The Seal's Return. Patricia Potter

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      Also on the “to do” list was a visit to the veterinarian’s office to look at adoptable dogs. Kerry, along with Gordon, had gone through two terrible years. They both deserved more than she’d given them. She was intent on remedying that.

      Kerry, she knew, would be easier than Gordon. Her sister loved animals and reading. She was a good student, though her grades had also fallen in the past year.

      Gordon was more difficult. He had been a strong student until their mother became so ill. He was good with his hands and had built a fort in their backyard when he was twelve. It was still sound. He could also look at any puzzle and solve it in half the time it took someone else. But since their mother died, everything had been different.

      Lisa rose, put a robe over her nightshirt and headed toward the kitchen. To her amazement, she smelled the aroma of coffee and was even more surprised to see Kerry at the kitchen table eating a bowl of cereal.

      Kerry turned around, sensing her presence. “I made coffee,” Kerry said.

      “I smelled it. Thank you.” Lisa made a beeline for the pot on the counter. Coffee was her lifeblood.

      “Can we go over to the veterinarian clinic and see if they have dogs for adoption?” Kerry asked after Lisa dropped two slices of bread in the toaster.

      “Maybe this afternoon if she’s there. I have to meet with Dr. Bradley this morning and go over records.”

      “What will I do this morning?” Her voice was plaintive.

      “What about going to the library? You can ride your bike. Maybe you’ll meet some kids there.”

      Kerry shrugged. “Gordon says they’re all weirdos.”

      “And what, pray tell, qualifies someone as a weirdo?”

      Kerry nibbled on her cereal and shrugged, ignoring a question she probably couldn’t answer. “Will you call the vet this morning and see if we can come this afternoon?” she persisted.

      The eagerness in Kerry’s face warmed Lisa. She hadn’t seen it in far too long. She located the list of phone numbers Eve provided and found Dr. Stephanie Morgan’s number.

      Lisa looked at her watch. It was eight a.m. “She might be in now. Maybe Gordon will come with us and help pick one out.”

      “He probably won’t even be around,” Kerry said dismissively. “And it’ll be my dog, anyway. Will you call now, Lisa?” she begged.

      To Lisa’s surprise, Stephanie answered on the second ring and must have recognized her name on phone ID. “Hi,” she said. “Dr. Redding? Eve said you might call. What can I do for you?”

      “Eve said you might have some dogs available for adoption.”

      “Music to my ears,” Stephanie said. “I have a couple of really good rescues. Would you like to come over today?”

      “That would be great. My sister’s very excited.”

      “What about noon?” Stephanie said. “I have a break between appointments then.”

      “I’m meeting with Dr. Bradley at nine but lunchtime should be fine.”

      “I’m really glad Doc found someone to fill in for him. His doctors told him he shouldn’t be working at all, but he’s insisted on seeing patients since there’s been no one else.”

      “I’ll try to make sure he doesn’t need to see them now,” Lisa said.

      “Good. I’ll expect you and your sister at noon.” The phone clicked off.

      Lisa looked at her watch. Nearly eight. She needed to take a shower and dress. She had no idea what to wear in town. Black pants and a short-sleeved fitted blouse would probably do. She would take one of her white coats and drop it off at the clinic.

      She went upstairs and knocked on Gordon’s door. He’d been far too quiet since he went to his room last night. He had a backlog of movies on his tablet along with games but...

      No sound inside.

      She opened the door. He was still sleeping. She looked around. To her surprise there were no clothes on the floor. She closed the door, then knocked. Hard.

      Mumbling came from inside. “Just a minute.” Finally, Gordon appeared. His long hair was a mess. He was blurry-eyed as if he hadn’t had any sleep. “Wh-what do you want?” he asked rudely.

      “I have to leave to meet with Dr. Bradley,” she said. “I may not be back until noon, and then I’m taking Kerry to look at some dogs. Want to go with us? Maybe help Kerry pick one?”

      “You gotta be kidding. We’d never agree. She’ll want some little prissy thing. Besides, I have things to do. Going on a hike with a kid I met.”

      “Where to?”

      He shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know. I don’t live here. Just going to show me around.”

      Lisa swallowed hard. Nothing had changed. “You’re supposed to check in with the police department.”

      “Tomorrow,” he said.

      “I’ll make an appointment for you.”

      “Whatever,” he said, and closed the door.

      She wondered if he’d ever forgive her for bringing him here. It didn’t matter that she was trying to help him—help both of them. She’d hated to take them from the house they’d lived in all their lives, but it had become a house of ghosts.

      She went back downstairs and took a hot shower, trying to erase all the doubts she had, the failure she felt. She washed and dried her hair and pulled it back, fastening it with a clasp. Not very fashionable or stylish but fast and practical.

      She checked her watch again. Seven minutes until nine. The doctor’s office was just six blocks away but she was running late. She grabbed her white coat, the car keys, her laptop and stopped by the living room where Kerry was watching a talk show. “I’m not sure when I’ll be back but I promise it will be before noon. Try the library or maybe just explore this morning, okay?”

      She gave Kerry her allowance in case she wanted to go into town. She knew from her own teenage years how important it was to have at least a few dollars for a soft drink or emergencies. She hoped Gordon would find a part-time job as she had as a teenager.

      * * *

      JUBAL TRIED SLEEPING inside the cabin but woke up drenched in sweat. He’d been in the hut again. No light. No air. Only half a cup of filthy water to drink. His wrists were bound with rusty chain that tore into the skin, and he bled from several gashes inflicted by one of his captors.

      Forcing the images from his head, he glanced at the clock. A little after four a.m. He knew he wouldn’t go back to sleep. He stood and walked to the bathroom, turning on the light. He looked at himself in the mirror with disgust. Why in the hell had he bargained with that kid last night? Maybe he wouldn’t show up.

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