Cornered In Conard County

She heard the scrabble of his claws on the wood floor in the hall, and by the time she reached the front door he was standing there with his leash in his mouth.

Smart dog, she thought. Also probably desperate by now. She was sure he was used to a whole lot more activity.

“I guess nobody warned you that I forget time when I work,” she said to Flash as she bent to connect his leash. “Sorry about that, boy.” She ruffled his fur and scratched between his ears, but there was no mistaking his eagerness. He moved from paw to paw as if he could barely contain his excitement.

Maybe she should set an alarm to remind her that she needed to make dog time now. She stuffed a plastic bag in her pocket for cleaning up after him.

“Ready?” she asked. Stupid question. The dog was overready. “Flash, heel.”

They stepped out the front door together in time to see Cadell pull into her driveway. Once again the official vehicle and the uniform. Dory had never been keen on uniforms, but this guy...well, he filled that khaki uniform exceptionally well.

She waved, and he waved back as he climbed out. “Going somewhere?” he called.

“Flash and I are taking a walk.”

“I’ll bring Dasher along, too, if you don’t mind some company.”

Dory didn’t even hesitate. For once she was glad of company. The world around her seemed to be growing more threatening by the day, and no amount of internal argument could change the feeling. George was on the streets again. George blamed her for his conviction. She’d heard that clear enough, even though she hadn’t testified and had still been in a state of utter shock. “Great. You can tell me if I’m doing it right.”

They reached the corner without either of them speaking. Dasher and Flash were completely well behaved, waiting patiently to learn which direction they were supposed to take.

“Any preference about where you want to walk?” Cadell asked.

“Honestly, I’ve been out jogging nearly every day, but I’m totally unaware of my surroundings. My head is on my projects, and everything else goes away when I run.”

Cadell hesitated, then said, “Right now that’s not wise, Dory. Yes, you’ll have Flash with you, but you need to be aware of your surroundings. Not to mention learning your way around.”

She flushed faintly, knowing he was right. Scared as she was of her brother, she couldn’t afford to be off in her own world when she was outside. But running cut her free, let her mind wander in ways that could be extremely useful and creative.

She frowned down at the pavement, trying to figure out how to balance this. Just how afraid was she of George? Afraid enough to pay attention? To relinquish some of her best thinking time?

She lifted her head and looked around the quiet neighborhood. It seemed so benign, her fears so out of place. Yet the neighborhood she had lived in as a child hadn’t been much different. Quiet. Benign. And then a monster had emerged in her own house.

“Okay,” she said finally. “You’re right. I don’t like it, but you’re absolutely right.”