Chapter 4

BUSTER FOLLOWED Wayne everywhere he went, including the bathroom to shower and then into the bedroom to dress.

"No. I'm sorry, but you don't get to go tonight," he told Buster as he jumped on the bed, standing at full attention, his tail wagging his entire back end. "And no. You can look at me like that all you want, but it isn't going to change my mind. This is my date, not one that you and Frosty get to crash. Not this time."

He splashed on a small amount of cologne and checked himself in the mirror before leaving the bathroom and slipping into his shoes.

He was just putting on his coat when the bell rang. Buster raced ahead of him to the door and jumped as he tried to get past Wayne to go down the stairs. "You need to wait here." Wayne slipped on his heavy coat and managed to get out the door without letting Buster out. Of course he got a few barks as he descended the stairs.

"Hey," Riley said with a lopsided smile. "Are you ready to go? I thought we could go the Café Belgie for dinner, if that's okay. I always liked that place, and the food is really good."

"Sure." Wayne didn't tend to go out to eat much, so this was a real treat. "I've heard good things about the place." He climbed into the passenger seat of Riley's Corolla, and they headed downtown. "I've always found the town kind of charming this time of year with the garlands on the lampposts and the angels on the light poles at the square, as well as the snowflakes. It's like something from years gone by, and yet it seems modern too."

"I take it you're a scholar of Christmas decorations," Riley said.

"Not really, I just like the way they do this. Some places go way overboard, while others do almost nothing."

"I like it too. I live close enough that I like to walk down here when it's snowing. The town is kind of magical at times like that. The traffic slows down, and the snow clings to the garlands and the branches of the trees. Last year on one of those nights, I came down just to watch the play of light on the falling snow." Riley paused. "When I was a kid, my mom used to bring me down here for the old Christmas parade, and then we'd get to see Santa. Those nights it always seemed to snow, and that made it extra special. Maybe that's why I like those times so much."

"Yeah. I grew up where there wasn't snow ever. Mom can't stand the cold. But after I graduated, it was hard to find a job, so when I got the offer here, I jumped at it." Those had been a couple of tough years, working where he could until he got the chance at a more permanent full-time position as a systems designer. "Mom was disappointed that I didn't stay down there, but I'd have ended up working in the mall longer, and that wasn't what I wanted."

"That had to have been hard."

"It was, but it was time. I couldn't live at home for much longer. It was getting tense, and I wanted to get on with my life. Everyone else I knew was building a future of their own, and I was stuck." God, he had hated that time. He'd felt like a failure, and that hadn't helped his prospects or his relationship with his parents. His mom had been supportive, while his father always looked at him like, Why are you still here?

Riley pulled to a stop at the light on the square. The town Christmas tree was lit, flashing its cheery message next to the old courthouse, wisps of snow clinging to its branches. This time of year, they didn't always get snow, and Wayne was happy it was happening this year. It always made the holidays seem more festive. Though if he were honest, he'd be happy if it stopped snowing the day after Christmas and they went right to spring, but fat chance on that one. When the light changed, they passed through the intersection, and Riley parked a little ways from the restaurant.

They walked together down the sidewalk. "It's been a while since I was on a real date," Riley confessed.

"Why? You're super cute, and you must have people interested." Wayne wanted to smack himself.

Riley shrugged. "You think I'm cute? You know that's, like, the kiss of death."

Wayne rolled his eyes. "Stop. You know what I mean, and don't try to change the subject. But I get it. Guys are interested in getting it on and then moving on to the next conquest. Especially people our age. It's like some kind of game or something." He paused outside the restaurant. "Well, that isn't the kind of thing I'm looking for." Wayne smiled at Riley and got one tinged with heat in return. His belly did a little flip of excitement, and Wayne savored the flutter of returned interest. He opened the door and held it for Riley before following him inside the clean, modern-looking dining room with just enough warmth to feel welcoming. The host directed them to their table once Riley gave his name, and they sat down near the front windows. "What have you had here?"

"We had a work thing here a few months ago, and everything was good. The chef who owns it is amazing. But the last time I was here, I had the pork milanaise. It was delicious."

Wayne scanned down the menu before making his choice. There were so many interesting things that it was hard to choose, and the scents that wafted out of the kitchen had his stomach rumbling in anticipation. He wanted to order a little of everything, but he settled on the trout, while Riley got schnitzel with spaetzle.

"How did you get into training dogs? Was that something your parents did?"

"Growing up, the lady next door was into dogs. She raised them for the Leader Dogs for the Blind program. She'd get puppies, raise and train them to be part of the program, and then those that were accepted went on for more training while those that didn't were adopted. She had as many as ten or twelve dogs at a time, and I used to go over to play with them." Their drinks arrived, and Wayne paused. "So I was around dogs all the time, and they responded really well to me. She taught me how to train them, and at fifteen and sixteen, I trained my first dogs for the program. For a while, Mrs. Fells had more dogs because I could help her. Once I went away to college my junior year, she backed off a little. But I had found something that I was good at."

"You'd think you had bacon in your pocket or something," Riley said.

"Nope. Dogs know they can trust me, and that's all it really takes. And for the record, Frosty adores you. When you're in the room, she watches you and will follow you anywhere."

"That's because I feed her."

Wayne shook his head. "No. It's more like she knows you will be there for her. You rescued her and gave her a forever home. They know and respond to what's in your heart." He sighed. "I should have known that my last boyfriend was a total jerk. The dogs didn't like him."

"So your dating profile, if you had one, would read, ‘must love dogs.'" Riley smiled. "I like that." So did Wayne. It was the perfect way to explain the kind of guy he wanted in his life, and it did it in a single sentence. "Or maybe, ‘must be loved by dogs.'" He loved Riley's smile with that hint of almost impish wickedness.

"That's a given. Buster loves everyone, but he stayed away from Mike. He didn't growl or anything, but he just avoided him. And Buster was right. Mike was selfish and tended to look out for himself and what he wanted. Thankfully, things didn't last long before I figured it out. My track record isn't the greatest."

Riley lifted his glass. "To a better future," he said softly, and Wayne lifted his own, clinking them together lightly before drinking.

THEY HAD an amazing dinner and talked about everything and nothing. It took about five minutes before Wayne let go of his usual carefulness and opened up. The amazing thing was that Riley seemed to do the same, and they talked like they had known each other for a long time. And that never happened for Wayne. He was usually slow to show his true self, but with Riley, it was so easy to be himself. "I have to ask. How long did it take before Frosty slept in bed with you?"

Riley chuckled. "She tries, believe me. But I learned the night the power was out that she is one huge bed pig. So she sleeps in her own space."

Wayne was surprised. "She didn't wheedle her way into your bed?"

"Nope." Riley seemed pleased. "She's been trying, but she takes up so much room and I have a tendency to toss and turn, so it really isn't going to be good if she sleeps with me. One night was fine, but not afterwards."

"I have to give you credit. You're a better man than I am. Buster has a place at the foot of the bed, and he stays there unless it's really cold. Then he'll settle up near my legs. That night without the heat, he slipped under the covers and slept with his head on the next pillow." Wayne rolled his eyes. "I know, I'm a huge softie."

"Well, Buster isn't eighty pounds." Riley leaned over the table as he finished his coffee. "When I got her, I never considered the consequences of all the decisions I was going to make, and I know I made mistakes, but that isn't one of them. Frosty is happier because she has her own bed, and let me tell you, that girl has doggie dreams and she runs in her sleep." He chuckled. When the server brought the check, he grabbed it and handed him a credit card right away. "You can get the next one," he said gently.

Wayne liked the idea of there being a next date.

Once the check was paid and their coffee gone, they left the restaurant. The snow had stopped and the air was still. "I probably should get Frosty and take her out for a walk."

"Let's stop at your place, get her, and then we can walk Buster at the same time." Wayne didn't want the evening to end. Riley agreed, and they went to his small home. Frosty raced into the back seat and made herself comfortable, and then they were off toward Wayne's upstairs place.

"I'll wait down here with her while you get Buster," Riley offered, and he got Frosty leashed up as Wayne went inside and up the stairs. When he reached the top, he unlocked the door and went inside. Buster didn't greet him the way he usually did.

"Hey, Buster, I'm home," he called, but he didn't come running. Wondering what was wrong, he hurried through the house to make sure he wasn't hurt, heart racing. He found the back door ajar and hurried outside. Was Buster out in the yard, cold and unable to get back inside? He went down the back stairs, his heart aching when he saw the back gate was ajar as well. He hurried through and back out front. "Buster is gone. He got out the back, and the gate was open, and…."

"Okay. We'll find him," Riley said. "Is the house closed up?" Wayne tried to remember and then nodded. "Close the gate, and we'll go find him. He can't have gotten very far."

"I have no idea how long he's been out, or if…." The idea that someone might have taken Buster made his heart cold and his stomach clench.

"Buster is out here, and we're going to find him," Riley said. "Can you find your friend Buster?" he asked Frosty. "Go and find Buster."

Frosty perked up and began pulling on the leash. Wayne wasn't ready to believe that the dog knew anything more than they did, but Riley went in the direction she was pulling.

"That's it. Find your friend Buster."

"You know she doesn't know what you're saying," Wayne said nervously as he scanned the area on both sides of the street. A lot of the neighbors had fenced-in yards, so that would make it impossible for Buster to get to some areas, but as they went down half a block, one house had a completely open yard, with dog prints running across the fresh snow. "I think he went this way."

"Okay. You go through the yard, and I'll take Frosty around and I'll meet you in back." Riley pulled out his phone and made a call. "Hey, Davis, I need your help. A friend's dog has gotten out, and we need to find him. He's on South Street and we're heading down Chapel. Do you think you can help…? Thanks." He hung up. "My brother is on his way. He's a policeman here in town, and he knows the area pretty well." He began walking. "I'll meet you in back." Riley picked up speed as Wayne trudged across the lightly whited lawn and through the backyard.

"Buster!" he called, hoping his dog would hear him. When he reached Chapel—technically an alley, but it had a few homes on it—he looked up and down just as Riley turned the corner, heading toward him with Frosty leading the way. "Buster!" He listened but heard nothing.

"There were no paw prints that way," Riley reported, and they continued down the street.

"Where could he be?" Wayne asked as a car pulled down the street and right up to them, rolling down the window.

"I called into the station, and there have been no reports of a dog being found," the driver said. "By the way, I'm his brother, Davis." He stuck his hand out through the open window, and Wayne shook it. "I'm going to continue on down here and then go down Pomfret Street, but it isn't likely he made it that far. All the yards are fenced and closed off from this direction."

"Thanks," Wayne said, getting more worried by the second. "I just hope we find him."

"We will," Riley said as Davis moved slowly forward and then turned the corner ahead of them. "Maybe he went down the road here and out that way."

They continued west and made the corner. Wayne was torn as to whether they should continue on straight or loop back around. He decided to try finishing off the block before moving farther afield, so they turned left and then got back to South Street. He sighed and was about to continue west.

"Wayne!" someone called, and he turned as one of the neighbors, Evelyn, approached from across the street. She had Buster in her arms, and Wayne swallowed hard before sighing in sheer relief. "I found him across the street behind the houses about fifteen minutes ago. I got him in the car so he could warm up." She got closer, and Wayne took Buster and nuzzled him tight. Damn, it felt so good to have him back again.

"Thank you. I'm not sure how he got out." He held him as Frosty went up on her hind legs to peer at Buster. The two of them greeted one another, and then Frosty sat down right next to Riley like she was happy.

"I'll ask Davis to take a look at the doors just in case." Riley made a call.

"Thank you for finding him. We were out at dinner, and when I came home he was gone. Buster is usually so good."

"I was so surprised when he ran across the street. He seemed kind of frantic, and when I called him, he came right into the car. He was cold, and I got him warm and gave him some water. Then I figured I'd bring him home. I would have called, but the tag with the number must have fallen off." She seemed almost as relieved as Wayne, who checked for the tag and made a note to get another one tomorrow. "I'm just glad that he's going to be okay." She gently stroked Buster's head before saying good night and heading home.

Wayne carried Buster the half block home, with Riley and Frosty walking along with him. Once they were inside, he made sure the doors were properly closed and set Buster down. He immediately attacked his food dish and then drank a bunch of water before settling on his blanket near the sofa with Frosty curled next to him, like she wanted to make sure he was warm enough.

There was a knock, and Riley let his brother inside. Wayne showed him the back door and gate and let him look them over.

"How many times did you go down the stairs?" Davis asked once he came back inside.

"Just once. I went down them to the back gate and then came through to the front to find Riley. Why?"

"Because someone has been up and down those stairs at least once if not more, and if it wasn't you, then someone might have let Buster out. Is there anyone else with a key? Did you give a key to anyone?"

Wayne sat down. "Mike Harper, my ex, had a key, but I got it back from him when we broke up." He felt himself pale as Davis jotted down the name. "Buster was the only thing we fought over." He lifted his gaze. "Do you think he could have done something like this?"

Davis shrugged. "I think the more important question is do you think he could have done it? Maybe he was trying to get revenge or to trying to hurt you."

"But…," Wayne began.

"Did you leave the back door unlocked?" Riley asked him.

Wayne shook his head. "I never do."

"Then someone got in here. Has anything been taken?"

Wayne rolled his eyes—there was nothing worth stealing. But the TV was still there, and so were the other electronics. "Not that I can tell."

"And remember, they left the back door and the gate open. It seems to me that they wanted to clear a path for Buster, maybe to make it look like you had been careless."

"I'm never careless where he's concerned," Wayne protested.

Riley came to stand right next to him. "Of course not. You'd go without eating so Buster could. I know that. So that means that someone was here. I mean, all they'd have to do is go up the back, open the door and leave it ajar, then leave and not latch the gate. Buster is always curious, and he loves to try to get outside, and with the gate open, he'd be free to go where he wants." Riley made it sound so easy, and maybe that was all there was to it.

"Can you take prints or something?" Wayne asked.

"I could try, but I don't know how much good it would do. I bet there are plenty of them on the lock, though it's likely that with you opening and closing the door, they'd have been covered up. TV shows always depict fantastic things that they can do, but we don't have those kinds of resources, especially when we don't know if there's been a crime." Davis did look around the door once more and then locked it before rejoining them in the living room. "I wish I had more I could tell you."

"It's okay. Thank you for all your help," Wayne said, shaking Riley's brother's hand.

"I'll walk you out." Riley pulled on his coat and left through the front. Wayne found himself looking out the front window, watching the two brothers, hating that he was scared and didn't want to be alone.