Page 42 of Rescue Them

James lightly patted Lyle’s arm.“I know you do.I do too.But we have to do things by the law.Otherwise we’re just as bad as they are.I keep thinking that we should have just called the police and reported him.At least we could have gotten him for stealing the dogs.That would have been something.”

“If we had waited, he would have been gone and nothing would have happened.At least the dogs got to their owners.Mom got Loopy, and I think she wants to keep him.”

“I get it.But we aren’t much closer to finding those behind the dogfighting.And I don’t think following the guy we found is going to do us any good, because they know the police are watching him, so they will freeze him out of the groups.”

“So what do we do?”Lyle asked.

James cleared his throat and met Lyle’s gaze.“We let the police handle it.Remember, you promised me that no matter what we found, that would be the end of it.These people are dangerous.”He leaned closer.“Think about this.If that trench is what we think it is, then they just buried the dogs who were killed and shot the ones that were no good to them any longer and dropped them in that pit.They really didn’t care.”He hated that thought, and Lyle shivered against him.

“Okay.We just stay away.We did the best we could.Does Mitchell need help?After all this, he needs additional security, and that’s going to cost money.”

“I talked to him about it, and he said that he’s added additional measures on the doors and windows of the shelter to try to deter further break-ins, and hopefully the noise will scare them away.There is only so much that he can do”

“Yeah, I suppose.”

“Mitchell and everyone who helps out has been put on alert, so they know to be careful about people looking to adopt.That’s about all we can do.”

“I know.”He lifted his gaze.“There’s something I’m missing, but I can’t put my finger on it.I know that there’s something right in front of me and I’m just not seeing it, but I don’t know what it is.”

“Well, give yourself a break and maybe it will come to you.”James told him.The dogs all suddenly ran for the basement, and Lyle sat up.“Is that their way of saying that they want to go out?”

“Yeah.”He stood, and James followed Lyle down the stairs.After checking that the enclosure was where it should be, he opened the door, and the four dogs all raced out.Loopy stayed with James, and when he picked him up, the little dog settled right in his arms.It was so sweet.Meanwhile, the four spaniels barked and growled.

“What is that about?”

Lyle snickered.“It must be time for Debbie and her husband to take their evening walk through the park.”All four dogs stood side by side, growling and barking, tails down.

“Jesus,” James said.“I usually sit down here with them, but I think they just came down to warn them off.”

“Have you heard anything more from them?”James asked.

“No.They take their walks, drive the dogs crazy, and I swear they watch as they do, but other than that, they stay away.”Lyle kept watching the couple until they disappeared from sight.Then the dogs all wandered over to him, looking for attention.

James stepped outside, still holding Loopy, peering up the trail.“Do you know where she lives?”

“I thought it was out near Newville.”

James huffed.“Yeah.So them using this trail every day is somewhat stalkerish.I mean, why not walk in a park much closer to home?Her mother’s unit has been rented to new people.There is literally no reason for her to be here.”

“You think they could have been the people who tried to get in?”Lyle folded up the enclosure and brought it inside before closing the door.“That witch.”

“I doubt it was her.But her husband… that’s another matter.The guy is a jerk.”James checked the bolts to make sure they were closed tight.Then he and Lyle went back upstairs and closed the basement door.

“Yeah, and one who does a mean soprano when he’s scared.He tried to be all butch and everything, but it’s all an act.He’s a big coward.”

“Still, he’s strong enough to try to break in,” James observed.

“Maybe.But I don’t think he has that much ambition.Corky always complained that Debbie’s husband was lazy and useless.She hated him and tried to get Debbie to leave him on more than one occasion.Apparently, he’s one of those guys who talks about working and having a job, but never manages to bring home a paycheck.Debbie is the one who works and supports them.”

James rolled his eyes.“You know way too much about those people.”

“Corky used to talk about them all the time.As she got older, it was harder for her to get out, so I used to come over as few times a week.We watchedWheel of Fortune.She loved her cocktails, so we’d mix some up and watch.I can tell you that there is nothing better than getting a little toasted and watchingWheel of Fortune.Other times she used to just sit and talk.It was always nice to spend time with her, but she wasn’t always happy.Debbie came over sometimes, but it was her dogs that really kept her company.”

Lyle went into the kitchen and pulled food out of the refrigerator.“I was wondering what you might want to do tonight.”

“I have the ingredients for spinach salad, and I have some chicken and rice.I can make something if you like.”He paused.“If that doesn’t sound good….”

“It’s great.I’m not a fussy eater.”James sat down and put his feet up.“It’s been one heck of a week.My exam went very well, and I was top of the class with my paper, but I have two exams next week and a ton of case studies.I know we usually get together on Saturday, but I have to study Sunday.With the workload, I need to get things done or else it will be difficult to study for the exams.So I figured that we’d get the cases done this week and then I’d have the weekend to prepare for my exams and be ready.After that, the workload should ease up a little bit.”