“Seriously, Kate, I plan to.”
* * *
The enjoyment of driving with the top down ended the minute Jo stepped out of the car. The temperature had continued to rise as predicted and heat waves radiated up from the black asphalt parking lot. Walking quickly so her shoes wouldn’t stick, Jo hustled to the door.
She suffered through the required volunteer instruction period then was paired with a woman named Sylvia and a teen named Julie to help wash the dogs. Sylvia, an attractive woman who appeared to be in her early forties introduced herself and motioned for Jo and Julie to follow her toward the back. By the time they were washing the third dog, Jo was wondering if Sylvia was ever going to shut up. The woman had an opinion on everything, from the right way to hold the hose so you didn’t startle the animal, to how to best untangle matted hair. By the fifth dog, Jo knew Sylvia was divorced for the second time but seriously dating a man she considered Mister Right, had three grown kids from her first marriage and wondered if they would ever leave home so she could get her sex life back on track. If it hadn’t been for Sylvia’s constant chatter, Jo would have thought them a perfect team. Julie was good with the dogs but never said a word, not that Sylvia gave anyone a chance. As Jo returned a sheltie to his now--cleaned cage and went for the bulldog, she wondered if Sarah, the shelter’s director, had any earplugs. The constant barking of the dogs had never affected her but Sylvia’s voice was really giving her a headache. They were into the third hour of washing when Jo tuned back in and learned that Sylvia was the manager of a pet store.
“So what kind of animals do you carry?” Jo asked, glad to have something to say more than mm-hmm.
“We pretty much carry everything, but we specialize in the exotic.”
“Wow, snakes and stuff.”
“Ick,” Julie grimaced.
“Yeah, we have snakes and all sorts of reptiles. But we carry bunnies and kittens too.”
“Food for the reptiles?” Jo quipped.
Julie unsuccessfully tried to stop a giggle.
At Sylvia’s startled expression, Jo grinned. “Just kidding.”
“Well I should hope so,” Sylvia huffed. “That wasn’t funny.”
“Sorry,” Jo tried to look sheepish. “Wait, did you hear the one about the Energizer Bunny?”
At Sylvia’s blank stare Jo continued. “It got arrested for battery!”
This time Julie laughed right out loud and she and Jo shared a grin.
“You two have a very strange sense of humor,” Sylvia said stiffly.
“Look, I am sorry if I offended you. You have an easy way with the dogs. I guess it comes from dealing with animals all day.”
Sylvia smiled and her shoulders began to relax. “No, I’m sorry I overreacted. Are either of you interested in anything in particular?”
Julie instantly shook her head no. Jo thought for a moment and her hesitation gave the collie a chance to shake vigorously giving them all a shower. Sylvia just shook her head and wiped the water from her face with her arm.
“I guess a parrot,” Jo said finally wiping the drips with the bottom of her shirt. “I’ve always wanted a talking parrot like you see in those pirate movies.”
Sylvia rolled her eyes. “If you want a parrot that talks then you want an African Gray, they make the best talkers but….”
“But what?”
“Well to get a parrot to talk,” she continued, “you need to talk to them constantly and face it you don’t talk very much. I don’t think you’d have much luck in that department.”
Julie giggled again, and Sylvia gave her a puzzled glance.
“Now, if you want a different bird,” she continued, “maybe you’d like a nice macaw. They can be really beautiful.”
Jo grinned and wondered what her colleagues would say if they heard Sylvia’s assessment of her. And she wondered if she should mention that with Sylvia’s constant chatter, one had a difficult time getting a word in.
“But if I wanted a talking parrot, you could get one for me?”
Sylvia nodded. “It would probably take a week or two but, yes we could do that for you.”
“Wow, that’s really something!”
Sylvia shrugged. “It’s called business.” When their four-hour shift was over, Sylvia handed Jo her card. “So look, do you really want me to start the works for an African Gray?”
Jo looked down at the card then stuffed it in her pocket. “Nah, not right now. Let me think about it a little more. What would something like that run me?”
“If you go to another shop, probably about three. But if you come to us, I could probably do it for a little more than two.”
“Two hundred?” Jo and Julie both squeaked in surprise.
“Get real,” Sylvia huffed. “Two thousand and that would be a steal.”
“Two thousand dollars for a bird?”
“Birds cost that much money?” Julie gasped.
Sylvia just stared and said nothing.
“Wow,” Jo shook her head. “I had no idea they were so expensive.”
“Well, it’s not like you’re buying a kitten from the pound.” Sylvia’s voice had turned haughty. “These are exotic animals and often very rare.”
“Jeez, the things you learn. Two thousand dollars for a bird.”
“Not just any bird,” Sylvia qualified, “an African Gray. “You’d pay more if you went elsewhere.”
Jo patted her pocket where she’d shoved Sylvia’s card. “Well, if I decide to get one, you’ll be the first person I call.”
When they finished, Jo turned to Julie. “You did a great job today.”
“Um, thanks.” Eager to get away, Julie pulled her sunglasses from her purse. Washing the dogs had been fun, but she was on a mission and time was getting short.
“Nice kid,” Jo said as they watched Julie rush to her car. “She was a good worker.”
“Surprising though,” Sylvia stated. “Usually her kind doesn’t go in for this kind of thing.”
“Her kind?” Jo felt her hackles rise. She hadn’t pegged Sylvia for being prejudiced.
“Yeah, kids with too much money.”
“Oh? How do you know she comes from money? The kid certainly wasn’t dressed for success.”
“Didn’t you see her sunglasses?”
“I saw she had sunglasses. What’s the big deal?”
“Givenchy glasses,” Sylvia said. “Didn’t you see the logo?”
“I guess I didn’t notice.”
“Those glasses were Givenchy’s latest style and they cost about $400.”
“For sunglasses?”
“Exactly,” Sylvia stated. “Any teen that can wear a pair of $400 sunglasses comes from money.”
Or has taken advantage of a five-finger discount, Jo thought sadly as she watched Julie’s car exit the parking lot. Her cell phone rang and, waving good-bye to Sylvia, Jo turned back toward her car and pulled the phone from her jeans pocket. The readout identified her next-door neighbor.
“Hey, Mrs. Grant, what’s up?”
“Well, Jo, I hate to bother you.”
“It’s no bother,” she gave Sylvia a parting glance then leaned against her car only to jerk away as the hot metal burned through her jeans.
“Well, Jo, your dogs are really carrying on.”
Jo closed her eyes and thought of Midnight. “I’m really sorry if they’re disturbing you, Mrs. G.”
“They’re usually so quiet,” the elderly woman continued. “That’s why I was so surprised when they started up.”
Jo wondered if Midnight decided to sample some of Blitz’s dog food.
“It was about a half an hour ago, right after the truck was in front of the house that they started. Made me look out the window. I figured one of your friends was dropping over, and the dogs were just letting them know you weren’t home like they usually do. But when the barking didn’t stop….”
Jo straightened and grabbed the towel she had draped over the steering wheel to open the ca
r door. “You said a truck was parked in front of my house?” Awkwardly she spread the towel on the leather seat of the car and gingerly eased in. Turning the key she switched the phone to Bluetooth.
“Well, yes, when I heard the barking I looked outside and saw the truck. I didn’t think much about it but when the dogs didn’t stop barking after a while I looked again. The truck was gone but the dogs haven’t stopped. Do you want me to go next door and check things out for you?”
“No, that’s okay. I’m actually on my way home now.”
“I’m really sorry to have bothered you, Jo. But your dogs just never act like this and it made me wonder if everything was alright. Are you sure you don’t want me to check things for you? I really don’t mind.”
“No, but thanks, Mrs. G. Like I said, I’m on my way home now. Kate is staying with me for a few days and yesterday she decided to bring her cat over. The cat probably just strayed too close to the dogs' dinner bowls.”
“Well, if you’re sure,” Mrs. G hesitated. “You’re probably right, so again, I’m sorry I bothered you.”
“It’s okay, Mrs. G.” Jo pulled out of the parking lot and struggled not to speed. “I really appreciate you looking out for us.”
“Well, Jo, that’s what neighbors are for. You call me if you need anything or if you change your mind about me going over.”
“Thanks, Mrs. G.” Jo hung up and concentrated on the traffic. It was probably just the cat irritating the dogs, she reasoned. But in her gut she knew her dogs and something was really wrong.
She heard the frantic barking from down the street. No wonder Mrs. G had called her-- the racket was worse than the dog shelter. Jo pulled into the driveway and was out of the car in a flash. This barking wasn’t dogs chasing cats something was seriously wrong. But when she opened her front door the sight before her made her freeze in her tracks.
Blitz was perched on the top of the piano, Bella stood on the sofa, and the largest snake she had ever seen was undulating across her living room floor staring up at Blitz. Brown blotches ringed in black, patterned down the snake’s back and its body was thicker than her arm. Afraid her dogs would jump at seeing her, she immediately gave the hand signal for silence and thankfully both dogs obeyed. Bella emitted a pitiful whine as she looked at Jo but Jo just shook her head and Bella went still.
Taking her phone from her pocket, Jo dialed 911. “I need Animal Control and the police.” She tried to keep her voice steady as much to reassure the dogs as herself. “There is a really big snake in my living room and he didn’t get here by himself.” She identified herself and gave the address and continued to stand in the doorway to wait. For a moment she contemplated grabbing the snake’s tail and trying to pull it from the house, but if it turned on her and got outside, she might not be able to contain it. The snake started to coil near the piano and Bella whined again. Not sure of the snake’s striking distance Jo felt her heart begin to race even faster. If the snake lunged and grabbed Blitz with its strong jaws it would wrap its body around the dog and smother it. At that point Jo knew there would be nothing she could do. Her hand signal stopped Bella’s whine and slowly Jo reached for a book on the shelf beside her and tossed it at the snake’s tail. The snake instantly swung in her direction. With her heart beating in her throat, Jo stood motionless and hoped her posture would help her dogs to hold.
Later, in what seemed like a lifetime, Animal Control pulled the snake from her living room. All the neighbors had gathered on the street to watch and Jo prayed that the TV crew wasn’t going to show up.
“That is some big snake,” Mrs. G said, putting her arm around Jo. They stood to the side of the front lawn under the shade of the palm tree. “No wonder the dogs were upset.” As soon as the snake had been removed, Blitz had run into the kitchen to check on his food and Bella hadn’t left Jo’s side. Jo could still feel the dog’s tremors as she leaned against her leg.
When the snake was stretched on the lawn it took three men to contain it. “It’s measuring ten feet long,” one called. Then they were shifting the snake head-first into a sack.
“Heavy sucker,” another called as they struggled with the coils. One of the officers walked over to where Jo stood with Mrs. G.
“You have a Burmese Python there,” he said, looking at Jo. “I take it it’s not yours?”
Jo shook her head and struggled to keep her breath even as Blitz materialized at her other side and leaned in. “It’s not mine. My neighbor,” she gestured toward Mrs. G, “called me because my dogs were barking. When I got home I found that thing coiled on the floor. I wasn’t sure I could get it out on my own so I called you.”
“Well you did right,” he said adding notes to his pad. “Close as I can tell that was about an 80 pounder.”
“Oh my,” Mrs. G gasped.
“Yeah, you’re lucky you got home when you did,” he continued. “Burmese Pythons are indiscriminate eaters and this one is hungry. It would have gotten both your dogs without a doubt.”
Jo reached down to stroke Bella’s head. “Even a dog this size?”
The officer nodded. “These snakes can take down a small deer. Saw one try to crush a 400 pound alligator once. But that turned out to be a draw.”
Jo felt her stomach begin to roll at the thought.
“But I still don’t understand how it got in the house,” Mrs. G said. “I mean we live on a lake and you expect to see a gator or two now and again, but a snake that size? Did it go through the doggie door in the back?”
“I don’t think so. Did you know you have a broken window?” the officer looked at Jo. When she said nothing, he continued. “On the other side of the house,” he gestured.
Jo shook her head again and continued to stroke the still trembling dog.
“Well, someone removed the screen and broke your window. The snake was most likely in a sack when it was tossed through. We found a large canvas laundry bag on the floor half under the sofa and I’m guessing that’s not yours either.”
“Not mine.”
Another black and white pulled up and Jo saw Mitch jump out of the car. “You okay?” he called crossing the yard at a quick walk.
Jo nodded. “Yeah, but someone decided to deliver a present.”
“Some present,” the Animal Control offer said. “A hungry, ten foot Burmese Python is nothing to sneeze at.”
“Holy crap, Caz, this is getting serious.”
“Yeah, tell me about it.”
Another Animal Control officer walked up. “We checked out the house Miss, and nothing else seems to be disturbed. There is a really angry cat in one of the bedrooms though.”
“Oh my gosh, Midnight,” Jo broke out of her trance. “I’ve got to get inside.” She started to go but Mitch caught her arm.
“Is it okay for her to go in?” he asked.
The other officer nodded and flipped his notebook closed. “As far as we can tell, someone broke the window and dumped the snake in. Nothing else seems to be disturbed.”
“Okay,” Mitch let go of Jo’s arm, “let’s go.”
Jo struggled to slow her racing heart, but the sight of an Animal Control officer holding the now frantically wiggling sack made that difficult. She and Mitch entered the front room and Jo immediately went to Kate’s bedroom. She opened the door and Midnight jumped from the bed into her arms. The cat’s angry yowls were in startling contrast to the frantic rubbing of her head against Jo’s chest.
“It’s okay,” she soothed, petting the cat. “That was pretty scary for all of us. But it’s a good thing you were in the bedroom or you might have been that monster’s dinner.” With her words Midnight stopped her howling and began to purr. Holding the cat, Jo walked back into the living room. A wooden chair had been turned over and the piano music was scattered on the floor. Mitch was sweeping the glass from beneath the window into a pile.
“You have a dust pan?”
“I can get that,” Jo said, reluctant to let go of the cat.
“No probl
em, in the kitchen right?”
Gratefully, Jo nodded and sat on the sofa. Bella climbed up and rested her head on Jo’s lap while Blitz snuggled in on the other side. Midnight continued to purr loudly and the sound was vaguely comforting.
Mitch came back in and dealt with the broken glass. “I know a guy who could probably fix that today,” he said gesturing toward the open window. “Want me to give him a call?”
“That would be great,” Jo tried to settle her nerves. “If Kate hadn’t left Midnight in the bedroom….” she shuddered at the thought and Bella pushed closer.
“You four make quite a picture,” Mitch said replacing the phone after making his call. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a cat that close to two dogs and everyone so quiet. At his words Blitz tried to scoot even closer. “And I think you need a bigger lap.”
“They must have been scared out of their minds.” Jo said slowly. “When I think of what could have happened. The officer said even Bella wouldn’t have been okay. If Mrs. G hadn’t called, Blitz and Midnight wouldn’t have stood a chance.”
“Well you’re lucky your neighbor was home to call you. Now what’s this I hear about a truck?”
Jo related what Mrs. G had told her and Mitch left to speak with her directly. She knew she should call Kate, but for the moment she just sat stroking each of the animals in turn as her fear began to ebb and her anger began to grow.
* * *
Good to his word, Mitch’s friend had arrived and the window glass was replaced within the hour. Jo got the mop and washed the floor to be sure there were no glass slivers that the dustpan and brush had missed. She was just finishing when Kate walked in. As she relayed the story, the color drained from Kate’s face.
“Okay, this guy is sick. Did Mrs. G get a license plate to go with the truck?”
“Well that’s the interesting part,” Jo said hauling her bucket and mop to the kitchen. “She did look and said there was mud all over the plate. The numbers were obscured, but,” Jo emptied the bucket, “when Mitch went to talk to the McDaniels on the other side, their daughter was the only one home. She knew their landscaper and some of his crew had been there earlier, but she couldn’t say exactly when and she didn’t know their names, and no she didn’t know what kind of truck they drove.”