Chapter 4 — Arthur Collins Had Never Agreed to Give Jasper Away
Richard called Mark immediately.
No answer.
He called again.
Voicemail.
Then Sophie said:
“Call Mr. Collins.”
Richard looked at her.
“Do you have his number?”
Sophie nodded.
Arthur had given it to several neighborhood families years earlier.
Richard called.
Arthur answered on the third ring.
His voice sounded tired.
“Hello?”
“Arthur, it’s Richard Hale.”
“Richard?”
“I have a strange question.”
Arthur sighed.
“At my age, those are usually the interesting ones.”
Richard looked toward Jasper.
“Do you know where your dog is?”
Silence.
Then Arthur’s voice changed completely.
“Jasper?”
The dog heard his name.
His ears lifted.
Arthur continued.
“Mark told me he was staying with a family temporarily.”
Richard looked toward Sophie.
“Did you agree to that?”
“Of course.”
“Did you agree to give him away permanently?”
Arthur became quiet.
“No.”
Sophie looked vindicated.
Richard held up one finger.
Not yet.
Arthur had spent the previous week staying with his daughter while repairs were completed at his house after a burst water pipe.
The rental apartment where he was temporarily staying did not allow animals.
Mark offered to arrange somewhere for Jasper.
Arthur assumed it would be temporary.
“Mark said Jasper would be taken care of until I came home.”
Richard frowned.
“Sophie overheard him arranging for somebody to collect Jasper.”
Arthur’s voice sharpened.
“Collect him for what?”
“We don’t know yet.”
Sophie moved closer to the phone.
“Mr. Collins?”
“Sophie?”
“Jasper’s with me.”
Arthur went completely silent.
Then:
“He’s safe?”
“Yeah.”
Jasper walked toward the phone when he heard Arthur’s voice.
He began whining.
Arthur’s breath caught.
“That’s my boy.”
Sophie started crying.
Richard’s anger became more complicated.
His daughter had broken several rules.
Used a restricted card.
Disabled a camera.
Hidden someone else’s dog.
Then discarded the card in a crowded kitchen.
None of that was acceptable.
But she had also correctly understood one thing.
Arthur had not knowingly surrendered Jasper.
Richard asked:
“Arthur, when are you coming home?”
“Tomorrow afternoon.”
“Jasper can stay here tonight.”
Sophie looked at him hopefully.
Richard immediately added:
“With everyone knowing he’s here.”
Sophie nodded.
That distinction mattered.