Santa Puppy

by Lynn Cahoon

  A short bark answered me.

  I glanced back down the hallway. Where had he disappeared to so quickly? I was about to go find out when I saw Greg waving at me from the doorway.

  “Are you helping or not?” He stepped toward the cage. “This is Baby. He’s first on our list. Do you want him? I have a tiny poodle for your aunt.”

  I nodded as Greg opened the door and Baby jumped into my arms.

  “I guess he likes you.” Greg smiled and turned to the next cage. “Let me get one more and we can get started on the bathing process.”

  I looked down at Baby, who was now giving me kisses on my chin. “You know I can’t keep you, right?”

  I swear the dog grinned and I saw the answer in his eyes. He knew I’d have a hard time putting him back in the cage.

  The problem was, the dog was right.

  CHAPTER 2

  I walked over to a table where I’d first brush the dog to get the knots out of his hair, then dump him in the tub. Baby had a short coat, but it was caked in mud. Ellen stood beside me and gave the dog a rub under his chin.

  “Baby’s new to the shelter. His owner was found dead on the beach last week. It was really sad. The dog never left his side.” Ellen sighed as Baby licked the side of her hand. “You miss your guy, don’t you?”

  I glanced over at Greg. “I’m surprised you didn’t know about the death.”

  “I knew about it. He was found closer to South Cove than Bakerstown.” Greg stroked the fur on what appeared to be a husky-poodle mix. “I was called in, but Doc Ames ruled it an unattended death. The guy had a heart attack.”

  I rubbed Baby’s head. “It wasn’t unattended, was it, Baby? You were there for your master, weren’t you?”

  The dog let out a small bark and a wiggle. He acted like he knew exactly what I was saying.

  “He’s very good at social interaction. If he was younger, he would have been snatched up the first few days he was here. But I’m sure we’ll be able to place him soon.” Ellen moved on to another table.

  I put the holding leash around the dog’s neck and realized he had on a collar. “Hey, buddy, let’s take this off.”

  I found the buckle and loosened it. When the collar fell off, so did the backing. I picked it up. “You really need a new collar, Baby. This one’s falling apart.”

  I looked at the two pieces. The front was blue with fake rhinestones and a medal that had a rabies number and last year on the tag. He’d been taken care of, even if his owner had been homeless.

  When I went to set the collar down on the table, a key fell out of a rip in the side. The dog put his foot on it in what looked like an attempt to hide it. I gently moved his foot and he growled at me.

  Quickly, I pulled out the key and stepped back out of the dog’s reach. Baby didn’t try to bite, but he was agitated. The key was small and had a number on it. Maybe the prior owner had put his valuables in the bank or a locker and hid the key with his dog. “Hey, Greg? Can you come here a minute?”

  He hadn’t put his dog up on the table yet, so as he walked over, he carried the husky-poodle mix. Baby barked his disapproval at the other dog’s proximity. Greg’s dog just ignored the insult and curled closer into Greg’s neck. Greg adjusted the dog tighter into his arm. “What do you need?”

  Holding up the key so he could see it, I asked, “Is this a safe-deposit key?”

  He leaned closer and now Baby growled at the other dog. “Looks like it. Put that in your pocket and I’ll do some checking on Monday to see if it matches up with our beach guy. Maybe there’s more to his story than just passing away on a beach.”

  “If he had something or someone, they should be told.” I glanced at Baby. “And maybe he’d have a home to go to.”

  Greg stepped back, absentmindedly rubbing the ear of the dog in his arms. “If I remember, there was no next of kin. Opening the box may give us more information about the guy.”

  As Greg left to start the bath process for the husky-poodle mix, I slipped the key into my jeans pocket and turned back to Baby. “Let’s get you all cleaned up. Maybe your guy had a relative who wants to take you in? You need to be all pretty and look your best, just in case, right?”

  Baby barked his agreement.

  For the next few hours, my life was a madhouse of one dog after another as we brushed and bathed, then turned the dogs over to the groomer the shelter had hired to cut their fur if needed. Aunt Jackie and Harrold were in charge of the final blow-dry and delivery back to a clean cage with fresh food and water. Thirty dogs later, we were done.

  Ellen moved us into a conference room where there were cookies and drinks. I grabbed a bottle of water and motioned her to the side. “Hey, I wanted to tell you that Baby’s collar broke apart during the grooming.”

  “One of the aides has already given him a new one. Don’t worry about it. A lot of times they come in with old collars and we just throw them away.” She patted me on the arm and started to turn away, but Greg stood on her other side.

  “What Jill’s trying to say is she found a safe-deposit key in the collar.” He held out his hand, obviously expecting me to just hand over the key. While I dug it out of my pants pocket, he continued. “I’m taking it into evidence custody. Do you want a receipt for the key?”

  “We wouldn’t have found it without you guys, so I guess it’s fine.” Ellen dropped her voice. “What do you think he had in the box?”

  “Now, that is the question, isn’t it?” Greg smiled and slipped the key into his pocket. He led me back to the table where Amy was finishing her second cookie. “What’s on the schedule now? Anyone up for dinner at the Roundabout since we’re out of town anyway?”

  “Harrold and I need to get back. We’re having dinner with Mary and Bill.” My aunt stood, and Harrold, holding a water bottle, joined her.

  “Nice seeing you guys.” He nodded to the group. “I don’t think I’ve ever washed so many dogs before in my life.”

  “Stick with us, you’ll have all kinds of new experiences.” Justin reached out and shook the older man’s hand. “See you around town.”

  “He’ll be at the party.” Aunt Jackie shook her head. “You all act like we’re never going to see you again after we leave.”

  Harrold leaned down and fake-whispered in Aunt Jackie’s ear. “They know we’re old and they might not see us again.”

  Laughing, I gave my aunt and her boyfriend a hug. “What can I say? I guess you raised us to have manners and respect our elders.”

  Harrold kissed me on the cheek. He turned to Aunt Jackie, but I saw the humor in his eyes. “See, she used the word elders. I told you they see us as old.”

  “Stop teasing the children, Harrold.” Aunt Jackie gave me an air kiss. “I’ll talk to you on Monday. I’d like to finalize the last-minute preparation items for the party.”

  “You know where to find me.” We hadn’t moved to winter hours but would after the Christmas party, which meant I’d be opening the store bright and early for my commuter customers.

  After Aunt Jackie and Harrold left, Greg focused on Amy and Justin. “What about you two? Or are you going to hit the waves after this?”

  Amy and Justin were crazy-dedicated surfers. It was one of the things that kept them together.

  Justin grinned and grabbed another cookie. “You caught us on a break night. I’m taking Amy up the coast tomorrow to chase waves, but we don’t have plans tonight. What do you say, Amy? Want to grab some grub?”

  She stood and came around the table to stand by Greg and me. “I’m in. But only if you tell us what you were talking to Ellen about.”

  Greg put a hand on my arm and started leading me toward the doorway. “Sounds like a plan.”

  We drove a couple of blocks to the restaurant and waited for Amy and Justin to arrive. Greg leaned his head back on the seat’s headrest and sighed. “I’m ho
ping that this only has the guy’s personal items. I’d hate for Bakerstown to have to reopen this case.”

  “But if it leads us to who killed him?” I didn’t understand Greg’s reluctance.

  He shook his head. “Doc Ames was very clear on this. The guy had a heart attack. We looked for another cause with no luck. It wasn’t murder.”

  Amy and Justin parked and we all went into the restaurant together. As soon as we sat down, Amy turned to me.

  “Aren’t you looking forward to the cookie exchange? I’ve been testing recipes all week. Do you know what you’re bringing?” My friend’s face was filled with hope and joy.

  Greg coughed into his hand and I kicked him under the table.

  “I hadn’t really thought about it. Maybe chocolate chip?” I studied the menu, not making eye contact.

  “Oh, no, that won’t do. It has to be a special cookie. I’ll send you over some ideas as soon as I get home. Then you can bake a trial run tomorrow.” She keyed a note into her phone. “It’s no big deal, you’ll love the process.”

  I already hated the process and was beginning to think that maybe I did have latent Scrooge tendencies in my DNA. My aunt had never been a big Christmas fan, so maybe I was just showing my heritage. I decided to grab a lifeline. “Greg and I are doing the baking on Tuesday night and he wanted to pick out the recipe together.”

  Amy turned her laser focus from me to Greg and her face softened. “Well, isn’t that the most romantic thing I’ve heard of. I can’t even get Justin to talk about his Christmas memories and you two are starting your own traditions.”

  I watched as my friend wiped a tear from her eye. “Yeah, we’re just so excited.”

  This time the kick I aimed at him was a little lighter and more playful. He reached down and squeezed my thigh, just above the knee. Then he turned his charm on Amy. “We’re just two peas in a pod. You know how much Jill loves Christmas. I’m just glad I’m here to help her enjoy the celebrations. Hopefully there won’t be any emergencies on Tuesday night. But I’m sure she can muddle through without me if I get called out.”

  Now I narrowed my eyes. Had he just threatened to leave me alone with all this cookie mess? “I’m sure Toby or Tim can handle any trouble that may occur. You know, everyone has to be good at Christmas or Santa won’t bring them presents.”

  I thought I heard a hearty ho ho ho from the lobby and turned my head to check it out. A flash of red dashed across the hall. Blinking, I stared at the now-empty doorway. I felt Greg’s hand on my arm.

  “Jill? What’s going on?” He leaned close and looked in the same direction, seeing nothing.

  I shook my head and turned back toward the table and my friends. The waiter had joined us, and his gaze followed ours across the room, a questioning look on his face.

  “Sorry, I just thought I saw something.” I faked a smile and focused on the menu. I really needed this Christmas thing to be over and done with before I had a nervous breakdown or something. “I’m starving, how about you?”

  When we were in the truck on the way home, Greg turned down the music. When he glanced over, I could see the worry in his face. “So what really was going on tonight at the table? Did you see someone you thought you knew? An old friend, maybe?”

  “No blasts from the past. I thought I heard a Santa coming into the restaurant, and saw a red coat go by.” I talked fast to get the words out.

  “Jill,” Greg spoke slowly, which made me start to steam, just a bit. “There was no Santa in the restaurant. Maybe you’re just seeing Santas because you’re so busy with the Christmas party. I promise to make cookies with you on Tuesday. I was just kidding with Amy. Besides, my mom always said I was the best baker out of all her kids.”

  “I’m sure you’re right.” But in my mind, I was sure he was wrong. For some reason, Santa was stalking me this Christmas, and I was going to find out why. Even if I had to be naughty to do it.

  CHAPTER 3

  Trying to get past my Christmas slump, I pulled out the Christmas ornaments I’d stashed in the third bedroom. I thought I’d turn it into a library someday, but Greg kept making comments about my needing a workout room. I thought the shed in the back would work better for that, and for days I didn’t want to exercise, the room wouldn’t be in my house, making me feel guilty. Out of sight, out of mind.

  When I got everything downstairs, I looked at my artificial tree and picked up my phone. “Hey, what are you doing today?”

  “I was going to watch a game, why?” Greg was a big football fan. Well, actually, football, basketball, baseball—if it was a team sport, he watched it.

  “Can I borrow you and your truck this morning? I’ll buy coffee and donuts.” I moved the table I had below the front window over to the other side of the room.

  “What are we doing?”

  Smiling at the now-empty space, I answered, “I need help picking out a tree for the house.”

  “I thought you had an artificial tree. Strike that, I know you do, I moved it to the second-floor bedroom last summer.”

  “I want a live tree this year. When can you be here?”

  Greg mumbled something that I didn’t hear, but when I asked him to repeat it, he said, “I’ll see you in twenty minutes. I’ve got to shower still.”

  I started unpacking the boxes and had the living room in a huge mess by the time he came in the front door.

  “It looks like the elves threw up in here.” He walked over one of the piles of garland and into the kitchen with his travel mug. “Let me grab some coffee and I’ll be ready. There’s a tree lot in Bakerstown.”

  “Now who’s being a scrooge?” I followed him into the kitchen. While he grabbed travel cups out of the cupboard, I let an uncooperative Emma out into the back yard. “You know if we don’t take her with us, she’ll eat some or all of the decorations.”

  “Which will mean a trip back to Bakerstown for the vet and more tree-trimming stuff.” He poured coffee into the cups. “I’m not taking that chance. Besides, I haven’t spent nearly enough time with my girl this week.”

  “I’d be flattered, but I’m sure you’re talking about Emma.” I came up behind him and put my arms around his waist.

  “Are you?” He turned in my arms, then leaned down and kissed me.

  When we came up for air, I stepped back and let Emma in, grabbing her leash from the back door. “You could stay for the day and help me decorate the tree.”

  “I can stay for a while, but I told Jim I’d meet him at the Locker Room to watch the game. The holidays are hard for him.” He looked around the room. “Do you need anything else?”

  “Just my purse. I’ll go lock the front door and you get Emma in the truck. I’ll be out in a second.” I headed into the living room. Greg’s brother, Jim, had lost his wife a few years ago. Holidays would be hard since everything I’d heard about the woman said she was devoted to her husband and her home. We’d hosted Thanksgiving at my house for the last two years. But Christmas had always been about just us and Aunt Jackie and whoever she was dating. I made a mental note to talk to Greg about inviting Jim as well this year.

  If he even wanted to come. The guy didn’t like me, as he was still in the pro-Sherry camp and thought his brother had moved too hastily in the divorce. I don’t think he liked Sherry all that much, but he was a true believer in marriage vows.

  I grabbed my tote and locked the front and back doors behind me. Greg and Emma were already in the truck and they were both watching out the window, waiting for me to join them. Emma might not be our child, but at times we felt like family. I just needed to get over that feeling scaring the crap out of me.

  Greg headed the truck onto Highway 1 for the second time in two days. Which reminded me about the key.

  “Did you find what the key opened?”

  He looked over at me in amusement. “You realize banks are closed on Sund
ay, right?”

  “Oh, yeah.” I slumped back into my seat. Baby had carved out a piece of my heart, and it was hard to think of him in that cage, waiting for someone to pick him as their forever pet. “I’m just hoping that there’s some extended family who would want to take Baby. It must be hard for him to be with someone for so long and then be all alone.”

  “He’s not alone. There are thirty other dogs in the shelter right now.” Greg rubbed his arm. “I’m sure I bathed all of them yesterday.”

  “You have one in the back who could use a bath and a brush when we get back.” Reaching back, I rubbed the top of Emma’s head.

  “Did you miss the part where I said I was meeting Jim?” He glanced over and grinned at me. “It’s a hard life, but someone has to watch the game. The players put so much energy into playing, it would be rude for no one to watch.”

  “And you are definitely not rude.” Smiling, I curled my leg up underneath me. “I’ll get her in the bath as soon as I get the living room done. It was on my list anyway. I just thought, since you’re such a dog washing professional after yesterday, you might want to show off your talents.”

  “You were just trying to get out of bathing her. I bet she’s heartbroken that you’re trying to push her off on someone else.”

  “Whatever. You know she loves you just as much as me.” I leaned forward when I saw the flashing Christmas lights. “Is that the lot?”

  “Yep. According to Esmeralda, the lot has been here for over thirty years and is still run by the same woman. She gets her trees out of a small town in Oregon in the mountains. Sherry never wanted a real tree, so I always sent Esmeralda to get one for the station once I moved back here.” He grinned as he turned the truck into the parking lot. “Having a real tree is one of the best parts of Christmas.”

  “Besides the presents.” She clicked the leash on Emma’s collar.

  Greg turned off the engine. “And the cookies.”

  “You are still on the hook for coming on Tuesday to bake with me. I’ll start when I get off my shift, but I expect you to come as soon as you can leave the station.” I focused my gaze on him. “Right?”