Chapter 4, Nora in Good Neighbors

“I hear the dog barking like crazy,” Nora told her mother. “Let me go check it out and I’ll call you back later.”

Nora placed the phone down on her kitchen island and went out her back door.

“Farrah? Oh, Farrah Pawcett? What are you barking at?”

She scanned the backyard but didn’t see the dog. Assuming it was on the side of the house, she headed toward the side by Pamela’s place. She spotted the dog between the two houses. The dog was sitting on its haunches looking up toward the top of the dividing wall.

Norah, remained quiet for a moment, wanting to hear any sounds that may drift over from next door. Not hearing anything, she finally motioned for her dog to follow her. “Come on girl, let’s go inside.”

Strangely enough, the dog didn’t follow her. Instead, it kept its gaze fixated on the top of the wall.

Confused, Nora said, “What are you looking at? Huh? What’s wrong?”

She crouched down by the dog. It glanced at her, but then returned its gaze to the top of the wall. “I don’t know what you’re looking for, but it’s time to come inside. It’s getting pretty toasty out here.”

Again, she attempted to get the dog to follow her indoors, but it wouldn’t. Nora’s curiosity was turning to concern. “What is wrong with you, girl?”

The dog refused to budge. Frustrated, she bent down and scooped up the dog and took it into the house. The dog was oddly quiet. If there was anything she didn’t like about Miss Farrah Pawcett it was her constant yipping. The damn thing never shut up. Yet here she was as quiet as a mouse.

Just as strange was the fact that the dog wasn’t moving. She placed it in the middle of the kitchen but it just stood there looking around as if it had never seen such a thing in its life before.

Again, Nora bent down. She patted the dog and said, “What is wrong with you? Did something scare the shit out of you or something?”

Her cell sounded. One of those pretty yet musical tones. She picked it up and looked at it. It was her mother calling back. She spoke to her mom as she observed the dog slowly sniffing around and then ending up getting a drink out of its water bowl.

She put the dog’s strange behavior out of her mind and went about her daily tasks. It did seem weird for the dog to be so quiet and Nora wondered if she may have a stomach bug or something. She’d had this dog for seven years, though. Farrah always followed her around, and even more so when she didn’t feel good. Yet all she seemed to want to do was stay on the living room couch.

The following morning, the dogs still seemed to be avoiding her. “If you don’t start acting like yourself soon, you’re going to the vet,” Nora told it.

Her husband went to work and she was going to spend her well-deserved personal time painting their now empty nest. She had just finished breakfast when her cell chimed its pretty tune.

“Hello.”

“Good morning. Is this the Mills residence?”

“It is. This is Nora. How can I help you?”

“This is Edgar Hernandez at the SPCA in Peoria.”

“SPCA in Peoria?” Nora questioned more confused than ever.

“Yes, ma’am. Your dog was apparently dropped off sometime yesterday.”

Nora quickly gathered up the pooch and flew out the door. Once she arrived at the Peoria SPCA she asked to speak with Edgar.

Edgar, unlike the other workers who were casually dressed, wore a suit and tie. He was a short, stocky guy who either ate too much or lifted weights - Nora couldn’t be sure - who appeared to be in his mid to late 30s.

Nora explained the dog’s strange behavior to Edward. When she was done, a young girl with a long, straight blonde ponytail stemming from the crown of her head, approached them carrying a dog that was a dead ringer for the dog Nora held.

As soon as the dog saw Nora, it began barking happily, straining in the girl’s arms to get to her.

“Oh my God!” Nora exclaimed. “Someone swapped my dog for a dead ringer!” She handed Edward the dog she brought in and took her dog from the girl who wore a shirt with the SPCA logo.

Edward left to see if the dog Nora brought in was microchipped. A moment later he returned to say it was not.

“I don’t understand. Why would anyone do this?” Nora said, although she had a guess as to who but not why.

Leaving the unknown dog behind Nora left with her dog knowing exactly what she would do next.

She pulled into her driveway several minutes later and got her dog settled with fresh food and water. Then she stalked on over to have a word with “Jennifer” next door. She pressed the doorbell and noticed the new sign.

We don’t want whatever you’re selling.

We’re not the least bit religious at all.

We don’t want Girl Scout cookies to add to our waistlines.

We probably haven’t seen your lost pet.

It’s still OK to say gay and to have an abortion.

Kate opened the door. “Oh, hi, Nora. Come on in.”

Without a word, Nora stepped inside her suspect’s home.

“What brings you around this morning? Out of good coffee?”

“Uh, no, I’m actually curious about the dog swap, Kate,” said Nora, studying Kate intently.

Kate blinked and gave a quick shake of her head. “Who? What?”

“I know who you are, Kate.”

“What are you talking about?”

Nora studied Kate. If she really was guilty and was in fact Kate, then she sure did a great job of playing dumb. “Someone swapped my dog.”

“Someone swapped your dog?” Kate repeated. “What do you mean?”

Before she answered, she looked around her and then asked, “Where’s your husband?”

“Out playing golf with his buddies. Now can you please tell me what’s going on and who the hell Kate is?”

“Someone took a dog identical to ours and swapped them. I noticed what I thought was my dog acting weird.”

“Damn. And I thought I was having a bad day burning my bagel. But what do you mean by acting weird?”

“It was over by the dividing wall barking and acting as if it had never seen my place when I brought it indoors. Before that, it was looking toward the top of the wall between our places and barking like crazy. Then I got a call.” Nora paused to see how Kate might react.

“Wow,” was all she said, appearing genuinely concerned and curious. Nora was more confident that Jennifer was Kate than she was about her being tied to the swap.

“The SPCA in Peoria called to say they had my dog.”

Kate’s eyebrows shot up. “How did they know it was yours?”

The dog is microchipped.

“Oh.”

Nora swore she saw a flash of worry cross Kate’s eyes, but if there was, it was gone in less than a second. “The chip tells the SPCA who owns the dog and how to contact them.”

“Good. I mean, I’m sorry someone did this to you, but I’m glad you got your dog back.”

Nora studied Kate for a moment and could tell that Kate was getting uncomfortable. “What happened to the other dog?”

“Well,” Nora began choosing her words carefully. “It wasn’t microchipped, unfortunately, but I’m sure they’ll figure out what happened. That’s what they do.”

“That is the strangest thing I ever heard. I never heard of anyone swapping someone’s dog.”

“Yeah, well, I guess some people have nothing better to do than play silly pranks, some of them downright cold.”

“Yeah, it’s unfortunate.”

After a long moment of silence, Nora could sense Kate’s discomfort again. But was it only because such a mean prank so close to home would make anyone uncomfortable? Or was there more to it?

Finally, Kate said, “Is there anything I can do for you? Get you something to eat or drink? Throw you a Swiffer Duster so you can finish my dusting? Teach you to play some computer games?”

“Do you have a home surveillance system? Nora asked, cutting Kate off. “Any cameras that might overlook the side of our properties?”

“No, but we were thinking of getting one that will look over the front and back. Might be a good idea if you consider that as well.”

“Oh, we’re definitely considering it. That will be done tomorrow.”

“Smart. Now, how long should I slow-cook chicken in the oven since my slow cooker is broken?”

“I’m sure you can look that up. In the meantime, are you sure you’re not the Kate I knew when I was managing the Vista complex in the early 90s?”

Kate chuckled and said, “I’m sure.”

“Okay then,” Nora said with a look of disappointment as she dropped her arms by her side and turned to leave.

Kate watched her as she began to walk across the sideyard and then called out after. “Come back soon to tell me about my dead ringer over a cup of coffee sometime soon!”

Last updated February 11, 2023