Loving Madison

Two

At the sound of the older woman's sobs, Madison moved her gaze to the lady.

"Please, Officer," the woman begged as she leaned forward on the desk, "I know someone has stolen my husband's prized Labrador. Tobias is the best there is."

"Uh...Tobias?" The officer tilted his head and narrowed his gaze on the older woman. "Is that your husband or your dog?"

The old woman huffed. "That's my dog, of course."

Madison held back a grin.

"Well, you see, Mrs. Inman," the man strummed his beefy fingers on the desk. The lack of sympathy in his tone let Madison know he didn't plan on doing anything to help the woman. "We are Metropolitan Police Officers. We don't help with missing dogs cases."

"But don't you see?" The woman twisted the rope in her hands. "I think someone has kidnapped him, and...what if they want a ransom? Tobias is worth a lot of money."

"I see," the policeman said. His oversized chin shook when he spoke. "Have you received a ransom note?"

"Well...no."

Madison placed her hand over her mouth to keep from smiling for the woman's concern for her prized Labrador. She'd never understand why some people treated their dogs better than their own children.

"You must understand, Inspector," Mrs. Inman held up the leash, "I don't usually have Tobias on a rope, but this morning, he seemed jumpy, so I tied him up so I could travel into town to visit my grandchildren. When I returned, Tobias was gone."

Madison studied the leash. She wasn't very far from the old woman, making it easy to glance over the object. Immediately, she noticed something that, obviously, the other woman had overlooked. Should Madison say something? Yet, she had always helped people who were in need any way she could.

She stood and cleared her throat. "Excuse me for interrupting," she stepped beside the older woman, "but I think I might know what happened to your dog."

The officer lifted a skeptical eye to her. "Miss Haywood." Irritation laced his voice. "I have this handled, but I thank you for trying to assist."

Madison shrugged. "Yes, I can clearly see you have this handled. However, I just thought I'd reassure this woman that her dog wasn't stolen." She turned to move back to her chair, but the old woman touched Madison's arm. She met the woman's gaze.

"What do you know about Tobias?" the lady asked in a shaky voice.

Madison didn't wait to get permission from the officer and instead pointed at the leash. "Do you see where your dog has chewed the rope? I suspect your dog freed himself from the leash."

The woman sucked in a breath as her hand flew to her throat. "Oh, my. I didn't even realize it had been chewed."

"I'm certain your dog didn't go very far," Madison assured her as she reached out to place her fingers on the rope. The moment her skin made contact, a scene flashed in her head. The Labrador was someplace dark and damp...and enclosed. The light brown fur of the animal had turned nearly black from mud, and clumps of twigs matted in the animal's fur. The dog's paws were wet, and Tobias shivered when he whined.

"Mrs. Inman?" Madison asked the old woman. "Do you know if there is a canal near your home?"

The woman's face paled. "Y-yes, there is. Why do you ask?"

"I believe that's where you can find your dog. He's trapped in the canal."

"How...how do you know?" she asked warily.