Chapter 1: The Empty Leash
“Has anyone seen Buddy?””
The little girl’s voice trembled as she stepped into the living room, clutching a yellow leash and collar against her chest.
For one brief moment, nobody answered.
Sunlight filtered through the curtains, falling across the familiar furniture. A television played quietly in the background. An untouched cup of coffee sat on the wooden table beside an old newspaper.
Everything looked normal.
Except Buddy was missing.
Seven-year-old Lily stood near the doorway, her two brown braids hanging over the shoulders of her cream-colored top. Her fingers tightened around the leash clip, making it jingle softly.
“Grandpa?”” she asked.
Her grandfather, Arthur, sat on the sofa wearing his usual mustard-yellow sweater. His gray beard moved slightly as he lowered his newspaper.
“What is it, sweetheart?””
“Buddy isn't in his bed.””
Arthur folded the newspaper.
“Maybe he's outside enjoying the sunshine.””
“I checked.””
Lily shook her head.
“I checked his water bowl. I checked under the kitchen table. I even checked Mom's bedroom.””
She swallowed.
“His blanket is there, but he isn't.””
Across the room, Rene, Lily's father, looked up from his phone.
“Did you check the backyard?””
“Yes, Daddy.””
“Behind the shed?””
“Yes.””
“Under the porch?””
Lily's eyes filled with tears.
“Daddy, I called him three times. He always comes when I call.””
Rene immediately stood.
“Okay. Don't worry. We'll find him.””
He walked toward the glass doors leading to the backyard, but before he could reach them, his eyes landed on something strange.
The yellow dog bowl was missing from its usual spot beside the kitchen entrance.
So was Buddy's favorite blue blanket.
Rene stopped.
“Dad?””
Arthur looked up.
“What?””
“Did you move Buddy's things?””
“No. Why would I?””
Rene opened the back door and stepped onto the patio.
The garden looked peaceful. The grass was freshly cut, the flowerbeds were undisturbed, and the small wooden kennel stood exactly where it had always been.
But the gate was closed.
Rene tested the latch.
It was locked.
He looked back toward the living room.
“Dad, did you check the yard gate?””
Arthur shook his head.
“It was secure.””
Rene frowned.
“Are you sure?””
“Absolutely. I locked it after breakfast. I even tested it twice because that little rascal figured out how to push it open last month.””
Lily hurried outside.
“Buddy!””
Her small voice echoed through the garden.
“Buddy, it's me!””
Nothing.
She walked to the kennel and crouched beside it. A tiny red rubber ball lay in the grass.
She picked it up.
“Daddy, he left his ball.””
Rene crouched beside her.
“Maybe he went somewhere with someone.””
“Who?””
Rene had no answer.
Then a woman's voice interrupted them.
“Excuse me, Rene. I just need your confirmation.””
They turned.
Vanessa, Rene's wife, stood near the living-room entrance wearing a denim-blue shirt. Her dark hair was tied neatly behind her head, and a tablet rested in her left hand.
She looked composed.
Almost too composed.
Rene walked back inside.
“Confirmation for what?””
Vanessa glanced at her screen.
“For the transport service from yesterday.””
Rene blinked.
“What transport service?””
She tapped the tablet.
“The collection and delivery arrangement.””
Arthur slowly lowered his newspaper.
“Collection and delivery of what?””
Vanessa hesitated.
Then she looked at Rene.
“Buddy.””
The room became painfully quiet.
Lily stopped moving.
Rene stared at his wife.
“What did you just say?””
Vanessa exhaled impatiently.
“I arranged transportation for Buddy yesterday. The company was supposed to collect him and deliver him to the new recipient.””
Arthur pushed himself forward on the sofa.
“You scheduled a transport for Buddy?””
Vanessa looked mildly irritated.
“Please don't make this sound worse than it is.””
Arthur's face changed.
“Worse than what? You arranged for someone to take my granddaughter's dog?””
Vanessa lowered her tablet slightly.
“He was going to a better home.””
Lily looked from her mother to her father.
“A better home?””
Her voice was barely audible.
Vanessa avoided her eyes.
“Sweetheart, we talked about this.””
“No, we didn't,” Rene said.
Vanessa gave him a warning look.
“Rene, not now.””
“Not now? You just told me you arranged for strangers to take our dog!””
“They weren't strangers. They were professional transport staff.””
Rene took a step toward her.
“Who authorized this?””
Vanessa's expression tightened.
“I did.””
Arthur stood up.
“You had no right.””
Vanessa turned toward him.
“Arthur, with all due respect, this is a household decision.””
“No,” Arthur replied.
“It is a decision about a living animal that this family loves.””
Vanessa tapped the screen again.
“I just need to confirm the destination address.””
Lily approached her mother, still holding the yellow leash.
“Mommy, where did he go?””
Vanessa looked down at her.
For a second, something almost like guilt crossed her face.
Then it disappeared.
“Please, not right now, Lily.””
“But I want Buddy.””
Vanessa brushed past the question and began reading from her tablet.
“The recipient address is listed as—”
“WAIT!””
Rene sprang to his feet so quickly that his chair scraped violently against the wooden floor.
Arthur turned sharply.
Vanessa froze.
Rene stared at the tablet.
“Read that again.””
“What?””
“The recipient address.””
Vanessa's fingers tightened around the device.
“Why?””
“Because I know that address.””
Arthur stepped closer.
“What address?””
Vanessa didn't answer.
Lily looked up at her father.
“Daddy, is Buddy coming home?””
Rene didn't look away from the tablet.
He slowly shook his head.
“Dad,” he whispered, “that address belongs to—”
Vanessa locked the screen.
“Rene, don't.””
But he had already recognized the first line.
May you like
And the person listed as Buddy's recipient was someone none of them had spoken to in nearly six years.
Someone who was supposed to be dead.
