The dog clearly knows it’s work time.
“Find it,” Rowan ordered, removing the leash. Thor lifted his head, and his nostrils widened, his mouth opening slightly as he breathed in. He was still for a moment and then turned and led Rowan to the side of the home where the little footprints vanished.
Incredible.
Evan watched the dog circle around in the small bark dust area and stick his nose into the wire of the gate, then spin and trot to the street, where he stopped and sniffed the air again.
Evan stiffened, hoping Thor hadn’t already lost the scent. That could indicate Wyatt had been put in a vehicle. Thor made sweeps, swiftly going back and forth in the street in front of the house. Evan glanced at Rowan, hoping to gain some insight from her expression. Her gaze was locked on the dog. She didn’t look concerned or optimistic. A calmness surrounded her. A deep focus.
The officers and neighbors all watched Thor’s movements, and the dog ignored them, completely intent on his job. Wyatt’s dad stood by the police car, observing, hope in his countenance.
Thor did two more sweeps of the street and then stopped, his muzzle lifting. Then he darted to the house. Evan’s heart sank. Of course the dog would locate Wyatt’s scent in the home. The child lived there. The dog stopped at the closed front door and sat, looking over his shoulder at Rowan as he mouthed a quiet doggy sound.
Rowan frowned. “The house was searched?” she asked, looking from officer to officer.
“Yes,” answered two of them at once.
“Searched for a suspect or a small boy?” she asked.
“Shit,” said one of the officers as they exchanged glances. “I had an adult in mind as I looked.”
“Thor thinks he’s inside,” said Rowan.
“The whole house probably smells like Wyatt,” said the sergeant.
“He can pinpoint the strongest scent, which will be the most recent. I believe at one point he walked along that side of the house and into the street,” said Rowan. “But I’d like to take Thor through the home.”
“Do it,” said Evan. “The front door was open when his mother was discovered. Maybe Wyatt went out the back door and came in the front after the attacker left.” He and Rowan approached the door, and Rowan snapped her leash to Thor’s harness.
“The mother is in the kitchen,” Evan said in a low voice. “It’s not a good sight.”
“Got it,” replied Rowan, opening the door and allowing Thor inside.
Evan followed them into the home after a look back at Geoff. Wyatt’s father was still by the police car, watching them enter. He hadn’t said a word since Thor had started working. An odd prickle went up Evan’s spine.
Something is up with Geoff.
Thor trotted through the house. After a pause and a snort in the direction of the kitchen, he immediately turned down the hallway to the bedrooms. The dog wasn’t the least bit interested in the smell of blood and worse from the murder. Thor was solely focused on Wyatt’s scent.
Amazing.
Thor stopped in the doorway to Wyatt’s room and huffed out two breaths. Then he continued down the hall and trotted into the guest room. He went to the head of the bed and sat, looking up at Rowan, making that soft doggy chatter sound again.
“Good boy.” She scratched his head. “Wyatt?” she asked quietly. “It’s safe to come out now. Nothing is going to hurt you.”
Evan dropped to his knees and looked under the bed just as Rowan did the same.
No one was there.
Silence.
“What the . . . ,” Evan muttered. “Let’s look inside the box spring.” He wanted to slide under the bed to look, but he was too large.
“Wait,” said Rowan. She turned to the nightstand and opened one of its cupboard-style doors. Thor tried to stick his head inside, but she held him back. “Hi, Wyatt,” she said kindly, peering into the dark, low cupboard. “I’m Rowan, and this is Thor. I’m so glad we found you.”
Over Rowan’s shoulder, Evan saw the small boy curled up into the smallest ball possible in the nightstand. Evan wouldn’t have guessed a child could fit inside.
The officers cleared the house for an adult intruder. No one would have looked in there.
Rowan shifted out of the way, and Evan moved to make eye contact with Wyatt. The boy hadn’t moved a muscle, but he met Evan’s gaze.
He’s terrified.
“Hi, Wyatt,” Evan said. “Can you come out?”
The boy didn’t budge.
Rowan and Evan exchanged a glance.