Page 124 of Broken
“Why do you ask?”
“Leslie said you went to Virginia Tech, but I remembered seeing you at Madison when Leslie and I were students there.”
Jacqueline regarded him for an extra beat. She had him pegged for being in his forties, but maybe he just looked older or he’d gone to college later. “How long were you there?”
“All four years, like Leslie.”
He’s lying.
“My sister dropped out after her freshman year.”
“Right,” he replied. “Settle a bet. Were you at Madison or Tech?”
“What’s with the interrogation?”
A grocery clerk, directing shoppers, pointed, and said to Jacqueline, “That one’s open.”
“See ya,” she said to Lou and went to check out.
After loading her bags in the SUV, she glanced around for Lou, but didn’t see him. As she drove to her brother’s, she thought about him showing up at Asylum. That could have been a coincidence. But popping up again at a grocery store nowhere near Leslie’s house made the hair on the back of her neck prickle.
Is he stalking me?
She turned off the main road and into Keith and Naomi’s neighborhood. As she pulled down their street, she glanced in her rearview mirror. She was alone.
Am I being paranoid?
Lou was the right age, but he looked nothing like the Campus Killer.
In the driveway, she grabbed the dog carrier and hurried up the walkway. Keith swung the door wide. “Hey, sis, c’mon in. You ready to become a doggy mama?”
“I’m excited,” she replied, pushing Lou from her thoughts. “I’ve never had a pet.”
“You’ll do great. Loki’s such a smart dog.” Keith led her to the playroom where Loki and his brother were curled up, sleeping. Naomi was sitting nearby, rubbing Cleo’s belly.
With a smile, Naomi rose. “Congratulations, sis.”
“Thank you. I’m so glad you’re keeping his brother,” Jacqueline said.
“We can get them together for playdates,” Naomi replied.
“So, is Loki the last pup to go?”
“Yes,” Naomi replied. “I loved having them—we both did—but it’ll be good to get our house back in order.”
“Two dogs will be easier to manager than seven, that’s for sure,” Keith added. “We played with him so he’s pretty worn out. When he’s ready to burn energy, he’s a wild thing.” Keith gently picked him up and gave him a little hug. “I’m happy you’re taking him.”
Naomi patted his head before Keith told Cleo to say goodbye.
Jacqueline’s heart stuttered as Cleo sniffed her baby, then licked his coat. Keith slipped him into the carrier, closed the door.
Jacqueline pulled out a check and set it on Naomi’s desk.
“Loki is our gift to you,” Naomi said.
“I wrote the check for half,” Jacqueline explained.
“Thanks,” Keith said. “We appreciate it.”
