She nodded through her tears and turned the little brass lock with a click. I went back down the stairs with the crushed note in my fist, meaning to find my mother-in-law and get a straight answer about where they’d sent our dog.

Chapter 4 — Arthur in the Yard

At the foot of the stairs, a movement past the side window stopped me. My father-in-law, Arthur, was out by the garage, wiping his hands and glancing around like a man who didn’t want to be seen.

A cardboard box sat at his feet — and even from here I could see the corner of Max’s blue fleece blanket folded on top of it, along with her food dishes.

I pushed the screen door open. He jumped.

“You’re home early, Nora,” he grunted, shifting to stand between me and the box. “Dinner isn’t till six.”

“What is that.” It wasn’t a question.