2020-06-23 - Truth and Consequences - Felix and Amelie

The door has closed behind Sasha and Felix isn’t expecting him to come home anytime soon.  Catherine is absolutely enamored by her new puppy, but at the same time she is exhausted.  It’s been one hell of a day.  He allows the kids to play with the puppy, but it is soon clear that puppy and new owners are worn out completely.  “Time for bed … all of you.”  he smiles as they obey, get ready for bed, Gen is up already sleeping.  Cath and her new puppy are tucked in by Amelie, Rene is out like the proverbial light, and he and his wife have a moment to unwind after too many stressful days.  He gets some lemonade out of the refrigerator and sits in the dining room with it.  “Some day, eh?”  he asks his wife.  Maybe now, she can relax more.

Amelie takes a lemonade “Thank you, and it has been. But some of it good. I need to tell you about something Felix. Something I learned about Dante. I made a friend today….Seamus’s mother actually. Her name is Colleen. She’s a nurse at the clinic. It was so nice to connect  with another mom. This was AFTER I discovered Seamus works in a sex shop….” She has to laugh at that whole situation now “I went in there by ACCIDENT…..don’t get excited I didn’t buy anything from our son’s friend.” She’s still in a good mood after sharing puppy love with the kids. “Anyhow Colleen and I got to talking in the pharmacy, and we ended up in this delightful bakery having triple chocolate brownies. She knows this town and I told her about our children,,,as mother’s talk Dante as it turns out has had a horrible life. I had no idea. I feel so much compassion for him. I wish I had known it all sooner because I’ll admit I was a little cold. I still have concerns about them rushing into sex...but I do understand about how he ended up in trouble with the law. I mean his mother hung herself, and he found her….at 12! That’s Cath in a year…” She tears up a bit at the thought. “Anyhow I couldn’t keep that one from you Felix.”

Felix drinks some of his lemonade while Amelie tells him about her day.  He grins about Seamus and sighs about Dante.  Taking Amelie’s hand now in sympathy.  “Yea.  I knew about all that.”  he confesses.  “But both Seamus and Dante are good kids.”  he kisses her hand, softly.  “Triple chocolate, eh?”  he grins mischievously.

Amelie had been wrapping her fingers around Felix’s and looking at him sweetly when she heard the words I knew about all that. She lets her hand be kissed and then sees his little mischievous glace he often gave her before they went to bed together. She suddenly fumed and yanked her hand away. “You knew? You knew that Seamus worked in a sex shop AND that Dante’s mother killed herself, and he found her? And when were you going to share that with ME?” Amelie wasn’t a yeller but her voice took on a hiss. She could also be a cupboard and drawer slammer when she was mad and not explaining why. 

Genevieve, barefoot and stealthy, had been heading for the kitchen.  She as actually peckish, but then decided to wait until there were fewer people downstairs.  But hearing her parents, she froze on the steps.  How had her mother found out about Dante’s mother and Seamus?  And she was laying into her Dad.  She stays still, listening hard.

Felix was hopeful until Amelie started fuming.  “Yes, I knew.”  he tells her.  “Sasha and Gen confide in me, Amelie.  So they share things and I just .. don’t tell you unless it’s important.  So far … I’ve been able to handle whatever might come up.”  he sighs.  “They didn’t ask me to keep it from you.  I just … didn’t think it was such a big deal.”

Amelie had picked up her lemonade trying to cool her temper with a sip and now slammed it down after Felix’s words. “Unless it’s important?” She throws up her hands “Felix it’s all important. We’re supposed to be a team. How can we be there for our kids if only one of us knows things?” She glares “I couldn’t make it through one whole day without telling you what I learned about Dante and his mother as well as Seamus working in that sex shop. One day…..don’t you trust me to share the load? We made vows Felix. A commitment to each other…” She sets her jaw and spits out “To our children and to God.”

Felix sighs.  “It isn’t that I don’t trust you, Amelie.”  he assures her.  “It’s just … you tend to get a little upset.  So no, I didn’t tell you that Seamus works in a sex shop, about our daughters boyfriends mother, or about either of their sex lives, even though I’ve known from shortly after both of them started having sex.”  he reaches out for her hand, as he does when trying to calm her.  “I take my vows seriously, Amelie, but I also want to protect not only the children, but you as well from all kinds of fears and pains.  I knew how much the idea of the kids having sex would bother you, even though they are both safe about it.  After all, you are the one who told them both to wait until marriage when we didn’t.  I wish you’d told ME you were going to do that, because I would have tried to stop you.”  he doesn’t use the word hypocrite, but it's implied.

Amelie had taken another sip of lemonade and the glass slammed down again “Mon dieu Felix! I told you I felt bad about that. You’re just going to hold it over my head for the rest of our lives? Why don’t you just come out with it and call me a hypocrite? While you sit there making it look so easy, and they tell you everything. Monsieur Perfecte.” She spits at him “And yes I’ve known our children have had sex. I knew for sure about Sasha and only about Gen when I saw the condoms in her purse. So you are afraid of pissing me off? Well congratulations Felix Beaulieu you have pissed me off even more by walking on eggshells and hiding everything. Is there anything else I should know? Because so help me god if I find out anything else after everyone else I will go drown myself in the ocean since no one wants me to know anyway.”

Felix has the sort of calm that winds up angering people more than anything.  “I am not holding anything over your head, Amelie.  And I am NOT perfect.  Believe me.”  he sighs because now he’s up against it.  He wonders what else she should know.  “Well, I knew that Gen was probably at Dante’s.  He has his own room … Lydia gave him permission to have Gen over there.  Her philosophy is that she can’t stop them, so they may as well be home and safe instead of having sex in the woods or someplace else they might get caught and arrested.”  he pauses.  “And I agree with her.  As a matter of fact I’ve been thinking the last couple of days of building Sasha his own room.  He already has my permission to use our old camping tent for him and Paige.” He inhales and exhales slowly, centering himself.

Amelie just stares at Felix for almost a minute after listening to all that. And then finally she says “You know Felix as much as I agree with some of the ideas behind keeping them safe by being permissive at home, do you not think there’s a lesson to be learned in self control when you have to work harder to pick your times? I mean if we just open up the garage and stick a giant bed in there with a schedule on the wall of when all the teenagers on the street can have a roll who are we helping? Lydia Alvin and her free love philosophies...maybe you wish you had married her!” She veering way of course now. “Because you sure as hell didn’t talk to me about Sasha having a room or a tent….our family tent where I nursed our babies….Felix why don’t I exist for you in this?” She’s crying now and slumping forward “I tell you EVERYTHING. I always have. Even when I fuck it up..” Swearing and crying and not making sense, Amelie is beyond upset now.

Felix takes his hand back to himself.  “Kids don’t work like that anymore, Amelie.  And I will not push my children away on antiquated and possibly bigoted Church teachings.  Our oldest kids are not sex starved sluts.  They ….”  he stops when Lydia Alvin is dragged into the conversation.  “I married the woman I loved, Amelie.  But yes ..  I’ve kept things from you .. for the same reason the kids have grown to keep things from you.”  he is more upset than he’s been in some time.  “You get so upset, I couldn’t even tell you about Auguste….”  he stops as the name falls from his lips and turns his head, looking out of the dining room window and not at her at all.

Amelie rolls her eyes and makes a little snarling sound “I’m not even talking about religion. I’m not so naive as you think me Felix. No we didn’t wait until marriage, no our children didn’t. I didn’t actually expect them too..I dunno maybe I thought it would slow them down a little...just to pause before diving in and getting hurt. It hurts me so much that you all keep things from me. My heart is so full of love, even if I do it wrong sometimes. I’ve even been praying for Dante since I found out about his mother. I have compassion for him. But you keeping things from me hurts more than what I could chalk up to teenage angst. After all we’ve been through…..what do you mean August? What happened or will happen in the month of August that I don’t know?”

Felix sighs deeply.  “The kids aren’t hurt, Amele.  They’re both very much in love.”  and then she asks about Auguste and he shakes his head.  “Not the month.  Auguste.  My brother.”  and here Amiele thought that Felix was an only child.  He never said he was an only child but he sure never mentioned a sibling.  But he did not talk about his family at all, as they had been estranged long before he met Amelie.

Amelie freezes and digests the words “Your brother? What do you mean your brother?” She’s truly perplexed by this. “I’ve met your whole family Felix…” Or so she thought.

Felix drops his face in his hands.  “My parents do not speak Auguste’s name.  He has disowned.  Like he was never born.”  his voice is disgusted.  She knows how cold it is when his parents are around.  “Auguste was ten years older than I am.  When he was 20 he …. He came out of the closet as gay.  My parents threw him out and disowned him.  Disavowed him for sinning against God and shaming his family.”  he scoffs.  “When I met you …  I tried so hard not to fall in love with such a religious woman, but I couldn’t help myself.  But I admit …  I was afraid to tell you about my brother …”

Amelie’s anger and compassion go to war in her. Flex was in so much pain. But this was a big omission, a really big one. Then she feels a bit of a stab about her religion but that she gets, given the parents. “You thought I would condemn him too?” She looks hurt but she also reaches for his hand “Even after Sasha told us about Marc? Felix this is a  long time….I wish you had told me when we met. I would not have condemned him. I may not have understood back then. I think the kids...i think our children made me a better person than my parents made me….” she sighs and reaches her other hand across to the back of his neck “I would like to meet this Auguste if you’ll let me now….I feel like this is a big part of you I don’t know and I can’t believe it. But I love you and I’m here for you.”

Felix feels her hand on his and closes his eyes.  He can feel the tears and does sob hen he feels her other hand on his neck.  “Auguste had a very hard life after my parents disowned him.  He … I tried … but he fell into drugs and sex.  When he was 25 he was diagnosed with HIV … and overdosed on sleeping pills.”  he looks at her then and tries not to be harsh.  “When even one parent doesn’t support you, it can be deadly.  That is why I support my children.  I don’t want them to wind up like Auguste.”

Amelie had been rubbing at his neck and beginning to run her fingers through his hair soothingly. The story of Auguste was so horrible “Oh Felix…” Then he says the rest, which feels like a punch in her gut, and she lifts both her hands up and off his body completely stiffening up and glaring “You know what...I tried. I really really tried. But for some reason, even when I do that I’m still the enemy.  And clearly I haven’t been worth your confidence for our entire relationship.” She snatches her glass from the table and walks into the kitchen, slamming it on the counter by the sink. Then she puts her hands down on the edge of the sink and just breaks down crying in sorrow and rage feeling unloved and unworthy of love but so angry that after all these years it would come to this feeling. She can’t see a way out.

Felix is exhausted.  He wants to stand and go to her.  Take her in his arms and tell her how much he loved her and always had.  But he can only sit back in his chair.  “I’ve never lied to you, Amelie.” but even that truth sounds defeated.

She turns toward him from her spot by the kitchen “The word lie is relative. A lie of omission still feels like a lie. We’re supposed to share each other’s sorrows, raise children together and back each other up. I feel like I’m doing this alone...with half the facts. I told you my biggest sorrow all of it, even the ugly parts I couldn’t look at. I didn’t leave a damn thing out. And then I find out 22 years later you had a brother who was gay, got kicked out by your parents, got HIV and overdosed? Felix, who are you? And who are we to each other?” She just quietly bursts into tears again and heads for the stairs, unable to stay in this nightmare with him.

Genevive stood at the top of the stairs in shock.  She’d heard all of it and … it was a shock.  But before she can think about it, she hears her mother’s final words and a foot on the bottom of the stairs.  Pushing herself off of the wall she was leaning on, she tiptoes swiftly to the room she shares with Cath, quietly securing the door behind her until she hears the door to her parents bedroom slam shut.  Looking over, she sees Cath murmur and roll over, but she doesn’t wwake.  Gen can't move and doesn’t for a long time until she hears more footsteps.  A door closes, but she realizes when the toilet flushes that it isn’t the door to her parents' room.  Then she hears the door open and then another door and her father murmuring about there not being any blankets in French.  He must be in the linen cabinet.  Finally his footsteps head back downstairs and Gen remains leaning against the door for a few more minutes, before she moves to the foot of her bed and sits, burying her head in her hands.

Sasha quietly let himself into his family home and toed off his shoes at the door. The house was really silent. He peered around. Often his parents were up late watching TV or puttering in the kitchen but nothing. Then he noticed a mass on the couch and for a minute thought it might be Rene. Sometimes he snuck down to play video games and then crashed on the couch. Sasha moved to wake him and make him move knowing he’d get it from their mom if he was found doing it again but to his shock it was his father. Why was his dad on the couch? Was one of them feeling sick? He didn’t even have a blanket. Sasha took a throw his mother had knitted from the back of the couch and gently laid it over his father. Curiously he lightly laid a hand on his forehead. No temperature. Hmmm….He went to the kitchen to get a glass of water trying to run the tap quietly.

Genevieve had been catnapping ever since she’d sat on her bed.  But she was waiting on Sasha to come home.  He’d probably be confused enough seeing their father on the couch with no context whatsoever.  She plugged in her phone, but didn’t text Dante immediately.  He was probably asleep.  But she kept an eye on the time.  A few minutes after eleven she heard the door downstairs and, a minute later the tap downstairs.  She stood and tiptoed out of her room, closing the door behind her.  She was in her pajamas and just lightly went downstairs, finding Sasha at the sink and looking up at him.  Her eyes were not sad, or angry, or upset … perhaps a mixture of all of the above.

Sasha had heard the bottom stair creak ever so slightly and figured it might be his mom coming to get his dad, realizing he crashed on the couch. Not that they made a habit of that. But then he saw Gen and her expression worried him. He darted an obvious look towards their dad and then looked to the back door and pointed out, suggesting they talk on the back deck or in the yard. He downed his glass of water as the walk home had made him thirsty.

Genevive nods and heads out.  There are Half a dozen lawn chairs in the grass and she picks one furthest from the house.  She sits and when Sasha joins her she inhales and exhales deeply, then tells him all she overheard.  Their mothers accusations and demanding to know what their father knew about them.  Their father’s defense of them and his keeping their secrets.  “He never told her anything I asked him specifically not to tell Maman and I’m sure nothing you specifically told her not to tell .. like the Christmas Mass he didn't talk about.”  And then she tells about their uncle … and that whole bombshell … and how he’d been afraid, as she knew she often was, to share that with their mother.  Finally, she blows out a breath … “She went upstairs and slammed the door .. and Pere is on the couch …”  she finished.

Sasha leaned back in the chair and listened. His face went from irritation to shock to touched  and then to an odd knowing look. “Papa told me about Uncle Auguste….when I went to him about Marc. I think he told me to help motivate me to be a better friend...knowing how alone his brother felt, how unloved…..I can’t even imagine. This puts him in a very difficult spot with her….I worry Gen….I worry about them.”

Gen leaned forward and clasped her hands between her knees.  “I’m glad he did then, but I totally understand why he didn’t tell her.  Especially after the whole wait until marriage ..and SHE didn’t.”  she snorts.  Then she nods.  “Papa is just easier.  Now I know at least some of why.”  she blows out a breath.  “Maman said she was praying for Dante and she has compassion for him.  I’m glad of that.  It’s a start, I guess.  But … she …”  she growls in frustration.  “At the end she suggested there was somethin bad in her life … and Papa has never told me anything bad about Maman … which means he keeps her secrets the same ah he keeps ours.  How can she be mad at him, Sasha?  I mean … Papa keeps all of our secrets, plus his own and he does it to keep her from freaking out.  Because Maman freaks out …. You know she does.”

Sasha laughs “It’s hypocritical for sure…..but also a tiny bit funny. I’m amazed I wasn’t born years sooner. Heck I could have been Paige’s age...not that she seems to care. And he is easier. I know. She said she prayed for Dante? I mean that’s nice of her...k what’s the deal with him? I got a vague statement out of Seamus but either he didn’t know or he didn’t tell.” He thinks about the idea of their mother having some terrible secret and sort of just shrugs “They’re mortal. Stuff happened in their lives. We won’t get to know it all probably….I dunno, I mean I think of Marc. Will he tell his kids if he has them about being bullied by small minded jocks in small town Manitoba? I get sometimes why people hold onto their stuff...but it’s hard. I can’t. I mean I just..” He makes a vomiting motion in front of his mouth “I just say everything all the time. I told Paige I loved her on our first date. It just…” He does the vomiting motion again and laughs.

Gen giggles.  “Yea ..  I’ve wondered about that, too.  Maybe that’s part of the secret?  Maybe she tried to get her virginity back through celibacy?  Fuck if I know.”  she bites her lip when Dante comes up and looks at him for a long time.  “I’m gonna assume that eamus told you about the earthquake .. and the fog …  Dante’s mother I guess lost everything.  Or her job at least.  And a couple of families went a little nuts and now their kids all live with Lydia …  anyway in Dante’s ase .. his mother rented a hotel room at that creepy Olin place and hung herself.  Dante found her and saw her.”  she is blinking away tears.  “And that’s why he’s in foster care and why he wa in that stupid fight club and why he sometimes does illegal things.”  she looks at him, sniffs and sounds a little defensive.  “But he’s trying to go legit.”  she sighs about Mar.  “He’s smart … so I’d think he would”  she giggles, her tears vanishing at the vomiting motion.  “Oh, I understand that.  Dante told me that like the second day we were  here … we’d met the first night and talked and talked ..and then the next day we were together all day and then .. he told me he loved me and I love him back.  I’ve never felt anything like it, Sasha …”  she blushes a little bit.  “He was my first and he’ll be my last.” she proclaims.

Sasha cringes at the idea of getting virginity back through celibacy “Pretty sure that’s a one way trip.” He shrugs “Maybe they couldn't get pregnant? Maybe they grew you and I in a lab? I remember her being pregnant with Rene and Cath.” Then he listens closely about Dante and looks truly pained at the story of his mother and him finding her. He patted Gen’s hand on the arm of the lawnchair “I’m sure being with you helps him. I actually really enjoyed talking to him today. He seems like a good guy.” He smiles a bit at her story of love too “My friends and I have considered it’s this island. I know it’s weird but the fast and deep loves and even the friendships...I dunno….when you consider all the fog stuff right? When Maman texted me about that little quake we had we were on the ferry, Seamus and Iris and Paige and I. I thought Seamus was going to have a nervous breakdown until I could prove we still got texts and they announced the port.” Then Sasha  smirks “First and last? Hmmm…..that’s sweet. Paige won’t be my first…..but she might be my last. I hope she is. She’s my otter.” His won’t be statement reveals something hasn’t happened yet.

Gen shrugs.  “Maybe … who knows.  I know Papa loves Mama so much … and loving her can’t be easy.”  she sighs.  “He’s cool.  He wants to go to work .. of course his tattoos don’t help, but he knows the people who own the tattoo parlor, and he is going to ask them as soon as he .. well .. gets the courage up.”  She considers that the island has something to do with it.  “Ho knows … but if it is, for gods sake don’t tell Maman.  She’ll call in an exorcist.”  She looks sympathetic to Seamus’s breakdown.  “Dante freaked out too.  A lot of the people have been here a while did.  So … I don’t know .. I know Dante didn't lie about the fog, but the reaction to that earthquake kind of cemented it to me.  It really happened, Sasha.”  Her eyes grow a little large.  “Wait .. you and page haven't done anything?”  she sounds shocked, but then considers.  “Well .. no one has a car here, so …  Dante can use his bedroom … because I’m not his first.”  then she giggles.  “Oh, you and your otters.”  she giggles.

“Papa is strong. I worry though if he’s strong enough. They need…..they need friends. You know? I mean I know Papa is getting close to Grey...which could be odd because he’s Paige’s father but he’s so awesome. I hope he talks to him about this kind of thing. I hope Maman has friends. I know it’s a weird thing to wish for our parents but I know how much talking to Seamus helps me find my way. Even more than Marc if I’m being honest.” He nods about the tattoos “I noticed his hands and something on one arm but I couldn’t read it because he was spinning that kid around. “ He laughs. “But it would be an easier job for him to get. I’m applying at the deli tomorrow. I don’t think they’d hire me with fuck life on my fingers as I pass out sandwiches …..it’s just the way it goes. And yeah I believe them about the fog...too many people and too many things now. Dad knows. I don’t know how Maman would take it. She needs to see things….not just have faith...which is ironic I know. I mean she’s never seen Jesus.” He snickers a bit “I did notice he said he had his own room. Bonus for you two. But I win. Paige is thinking of getting her own place.” He does a little fist pump in the air and chuckles. And then he looks humble “I’ll spare you the dirty details. I wouldn't say Paige and I haven’t done anything...we just haven’t done everything.” He smiles a bit and then looks pained “This isn’t mine to tell but I trust you. I mean I lost my virginity at 14...and you probably figured out a few back in St. Pierre...anyhow, In Paige’s life, the guys before me weren’t very good to her. I think the one right before me..or the last one...she said she was scared of him and she let him. She didn’t call it rape but that’s how it sounds to me. So I didn’t want to push her into anything. I mean we’ve gone faster than we planned to but honestly it’s still all up to her. I don’t ever want her to feel that way ever again.” He blows out a breath.

Gen nods about their parents needing friends.  “I think she is making friends … she mentioned Seamus’s mother, but … She might not like Seamus anymore because she thinks he’s a bad condom handing out influence.”  she rolls her eyes.  “God help her when she finds out Cath has a crush on him the size of Vanciuver island.”  she hal smiles.  “It’s a heart with his mother’s name, Selena, in it.  But yea … it won’t help him get a.”  she makes air quotes over the next two words.  “Normal job.”  She laughs and looks impressed.  “When is she moving?  I’ll cover for you hen you don’t come home for three days.”  The smile fades when he talks about Paige and the last guy she was with.  “That can be rough.  I know you’d never do that and I think its sweet.  With Dante .. he didn’t push .. it’s like .. we just … fell?”

Sasha laughs “I wish he’d just hand out condoms. He did give me a discount at least but I’m not assuming that’s every time. That would be funny if our moms became pals.” Then he looks at Gen like she has grown two extra heads “Cath does NOT have a crush on Seamus?! He’d be like ancient to her. I remember 11. I mean 11 is fill their mitts with snow level crushing on the playground…” Then he half hugs her “You’ve already been covering for me when I haven’t even been getting laid. Best sister ever.” He sighs, nodding “I know….and the falling….that was and is us too. This is what I mean about the island.”

Gen grins.  “Dante gets his from the mainland, because hes underage and he doesn't want the Love Shack to get in trouble.”  She rolls her eyes at his denial that Cath is crushing on Seamus.  “Fine … I guess I read it wrong.”  she chuckles and hugs her back.  “And you’re the best brother ever.”  she nods.  “Yea but .. it’s not romantic ..  I mean you and Seamus have been nearly inseparable since you met.”

Sasha thinks of the photo he accidentally sent Seamus earlier and suddenly can’t stop laughing. “No it’s not romantic. Although I accidentally sent him a selfie I took for Paige earlier….” He laughs and laughs “Ah what a day! We found the dog by the way...the shoe stealer! His name is Kester. He belongs to one of the teachers at the school. He was the last one we checked and then he took off with one of the cop’s shoes. Those guys were hilarious...both related to Seamus of course. Half the town is.” He smiles “And the vet is cool too and he offered half off for Taffy and Toffee’s next appointments...he’s Theo Alvin, Lydia’s son. You met him.” And then he jumps up and down in his chair “Oh...Oh oh….AND I got to slide down the fire pole! God what an amazing day. I hope it doesn’t end with our parents getting divorced.” He comes back down from the highs of his stories and exhales.

Gen laughs at it all.  “I do love this place.”  but then she also sighs.  “Maman would never divore Papa.”  she proclaims.  “But Papa … he’ll never love anyone but Maman.”  she bitesher lip.  “I don’t know what to do.  I mean I’m not giving up Dante just so Maman can be happy and I know you don't give up Seamus.”  she doesn’t mention Cath’s misery if he did.  “Rene and Cath are mom’s favorites … at least until they start having sex.  SO maybe it’ll be one of those not divorces here Papa gets us and Maman gets Rene and Cath.”  she shakes her head.  “Maybe they just need time to themselves.  Maybe once Paige moves out you can take Rene and Cath for the weekend.  I’ll stay with Dante.”  she smirks.  “I mean … they have 4 kids … “  then she groans.  “I really hope they’ve had sex more than 4 times.”  she rolls her eyes.

Sasha shudders a bit “I’m not sure I want to even think about our parents even having sex 4 times….which is proably how they feel about us having sex at all….i mean at least Maman. I mean it would be weird on a I don’t even know what to call it. And I’m a guy so this won’t happen to me….but to you….to Paige..” He thinks “You grow a human in your body and then they come out. And maybe the idea of that human joining so intimately with a different human….well that could fuck with your head a bit. And how do Paige and I get the brats while you get alone time with your boyfriend in this scenario?” He laughs “I’m going to remember that someday if you and Dante have your own kids and ask me to babysit them!” He points at her to emphasize his point.

Gen considers that.  “Yea … but that is how you keep humanity going.  It’s not like either of us is screwing around on the dining room table or anything.” she rolls her eyes.  “But yea, I can accept you having sex more than I can accept Papa doing it.”  then she giggles.  “Because you’re the oldest and are called on to make the sacrifices?”  she offers.  “We’ll take the brats when we’re old enough to have our own place.  Dante’s actually really good with kids.  Maman will bitch, but if nothing else, they will both always know how to spell fuck life.”  she speaks as if it's a foregone conclusion.

Now Sasha has to joke “Well i hope you’ll cover for me if I want to screw on the dining room table. Gotta watch that thing though with the leaves….it could open right up and then you fall through the middle.” He laughs about the sacrifices and groans and then ponders the tattooed hands “You could see it a few ways...the fuck life tattoos….i mean given his past I suspect he made them when he felt really bad….fuck life.” Sasha  does a double flip the bird gesture with a serious face. But now….with you and living with a nice family….maybe it’s like..” He opens his hands and gestures around with wonder “Fuck….” He smiles “Life….” He shrugs at Gen “Right?”

Gen gets a visual and cracks up.  And then she smiles.  “I like that …”  she tells him.  “I’m gonna tell Dante you said that.  I love that … ts … redefining his tattoos.”  she beams.  “You have a job interview and I have sleep to catch up on.  Lets go to bed.  I’ll make you and Papa breakfast …. Or .. more like lunch.”

Sasha looks pleased with that, and tired. “Oh mon dieu yes….I am so tired. I better set two alarms. If I get the job I will bring us home lunch. It’s a sandwich place, remember? I’m glad we talked Gen. I feel like we’ve been walking parallel paths. I’m glad, not for our parents fighting, but for our being out here, so those paths could meet again. You really are the best sister. And I love you.”

2020-06-23 - Puppy Love - Sasha, Paige, Greyson and Toffee

Sasha Beaulieu was dropped off from his exciting ride along with the cops on the case of the mysterious canine shoe thief. It was Kester! The sweet old mutt that belonged to the school’s history teacher Mr.Arnett. Kester had been stealing single shoes and stashing them in the hollow of an old tree that Sasha had discovered and reported. As his sort of reward he got a night of adventure and observation. He also came home with two puppies care of Chief Greene and the bizarre union of Henry the beagle at the fire hall and Daisy the German Shepherd police dog sniffer. The puppies were adorable, and he had temporarily named them Taffy and Toffee because of their fur colourations. Now he’d been helped to his porch with a bag of dog food, and he waved the crew off as he carried two puppies to the door of his house and knocked. He couldn’t deal with fishing out keys and hang onto them properly.

Cath had been watching TV and heard the door. She went to peek through the window on it and saw her brother and opened it “Did you forget your ke….PUPPIES!!!” She yelled back “Sasha has puppies!!!”

Sasha beamed at her “One is for Paige...Cath can you please grab that bag of food on the step please? Then you can hold the one that gets to live here as long as Mom and Dad don’t freak out.”

Cath dashed to grab the food and dropped it inside the door and shut it behind Sasha and held out her arms “Puppy me!”

Amelie had been elbow deep in dishwater and scrubbing the big casserole dish when there was chaos and talk of puppies at the door. She dried her hands and went to greet Sasha and find out what was happening. Her first reaction was shock and then she saw Cath falling madly in love with a puppy and melted a bit. They had had a few dogs and cats over the years but the last cat died a year before the move. She saw the second puppy in Sasha’s arms and looked a little stern “Two? And I take it you had a good night?”

“This one’s for Paige!” He protested. “And it was AMAZING!”

Rene had been watching TV with his little sister, but was actually a bit on the tired side.  Hunting for frogs in the place they called the Bottoms.  He got an energy burst with the word ‘puppies’ and ran to see them.  One was for Cath and the other … for Paige.  Beautiful Paige.  Fair enough.  But he can’t help but roll her eyes.  He’d heard about the afternoon adventures and had to admit, he would have loved to go on the adventure with Sasha.  But bringing home a puppy, even if it wasn't his … he got to live with it until Cath grew up and moved out with it and that would be forever and a day!  “No, Cath.  You’re not so spoiled you stink up half the town.” he rolled his eyes, because he had to poke at his little sister.  It was part of his job.

Felix just shook his head at his son.  Considering how annoyed Cath had been about the adventures her big brother got to go on, a puppy was the best possible way to say I’m sorry here's a consolation prize.  He knew the moment he saw the adorable floppy ears that Amelie would agree to the pet and he was glad.  A puppy meant stress relief ... or so he hoped.

Gen walks in the door with a full belly and a smile on her face after her dinner and conversations next door at the Alvin house.  She opened her mouth to call out that she was home and home before nine no less when she saw the puppy and instead squealed out.  “Mon Dieu it’s so CUTE!!”

Sasha looked up hopefully at both his parents now and grinned at his siblings “Cath has Taffy,,,and this is Toffee...unless Paige wants to call her something else. Come on Rene. be nice, for the puppies…” He looked again between his parents “Can we please keep Taffy? She’s got the colour of maple taffy like we used to have.

Cath was so happy about the puppy she didn’t even care that Rene was teasing her “Well let it stink. Look at him Rene…..hi Gen….look at him.” Now she turned her big brown eyes on her parents “Can we...can we please?”

Amelie reached over and pet the puppy in Cath’s arms and kissed her daughter on the top of the head. “I think he’s very sweet.” She smiled at Rene and tried to extend it to catch Gen’s eye and smile at her too. It was like old times having a sweet moment and she wanted them all to share it, despite recent stresses. She looked back at Felix with love too “What do you think Felix? Can Taffy stay?”

Rene can’t keep it up and smiles, reaching over to pet the puppy.  “Yea …  I guess he’s okay.”  he admits.  “And it means the boys outnumber the girls FINALLY!”  he jokes.

Genevieve catches her mother’s eye and her smile is genuine.  It’s been a long time since she and her mother smiled at each other for any reason it felt like to her.  And tonight … it was like the hard times were maybe over.  “Taffy, eh?”  she grins.  Sticky little Taffy, bringing the family together again.

Felix smiles.  A puppy was a lot of work, but  it would also teach Cath responsibility, which would be important.  Give her focus.  He looks at his youngest.  “You have to walk him, and feed him and take care of him.”  he insists.  “But if you can … yes, Taffy can stay.”  and he already knew that where Cath stumbled, Amelie would help her up.

Cath looked at her parents with utmost sincerity “I will do it all. I will walk and feed and pick up the poo!” She bent her head down and kissed the little puppy like she was sealing the deal. Then she gently set him down “Taffy...this is your house now. I’m Cath and this is Rene, Gen, Sasha you know and Maman and Papa…..” The little puppy sniffed around excitedly and then promptly lifted his leg on the corner of the couch and had a pee. Cath sighed.

Amelie kept smiling “Well Cath, you heard your father. Now’s your chance. Under the sink is the disinfectant and you know where the paper towels are. Put down some newspaper tonight in your room and we’ll make sure Taffy goes out again before bed.” 

The puppy had a little collar on but they had no leash. 

Sasha noticed this “You know we have some rope in the garage we can use until we buy a leash. I’ll cut some for Paige too in case they don’t have. And I should split off some of the food for her too...I better get over there….”

Amelie protested “Sasha you need to eat. Go heat up a plate before you go running off again. There’s lot of bread and stew left.” She looks at Gen “Did you eat? You should get some too?” Amelie had a compulsive need to feed her children or anyone who stepped into the house for 5 minutes or more.

Rene laughed when the puppy peed.  It was funny.  But he goes into the kitchen and gets what Cath will need to clean up after the pup.

Cath diligently took the spray and the paper towel and cleaned without complaint.

Gen is still smiling and she doesn’t stop.  “Yes Maman.  I had dinner at Lydia’s house.”  she explained.  It was probably better to call it Lydia’s as opposed to Dante’s.  And it’s getting late anyway.  I need my beauty rest.”  she insisted and looks at the puddle of pee.  “Good night, dear family.”  and she will head up the stairs.  She is exhausted, but would die before telling her mother the specifics.

Felix suppresses a grin when the puppy starts marking its territory.  He sees Rene at least partially helping and nods slightly.  Then Gen decides to go to bed early, and he suspects why, but says nothing about it.  Gen loved sleep, so no one would be surprised.  “Good night, Gen.”  he will give her a hug and a hiss on the top of her head.

“Thank you Rene.” She said belatedly. He had helped her. She took the used paper towels and cleaning spray  to the garbage and washed her hands and then went to sit with little Taffy again “We need to get you some dog toys…. Night Gen.” Her older sister sleeping was totally normal to her. She marveled at how much sleep Gen needed sometimes.

Sasha sighed about the food. His mother was right. He didn’t want to knock on Paige’s door, hand her a puppy and then beg for a sandwich. So he handed Toffee off to Rene “Rene, hang out with this little friend while I stuff my face please. Night Gen!” Gen did love sleep but Sasha felt that exit was a bit abrupt.  Sasha was the master of the fast reheat set up and in no time he had bread dipping in chicken stew and was inhaling it all with happy food loving noises.

Amelie saw Gen head off to bed after saying she had supper at Lydia’s and frowned a bit “Well I’m glad you ate….but text next time please. Not that leftovers are ever bad….just common courtesy. Goodnight.” She sighed and did look pleased at Rene and Cath working together and then relieved that Sasha stopped to eat something. She smiled at Felix “I think this puppy will be good for all of us.”

The second Sasha was chewing his last bite he was rinsing his plate and sticking it into the dishwasher. He dashed upstairs to use the bathroom,  brush his teeth and put on a fresh shirt and slap on a refresh of deodorant. His jeans were still ok. The slobber had dried at least. Then he was in the garage cutting rope and back in the kitchen getting a ziploc bag to split off some food. He also put out some tupperware containers for a food and water bowl for Taffy and filled one with cool fresh water from the tap. He walked up to little Toffee and looped the rope through the collar and tied it before thanking Rene and starting to head out with what he hoped would be Paige’s new dog, or maybe more the case it might end up Thea’s dog because of how it had gone in his house...but either way, he was bringing her a puppy. “Say bye bye Toffee…..oh I feel a little bad taking her from her brother...but they’ll visit.”

Paige Page finished loading the dishwasher.  She heard the door to her younger sister's room close.  They were out and sleeping peacefully.  It had been a lovely evening, for sure.  Her family felt like it was healing and that meant everything to her.  Now she could sit in the living room and begin to unwind on her own way to bed, but she did wonder about Sasha’s adventure.  How had it turned out.  She hadn’t sent her a text since, and she wondered if he was still out there on the dog caper or not.  On the couch and alone, at least for the moment, she pulled out the phone and looked at the picture of Sasha laying shirtless in the grass.  He looked so hot and she bit her lip.  Dream fodder until she had alone time with him again.

Sasha quickly learned that trying to walk a puppy you hadn’t trained to walk with you was, in fact, bonkers. Half way through the walk he just carried the puppy instead, or he would be getting to Paige’s house at midnight and it would definitely be an unwelcome offering then.  But soon he was at her door and texted from the front step thinking it might be after the younger sister’s bedtimes. 

Paige I have something for you. It’s kind of crazy but it’s awesome. Not to be creepy but I’m out front. I didn’t want to wake Thea or Aislin. 

Greyson was sitting out on the back porch after his younger daughters had fallen asleep. He was happily listening to a podcast on his headphones and enjoying the evening air.

Paige was still staring dreamily at Sasha's picture when the chime indicating a test from him chimed.  She read it, then blinked and looked towards the door.  She didn’t bother to reply, but stood and went to the door.  She opened it and stared with wide eyes.  Her hands flew to her mouth and she danced in place, trying not to squee like … well like Aislin.

Sasha grinned at Paige’s reaction and then leaned in over top of the puppy licking at him and kissed her. Then he pulled back and said “She’s for you...for your family because I think you’ll all love her...if you’re allowed? I called her Toffee but you can change it. We have her brother at our house….mostly Cath’s now….he’s called Taffy. In my dog adventures I ended up hearing about puppies….and well...here we are.”

Paige kissed Sasha, but then kissed the puppy on its squirming little head.  “I love the name and I’m sure Dad will love her.  Or simply accept that she isn’t leaving, especially once Aislin and Thea get an eyefull.”  she quietly squees again.  “Come on in .. please .. Dad’s out back .. let’s introduce him to Toffee.”  and she heads into the house.

Sasha follows but toes off his shoes at the door, not intending to go all the way out into the back yard but just to the porch if he can. “Here’s some puppy food.” He says quietly and sets it down on the counter as he passes. “She’s got her shots and you can just use tupperware for bowls until you get some….and I have this rope as a temporary leash.” He follows Paige outside and timidly walks up to her father on his chair. He didn’t really know Greyson well himself but his dad had said lots of good things about how nice the man was. It was a little more intimidating to be the guy dating his daughter and bringing a dog into their lives.

Greyson had his eyes closed but felt the floor of the porch shift and the breeze from the back door opening and closing and then the vibration of the foot falls of both his daughter and her boyfriend walking towards him. He opened his eyes to the pair of them and smiled and then saw Sasha holding an adorable puppy and laughed, taking off his headphones and pausing his podcast “Well hello little friend…” He reached for the puppy “May I?” Greyson was now home from work so casually in an old oatmeal coloured tshirt and a pair of slate grey loose cotton pants rolled up to the shins. Greyson had a dense covering of thick black leg hair and his feet were bare. He takes the puppy and it licks his face and he chuckles “Is this your new pet Sasha? Congratulations?”

Sasha shakes his head “Actually I’m giving her to Paige so she’s for your family...I called her Toffee. We have her brother Taffy at our house.  Paige kept it. I hope it’s ok?”

Greyson sighs and looks down at the little puppy “How can I say no to this creature? Or this gift….how sweet Paige.” He says with a smile. “I am glad she came to us AFTER the other two went to bed or we’d never get them to sleep tonight.” He hands Toffee over to Paige and jokes “My first granddog….I approve.”

Paige smiles and bites her lip in excitement as her father approves of little Toffee, but she agrees.  “They wouldn’t sleep again before August.”  she sets Toffee down and moves to Sasha and puts her arms around him.  “You did good.”  she tells him before kissing him softly.

Greyson follows the puppy into the yard when Paige sets it down “Careful Toffee…..those are big steps….there you go girl.” He follows the little puppy as it sniffs around the yard “We might need some fencing and a gate back here.” He muses.

Sasha beams at the approval from Greyson “Thank you Dr. Page….” He laughs and nods at what Paige said about the younger siblings not sleeping until August and then smirks “Did he just say grandog?” He whispers with a chuckle and then kisses Paige back sweetly.

Greyson calls over “Sasha please call me Grey….” And then he sees them kissing and focuses on the little dog “Oh don’t eat those Toffee…” The little dog had found some of Thea’s modeling clay cannonballs. Greyson scooped one out of her mouth and stuck it and the rest on top of the barbecue. 

Paige giggles and nods.  “Yes, he did.  So pressure off on babies.”  she whispers.  She watches her father with the puppy and inches at the cannonballs.  “This might just be a good way to get Thea out of the habit of shooting people.”  she winks and elbows Sasha.  “That or find edible clay in case Toffee gets hold of them.”

Sasha smirks at Paige “Just furry babies.” He whispers back. Then he laughs about the cannonballs “Maybe she could do playdough. It’s not toxic. I think Toffee might like a tennis ball though. I have a few canisters. We use them for ball hockey. I’ll bring one next time. If you need help putting up a fence Grey….my dad and I did our old one in St. Pierre…..it was kind of fun.” He offers.

Grey goes around in a circle and lets the puppy chase him “I would prefer to train the pirate child not to shoot people if we can. Tends to be frowned upon in our world.” He reverses and goes the other way. Toffee lets out a few little barks which are tiny and adorable and Grey laughs and sits down on the ground “Shhh…” He pulls the puppy onto his lap “I would love help with fencing. I’m great with eye surgery but horrible at any home repair projects.”

Paige smiles.  “Yes!  Teach her not to shoot.  It might help her later in life.”  She grins at the idea of Sasha and her father working together in the yard, but it also makes her mind go to the picture Sasha sent her earlier in the day and she giggles, hoping the men ill think she is just laughing at her father.

Sasha blinks “I would be terrified to poke around in someone’s eye so it’s all good. Maybe Thea and Aislin training the puppy will be good for them. My little sister is already cleaning more than I’ve ever seen her in my whole life.” He laughs.

Greyson nods “It can be terrifying. I won’t lie about that part.” The little dog wanders a few feet away from him and squats to pee “Good girl Toffee.” He agrees about the responsibility “It’s good timing with school finishing.”

Paige comes down the back steps and sits, just watching and listening to the two most important men in her life talk.  “They can help train the puppy together.  That may stop them from trying to turn her into a pirate or a paratrooper.”

“Or a pirate paratrooper?” Sasha snorts “Sorry I can’t resist sometimes.”

Greyson laughs hard “As long as we don’t see them hooking the puppy up to a homemade glider with an eyepatch on?” He laughs and shakes his head and then looks at Paige “I like him. You have to keep him now.”

Paige laughs.  “No self control.”  she teases but she clearly loves it.  Then she looks at her father and blushes.  “I think I will, thank you.”  She looks towards the house.  “Iris can sleep on the porch.” 

Greyson just laughs at her boldness and blushing “You’ll have to take that up with her. Here I thought you girls would be eager to scope out some of the kindly priced apartments around town so I bought a small house. Not to boot you out. But there is one above the eye clinic even. We’d have to see if they allow dogs….and pirates and flying girls? Because they’ll be all over sleepovers.”

Sasha stays quiet now when talk turns to the idea of Paige having her own place. He sits down beside  Toffee and offers her a stick. They have a funny little tug of war over it with Toffee trying to look very tough and Sasha laughing at her.

Paige bites her lip when her father mentions she and Iris finding their own place.   “We know ….  We’ve … been looking for a place … and … we didn’t want to abandon you …”  she blinks aay a tear.

Greyson sees her tear and swallows hard, his own eyes getting a little misty “Paige….I’m doing better especially here. And it’s a small town. You can’t get rid of me so easily you know.” He reaches over and pets the puppy “Besides I have grandog rights now. Sweetheart, don’t hold off on your life for me. I don’t want that for you and Iris, ever. Your mother would never forgive me either. She was all about life’s grand adventures.”

Sasha sees them both get emotional and feels an ache in his heart, mostly for Paige but for them both, as he already liked Grey a lot. He could see why he and his dad had been such fast friends. Since Grey was staying seated where he was Sasha walked over and sat down beside Paige, sliding his arm around her across her back to offer comfort.

Paige smiles and laughs a little about her father having a granddog now.  When Sasha comes over to her, she leans into him and his embrace.  “I … we … could put the money down for it and move…”  she bites her lip.  “First of July, even …”  it wasn’t much notice, but it could happen that fast.

Greyson picks up Toffee and walks over to them, standing like he plans to steal the puppy and go inside “I’ll talk to the building manager, and we’ll talk to your sister. When you’re ready, I’m ready.” He bends down and kisses the top of her head, not bothered that Sasha is snuggled up to her other side. He gives Sasha a little grin and then extends it to Paige “I’m going to go see if I can’t make her up a little bed. She’ll probably try to crawl in with one of us but it’s worth a go. Thank you, Sasha.” He says and tucks the puppy under one arm to open the door as he chatters at Toffee “Wool or fleece? What do you think little one...or wool wrapped in fleece….now we’re talking.” The door shuts.

Sasha rubs Paige’s back “July 1st….that’s really soon.” He exclaims. “Wow.” He looks back “I’m not sure you’re going to get Toffee back from him...but he’s fucking awesome.”

Paige nods and smiles at her father.  “Alright …  Thanks, Dad.”  he watches as he and Toffee go inside and then looks at Sasha.  “A week …  I know.”  she looks back at the house and again at Sasha.  “Grandparents, right?”  she giggles and kisses him softly.  “So … I’ll have my own room …”  she bites her lip.  “My own bed… to share...”

All she had to say was bed to share, and he was kissing her again so hard he almost tipped them both back off the steps. He pulled back and steadied them “Sorry...that got me really excited…” He laughed “I want that….so much. I don’t want to rush you but honestly the second you’re ready and wanting...I’ll just drop my pants and make love to you wherever we are….so a bed and privacy is probably good.” He admits.

Paige understands the kiss perfectly.  “I ant it too … and I feel ready .. it was just … finding a space.”  she swallows and blinks.  “I don’t want to in a car .. never again…”  she sniffs and then bites her lip.  “And I am not bold like Iris ..  I’d be so afraid to get caught I think I’d be dry as a desert.”

Sasha wraps his arms around her and holds her both tightly and gently “My father offered me our family tent.” He laughs “But I wasn’t sure if you liked camping. We still could...Seamus told me a good spot in the woods.” He kisses her again and lingers a bit seductively before murmuring “And I promise to make you wet….”

Paige smiles.  “Your father rocks.”  she giggles.  “I’ve never been camping …  I don’t know if I could.”  she partly melts into the kiss.  “I’m keeping you to that promise.”  she smirks.  “After you help us move…”  she kisses him again and stands holding his hand.  She glances into the house and starts.  “Oh my god It’s almost eleven ….”

Sasha kisses her hungrily and lets out a “Mmm” at the holding to the promise and then when she says it’s conditional on helping her move he chuckles and dramatically flexes a bicep “At your service.” He kisses her back again when they stand and briefly adjusts as he had let his mind race a bit “Mmm sorry.” He blushes and then groans “Dammit I have a job interview first thing.” He sighs “I actually have to go too.” He starts into the house with her, wiping his feet before walking through.

Greyson is curled up on the couch watching TV with the volume on low. Toffee the puppy is nestled in his chest and the two are both fast asleep.

Sasha sees them and points with a that’s adorable expression and then tiptoes to the front door and quietly pulls on his trainers before leaning in to quietly kiss Paige goodnight.

Paige agrees with Sasha.  They’re adorable.  She kisses him at the door, then opens it and lets him out with another kiss and a whispered “I love you.”  before watching him walk towards home.

Sasha had whispered back “I love you.” with a last stolen kiss before he walked off into the cool air of the Alexandra night. It was the quiet and wonderful end to his adventure as a doggie detective. Case closed.

2020-06-23 - The Shoe Thief - APD, AFD and MANY dogs

Michael Reinhardt and his partner returned to the Alexandra Police Department’s cop shop in order to switch their suit jackets for his more official APD windbreakers.  They informed their Chief, Josh Green their plan and then, with civilian Sasha Beaulieu along for the ride, began their official investigation.  The three of them, plus a garbage bag full of single shoes arrived in  an APD cruiser in the Parthenon parking lot.  From there they got out of the car and walked to the Ayala Animal Care Clinic, heading for the center counter.

Dr. Theodore Alvin looked up from his reading when he  saw the door open out of the corner of his eye.  It was Ryan Yamada, Michael Reinhardt and a teen he didn’t really know.  Michael was carrying a large trash bag that appeared bulky and his heart sank.  Had something happened to one of the town's pets?  “Mike.  Ryan.”  he greeted them both and nodded at the teenager.

“Dr. Alvin.” Ryan greeted “We’re trying to crack a case that’s just up your alley. He looked at the bag “We have a thief in town, and we believe it’s a canine thief.” He walked over to Micheal and revealed the contents of the bag “Oh and our young helper here is Sasha Beaulieu. Sasha, this is Dr. Theodor Alvin. Sasha found these shoes in the hollow of a tree.”

A squawky little voice called out “Hello hello….Ayala Animal Care. Hello.” It was a green parrot up on a little perch in a small cage at the desk.

Sasha looked delighted by everything right now “Nice to meet you Dr. Alvin…..you have a talking parrot! Hello…” He said to the parrot. “Hello, what’s your name?”

“Hello hello...hello what’s your name?” The bird parroted back.

Ryan snorted and held up a shoe with noticeable bite marks.

Theo raised his eyebrows.  “Good to meet you, Sasha.”  he watched him interact with the bird.  “That's Kiwi, our useless receptionist.”  he reaches for the shoe Ryan holds up.  “Alright … these do look like canine bites.”  he blows out a breath.  “Big dog, too.”  he picks up the desk phone and taps a digit.  “Yea, Simon.  The police are here.  They want our help with some bite marks…”  he pauses.  “Yea, I’m gonna make a cast for them, but it looks like a big dog.  Can you come down real quick and match to Leroy and Roxy?  OK.”  he hangs up.  “Well, we can test two of them right now.  Roxy isn't a big dog, but it might help to show you how to match to … suspects?”  he takes the shoe.  “Let me make a mold.  Shouldn’t take too long.  You caught us right as we’re closing.  It’s six.”  he wanders towards the back of the shop and goes through a door.

Michael watches Theo go and leans on the counter.  “This is definitely a first.”  he blows out a breath.  “Alright.  Once we figure out how to match these teeth to a dog, I say we start up on the residences and work our way to the Bottoms.  So …  Kira Delmonaco got a big ol dog when she was released.”  he pulls out his phone.  “I’ll text Marcus and have him let her know we’re coming.  So she doesn’t get too nervous with the police visiting her so soon after her release..  Then we can go up to the Alvins and test their dogs.”  he considers.  “Then stop by and see Henry, then Daisy and ….  Kester?”  he’s thinking of the bigger dogs in town.

Ryan nods in agreement with Michael “I can’t say we’ve ever been on a case with a dog suspect….raccoons ...” He smirks at Michael briefly and then nods “Giving Kira a heads up is a good plan. And I agree with the route.”

Simon walks in from the back with two dogs. Leroy, the great dane, is loose and Roxy, the little pug, is being carried until she’s in the main room and put down.”Hey fellas….did we have a dog bite a kid or something?” He looks a little worried. “Leroy, Leroy down.”

Leroy is so excited to see the humans he runs to each in turn and tries to jump up on them and shares all kinds of slobber on arms, pant legs and belt buckles. He’s a happy loveable slimer.

Roxy trembles nervously and ends up cowering behind the biggest human she can see there (Michael) and in her anxiety she leaves a little puddle around the base of one of his shoes.

Sasha loves the big happy dog and laughs at the jumping and slobbering “Wow he’s got a lot of saliva….it comes in strings….”

Ryan shudders at the slobbering and then jumps away from Mike at the peeing dog “Awww….DUDE!”

Michael groans as he sends another text.  "Don't talk to me about raccoons ... "  he insists.  "I never want another series of rabies shots ever again.”  he looks at Simon.  “No, nothing like that.  We’ve … had a series of reports involving the stealing of a single shoe from all over town.  This young man”  he motions to Sasha.  “Has found the cache, and we noticed the bite marks, so we’re actually her to see if you can help … and to clear your own dogs.”  he glances down as Roxy hies and the pees right behind him.  “Because of course you put me in a lake of urine.”  he tells her and looks back at Simon.  “Do your dogs ever leave your sight?”  he asks, just as Leroy jumps on Ryan and turns a laugh into a cough.  “We have gotten reports pretty much every day, so we can’t just ask the dogs whereabouts on a specific day.”

Sasha gives a little wave as he’s mentioned as the shoe finder “Hi I’m Sasha.” Leroy has rolled over on the floor and Sasha has kneeled down to give him a belly rub “I like this guy….Leroy?”

Simon looks apologetic and walks to get the mop they keep behind the counter and some disinfectant wipes “Sorry Detective….Roxy’s a nervous one.” He offers the wipes to Michael and steps in to mop up the urine with a look at Sasha “Yes Leroy. He’ll love you forever now. I’m Dr. Simon Alvin.” He chuckles and then shakes his head “Shoes? And that many? Wow that’s a new one. Maybe it’s a stray…”

The parrot chirps in “Roxy. Leroy. Hello hello…..”

“Shut up Kiwi.” Simon says tiredly.

“Shut up Kiwi.” The bird parrots back.

Simon shakes his head at Michael now as he mops “I keep these two pretty close. Leroy’s too rambunctious. And Roxy, well you’ve seen what she does. They get to run on the beach now and then but always where I can see them. Otherwise, they’re leashed or in here.

Ryan still looks a little repulsed by the pee and slobber but nods “It could be a stray I suppose, a dog that can run free? But Simon, not everyone’s as vigilant as you are.”

Michael nods at SImon.  “It could be a stray.  If we clear all the licensed dogs in town and still haven't found our culprit, we’ll turn it over to …”  he points at Simon.  “Animal control.”  he moves as Simon mops and uses the disinfectant wipes on his shoes.  He shakes his head.  “Cause I’d hate for you and Theo to get bored.”

Theo comes out of the back with a mold in his hand.  “It’s still drying, but this is a mold of one of the holes.”  he has the shoe tucked under his arm.  “The good news is I got the mold.  The bad news is the bite mark seems perfectly normal, so you’re probably going to want to judge by the size of the dogs teeth…”  he kneels by Leroy.  “It’s most likely one of the canines and” I’m guessing it’s mauve halfway up the tooth.  So this …”  he pulls Leroy’s lips back, exposing his canines and places the mold beside it.  “See .. his are too big.”  he stands and looks at Simon.  “Want to measure Roxy?  He hands the shoe out to either Michael or Ryan.

Simon puts the mop back and sanitizes his hands at the front desk before returning and looking pleased with the mold “Very clear definition there Theo. Nice work.” He carefully takes the mold and goes to get Roxy who is now crouched under one of the reception room chairs “Come on girl…” He gently slides her out and sits on the chair as he lifts her to his lap “She’s already peed so I’m gonna chance it. But she won’t like this….” He tries to pull her lip back, and she snaps at him defensively “Yeah...Leroy you can do anything too…” He uses one hand to kind of muzzle her face and then does it, but she struggles and growls “Yeah hers are way smaller.” He lets go of Roxy’s face, and she gets a nip in to retaliate “Ouch….”

Ryan took the shoe but then looked really stressed watching the defensive biting dog “Uh we’re going to need one of you guys to come with us...I can’t put my hand in a dog’s mouth…” He looks up at Michael “Can you? Hell Jayla bit me one night brushing her teeth and it scared the crap out of me….but with your kid you have to.”

Sasha had leaned over and watched Theo exposing the teeth and comparing with great fascination “Oh yeah look at that.” He pets Leroy “Good boy.” Then he watches Simon with Roxy and winces a bit “She’s not happy…..oh...ow. Bad dog.”

“Bad dog. Bad dog.” Chirps Kiwi.

Simon shakes his head “No bad dogs, just bad traumas on some of them. Roxy’s a rescue and we think she may have been abused. But you have a point Ryan. You guys might get bit by a few out there.” He looks to his brother for consultation.

Michael looks at Ryan.  “You have a point.”  he’d winced at Roxy’s nip.  “I’ve been bit before but it’s not enough fun to have it happen again.  And you guys ARE Alexandra Animal Control … and we don’t use you enough.”

Theo looks at Simon and nods.  “Detective Reinhardt is right.  I’ll go with them and do the measuring.  I don’t think we need to drag our truck into it, so if I can ride with you guys in the cruiser?”

Ryan looks immensely relieved that Theo is willing to come along and deal with the dogs “Yes you absolutely can. Sasha’s riding along today, but we have room for 4 easily. Thank you in advance.”

Sasha beams “This just keeps getting more exciting.”

Simon grins at Theo “We didn’t even have to coin toss. I’ll close up shop….thanks Theo. Say hello to Willow and Bean and all our other friends out there in dogland...oh and you know...our mother of course.” He laughs now “Good luck out there folks.”

Michael shakes his head.  “Let’s hit the road, boys.  Thanks, Simon.”  he heads for the door and holds it open for whoever is leaving.

Theo laughs.  “Roxy needs her Dad.  Go make it up to her.”  he orders.  “And yes …  mom too.  I’ll tell her you said that, too Simon.”  he laughs and heads out.  “Where to first?”

Sasha belly rubs his farewells to Leroy and hops up “Nice to meet you Doctor Alvin” He grins a bit “Simon and Theodore Alvin...I just got that.” He snorts “Chipmunk vets?” He starts to walk after the group and through the door.

“Chipmunk vets. Chipmunk vets.” Kiwi latches onto and chants at them.

Simon laughs as he cuddles Roxy “Yeah we’ve never heard that before. Cheers Sasha. Shutup Kiwi.”

“Shutup Kiwi...shitup Kiwi…” can be hear squawking as they all walk to the cruiser.

Ryan takes post at the end of the line “Night Simon.” He closed the door after the group and then opens the cruiser rear door on his side to let  Sasha back in before getting in himself. He wasn’t arresting the kid, but it was a hardwired habit to open that door.

Michael opens the passenger side door for Theo before he gets in.  Ryan’s driving.  “We’re going to Kira Delmonaco’s first, then the Alvins.”  he says.  “I sent Chief Stanley a text, so he’ll be at the firehouse so we can measure Henry … no stone unturned.  Then Daisy and then George Arnette’s apartment.  That’s all the larger dogs in town.”  he explains.

Theo shakes his head when Sasha gets the joke that is his name.  In the car he nods.  “Alright …  The Grey Lady will be easy.  She’s low key unless she alerts you want to harm her charge.  Moms dogs … depends on their mood.  Henry …  he’ll bite me sure as shit.  Daisy will be fine as long as she isn’t in Mommy mode, but I won’t be near her babies.  Kester is also pretty easy, so I might not bleed too badly tonight.”  he predicts.

Ryan drives safely and cooly and nods along with Michael. He glances in the rearview when Theo talks “We have a first aid kit?” He offers awkwardly “There are reasons why I’m not an animal person….the biting, the hair, the poop….” He chuckles a bit and then in no time he’s putting the cruiser in park in front of Kira’s house.

Sasha doesn’t know much of anything about Kira Delomonaco but when they say The Grey Lady he figures out which dog it is on the street and the woman with the short hair he’s seen out walking that dog. He had perked up at the idea of seeing Chief Stanley again. He remembered his one meeting with him fondly and the fact that the firehouse had a dog was super cool. “We have a lot of dogs in Alexandra…” He casually gets out once the car is parked.

Kira Delmonaco was watching out of her window and when she saw the cruiser, she went to the front door.  The Grey Lady lifted her head and immediately stood.  The door meant going out, but they had just gotten back from a nice run and this was unusual.  Kira unlocked and opened the door, stepping out onto the stoop.  She’s in a plain black sweatsuit and no shoes.

Michael gets out of the car and walks around with Theo to the sidewalk.  He sees the door of the row house open and Kira steps out with her new dog by her side.  “Evening, Kira.”  He offered her a smile.  “Marcus told you we were coming?”

Kira looks at him and nods.  “Yes …  but Grey is always with me.”  She defends the canine.

Theo steps to the sidewalk too and waves.  “Hi again.”  He looks at the dog and speaks to her as if she were an equal.  “Hello there, Grey Lady.”

Kira looks at him.  “Hello Dr Alvin.”  she says softly.  

Ryan realizes that Sasha is newer to town so goes to stand closer to him while approaching Kira and her dog from a respectful distance, hoping he’ll take the social cue “Hi Kira. This is Sasha. He’s the one who found the stolen shoes, so he’s been given permission to ride along and observe. He’s also new to town.”

Sasha does pick up on something from Ryan, and he also senses Kira’s reserve, so he hangs back and gives a little wave “I see you guys walking. I live just down the street. Nice to meet you.” He does look sweetly at the dog but doesn’t approach. There’s a story here, he senses, and he’ll ask Seamus about it later.

Michael offers Kira and the dog a smile.  “We know, but we just have to measure Grey’s teeth.”  he tells her.  “Then we can move on.  How have you been?  I heard you’ve been working out at The Farm.  Do you like it?”  he offers some small talk?

Theo moves forward and climbs a couple of steps with the mold in his hand.  “You’re looking good, Grey.”  he speaks to the dog as he approaches.  “I’m so glad you’ve found a good home.”  he reaches out and Grey sniffs him.  He pulled up her lip and measures her canine, then pulled back.  “Too big.  No match.”  he looks at Kira and smiles.  “Thanks for helping us all out, Kira.” and he backs up towards the car.

Kira relaxes a little more.  She looks between Ryan and Sasha.  She leans forward and pats Grey.  “Go on and say hello, Grey.”  she says, softly and then looks at Sasha.  “Good to meet you.”  she returns the greeting without moving from her spot.  Turning her eyes to Michael, she replies.  “I like the job.  It’s very peaceful out there.  But someday … maybe I can work in town.”  Theo finishes his job and Grey says her hellos, but one that is done she will look at them all.  “Have a good night.”  and once they have all gotten back in the car, she opens the door and goes back in her house with The Grey Lady.

Ryan watches the interactions between Micheal, Kira, Theo and Grey. The teeth were too big. “I kinda figured it wasn’t this one.” He says about the dog since clearly the dog and Kira are so closely bonded. When Grey comes to greet him he gives her a little pat, grateful for no slobber or peeing. This dog was gentle. He gave Kira a wave as it finished up “That’s for your help. Have a good night.”

Sasha stays quiet on this round but watches curiously. The cops were seeming to be very careful with how they interacted with Kira, and she and the dog were very close. Even Theo had an energy of something, that story somewhere. He smiled at Kira when she greeted him. It wasn’t her dog. When Grey came to greet him he put a hand down and then gave the dog a little ear rub and the dog was on her way back to Kira after making the rounds. He got back in the car, knowing the next destination was just up the street, right beside his house. He wondered if he should text his parents. Then he shrugged as he’d already let them know what he was doing and didn’t text them again. No need to overdo it.

Michael waved his goodbye and got back in the car.  Once the doors were closed, he grinned.  “She looks good.”  he commented and then headed towards the school, making a U-turn then passing the mayors house, Sasha’s house and stopping exactly in front of Lydia Alvins house.  “We have two here, right?  Willow and Bean.”  He gets out of the car and stands, looking at the house.

Theo smiles.  “They both look good.”  he replies.  “That was a damn near perfect placement.”  The car moves and stops at his mother’s house.  He gets out and waits as well, as this wasn’t a social call on his mother.  But he also realized he hadn’t been home in a while.  He heard childlike laughter out the back of the house.

Ryan hangs back with Michael and cringes “Oh two dogs...that’s more dogs than I want to meet at once. No offence Theo.” He realized it was his family’s dogs, and he was a vet.

As everyone was stalled in front of the house, Sasha follows suit and does what they do. He’d met Willow and Bean when they wandered into his yard, and they were fun and friendly “Detective, you’ll like them. They’re friendly.”

Lydia Alvin was in her kitchen working on getting supper fixed. She could hear the kids outside playing nicely, loudly, but no one was murdering each other, so she kept up with her veggie chopping. It was a taco night and the meat was frying in the pan as she prepped the fixings and sipped a much deserved glass of Sangria. 

Dante was glad for the cover of the kids playing as it allowed he and Gen a little stolen alone time without anyone knowing. They were just cuddling now and it was blissful under his covers in his little room in the garage. He knew he could sneak her out the back door once he heard the younger ones go in for supper. They had done this dance before.

Stone had been jumping on the trampoline but had just climbed off and had a genius idea. “Hey what if we put the sprinkler ON the trampoline?” They could bounce and get totally soaked. It would be the best thing ever. He tried to recall where Lydia last had it on and followed the hose towards the front but didn’t make it all the way yet when he saw the cop cruiser and ran back to announce it to Mina and Elle with glee “THE COPS ARE HERE!” 

Dante heard Stone yell the cops were there and jumped out of bed looking panicked “Ah fuck...fuck fuck…” He said as he yanked on his pants and jumped as he got them up his body and reached for a random shirt off the floor.

Cath was in the living room trying to beat a level on Human Fall Flat when she heard a car outside and then the neighbour boy yelling about cops. She paused her game and curiously went to the window. She saw the cop car before Sasha got out of it and yelled to the kitchen “Maman, Papa….la police! (Mom, Dad….the police!)”

Amelie had just taken a chicken casserole from the oven when she heard Cath and her eyes went wide. She walked to the window and saw a tall redhead officer get out. There were people in the back. The cruiser was in front of the Alvin house. She cursed a name under her breath “Dante…” And then stormed back to her husband “Felix, where is Genevieve right now?”

Lydia heard Stone yelling and washed her hands “Shit, not again….” She assumed they were there for Dante. He had been doing so well. She had both dogs in the kitchen with her since she started cooking meat and two pairs of eyes looked up at her. “No….not for you two….” She walked to the door and out onto the porch just as the 4 males were all standing on the curb finally. It was the Detectives Reinhardt and Yamada, the neighbour boy Sasha and her son Theo. Lydia smiled but also looked a bit confused by the grouping “Hello boys…” She walked down the stairs and greeted Theo first with a hug “What do we have here now?”

Felix had been sitting in the dining room, reading news on his tablet when he heard Cath.  He looked up and raised his brows.  However, his wife was looking stressed.  It’s been a rough week for her.  Of course with the police next door, she wanted to know where Genevieve was.  He told her what he knew.  “She went for a walk in the woods.  Like she does almost every day.”  Felix was not a man to panic at all, and he refused to worry unless he had to.  “I’m sure it’s nothing, Ame.”  he went to soothe her.

Genevieve had been laying in Dante’s arms nearly asleep.  Their time together was both magical and exhausting.  But then little Stone was yelling about police and Dante as suddenly out of the bed and dressed.  Without being told, she also got out, finding her clothes quickly and dressing in her blue jean capris and matching tshirt.  But that meant that her bra and panties were still lying around, but she grabbed them and stuffed them into her purse.  “Dante…”  she kept her own voice calm.  “You haven’t done anything.”  it wasn’t a question, it was a statement.

Theo watched as this section of the street was suddenly alive with the activity of many children on the fringes staring at a police cruiser and cops.  Back in the day it had been about Gareth getting in trouble.  In this time, he realized belatedly. It would be about Dante.  He should have called or sent his mother a text.  Or SImon should have.  They’d dropped the ball on that one.  “Hey Mom.”  he hugs her back, trying to tell her silently that everything was alright.  Or at least that the problem wasn't one of her fosters.

Michael saw the activity and realized the assumptions that were probably being made.  They’d stopped by on more than one occasion since he’d transferred to the APD to question Dante … About the illegal fight club, about the odd break in, about various fights.  “Hey Lydia.”  he steps forward.  “There’s been several thefts…”  he realizes that might not have been the way to begin his sentence.  “Single shoes.  We believe it was a dog theft, and we’re here to question …”  and this was the strangest request he’s made in his career.  “Bean and Willow.”

Lydia leans her head down a bit like she’s trying to work out what Michael said about thefts. “Sorry shoes?” She blinks “And you wanna question my dogs?” She starts laughing now, really really hard. “Stone lost a shoe at the playground but I figured he was just careless. You think a dog took it? Willow and Bean were home that day though.” Her front door is still open and the dogs are already coming through it to greet the humans, especially Theo who they know and love. The pair aren’t jumpers, but they both have such strong tail wagging it a full body event that could shove you around a bit. They’re both labs, one chocolate, Bean, and one blonde, Willow. “Well ask away boys. I hope you speak bark.”

Dante exhales and nods at Gen “I know … I’m just freaking the fuck out….” He tiptoes from his room as soon as she’s dressed and steps up on a crate to look out the garage door windows calling back to her in a loud whisper “Your brother’s out there Gen…” He watches some more “And Theo...and Lydia’s laughing.” He looks totally confused now but relieved. He steps down and reaches like he’s going to pull the garage door open and investigate. The curiosity is getting the better of him. “Since it’s not anyone after me...now I want to know…” He seems to be waiting for her permission but since they’re both decent there’s nothing to hide he thinks.

Stone has now come through the house and is climbing to sit on the rail of the front porch and watch. The dogs had gone by and Theo was here with cops and their neighbour? He kicks his legs against the rungs and loiters.

Ryan  inwardly cringes a bit realizing they should have called this house first since they had been here for Dante Mendoza so many times. But as soon as Michael has told Lydia, and she’s hugged her son and started laughing, he relaxes. Then he gets smacked around by the tails of two  happy labs and steps back “Oh….nice….stay now…” He looks towards Theo glad they’re focusing more on him.

Sasha has an inkling from some of the reactions and activity of the kids that this house is used to the cops, for Dante. His sister picked a hell of a guy to get involved with it seemed. But as soon as he heard the laughter and saw the dogs he just smiled. He waved to the boy he’d seen playing so many times out the back and any kids around him and then tried to engage with the dogs as they jostled him a  bit with their tails and excitement “Oh they’re so strong! Yes you are….so strong.” He scratched the chocolate lab behind the ear now.

Cath can’t stand it. She runs out to the porch yelling back “Sasha’s out there!” She goes to the garage side where she can see and leans on the railing trying to catch his eye. Her brother is distracted by one of the Alvin’s dogs. He’s with two cops and a black man who seems to know Lydia well. Maybe he’s one of her grown kids. She’d seen a daughter visit before and a blonde guy who didn’t look like the Alvins at all. She could see the wild little boy and some of the others on their porch too.

Amelie had accepted Felix’s soothing but didn’t really calm until Cath said Sasha was out there. “Oh! It’s the ride along...the shoe stealing dog case!” She starts to laugh. “I’m sure Gen’s fine although hopefully Lydia’s dogs aren’t going to get carted off…” She follows Cath out “Stay here sweetie. They’re trying to see which dog has been stealing people’s shoes.”

Genevieve checks her clothes and nods.  She’s curious also.  Did he say Sasha was there?  That made no sense to her.  She moves from his room to the entertainment area as he opens the garage door.  Did they have to be so LOUD?

Felix nods.  “Exactly, Ame.  It’s fine … well …”  he looks at the dogs being petted, enjoying their freedom.  “For Dante.”  There is light laughter in his voice as he joins them on the porch.

Theo laughs with his mother and the dogs greet him and Sasha is just sucked right into their vortex.  “I’m here in my capacity as one of the town’s Animal Control officers.”  he tells her.  He notices people coming out of houses all around.  But he doesn’t want to rush.  After all, Willow and Bean just made a new friend.

Michael chuckles and shrugs.  “Occupational hazard.”  he explains.  “And we’re just checking all of the larger dogs, to rule them all out.  No fingerprinting.  I promise.”  He looks around and sees that the Beaulieu’s are now out on their porch.  A nearly perfect looking blond teenager comes out of the row house directly across the street accompanied by a brown haired boy.   He’s not here for them, so he doesn’t think much into it.

Lydia notices the dogs befriending the neighbour boy “I haven’t met you all yet, your parents, your sister … one of them. I’m Lydia. Careful how much you rub Bean’s belly….if he gets too relaxed….” She just looks at Theo and chuckles “You know. Don’t be such a stranger Theo. Come for supper this weekend. In fact, I’ll ask Simon and Ziggy too. Been too long.”

Dante pushes the door all the way up and casually reaches back for Gen’s hand. I mean they were after all just hanging out in the garage right? There was an old couch visible and a few chairs in states of wear and disrepair as well as an old coffee table cluttered with remotes, a few video game controllers and an empty chip bag. He knew Theo and the cops, so he greeted the group with familiarity “Hey guys what’s up?” Then he watched Sasha with Bean a little shyly. He hadn’t actually met Gen’s brother yet, just seen him and the other siblings in passing as they all went to and from their houses.

Ryan looks around seeing people emerge from houses. He can’t help but laugh “Man we should have brought the animal control van. People see a cop car and get all nosy and worried. Hey Dante...we are here for the dogs today. There’s been a canine shoe thief in town. Sasha here found a stash of single shoes in the hollow of a tree.”

Sasha looks up from Bean as he hears Ryan speak to Dante, and then he sees Gen beside him holding his hand. He has a momentary blink but then smiles at them both. “Hi Gen … Dante … We finally meet.” He’s friendly but a little awkward. He greets Lydia too since she introduced herself “Nice to meet you Lydia.” Bean has rolled over now and he automatically rubs his belly and then low and behold Bean lets out a wicked and enormous fart and it wafts up, Sasha reels before Dante or Gen can even reply “Merdre! (Shit!) That’s nasty!”

Ryan steps back from the smell that came out of the dog “Jesus!”

Lydia points at Sasha “I did tell you not to rub that belly. Now you know.” She laughs and laughs after still waiting on Theo’s reply.

Cath is craning so hard to see she’s almost tumbling over the railing “Gen’s there too….oh she’s holding hands with that boy!”

Amelie was just relaxing but now tenses up completely again as she stands behind Cath “I thought you said she was out for a WALK Felix.” She snaps a bit and sighs “Clearly I have no clue what my daughter is doing anymore at any time….”

Dante laughs at the farting dog “Good to meet you finally Sasha...sorry about Bean. He suits the name.” He was smiling until he looked across the street and saw Brett standing in front of his house too and then his jaw set for a minute before he tried to ignore that and held on tighter to Gen’s hand. 

Genevieve takes Dante’s hand and walks out with him.  She is so relieved that she is right that she sighs in the additional bliss of the day.  She sees her parents and sister and waves her free hand at them.  As the grip on her hand tightens, she glances and sees Brett across the street with his brother Nolan.  The younger brother goes in first, followed by Brett, but not before he looks at Dante for a long time.  Once he does that, he goes back in the house.  She looks at her brother and smiles.  “He’s a good dog.  Just a little gassy is all.  Sort of like Rene.”

Felix sighs slightly when his daughter comes out of the house next door with her boyfriend.  “She must have walked next door, is all.”  He defends himself.  “They’re just hanging out.  See?  Everyone’s dressed.”  although once he says it he thinks that Gen is not wearing a bra and hopes Amelie doesn’t.

Michael raises his hand to Dante.  “Hey Dante.  Genevieve.”  Trained observer that he is, he notices that the girl doesn’t seem to have a bra on, but at least he knows the kids are being safe in their fooling around. And today he is here for dogs, not humans.  He takes a step back when Bean farts.  One of those days, indeed.  “Once the air clears, we’ll get what we need and be on our way.”.

Theo smiles at his mother.  “Sure …  Just tell us when and I promise we’ll all be here.”  he promises and then coughs  when Bean farts and backs off a little.  “Willow first, I think ….”  he moves away and pats his leg.  Willow comes over, and he drops to one knee, making the comparison to the mold.  “Nope … Willow is innocent.”  he proclaims.  “I knew it all along.”

Cath hops up and down a bit and then overhears her parents and looks at her father strangely “Why wouldn’t they be dressed?” Cath is a young 11. The idea that either of her siblings would be doing anything other than holding hands and kissing is still beyond her. Then she starts giggling “I think the dog farted…..” She totally loses it “Oh Rene will be so mad he missed that.”

Amelie’s nostrils narrow as she looks at Felix and then back at Gen with scrutiny, sure on second glance that her daughter isn’t wearing a bra. She hears Cath and sighs. “Yes, why wouldn’t they be dressed?” She mutters and then hugs her younger child around the shoulders from behind when she finds joy and humour in a farting dog “Never grow up Cath.”

“Maman you’re squashing me…” Cath protests but still giggles.

Lydia looks pleased that she has one of her children committing to a family dinner and watches Theo work “Good.” And then she nods about Willow “These mutts stick around home...they know where the food is.”

Sasha laughs when Gen says Bean is like Rene. He’s not noticing her clothes at all but is happy to actually meet the boyfriend. Then he looks down at their clasped hands and sees Dante’s fingers spell out the word FUCK. He’s a little taken aback but keep his expression neutral. He would not have guessed this guy was his sister’s type in a million years, but she does seem to be happy. He moves back from Bean after Willow is proclaimed to be innocent, knowing Theo will need to get in there. “Just be glad you didn't have to share a room with Rene….I have to keep the window OPEN.” He looks into the garage and back at Dante “That looks like a sweet hangout.” He’s trying to reach out to the guy if he can.

Dante grins at Gen at her joke and then at Sasha “It is man...and close to my room which thankfully I don’t have to share with a farting brother.” He teases a bit.

Stone now makes all kinds of farting noises at Dante from the porch of the Alvin house as they were as close to brothers as foster kids could be.

Dante hears Stone and lets go of Gen’s hand “Scuse me…” He jogs over and scoops Stone off the porch and puts him over his shoulder and spins him around a bit. Dante, when he was happy with his foster family and Gen could be super sweet and playful. “We gotta air you out like the dog now.” Stone laughs and flails but Dante is careful not to drop him.

Felix hears that he has been overheard and is about to say something when Amelie tells her never to grow up.  He sighs deeply, even as he watches Dante let Gen’s hand go and play with a little boy of maybe 5 or 6.  “Pour l'amour de Dieu (For the love of God), Amelie.”  he grumbles at her overprotection.  Gen had confided in him certain things he will not now betray, especially around Cath, but he knew that she was safe, even if they had been doing more than hanging out in a family room.  “Look at him.  Playing with a little boy as if he were Sasha playing with Rene when he was younger, eh?  He will never rise above if he is not encouraged.  Genevieve encourages him.”  he sighs in exasperation.  “Acceptance is everything, Amelie.”  he realizes he is almost pleading … and that it is not just Dante on his mind.

Theo now moves to  Bean, who is still laying happily on his back.  “You next.”  the dog flips over and stands facing Theo.  As he finishes up, he groans.  “Innocent … but you need a tooth cleaning, Bean.  God … rotten at both ends.”  but he laughs.

Genevieve smiles when both Willow and Bean are pronounced innocent and when Dante lets go of her hand to play with little Stone, she claps in delight.

Michael claps his own hands in delight now that this house is done.  “I’m sorry to have caused such a stir Lydia.”  he tells her.  “You folks have a terrific night.”  he moves to get back on the car.  Then he drives on to the firehouse.

Theo smiles and gets in behind Michael.  “Remember …. Call and let me know, Mom .. see you guys!”

Lydia looks down at her dogs “I knew you weren’t shoe thieves.” She points at Bean “Garbage eaters, but not shoe thieves.” She waves to the cops and Sasha and Theo “You too detectives...and Sasha “ She eyes Theo “I’m gonna cook a few chickens on Sunday. Just come eat around 6. I’ll tell your brother and sister later today. Dante...Stone…” She bellows out the rest of the kids names, and they’ll hear her inside and out “Mina! Ellle! Tacos!” She looks at Genevieve “You can eat with us too if it’s ok with your folks. We have plenty of shells and fixings.” She starts in and the two innocent but hungry dogs follow on her heels.

Sasha can’t help but laugh as Dante spins the younger boy around and plays. OK despite his hand tattoos they weren’t all that different. He sees his sister’s joy in it all. These weren’t the dogs they were looking for, but they were nice ones. He gives a little wave and then sees his parents and younger sister as he turns and waves happily at them too and then points to himself like he’s still super proud to ride along “Dog Detective still on duty!” He calls out to his family “Save me some dinner please!” and he catches up with the group in the cruiser and climbs in.

Ryan is in the car before anyone else and has started the engine. The window was rolled down, and he waved “Thanks Lydia. Bye Dante...Stone…” He had heard people call the girl who he figured out to be Sasha’s sister Gen, so he included her. “Bye Gen.” He turns to Micheal as he gets in “I’m going to need 2 showers to wash off the dogs.” He glances back at Theo “I’m so glad you came with us. Thank you again.”

Cath waves madly to Sasha and sighs “I want to be a dog detective…” She tries to catch Gen’s eye and wave to her too if she’s not too busy with her boyfriend. Older kids were so weird about that.

Amelie beams at Sasha and waves “Have fun Sasha!” and then rounds on her husband “What are you accusing me of Felix?” She sighs at him “I’m trying here … I’m really trying.” She was but the old tapes from her head just played over and over.

Cath looks back at her parents and shrinks a bit. She could tell there was tension even if she didn’t understand why.

Dante eases Stone down to the steps when they’re called for tacos and then spontaneously hugs Gen, so glad the cops had nothing to do with him and just feeling full of love for her “Do you want to stay for dinner?” He finally notices her family on their porch as he’s hugging her “Uh your parents are totally watching us..and your sister. Sasha’s cool by the way. I could totally hang out with that guy again.”

Felix blows out a breath.  “Nothing, mon amour.  Nothing.”  he replies.  He looks down at Cath.  “Maybe next time.  Now, the show is over and it’s time for your mother’s wonderful dinner.  Let’s go.  I’m starved.”  he waves to Sasha and Gen, who is being hugged by Dante.  They would have a hard time of it and not just because they were young.

Genevieve watches these people go with her brother and hears Lydia and Dante invite her for dinner.  She catches the tension on the porch and decides she’d rather not be a part of it.  “I’d love to stay.”  she tells him and Lydia.  “It’s fine.  They won't mind.”  and she felt that was a half-truth.  Her father wouldn’t mind … her mother … probably would, she believed.

Theo gets in the car and closes the door, then laughs at Ryan.  “We have three more left, Detective.  But if they are all innocent, I can go and track down the strays.   Couple more have snuck on the island with the ferry it seems.”

Michael sits back and grins at his partner.  “Only two?  And Theo’s right … we have three more to go, so maybe don’t count your showers before they’re taken, eh?  And we don’t get off work until 11 … should I call India for you and tell her to save the hot water?” he asks as he sanitizes his hands.

Ryan has both hands on the steering wheel and chuckles but discreetly lets the hand facing Michael reveal his middle finger while he steers with the others “Yeah man, you call her…” He chortles “Three more….” He exhales and in no time he’s parking in front of the fire hall, and they’re getting out again. He uses the hand sanitizer from the side compartment in the door and gets out, walking with the others.

Sasha’s eyes light up at the fire hall “Do you think they would let me slide down the pole? Just once?” Sasha's a big kid sometimes and this whole day was awesome. He grins at Theo “What kind of dog is this one?” He gets out and keeps pace with the group.

Michael turns another laugh into a cough seeing Ryan’s middle finger and actually does take out his phone and sends India a text.  OCD incoming approx 11:30.  We had doggy interrogations.  He’ll tell you all about it I’m sure he warns her.  One they are at the firehouse, he gets out of the car.  “Henry is a beagle.” he tells Sasha.  “A very sleepy beagle.”

Chief Hank Stanley sees the car pull up and comes out of the office used by whoever is in command of any given shift.  He’s already explained to Captain Wendy Wallace hat was happening and so Henry had been brought into the office and laid to rest on the love seat, where’d he’d of course, fallen asleep.  Now he exits the building to greet them, shaking everyone’s hand.  “Sasha, it is good to see you again.”  Hank is in civilian clothes, but he is the Chief and this sort of thing involves him … not that he’s ever had anything like this happen in all his years as a fireman.  “Henry’s asleep, Theo …  I hope that helps…”  Henry was known ot be very lethargic … Worse than a teenager … but the town's veterinarians … new another side of the sleepy beagle.

Theo shakes Hank’s hand.  “Good to see you, Chief.”  He keeps it professional.  “And it might … I doubt it … but it might.  Henry doesn’t like us too much.”  he blows out a breath and walks in the main door, then the door of the office … already seeing the first aid kit that Hank has so thoughtfully left on the desk.

Sasha greets Hank cheerfully “Hi Chief Stanley. Nice to see you again too.” He sees the beagle sleeping and tilts his head “He’s very cute. I have to tell Paige about all these dogs…” He sighs and then looks up at the chief “You probably get asked this all the time...but could I slide down the pole? If you have to say no...that’s ok...I just have to ask.”

Ryan eyed Micheal texting and then shrugged it off. He was probably messaging the station about their call or having a  quick back and forth with Steph or Tristan. He  looks happier about a sleeping dog. Much less slobber that way, and the hair would say in one area. Then he notices Theo’s apprehension and the fact that he’s saying Henry doesn’t like them. Sasha asks about the pole again, and he has to laugh “Classic.”

Michael watches the introductions and stays out with everyone else.  He’d already said he was sure Henry, of all the suspects, as innocent because moving those shoes to that tree was too much work for a dog like Henry.  He smiles at Sasha’s question.  It was something he would have asked at his age if he had half a chance.

Hank looks at Sasha and his blue eyes twinkle.  “Well … normally I wouldn't but why not, right?”  he moves back to the door and into the small waiting room.  “Roberts!”  he calls out.  

A tall, thin but muscular black man comes out.  “Yea, Cap?  Did something happen?”  he knows what’s about to happen.  They all do.

Hank shakes his head.  “No … well .. not yet.”  he claps Sasha on the shoulder.  “Valentine Roberts, this is Sasha Beaulieu.  Would you give him a quick lesson on pole sliding, please?”

Valentine smiles big.  “My pleasure … this way, Sasha.”  and he heads into the depths of the station house.

Theo stands in the office, looking down at the sleeping Henry and considering how to approach him.  They often had the dog tranquilized a few hours before his appointment, but of course … not today.  He blows out a breath …. And stalls.

Sasha follows the tall black man called Valentine like a kid in a candy store “Thank you, Mr. Roberts….thank you SO much.” He gets led to the pole where a brown haired freckled woman peeks up at them from the bottom. 

“Roberts did you restock the….oh hey there….” Tara Munroe grins at the teenager, suspecting what this might be about “I’ll ask you about sutures later. Carry on.” She steps well out of the way.

Ryan laughed as Sasha got led off but now tunes into Theo “Hey man how can we help you with this? I mean he’s just sleeping….go fast?” He suggests.

Michael enters the building now and grins as Sasha is led off on an adventure.  He looks at the open office door and hears Ryan’s advice.  “Yea … he’s asleep for fucks sake.”

Hank watches his man take Sasha up to the pole, then hears Michael and Ryan.  “Let sleeping dogs lie…” he warns.

Valentine waves down to his partner.  “Yes, I did, so no worries.”  he looks at Sasha.  “Alright.  You want to grab the pole first, then pull yourself on and wrap your legs around, but give yourself enough slack to slide down.  Like so.”  he demonstrates and is, a second later, on the first floor again.  He backs off.  “Your turn.”

Theo blows out another breath.  “Maybe …”  he’s never actually reacted to Henry when he was asleep before.  Even tranquilized, the dog was on high alert in the vet clinic.  He takes the mold with one hand and reaches out to Henry with the other.  Just gently pull back his lip, measure … move on.

Henry snorts and begins to wake up.  He smells something familiar and unpleasant … one of the humans that pokes, prods, pinches and gives him pain.  He is suddenly wide awake and growling, snapping at the offending hand.

Theo knows immediately that listening to the police was a grave mistake as Henry bites him.  “Fuck!  Goddamnit!”  he yells, pulling back his hand.  He knows Henry got his left hand good.  “Shit!”

Sasha goes for it and slides down the pole just like Valentine “Geronimo!” He calls out. And then lands “That. Was. Awesome! Thank you so much Mr. Roberts.” 

Tara laughs “Nice…” Then she hears a string of curses from the office and looks at Valentine. She is still holding the med kit in her hand, and she heads over to see what happened and notices the man standing by Henry with a bleeding hand. She was a new hire, so she didn’t know all the locals yet. “Oh geez…..you really shouldn’t pet a sleeping dog…” She had no idea this was the vet. Duty kicks in, and she walks to assess the injury “Can I take a look at it?”

Sasha follows after Tara and then winces at Theo’s bite.

Ryan’s hand goes over his mouth when Theo gets bit and it looks like a bad one “Dammit….aw sorry Theo…”

Valentine hears the swearing and immediately slides down the pole after Sasha.  “No problem, Sasha.”  he replies, even as he jogs into the office to see his partner already looking at what is apparently a dog bite.  From Henry?  He’s known Henry now for about a month .. ever since he and Munroe had transferred to replace other officers transferring out.  He was a sleepy beagle that plodded from couch to couch as if they were as far away as Vancouver and Toronto.  

Theo looks at the paramedic.  “Yea …  I tell people that all the time.  And I’ve had worse bites than this one.”  he offers her his hand, which is in fact covered in old scars, as is sometimes the case with vets.  He grunts in pain as she starts looking at the bite.  “I’m Dr.  Theodore Alvin.  DVM …  That’s Doctor of Veterinary Medicine … believe it or not I didn’t graduate thanks to donations from my mother to the college.”  he sighs because he knows he’s done something foolish.

Hank winces and immediately gets out of the way of the EMT’s.  He moves closer to the door.  “Let sleeping dogs lie, Doc.”  he says in his usual perfectly calm voice.  “I should have held him to keep him calm.  I’m sorry Theo.  This is partially my fault.”

Theo grunts again.  “No problem, Hank.  It’s my one fault.  I could have put you at the end of the list and sent a tranq over for him, but nope.”  he blows out a breath.  “And I should know better than to listen to the damn cops.”  he snorts and then actually laughs.  “No offence, fellas.”

Michael winces when Theo is bitten, but then he can’t help but laugh too.  “I didn’t think ol Henry had it in him.”  he scoffs.  “First he knocks up the sniffer, now he’s Cujo?”

Theo snorts again.  “He’s all up to date on his shots.  Hank, Simon AND I held him for them, and he was tranquilized.”  he sighs and looks at Henry who is glaring.  “Henry is a rescue.  And he hates vets.”

Tara is all freckles and smiles “A vet who got bit by the dog. A tale as old as time I’m sure.” She opens up the kit, slips on some latex gloves, and unwraps an antiseptic wipe and swipes Theo’s bite “Nice to meet you Doctor Theodore Alvin. I’m Tara Munroe. I transferred here from up north on the mainland, Prince George. We don’t listen to our cops up there either…” She jokes and then sets the swab aside “I’m going to have to tape this….good thing you restocked those sutures Roberts.” She dabs the bite with a gauze compress “Do you want something for the pain Dr. Alvin? I realize I’m just possibly torturing you here but it’s what we do right?”

Sasha looks at the beagle who is once again asleep “Talk about Jekyl Hyde… I won’t pet that one.” He shakes his head and laughs, glad there’s an EMT for Theo.

Ryan grimaces “I shoulda kept my mouth shut. None taken Theo. I’m not an animal person at all….I’ve never even seen that dog awake.”

Valentine watches and shakes his head.  “Well, it’s good to meet you anyway, Dr Alvin.  I’m Valentine Roberts.  Henry got him a few secrets.”  he marvels, but doesn’t approach the dog.

Theo lets Tara distract him with banter while she bandages him up.  “No … I’ll take something after I get home.”  he sounds mildly dejected.  “I’m sorry Henry.”  he apologizes, but doesn’t try to pet him.  Henry hated him and Simon regardless.  “Hank, think you could take that mold and compare it to his canines, please.”  he actually stands and leaves the room, even though she is still working on him to try to help Henry calm down.

Hank nods and steps forward, getting down on one knee and finding the mold of the tooth.  Then he reaches out for Henry.  “Hey there, boy.”  he croons.  “I’m sorry I let the nasty old vet in here, but he means well.  You know that, right?  Boldly he lets Henry sniff his hand.  Henry does, then bumps Hank's hand for petting.  With an easygoing chuckle, Hank pets him all around his head, bringing his right hand to Henry's mouth.  Under the guise of an odd pat, he lifts Henry’s lip and makes the comparison, then quickly drops the lip.  “That’s my good, sleepy friend.”  and he keeps petting the dog.  “The tooth doesn’t match, does it Henry?  No it does not.”

From the other room, Then snorts.  “Thank god for that.  I didn’t bring my trang gun to bring him in.”

Michael watches all of this looking between amused and just plain fascinated.  “Well, Theo .. when we give bad advice like that … we can own it.  Sorry, man.”

Tara follows Theo with the kit and looks a little perplexed by the context of the dog and tooth thing. She’s a robustly built woman with chin length brown hair and a face full of freckles. “Why are we measuring dog teeth exactly?” She asks Theo as she gestures to a nearby table “Rest your hand on that please.” She gets out the thin strips of tape that are the sutures and pinches his broken skin together with her gloved fingers as she carefully lays them across the wound. “I feel like I’m missing out on some great story here.”

Sasha stands back and watches Hank expertly deal with what’s clearly his dog. He’s so nurturing and good with him and once again the dog is innocent “Will we ever find the shoe thief?” He’s happy Hank was able to find out but the mystery is killing him.

Ryan leans out the door, calling to Theo “Totally owning it...beers on me man….seriously, so sorry.” Then he looks back at Henry and Hank “Well I figured it couldn’t be Henry, unless he’s sleep walking.”

Valentine watches the Chief with Henry.  “Cap, you’re a natural.”  he proclaims.  When Tara and Theo leave the room, he follows.  “Yea, why are we measuring dog teeth?  We’ve been hole up in here for 12 hours, so I think we're missing something here.”  he double checks his watch and, sure enough it’s nearly 7:30 in the evening.

Theo looks from his hand to look at Tara.  His hand is throbbing.  His heart is throbbing.  The adrenaline is just flowing tonight.  “I’m helping the police in my position as one of Alexandra’s Animal Control officers.  We're hunting down a shoe thief.”  he announces blinking at her.  The throbbing of his heart could be heard in his ears.

Hank sits on the couch with Henry, who rests his head on the older man's lap.  “Yea, exactly what IS happening.”  he asks.  “Josh only told me to come down because Mike and Ryan needed to talk to one of my crew.  When I asked who, he said Henry.”  He keeps petting the dog.  “So I came down … we cooperate with the police around here.  What did Henry do?  I mean it's about teeth, so he’s clearly not gone and gotten anyone ELSE pregnant.  Have you, boy?”  he looks down.  “God damn, I wish I could fall asleep that easily all the time.”  Henry is down again.

Michael chuckles.  “Sasha here.”  he motions to the young man.  “Found a tree full of shoes.  We’ve been getting complaints for a while about people losing their shoes and now we have a list of very possible suspects.”  he looks over at Hank.  “Is Henry going to get … you know … snipped.”

Theo groans through the throbbing.  “He has an appointment in July.  Simon and I have been blowing it off.”  he admits.

Valentine blinks all of a sudden.  “Simon and Theodore …  Alvin?”

Theo rolls his eyes.  “My mother is a Chipmunk fanatic.  We’re lucky we didn’t have a third brother …  Alvin Alvin, anyone?”

Tara nods up at Valentine and then looks back to her work on Theo’s hand “Exactly.” She looks up at Theo before she wraps him with gauze feeling his gaze on her “you doing on?” He looks a little off but then for some reason she can’t explain she just locks her eyes with his. And then she hears the words shoe thief and blinks, breaking the gaze “Shoe thief? And it’s a dog of course….” She laughs a little and overheard the tree full of shoes comment and then looks between Theo and Valentine “How many shoes are we talking here?” And then she catches the exchange between the redhead cop and Theo about Henry's getting fixed and the vets avoiding the appointment. “Well you’ll have tranquilizer for that one at least.” Then she quotes something she’s sure no one will catch, it’s really just for her amusement “Then you’ll have done the impossible and it will make you mighty.” She tapes up the outer bandage and gives Theo a nod “You’re good to go there Dr. Alvin.” She smiles and starts tidying up and then hears the chipmunk banter and starts to laugh “Alvin and the Chipmunks...that’s so cute!”

Ryan rolls his yes “If they keep having puppies, I’m going to get talked into one by my wife and daughter. Please neuter this dog…” He laughs about the chipmunk thing because that will never get old.

Sasha beams “Who did Henry have puppies with? Are there puppies?” Sasha’s motivations are completely transparent “How many puppies?” He’s having a dog day himself but also thinking of Paige and her love of dogs.

Theo sighs as his hand is bandaged.  It felt better … barely.  Tara says something about the impossible and being mighty, and he looks at her again, possibly catching her eyes.  “Exactly…”  he murmurs, entranced.  The pounding hand and heart distract him, and he misses Ryan’s comment, but he catches the fringes of Sasha’s.  “Thanks, Munroe.”  he murmurs and manages to break the gaze and look at Sasha.  “Uh …  lucky seven.”  he proclaims.  “They’re 8 weeks old now.  Talk to Chief Green if you’d like one.  I think two of them haven’t been claimed.  They’re up on shots and fixed.”

Valentine chuckles.  “I’ll pass on pets, thanks.  I don’t mind them, I just don’t want one.”  he watches his partner and the vet, but then looks away.  “So …  Henry’s off the hook?”

Hank slowly eased himself out from under Henry’s head and came out of the office.  “Yea.  Henry’s a good boy … full of surprises.”

Michael chuckles.  “There are puppies all over Canada that need a good home. Ryan.”  he teases.  “Be strong, partner.”  he looks at Theo.  “We can take it from here, if you want, Theo?”

Theo shakes his head.  “No.  I’m good, Michael.  Thanks.”  he smiles.  “This is a minor injury.  I’ll go see Dr McKinney about it tomorrow.”  he smiles at Tara.  “Thanks again…”  and he’s ready to go.

Tara feels the gaze again, from Theo and her own and laughs at herself a bit. “No worries. Keep that clean ok? Now I’ll restock the sutures.” She closes up the kit and steps away letting her gaze linger on Theo one last time “Good luck with the shoe thief.” She looks through the door at the cops “Hope you find the right mutt. Good day folks.” She walks off back to the ambulance area to do her restock as she gives her head a little shake.

Sasha looks thoughtful about the puppies “Thank you I might.” Then he grins at Ryan and Micheal “Make it easier for you to dodge them if they’re all adopted from this litter.” He smiles at Chief Stanley thinking they’re heading out “Thank you for everything Chief Stanley…” He looks at Valentine “And you of course Mr. Robert. Childhood dream come true.”

Ryan shudders at Micheal “I do try but I swear India will tell Jayla about the puppies just to watch me freak out. Are you sure Theo? I don’t want you to force it if you’re in pain.” He seems pretty convinced so Ryan begins to move to head out “Thanks Hank..and Henry….yikes….just go back to sleep.”

Theo heads to the door.  “Thanks ….  We will.”  he assures Tara as they head out.  He gets in the car and groans.  “Daisy’s next.  Is she at the station?”  he looks at the bandages on his hand, then rubs at his temple.

Michael blows out a breath as he returns to the car.  “Daisy’s off duty, so she’s at the Chief’s house.”  he shrugs and glances at Sasha.  “Small town community.”

Sasha smiles and shrugs “I’m actually from somewhere just as small, so I’m used  to that. We’re even a little weird, so we fit right in. Maybe not as...supernatural…...and unexplained connections of things…..but still weird.” He comments. He’s thinking of the fog and the Olin and the bizarre deep connections formed almost instantly between people, friends like Seamus and what he shares with Paige. His comment may reveal he has some clue about that.

Ryan glances back at Theo. Micheal is driving now. They’re not going far to the chief’s shared houseboat. “Do you want us to just bring her to the car Theo? We can make it easy...or as easy as can be…” He hears Sasha’s comment, but he’s worried and doesn’t reply on them, although he does find them curious.

Michael drives literally onto 2nd until he can’t anymore.  “Oh?  Is Alexandra supernatural?  I never noticed that.”  his voice is chock full of sarcasm.  He looks through the rearview at the teen.  “You thinking about Seamus and his girlfriend?”  he blows out a breath and looks at Theo.

Theo blinks when Sasha and then Michael speaks, followed by Ryan.  “No ….  I’m … I’m fine.”  he clears his throat.  “Daisy’s fine.”  he gets out of the car and takes a deep breath.

Josh Greene is coming out of his houseboat with a large German Shepherd.  He heads for the cruiser, waving to his men.

Sasha shrugs and laughs “All of it, Seamus included.” He looks out the window and then sees what they’re driving too “The police chief lives on a  boat? Cool!” He steps out when they arrive, hoping it’s ok with the man that he’s ridden along.

Ryan looks at Micheal when he hears his sarcasm and snickers, and then he hears Theo and mutters “Must have bit him real bad.” just before he gets out. Theo is clearly struggling. He greets the chief and Daisy “Chief Greene. We have Sasha Beaulieu with us as a ride along. He actually found the shoes and since it’s a safe investigation to observe we agreed to let him. Sasha, this is Chief Greene. And before you ask….he is the man to ask about puppies.”

Sasha smiles and nods, extending a hand “Pleased to meet you Chief Greene I do want to ask you...but I also need to ask my parents...or possibly my girlfriend needs to ask her father….but we’re actually here about your dog’s teeth.” He fumbles it all out and then laughs at himself.

Michael nods.  “Yup.  So does Hank, the fire chief.”  he gets out of the car and steps toward Josh.  “Evening, Chief.”

Josh approaches the car.  “Evening.”  he greets them all.  “Good to meet you, Sasha.”  he takes the hand and shakes it firmly.  He arches his brow as Sasha tumbles all over his own words.  “Are you asking about the puppies, son?”  he asks gently, although he is grinning … nearly smirking.  “Because there’s two without homes.”

Theo gets out of the car and approaches.  “Evening, Chief Greene.”  he murmurs.  He drops to one knee and scratches Daisy under her chin.  Without any trouble, he lifts her lip and measures her tooth.  “You’re good, Daisy.  Of course you are.  You’re a cop.”  he seems to be slowly coming out of a stupor.

Sasha is doubly pleased that Hank lives here too “Even cooler.” He watches Theo check Daisy’s tooth and thankfully no biting this time “That was better.” He exhales. The vet seemed in bad shape after that dog bite. “Chief Greene can I get your phone number about the puppies? I need to have some conversations first. But I am interested.” He pads his pockets and has nothing to write with, so he takes out his phone to put it in his notes.

Ryan has to chuckle at the reason Theo saying Daisy is not guilty is that she’s a cop “I thought we all gave bad advice...I guess the furry ones don’t...at least no biting this time.” He explains to Chief Greene “Theo just got bit by Henry.”

Michael laughs at Theo’s reasoning.  “Daisy isn’t much of a talker unless she’s on the job.”  he guesses.

Josh watches the test and scoffs.  “Sure, Sasha.”  he gives out his number, then looks at Ryan.  “I could have told Daisy to stay away from that freeloading beagle.”  he looks at Theo.  “Is that why you're stunned, son?”

Theo blinks and straightens.  “What, Josh …. No …”  but he sounds a little out of it.  “I’m fine, really.  And you should be nice to Henry.  You’re like his father-in-law.”

Josh scoffs.  “Fuck that shit, Theo.”  he laughs.  “God, me and Hank do have a good laugh over exactly that, though.  I have no idea when those two got together.  The mental visions alone.”  he shakes his head.

Sasha cracks up. He did not expect the town’s police chief to say THAT. He looks at Daisy. “She is much taller than the beagle….” He keeps laughing and then gets curious “What do the puppies look like?”

“Perhaps she was lying down?” Ryan jokes now “Sorry I had to….” He snorts and then says “I’ve never seen Henry awake before today but clearly he has been at least one other time.”

Michael winces.  “My brain!  Oh god I can’t unimagine it!”  he laughs

Josh smirks.  “Success!  I am no longer alone in that nightmare vision.”  he grins and turns towards his houseboat.  “Madeline! Bring one of the pups.  I have a young man interested in the last two.”  he bellows

The loudness seems to bring Theo back a bit more.  “Jesus Josh … you get lessons from my mother or something?”  he asks.

Josh chuckles.  “Voice of authority, son.  Voice of authority.  Or mothers …. Same thing.”

From the houseboat comes a girl around 9 or so,  She is dressed in pink overalls with her shoes on like slippers.  She has a puppy tucked under one arm.  Daisy watches relatively closely, but her babies are mostly gone now, and she’s back at work.  “Here, grandpa.”

Sasha laughs at the whole mothers vs voice of authority. His was a guilter and a lecturer not a yeller, but he’d heard a few yellers, like Mrs Alvin next door calling the kids in. He knew Theo spoke the truth. As soon as the girl came out with the puppy though the world disappeared and it was all he could focus on “Oh…” He said weakly. He walked to the girl and reached for the puppy “Hi I’m Sasha...may I hold...him...her…?” If she lets him he’ll take the puppy and cradle it to him as it sniffs and licks him “Oh I can’t give this little friend back...I’m sorry…” Sasha is beyond smitten and the  puppy seems to adore him too. He lifts it up a bit “He…” Sasha observes.

Ryan nods. He knows Josh’s voice of authority well. “Hi Maddie.” He greets her. Then Sasha instantly bonds with the puppy, and he sighs “You’re going to want to bring it in the car aren’t you?”

Sasha holds up the puppy at Ryan “Look at this face….just look.” He sighs “Is the other one this cute? Because ….oh my god puppies….And would I be the worst boyfriend in the world or the best boyfriend in the world if I just show up at Paige’s with a puppy and hand it to her?”

Michael laughs at the puppy thrust under Ryan’s nose.  “Yes, Ryan.  Just LOOK at it.  It’s ADORABLE!  ANY girl would be happy to have one ….”

Maddie looks at the puppy with a huge smile.  “Yes, it’s a boy … and he has a sister.  They don't have names.  And you would be a HORRIBLE boyfriend if you didn’t give her a puppy!”  she proclaims and looks up at her grandfather and blinking her eyes.  “Please, Grandpa?”  she very nearly whines.

Josh looks between Sasha, the puppy and his granddaughter.  He says nothing for a while, then takes in a deep breath.  “Fine … go get the girl, Maddy.”  he rumbles, and Maddie is gone back to the houseboat as if someone had shot bullets at her feet.  Josh shakes his head and looks at them.  “I spoil her, I know.  Deal with it.”  he points at Ryan.  “And yes, the puppies are riding with you.  You can clean out the car afterwards if anyone piddles.  Including Reinhardt.”

Theo beams when he learns that all of the puppies are now placed with homes.  It seems to pull him out of his lethargy.  “Simon will be so happy.  I’m happy.”  he looks at Sasha.  “Congratulations, kid.”

Michael hears that Ryan will be leaning up and piddle, including his own and rubs at his throat.  “I’m thirsty …..”

Maddy comes running back, holding another puppy.  “Here she is….  Oh, tell us what you name them,  please!  I can’t wait to see them around town!”  she is hopping up and down in excitement.

Sasha is sold and lavishing up the puppy love. He laughs at the piddle jokes and even harder at Micheal. “Shoot I’m going to need food for them….do you still have some? Can I just buy it off you guys? I don’t know what time Thrifty's is open until…” He smiles at up Theo “Thank you…I’m happy too...hopefully Paige and her family will be.” He beams and takes the second puppy from Maddie, so he’s now holding two of them. The male was a sort of caramel brown and white and the female now was black brown and white “For some reason all I can think of is food names for the colour of their fur.” Both dogs lick his face at once and he laughs “You, boy dog with the maple coloured fur….your’re Taffy...like maple taffy...and you little girl are Toffee like the English toffee.” He looks up “Unless Paige hates it and renames one of both of them…” He laughs.

Ryan shudders at the cleanup and the joking about Micheal and from Micheal “I’m only cleaning up after the dogs Reinhardt. Keep it in your pants man. I am glad they have homes now too.” He gives Theo a little nod. 

Maddy and Josh both chuckle.  “I’ll give you the rest of the puppy chow.”  he looks at Maddy.  “Bedtime for you.”  They both go inside, but Josh returns with about 10 pound bag of puppy food.  Michael opens the trunk and they lay the bag in with the shotguns.  “It’s good to meet you, Sasha.”  he tells Sasha, offering him a parting handshake.  “Take care Theo.”  and to Ryan and Michael, he says.  “And see you two in the morning.”  and he’s off with Daisy back home.

Theo smiles about the puppies.  “Half off their next visit.”  he tells Sasha.  He is smiling now as he gets back in the car.  “Only one left.”

Michael gets in the car after the farewells.  “Last stop ..  George Arnette and Kester.”  he announces.  They seemed to be picking up strays along the way, which is certainly interesting.

Sasha thanks Josh and Maddy profusely before he gets into the car with his two sweet puppies. He thanks Theo too for the half off offer. Then he just snuggles the new dog friends.

Ryan has to open the door for the dog loving teenager and barely suppresses a groan. Michael drives again, and he sanitizes his hands for the 12th time in the last few hours.

George Arnett is out on his little porch with Kester, a nice pot of Earl Grey and a good historical novel. They are a picture of relaxation. George is in a comfy henley and a pair of beige cargo shorts and some loafer style slippers.

Theo sits in the back with Sasha and the two puppies, who are very excited to be on an adventure.  They are jumping from his lap to Sasha’s and back again.  It doesn’t matter to them that the drive is less than a minute, including Michael making a U-turn at the beach parking lot.  “Weather like this, George will probably be on his back porch getting ready to walk Kester.”  he tells the detectives.  “It’s getting near eight-thirty.”

Michael resists with everything he has avoiding trying a joke about two cops, two puppies, a vet and a civilian in a patrol car.  He is mostly successful and parks in front of Geprge Arnet’s building and listens to Theo explain they should go up the back.  He cracks the windows.  “Leave the puppies in the car.  We have enough without having to hunt them down if they wander off.  This shouldn’t take long.”

Sasha coos at his puppies and has to kiss them both goodbye before leaving the car. “I really hope they don’t pee. I mean we don’t know when they last went right?” His tone is casual and he follows the others out.

Ryan clenches his jaw at both the site of Sasha kissing the puppies and more talk of pee “Theo’s probably right about George being outside, let’s check the back stairs and make this as quick as we can.” He heads that way and sees George sitting outside with Kester “Mr. Arnett, could we have a few minutes of your time please?”

George sees the group approaching with two of the men wearing APD windbreakers. He did recognize them as police officers he knew and knew of from town. He also knew Theo as one of Kester’s vets. But there was an unfamiliar young man among them. “Good evening Officers, Theo, and hello? I’m George Arnett. How can I help you gentlemen tonight? Stay Kester….stay.” The dog obeyed him and didn’t bolt to greet everyone, just wagged and looked happy.

Michael keeps up with Ryan but passes him at the second floor and moves a bit to speak to George.  “Good evening, George.  We have a rather odd request.  See there have been several reports of people losing single shoes,”  he motions to Sasha.  “This is Sashe Beaulieu.  He found a hollow tree behind the library full of single shoes.  We discovered what seem to be canine teeth marks in the recovered shoes.”  he takes in a breath.  “Since it’s a larger dog, we are asking the owners of large dogs to allow us to match their teeth to the teeth that bit into the shoes, so … we’d like to compare Kester’s teeth against the mold made by Dr Alvin.”  he motions to Theo.

Theo arrives on the landing and listens as Ryan and Michael speak to George.  His hand is still hurting and throbbing, but this is the last stop.  If it isn’t Kester then it’s a stray, and he’ll worry about it in the morning.

Sasha gives a little wave “Nice to meet you Mister Arnett.” Kester looked friendly, old and friendly. He was a brown dog of indeterminate breeding with pointy ears and a big soft snout. Sasha put his hand down to sniff and then gave him a few pats. 

George frowns a bit and looks at Kester “You haven’t been stealing shoes have you boy?” He laughs a bit “He does like mine. But I’m sure that’s most dogs. Nice to meet you Sasha. Go ahead Dr. Alvin, you know he’ll be good for you.”

Ryan’s sneaker had been undone since the houseboat and in all the chaos of puppies he hadn’t noticed it. Now it was quite loose on his foot, and he was a few steps behind the group but listening. He would take a few more steps as Theo checked the teeth and at some point the loose shoe would catch on a nail and be pulled off his foot as he stepped up and left it behind him inadvertently.

Michael spreads his hands.  “Forgive me an ancient cliché, George, but we’re really just doing our job.”  he explains and moves out of Theo’s way.

Theo smiles and moves to Kester, patting him on the head.  “Hey Kester.  How you doin, old boy?”  he asks as he pats.  It makes his hand throb, but he doesn’t mind, really.  He takes the mold in his right hand and Kesters muzzle, lifting his lip and making the comparison.  Then he sighs.  “Kester, Kester, Kester.”  he shakes his head.  “Looks like we have our dog, gentlemen....”

Ryan steps up as Theo declares Kester is the shoe thief “No way...let me…” And then he steps past his shoe and turns to retrieve it, but he’s too slow.

Kester was good as gold for the vet but as soon as he saw the shoe drop to the lower step he bolted for it, grabbed it firmly between his teeth and raced off for his hiding spot again.

Ryan gasped “My shoe!”

Sasha laughed and clapped “I shouldn’t be happy about it but look at him go!”

George looked horrified and leaned over the rail watching his sweet old dog barreling down the street like a greyhound at the races. “Kester…..Kester what have you done?”