“Well, let’s see. I took Freckles out for a walk and decided to take Tux and Dusty too. You know, they don’t get to leave the backyard much, and they must think I’ve been playing favorites. I haven’t meant to. It’s just that Freckles is still missing his boy. So I took all the dogs. There’s that wonderful neighborhood park a few blocks over.”

“You took all three dogs? I hope they were on leashes.”

She frowned at him. “Of course they were. At first.” That scrunch again.

“Go on.” He was starting to get an image in his head—and it might have been comical, except her condition took the humor out of it.

“I unleashed them at the park, and we played fetch. All four of us.”

“Let me guess. One of them took off.”

“Not one of them. All three of them. Freckles was the first to go squirrel hunting—or, rather, chasing. Then I found myself chasing three dogs on the loose. I’m sorry, Jack, I got a ticket. I didn’t even know that was a law. Is it a new law? Anyway, a woman complained. She was playing with her three-year-old, and Freckles knocked the child over.”

Jack tensed. This could be worse than he thought. “The kid is okay, though, right?”

“Yes. I’m the one who was injured. I was chasing Freckles and tripped at the edge of the playground area. It was the most ridiculous thing. I fell forward and stopped the fall with my hands. Like anyone would do. My wrist started throbbing.”

“Can I ask what happened to the dogs?”

“I was in so much pain. Several people in the park helped me up. I panicked. I couldn’t see the dogs, and I didn’t have my phone with me.”

Aunt Nadine covered her eyes with her good hand as though she might cry.

Jack wrapped his arms around her and patted her back. “It’s okay. It’s going to be fine. Just relax.”

When he sensed she was okay, he released her.

She looked up at him. “A young man releashed all three dogs. Someone called Francine for me, and she came right away. The young man was kind enough to walk the dogs home and put them in the yard for me.”

Interesting. “Did you get his name so I can thank him?” And make sure he wasn’t just taking advantage of Aunt Nadine and perhaps helping himself to goodies in the house.

“Andy Reamer, I think. Francine wrote it down for me somewhere.”

“I’ll check with her then. Aunt Nadine”—he grabbed her good hand again—“I’m so sorry this happened. I’m glad Mrs. Carmichael called me. She’s a great friend.”

Aunt Nadine sat up. “I called Francine so you wouldn’t be called away from your work. I wouldn’t want to do anything to mess up your job.”