Lynn JB

Author:Lynn JB [JB, Lynn]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2015-06-24T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

Stephanie felt removed from what she was seeing, like she was watching a movie, that it wasn’t real.

Brian knelt over Polly, pulling latex gloves out of a pocket and slipping them on before gently reaching for Marjorie’s cook.

He looked up at Stephanie. “She’s alive.”

Stephanie understood the words, but they didn’t make sense. Polly was so still it was hard to believe she was breathing.

Brian yanked out his phone and barked commands into it.

She was dimly aware of Grace licking her face. She hugged the little dog to her chest, taking comfort in the warmth the dog offered.

Meanwhile, Brian took the cook’s hand. “Hang in there, Polly. Stay with me, Polly. Just breathe. Hold on. I’m right here, Polly. Stay with me. An ambulance is on the way.”

He kept talking to this woman he’d never met, offering her hope, letting her know she wasn’t alone.

Stephanie watched him, grateful he was helping the other woman.

He glanced over her while he spoke to Polly. Worry creased his forehead as though he expected her to collapse at any moment.

“It’s going to be okay, Polly,” she managed to croak out. Hoping the words would reassure him and help her friend.

He offered her an encouraging smile. “You’re doing just fine.”

Stephanie wasn’t sure if the assurance was meant for her or Polly.

A minute later, one of the uniformed officers she’d talked to earlier, who’d helped get Quentin into the ambulance, rushed in.

“We didn’t realize there was another victim,” he told Brian, clearly worried.

“No reason you should have,” the detective assured him.

The officer looked down at Polly’s still form. “We should have checked the premises, but we were waiting on Animal Control.”

Brian shook his head. “You can’t beat yourself up over this one. I came in here looking for a dog. I wasn’t expecting to find a vic.”

“Appreciate that, sir.” The officer shifted uncomfortably.

“Something else?” Brian asked.

“The Animal Control Officer, he wants to know if he can move.”

Brian rolled his eyes. “Yeah, but he’s not to go looking for a dog. Have him wait in his van.”

“Will do.” The officer hurried out.

“Thank you,” Stephanie murmured.

Brian looked over at her. “For what?”

“Not letting the dogcatcher loose on the grounds. My dogs…” She stopped and corrected herself. “These dogs can be skittish. That’s one of the reasons they’re here.”

Something flashed in Brian’s gaze, but she couldn’t discern what the strange look meant.

Before she could ask, Polly stirred with a groan.

“Easy,” Brian urged, turning his attention to the fallen woman. “Don’t move.”

Polly’s eyelashes fluttered and she moaned.

Brian looked to Stephanie for an explanation. She shrugged just as the EMTs burst in.

Everything seemed to be on fast forward after that. Stephanie was hustled out of the room. Marjorie was worried sick about Polly. Stanley showed up and started ranting about a P.R. nightmare, and the uniformed officers asked more questions.

Brian emerged from the house right after the ambulance workers wheeled Polly out.

“Polly!” Stanley raced toward the gurney. “My darling!”

The officers stopped him before he reached her.

Polly groaned.

“I’m here, sweetheart.”

“Sweetheart?” Marjorie asked.

The officers looked to Brian for guidance.

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