“We need two units on Boxelder Way and a unit on Lennox Avenue,” Caption Rory stated firmly. “The rest of y’all rolling with me to the airport. We got word of dummies trying to sneak shit on the plane.”
“What’s happening on Boxelder?” I inquired, trying to decide which location I wanted to respond to.
Before Captain started issuing out assignments, I wanted to know my options.
Captain Rory met my gaze. “Suspect search,” he said matter-of-factly. I eased to the edge of my seat, but before I could volunteer my services, I was shot down. “And before you throw your name out there, let me tell you no now.”
Several officers snickered at the comment. From my position I saw most of their backs. I grilled those bold enough to look my way, wiping the snarky looks right off their faces.
I didn’t see shit funny.
“Why not?” I asked with an attitude.
“Your canine’s out of commission,” Captain Rory advised. “You should see his kennel. It’s atrocious.”
I turned to Tanner standing in the corner. As usual, he was late to the morning meeting, holding up the wall since he was too lazy to borrow a chair from another room. Due to an investigation, he was on desk duty, which included tending to the occupied kennels. I put Kaiser in his after he threw up on the carpet in my cubicle. As the handler, I expected Tanner to come to me first with any issues. Instead, he went right to the boss.
Ass-kisser.
“Why didn’t you say nothing to me?” Tanner appeared surprised to be addressed. “Yeah, you,” I said, answering the question on his face. “You could’ve told me there was a problem.”
Since I hadn’t heard anything, I thought Kaiser was fine, resting off what I concluded to be a stomach bug.
Just last night he was fine.
“He thought the situation warranted immediate attention,” Captain Rory answered instead. “So he called me to see for myself. And…” He began walking to the other side of the room.“Although I don’t see anything alarming, it won’t hurt to have him checked out. Janice is scheduling him an appointment now and you’re taking your partner to the vet.” Falling back in my chair, I sighed. “Everybody except Green, listen up for your assignments.”
Fuck that.
I got up and walked out.
SAGE
“Room two’s ready for you,”Sandera advised. She followed up with a rundown. “Owner reports previous nausea and vomiting, low energy, and just kinda laying around. He’s better now though.”
“Okay. Seems simple enough.” I lifted from the desk, glancing at the closed door. “Anything else I need to know?” Sandera shook her head. “Well, I’m going in…”
With my tablet in hand, I made my way to the door, noting the name written on a small whiteboard.
Kaiser.
Knocking on the door, I turned the knob without waiting for a response. “Good morning, I’m Doctor—” Shock stole my words. It was him. Fine ass Officer K. Green from the other day. “Umm.”What was I saying?“Doctor umm… Doctor Smith…Sage Smith.” Clearing my throat, I gathered my thoughts. “I’m Doctor Sage Smith.” Closing the door, I walked further into the room. “And this must be Kaiser.”
He said nothing.
The awkward silence had me looking around the room until I raised the tablet, scanning the notes. My head lifted when he started speaking.
“I didn’t know you were a doctor.”
“Most people don’t.” Smiling, I stepped around the exam table toward Kaiser laid out on the floor. “Somebody’s not feeling well.” Lowering to a squat, I rubbed the top of his head. “What’s wrong, buddy?”
“That’s what we’re here to find out,” Officer Green answered for him. “He was throwing up earlier and he’s just been laying around. I think he’s good, but Captain wants to be sure.”
“Can you get him up on the exam table?” I watched the corded muscles of Officer Green’s arms flex as he fulfilled my request. Almost hypnotized, it took a few seconds for me to snap out of it. “Alright. Let’s see what’s going on?”
I started with an external exam. Finding nothing out of the ordinary, I ordered bloodwork and lucked up on the opportunity for a stool sample after Kaiser started whining. Officer Green told me what the whine meant, so I followed them outside, gloves on and bag in hand for collection.
“I expected something much looser.” I gently squeezed the sample. “But…this is good. It’s formed, a chocolatey brown color, no signs of parasites?—”
