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Mr V’s hesitation drew the attention of the infidel hater I was pretty sure he was president of the Infidel Haters and Knitting Club He stood and walked over to us, feigning interest in the bag of food I’d brought to get a look at the receipt Which was just a receipt I wasn’t a coit People’s lives were at stake

But theexploded into vicious barks and blood-curdling snarls Yet bothlouder to be heard over the barks, "sorry, were you not going to charge today?"

When both men looked at me as if I had two heads, I becareat on , probably to avoid any hty then It’ll be twenty-four fifty"

As casually as I could, I let aze wander toward the back of the store TheyThey’d ordered fourcal of food over to Mr V’s sh it I took the opportunity to do what I’d really come for

I slipped a note fro okay?’ – while keepingin impatience, visible to the intruder

Mr V paused Fear spiked within hilance over his shoulder, then refocused on counting out thelook acco no towith me to leave it alone

But I couldn’t Not just yet I flipped the note over and heldhis co us both killed

The second note asked hi to break down, his ee

"Twenty-three, twenty-four, and fifty cents," he said "Oh, and four dollars for you, hon"

When he looked back up at me, he nodded, the movement so quick and subtle, I almost missed it

I stood crestfallen, even more unsure of what to do How to help hier, I felt for certain he’d allow me to call in the troops Sadly, that was not the case Keeping ave his hand a quick squeeze Before I could release hietether, I offered hi hi whiue test ers I didn’t respond By that point, I realized the dog ood day," I said, practically bouncing out of the shop But I’d taken a peek at the dog, now sitting in front of the desk, and a sad sense of elation washed over ht If all dogs, or all animals for that matter, had spirits that could stay behind when they died, eren’t the streets filled with the ghosts of animals? I saw at least five departed everyday, but besides Artemis, the German shepherd was the only other ani to protect his owners Maybe he stayed behind of his own accord, unwilling to shirk his duty because of a little thing like death

And if he had crossed to the other side, was there a heaven just for the heaven look like?

Too many unanswered questions My brain overfloith them I left the shop with a bittersweet taste in my mouth, even more confused about how to proceed Did I dare talk to thewith? I’d already told Ian I’d set off the Vandenbergs’s house alarer?

Bottom line: I had to find his family, and I had a plan Unfortunately, it would have to wait until that evening Mr V had several family photos, and they were all taken at the same cabin no matter how old his kids hen they were taken Either he had a cabin or he knew so thehbors Isolated spot Well caed with a plethora of trees and brush around And easily guarded They’d see anyone co up the road for h it wasn’t officially winter, it sure as heck felt like it