Chapter 13
“Your generous donation will go a long way.” The shelter’s clerk handed Morgan a receipt for the adoption fee and donation and Quinn a separate receipt for her donation. “You’re adopting Can-dee. She’s a sweet dog, but very shy.”
“I think she might be coming around.” Quinn snuggled the pup.
“I’ve never seen her take to anyone like that,” the woman said. “You must have the magic touch.”
“I knew from the minute we saw her that she was the one.”
“She looks like my dog, Chester,” Morgan explained. “Kayleigh mentioned you found her almost a year ago.”
“I can double-check.” The clerk’s fingers flew over the keyboard. “It’s been over a year now. We’ve had her since June of last year.”
Morgan did a mental calculation. “That’s around the time we found Chester.”
“You’re right,” Quinn said. “It could be someone abandoned both Chester and Can-dee.”
“I’m glad she’s finally found a home.” The woman handed Quinn an envelope. “This is a copy of her file, notes from the staff. You might find a few of them helpful.”
“Thank you.” Quinn and Morgan exited the building. As soon as they were outside, Can-dee wiggled and squirmed, eager to be put down. “Don’t go far.”
The pup trotted across the lawn, sniffing everywhere her black button nose could reach.
Morgan clapped her hands. “Look at how excited she is?”
They gave Can-dee ample time to explore before Quinn called her to her side. She promptly made her way over and sat at her feet.
“She’s well-behaved and has so many mannerisms that remind me of Chester.”
“They could be twins.” Quinn patted her head. “I’m not sure about her name. Somehow Can-dee doesn’t fit.”
“Give it some thought. Maybe once you two get to know each other, you’ll figure out what her name is,” Morgan said.
The trio climbed into the SUV for the short ride to Quinn’s place. As soon as they opened the door, Can-dee hopped out and trotted along the edge of the driveway, as if she knew exactly where she was going.
“She’s already making herself at home,” Morgan said. “I can’t wait for her and Chester to meet.”
“I was thinking we should wait for a couple days to give Can-dee time to get used to her new home.”
“Absolutely. We don’t want to overwhelm her.” Although from watching the pup explore, Morgan had no doubt she would acclimate quickly. “I think you made the right choice.”
“I know I did.” Quinn hugged her friend. “This is the best housewarming gift ever. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I knew you would be a good doggie mama.” Morgan patted the pup’s head and told her goodbye before climbing into her SUV for the trip home.
Chester stood near the door, patiently waiting for Morgan to kick her shoes off and hang her jacket on the hook. He did his usual zoomies up and down the hall, his sign he was happy to see her. The pup ran into the kitchen and promptly plopped down in front of his food dish.
“I haven’t forgotten it’s snack time.” Morgan scooped food into the dish.
Chester’s ears shot straight up. He began sniffing her hand.
“I bet you smell Can-dee.”
He buried his nose in her pant leg, tracing a path to her sock.
“Now I know you smell her. The real question is if you recognize her scent.” Morgan coaxed him to his food dish.
Chester gobbled up his snack and promptly went back to sniffing her.
Through the window, she watched a Locke Village patrol car pull into the driveway. “Wyatt is here.” Morgan hustled out the back door and caught up with him on the sidewalk. “Is it break time already?”
“Yeah. I was in the neighborhood and noticed your car in the driveway, so I figured I would pop in.”
“I’m glad you did.” She gave him a quick kiss. “Quinn adopted a dog.”
“I didn’t know she was looking for a dog.”
“She wasn’t until I took her to the local shelter.”
“That’s cool. What kind?”
“Her name is Can-dee, although Quinn isn’t sure she’ll keep the name. If you saw her, you would swear she’s Chester’s twin.” Morgan told him what Chester had done. “He’s been sniffing me like crazy. I wonder if dogs recognize their sibling’s scent.”
“I read somewhere they do, depending on how long it’s been since they were separated.”
“Can-dee was brought to the shelter around the time Quinn and I found Chester.”
Wyatt arched his eyebrow. “So they might be related.”
“That’s what we’re thinking.” Morgan told him they were going to give her pup time to settle in and then bring Chester over to meet her. “The shelter was nice. Quinn and I both donated.”
“I’ve donated myself and even dropped off strays.”
“It was hard not to want to bring them all home,” Morgan said.
“I would adopt a pet but I have such crazy hours, he or she wouldn’t get the attention they need.”
The couple chatted for a few more minutes until Wyatt’s break ended and it was time for him to start his next round of patrols.
Thinking a nice quiet evening was in order after a busy day, Morgan assembled a sandwich and settled in on the couch to watch some TV. She started to nod off when a local news story caught her attention.
Now wide awake, she grabbed the remote and turned the volume up. “…involving Harlow Wynn.” A clip of the woman hunched down in a wheelchair flashed across the screen. Her father, David Wynn, fought to make his way through a crowd.
Harlow stared directly at the camera. Morgan’s heart plummeted. There was only one word to sum up the look on her face…trapped.
After meeting David Wynn and finding out that he was Harlow Wynn’s father, she’d started following stories about the star’s recent automobile accident, some even hinting that the woman was mentally unstable.
She could almost feel Harlow’s anxiety. Being trapped in a wheelchair and surrounded by paparazzi who were closing in on her. “How awful.” Morgan clutched her gut. “What a terrible way to live.”
The mob jostled for position. All the while, Wynn and another man, a big burly guy who reminded Morgan of a bouncer, pushed their way through, struggling to get to their vehicle.
A police car arrived. Cops sprang into action and began dispersing the crowd. It was the break Harlow, her father and friend Eryn, needed. They quickly climbed inside. The car backed up and sped off.
She snatched her phone from the stand and texted Brett. Have you talked to David Wynn lately?
Brett promptly replied: We spoke today. In fact, I sent you an email about it earlier.
Morgan tapped on her phone’s email icon. She clicked on the message from her brother, skimming through it. Brett and Wynn had made some headway in getting Wynn Harbor Inn’s fines reduced.
Instead of texting back, she dialed her brother’s number.
“Hey, Morgan.”
She could tell by his tone he was on the move. “Where are you?”
“Leaving Quinn’s place. Did you read my email?”
“A few seconds ago. You’re making progress with the Mackinac Island project.”
“We’ve had a few developments. I need to bring you up to speed.”
“Awesome. I’m home. Why don’t you swing by?”
“On my way.” Brett arrived a short time later, and Morgan ushered her brother inside. “That was fast. Did you meet Can-dee?”
“I sure did. She’s smart as a whip.” Brett reached down to pat Chester’s head.
The pup nuzzled his palm.
“Chester smells Quinn’s dog. He did the same thing to me. We’re going to wait a couple of days for Can-dee to settle in and then take Chester over to meet her.” Morgan shifted her feet. “I saw a clip on the news about Harlow, David Wynn and Eryn, how they were leaving a Mackinaw City restaurant and a bunch of paparazzi were there waiting for them.”
“David briefly mentioned it. He said it’s been rough. The incident at the restaurant is only the tip of the iceberg.”
“How awful.”
Brett shrugged. “It’s the life she chose. I’m sure she’s used to it.”
“Used to it or not, it has to suck. On a brighter note, you have news about the Wynn Harbor Inn project?”
“There’s light at the end of the tunnel as far as negotiating to have the fines reduced and some even eliminated,” Brett said. “I’ll be flying over to meet with Wynn and possibly even the code enforcement officials. Would you like to tag along?”
“Is Harlow still recuperating at her father’s place?”
“She is,” her brother confirmed.
“I’m sure she has some thoughts about our joint partnership.”
“I asked Wynn. He said she was on the fence about it and even offered to throw in some money so he could keep control. It’s too late. The agreement has been fully executed, not that he wants to back out. He’s still 100% on board.”
“Keeping her offer on the back burner might not be a bad idea. If we run out of money, maybe she can invest some of her own,” Morgan said.
“That’s what I’m thinking.” Brett threw out a guesstimate on the meeting date. “Are you interested in going with me?”
Morgan admired David Wynn. He was what she thought her father would have been like, although kinder, more along the lines of what a fatherly figure should be.
“I think I would like to go with you.”
“Good. If Wynn’s daughter is on the fence, maybe you can convince her we’re not sharks swooping in with plans to steal Wynn Harbor Inn,” Brett joked.
“I’m sure she recognizes the Easton family name and knows we’re legit.”
“Honestly, I don’t know what she thinks. Wynn has been tight-lipped about her accident, mostly avoiding mentioning Harlow’s name unless I specifically ask.”
“Based on what I saw on television and the way reporters were acting, I don’t blame him. If it had been me, I would’ve freaked out.” Morgan accompanied her brother to the door. “Did Grandmother tell you about the gallery customer who called the cops, accusing her of selling him fake artwork?”
“Yes. She’s furious and convinced the guy is trying to pull a fast one,” Brett said. “Quinn mentioned he’s coming back tomorrow and wants his money.”
Morgan wrinkled her nose.
“You don’t think it will go well.”
“Nope. Especially if what Gerard told us is true, how the Toronto Renaissance Gallery paid him to go away. She’s not going to give him a penny. I think I’ll run by in the morning to offer moral support.”
“Based on what I heard, I wouldn’t be surprised if he has something up his sleeve,” Brett said.
“Me either, and not in a good way.”
Little did Morgan or Brett know Edward Ryze was gearing up to make the Easton gallery a household name, perhaps even as well-known as the famous star, Harlow Wynn.