Hide and Seek by Amy Shojai

Author:Amy Shojai
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Furry Muse Publishing
Published: 2017-01-31T14:00:00+00:00

Chapter 26

Combs wiped clots of mud off September’s phone, crumpled the paper towel, and dropped it into the garbage container hidden under her kitchen sink. In the short time he’d known her, she’d never been without her phone. Or her pets.

He hesitated only a moment before scrolling through recent calls. He could apologize later for intruding. September had always been a twitchy rabbit ready to bolt, the fallout of a stalker experience she refused to talk about. Someone so careful about locks and being responsible wouldn’t disappear without any explanation. Maybe her phone would offer a clue as to where she’d gone.

The phone logged his own call early that morning, and the one she’d made to 911 that brought him and Gonzales running later that same day.

September had also phoned All Creatures Veterinary Hospital. “That’s it,” he breathed, and his shoulders relaxed. Quickly, he hit re-dial and waited for the vet hospital to answer.

“September? Did you forget something? Doc Eugene’s getting ready to run Macy’s tests right now. He should be ready shortly.”

The clinic must have caller ID. He’d used September’s phone. He hesitated, not sure what to say to the chirpy young man. “I’m a friend of September’s. Is she on her way home?” Combs wondered what was wrong with Macy. Leaving him couldn’t have been easy.

“I guess so. She didn’t say. We expect her back anytime now. I left her a message on her home phone, too.”

“Tell her...” He smiled. “Tell her dinner’s almost ready.” Combs disconnected. Getting the meal ready would make up for his snooping and help take her mind off Macy’s health issues. He started to shut down the phone, but noted her most recent call to the radio station. “Huh. She’s talking to Fish again?”

She’d been adamant about quitting the Pet Peeves show, just when her notoriety would make it take off. That burned Fish’s butt, especially since September had dodged his calls for weeks. What made her decide to call him? He set aside the phone. Maybe she’d tell him later, but if he asked, she’d know he’d snooped.

He collected the beer cooler, carried it to her refrigerator—she called it ‘Macy’s Perch’—and loaded up the door with the beverage. Several covered bowls rested inside, each with plastic or foil covers, most small sizes that held a serving for one. He juggled a few, lifted lids, and moved some around. “Leftover, leftover, leftover, salad.” He made a face at the last. It had tomatoes. He hated tomatoes. Combs hoped September wouldn’t expect him to eat those red, nasty things.

A large covered dish on the bottom rack looked promising. Combs tipped up the foil. “Jackpot!” He carried the deep-dish lasagna, Anita’s specialty, to the oven. After debating temperatures and considering the fancy settings for duration, temperatures, bake/broil/who-knows, he made a guess and set the dish inside to heat. Bake-and-eat frozen pizza was his forte.

The blue flowers would soon wilt. She’d taken the trouble to get the bouquet. The least he could do was put them in a vase.

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