The Missing Dog Is Spotted by Jessica Scott Kerrin Read Free Book Online Page A

that.
    Having somewhat convinced himself that he had done nothing wrong whatsoever, Trevor tried to shake off his bad feelings by getting up and stretching his legs. Then he wandered over to the plaque that Mr. Creelman had installed beneath the stained-glass window.
    â€œ Restored by the Twillingate Cemetery Brigade ,” he read out loud.
    He studied the window. It featured people wearing robes and sandals who were looking up at the sky, clasping their hands. Beams of light shone down upon them and then onto his stack of books.
    The light was quite beautiful. Trevor felt bad all over again.
    The next Wednesday afternoon when he reported for duty at the animal shelter, the same woman wearing a lab coat sat behind the front desk eating lasagna from Sacred Grounds Cafe. Loyola had not yet arrived.
    â€œAre you Isabelle Myers?” he asked.
    â€œOh dear. Did I forget to introduce myself the last time you were here?” Isabelle Myers asked. “I spend so much time with animals, I sometimes forget my manners.”
    â€œThat’s okay,” Trevor said. “Mr. Creelman said to say hi.”
    â€œMr. Creelman? What a wonderful man! He does so much for the community. His work at Twillingate Cemetery is outstanding. I’m so glad he thought to suggest the animal shelter for Queensview Elementary’s list of community service organizations.”
    â€œMe, too,” Trevor said as the bell rang on the front door of the animal shelter.
    It was Loyola in dark, dark greens. Having immediately spotted Trevor, she kept her distance, just as she had done the entire past week whenever they were about to cross paths in the school hallways or classroom. The secret pact was back on.
    â€œHey, isn’t that the same poster we found in the park?” Loyola asked, pointing to the bulletin board near the door.
    Trevor nodded. It was the one about the lost spotted dog.
    â€œThe owner keeps calling,” Isabelle Myers said. “He’s a senior citizen and he’s in a desperate way. I don’t suppose you could drop by his house on the way to the park? Assure him that you’re a volunteer with the animal shelter and that you’ll keep a lookout?”
    â€œWe can do that,” Trevor and Loyola said together.
    Isabelle Myers wrote the address on a piece of paper, which Trevor plucked from her as soon as she was done.
    â€œMr. Fester, 951 Willow Lane,” he read out loud. “That’s close to the park gate,” he said confidently.
    He took charge by tucking the paper into his pocket. She handed them their safety vests, walkie-talkies and plastic bags.
    When Trevor and Loyola stepped outside, Loyola turned, towering over him, and demanded, “Do you want to go to Mr. Fester’s house, or should I?”
    This irritated Trevor no end, because he was the one with the address. He was about to point that out, but instantly knew that it wasn’t a good enough reason for getting his way. Perhaps he could challenge her to a race, but then he remembered that he would have Duncan, and Duncan couldn’t be rushed. Out of options, and resenting how Loyola was still towering over him, Trevor offered the only thing left.
    â€œTell you what,” he said. “We’ll pick up our dogs, just like last time, and meet at his house.”
    â€œFine,” Loyola said, sounding put out, and she strode off to pick up her first dog.
    Trevor collected Misty, Duncan and Poppy in that order and headed to the new address. Loyola was waiting for him with her dogs on the front lawn of a little brick house with black shutters and a winding stone path to the front steps.
    They tied up their dogs, then jockeyed on the porch for the best position. Trevor won that struggle by ducking in front of Loyola to be closest to the door.
    He was so happy that he had managed to beat her, he was caught off guard when Loyola reached around him with her made-for-basketball arm to ring the