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SHADOW TIPPED HIS HEAD side to side as he listened to September and Lia’s conversation. Hearing Combs’s voice on the phone made both women upset. He could always tell when September felt bad. While on the train, he’d worried for a while she might have one of her spells. She dozed and startled awake, over and over. He’d only slept a short while and tried to stay awake to do his job. He’d kept her safe on the strange noisy car-thing, and stood up tall and silently showed his teeth if anyone came too close. Not that he’d bite anyone. Shadow didn’t like the taste of people, not even bad-people. But if need be, he’d show his teeth and warn them away.
He liked Lia. She understood dogs, and he especially liked staying where she lived with the other dogs and cats. But he preferred having September all to himself. So he’d enjoyed their trip together. Mostly. When she got scared, though, the fun disappeared. And this last part of their trip hadn’t been fun at all.
He had whined with excitement mixed with more worry when Lia’s car pulled to a stop far away from the front of the familiar house. Before they’d left, they’d visited people here that mattered deeply to September. They belonged to September the same way that Macy-cat belonged to Shadow. And the way Karma-dog belonged to him, too. They were family.
He knew Combs mattered to September, a lot, too. Almost like they belonged to each other. That worried him.
“Wait for us here. If it’s safe, I’ll bring Mom back.” September left the car. “Shadow, let’s go.” He wagged his tail, ready to stretch his legs. September used her “serious business” voice, which meant fun work for him.
She didn’t attach his leash. He knew the way to the front door, but she led them around to the back instead. They approached from the alley, and when September placed a hand on his neck, he could feel her tension. His anticipation grew.
“Shadow, check-it-out.” She made a sweeping gesture with one hand, and he launched forward as though spring-loaded. The still, cool air offered perfect scenting conditions. He didn’t need to stick his nose in the grass. Scent hung several feet above the ground, and he could move quickly through it, testing as he ran.
He stopped to more closely investigate areas where scent pooled; in the corner where the garage connected with the house; the cluster of garbage cans; a hollow beneath trimmed hedges. No cars sat in the driveway, and Shadow detected two vehicles, one still warm, waiting patiently behind the closed garage door. He sniffed the front steps, identifying the smell of the hard-brittle Rose-woman who so often upset September. Fainter smells reminded Shadow of the children, especially his-boy Steven. Only the brittle woman had passed this way today.
Abandoning the front area, Shadow continued to the rear of the house. More smells wove a more tantalizing story. The tall wooden fence sheltered a pool of warm water, hidden from canine view but the pungent chemical water tickled a good-dog’s nose. Another familiar but frightening scent brought Shadow to alert. His ears swiveled, listening. A dragging sound combined with the scent of the bad-man from the cemetery. He didn’t wonder how the bad-man followed them so far. Shadow only knew he must warn September.
Another smell—copper bright—clouded the air. Water splashed. The danger-man could hurt September. He had to protect her.
Shadow’s whine escalated into whimpers of concern. He scratched the fence, leaped against it, and the gate squeaked open under his assault. He stalked inside, ears plastered flat and tail bristled, scanning back and forth, scenting for the danger. Steam billowed from the pool. Blood painted the water.
The gate swung shut, locking a good-dog inside.
