When the Bough Breaks (Rose Gardner Investigations #6) - Denise Grover Swank Page 0,54

was a professional, and he loved Muffy.

In fact, what struck me most about my short trip down memory lane was that my relationship with James, which had shaped my life in so many ways, had been so short.

“Did you recognize the car?” Joe asked as he turned slightly, causing Muffy to whimper again. “Do you know who it was?”

“I think it was that woman who showed up at the nursery.” I’d been concerned enough to tell Joe about her both times I’d seen her before. “Or at least it was her station wagon. The car was parked under the trees, and I couldn’t see inside.”

“She was watchin’ the house?” he asked.

“I guess.”

Flashing lights from a sheriff cruiser approached from the other side of the road. Joe’s phone rang and he answered it with, “Simmons.” He was silent for a moment, listening, and then said, “We’re on our way to the vet now. Rose is with me. I want you to do a thorough search of the property and be on the lookout for the same late model station wagon I had you looking for a few months ago. Let me know what you find out.” He paused, then said, “Thanks, Benson,” before he hung up.

“You already called it in?” I asked.

“Someone was on your property and hurt our dog,” he said in a growl while tenderly holding Muffy. “Of course I already called it in.”

Our dog.

Warmth filtered into my heart, but guilt was fast behind it. I couldn’t help but think I’d brought this on us by traipsing around in a black hat and heels.

“I’m sorry,” I said to both Muffy and Joe. “This is all my fault. That woman came to see the Lady in Black. She was here because I couldn’t leave well enough alone.”

“Rose, it’s not your fault,” Joe said emphatically. “In fact, given the timing, I suspect it has something to do with Mike.”

“But she knew I was the Lady in Black.”

“It doesn’t mean anything.”

I was too upset to reason this through right now. “How’s Muffy?” I asked, my voice breaking.

“She’s hanging in there,” he said. “Her breathing is steady and she’s lookin’ at me.”

I glanced over and saw the top of her head in the glow of the dashboard lights, her bloody face pointed toward his.

I sped up, driving over the speed limit, figuring that this was truly an emergency and I had the chief deputy sheriff with me. When I pulled into the parking lot of the veterinary clinic, the lights were on and Levi’s truck was parked in front. Joe jumped out and raced for the door, Muffy in his arms, and Levi opened it before he reached it. They were already in an exam room by the time I got inside.

Muffy was lying on the table, the towel unwrapped. Blood soaked her mangled back leg and covered her head. Her entire body was shaking. She saw me walk in and began to whine.

I nearly lost it again, but I told myself I had to be strong for her. I could fall apart later.

“How bad is it?” I asked, walking closer but afraid to touch her. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt her any worse.

“That’s what we’re trying to figure out,” Levi said in a calm voice as he pulled the stethoscope from around his neck.

She whimpered as he pressed it to her chest, keeping her gaze on me, but I was still too scared to touch her.

“Did you see what happened?” Levi asked as he moved the stethoscope to her side.

“Uh…” I said, pressing a hand to my chest. “She ran toward a car parked in the driveway. I told her to stop, but she just kept running. She seemed intent on chasing it down. Then the driver pulled forward and started to make a U-turn, and she was going so fast she couldn’t stop—Muffy went right under the car.” I took a breath to keep from breaking down. “Joe heard me yellin’ and came runnin’ out and took over after that.”

“Did you see her get run over by a wheel?”

“No.”

Levi nodded as he studied Muffy. She yelped as he lightly pressed on her belly.

“I’d like to get some x-rays,” he said. “Margi’s on her way in to help, but Muffy’s back leg is clearly broken, and I suspect that she has some internal injuries. Her abdomen is distended and painful to the touch.”

“Oh no,” I cried out.

Levi gave me a soft smile. “The x-rays will tell me if