At the trailhead, Reeceshowed Shane the last text Neve sent him as they chugged water and caught their breath inside Reece’s parked truck. It was their first chance to check messages since their run. Beside him, Pearl’s ridiculously loud panting only matched her sloppy slurping from her water bowl.
“I’ve got one from her too and a missed call.” Shane showed Reece his screen.
Reece fired up the engine, waiting for his truck and phone to connect, and dialed her number as he pulled onto the highway. It rang … and rang … and rang.
“She might be with a patient,” Shane suggested.
“She might,” Reece agreed. He remembered something about a new patient with a sick cat.
“I’ll try calling her. You drive,” Shane instructed.
When they reached the outskirts of town fifteen minutes later, they still hadn’t raised her.
Reece turned toward Shane. “Mind if I drop you and take off? I’m going to run by the clinic.”
Shane flicked a finger toward the windshield. “I’ll go with you. You can drop me after that, or I’ll walk home.” In a town only a few blocks square, almost every resident was within walking distance of Bowen Street.
They had nearly reached the town limits when Hailey called. “Hey, Reece. I set up a last-minute appointment with Neve to get Chance his shots, but when I drove to the clinic, she wasn’t there. Is she with you?”
“No. I have messages to call her, but she didn’t say what it was about. Was her Tahoe there?”
“Hmm. That doesn’t sound like her, but maybe I misunderstood.”
“Shane and I are headed to the clinic now. We’ll check things out and keep you posted.”
Reece pulled into the parking lot behind the clinic, spraying gravel in his hurry to park and get out. Neve’s Tahoe wasn’t there, and when he raced to the back door, he found it locked. He pounded but got no answer.
“Maybe she had to run an errand, or she’s at home,” Shane suggested.
Reece nodded, quelling his rising worry. Something wasn’t right. “Maybe.” He sped around the building, Shane on his heels. The front door’s new glass panel had been installed, and Reece shaded his eyes and peered inside.
“Anything?” Shane asked from a step or two below.
“No, everything looks like it would if the clinic was closed. Dark, with a few nighttime lights on.” Reece rattled the doorknob, but it didn’t give. “Locked.”
“Do you have keys?”
“No, but she keeps spares in her home office. I was gonna go to the house next to see if she’s there.”
A car pulled up to the curb. A woman popped out of the driver’s side, slammed the door, and rushed up to them. “Is the vet here yet?”
Shane shook his head. “Doesn’t look like it. Did you have an appointment?”
“An hour ago. It was last minute, but Dr. Embry said she would fit my cat in. I’ve never been to this clinic before, but it has good reviews and was the closest one, and I have a very sick kitty.” Tears welled in the woman’s eyes.
Shane’s eyebrow dipped. “What’s wrong with your cat?”
The woman wrung her hands. “I have that cat litter that turns color if a cat has certain ailments, and it turned blue, which means a urinary tract infection, though I have no idea why that would make her throw up.” The woman babbled on about the cat litter and what had eventually brought her to Neve’s door. Impatient, Reece tuned her out and turned back to the glass, once again panning the interior.
An extra splash of light caught his eye. “Shane,” he barked. “There’s a light on in the back hallway that’s usually off. I can tell because that area’s brighter.”
His buddy’s demeanor was unruffled. “Go get the keys. I’ll get some more information from this lady, then I’ll run home and get my patrol car and meet you back here.”
Reece didn’t hesitate.
He reached Neve’s house in record time, but neither she nor her vehicle was there. His internal alarm bells rang louder. He sprinted from his truck and into the house.
Keeping a tight rein on his mounting panic, Reece got Pearl and Mr. Whiskers settled with food and water before gathering his winter clothes, tactical gear, first aid pack, and extra water and food. As he loaded up his truck, Pearl whined and wiggled pitifully. “Aren’t you exhausted after our run, meatloaf?”
