Chapter 4 - The Woman Who Counted Every Dog
The following morning, Daniel and Mallory visited Second Horizon Animal Foundation.
The organization occupied a renovated brick building near downtown. Its lobby contained polished floors, framed adoption photographs and a donation wall displaying the names of wealthy supporters.
Celia Rook greeted them personally.
She was a composed woman in her early fifties, dressed in a cream-colored suit. Her silver-blond hair was pulled into a neat knot. A small dog rested in a bed beside her office desk.
“I was horrified to hear about the Calder Street discovery,” Celia said. “Those poor animals.”
Daniel watched her carefully.
“You recognized them?”
“I saw a photograph sent by one of your investigators.”
“We did not release any photographs.”
Celia paused for less than a second.
“Then perhaps I misunderstood. Someone described the mother.”
“What is her name?”
“I would not know.”
“Her name is Daisy.”
Recognition appeared in Celia’s eyes before she concealed it.
Mallory placed a printed adoption record on the desk.
“Your organization reported placing Daisy with a family two years ago.”
Celia examined the document.
“We process thousands of animals. Errors occur.”
“This was not a typing error,” Daniel said. “The family listed on the form does not exist.”
Celia’s pleasant expression faded.
“Are you accusing my foundation of wrongdoing?”
“We are asking why an animal declared adopted was found inside an abandoned house with newborn puppies.”
“You should ask whoever abandoned her.”
“We intend to.”
Daniel noticed a framed photograph on the shelf behind Celia. It showed her standing beside Mayor Grant Mercer and Captain Samuel Trent during a charity event.
Mallory noticed it too.
“How long have you known Captain Trent?”
“He has supported our work for years.”
“Does he visit your facilities?”
“He attends public events.”
“Only public events?”
Celia stood.
“I think this conversation should continue in the presence of my attorney.”
Daniel handed her a card.
“That is your right.”
As they left, a young woman in a blue volunteer shirt followed them into the parking lot.
She glanced back toward the building.
“My name is Tessa Ward,” she said. “Please do not turn around.”
Daniel continued walking.
“What do you need to tell us?”
“I worked in records for eight months. Some animals arrived without being entered into the public system. Others disappeared after adoption events.”
“Did you report it?”
“To Ms. Rook. She said the records were being consolidated.”
“Did you believe her?”
“At first.”
Tessa handed Mallory a small envelope.
“I started writing down identification numbers. I thought I was imagining things until one dog returned.”
Daniel glanced at her.
“Returned from where?”
“A family brought him back because he needed medical care. Our system showed that he had died six months earlier.”
Mallory opened the envelope. Inside were handwritten lists of identification numbers and dates.
“Why did you stay?” she asked.
“Because leaving meant I would never know where they went.”
Tessa’s eyes filled with anger rather than tears.
“I counted every animal that entered my section. Three hundred and twelve were removed from the records.”
“Did you see who transported them?”
“Different drivers. Same two authorization signatures.”
“Whose?”
“Celia Rook and a city inspector named Warren Pike.”
Daniel knew the name. Pike supervised animal-facility licensing for the county.
“Did Captain Trent ever come here?” he asked.
Tessa finally turned toward him.
“Every second Thursday.”
Daniel and Mallory arranged protection for her and sent the handwritten records to Agent Voss.
Before returning to their car, Daniel looked across the street.
A black sedan was parked near a coffee shop.
The driver lowered a newspaper just enough for Daniel to see part of his face.
Captain Trent.
Trent did not attempt to hide.
He raised his phone and called Daniel.
Daniel answered without looking away.
“You were instructed to return to regular patrol,” Trent said.
“We received information connected to an active animal-cruelty investigation.”
“The specialized unit is handling it.”
“Which unit?”
Silence followed.
Daniel continued.
“I asked the station for the case number. No specialized unit has been assigned.”
Trent’s tone changed.
“You are walking into matters you do not understand.”
“Then explain them.”
“There are people involved who can end your career before lunch.”
“Are you warning me as my captain or threatening me as LANTERN 9?”
The newspaper lowered completely.
Trent’s face became still.
“You should think very carefully about your next decision.”
“I already have.”
Daniel ended the call.
The black sedan pulled into traffic.
Mallory watched it leave.
“That was either very brave or very foolish.”
“Probably both.”
Mallory looked down at Tessa’s handwritten list.
“One of these identification numbers belongs to Daisy.”
Beside the number was a handwritten note.
MOVED AFTER BIRTH. TWO PUPPIES TAKEN. MOTHER ESCAPED.
Daniel read the date.
It was the night before the Calder Street rescue.
Tessa had also written a vehicle registration beside the entry.
The registration belonged to a black van owned by Northstar Agricultural Research.
Daniel called Agent Voss.
May you like
“We have a transport vehicle.”
Agent Voss answered, “Then we find where it went before they move everything.”
