Chapter 6: The Dog Remembered
The veterinary clinic smelled of antiseptic, wet fur, and freshly brewed coffee.
Darnell sat beside Rex's examination table.
His leather vest was folded over a chair.
His hands were clasped so tightly that his knuckles had turned white.
Dr. Melissa Harris entered carrying a clipboard.
"Mr. Brooks?""
Darnell stood immediately.
"How is he?""
She glanced at Rex.
"He's stable.""
Darnell exhaled.
"Thank God.""
"But we found some injuries.""
"What kind?""
"Two bruised ribs, significant soft-tissue damage, and inflammation around his shoulder. We don't see an obvious fracture on the initial images, but I want to monitor him overnight.""
Darnell lowered his head.
"Can he walk?""
"Not yet. We don't want him putting weight on that shoulder.""
"Will he recover?""
Dr. Harris pulled up a chair.
"I believe he has a good chance. But he's eleven years old. Recovery will take time.""
Darnell looked through the glass at Rex.
The old dog was lying on a padded blanket.
An IV line ran beside his front leg.
His eyes were open.
He was watching the door.
"Can I sit with him?""
"Of course.""
Darnell returned to the examination table and gently touched Rex's head.
"Hey, old man.""
Rex moved his tail once.
"You're going to be all right.""
The dog blinked.
Darnell leaned closer.
"You hear me? You've got more roads to travel.""
A tear rolled down his cheek.
He quickly wiped it away.
Dr. Harris pretended not to notice.
A few minutes later, the clinic door opened.
Travis entered.
He stopped when he saw Rex.
For several seconds, he couldn't speak.
Darnell looked up.
"You came.""
"I said I would.""
Travis approached slowly.
"Hey, Rex.""
The dog turned his head.
His ears lifted slightly.
Travis knelt.
"Remember me?""
Rex gave a weak whine.
Travis smiled through wet eyes.
"Yeah. I remember you too.""
He placed his hand gently on the dog's neck.
"Emily says hello.""
At the sound of her name, Rex moved his head again.
Darnell noticed.
"He remembers her.""
"She wants to visit.""
"Then bring her.""
Travis hesitated.
"She's scared.""
Darnell nodded.
"That's understandable.""
"She told me something about the night you found her.""
Darnell's expression changed.
"What?""
"She remembered seeing a truck.""
Darnell looked down at Rex.
"She told me about that.""
Travis stared.
"She did?""
"Not much. She was exhausted. She kept asking whether the man in the truck was coming back.""
"Did she say anything else?""
Darnell took a moment.
"She asked me whether Rex had heard the man.""
Travis leaned forward.
"What did you tell her?""
"That Rex hears everything.""
The old dog shifted.
Darnell gently rubbed his ear.
"After we found Emily, Rex wouldn't leave the area. The rescue team had to call him back several times.""
"Why?""
"He kept looking toward the timber road.""
Travis went still.
"Did you tell the sheriff?""
"I told the first deputy who came over.""
"Who?""
Darnell thought.
"Briggs, I think.""
Travis's jaw tightened.
"Briggs was part of the search?""
"Yes.""
"Did he say anything?""
Darnell shook his head.
"He told me the dog was probably reacting to wildlife.""
Travis looked toward the examination table.
"Did Rex find anything?""
Darnell hesitated.
Then he reached into his jacket and pulled out a small cloth pouch.
"I've kept this for three years.""
He opened it.
Inside was a small metal object.
A broken piece of blue plastic with a silver screw attached.
Travis frowned.
"What is that?""
"Rex found it near the drainage ditch the morning he found Emily.""
Darnell placed it in Travis's palm.
"I thought it might be part of a vehicle. The search coordinator told me to hand it over.""
"Did you?""
"Yes.""
"Who?""
"Deputy Briggs.""
Travis stared at the object.
"Do you have any idea what it belongs to?""
Darnell shook his head.
"No. But I found something else when I checked Rex's equipment after the rescue.""
"What?""
Darnell reached into the pouch again.
This time, he pulled out an old photograph.
It showed Rex standing beside a rescue vehicle.
A man in a dark jacket was partially visible behind him.
The image was blurry.
But Travis recognized the man's posture.
He had seen it that afternoon.
Raymond Pierce.
"Where was this taken?""
"Near the timber road. I took it because Rex had found something interesting.""
Travis studied the picture.
"Did you ever show this to anyone?""
"No. I forgot about it until today.""
The clinic door opened again.
Emily entered with her mother.
She stopped when she saw Rex.
Her hand flew to her mouth.
"Oh, Rex.""
Darnell stepped aside.
"Come here, sweetheart.""
Emily approached slowly.
She knelt beside the dog.
"Hi, buddy.""
Rex lifted his head.
His tail moved.
Emily began crying.
"I'm so sorry.""
Travis frowned.
"Why are you apologizing?""
"Because he got hurt trying to protect someone again.""
She touched his forehead.
"You always do that.""
Rex gave a quiet whine.
Emily leaned forward and rested her cheek against his head.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Dr. Harris cleared her throat.
"He needs rest, but a short visit is fine.""
Emily nodded.
She remained beside Rex for several minutes.
Then she suddenly pulled back.
"Wait.""
Travis looked at her.
"What?""
Emily was staring at the photograph in his hand.
"That's him.""
Travis turned it around.
"The man behind Rex?""
Emily nodded.
"That's the man from the woods.""
Darnell leaned closer.
"Are you sure?""
Emily studied the photograph.
"The jacket. The way he stands. I remember him.""
Travis's voice dropped.
"Raymond Pierce?""
"I don't know his name. But I remember his face.""
Rebecca Lawson, who had just entered the clinic, heard the last sentence.
She approached.
"Emily, I need you to look at something.""
She opened a folder and showed her a photograph of Raymond Pierce.
Emily stared at it.
Then she nodded.
"That's him.""
Rebecca exchanged a look with Travis.
"You're certain?""
"He was near the truck. I remember because he had a flashlight.""
Rebecca wrote something down.
"Did he speak to you?""
Emily's breathing quickened.
"Yes.""
"What did he say?""
Emily closed her eyes.
"I remember him saying, 'The sheriff said nobody was supposed to be out here.''"
Travis felt his stomach tighten.
Rebecca remained calm.
"Did he say anything else?""
Emily opened her eyes.
"He asked where the dog was.""
Darnell looked at Rex.
Rebecca continued.
"What happened next?""
Emily began shaking.
"I told him Rex was coming.""
"And?""
"He got angry.""
"How?""
"He grabbed my arm and told me to stop talking.""
Travis stood.
"Why didn't you tell us this before?""
Emily looked at him with tears in her eyes.
"Because I thought nobody would believe me.""
Travis immediately softened.
"Emily...""
"And because the sheriff came to the hospital and told me the man was helping with the search.""
Rebecca closed the folder.
"That's enough for today.""
Emily wiped her face.
But then she noticed something.
Rex had suddenly raised his head.
His ears were pointed toward the clinic entrance.
A low growl came from his chest.
Darnell turned.
"Easy, boy.""
The clinic door opened.
A man in a gray jacket stepped inside.
Raymond Pierce.
He looked around the room.
Then his eyes landed on Emily.
His expression changed.
He took one step backward.
Rebecca immediately moved toward him.
"Raymond Pierce?""
He turned.
And ran.
Travis bolted after him.
Darnell stayed beside Rex while Dr. Harris called for assistance.
Outside, Raymond sprinted across the parking lot.
Travis chased him past the employee entrance.
"Stop!""
Raymond reached his pickup.
He opened the driver's door.
But before he could climb inside, Travis caught the back of his jacket.
They struggled.
Raymond swung an elbow.
Travis stumbled against the truck.
Then a second vehicle screeched into the lot.
A woman stepped out, raising her badge.
"State police! Hands where I can see them!""
Raymond froze.
Rebecca arrived seconds later.
"Mr. Pierce, you're being detained pending further investigation.""
Raymond looked toward the clinic.
His face twisted with anger.
Then he shouted something that made Travis stop breathing.
"You're too late! Mercer already burned the original records!""
Rebecca stepped closer.
"What original records?""
Raymond smiled nervously.
"The ones that prove what happened to that girl.""
Travis grabbed his arm.
"What did you do to my sister?""
Raymond looked directly at him.
Then he whispered:
May you like
"Ask your sheriff why he ordered the search dogs to be pulled out of the woods before Rex found her.""
And from inside the clinic, the old German Shepherd began barking for the first time since the attack.
