Greyson (The K9 Files) - Dale Mayer Page 0,46

them on the seat and maybe Kona could lay on them.”

“Well, let’s give it a try,” he said.

Chapter 11

When Jessica pulled out of the driveway twenty minutes later, she felt an odd sense of family because not only were she and Danny in her car but she also had Greyson and Kona. She chuckled. “It feels like my numbers just doubled.”

“They did,” he said cheerfully. “Kona makes probably two and a half times you guys though, based on her appetite alone.”

“It’s not about the food,” she said with a smile.

“Well, it isn’t until it is,” he said in a cryptic remark.

She just smiled at him. “You can help with the groceries, if it bothers you.”

“I plan on it,” he said, chuckling.

“But that’s another stop,” she warned. “And the number of stops is always somewhat dependent on Danny’s level of patience,” she said.

“Good point,” Greyson said, “so let’s get the dog food first.”

She drove to one of the large name-brand pet stores. “Will this do you?” She looked up at the storefront and chewed on her bottom lip.

“It’ll be just fine,” he said. “I don’t know this company, but Kona won’t know the difference.”

“I suspect Kona’s used to good food,” she said.

“Well, she was,” he said, looking to Jessica, still sitting behind the wheel. “But remember. She’s been eating your neighbor’s pizza too.”

At that, she laughed. “I’ll come with you,” she said, as she hopped out, opened the back passenger door, and took Danny out of the car seat. Which made Kona take notice, and she jumped from the vehicle.

“Do you want the stroller?” he asked.

She shook her head. “No. We’ll get a cart in the store. I think they may have small pets and fish that Danny can look at.”

Inside the store, she and Danny veered off to where the pets were, while Greyson and Kona walked to the aisles of dog food. Picking up a couple twenty-pound bags of good quality food, he loaded them into his own shopping cart. When he found Jessica again, he smiled to see Danny reaching for the glass aquarium, looking at the fish on the other side.

“They’re pretty colorful, aren’t they?” he asked Jessica, unloading the dog food into her cart, leaving his behind.

“They’re beautiful,” she replied, “but not something I’ve ever wanted to have as a pet.”

“No,” he said. “I like pets you can touch and cuddle.” He reached a hand down to Kona, who was in the store with him, something that apparently was completely okay with management. And that was a blessing because he didn’t think she would take kindly to being left in the car while the three of them strode off. “If you’re okay here, I’ll take Kona to check out collars and leashes.”

He walked Kona over and looked at the collars, settling on a good-size collar that was adjustable and would fit nicely on her neck. Leaving it on, he looked at the leashes. He tested the weight on several and chose one, connecting it to her new collar, then removed the rope from around her neck. He looped it up and put it around his arm so he had a way to carry it, then walked back to see that Danny and Jessica were now in front of a big toy house full of kittens.

“Now those are adorable,” he said with a laugh. “I don’t know what Kona would think of them though.”

“And that brings up a really good point,” she said. “What will you do with Kona?”

He looked at her with surprise, then looked at the dog and shrugged. “I don’t have a clue yet,” he said. “I was told to come here and track her down, to make sure she was okay, having a good life, and, if she wasn’t, to see that she was removed, so the government could provide her with a better life. I believe the Denver couple adopted a different K9 dog instead.”

“Well, I hope you don’t take her away just yet,” Jessica said. “At least not until we find the kidnapper.” She reached down and gently brushed the top of Danny’s head. He had a few tufts of pure white hair and was completely fascinated by the kittens. He clapped his hands together, desperately wanting to hold one.

One of the staff came over and said, “Are you guys looking for a kitten?”

“No,” they both said. The woman looked at them in surprise. They smiled. “Kona is already a relatively new adjustment to the family,” Jessica said, pointing to the