Chapter 1: The Empty Leash
“Buddy’s gone!””
Those three words shattered the peaceful Sunday morning in the Henderson family home.
Seven-year-old Lily came racing into the living room, her pink sneakers squeaking against the hardwood floor. Her cheeks were wet, her dark curls bounced around her face, and both hands clutched a yellow dog leash.
There was no dog attached to it.
Her grandfather, Walter Henderson, immediately pushed himself up from his favorite armchair.
“What do you mean, sweetheart?”” Walter asked.
Lily struggled to catch her breath.
“Buddy’s not in the backyard! I called him, Grandpa. I looked everywhere. His water bowl is still there, but he's gone!””
Walter's face changed.
He had spent the last three years caring for Buddy, a golden retriever with gentle brown eyes and a habit of sleeping beside Walter's recliner. The dog had become more than a pet. He had been Walter's companion since his wife died.
Walter reached for his cane.
“Let me look, sweetheart.””
But before he could stand, his adult son, Marcus, entered from the kitchen.
“Dad, wait.””
Marcus wore a green shirt and held his phone. He had been checking the backyard security cameras after hearing Lily's cries.
His eyes moved from the empty leash to his father's worried expression.
“Where's Buddy?””
Walter shook his head.
“I don't know. Lily says he's missing.””
Marcus looked toward the sliding glass doors.
“Didn't you lock the gate last night?””
Walter stopped moving.
“What?””
“The backyard gate, Dad. Did you lock it?””
Walter tightened his fingers around his cane.
“Of course I locked it. I check that gate every night before bed.””
Marcus frowned.
“Then how did Buddy get out?””
A woman's voice came from the staircase.
“Maybe someone should ask why we still have that dog in the first place.””
Renee Henderson descended the stairs wearing a neatly pressed blue shirt and black trousers. Her hair was pulled into a smooth bun, and she held a white coffee mug.
She looked remarkably calm for someone whose stepdaughter was crying about a missing dog.
Walter turned toward her.
“Renee, this isn't the time.””
“I'm just saying, Walter. You've complained about Buddy for months.””
“I complained about the dog chewing my slippers. I never said I wanted him gone.””
Renee took a slow sip of coffee.
“You complained about his barking. You complained about the hair. You complained about how much money we spend on his food.””
Marcus stepped between them.
“Renee, nobody is talking about the food. We're talking about where Buddy went.””
Lily grabbed Marcus's hand.
“Daddy, Buddy wouldn't run away. He always comes when I call him.””
Marcus crouched to her level.
“I know, sweetheart.””
“He sleeps outside my bedroom when I'm scared.””
Marcus brushed a tear from her cheek.
“We're going to find him.””
Walter headed toward the back door.
“I'll check the garage.””
Renee placed her coffee on the side table.
“There's no point searching everywhere. He's probably wandered into the neighbor's yard.””
Walter stopped.
“You don't know that.””
“I know that dogs wander.””
“Buddy doesn't.””
Renee's jaw tightened.
“Walter, please don't turn this into another argument.””
Marcus looked at his stepmother.
“Why are you so defensive?””
For a moment, Renee said nothing.
Then she picked up her mug again.
“Because I'm the only person in this house thinking rationally.””
Marcus stared at her.
His father had been getting older, and lately, Renee had increasingly taken control of household decisions. She handled bills, arranged appointments, and sometimes answered questions directed at Walter.
Marcus had never particularly liked it.
But he had tolerated it because his father seemed happy.
Now, watching Renee stand there drinking coffee while Lily cried over her missing dog, he felt something uncomfortable settle in his stomach.
He opened the security camera application on his phone.
“Let's see what happened last night.””
Walter came closer.
“Good idea.””
Renee suddenly put down her mug.
“Marcus, those cameras haven't been working properly.””
He looked at her.
“They were working yesterday.””
“Then perhaps the recording didn't save.””
“Let me check.””
Marcus tapped the screen.
The backyard camera loaded.
At first, everything looked ordinary. The familiar wooden fence stood beneath the morning light. Buddy's water bowl sat beside his small outdoor bed.
Then Marcus moved the playback slider.
11:42 p.m.
The backyard gate was visible.
It was closed.
Marcus leaned closer.
“See? Dad locked it.””
Walter nodded.
“I told you.””
But then a figure appeared at the edge of the frame.
Someone wearing a dark jacket walked toward the gate.
The camera image blurred briefly.
The figure looked directly toward the camera before reaching for the latch.
Marcus froze.
“Dad?””
Walter leaned over his shoulder.
“What?””
“Look at this.””
The figure opened the gate.
Then the recording stopped.
Marcus tapped the screen repeatedly.
Nothing.
The footage ended at exactly 11:47 p.m.
Walter's face turned pale.
“Someone came into our yard?””
Renee moved closer.
“Maybe it's a neighbor.””
Marcus shook his head.
“Why would a neighbor come through our gate at midnight?””
Renee's eyes flickered toward the screen.
“I don't know, Marcus.””
Lily tugged at her father's sleeve.
“Can we call the police?””
Marcus nodded.
“Yes, sweetheart.””
He was about to dial when the doorbell rang.
Everyone turned.
Walter looked toward the front hallway.
“Who could that be?””
Marcus walked to the door.
When he opened it, a middle-aged man stood on the porch holding a clipboard. He wore a gray uniform shirt with an identification badge and had a small company logo embroidered over his chest.
“Good morning,” the employee said.
“I'm with North County Animal Transport.””
Marcus frowned.
“Can I help you?””
The man checked the address on his paperwork.
“I'm looking for Renee Henderson.””
Renee appeared behind Marcus.
“That's me.””
The employee glanced at his clipboard.
“Renee, I need your signature.””
The room fell silent.
Marcus turned slowly.
“What?””
The employee adjusted the papers.
“It's regarding yesterday's dog pick-up.””
Walter gripped his cane.
“Yesterday's what?””
The employee looked from Walter to Marcus.
“Dog transport. We completed a scheduled collection at this address.””
Marcus stared at Renee.
“Did you schedule someone to pick up Buddy?””
Renee opened her mouth.
No words came out.
Walter stepped forward.
“You sent Buddy away?””
“Walter, calm down.””
“Did you send my dog away?””
Renee looked toward the employee.
“This is a misunderstanding.””
The employee checked the paperwork again.
“Ma'am, I just need to confirm the delivery.””
Marcus's expression hardened.
“Delivery? What delivery?””
The employee glanced at the document.
“Yesterday's transport order lists the animal as Buddy, a golden retriever.””
Lily made a small sound.
She stepped closer to the employee.
“Is Buddy with you?””
The man's expression softened.
“I'm sorry, sweetheart. I don't have him with me today.””
“Then where is he?””
The employee looked at Renee.
“I was told to collect a signature from the person who authorized the transfer.””
Walter's voice trembled.
“You took him away without telling me?””
Renee lifted both hands.
“I was trying to solve a problem!””
“What problem?”” Marcus demanded.
“You know how difficult things have been. The dog was becoming a burden.””
Walter stared at her.
“A burden?””
“Don't make me the villain here.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“You arranged for someone to take my daughter's dog behind our backs?””
Renee's composure began to crack.
“I thought it was best for everyone.””
Lily clutched the yellow leash against her chest.
“Where is Buddy?””
The employee lowered his clipboard slightly.
“According to this document, the recipient was listed as—”
Renee suddenly shouted.
“STOP!””
Everyone froze.
Even the employee looked startled.
Renee's face had lost its color. Her coffee sat untouched on the table, and her hands were shaking.
Marcus slowly turned toward her.
“What name is on that paper, Renee?””
She said nothing.
The employee looked down at the document again.
“I don't think you understand, sir. There's a particular reason I was instructed to verify this delivery in person.””
Walter's eyes narrowed.
“What reason?””
The employee hesitated.
Then he looked directly at Renee.
“Because the recipient requested that the dog's original owner never be notified.””
Walter stopped breathing for a moment.
Marcus looked at his father.
Then at Renee.
And suddenly, the missing dog was no longer the only mystery in their house.
May you like
Because Walter had never given Renee permission to make decisions about Buddy.
And someone had specifically made sure he wouldn't find out.
