"You're serious?You want to work here with me or are you thinking of taking over from me?"A panicked-look raced over her face.
"With you, Kate. Ipromise I don't want your job. You might need to give me an office job orsomething every other day until this comes right, but you need help, I'mit."
"I'm kind ofgobsmacked. The Cade I knew would be prancing around like the arsehole we wereused to seeing on the news, not taking in stray dogs and wanting to workhere."
"That's theproblem, Kate. The media hype it up so much you don't really get to know thereal me. How about you let go of those pre-conceived ideas and give me a chanceto prove I'm not the jerk you thought you knew?"
She gave a wobbly smileand gripped the coffee in her hands.
Yes!
Chapter Twenty-nine
Rooney walked theelderly couple to the door, carrying their empty cat cage for them. She would operatelater in the day to relieve the abscess under the animal’s back tooth and theycould collect it the following morning.
"The raid wentwell yesterday, according to Dennis," Rhian said when they walked out. Shepushed her chair back and rubbed her belly protectively. "Mr Stubbs gotbail, slimy thing. He has to appear in court next month but I doubt he’ll avoida jail term."
"I should hopenot. He is cruel and a blight on society. I don't know how anyone can treat ananimal the way he does." Rooney lifted her hands above her head andstretched. "At least the customers are starting to come in. With luck youmight get a pay packet this week."
"You know I don'tcare about that. I'm just glad to get out of the house."
The skid of wheelsscreeching to a halt in the car park made them both look up.
"What the…"Rooney raced to the window and looked out. "Shit, it's Stubbs. Rhian, gonow. Out the back and don't come back. Call the police." She pushed herassistant out through the back way and turned in time to see Mr Stubbs walkingin the front door. A chill went down her back and her stomach threatened togive her breakfast back when she saw the knife in his hand.
"Mr Stubbs. Do youthink you should be here with that weapon?" She stood her ground, doingher best to stay the shaking legs.
"You bitch.Couldn't mind your own business, could you?"
He approached, wavingthe knife in his hand, and the smell of alcohol washed over her face. "Youweren't satisfied with getting a good deal on a dog for your kid, you had to goand open your mouth to the cops."
Sweat built up onRooney's top lip and she resisted the urge to wipe it away in fear any suddenmoves would make him attack. "Mr Stubbs, let me be clear about this. My firstthought is always for the animals and I can't help it. It's how I was broughtup and part of my training as a vet. I have to stand for those that cannotstand for themselves."
"Pansy bloodyfools. How is a man supposed to make a living, eh? They were fed, they had alife. Nothing wrong with breeding dogs. Your father bred horses and cows."
"Yes, he did, butat no time did he treat his animals with the contempt you have. They were fedwell, unlike the pup you brought in here. Mr Stubbs, that dog was somalnourished, it broke my heart. You can't do that to an animal, it'sinhumane." Rooney doubted she would get through to him but she had to try,at least until help came.
He laughed bitterly,the spittle running down his chin. "Inhumane. Fuck you. Because of yourmeddling, I've lost my livelihood. That's going to cost you, lady."
He stepped forward andRooney backed away as he pointed the knife at her.
"Mr Stubbs, pleasestop and think about this before you do something you'll regret."
"Already done that.Regret selling you and your nosy brother the dogs. Bet he hadsomething to do with this as well. Bloody upstarts you are."
The sound of sirens inthe distance gave Rooney a small glimmer of hope, but she didn't count on thequick reaction of the drunken man in front of her. He grabbed her in hishulking arms and wrapped one arm around her throat, pulling her back to hischest. The smell of grease, sweat and alcohol made her stomach lurch and sheswallowed it back, hard.
A car screeched to ahalt, followed by another. A door slammed and feet pounded on the stonesoutside, slowing as they neared the door.
Rooney let the tearscome when she saw Stevie standing in the door. "Let her go, Stubbs."
"No. She's ruinedme, she has to pay." He lifted the knife and held it at the side ofRooney's throat.
Stevie took the gunfrom the halter at his hip and lifted it. "I will use this if I have to.Put the knife down, now." He spread his legs and took a quick look atRooney, then back to Stubbs.
"Back off, cop, orshe gets her throat cut." Mr Stubbs walked backward with his arm stillaround her throat and she gasped for air.
Help me please, Stevie.Don't let him kill me. There is too much for us todiscover, a child to raise and maybe more to come. She begged him with her eyes,but he kept his gaze firmly on her captor.
A sound at the backdoor made her ears prick up. There was someone out theretoo. Covering all bases, they wouldn't let him take her out of here.
"You may as wellthrow the knife down and give up. The place is surrounded." Stevie heldthe gun pointed straight at them, his hand steady, gaze hard.
"If you don't backoff, I'll slice her now." To show he meant it, the knife moved closer, thepressure of the sharp blade cutting the skin.
Rooney gasped as thecut stung, her breathing rising as panic set in.
He was careful to keephimself behind her and his back to the wall, not giving the police a clear shotat him. "Tell them to back off and come around front where I can see themor I'll cut her deeper. The next
