“I appreciate that.”
“I’ll let you go. We’ll talk more in a bit. I’d like your bandmates and manager to come over too.”
I nod and hang up, sending a group text to the band explaining again what happened. They all agree to come over to my house and take the video call with our security team from there.
Then I grimace as I dial Barb’s cell phone.
“Grady, dear, what’s up?”
“Barb, did you leave Muffin out this morning?”
“No, I did leave the doggie door unlocked to the back room,” she says. She’s referring to her screened-in patio off the back of the house.
“Well, she got out. I found her and…” I pause because I don’t want to scare Barb, so I decide to not say the whole truth. “She was awfully close to some broken glass that was out there with some food. I brought her over to the vet just to make sure she didn’t eat any of it. She should be fine. Dr. Kneely is back with her now.”
“Oh, God! My poor baby! Damn it, Wayne, I told you we needed to make sure that the screen was properly secured to the door. She must have pushed it open. I think I had some food out on the porch for her, she must have dragged it into the yard. Thank goodness you were there, Grady! We’re on our way now.”
“I’ll wait here until you arrive,” I say to her.
“OK, we will be there in a few minutes.” She hangs up and I stare at my phone, my mind going a mile a minute.
Dr. Kneely, the vet, comes back out to talk to me. “Did you call the police?” she asks.
I nod. “Yes…it was intentional.”
She nods. “Yes, Muffin is a very lucky dog. She didn’t eat any glass. She’s fine.”
I sigh with relief. “Thank God.”
Dr. Kneely takes the seat next to me. “Mr. Daniels, I…do you know who might have done this? I’m leery about how to tell the Johnsons.”
“My…I’m in a band, and we have a stalker. I’m ninety-nine percent sure it was the stalker. The police are there now, collecting evidence.”
Her face turns white. “Whoever did this knows how physically devasting that could have been. I’m not sure if that helps with the investigation, but the officers might want to know that.”
“Are you going to tell the Johnsons what happened?” I ask her because I’m grappling with that very thought. I hate the thought of keeping it from them, but I also know that I don’t want to scare them. Mr. Johnson’s heart can’t take the stress.
She bites her lip. “Ethically, I should. But I’ve known them for years. They are family friends. I don’t want to scare them, so I will say it was likely some kids messing with things in the backyard. But…” She looks down and then back up at me. “Can you…maybe talk them into visiting her niece? I think it’s best if they are away for a few weeks. Don’t you?”
I nod. “I agree. I don’t want to worry Barb or scare Wayne. Lord knows his heart doesn’t need more stress.” Dr. Kneely nods, clearly understanding my reference to Wayne’s heart attack last year.
“Good, we’re in agreement, then. And, Mr. Daniels, please be careful. Whoever did this…they are dangerous.”
“I know,” I grimace.
Just as she stands, Barb and Wayne bust into the lobby, looking around frantically. Dr. Kneely walks over to them, taking Barb’s hands in hers.
“She’s just fine. I’d be more careful about her being outside. You just never know what type of trouble dogs can get into. And with your gate not being locked, anyone could get in the backyard.”
Barb gasps. “You don’t think someone was trying to hurt her, do you?”
“I don’t know. It was probably just an accident, but it could have been some kids messing around. Just be mindful.”
“My poor baby. Can I see her?” Barb asks while Wayne rubs her back.
“Of course, come on into exam room seven and I’ll bring in. You know, this would be a good time to go visit your niece in Palm Desert. That nice dry heat would be good for Muffin. And you two haven’t had a vacation in a long while.” Dr. Kneely looks over at me and I know that’s my cue to help her.
“I agree. You should go see Jenny. It’s been a while. I can keep an eye on your house. Plus, I have a new security firm and I can make sure they keep an eye on your house too.”
“Really?” Barb asks.
I nod. “Of course. You guys have been like family to me. It’s the least I can do.”
“Oh, you two kids are so nice. Maybe I will call Jenny, but first, I need to see Muffin.”
Dr. Kneely ushers them to room seven after I get hugs from Barb. She turns to me before she goes in the back.
“I’m serious, Mr. Daniels. Be careful. This person is dangerous. I just feel it.”
Something about her warning seems particularly ominous. I nod and leave. My nerves are shot, and my mind is going a million miles a minute as I head back to my house.
By the time I get there, Detective Benson is there, a cop car, and my window guy and his assistant are still working.
I get out of my car and start toward the police.
“Your window is almost done,” the contractor calls out to me from the front porch. I glance over and nod.
“Looks good. I’ll come to look in a minute.”
“Mr. Daniels?” Detective Benson calls out from my neighbors’ yard.
I head over and see him and a cop who is busy taking prints from around a small loose piece of screen.
“Did you find anything?” I ask, running my hand through my hair that’s in desperate need of a trim.
“Not yet. But…I’m not going to beat around the bush on this, Grady”—he looks me in the eye—“this just got a whole lot more serious.”
I know his words are true. A monster who would intentionally threaten to hurt a defenseless animal is a dangerous monster indeed.
“Is the dog OK?” he asks, showing me for the first time that maybe somewhere beneath his tough-cop persona he might actually be a human.
“She’s fine, thankfully. I just feel awful. I mean seriously. I don’t know what to tell the Johnsons.”
Benson nods to the platform where I found Muffin. “Clearly, it wasn’t accidental, but since I didn’t see any photos yet, I’ll let them know it looks malicious but could be vandals or delinquents.”
“The vet and I talked them into going away for a few weeks,” I add.
“Good. Better to have everyone you know vanish until we can find this fucker,” he says as he pulls out his phone. “Have you called the band yet?”
I shake my head. “I…shit. I’ll call them now. They are coming over here later for the call with our new security firm.”
“Good.” He hands me a card. “This is the lieutenant for your precinct, make sure the firm reaches out to him to coordinate any increased police presence that may be needed for your street. Now that this guy has threatened to hurt a neighbor’s dog, I’d say the whole damned street is possibly at risk.”
I pale. “Maybe I should leave for a while. I don’t want anyone getting hurt.”
“Where would you go?” Benson asks.