The Gardens of Digby Green: Novice K-9
“Did your department bring in a cadaver dog?”
The second question Detective Marquez posed during his phone call played like an ear worm in Sheriff Erwin Jessup’s brain. When the case began, last September, the county didn’t have a cadaver dog, and the previous county commissioner wouldn’t hear of raising the funds, or of asking help from a neighboring county.
He was gone, voted out by annoyed citizens, but this missing person case chilled rapidly.
Deputy Jones owned a Weimaraner-shepherd mix, and had volunteered to take training with the animal. The two had had perhaps a month of class sessions. Would it be enough?
Jessup picked up his phone. Time to give the idea a shot.
“Jones, is that mutt of yours awake? I want you to meet me at Hazel Green’s place in half an hour or sooner. I got a call from a detective in Illinois, of all places, who wanted me to confirm that the lady is missing. Let’s solve this cold case.”
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“Come on, Fred buddy,” the deputy said, as he took a harness from its peg. “Let’s go to work.” His dog left the sunny patch of grass, and pranced toward him, head up, and tail vibrating.
Deputy Jones fitted the harness over his dog’s back, clipped the lead to the harness, and told Fred “Heel.” Then, he loaded the dog into the rear seat of his club cab pickup. The engine caught with its usual diesel rumble, and Jones and his K-9 were on duty.
He parked the truck behind Sheriff Jessup’s car, and let his dog out onto the uncut grass at the curb. Jessup cocked his head toward the front fence gate. The deputy nodded, and followed him there.
Jones lifted the gate latch, and went into the front yard. The sheriff followed, closing the gate behind him. Unhooking the lead, Jones told Fred “Search.”
The K-9 trotted, head up and snuffing, back and forth across the ragged, weedy, lawn. The sheriff checked his watch.
The Gardens of Digby Green is a serialized story that posts on Fridays.
Next week, part forty-four, Naturalized Area.
Find a link to purchase Heartland Treasures anthology here.
Ruth
Heidi Kortman