Playing The Hand She's Dealt
By David Fingerman
Louise pushed forward the back of her seat. Peanut bounded out and raced ahead of Karla to the front door. When he reached the front step he skidded to a halt and growled as best he could for a dog with severed vocal chords. Karla cocked her head at the dog as she arrived at the door. Louise caught up, grabbed Karla's shoulder, and yanked her back.
"Goddammit," Louise whispered. She hadn't touched her gun since she left the force. The .45 was sitting snuggly behind the bath towels in the linen closet. At least she hoped it was still in the linen closet. The doorknob turned, unlocked. Karla held Peanut by the collar.
"Did you lock the door?" Louise whispered.
"I'm positive." Karla nodded as she matched Louise's tone.
"Keep a tight rein on him." Louise turned back toward the door, inched it open and peeked in. A man with gray hair sat on the couch. Louise could only see him from behind. She closed the door just far enough that it didn't click.
"Give me the dog," she whispered. "And you get out of sight. Call the cops."
Karla snapped the leash on Peanut and handed it to Louise, then walked behind the car while digging through her purse "Should we wait for the police?" Louise whispered to Peanut. He waited at the door, muscles tense. "I don't think so either."
She flung open the door. Peanut charged. The leash tore out of her hand. The dog leapt over the back of the couch and pounced. The man flew to the floor under one hundred-twenty five pounds of rottweiler. Louise raced around the sofa ready to jump into the carnage. She stopped suddenly, almost falling over. Peanut stood over the man, sniffing his face as Louise grabbed the leash and dragged him back to the front door.
"Karla!"
Her partner appeared from the side of the house.
"Take the dog."
Karla took control of the leash. The dog didn't resist.
"What happened?"
"There's a dead man in the house."
Karla gasped, bringing her hand to her mouth. "It wasn't Peanut?"
"No, no. The guy's been dead for a while. Somebody beat him up pretty good."
Karla shook, leaning on Peanut for support. "The police are on the way," her voice cracked. Louise took her in her arms. In a tight embrace, she wondered how the people of this quiet street would think of their new neighbors when the cops did door-to-door interviews. They moved in only three days ago to a neighborhood chosen mostly because of the low crime rate. Irony? A new thought clicked in her brain and she released Karla, gently holding her shoulders and pushing her arms-length away.
"I think I know that guy."