Twenty-seven
Before going to the clinic that morning, Luke had checked everything twice to ensure all was ready for Josh and Abby’s arrival. He planned to close at lunchtime, assuming any prospective clients would be tied up preparing for the next day. As it was, he had only a few appointments.
He was surprised how much he was enjoying working with animals again. Maybe he’d retired too soon, but Josh had been eager to take over, and Luke remembered the thrill of setting up his own practice with Ness. He wanted Josh to experience the same, and he was a good vet. Luke knew the practice was in good hands. Also, he had his bucket list, though the list of adventures he’d carefully researched and put together no longer seemed as attractive as they had when he handed over the keys of the clinic to Josh.
He looked up as Wendy ushered in his first client, an elderly woman with long untamed white hair. She was wearing the sort of outfit Ness would have described as hippie and was carrying a golden cocker spaniel.
‘I’m Agnes,’ the woman said, before Luke could speak. ‘I remember you. You’re Sonja Findlay’s boy. I heard you were back.’ Her eyes raked him up and down. ‘You take after her side of the family.’
For a moment, Luke forgot where he was, forgot there was a dog needing his attention. This was the woman Troy had told him about, the one who might have known his grandparents. Then his professional manner took over. ‘Who have we here?’ he asked, taking the dog from Agnes and placing her on the examination table.
‘This is Lady. She’s not well this morning. She seems to be bleeding from her mouth and her poo is tarry.’
Luke frowned. This didn’t sound good. ‘Let’s have a look at Lady,’ he said. ‘How old is she?’ he asked, while examining the dog who was lying very still. Her owner was watching closely.
‘She’s not a young dog. I’ve had her for twelve years. She was just a pup. She’s normally very lively. What do you think is wrong?’
‘Are you aware of her having eaten anything out of the usual?’ Luke asked, noticing some bruising spots on Lady’s gums and abdomen, a sign of rat poison. The symptoms Agnes described would fit with that diagnosis too.
‘No, I’m always very careful, though she does tend to be attracted to whatever she finds on the beach. Do you think she’s been poisoned?’
‘It’s likely. Do you have any chemicals lying around, or rat poison?’
Agnes drew herself up to her full height. ‘I’ll let you know, young man, that I’m well aware of the dangers of those things and, no, I do not have them anywhere Lady could access them.’
Luke had to stifle his amusement at being called a young man. He supposed to Agnes, he was. He believed her, remembering what Troy had told him – she cared for injured pelicans. She would know the dangers of having toxic substances around. ‘I’ll take a blood sample so I can check if it’s what I think.’ Luke was glad Bob had installed a diagnostic machine which would enable him to analyse for blood clotting. ‘Why don’t I have Wendy get you a cup of tea or coffee while I do that?’
It was clear Agnes didn’t want to leave her dog, but she allowed Luke to ask Wendy to make tea, and followed her to the waiting room while Luke took care of Lady. It was as he’d thought. The time taken for the blood to clot was a sign of rat poison. He frowned, hoping the dog had picked it up somewhere accidentally.
‘What happens now?’ Agnes asked, when Luke told her his diagnosis.
‘I’ve given her a shot of vitamin K and here are some tablets to take home with you. I’ll need to see her again in forty-eight hours to check if the clotting has improved and again when the tablets are finished in three weeks’ time.’
‘Will she be all right?’ Agnes asked, when Luke had completed his treatment of the dog.
‘She should be. Just keep her comfortable. Make sure she has plenty of water and only give her small amounts of food. I’d like you to bring Lady back the day after Christmas so I can check her again.’ He stroked the dog’s head.
‘That’s Boxing Day,’ she said. ‘Won’t the clinic be closed?’
‘Lady’s health is more important than the holiday. Arrange a time with Wendy before you leave.’ Luke lifted the dog down. She immediately moved to lean against Agnes’s legs.
‘If that’s all,’ she said.
Luke wanted to ask her about his grandparents, but now wasn’t the time.
‘Okay. Have a good Christmas,’ Agnes said, before she and Lady left.
‘You, too.’ Luke gave a sigh of relief. He hoped this was a one-off. The last thing he needed at his time of year was a spate of dog poisonings.
Fortunately, the rest of the morning passed without incident. There were no more cases of poisoning. Whatever Agnes’s spaniel had ingested must have been an unfortunate occurrence. Lady should recover well, and perhaps he’d have an opportunity to talk with Agnes when she returned on Boxing Day.
After farewelling his final client for the day, Luke wished Wendy a Merry Christmas and handed her the box of chocolates he’d bought for her, then went through to his office where Nelson was lying, waiting for him.
‘Good boy,’ he said, still somewhat worried about Lady’s poisoning and wondering how it had occurred. He knew he’d probably never find out. ‘You’re okay, aren’t you?’ he said to the dog who was prancing around ready for a walk after being stuck in Luke’s office all morning. ‘Okay, mate, let’s go.’
Luke was ready for some exercise too, so headed down to the beach, Nelson running beside him. Today, Luke kept an eye out for any unusual objects or foreign matter on the sand. Agnes had mentioned the beach, but he’d never seen her on this one. He suspected she was referring to the more popular dog beach which was on the other side of the headland. As usual, this beach was deserted, the sand pristine, the only signs of life a group of surfers some distance from the shore.
It was relaxing to stroll along at the edge of the water, playing fetch with Nelson who had managed to find a stick washed up by the sea. He gazed up at Rachel’s house. Her son would have arrived by now with his special someone. Luke hoped all was going well and the new lady fitted into the family. He hadn’t met either of Rachel’s daughters yet, or her granddaughters. Perhaps they’d all bump into each other tonight at the carol singing. He was sure Josh and Abby would be happy to attend, though he’d leave Nelson at home.
Luke checked his watch. Josh and Abby should be leaving Sydney around now. He’d offered to pick them up at the airport, but Josh insisted on hiring a car. He was independent, like his dad. Ness had always told him how much Josh resembled him – not in looks but in personality.
Back home, he made himself a sandwich and gave Nelson a treat, then settled down to read more of the book on Italian immigration. It had been a stroke of luck meeting Agnes this morning, and she’d known his mother. With a bit more luck, she’d remember his grandparents too. He was looking forward to seeing her again – and to checking up on Lady.
Luke had just put a lasagne in the oven and was preparing a salad, when there was a flurry of barking and Nelson bounded to the door, seconds before there was a loud knocking and the door opened.
‘Hey, Nelson. How are you, boy?’ Josh said, as Luke walked through the hallway to see the dog with his paws on Josh’s chest.
‘He missed me, Dad,’ Josh said, pushing the dog down to give Luke a hug. ‘This place looks amazing. How does it feel to be back?’
‘It’s good,’ Luke said, surprising himself with the realisation he really was enjoying being back in Pelican Crossing. ‘Welcome. It’s good to see you. You, too, Abby,’ he said, turning to give her a hug too.
‘Thanks, Luke. We drove along past a marina and a long stretch of beach. It looks amazing. I can’t wait to go for a swim.’
‘You’d have driven past the surf beach and the dog beach. There are steps by the back gate to a more private one. It’s mostly only used by a few surfers and Bob’s neighbour. It’s not patrolled, so you have to take care, but there aren’t any rips.’
‘Sounds awesome. D’you have a beer, Dad? I’m parched.’
‘Sure. Come through to the kitchen. Abby?’
‘Water for me, thanks.’
‘Do you want to bring your gear in from the car?’
‘Later. Beer first.’
‘Okay.’
They all trooped through to the kitchen, and Luke poured beer for himself and Josh and a glass of water for Abby, who wandered over to gaze out the window at the ocean while the two men took seats on the high stools by the kitchen bench.
‘Do I smell lasagne?’ Abby said, turning back from the window.
‘You do. I thought you’d be hungry, and we could have an early dinner. There’s a carol singing event in town this evening which promises to be good. What do you think?’
‘Oh, that sounds like fun. And you have a tree,’ she said, as if suddenly catching sight of the Christmas tree in the other room.
‘Yeah, thought I’d make a bit of an effort since you two were coming.’
‘Thanks, Dad,’ Josh said. ‘I know Christmas has been difficult for you since Mum died. I think this is the first Christmas we’ve spent together.’
‘Are those the steps down to the beach?’ Amy had turned back to the window. ‘Have we time for a swim before dinner? The ocean looks amazing.’
Josh rose to join her. ‘Wow, Dad!’ He drained his beer.
Luke laughed. ‘Sure. I can delay dinner, as long as you don’t take too long.’
In a flash, Josh went out to the car, returning with two bags which he took to the bedroom Luke indicated. It seemed only a moment later that the two young people re-emerged in swimmers and carrying towels. ‘You won’t join us?’ Josh asked.
‘Not this time.’ But Nelson, unwilling to be left behind when there was fun to be had, didn’t need to be asked twice.
Luke timed it perfectly. By the time Josh and Abby returned from the beach, full of praise for it and the warmth of the ocean, and had dressed, the lasagne was ready to be served, and Nelson was tucking into his dinner.
‘What’s the practice like?’ Josh asked.
‘Different to what we’ve been used to. Still small animal, but not nearly as busy. There have been a few ticks, but nothing major. Though today…’ Luke pulled on his beard.
‘What?’ Josh stopped eating.
‘I had a dog in that had been poisoned.’
‘That’s not good. Were you able to identify the cause?’
‘Rat bait, I believe.’ Luke realised what was worrying him. Unless… or until… he knew exactly where Agnes’s Lady had eaten the poison, there was always the risk of it happening to another animal.
‘Not good. Remember that case a few years ago?’
Luke did. The dog had died. It had later been discovered the owner’s neighbour had set a bait with rat poison in a piece of meat. But he couldn’t imagine anything like that happening in Pelican Crossing and said so.
‘You may be right, but you can never tell. Strange things happen all the time, even in a small place like this.’
Luke flinched. He didn’t want to think Agnes’s dog had been poisoned deliberately. Who would do a thing like that? He could only hope no more cases came to light.