The look she gave him was torturous. He didn’t have to read her mind to see what it meant. Then it’ll be put down.As if it were a nuisance to be rubbed out, eliminated. Euthanized. Destroyed.
Vic frowned at the dog. Its sad eyes were closed as it savored the feel of his fingers rubbing behind its ears. Its weight felt heavy and warm where it leaned against his leg. He recalled the way it had approached him, tentatively at first, then confident he wouldn’t harm it. And here it sat, trusting as it let him pet it, with no clue Kendra spoke so casually of ending its life.
His voice was gruff when he finally spoke. “I’m late for work. Call me, will you? Let me know if it belongs to someone or not. Can you do that?”
Quickly, Kendra nodded. “Sure. Do you want—”
He cut her off. “I don’t know. Just let me think about it, will you? Don’t do anything rash.”
She nodded again. “I won’t. I think it likes you.”