Ghostly Liaison (27 page)

“I need to get my phone. It’s in my backpack.”

“Then get it.”

Bridget went to her locker and pulled out the phone. She wouldn’t put it past Charlie to come up with some concoction to get her and Rob talking, but if the dog was in some real trouble and she did nothing about it, she would feel the guilt forever. She’d had enough of that dish already.

She entered Rob’s number and pushed send. The phone rang twice then directed her to voice mail. The pain in her head radiated to her chest. Oh God. How many times had she done the same to him? Had he finally moved on?

* * * *

The quiet phone stared at Rob from the carpet. What a dumb ass.

He’d been installing the paneling when Warrant’s “Cherry Pie” played from his cell. Back during his teenage years, he couldn’t play the song enough. Being a lover of the dessert hadn’t helped, either, and caused him all sorts of teasing from Charlie. “If you love the pie, why don’t you marry it?” “If you love the song, why don’t you marry it?” If anyone else had tortured him that way, he would have slugged them and then listened to the song again.

So when he’d found it as a ring tone, he couldn’t resist and used it for Bridget. She was his cherry pie. But stupid him, the song had played and transported him back to high school. In a nervous fit, he’d pulled the cell from his jeans and fumbled with the device. As it had slipped through his fingers he must have hit the decline button. The song had died the moment the phone landed.

For the past few days he’d stopped himself from calling her. Each time he’d convinced himself that giving her time and space was better. Now she’d think he cut her off. “Well, don’t just stand there like an idiot, pick up the stupid phone and call her back.”

But how could he explain what happened without sounding like a total moron? His phone rang again—playing “Who Are You.” His heart sank. It wasn’t Bridget. Had he blown his chance?

He pushed the accept button. “This is Robert Gentry. How may I help you?”

Silence for several seconds, then, “This is where you tell him who you are.”

That voice. But it wasn’t possible. Was it? “Who is this?”

The caller coughed. “It’s Bridget. Please don’t hang—”

“Bridget?” His heart soared, but his mind struggled with confusion. “I must be going crazy. I could have sworn I heard Charlie.”

They spoke simultaneously. “You could hear her?” “You heard me? Holy shit!”

He’d believed Charlie was still hanging around, but to hear her voice… Tears formed in his eyes. He could talk to his sister. “How is this possible?”

“I…I don’t know. She’s in the office with me.”

“We can chat later,” Charlie said. “Robbie, get your ass out to the backyard. Barnaby needs you.”

“What are you talking about? He’s in the backyard playing with—” Oh shit.

“He was playing with me until he ate something he shouldn’t.”

He bumped into the couch on his way into the dining room and gazed out the back door. No sign of the dog. He opened the door. “Barnaby!”

Retching noises came from the side of the house and Rob dashed toward the sound. The dog vomited as he swayed on his feet.

“He’s throwing up.”

“That’s probably a good thing,” Bridget said, “but you need to bring him in and let Kate look at him.”

As he approached, the dog looked up with glassy eyes. “Hey, buddy. What’ve you been eating?” Rob rubbed Barnaby’s neck. The animal stiffened and keeled over. “Oh God!”

“What happened?” a chorus of voices sounded over the phone.

Rob grabbed his chest as the pressure nearly crushed him. This dog had wormed his way into his heart.
Dear God, don’t take him away from me. Not yet.

Barnaby coughed. Relief washed over Rob. Not dead. Not yet. “He collapsed, but he’s still breathing.”

“Hang up and bring him in now,” Bridget said. “Hurry.”

She didn’t have to tell him twice. He disconnected the call and pocketed the phone. Barnaby lifted his head and struggled to get his legs underneath him. “Easy, boy. We’re going to Kate’s. She’ll make you all better.”

Rob slid his arms under Barnaby and he stiffened once again.

“Please don’t die. Please don’t die.”

Rob ran to the gate and unlatched it with his elbow, slipped out, and let it shut on its own. Using his fingers, he lifted the handle to the passenger side of his truck and then placed Barnaby inside. The dog lifted his head and whimpered. Rob shut the door and dashed around the vehicle. In a matter of seconds, he was backing out and heading for Kate’s.

Bridget and Kate were standing by the back entrance as Rob pulled in. Kate ran to the passenger side and pulled the door open.

“Wait. I’ll get him,” he said.

Barnaby had been moving, until Rob lifted him. Again, he stiffened.

“He keeps doing that.”

“Get him inside. Bridget, get Tori. I’ll need her help.”

Rob followed Kate and carried Barnaby to the same room Kate had stitched up Bridget. He placed the dog on the metal table. Bridget arrived with Tori in tow.

“It’s a good thing you checked on him when you did,” Kate said.

He would have corrected her, but Bridget shook her head. Guess he couldn’t say the truth—his sister warned him. “Yeah. I heard him throwing up.”

“Did you bring a sample?”

“No. Do you need it?”

“It’ll help me determine what he ingested. Bridget, go get a container and bring back a sample. Rob, you need to leave.”

Leave? Hell, no. He couldn’t abandon him in his need. “I can’t.”

Kate got in his face. “Yes, you can. Let me do my job.”

“Come on.” Bridget pulled him by the elbow. “She’ll take good care of him. You know that.”

Yes, he knew. But it was Barnaby.

Bridget leaned in close and whispered, “
She’ll
be with him.”

That
she
being Charlie. He nodded and let Bridget lead him back to the employee lounge. She directed him to the couch where he promptly collapsed onto the cushions.

“I’m going to get a container and head on out. Are you going to be okay?”

No, he was not okay. He was numb all over. “Is he going to die?”

* * * *

Bridget sat beside Rob. Seeing Barnaby sick wrenched her heart, seeing Rob despondent even more so. “I don’t know.”

He covered his face with his hands and hunched over. A sob escaped.

“Oh, Rob.” She hugged him and he turned into her, burying his head into her shoulder, holding her tight.

He had no one left. His parents were gone, his sister. And now Barnaby? She couldn’t imagine what he must be feeling. She offered comfort as he had with her in the past.

He pulled away, keeping his head low. “I’m sorry. I know he’s just a dog.”

“Hey, don’t say that. You love him. We all do. Kate will do her best, you know that.”

“I know.” He swiped his eyes with the back of his hand. “Do you need a ride?”

A ride? “Oh… No, thanks. I can walk. You stay here.”

He stood and stared at her, his eyes red and dark. “I can’t sit here and do nothing. Let me drive you.”

“Okay, sure. Let me get the container.” Bridget rushed to the supply cabinet and snatched a plastic cup with a lid.

They arrived at the house in silence and Bridget walked to the side gate, where Rob had said he found Barnaby. She found where the dog had thrown up. Instead of being green with grass, which she expected, it was reddish-brown.

“Rob? When did you feed Barnaby meat?”

He’d been looking out over the yard and spun toward her at the question. “Last night. Why?”

She scooped up what she could and then stood. “It looks like he threw up raw meat. Look around the yard and see if you can find any more.”

She examined the edge of the fence and walked toward the back. If what she suspected was true, someone had intentionally set out to harm the dog.

“Bridget.” Rob stood by the pool, looking down. He swatted the air as if an insect pestered him.

Stepping carefully, she arrived at his side. What he found was small, probably the size of a golf ball, but it brought chills down Bridget’s spine—raw hamburger, covered in flies.

“I’m going to get a plastic bag. Kate’s going to want to see this.”

He grabbed her arm. “What is it?”

“I don’t want to guess. Let’s get it to Kate.”

She found a Ziploc bag and collected the ball of meat. Rob searched the yard for more, but came up empty.

They returned to the clinic in silence. She left Rob in the break area and headed back to Kate. Barnaby lay on the table, his eyes closed and breaths slow. He seemed at peace.

“How is he?”

“I’ve got him sedated right now. I won’t know for a while. You get the sample?”

Bridget nodded and handed them over. “We also found some raw hamburger in the backyard. Do you think it’s strychnine?”

“That’s what it’s looking like.”

“Who would do such a thing?” Tori asked.

Kate shook her head. “Someone who doesn’t like animals? Who knows? Rob should report it.”

“I’ll let him know.” Bridget turned to go.

“Bridget? Stay with him, okay? I’d call Brian, but he’s out of town. Unless you think I should call Carl?”

Hell’s bells. He was the last person she wanted with Rob. Probably the last person Rob would want to be with, too.

“Damn, did someone just turn up the air conditioner?” Tori rubbed her arms. “It’s like a freezer in here.”

Charlie offered her opinion, too.

“Go check it, will you, Tori?” Kate said.

Tori left as requested, what little good that would do. Charlie had been the cause of the little freeze out, not that Bridget could feel it.

“Don’t bother Carl. I’ll stay with Rob.” She departed, hoping her statement cooled—or would that be warmed—Charlie’s jets. When she returned to the break room, Rob was sitting on the couch with his head in his hands.

He lowered his hands and then stood. “Well? What does Kate think?”

“It’s looking like poison. You should probably report it.”

“Shit.” He rubbed his head. “How is he?”

“Too soon to tell. Do you want something to drink? I can make some coffee or get you a soda.”

He sat back down. “No, thank you. Did you see him?”

“He’s asleep. Kate sedated him.” He looked so lost, she had to do something. “I still have to feed the animals in the back. You can help if you want. Or not.”

He nodded and rose. “Okay. I mean, I’ll help.”

Rob walked beside her, shuffling his feet and hunching over as if he carried a heavy weight. She just wanted to hold and comfort him, but held back. That would certainly send the wrong message. Well, not so much the wrong message, but a message she didn’t want him to receive.

The clinic currently housed three furry guests—two dogs and a cat—which stood when Bridget and Rob entered the room.

“The cocker is Spike, the mutt is Billy—”

“Mutt? Is that politically correct?”

She laughed. “Probably not, but I don’t know what he is. Do you?”

He examined the white-and-brown pooch, which stood no taller than the cocker and sported short, curly hair. Billy’s tail thumped against the enclosure and he skittered side to side in excitement. Rob stuck his fingers through the cage and got licked for his reward. “No. Guess not. What are they in for?”

Bridget lifted the bag of dog food she’d dropped at Charlie’s appearance and placed it on the counter. “Owners are on vacation. You make it sound like they’re in jail.”

“That’s what it looks like. I don’t think I could….” Anguish flashed across his face.

Crap. Maybe bringing him here wasn’t such a good idea. “If you’re more comfortable waiting in the lounge, I’ll come back when I’m finished.”

“No. I’d rather not. Who’s the cat?” He strolled over to the white Persian and stared into the cage.

She scooped out some nuggets and poured them into a bowl. “Mrs. Wiggins. I’d steer clear of her. She scratches.”

The cat mewled as if in protest. Rob stuck his fingers in the cage and the little monster rubbed against him. “Seems friendly enough to me.”

“Well, you just blew my theory out of the water.”

He laughed and it lightened her heart. “What theory would that be?”

“I assumed she didn’t like me because I’m a dog person. You’re clearly a dog person, but she likes you well enough.”

His smile morphed into a frown, and he lowered his hand. Crap. She didn’t want to get him depressed again. When would she learn to shut up?

“Dammit,” he said.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you think of Barnaby.” She used to be better at this. Her job as a nurse had been to help, not hinder.

He stared at her. “That’s not it. You reminded me of something Carl said. And I had to go egg him on. What did I do?” His eyes glistened.

His anguish went straight to her heart, propelling her to his side. She wrapped him in a hug. “This is not your fault.”

He buried his face in her neck. “I put it in his head that Barnaby doesn’t like him. We both know why the dog doesn’t, but damn, if I had only kept my mouth shut.”

“Hush. You don’t know Carl did this.” Although she was pretty sure he had, Rob didn’t need to think that way. “It’s most likely some deranged person after dogs.”

“Did Charlie see anything? Maybe she knows….”

“If she knew anything, she would have told me. Why don’t you go back to the lounge and call the police. Maybe that will make you feel better.” She loosened her hold to release him, but he gripped her tighter.

“I’ve missed you, Bridget. You make me feel better.”

And the feeling was mutual and not just because her headache had disappeared the second he’d arrived with Barnaby. She reveled in his scent, his strength. If only things were different.

Her mind and body were at odds where Rob was concerned and right now her body craved his closeness. Damn the consequences.

Bridget made coffee while Rob sat on the couch. They’d fed the animals and walked the dogs all in relative silence, his mind most likely on Barnaby. She didn’t know quite what to say about their embrace. She’d only meant to offer him comfort, not start things up again. But that hug was better than all her dreams combined. That hug was home. Didn’t matter, though. She would watch what she said or did from now on. If he even got a hint of how much she cared for him, he might change his mind when, clearly, he had moved on—her trip to his voice mail the proof.