Heretics book 3 - The Apocryphile Press

236 :: JOHN R. MABRY
Richard shook his head. “Myra, I’m sorry. I’ll ask the others,
but I haven’t seen her. But we can’t find Toby, either.”
Her eyes went wide. “We’ve got a neighborhood-wide
dog-napper!”
Richard frowned. “Maybe we do. Listen, Myra, I’ve got
your number. I’ll call if we see any sign of Mimi. Will you do
the same if you see Toby?”
“Of course, sweetie. What kind of evil person...?”
Richard placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, and
turned back to the house. He paused at Toby’s doghouse and
looked in. Empty, save for the wadded blanket and a couple
of large beef bones.
Others were scouring the yards by now, too, but none had
found Tobias. Richard walked to the front, and found Dylan
standing in the middle of the street, talking to other neighbors.
Seeing Richard, Dylan excused himself and trotted off
to meet him. “Dude, this is not good. The Mayers’ dog is
missing, too.”
“So is Mimi.”
“No shit! What the fuck?!”
Richard looked back at the house and saw Kat staring at
him from the window. She mouthed “What’s up?” He held
up an index finger, asking her to wait a minute.
Just then a siren wafted its way to them. Down the street,
they saw a fire truck appear and then fade as it grew more
distant.
“Ho. Ly. Shit.” Dylan breathed.
“What?” Richard asked.
“Listen,” Dylan’s eyes were closed.
“I don’t hear anything but the siren,” Richard said.
Dylan opened his eyes and fixed a severe gaze on him.
“Exactly. Do you hear one dog in this whole neighborhood
howling?”
Dylan was right. A shiver of fear ran up Richard’s spine.