Drained (Edgars Family #6) - Suzanne Ferrell Page 0,19

I didn’t see them this past Friday. I guess I just figured they’d found a warm place for the night.”

“They?” Aaron asked.

“Art and Stanley.” A whisper of a smile crossed her face as she glanced down at the crazy-haired terrier. It fled as fast as it came. “Never saw one without the other. If you have Stanley, something bad’s happened to Art.”

Aaron exchanged a knowing look with Brianna. That was the tenth time they’d heard that comment tonight. “Well, thank you Carol. If you should see him or hear anything from anyone on the streets about him, would you give me a call?” he said as he handed her one of his business cards.

“Sure will.” She read the card, slipped into her jeans pocket then climbed onto the first step into the truck before pausing. “What’s going to happen to Stanley?”

“For now, he’s going to stay with us,” Brianna said, giving a gentle tug to the dog leash, but Stanley didn’t move, instead seemed to be looking down the street.

“He’s probably wanting to go home,” Aaron said.

“He has a home?” Brianna asked. “I thought Art was homeless?”

“I don’t mean a house or apartment where he pays rent. Like most of the people out on the streets, Art would’ve found a spot where he felt comfortable and claim it as his. A favorite bridge to sleep under. An abandoned car or alley doorway or dumpster. Safe from the elements, but where most other people would leave them alone.”

“That’s right,” Carol agreed. “I see the same people in the same neighborhoods over and over. None of them wandering off miles away or anything. This is a little south from where Art usually waits for his meal.” She pointed up the road. “His usual spot’s about three blocks north of here.”

“Thanks, again,” Aaron said, snatching the dog into his arms and heading to where they’d parked Brianna’s car halfway down the block so not to interfere with any homeless coming to the food truck for dinner. After a few of his natural strides, he realized that even with her long legs she was having to run to keep up and slowed his pace.

“Do you think we’ll find where Art and Stanley have been sleeping?” she asked as she climbed in the driver’s seat once more. While they’d maneuvered their way around town this evening, he’d gotten used to her behind the wheel. She was a very good driver, well aware of her surroundings, the speed limit and traffic.

“I don’t know. We’ll park and see what kind of buildings are in the area. Maybe Stanley can take us to the spot.”

“Are terriers good at that kind of thing?” she asked as they drove up the road and pulled into a vacant spot on the street.

Aaron shrugged. “I have no idea. But he’s a dog, so his sense of smell is acute. He knows the area. He was already trying to walk this way. Best chance we have of finding any clue about Art may be here.”

“What if…” she hesitated, a little tremor in her voice.

“Let’s focus on one step at a time. First, we see if our little friend here can show us where his home is. After that we’ll deal with what we do or don’t find. Okay?”

“Okay. I won’t buy trouble,” she said then shut off the car.

Once they were on the sidewalk, she clicked the electronic lock button on her key, setting the alarm system. She knew they weren’t in a safe neighborhood and didn’t have to be reminded. The small cannister of pepper spray attached to her keyring suggested she didn’t feel any neighborhood was safe anymore. Probably since her abduction from her own home three years ago.

Aaron wrapped the hand loop of the leash around his hand to secure the grip before setting Stanley on the sidewalk. Good thing, because despite his size, the pup nearly pulled him off his feet as he dashed towards the abandoned building on the corner of the street, barking all the way.

The hairs on the back of Aaron’s neck tingled like they did when closing in on a suspect.

Funny thing. Despite all the new people and places—him and Brianna, the hospital, restaurant and morgue—Stanley had only barked like this twice. Now and at Paula’s place.

Aaron picked up the pace, until he was trotting alongside the pup. Stanley didn’t stop at the main entrance but continued around through the side of the brick building to where a metal gate stood open and a path