Three Dog Day Read Free Page B

promised , we’d have enough help around here.”
    Only a few minutes later, the phone rang again. Trying not to reveal her exasperation, Dory said, “Rose County Sheriff’s office.”
    â€œ Can I speak to the sheriff?” the adolescent male voice squeaked.
    â€œ He’s on the line with someone else right now. I’ll give him a message. Do you wish to make a complaint or report a crime?”
    There was a long pause and at that moment Dory turned her attention away from the deputy manual and came to complete attention. A young person rarely called the office, and if they did, they usually hung up almost immediately, giggling. Dory was on alert and concerned.
    â€œ What’s your name, honey?”
    â€œ It’s Ray, but I, well I don’t want to tell you my last name.”
    â€œ That’s fine, son. Are you all right? Do you need an officer?”
    â€œ No. I clean dog cages after school for a breeder. He says he’s a breeder, but I think this place would be called a puppy mill. The mother dogs can’t even turn around in the cages and if I don’t come over there, they don’t always get water and food. I can’t come every day. I’m only in ninth grade.” His voice cracked again.
    â€œ I’ll have to do some checking with the sheriff or one of his deputies, but I’m afraid puppy mills aren’t illegal. However, what you’re describing may be animal cruelty and that’s against the law. Give me the name and address of the property owner, please.”
    â€œ The guy I work for is named Jerrod Clifton. The address is fifteen hundred, North Branch. Rosedale Township.” His voice was so quiet it was almost a whisper.
    â€œ Thank you, Ray. I’ll get on it.”
    They said goodbye just as George Phelps, their portly freckled deputy with reddish hair, walked into the office, yawning. Dory pounced on him immediately. As he walked past her desk, she stood up, put her hand on his arm and smiled up at him flirtatiously. Looking up at him was difficult; after all, she was exactly his height—five feet, five inches. She bent her knees slightly and poured on the charm.
    â€œ George, honey, could you help me out for an hour or so?”
    â€œ Um, what do you need, Miss Dory? I’m kind of busy right now. I have stuff to do on the computer.”
    Dory just refrained from rolling her eyes. The laziest person in the office, George used his computer mostly for playing online games. She had discovered this one day when she was snooping through his “Favorite” sites. After that, she felt it was important to monitor his work to ensure that his mind was on his job. She paused in chagrin, realizing she wasn’t exactly on the job at the moment herself.
    â€œ I just need you to get the phones for a while, sweetie. I’m taking my deputy exam soon and I need to study. I’ll use the conference room, so I’ll be here if you need me. Please, George?”
    George gave her a hapless stare and without waiting for his assent—which Dory considered a foregone conclusion—she left the room quickly, her leopard-patterned stiletto heels clicking. George sighed and sat down at Dory’s desk. The phone rang again, almost immediately.
    â€œ Sheriff’s office,” she heard George say dolefully as she entered the conference room and closed the door.

    Early that afternoon—after the sheriff had evicted George from her desk, sent him out on a routine call, and returned her to the phones—Dory turned on her computer and Googled the Tennessee statutes for the definition of a commercial breeder. It read:

    Any person who possesses or maintains twenty or more adult female dogs for the purpose of the sale of their offspring as companion animals.

    She wished she had asked Ray how many animals were in the kennel. She was still troubled by his cracking voice. “Poor kid,” she said quietly to