The Gardens of Digby Green: Naturalized Area
For the next several minutes, what Jessup observed didn’t look much different than the behavior of any random dog turned loose in an unfamiliar yard. His deputy kept following a few steps behind the dog, and the sheriff shook his head.
It seemed he was wasting his time.
Then the animal approached the back corner of the house, froze in a near-point, tucked his tail, and breathed in a different rhythm. Jones repeated the command, “Search.”
Slowly, stiffly, the dog stepped around the corner.
“He’s caught the scent,” the deputy whispered as he followed his partner. “Good boy, Fred.”
Behind them both, Jessup shrugged, and strode after them.
Breeze gusted a visible sweep through shaggy grass, propelling half-decayed leaves from beneath a wooden deck, and the dog whined before resuming a wandering pattern.
That mutt Jones has isn’t going to be much use. The sheriff checked his watch again. He stayed near the deck, observing as the breeze died.
“Come on, Fred. Search. You can find it again.”
Rubbing the back of his neck, Sheriff Jessup sighed. Ridiculous how tense he could get just watching a dog meander in the grass. Cold cases were the pits.
A jay squawked, was mimicked by a catbird, and a large fly buzzed past Jessup’s ear. The rhythm of the dog’s breathing changed again, dog and handler stalking toward a naturalized area along the property line.
Witch hazel bushes were established there, and the dog forced his way into the cluster, making urgent sounds.
“We’ve got something, Sheriff,” Jones called, and plunged into the thicket after the K-9. He planted a small stake to mark the spot, then tossed a green tennis ball out onto the grass and played with the dog for a few throws.
“When you’ve got that animal loaded, Jones, call for forensics. I’ll wait here,” Jessup said.
The Gardens of Digby Green is a serialized story that posts on Fridays.
Next week, part forty-five, Bobcat.
Find a link to purchase Heartland Treasures anthology here.
Ruth
Heidi Kortman
Krystine Kercher
Heidi Kortman
Krystine Kercher