T he hall outside the mayor’s office was empty. I was halfway toward the elevator when Willie Dawson stuck his head from around a convenient corner.
“Kelly,” the mayor’s aide whispered.
I shuffled over, trying to look furtive albeit not understanding why. Willie hustled me into a small office. It contained a wooden table with a cardboard box on top of it.
“He didn’t flame-broil your ass, like I suggested.”
“Thanks, Willie.”
“Should have flame-broiled your ass. Like a goddamn BK Whopper. Yessiree. ‘Gonna regret it,’ I told him.”
“What do you want, Willie?”
“Want? From you? Nothing. You’re nothing but trouble.”
Willie gestured down to the box on the table between us. For the first time I registered holes, poked into the box’s cover.
“Mayor wants you to have this.”
Willie took off the top. Inside was a pink baby’s blanket. Nestled inside the blanket was a puppy, brown and white with long ears and gold markings.
“What’s this?”
“The mayor’s springer had her litter. Mayor says you need one. Told me to make sure you got a female.”
I looked down. The pup opened one eye, then the other. I tried to look away, but it wasn’t easy. The pup yawned and rolled over on her back. Apparently, it was time for a belly rub.
“Pick her up, Kelly.”
I did. The pup licked the side of my face, burrowed her head into my chest, and promptly fell asleep. I looked over at Willie, who was fighting it but smiling all the same.
“You have that effect on all women?”
“Funny guy, Willie. I can’t take care of a puppy.”
“Mayor didn’t ask if you wanted his gift. If you understand what I mean?”
I looked down again at the pup, dug in and already offering up a light snore. I shrugged. What the hell.
“What do I feed her?”
“Instructions are in the box.”
“What’s her name?”
“You the daddy, Kelly. You decide. Now if I were you, I’d disappear. Sooner the better.”
Two minutes later I was out the door, mayoral pup still in my arms, trying to hail a cab. It wasn’t easy, but I made it home. Cabbie talked at me the entire ride. About crate training, housebreaking, and something called doggie day care. I nodded and wondered what the hell language he might be speaking. My new friend didn’t seem nearly so concerned. In fact, she didn’t crack an eyelid the whole way home.