dirty from the soft earth, but there was something else there.
“Blood,” Kendra said. “More blood. But this time I don’t think it’s Elaine’s.”
Metcalf inspected it more closely. “If this belongs to the killer, then we have his DNA.” He looked back to Griffin. “We need to take this thing back to the lab.”
Griffin was already entering a number into his phone. “I’m calling the Evidence Response Team now. I’ll have them come out here and take it themselves.”
“Now?” Metcalf said.
“Yes. It’ll serve them right for not catching this themselves.”
Kendra carefully leaned the post against the boulder bottom-side up.
Allison shook her head. “Impressive. I have to admit that I haven’t paid much attention to this sideline of yours, Kendra, but it’s amusing to finally see you in action.”
“Don’t be too impressed,” Kendra said. “I have no idea if any of this will help find the killer.”
Metcalf raised his phone and snapped several photos of the post. “We’re a hell of a lot closer than we were twenty minutes ago.” He turned to Griffin. “Don’t you think?”
Griffin shrugged. “Possibly.”
A dog howled in the distance.
Kendra frowned, her gaze searching the campus.
The howl came again. It appeared to be coming from somewhere in the vicinity of the main building.
Kendra turned to Allison. “Hound of the Baskervilles?”
“Hardly. Harley of Oceanside.”
Kendra wrinkled her brow.
“You may remember that Elaine fostered and trained Seeing Eye dogs,” Allison said. “She was seldom without one in her home. The day after her murder, we remembered she had one there. So we brought him here until other arrangements could be made. Our dorm supervisor, Maddie Turman, keeps him in her room overnight. Unfortunately, the dog isn’t exactly quiet.”
“He’s probably just missing Elaine,” Kendra said. “His name is Harley?”
Allison nodded. “That’s what Elaine told me. Though she didn’t name him. She got him from one of the local vets who knew she had a way with dogs. I’m not sure if Harley is going to cut it without her around.”
“Why not?”
“He’s…unusual.”
Kendra cocked her head. “Unusual how?”
Another howl wafted across the campus.
“I’d better go tend to this,” Allison said. “He’s probably woken up everyone in the dorm by now. If you’ll excuse me…”
“May I go with you?” Kendra asked.
Allison nodded. “Certainly, but trust me, that dog isn’t going to help you solve this or any other case.”
Kendra turned back to Griffin and Metcalf. “I’ll be back in a few minutes. You’ll be here?”
“Metcalf will,” Griffin replied. “He’ll wait here for the Evidence Response Team. I’m heading home and going to bed.”
Metcalf sighed. “Rank has its privileges.”
The dog wailed again.
“This way,” Allison said.
Kendra followed her up the path and across the lawn to the dormitory. A single window was illuminated on the first floor. Allison swiped her key card across a reader at the main entrance, and she and Kendra made their way down a long hallway.
The dog’s wail echoed eerily down the dim corridor. In there, it sounded less pathetic and more creepy, Kendra thought.
They made their way toward the one door where a sliver of light cut underneath. Allison rapped sharply on the door and it was answered by Maddie Turman, who looked totally exhausted, with dark circles under her eyes.
“Dr. Walker, I’m so sorry,” Maddie Turman said quickly. “I’ve been trying to keep him quiet.”
“I know, Maddie,” Allison said. “But this can’t continue. The students are already upset and on edge.”
“Tell me about it,” Maddie said wearily. “And the kids could take that wailing, it’s the other stuff that keeps scaring them. He’s definitely an acquired taste. Even Elaine was at her wit’s end trying to find a home for him. That’s why she still had him four months after he was rescued.”
“Home?” Kendra repeated. “She wasn’t training him to be a Seeing Eye dog like the others?”
“Not Harley,” Allison said dryly. “He’d already had his initial training but something happened and Dr. Napier, the local vet, asked Elaine if she could take him. You know Elaine, she’s always been a sucker for a lost cause.”
“He flunked out as a Seeing Eye dog?” Kendra asked. “Not smart enough?”
“Elaine said he’s the smartest dog she’d ever seen. He’s just…different.” She saw Kendra frown and then said impatiently, “Oh, see for yourself. I’ll wait for you here.” She dropped down on the couch. “Take her to see him, Maddie.”
Maddie shrugged. “Why not? At least he’ll stop howling.” She led her down the hall to the bedroom from which the howling was issuing. “Don’t be scared, okay? He won’t hurt you. You shouldn’t be