Chapter 23

Harvey

Harvey sticks his nose behind the pile of garbage bags.They’re full of rotten odors, and normally he’d love to rip them open and burrow his snout in all the stink, but at this moment, he barely notices them. There is something alive buried in the trash.

Austin helps, carefully lifting the bags up and away. He can hear a faint sound, almost drowned out by traffic from the street. Harvey pushes in with his nose until he finds a cardboard box. There! Inside is the source of the scent. Beside him, Austin gasps.

Harvey puts his paws on the edge of the box and peers in. Even though it isn’t moving, Harvey knows it is alive. But for how much longer? “Poor thing,” Austin whispers, crouching beside Harvey. Gently, Harvey nudges it with his nose. The puppy takes a breath.

Harvey’s excitement grows. He would like to yip, but something tells him no. A fragile thing like this needs something Harvey can’t give.

“We can’t leave it here,” Austin says, glancing up and down the alley. He drops Harvey’s leash and takes off his hoodie. Harvey watches as Austin moves slowly, picking up the pup and wrapping it. The wee thing is so small, only its tiny pink nose pokes out. Austin makes sure it can breathe and shows Harvey. Harvey presses his nose against the newborn and inhales. Under the filth of the alley, he can smell its newness. It’s quivering with hunger and fear. Harvey gives it a lick. You are safe now. This boy will care for you.

Austin bundles the puppy against him and picks up Harvey’s leash. “Let’s go, Harvey. We have to bring it back to Brayside.”

Harvey walks with quick, efficient steps. He’s not interested in sniffing fire hydrants or lampposts. Out of my way, people, he says with his trot and his tail. We have important business. New puppy here! No one gets in their way. In fact, with Austin following closely, they make it back to Brayside in record time.

As soon as Harvey is inside the sliding doors, Austin drops the leash. “Artie, look!” he says. “Look what Harvey found.” Austin kneels on the carpet and puts down the hoodie. Harvey stands beside him, watching. The tiny dog’s eyes are closed. A white strip stretches from a pink-nosed snout to the nape of its neck, and its legs are white too. Splotches of light brown surround both eyes and floppy ears, and there’s another brown spot on its side.

Artie comes around the front desk and bends down beside Austin. “Harvey found it?”

“In a box in the alley. Right beside a dumpster.”

Artie’s mouth tightens. “Who would do that?”

Austin sits back on his heels. “What do we do? It’s so little. I can’t even tell if it’s a boy or a girl.”

Up until now, Harvey has stayed back, watching. But the pup is shivering. Instinctively, Harvey steps onto the sweatshirt and circles. Austin gasps. “Harvey! No! You’ll hurt it!”

Harvey ignores Austin. Carefully, he positions himself so the puppy’s body will be parallel to his and lies down. The puppy nestles closer, seeking Harvey’s warmth. This is how Maggie finds him a few minutes later when she comes out of the suite at the end of the hall.