Chapter 2 - YOU CAN’T KEEP THEM HERE
Walter Mercer was sixty-two, tall, thin, and always dressed like he was five minutes away from meeting a lawyer.
Even at eleven-thirty at night.
Even in a thunderstorm.
His gray coat looked expensive.
His expression looked worse.
“Ben,” he said. “Tell me those animals have not been living behind my building.”
Ben held the motionless puppy against his chest.
“Not now, Walter.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“The puppy’s freezing.”
“I said—”
“Not now!”
Ben’s shout echoed between the buildings.
Mercer stopped.
Ben rarely yelled.
In twelve years of running Carter’s Kitchen, he had learned to smile through complaints, bad reviews, late deliveries, broken refrigerators, and customers who sent back steak because they suddenly remembered they were vegan.
But tonight he had no patience left.
He pushed past Mercer and ran toward the restaurant.
Ruby followed.
“Hey!” Mercer shouted. “Do not bring that dog inside!”
Ben kicked open the rear door.
“Then call the cops.”
The kitchen was dark except for the emergency lights.
Ben flipped the switches.
Bright fluorescent light flooded the stainless-steel counters.
He laid the puppies on clean towels beside the prep station.
Ruby paced.
“Easy, girl. Easy.”
He grabbed more towels from the laundry shelf.
The three stronger puppies began crying.
The fourth still didn’t move.
Ben rubbed him gently.
“Come on, buddy.”
Mercer appeared in the doorway.
“You have completely lost your mind.”
Ben ignored him.
“Ben, the health department could shut you down for this.”
“Then shut the door.”
“What?”
“You’re letting cold air in.”
Mercer stared at him.
“You’re risking your business for four stray dogs?”
“Five.”
“What?”
“Their mother makes five.”
Ben wrapped the smallest puppy in a warm towel.
He remembered something from a cooking show about newborn animals losing heat quickly.
Warm slowly.
Not too hot.
Keep breathing.
Keep blood moving.
He rubbed the puppy’s chest.
“Come on.”
Ruby whined.
Ben looked at her.
“I’m trying.”
The puppy’s mouth opened.
A tiny gasp escaped.
Ben froze.
Then another.
“Yes.”
Ruby stepped closer.
“Come on, little man.”
The puppy coughed.
A weak squeak came from his throat.
Ben laughed.
It came out half laugh, half sob.
“That’s it.”
Mercer’s face softened for exactly two seconds.
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
“Mercer.”
Silence.
His expression changed.
“What?”
Ben kept rubbing the puppy.
Mercer turned toward the alley.
“How bad?”
Another pause.
“Okay. I’ll deal with it.”
He hung up.
“What happened?” Ben asked.
Mercer looked at him.
“Storm drain’s blocked. Water’s coming up fast.”
“So?”
“So your basement entrance is already underwater.”
Ben stood.
His face went pale.
The restaurant’s main electrical panel was in the basement.
So was the freezer.
So were thousands of dollars in food.
Then the lights flickered.
Once.
May you like
Twice.
And everything went black.
