“I think we can drive for about five hours, then we’ll stop. I’ll turn on the radio for company since you’re going to sleep.” The dog opened one sleepy eye, then closed it, knowing he was in safe hands.

Six days later, Cady stopped the car along the side of the road and pulled out her map. She should know the area. After all, she had lived there for ten years when she was growing up, but it all looked so different, with little clusters of housing developments, fast-food outlets, and new roads. She’d looked for familiar landmarks on the drive in, but the only thing she’d recognized was the town square and St. Paul’s Church. She looked up from the map to see Atlas slapping at the car window with his paws. “Twenty years ago this was my hometown. I don’t know if I love this place or hate it. I should be feeling something, but I’m not,” she muttered to herself.

Where was her grandmother’s house? Her mother had told her it was the only house on a street called Indigo Place. A street that her grandmother had named when she had had her house built. She wondered how that could be. She saw it then, a curlicue of a street that appeared to be tucked behind what looked like some high-end real estate. The sign said it was a gated community. She slipped the Mountaineer into gear and drove slowly, paying careful attention to the street signs.

Cady sucked in her breath. It wasn’t a house. It was probably called an estate. Or, maybe, a creation would be a better word. Whatever it was, it was certainly befitting of Lola Jor Dan.

“This is it, Atlas. Our new home. I told you all about Lola on the long drive here. She used to be a famous movie star. She was wild and wicked during her heyday. They called her a sex symbol even back then. She had six husbands and buried them all. My father was so ashamed of her, he would never tell anyone she was his mother. Mom pretended she didn’t exist, but that was because of my dad. I think she secretly admired Lola. Dad said she was a disgrace to the name Jordan, and that’s why she changed it to Jor Dan. I loved her. Still do.” Atlas barked to show he understood.

Cady reached across the console to tickle the shepherd behind the ears. She’d only had the big dog a little more than six days, but they had bonded that first night when they’d slept together in the cargo hold. He’d put on a few pounds, and his eyes were now bright and alert. She loved him as much as he loved her.

She stopped the car in front of a pair of huge, green, wrought-iron gates. “I guess we’re supposed to press this buzzer, and maybe someone will open those huge gates. Boy, if this place is as big as it looks, you are going to have some playground to romp around in.”