Part 2 (1/2)
On her fourth stroke, he closed his eyes in quiet pleasure.
aIam lonely, too, Max,a Kate whispered. In the aftermath of her fatheras death her emotions were so raw that just the realization that this dog was also lonely brought tears of empathy to her eyes. Trying to concentrate on something else, she thought about the possible ramifications of her reckless decision to have dinner with a stranger that night, and stroked Maxas head. When she finally glanced at her watch, it was fifteen minutes to eight. aI have to go now,a she said, giving the canineas head a quick pat before moving away from him. aTell you what,a she added, trying to sound cheerful for his sake, aif I get back here alive and unharmed tonight, weall have breakfast together in the morning, and Iall order you an entire, all-meat breakfast of your very own. How does that sound?a Large brown eyes looked at her imploringly, and he wagged his tail. He wanted more petting, and that was as clear as if head spoken the words. Kate backed into the suite and put her hand on the sliding gla.s.s door to pull it closed. In an idiotic attempt to bribe the forlorn dog to feel bettera”and make herself feel less guiltya”she made him promises as she slowly pulled the door closed. aIall order you bacon and sausage. Better yet, Iall order you a steak with a bone that you can take with you and bury! You really have to go now,a she urged, closing the door the last inch. On the other side of the gla.s.s, the dog stared at her intently; Kate reluctantly turned away.
Ten minutes later, wearing the outfit shead originally chosen, Kate bent down to slip on a pair of light blue sandals with narrow straps, then picked up the little blue clutch-style purse that matched the shoes. It was time to find out if shead made the most idiotic and possibly dangerous mistake of her life by agreeing to have dinner outside the hotel with a total stranger. If she didnat return that night and ended up dead, no one would ever know who murdered her.
Partway to the door, she had an idea and turned back. From her green canvas tote bag, she dug out the pen and tablet shead used earlier and tore off a fresh sheet of paper. On it, she wrote in large letters, aIave gone out to dinner with a man who says his name is Mitch.e.l.l Wyatt. I met him this afternoon in the Sandbar when I spilled a b.l.o.o.d.y Mary on his s.h.i.+rt. The waiter can give you his description.a Satisfied, she propped the note on the living room telephone, where it would be easily spotted by the police if they were investigating her disappearance. Once they read her note, theyad surely check with the waiters at the Sandbar, and one or more of them would be able to give a good description of her abductor.
At the door to her suite, Kate paused again and glanced over her shoulder at the terrace door. Max had moved off the terrace into the gra.s.s, and was poised to run. Evidently, he was too wily to hang around on her terrace if she left, and Kate was glad of that. She a.s.sumed head head for the safety of the trees and the company of his canine friends, as he usually did, but when she was only a few steps away from the white stucco villa that housed her suite, the brown dog bounded around the building and trotted straight to her side. Kate stopped worriedly and he sat. aYouare getting way too daring,a she warned him sternly. aThe groundskeepers are on the lookout for you, and I canat protect you if Iam not here.a Pointing to the woods, she ordered, aGo!a He glanced in the direction she pointed, then back at her.
aI know you understand me,a Kate told him firmly, abecause people are always chasing you off and telling you to go away, and then you do it. Now, I mean it.a She patted his head because she couldnat help herself; then she pointed to the line of trees and ordered sharply, aGo away!a He stood up slowly.
aGo ona”go away!a Kate said sharply, and clapped her hands for emphasis; then she turned her back on him and walked purposefully down the path to the hotelas main entrance. From the corner of her eye she watched him running toward the trees, but angling in the same direction she was headed. He was so large and so agile that he covered an amazing amount of ground in an effortless, loping canter, she noted admiringly, but if he intended to try to meet her outside the front of the hotel, head get into trouble for being there. She thought of the way head leaned his body against her and closed his eyes a little while ago when she petted him, and she felt like a cruel witch for running him off just a few minutes later.
Chapter Six.
aGOOD EVENING, MISS,athe doorman said when Kate walked past the lobby of the hotelas main building a few minutes before eight. Festive torches lit up the entrance and lined both sides of the long driveway. Couples were arriving and departing in a steady stream, some dressed for dinner at the hotel, others wearing shorts and heading for more casual island nightspots. aMay I get you a taxi?a aNo, thank you.a Kate looked down the line of waiting vehicles. Most were red or white compact rental cars, she noticed idly; then she remembered reading that Volkswagen bugs were the preferred choice of serial killers. If Wyatt was driving one of those, she would not get into it, she decided. Rather than going into the lobby and waiting there, she wandered slowly down a sidewalk bordered with giant bushes on her left and the hotelas main driveway on her right. As she neared the end of the bushes, she saw a black convertible with its top down turn into the drive, but a sudden outburst of angry male shouts from the other side of the bushes filled her with foreboding and made her quicken her pace in their direction.
Two bellboys trotted past her, apparently summoned by the shouting. Kate heard one of them say the worddog, and she broke into a run just as Mitch.e.l.l Wyatt brought the convertible to an abrupt stop at the curb beside her. She saw the surprised look on his face as she raced past his car, but she didnat have time to stop and explain.
Reaching the end of the bushes, Kate came to a halt beside the bellmen, and her fear quickly turned to reluctant amus.e.m.e.nt. Two angry, shouting gardeners were chasing Max in circles and waving their rakes at him, but he was easily staying out of their reach.
Behind her, Mitch.e.l.l Wyatt said drily, aFor a moment back there I thought you were running toward my car because you were extremely eager to see me again.a Over her shoulder, Kate flashed him a distracted, laughing look. aWere you flattered or frightened?a aYou ran past me before I had time to react.a A moment later, he added jokingly, aIf youare interested in betting on the outcome between the dog and the gardeners, Iall give you the gardeners and ten to one odds.a aAt twenty to one, thatas still a sucker bet,a Kate replied with a plucky smile. He grinned at her quip, and suddenly Kateas earlier fears that he could be a violent criminal seemed nonsensical. She waited a few more moments to a.s.sure herself that Max was in no danger of actually being caught; then she turned and walked with Mitch.e.l.l toward his car. aI wish they wouldnat chase him,a she said. aOne of the maids told me that several of the local islands have problems with packs of dogs roaming around, but this dog isnat dangerous. Heas just hungry. He isnat doing anyone any harm.a aIf I understood what the bellmen were talking about just now, that dog is doing the gardens a whole lot of harm because heas so big,a Mitch.e.l.l said as he opened the car door for her. aAnd he also scares the hotel guests. Last week, he ran up to a little girl and she got hysterical.a aHeas lonely,a Kate said sadly, thinking of the way head leaned against her and blissfully closed his eyes when she petted him. As she slid onto the pa.s.senger seat, she said, aWhat language was the doorman speaking? A lot of the hotel staff speaks French, but that wasnat French.a aIt was Dutch, and I may have gotten most of it wronga”a he said, but the screech of automobile brakes behind them made them both turn sharply, just in time to see the dog bounding across the drive between cars, followed closely by a golf cart with the two gardeners in it. The golf cart stopped safely at the curb and an arriving taxi stopped in time, but a departing taxi was accelerating on the other side of the median, and Kate screamed a warning to the dog. Max swerved at the sound of her voice and tried to run to her instead. The taxi hit him.
Kate was out of the car, running, before the taxi driver got out of his vehicle. Mitch.e.l.l caught up with her and grasped her arm. aLet me take a look first,a he insisted.
aI want to help,a Kate cried frantically, trying to wrench free of his grasp. aLet go of my arm.a Stunned that she wanted to subject herself to what could be a gory scene, Mitch.e.l.l let her go and quickened his pace to keep up with her.
When Kate rushed around the front of the taxi, her fear turned into anguish. Maxas still body was lying on its side, his head against the curb, his eyes closed. Kneeling next to him, she felt frantically for a pulse at his throat. She found it and relief flooded through her. aHeas alive,a she said quickly, abut we need help.a Lifting her head, she looked toward the bellmen and gardeners whoad gathered into a group next to the taxi driver and Mitch.e.l.l. aCall a veterinarian right away,a she told the hotelas employees.
One bellman looked blankly at the gardeners and then the other bellman. aA veterinarian?a he repeated as Kate began tentatively examining the bleeding cut on Maxas head.
aAn animal doctor,a Mitch.e.l.l clarified impatiently in English, then again in Dutch.
The gardeners were aghast at the suggestion; the bellmen were obstinate. aNo, miss, no doctor,a one of them said. aWeall take care of the dog, you go now and enjoy your evening.a He said something in Dutch to his companions and the group of men moved forward.
Their shadow fell across Kate just as she realized how they were likely to atake care ofa a large, destructive, unconscious animal that was an annoying nuisance to adult hotel guests and a terrifying threat in the minds of some of their children. aWhat do you intend to do?a she asked stubbornly.
aWeare going to drag him off the road now so the cars can get through, and then weall take him away.a aNo!a Kate said with an adamant shake of her head. aHe shouldnat be moved. The cars can go around him. He may have spinal injuries or broken bones.a They didnat care one bit about any of that, she realized, so she appealed urgently to the man shead promised to take to dinner. aWe have to help him!a Mitch.e.l.l gazed at her beautiful face and realized she expected him to agree it was imperative to save the life of a mangy, homeless, mongrel dog. And, suddenly, he did agreea”although it was her eyes and not the dog that caused him to come to that conclusion. Inwardly amused by the effect those beseeching green eyes were having on him, Mitch.e.l.l said solemnly, aIall see what I can do.a The doorman smiled politely as Mitch.e.l.l approached. aGood evening, Mr. Wyatt.a Mitch.e.l.l a.s.sumed the doorman would have witnessed the scene in the driveway, so he ignored the greeting, refrained from giving explanations, and tackled the problem: aThe dog is badly injured. Whereas the nearest animal doctor?a aThereas one here on Anguilla, but he will be closed by now.a As proof that it was quite late, he glanced meaningfully at the setting sun.
Having already antic.i.p.ated that would be his answer, Mitch.e.l.l strode past him into the lobby and headed for the front desk, where two couples were waiting to check in and another man was asking for directions. When he was halfway across the lobby, the manager emerged from a side door, saw Mitch.e.l.l, and rushed forward to greet him. aMr. Wyatt!a he exclaimed delightedly.
Mitch.e.l.l reached into his pocket.
aI didnat realize youad booked reservations with us,a the manager said, holding out his hand for a handshake. aIave been busy with our new a.s.sistant manager because heall be in charge for the next week. I have to make an emergency trip to the States tomorrow, and heas quite overwhelmed, Iam afraid.a Mitch.e.l.l clasped the manageras outstretched hand and slipped a $100 bill into his palm. aIam glad youare still here tonight, Maurice, because thereas been an automobile accident in the hotel driveway that requires your special attention.a aOh, no! Is anyone hurt?a aYes.a aOne of our guests?a aNo, one of your stray dogs,a Mitch.e.l.l said, already striding toward the telephone on the front desk with Maurice rus.h.i.+ng along beside him. aI need an ambulance and a physician here immediately.a aYou . . . you want me to send for an ambulance and a physician because a stray dog has been injured out there?a In reply, Mitch.e.l.l picked up the telephone and held the receiver toward the fl.u.s.tered manager. aI want them to come as fast as they possibly can. Iamextremely fond of this particular dog.a The manager took the receiver, pressed one b.u.t.ton on the telephone, and hesitated. aTheyall refuse to treat a dog.a aAppeal to their humane instincts,a Mitch.e.l.l said drily as he withdrew cash from his pants pocket and began peeling off large bills to cover whatever inducement the ambulance driver and physician demanded before theyad make the trip.
The manager watched him a moment, then quickly dialed the rest of the ambulanceas phone number.
Mitch.e.l.l stayed until that call and the one to the physician were both successfully completed; then he left the ainducement moneya with the manager to dole out to the recipients.
Kate Donovan was in clear view across the driveway when he emerged from the hotel. The taxi driver had left in his taxi, the bellmen and gardeners had dispersed, and she sat alone on the gra.s.s, in the median beside the curb next to the dog, with her legs curled beneath her. Captured in the glow of torchlight, with her red hair a silken mantle across her shoulders and her hand gently stroking the injured dog, she looked ethereal.
She looked up as Mitch.e.l.l neared, searching his face for a clue as to what head accomplished.
aHelp is on the way,a he promised, crouching on his heels beside her. aHowas the patient?a She s.h.i.+fted her attention to the dog as she answered, her fingers gently stroking the animalas shoulder. aHis breathing seems a little stronger and more regular. I canat feel any broken bones, and his cuts arenat deep, but he may be hemorrhaging internally. He started to come around a few minutes ago, or at least I thought he did.a She fell silent, and Mitch.e.l.l said nothing more because he was listening for a particular sound. He heard it very soona”a siren growing louder and louder.
Kate didnat notice the siren because she felt a slight twitch of muscles beneath her fingertips and suddenly Max opened his eyes. aThere you are!a she said joyously. aStay quiet,a she warned quickly, pressing him down with both hands when he made a feeble effort to roll onto his stomach. aHelp is on the way,a she promised him. Without looking up, she asked Mitch.e.l.l, aWhat sort of help is coming?a Her question was almost drowned out by a vehicle roaring up the driveway and screeching to a halt in front of the hotel.
aThat sort of help,a Mitch.e.l.l replied, standing up.
Kate leaned forward and looked around his legs; then she looked up at him in laughing disbelief and unabashed admiration. aYou called anambulance ?a She would have said more, but Mitch.e.l.l was already striding off toward the ambulance and the dazed dog was getting agitated, thras.h.i.+ng around in a feeble effort to roll to his feet. Soothing Max with her voice and hands, she watched two men jump out of the ambulance while a dark green car came racing up the driveway and lurched to a stop behind them. The car was still rocking when the driver flung open his door and got out, carrying a large black bag.
He was a physician, Kate knew at once, but her delight was doused by her fear that the doctor and ambulance drivers would all get back in their vehicles and leave as soon as Mitch.e.l.l told them who their patient really was. Tensely, she watched Mitch.e.l.l gesture toward the dog she was holding down.
Kate held her breath.
The doctor turned and started walking toward her. The ambulance drivers rushed to the back of their van and pulled out a stretcher.
Amazement and optimism soared through Kate, and she whispered to the dog, aI think weare in very good hands, Max.a She was positive of it when the physician crouched down beside her, looked at the nervous, wary dog and opened his black bag. aOur local vet is on vacation, but I phoned a veterinarian friend of mine in St. Maarten before I left, and I brought along some things he recommended. Now then,a he said calmly, adogs usually like me. Letas hope this one does, too, because I donat want to sedate him just yet. Head injuries,a he continued as he slowly reached out toward the dog, acan bea”a A low, throaty snarl began in the dogas throat and his lips curled back over white fangs.
The physician yanked his hand back. aWounded animals often attack anyone who comes too close,a he informed Kate; then he reached toward the dog again, this time cautiously, inches at a time. aBut this fellow is willing to let you touch him, so he ought to let me do it. Heas actually a little afraid of me . . . and all that snarling is really just . . . a bluff.a aNo, I donat think ita”a Kateas warning was drowned out by the physicianas yelp of pain.
Chapter Seven.
aITHINK THEdog is going to be fine,a the physician told Kate and Mitch.e.l.l as he looked around for his black bag.
The ambulance drivers had left earlier, after settling the dog on the floor near the coffee table in the main room. aHeall sleep through the night, a.s.suming I gave him the right dosage. Tomorrow, you should take him over to St. Maarten and let a vet there have a look at him and take some X-rays of his skull and shoulder.a aI canat thank you enough,a Kate said sincerely, aand Iam terribly sorry about your arm.a aThe bite isnat extremely deep, but it is rather painful,a he replied stiffly while collecting bandages and antiseptic from the table near the terrace doors. aAnd of course now thereas the question of rabies to consider.a Kate stifled a smile that was part anxiety and part mortification. aYou did say that whoever you spoke to at the hospital just now told you there hasnat been a case of rabies reported on the island in years?a aYes. However, itas imperative that you keep that animal with you until you leave. After that, Iall take care of him. I wish you would let me take him with me now.a aI want to look after him myself while Iam here,a Kate said. She had a feeling the physician would prefer to euthanize Max to find out immediately if he had rabies, rather than wait out a ten-day quarantine period to see if Max developed symptoms.
aIf he shows any symptoms of rabies while heas with you, I need to know about it immediately so that I can be treated. Agreed?a aAbsolutely,a Kate said, and nodded for emphasis.
aAnd you understand clearly what those symptoms are?a aI wrote them down right here,a Kate said, holding up the tablet.
aIf this dog were to disappear before ten days from now,a the doctor lectured, aI would have to undergo treatment for rabies, whether he actually has rabies or not.a Mitch.e.l.l had heard enough about this highly unlikely eventuality that didnat need to be addressed unless it became an unlikely reality. The dog had been so weak and disoriented that his bite had barely broken the physicianas skin, but the man had howled in pain and bandaged his arm as if a major artery had been severed. aWe understand perfectly,a Mitch.e.l.l said smoothly, and ushered the physician to the door. aWeall keep him on a leash when he goes outside,a he added, and swept the door open.
In the doorway, the doctor hesitated, and turned back around. aDo youhave a leash?a aIall get one in the morning.a The man still balked. aYouall do itfirst thing in the morning?a aAt the crack of dawn,a Mitch.e.l.l averred, and putting his hand lightly on the other manas elbow, he turned him around and propelled him unceremoniously out the door.
Kate watched that maneuver from the other side of the room, amused and impressed by Mitch.e.l.las blas sangfroid and his swift efficiency in times of stress. In the few hours shead known him, shead criticized him soundlya”and unjustlya”for the b.l.o.o.d.y Mary; dumped a drink on his s.h.i.+rt; reneged on the nice dinner she owed him; and involved him instead in a dramatic canine-rescue effort. Head handled all of that imperturbablya”and very, very graciously. An hour ago shead imagined he might be a murderer; now she regarded him as a friend and ally.
Kateas cordial feelings for him were evident in her warm smile as she said, aI still owe you dinner. I could call room service and we could eat out on the terrace, if you like.a Since Evan planned to arrive the next evening, Kate suggested the only other alternative she could offer. aOr would you rather forget about dinner and let me pay for your s.h.i.+rt instead?a She wondered if Mitch.e.l.l would notice shead limited him to only those two choices, but his reaction was so nonchalant that she decided he either didnat notice or didnat care.
aDinner here will be fine,a Mitch.e.l.l replied. aYou owe me a meal,a he added mildly, aand I always collect on debts that are owed to me.a She was obviously expecting a boyfriend to arrive the next day, he realized, or else shead have offered an explanation for not being able to have dinner with him some other night.