“You watched three seasons in two days?” Val raised her eyebrows.
Tetra shrugged. “It’s really good, okay? Humans are much more interesting than I thought.”
Val smiled. “A friend of mine is working on getting a streaming service that brings human-made TV and movies to Avalon up and running.”
“Bully for them,” Tetra muttered, her gloom returning. “Where are we going? This isn’t the turn you usually make to the bar.”
“We’re picking up Blair and Yuka from their house since they need to get out, but first, I have to make a quick stop. I won’t be long.” Val steered Genevieve into an empty space by the veterinary clinic. “Stay in the car.”
“Fine,” Tetra spat. “Stuck in this thing again.” Genevieve dropped the glovebox open on Tetra’s knees. “Ow!”
Val left them to duke it out and strode into the clinic. An old lady with a cat carrier and a mom with three kids and two puppies watched her enter.
“Hey, Jess.” Val leaned on the counter.
Jess looked up, startled. “Oh, hey!” She paused. “Are...are you here about the dog?”
“Yeah. I’d like to see him if that’s okay.” Val interlaced her fingers.
Jess hesitated. “Are you sure you want to do that?”
Worry clenched Val’s gut. “Is there something wrong with him?”
“No! No.” Jess sighed. “All right. You’d better come through.”
Val followed her down a bare hallway, past the exam room, and into a narrow room where stainless steel cages lined three walls stacked four high. Most were empty. A puppy on a drip wagged his tail in one, and a sullen cat wearing a cone glowered from another.
“Here he is.” Jess gestured at one of the largest cages in the back corner.
Val crouched beside the steel bars. “Hey, boy.”
The dog was so massive that he almost took up the whole cage. He lay on his side, cozy on a blanket patterned with paw prints. His IV bag hung from a stand outside the cage. The white cast on his left foreleg shone in the cage’s gloom, and he didn’t move except for the slow rise and fall of his ribs.
“What’s wrong with him?” Val asked.
“Nothing much, physically,” Jess told her. “Apart from the pelvis and the leg, he’s fine. His bloodwork is great. His scans are all good. There’s no sign of infection.”
“Then why is he just...lying there?” Val gripped the bars. “Is he in pain?”
Jess shook her head. “We’ve given him medication to keep him comfortable.”
“Is it making him sleepy?” Val asked.
Jess sighed. “He’s not hurting, sick, or sedated. He’s depressed.”
Val looked up at her. “I guess I can’t blame him. Who knows what he went through before I hit him with the car?”
“Don’t blame yourself.” Jess touched her shoulder. “Many dogs do poorly in cages, but he’ll be in one for a while. I hope he starts eating. That’s all.”
“Poor guy. He’s so skinny. He must be starving.” Val reached through the bars. “Aren’t you hungry, boy?”
Her fingers kneaded the dog’s ears, and his tail quietly thudded on the blanket.
“Hey, look at that!” Jess leaned closer. “He’s wagging his tail.”
“He did that the other night when I picked him up, too.” Val rubbed his neck. “Didn’t you, buddy?”
The dog’s tail wagged faster.
“He’s barely lifted his head since you left. It’s good to see a little life in him.” Jess didn’t smile. “Maybe he’ll perk up with more time.”
“You don’t seem happy about that.” Val sat back. “What’s going to happen to him?”
Jess looked away. “The local animal shelter will take him once he’s stable. Probably tomorrow.”
“Will they take care of him?” Val asked.
Jess nodded. “Oh, yes, but every shelter in the country—maybe in the world—is overflowing. His chances of getting adopted are slim. He’s a large dog, untrained, probably never been socialized...”
“But he’s beautiful,” Val protested. “Friendly, too.”
“He is beautiful. I think this red coat will be lovely after he’s had a bath and a good grooming. There must be Irish Setter in him, although his size makes me think of a Tibetan Mastiff.” Jess’s smile faded. “None of that matters, though. There simply aren’t enough homes for all the unwanted dogs in the world. Especially not dogs like him.”
Val didn’t need to ask what would happen to the dog if he wasn’t adopted. She pressed her fingers into his matted coat and gently caressed him, and the steady thumping of his tail resounded through her soul.
CHAPTER TEN
Blair raised the glass of Gold Pilsner to his lips and drank deeply, leaving a line of white foam on his thick copper mustache. “Ahhh.” He lowered the glass. “That hits the spot.”
