Page 20 of Lost in the Fog

“I wasn’t chancing the Elite killing her again. She needed to get to the point where she was strong, alive, and we had enough ladies around to protect her. We just hit that point.”

Pandora shoved her uneaten hot wings at Rex. Rex paused. “I don’t eat fire.”

“Fine. You don’t know what you are missing.”

“Yes, I do. Heartburn is not my friend. I have another day on camera tomorrow.”

“Spoilsport. I got some of that ice cream you like on the way home. Strawberry peanut butter is not my thing.”

Rex grinned and headed for the freezer. “You love me.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

Regis sat with them at the table, and they started to talk. The plan was coming together now that the others had all woken, including the massacre in the desert. The grieving wilding and, of course, the walking fog.

Twelve ladies were going to go, and they were just waiting for the signal. She had a date this weekend.

“So, yes, while I managed to locate the pure-bred poodle, he was much happier playing with his male owner’s second family and not the original owner. However, law being law, I had to turn over the information that my client had requested, along with copies of all of the vet bills that the male owner had paid, the vet assessment from the checkup before the dognapping had taken place when the owners were engaged in joint custody.”

One of the grade seven kids raised their hand. “But your client owned the dog.”

“Yes, but there are laws of livestock, and dogs and cats are considered livestock, even though they are in the city. So, the person paying the bills for the animal becomes the owner if the other person does not provide them with the care necessary to survive and thrive.” Pandora smiled. “But that is just one case that I had that ended happily for the dog in question. He got the yard with the kids and regular vet visits, and his previous owner got a cat and a new relationship.”

She sipped from her glass of water. “So, that is a summary of the kind of thing that I do as a private investigator. It is mostly quiet, trying not to be seen, and then crying when you think you are caught. Most folks don’t know what to do if a woman is bawling. So anyone can do my job, you just have to have a boring car, a good attention span, and the ability to wait for anything or nothing to happen.”

Ira’s homeroom teacher applauded and said, “Thank you, Miss Pandora. It was very informative.”

She sat down, and the doctor and then the lawyer took the stage.

Pandora sat next to the vet, who leaned over. “That was very discreet.”

“Thank you. That’s what I do.”

“He’s so happy with his other family,” the woman murmured.

“The dog or the guy? You and your kids look so happy with both of them.”

The woman smiled. “Thank you. We know you didn’t have to do what you did.”

“I know.”

They sat through the other speeches and then took their bows as the teens and Ira applauded. She was only willing to skip two grades. She said anything else would be conspicuous.

Ira was chatting with slightly older girls and boys with a bright smile on her face. When she got to the floor where Pandora was, she jumped at Pandora and hugged her. “You did so good, Auntie.”

“Thank you, Ira. You did a remarkable version of someone paying attention.”

Her goddaughter beamed.

“Did you want me to pick you up today?”

“Auntie Rex is doing it. Um, Auntie, I looked you up on the internet, and you were a really good cheerleader. Would you show me how to do some of the acrobatics and cheers?”

“I was enthusiastic and could hold a smile with a sprained ankle. That was my claim to fame.”

“You won a lot of awards and things.”

“According to the internet?”

---