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Ms. Eldon had left Bubbles in her fenced back yard with a doghouse and several shade trees. Was he house trained? Unlikely. Mac’s smallish three-bedroom two-bath house, which was provided by the city, didn’t come with a fenced back yard. There were no large trees, no significant shade like there had been at the Eldon place. He was no softie, not even close, but it was too damn hot to leave any living being out in the sun, in July, in south Mississippi.

He did have a small enclosed back porch, which would do for now.

Mac stopped in front of his house, opened the back door of the patrol car, and leaned in to attach leash to collar. That done he stood back, lead in hand, and said, “Come on, Bub.”

The dog didn’t move, so Mac tugged a bit. Still nothing. “Let’s go, Bub.” He used his most cajoling voice, but still… no luck.

Mac sighed, muttered a curse, and said, “Let’s go, Bubbles.”

The dog obeyed.

Bubbles it was.

Ms. Eldon hadn’t been able to take proper care of the dog for a while. She was physically incapable of doing everything that needed to be done. Bubbles didn’t jerk at the leash, but he didn’t know how to be led, either. Had he ever been taken on a proper walk? They were going to have to work on that.

Mac made sure Bubbles did his business, then left him in the enclosed back porch while he gathered doggie paraphernalia from the car. Even though he hadn’t had a dog for many years, he could tell what Ms. Eldon had handed over wasn’t enough. He needed a dog bed, better toys, some treats for training, a better quality dog food. He wasn’t even sure what else.

How on earth was he going to take care of a dog? What had be been thinking? He leaned down and scratched behind one of Bubbles’ floppy ears. A bath was in order, too, apparently. The mutt smelled like, well, a dog.

Mac liked being on his own. He didn’t want obligations over and beyond his duties as Chief of Police of this small town. His job was relatively easy. There was very little drama, no office politics to speak of, and for the most part low expectations. The simple job had given him time to focus on finding Carrie, for all the good it had done him. Beyond a few friends, he had no personal life, and that suited him fine. Now here he was with a dog to take care of, at least until he found a proper home for the mutt.

Then there was the woman who’d managed to stay in his thoughts more than she should. Loran Raine, who didn’t want romance any more than he did, had been on his mind for days. He couldn’t shake her.

A woman and a dog. He couldn’t keep either one.

About the time he decided it was safe to leave the dog unattended for a while, the doorbell rang. No one came to his door. When he was off duty he liked his alone time, and everyone knew it. Was it time for cookies sold door to door? He didn’t think so, but if there was a little girl at the door with those mint chocolate cookies he’d buy a couple of boxes.

He was disappointed to find Zach on his porch. If anyone knew not to bother him at home it should be his officers. Drew wasn’t much older than Zach and he hadn’t been on the force two full years, but he knew better than to just show up. If it was an emergency he should get a phone call, or an alert on the radio. Not a visit at home.

“What do you want?” he snapped.

Zach took a step back, instinctively retreating. “Sorry to just stop by, but I saw your car out front and I’d really like a word. You know, without the loud music and bar noise.”

The officer was young, enthusiastic, eager to please. Maybe too eager, but Mac realized he wouldn’t be a good Chief of Police if he didn’t do what he could to bring the young ones along. He didn’t expect Zach or Drew to stay in Seawolf Beach very long. Most of his officers worked here for a while then moved on to better paying, more exciting jobs in law enforcement. That made him a teacher, of sorts.

“Come on in,” he said, stepping back so Zach could enter.

Zach wasted no time. “You kinda shut me down Saturday night, but I really think there has to be a way to get Hart to help us out. You said he can’t get the answers we need, but are you sure he’s being honest with you? Maybe he just doesn’t want to be involved. We could pressure him a little.”

“Colt is a friend,” Mac said. Didn’t everyone know that? “We won’t pressure him in any way. If he could help, he would.”

“It’s just, I like Seawolf Beach, I do. It’s home, and all my family is here. But I want more. You worked in New Orleans. I’d love to make my way up to a big city, challenge myself, see if I’d make a good detective. What was it like, working there?”

There wasn’t enough time to tell it all, and to be honest he didn’t want to share. “You might find you prefer serving in a smaller town. I do.”

“Yeah, but you’re, you know, older.”

Mac didn’t growl, but he came close. “You learn the ropes here, show me what you can do, and I’ll write you a letter of recommendation that’ll knock your socks off.”

Zach grinned.

“But you do it without any ghostly assistance.”

Before Zach could argue, Bubbles gave a sharp bark. The deputy’s eyebrows shot up. “I didn’t know you had a dog.”

“The mutt is new.” And temporary.

“Can I see?” Zach asked.