Instead, as she took a step toward her house, Grizzly began a low whine.
Concerned, Quinn turned to him. “Are you okay, buddy? Are you hurt?”
She took a step closer to the dog, but he took a step back. She held out her hands in front of her. “Hey, I want to help. If you’re hurt maybe I can do something about it.”
She had no idea what she was actually going to do about it and moreover, no idea why she was talking to a dog in the first place. But she took another step closer.
Grizzly didn’t growl like he normally did, but he also stepped backward again. Quinn let out a sigh. “I don’t speak dog, but I’m going to assume that means you don’t want me to come near you. That’s okay. Believe it or not, I do understand.”
She turned back toward the house.
Grizzly started whining again.
What in the world?
This was obviously something about dogs she didn’t understand. But she happened to know someone who understood a lot more about dogs than she did, and this gave her the perfect excuse to call him. She was smiling as she dug her phone out of her purse.
She kept one eye on Grizzly as she hit the speed dial for Baby. As soon as his phone rang, she got nervous. Was he going to feel like she was being all needy and clingy?
Maybe this was a bad idea.
She was about to disconnect the call when he answered.
“Dear God, please tell me you had more sense than I did earlier and you’re on your way over here and it doesn’t matter how early I have to get up in the morning and it’s completely worth losing sleep to have you here with me.”
By the time he finished his diatribe she was smiling, her unease gone.
“Unfortunately, not.” She’d seen him this morning. Why did it feel so good to hear his voice?
“You’re breaking my heart here, Harrison.”
She laughed softly. “You’ll appreciate it in the morning when you don’t have to drive to Reddington City all bleary-eyed.”
“You’re worth any amount of bleary-eyed-goodness. And yes, it’s a word, professor.”
“Sadly, I’m not calling to proposition you. I just got back to my house, and I’m a little worried about Grizzly. He’s standing in the tree line like he always does, but I think he might be hurt or something.”
“Why do you think that?”
“Every time I walk away from him, he starts to whine but when I try to get close, he backs away.”
“Cupcake, listen.” All trace of humor was gone from Baby’s voice. “I want you to go inside. Leave Grizzly alone.”
“Why?”
“Because something might be wrong with him. He’s a wild dog, ultimately. I don’t want to take any chances on him hurting you.”
She stared at Grizzly. “But what if he’s injured? I don’t think he would hurt me.”
“He may not mean to, but don’t go near him right now, okay? Are you inside your house?”
She turned away from the dog and walked toward her house, steeling herself against Grizzly’s whine that had turned to barking. Baby was right, there was definitely something wrong with the dog.
“Jesus, I can hear him. Get in the house, Cupcake.”
Quinn glanced over her shoulder as she walked up the two steps onto her small porch. Grizzly was barking more frantically now, but at least had only gotten a little bit closer. “Put the phone down,” Baby said in her ear. “Get your keys out. Don’t hang up.”
She slid her phone into her purse and grabbed the keys, but when she went to slide them into the lock, the door swung open. She took couple of steps inside, trying to remember if she could have possibly left her door not only unlocked, but open. She didn’t remember locking the door, but it was such an ingrained habit she couldn’t imagine that she wouldn’t.
She flipped on the lights and sucked in shocked breath.
Her house was in shambles. Someone had completely destroyed it.
There was graffiti on the walls, all her furniture was tipped over, the precious books she’d used as end tables ripped apart and strewn around the room.
“Quinn!” She finally heard Baby’s boom and grabbed her phone from inside her purse.
“I’m here. I...” She looked around again and couldn’t help it, she started to cry.
“What’s wrong? Quinn, talk to me.”
“I need you.” Was all she managed to get out.
“I’ll be right there.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Baby raced over to Quinn’s house. He’d been dressed in only jeans when she’d called, working on some