Nobody's Dog by Ria Voros Read Free Book Online Page A

away.” At least, not running far.
    She doesn’t look like she buys it.
    â€œLook, I don’t care if you believe me. I saw what I saw.”
    She lifts her chin. “Heard, you mean.”
    â€œHeard too. Man, you’re like a bloodhound.” This is the most I’ve ever heard her say. I take another step and hope she’s getting the hint to go back inside.
    â€œJakob?”
    â€œYeah?” I turn.
    She’s standing at the bottom of the stairs, holding the noose on the end of the laundry rope that minutes ago was around the dog’s neck. She gathers it and throws it back into the bucket. “Goodnight.”

Chapter 4
    The next day I’m lying on a towel in the backyard after lunch, reading an X-Men comic for the twentieth time, when Soleil comes out of the suite. She’s wearing a red dress and pointy shoes and her hair is wavy. She’s got a weird work schedule I can’t figure out, and considering she’s a dog groomer, she has a weird uniform too. But I’m not complaining.
    â€œHey, J-man,” she says and hunches down beside me in the grass. “Whatcha reading?”
    I flip the cover over so she can see.
    â€œHmm. Looks violent. Lots of blood and gore?”
    I lean on my elbow. “Nah. It’s kind of boring. I’ve read it a million times.”
    â€œI bet you’re a super-fast reader.”
    I shrug, thinking she means because I have nothing better to do. “You got an audition?”
    â€œJob interview,” she says. “I’m looking for something better than the dog groomer’s. There’s only so much shampoo and nail clipping one can take.” She smiles down at me.
    â€œWhere’s Libby?”
    Soleil’s eyebrows go up. “Well, since you asked, that’s what I wanted to talk to you about.”
    I sit up, worried. “It is?”
    â€œThere’s been some, uh, problems with Libby’s summer camp.” She waves her hand. “Stuff I won’t bore you with — but today is her last day there. I’m letting her stay home for a while.”
    â€œI could have told you camps were trouble,” I say, though I’m curious what the “problems” are.
    â€œYeah, well it’s not Libby, I can tell you that. Some people’s kids …” She looks over the fence at something.
    I wait, not sure what to say next.
    â€œAnyway.” She shakes her head. “I already talked with Laura, but I wanted to ask you before I said anything to Libby. Could she hang out with you? Only for a little while, maybe a week or two at the most. It would help me out so much, J-man.”
    No. No way. I will not babysit a kid who got kicked out of a lame art camp and who might have evidence against me. I stare at the grass, trying to think of a way to let her down.
    â€œJ-man, I’m really counting on you. Libby likes you, I can tell, and I’d rather not leave her alone. It’s just until I get things sorted out with work.”
    â€œI don’t know,” I mumble.
    â€œLook, I know it’s not ideal, but I trust you. I know you’re a responsible kid.”
    â€œI don’t babysit,” I say, lying back down on my stomach.
    â€œThat’s fine — you don’t need to babysit her, she’s twelve. You’re just hanging out.”
    A thought comes into my head. I look up at Soleil. She’s got a desperate look on her face.
    â€œBut say I was sort of babysitting. I’d be getting, you know, money.” The instant I say it, I feel bad, knowing she’s looking for a job.
    Soleil looks over the fence again. “You’re right. Of course.”
    â€œIt’s just, I mean —” I don’t know what I mean. I wish she’d leave and I could go back to my comic like nothing happened.
    â€œI can’t afford a lot, Jakob, but how’s thirty bucks for a week, starting tomorrow?”
    I stop mumbling.