Chapter 2: Yesterday's Pick-Up
Nobody moved.
The animal transport employee remained on the doorstep, holding her clipboard.
Marcus looked from her to his wife.
“Yesterday's what?””
The woman cleared her throat.
“Yesterday's dog pick-up. I just need to confirm a couple of details.””
Walter stepped forward.
“Which dog?””
The employee checked the paperwork.
“Buddy.””
Maya made a small sound.
It was almost a gasp.
She looked at her mother.
Then at the woman.
Then back at her mother.
“Mommy?””
Renee took two steps toward the entrance.
“This is a misunderstanding.””
The employee looked up.
“Are you Renee Mitchell?””
“Yes, but—”
“Then I have the right address.””
Marcus moved between them.
“Hold on. You're telling me somebody came here yesterday and took our dog?””
The employee nodded.
“According to the transport record, yes.””
Walter's face hardened.
“Who authorized that?””
The woman looked at the paperwork.
“Renee Mitchell.””
Walter stared at his daughter-in-law.
“You sent Buddy away?!””
Renee's confidence faltered.
“I had a reason.””
“A reason?”” Marcus repeated.
Maya began crying again.
“Where is he?””
Nobody answered.
The employee glanced at the little girl, then lowered her voice.
“I'm sorry. I don't want to discuss the details in front of the child, but I do need to verify the delivery information.””
Walter stepped closer.
“What delivery?””
The employee turned a page.
“The recipient's confirmation is still incomplete.””
Marcus looked confused.
“Recipient? What recipient?””
The employee nodded.
“That's why I'm here. There was an issue with the final documentation.””
Renee suddenly reached for the clipboard.
“Give me that.””
The woman pulled it slightly away.
“Ma'am, I need you to let me finish.””
“There's nothing to finish. You have the wrong paperwork.””
“I don't believe I do.””
Renee's jaw tightened.
Marcus watched the exchange carefully.
His wife was usually composed.
Even when they argued, she had a way of controlling the room without raising her voice.
But now her hands were shaking.
“Renee,” he said, “what did you do?””
She turned toward him.
“I was trying to solve a problem.””
“What problem?””
“Your father.””
Walter let out a disbelieving laugh.
“Me?””
“You know exactly what I'm talking about.””
“No, Renee. I really don't.””
She pointed toward the backyard.
“Every morning, you complained about Buddy. Every afternoon, you complained about the mess. You made it impossible for anyone to enjoy this house.””
Walter stared at her.
“I bought that dog for Maya after her mother died.””
The words landed heavily.
Marcus looked down.
Maya had been four when her biological mother passed away. Buddy had been a birthday present two years later, a small golden retriever puppy who slept beside her bed and followed her from room to room.
He had become more than a pet.
He was the one constant presence in a little girl's life.
Walter continued.
“That dog sat beside Maya through every nightmare. He slept outside her bedroom when she was sick. He followed her around this house when nobody else could make her smile.””
His voice cracked.
“And you thought I wanted him gone?””
Renee looked away.
The employee shifted the clipboard in her hands.
“I'm sorry, but I need to confirm the delivery.””
Marcus turned toward her.
“Can you tell us where Buddy was taken?””
The woman hesitated.
“I can tell you what the paperwork says.””
“Then tell me.””
She opened the folder.
“Buddy was collected from this address yesterday at approximately 9:30 in the morning.””
Marcus frowned.
“Yesterday morning?””
“Yes.””
He looked at Renee.
“Where were you yesterday morning?””
“I had errands.””
“What errands?””
“Marcus, seriously?””
“Answer me.””
Renee sighed.
“I took Buddy to the collection point.””
Maya began shaking her head.
“No.””
Renee looked at her.
“Sweetheart—”
“You said he was going to get a bath!””
Renee closed her eyes.
Marcus slowly turned.
“You told Maya you were taking Buddy to the groomer?””
“I didn't want her to get upset.””
“You lied to your daughter?””
“I was protecting her.””
“From what?””
Renee didn't answer.
Walter walked to the employee.
“Did my daughter-in-law tell you why she was surrendering him?””
The woman looked uncomfortable.
“We received a transport request with a private delivery designation.””
“What does that mean?””
“It means the animal wasn't being processed through a standard public shelter intake.””
Marcus stared at her.
“So where was he going?””
The employee checked another page.
“The destination was provided by the sender.””
“And who was the sender?””
“Renee Mitchell.””
Renee shook her head.
“This is ridiculous.””
The employee continued.
“There was also a note attached to the transport authorization.””
“What note?”” Marcus asked.
The woman turned another page.
“It stated that the family had agreed to the transfer.””
Walter's face went pale.
“That is a lie.””
Renee looked at him.
“You don't know everything that happened.””
“Then explain it!””
“I don't have to explain every decision I make to you.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“I'm her father. You're my wife. And Buddy is our family dog. You absolutely have to explain this.””
Renee's eyes narrowed.
“You've always taken your father's side.””
“That's not what this is about.””
“Of course it is. He has been interfering in our marriage since the day we moved into this house.””
Walter shook his head.
“This house was built by your mother, Marcus. I let you both stay here because I wanted my granddaughter close to me. I never asked you for a penny.””
Renee laughed bitterly.
“And there it is. The house.””
Marcus looked at her.
“What does the house have to do with Buddy?””
She didn't answer.
Instead, she turned toward the employee.
“Can you please leave? I'll contact your company later.””
The woman remained where she was.
“I can't close the record without the recipient confirmation.””
Renee's face changed.
“What confirmation?””
“The person who received Buddy has to be verified.””
Marcus's eyes narrowed.
“You said the delivery was completed.””
“It was marked as delivered.””
“Then why do you need confirmation?””
“Because the receiving party's signature doesn't match the name on the original authorization.””
Silence.
Walter stepped forward.
“Who signed for him?””
The employee glanced down.
“I can't disclose the full recipient information until I complete the verification.””
Renee suddenly reached for the clipboard again.
“STOP!””
The word echoed through the living room.
Maya began crying harder.
Marcus turned sharply.
“Renee!””
His wife stood motionless, her chest rising and falling.
The employee held the clipboard against herself.
“Ma'am, I need you to calm down.””
Renee looked at her.
“You don't understand what you're doing.””
“I'm just trying to complete the paperwork.””
“No. You're going to ruin everything.””
Marcus stared at his wife.
“Ruin what?””
Renee looked at him.
For a moment, something passed between them.
Fear.
Not the fear of being caught making a mistake.
The fear of something much bigger coming to light.
The employee turned the clipboard around.
“I have one last detail to verify.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“Read it.””
Renee shook her head.
“Please don't.””
Walter's voice dropped.
“Renee, what have you done?””
The employee ran her finger down the document.
“The recipient was listed as...””
Renee lunged forward.
“STOP!””
The clipboard slipped slightly in the employee's hands.
A loose page fluttered to the floor.
Marcus bent down to pick it up.
At the top was a printed photograph.
Buddy.
Below it were several handwritten notes and a large rectangular stamp.
Marcus read the first line.
Then his face changed.
“Dad?””
Walter looked at him.
“What?””
Marcus held the paper out.
“Look at this.””
Walter took it.
His fingers trembled as he read the address.
It wasn't a shelter.
It wasn't a grooming facility.
And it wasn't a veterinary clinic.
It was a residential address.
An address Walter recognized.
He looked up slowly.
“Renee... why is Buddy being delivered to someone who lives at—”
The employee interrupted him.
“Sir, that's not the most important part.””
Everyone turned toward her.
She carefully retrieved the fallen page.
“The delivery instructions specifically stated that Buddy was not to be released to anyone except the named recipient.””
Marcus swallowed.
“Who is the named recipient?””
The employee looked at Renee.
Then at Marcus.
“I was hoping you could help me confirm that.””
Renee backed away.
And Walter suddenly understood something.
May you like
His daughter-in-law wasn't afraid because she had sent Buddy away.
She was afraid because the person who received him was someone the family was never supposed to know about.
