there’s only one other possibility,” Sister Agatha said. “One of the sisters is letting the dog in and keeping it a secret.”
“Ridiculous. None of the professed sisters ever walk close to the wall. This part of our grounds isn’t an area that’s open to them. And even if Sister Mary Lazarus decided to wander, she wouldn’t be able to do it—all her time is regimented between instruction, prayers, and chores.”
“I know all that,” Sister Agatha said, “but that’s the only possibility left, and that’s the conclusion the sheriff will surely reach. Unfortunately, the implications could bring an enormous scandal to us.”
It took Sister Bernarda a moment to follow Sister Agatha’s train of thought, but as soon as she understood, she was immediately horrified. “You mean he’ll think one of us is letting a man into the enclosure, and the dog followed in on his own?”
‘To us, the idea is absurd because we know everyone here and we understand the value of a vocation. But to Sheriff Green…”
“You’re right.” Sister Bernarda sighed. “Well,
we
know it’s an absolutely ridiculous proposition, so we’d better work twice as hard to find out how this dog is actually getting in!”
They went around the property once more, and this time they searched around the buildings as well as the walls looking for paw prints near every single window. Finally they were forced to give up.
“We have other duties waiting for us, Sister Agatha. This is getting us nowhere. Maybe we should rethink this and try again later.”
They’d just reached the front doors when they heard a car approaching.
“That’s Sheriff Green,” Sister Agatha said, and to her credit managed to suppress a groan. “I’ll go deal with him.”
Sister Bernarda nodded and passed through the parlor doors and back into the enclosure.
As Tom Green got out of his car, Sister Agatha stood by the entrance, and the dog came to stand by her side.
Green gave the dog a frustrated look, then walked toward the animal. “Rex, come!” he said, and attached a leash to the dog’s collar as soon as he responded. “Any idea how he got in this time?” He stopped by the steps, and Rex sat at heel.
“We just went around the entire wall, inside and out. The only possible way we could come up with is if he used that tree.” She pointed. “I climbed out onto the low branch there, near the wall, and you know what Rex did?” Sister Agatha said smugly.
“He followed you?” Tom rolled his eyes. “He was trained in agility. If you call him, he’ll come, but that doesn’t mean he’d have done such a stunt on his own.” He shook his head. “I don’t think that’s the answer, and I bet you don’t either.”
“Maybe not, but we can’t rule it out completely. He’s obviously a very smart animal.”
“That he is, and that’s what makes it so tough to handle him.” Tom looked back at his car, but then turned and stared at the dog thoughtfully. “I’m not sure I should take him back to the station.”
“Where else would you take him? His kennel at San Felipe?”
Tom took a deep breath, then let it out again. “Rex is close to seven and a half now. He’s served our department well, but it’s time to retire him so we can get a younger dog. We haven’t been able to find an approved home for him, so that means we’ll soon be putting him to sleep.”
Sister Agatha’s eyes widened. “You can’t do that. He’s perfectly healthy.”
“He has a touch of arthritis in his back legs from time to time.”
“I have a ‘touch of arthritis’ too, but Reverend Mother’s not considering putting me to sleep!” she said indignantly.
He laughed. “It’s not the same thing, though I’m glad to hear you feel this way. I have a proposition for all of you, but I expect Reverend Mother needs to be in on this before I say anything more. Can we go to the parlor?”
“Of course.”
Sister Agatha left Tom with Rex in the parlor as she
“Ridiculous. None of the professed sisters ever walk close to the wall. This part of our grounds isn’t an area that’s open to them. And even if Sister Mary Lazarus decided to wander, she wouldn’t be able to do it—all her time is regimented between instruction, prayers, and chores.”
“I know all that,” Sister Agatha said, “but that’s the only possibility left, and that’s the conclusion the sheriff will surely reach. Unfortunately, the implications could bring an enormous scandal to us.”
It took Sister Bernarda a moment to follow Sister Agatha’s train of thought, but as soon as she understood, she was immediately horrified. “You mean he’ll think one of us is letting a man into the enclosure, and the dog followed in on his own?”
‘To us, the idea is absurd because we know everyone here and we understand the value of a vocation. But to Sheriff Green…”
“You’re right.” Sister Bernarda sighed. “Well,
we
know it’s an absolutely ridiculous proposition, so we’d better work twice as hard to find out how this dog is actually getting in!”
They went around the property once more, and this time they searched around the buildings as well as the walls looking for paw prints near every single window. Finally they were forced to give up.
“We have other duties waiting for us, Sister Agatha. This is getting us nowhere. Maybe we should rethink this and try again later.”
They’d just reached the front doors when they heard a car approaching.
“That’s Sheriff Green,” Sister Agatha said, and to her credit managed to suppress a groan. “I’ll go deal with him.”
Sister Bernarda nodded and passed through the parlor doors and back into the enclosure.
As Tom Green got out of his car, Sister Agatha stood by the entrance, and the dog came to stand by her side.
Green gave the dog a frustrated look, then walked toward the animal. “Rex, come!” he said, and attached a leash to the dog’s collar as soon as he responded. “Any idea how he got in this time?” He stopped by the steps, and Rex sat at heel.
“We just went around the entire wall, inside and out. The only possible way we could come up with is if he used that tree.” She pointed. “I climbed out onto the low branch there, near the wall, and you know what Rex did?” Sister Agatha said smugly.
“He followed you?” Tom rolled his eyes. “He was trained in agility. If you call him, he’ll come, but that doesn’t mean he’d have done such a stunt on his own.” He shook his head. “I don’t think that’s the answer, and I bet you don’t either.”
“Maybe not, but we can’t rule it out completely. He’s obviously a very smart animal.”
“That he is, and that’s what makes it so tough to handle him.” Tom looked back at his car, but then turned and stared at the dog thoughtfully. “I’m not sure I should take him back to the station.”
“Where else would you take him? His kennel at San Felipe?”
Tom took a deep breath, then let it out again. “Rex is close to seven and a half now. He’s served our department well, but it’s time to retire him so we can get a younger dog. We haven’t been able to find an approved home for him, so that means we’ll soon be putting him to sleep.”
Sister Agatha’s eyes widened. “You can’t do that. He’s perfectly healthy.”
“He has a touch of arthritis in his back legs from time to time.”
“I have a ‘touch of arthritis’ too, but Reverend Mother’s not considering putting me to sleep!” she said indignantly.
He laughed. “It’s not the same thing, though I’m glad to hear you feel this way. I have a proposition for all of you, but I expect Reverend Mother needs to be in on this before I say anything more. Can we go to the parlor?”
“Of course.”
Sister Agatha left Tom with Rex in the parlor as she
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