By the time Kat got back to Chez Stinky, it was early afternoon. Traffic had been terrible in the city and she was not feeling love toward her fellow drivers. It was a relief to drive down the largely empty rural roads as she got closer to Alpine Grove. By the time she got to her driveway, she was beyond ready to get out of her car. As she pulled boxes out of the trunk of the Toyota, Lori ran up to her with a welcoming bark and a steady wag. Kat looked up. “Hi, Lori. Where is your buddy Linus?” Joel walked up from the back of the house toward the driveway. Kat smiled, but her smile faded when she saw the expression on his face. “What happened?” Joel hugged her tightly. “I tried to call you, but I guess you’d already left. Something is wrong with Linus. I’m glad you’re here. We have an appointment at the vet in half an hour and I need to get him into the truck.” Kat pulled away from him. “Linus! Oh, no.” She ran down the hill to the back door and went inside. Linus was lying on the floor with his head between his paws.
