Chapter 5 - SOMEBODY WANTED THEM GONE
Ben’s heart hammered.
“Who called them?”
“I told you, not me.”
“Then who?”
Another knock.
Harder.
“City Animal Control!”
Ruby moved in front of her puppies.
The injured male dog struggled to stand beside her.
Ben looked around.
There was nowhere to hide five dogs.
Mercer lowered his voice.
“You have to open the door.”
“And let them take the dogs?”
“If you refuse, they’ll come back with police.”
Ben cursed under his breath.
He opened the door.
A woman in a yellow raincoat stood outside with a younger officer.
“I’m Officer Elena Ruiz,” she said. “We received a complaint.”
“From who?”
“I can’t give you that information.”
“Of course not.”
Ruiz looked past him.
Her expression changed when she saw the puppies.
“How long have they been inside?”
“Tonight.”
“And before tonight?”
“Alley.”
“Are they yours?”
“No.”
“Vaccinated?”
“I don’t know.”
“Veterinary records?”
“No.”
Ruiz stepped inside.
Ruby growled.
Ben put out his hand.
“Give her space.”
“I know dogs.”
“Then you know she has puppies.”
Ruiz crouched several feet away.
Her voice softened.
“Hey, Momma.”
Ruby watched her.
The officer studied the puppies.
“They’re young.”
“About six weeks, maybe.”
“Closer to five.”
Ben looked at her.
“You a vet?”
“Vet tech before this job.”
She checked the smallest puppy carefully.
“This one’s weak.”
“He stopped breathing earlier.”
Ruiz looked at Ben sharply.
“For how long?”
“I don’t know. Maybe a minute.”
“He needs medical care.”
“I’ll take him.”
“At midnight?”
“I’ll find somebody.”
Ruiz sighed.
“Mr. Carter, I’m not here to hurt these dogs.”
“Everybody says that right before they put them in a cage.”
Her expression hardened.
“You think I enjoy taking animals off the street?”
“I think shelters are full.”
“They are.”
“And healthy dogs get put down.”
“Sometimes.”
Mercer looked uncomfortable.
Ruiz continued.
“But leaving newborn puppies in a flooded alley isn’t kindness either.”
Ben looked at Ruby.
“I know.”
“What exactly is your plan?”
Ben had no answer.
Then Mercer spoke.
“He’s building them a shelter.”
Ben turned.
“I am?”
Mercer looked at him.
“You said you would.”
“I said I’d figure something out.”
“Well, figure faster.”
Ruiz crossed her arms.
“A shelter behind a restaurant doesn’t solve everything.”
“What if it’s separate from the food-prep area?” Mercer asked.
Ben stared at him.
Ruiz considered it.
“Dry. Insulated. Fresh water. Clean bedding. No access to kitchen or dining room.”
“Done,” Ben said.
“Veterinary exam within twenty-four hours.”
“Done.”
“Proof you contacted a rescue organization.”
“Done.”
Ruiz looked at him.
“You keep saying that like you have money.”
Ben smiled.
“I own a restaurant. I haven’t had money since 2014.”
The younger officer laughed.
Ruiz almost did.
“Twenty-four hours,” she said.
Then she leaned closer.
“And one more thing.”
“What?”
“The complaint wasn’t about tonight.”
Ben frowned.
“What do you mean?”
“Whoever called us said you’ve been feeding these dogs for weeks.”
Ben felt the room go cold.
Only a few people could see the alley from their buildings.
Ruiz headed toward the door.
May you like
“Someone’s been watching you.”
Across the street, behind a second-floor window, a curtain suddenly moved.
