Read Online Seed No Evil by Kate Collins - Free Book Online Page B

guessing they were guard dogs,” Brian answered. “We found them tied to the front door handle one morning, poor guys. We were hoping to rehabilitate them and adopt them out, but that’s all in question now. I guess a judge has to decide or something.”
    â€œWould you explain how a dog gets into the exercise pen?” Marco asked.
    â€œSee the cord here?” He pointed to the end of a white cord visible at the top of the cage. “As you pull it, the door in the back lifts. It’s just like raising a shade. You pull the cord until it catches, then tie it around this wing nut.”
    â€œLooks kind of haphazard,” I said.
    â€œYeah,” Brian said, scratching his head. “Kind of how this whole shelter is. I mean, it was designed as a school. We’ve had to jury-rig a lot of it. There’s always talk of finding a better space, but so far that’s all it’s been. Talk. I’m just hoping they keep it a no-kill shelter.”
    â€œWhy do you say that?” Marco asked.
    He put his hand to one side of his mouth to whisper, “Certain people want to change the policy.”
    â€œWho would that be?” I asked.
    Brian shrugged one shoulder. “I can’t say. It’s my job, you know?”
    â€œIs it your boss?” I asked.
    At that, Brian’s face stiffened. “I really don’t want to say.”
    â€œWho has access to this room?” Marco asked.
    â€œAnyone with keys to the shelter,” Brian said.
    â€œWho has access to the exercise pen?” Marco asked.
    â€œAnyone in the building, if they know where to find the key,” Brian said.
    â€œTell me where to look,” Marco said.
    â€œDown at the end of the main hallway, there’s a door that takes you outside and straight into the pen,” Brian explained. “Beside the door are two keys hanging from a nail. One works the lock on the door, and the other works the padlock on the outside gate into the pen.”
    â€œDoes the door automatically close behind anyone entering the pen?” Marco asked.
    â€œNo. It has to be locked from the inside,” Brian replied.
    â€œDoes everyone with access to the shelter know about those keys?” Marco asked.
    â€œYep,” Brian said. “A tour of the facility is part of the two-hour training class.”
    â€œAre those the only keys to the pen and gate?” Marco asked.
    â€œThere’s another set in Stacy’s office,” Brian said.
    â€œDid you go home after you left work yesterday?” Marco asked.
    â€œStraight home. My wife can verify that.”
    â€œWho usually cares for the dogs?” I asked, craning my neck to get a look at the red-zone dogs. I saw two mostly black German shepherds, both beautiful animals.
    â€œThat’s my job,” Brian said, pointing to his chest. “When I’m sick, Carol can do it, but she’s really better with the cats.”
    â€œSo it’s just you two caring for all these animals?” Marco asked.
    â€œFor the time being at least. That’s all PAR can afford.”
    â€œWhy don’t they use more volunteers?” I asked.
    â€œWe used to, but then Stacy decided there were too many people who came only to play with the kittens and puppies and didn’t want to do any work.” He shrugged. “It is what it is, I guess. Carol and I do the best we can. All I can say is thank God this is a small shelter.”
    â€œOkay. Thanks, Brian,” Marco said. “You’ve been a big help. Would you take us to Carol?”
    We were led to a room that was identical to the first, except that it was on the front side of the building and there were more cages, though they were smaller. At the back were two large pens that housed the kittens, and it was all I could do not to open one and climb in, but I knew I’d probably end up going home with an armful, and Nikki’s cat, Simon, would definitely not welcome the