Free Ten Little Bloodhounds by Virginia Lanier

once!”
    The blond’s jaw dropped, and she left without uttering another word. The brunette was right on her heels, and softly closed the door behind her.
    I held a finger to my lips and tiptoed to the door. I jerked it open. They were just turning into the main hallway, and didn’t see me checking on them. I closed the door and returned to the desk, unzipping my rescue suit. I saw her eyes widen when she spotted Amelia. I pulled her limp form from the warm interior of my suit, wrapped the hand towel around her, and placed her in Miz Cancannon’s arms. Amelia didn’t stir a whisker.
    “She’s wet and exhausted. She slept the entire trip back. I wanted to get her back to you and explain what I found before anyone knew she had been rescued.”
    I glanced at Mrs. Cancannon, and tears were coursing down her checks as she held Amelia cradled in her arms. I walked over to the fireplace and stood with my back to her, staring up at a large portrait over the mantel. I didn’t recognize the name of the artist. It depicted a woman in a blue dress holding an ivory fan.I wasn’t admiring the picture, I was giving her privacy.
    “Ms. Sidden, I’m fine now. Tell me what happened.”
    I came back and sat down in front of her.
    “I’m warning you, it’s brutal, so brace yourself.”
    I described the cistern, and told her about Amelia having to climb back so often after falling off whatever she was clinging to in the cistern.
    “It’s a galvanized water pipe, about three inches in diameter,” she said softly, remembering. “Papa had it put there with an extension coming up higher than the edge of the cistern when the well was dug. It was for a hand pump so we could have fresh cold water, when we went there for picnics. He preferred taking us there instead of the beach. We had a sandy play area, and he said he didn’t have to worry about us drowning while he was taking a nap. We had a large cabana there, and beds for all of us. A hurricane destroyed it in nineteen fifty-three. We were grown then, my two brothers and I, so he didn’t have it rebuilt.”
    She gave me an intense look.
    “Was there anything around to indicate who did this?”
    “Nothing. The lid is rough cement and crushed shell. It wouldn’t take prints if you sent anyone out there to try. There are strong wind currents on the dune. It scoured the area clear of leaves, debris, and footprints. I don’t believe a woman could have opened and replaced the lid by herself. I’m a little stronger than the average female, I’ve tugged on leashes pulled by strong dogs for the past six years. If Ivanhoe hadn’t been available, I might have removed it eventually, orcould easily have failed.”
    “The dog helped you move it?” She sounded doubtful.
    “All the dogs are trained to pull a rescue sled. It’s like a body bag with a smooth galvanized rubber bottom. I hook it to their harness when I have to move an injured person or a body out of the Okefenokee.”
    “And your dog led you right to Amelia?”
    “Yes’m. Miz Cancannon, you have an enemy who wants to hurt you. This first attempt has been thwarted. The hate could escalate, and you could become his next target. I wanted to warn you.”
    “Thank you for bringing Amelia back safely. Here are your checks.” She held them out to me.
    I took them from her, tore them in half, and put the pieces on her desk.
    “Mail me a check for five hundred.”
    “Can you afford this contemptuous gesture?” She had her haughty look firmly in place. She seemed amused.
    “I’m still gouging you,” I said with a smile. “In Balsa City, I’d only ask for fifty.”
    “The money is yours, take it!” she insisted.
    “No, it’s not,” I said firmly. “Keep an eye on Amelia. This is where we part company. I won’t be back.”
    “Not even if I ask Judge Dalby to call you?” She sounded full of herself, and back in complete control.
    “Not even then,” I said with confidence.
    This time I closed the door without