Beaglemania by Linda O. Johnston Read Free Book Online Page B

Midwest himself.
    That meant it would be handled quickly, efficiently, and well. It also meant I couldn’t follow through on my idea to help Brooke Pernall right away—and I hated delays, even if I couldn’t control them. Especially then.
    My idea? Throw money at her. Dante’s money, not mine, since I hadn’t much to spare. But maybe he would lend me his clout to lean on Brooke’s former insurance company. Or—
    Hey, a lawyer could do that. I could talk to his lady friend, Kendra Ballantyne. She might have some ideas, too.
    I lifted the phone in my office again, but the door from our reception area burst into the room, followed by Nina.
    “Lauren, everyone here knows about Efram, and how he acted. They’re worried. Could we talk to them?”
    My second in command looked worried, too. Justifiably. Brooke Pernall’s woes had distracted me from my own. HotRescues’ own.
    The bank hadn’t kicked Brooke out yet. I didn’t have to fix things for her this instant, if I could at all. But addressing the menace around here couldn’t wait.
    “Absolutely,” I told Nina. “Let’s get everyone who’s here together in the meeting room upstairs in twenty minutes.”
    “I’m on it.” Nina looked relieved as she left again, pulling the door closed after her.
    If only some inspiration would leap into my fragmented thoughts so I could convey genuine optimism to my gang—some way to permanently banish Efram and his threats from HotRescues.
     
     
    The main HotRescues building was a solid, attractive two-story structure that Dante had designed to his specifications when he created the shelter.
    The upstairs was planned around a conference room. Doors opening onto it led to offices used by staff members like Nina and Mona to meet with potential adopters and decide if they were worthy. And, in Mona’s case, counsel them. There was even a shrink’s couch in her room. I preferred to have my office downstairs in the mainstream of what was going on.
    When time for our impromptu meeting arrived, I stayed in our welcome area as the others headed up the stairway near the exit to the shelter grounds. I didn’t count heads, but after a few minutes I followed—not before locking the outer door. Any visitors could ring the doorbell.
    By the time I arrived at our meeting, nearly everyone else had, too, massing around the conference table. They’d thoughtfully left a chair at one end for me—a good idea, since I had every intention of presiding over this gathering.
    Like our reception room, this one’s walls were decorated with photos of our successes—pets and their new owners. I know I’m prone to anthropomorphism, but yes, even the animals seemed to smile. Why not? They’d each found a new home.
    I planted myself on the empty seat—wood that matched the table, blue upholstery, and wheels for ease of movement.
    “What’s going on, Lauren?” Mona frowned beneath her narrow glasses. She held a notepad and pen, clearly prepared to take notes. No surprise that she spoke first. As a psychologist, she liked to know what everyone was thinking—human and not. “Does this have something to do with Efram?”
    “It sure does,” said Angie. “The S.O.B. threatened us, and the animals, too. He has some nerve, hurting those poor pups, then coming here.” A veterinary technician—clad, as usual, in a turquoise lab jacket—she always seemed highly empathetic with animals.
    Of course, everyone in this group gave a damn, or they wouldn’t be here. I’d make sure of it.
    “I don’t understand the guy.” Si Rogan shook his head. “I worked with him a lot. Really thought he was coming around, doing a good job learning how to care for animals.” He looked at me as if for confirmation, and I nodded.
    “Too bad you couldn’t train him as well as you train animals,” Pete Engersol said to Si, drumming his aging fingers on the table. Our all-around caretaker had spent a lot of time with Efram, too, but I didn’t bring that up.
    Our