a sign,
FAULKNER COUNTY ANIMAL CLINIC. Lily hoped they would see animals on an emergencybasis.
Once they arrived, Lily had no doubt that the Faulkner County Animal Clinic was where Mordecaiwent for his shots and checkups. He had been exceptionally cooperative about getting into the car at thehouse, but now, at the sight of the foreboding trailer, he froze in terror. Being careful to avoid his hurtfoot, Mimi tried to pull him out of the car, but it was impossible. His huge muscles were locked, such thatmoving him was as impossible as moving a heavy marble statue.
“Okay, fine. You wait here.” She left the window cracked for the obstinate canine and freed Mimifrom her car seat. Mimi grabbed her hand and toddled alongside her to the trailer’s entrance.
A round old lady with a pink slash of lipstick on her puckered mouth sat at the desk in the paneledwaiting room. “May I help you, dear?” she asked, through puckered lips.
“Um, yes, I hope so,” Lily said. “I don’t have an appointment, but I have an injured dog in the car.
He’s Big Ben McGilly’s —”
“Mordecai?” the old lady asked.
Lily was amazed. She had already discovered that every person knew every other person in thistown, but until now, she hadn’t realized that this knowledge extended to lower members of the animalkingdom. “Yes, that’s him.”
“Well, you can bring him on in.”
“Well, actually, I can’t. He won’t budge from the car.”
The old lady smiled. “Well, I guess if Mordecai doesn’t want to move, it’s kinda hard to makehim. Have a seat. I’ll get Dr. Jack to help you.”
Lily sat down on a green vinyl chair. Mimi stood at the waiting room’s coffee table, clearlyfascinated by the lamp that sat on it. A ginger jar lamp, its clear glass base was filled with dog biscuits.
The old lady, who had disappeared into the back of the trailer, returned to her post at the desk.
“The doctor’ll be with you in a minute.”
Moments later, Lily looked up as she heard the sound of boots clomping down the linoleum-floored hall. Looking down the dimly lighted corridor, Lily saw that Dr. Jack was a muscular but shortman, wearing blue coveralls and a pair of dirt-caked brown cowboy boots.
In the full light of the waiting room, however, Lily saw that Dr. Jack wasn’t a man at all.
“Hey,” she said. “I’m Dr. Jack Jennings. How you doing?” She extended her hand to shake. Herclose-cropped brown hair and square jaw made it easy to mistake her for a man at a distance. But closeup, the smoothness of her cheeks made it clear she was a woman. Lily shook her hand, which, while big,