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“That’s a great idea.Let me know how it goes.”He gave me a wave and headed to his SUV.

I closed the front door and leaned against it.

Peopling really exhausted me.Truly.I eyed the laptop on the coffee table.Then I grabbed Wally’s leash.“Time for a walk.”

He didn’t appear impressed, but he did eventually walk down the stairs I’d bought for him because he couldn’t jump on and off the couch.

“One day, boy.One day we’ll both be able to jump.”

I wasn’t certain I believed that, but at the very least we could walk.

The rest of my problems would still be here when I got back.

Chapter4

Jeremy

Persistent scratching pulledme from the brilliant email I was composing.A way to tell a journalist to fuck off without actually using those words.And journalist was a generous term.Tommy Tucker was a guttersnipe who dragged everyone down to his level while claiming he was justtelling the truth to the masses.

Whatever the fuck that meant.

He’d been poking around my client’s personal life in intrusive ways that bordered on harassment.If I thought his boss might rein him in, I would’ve tried that.But Karen Mixer was as bad as hertopreporter.

And still the scraping noise continued.

Squirrels?Rats?Oh God, I hope not.

I saved the email.I wouldn’t send it now anyway, given how angry I was.I’d learned, unless the situation called for immediate action, waiting a few minutes—or hours—before hitting send could save a ton of headaches.Cooler heads prevailing and all that.

My journey through the house took me from the front parlor where my office was, through the kitchen, and to the back door.Which I opened.

And looked down.

Way down.

Wally stood there with a huge grin on his face, as if expecting to be let in.

Panic seized me.“Is Phillip okay?”I grabbed my spare key off the rack and headed outside.“Okay, boy, you need to go home.”

I would’ve sworn to God that the dog arched an eyebrow.

He didn’t have a leash, and I didn’t have anything that I could cobble something together without wasting precious time.

“Okay, buddy, hold still.”I angled myself to scoop him into my arms.

Even as I settled him, he licked my face.

“Uh, your breath is…gross.”I loved doggie kisses, but he definitely needed a breath mint.

Figuring going around the side of the house and using the gate to get to the front yard was about as quick as booting through the house, I headed that way.“Phillip?”I didn’t want to yell, but I was concerned.I didn’t know the guy, but he hadn’t seemed like the type to let his dog just wander about.

“Huh?”

The quiet word caught my attention.“It’s Jeremy.I have Wally.Uh…where are you?”I stood on the little grass strip between our houses.

“Backyard.”He sounded…sleepy?

“Phillip, I have Wally.So don’t worry, okay?”