Dogs Don't Lie Read Online Free PDF

Lily. Much as I dislike people, I had to give him that.
    I thought of the timid white dog as I’d left her. Shell shocked and wired, tucked into a cage at the back of the town pound where her voice would go hoarse before her master came for her. I’d made myself retire early and slept badly for my pains. Maybe Wallis was right. Maybe I should have paid more attention to the images pouring from Lily’s horrified mind, but I didn’t want to face them. Having them come to me during sleep was worse, however, and I woke near dawn wet and shaking. There was no point in trying to get back to sleep. Why chase what I didn’t want? And although the growing light was making interesting designs on the peeling paint of my bedroom ceiling, I deeply suspected my time could be better spent.
    “Directory assistance?” I lay on top of the covers, watching the ceiling slowly start to glow. Somewhere a cricket sang for a last chance at love. “Raynbourne?”
    “No, don’t connect me.” Much to my surprise, there was a Harris listed in Raynbourne, and only one. With my luck, it was unrelated, but calling pre-dawn wasn’t the way to introduce myself. I went back to the shadows. Either one was growing, or there was something alive up there.
    Thud! I jerked my feet back with a gasp. It was Wallis. “I cannot believe you’re going to call that woman.”
    “Eavesdropping isn’t a very nice habit, Wallis.” I tucked my feet under the covers, trying for nonchalant.
    “Please.” She settled by my feet and began her toilette.
    “Must you lick your ass right on my duvet?” After my nightmares I was in no mood.
    “Must you jump at shadows?”
    I opened my mouth—then shut it. I still wasn’t sure how far our psychic connection went. “I didn’t hear you come in. You startled me.”
    She continued her tongue bath. “
Someone
got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.”
    She was right. “It’s those images, Wallis. They’re pretty rough.” I didn’t know how the overwhelming scent of blood would translate to a feline. To me, and to Lily, it had been a horror.
    “Then why keep at it?” She’d moved onto her thigh now. She didn’t have to finish the sentence.
    “Because Lily’s a dog? Is that it?” Angry was better than frightened.
    Wallis held out her foot, toes spread apart the better to get into the spaces between. “Because you don’t know what you’re getting yourself into, Pru.” She paused, glanced up at me. “Think of it this way. Someone already rescued her once. Look where that got him.”
    ***
    I was up and showered before I thought of a comeback. Even then, I didn’t know if it would play. Wallis had her own set of rules, and they were tougher than mine.
    By the time I had my first hit of coffee, I was ready for the fight. She’d been sunning herself along one of the kitchen windows when I came in. The sun highlighted the guard hairs on her back, and I longed to dig my finger into her thick, lush fur as I’d used to do. This was a different world now. We were playing by different rules. Instead, I got the skillet out, making enough noise so I knew she was awake before I addressed her.
    “Why did you say that about Lily, about rescuing her?” She shifted on the sill, ignoring me. “Wallis?”
    One ear twitched as I cracked the eggs. The other followed as I opened the refrigerator for the butter, and I turned away to hide my smile. Some things don’t change. Swiping my finger along the bar, I held it out for Wallis to sniff. Her nose was damp, her tongue rough. She hadn’t said a word, but the offering had been accepted.
    “Look, Pru, you trust me, don’t you?” She looked up at me, licking her chops. I nodded. “So take my word on this. You don’t know what you’re getting into.”
    I walked back to the counter, surreptitiously wiping my hand on my jeans. “Wallis, you know. Better than anyone. I don’t want to know what I know.” This was ancient history. “But I do, okay? And