“Alas, no,” said Miss Dola. “Cerberus was the three-headed dog who guarded the gates of the underworld, according to the mythology of the ancient Greeks and Romans. Legend has it, defeating him was the final labor of Hercules.”

“Hercules,” repeated Mom, like she was wondering what her own life had become and was suddenly sorry she’d ever driven to this diner in the first place.

“The man himself,” said Miss Dola. “They say Hercules wrestled Cerberus into submission and left him safely in the underworld. There are, however, a number of old folios that reference a different ending to the story. They say that Hercules tore Cerberus into three different hounds, each more vicious than the last, and banished them throughout the earth. To, you know”—she spun her hand—“wander eternally, spread misrule. All that jazz.”

Amy tried to make sense of the woman’s words, despite how outrageous they sounded to her. “You think Rov—you think our dog is one part of this evil dog from ancient Rome?”

“It’s a theory I’m playing with,” said Miss Dola. “And it certainly helped me when Gina had me subdue that creature for her.”

“It can’t … there’s gotta be something else,” mumbled Mom, rubbing her upper lip with her finger. “An electrical anomaly. Some sort of, I don’t know, infection from somewhere. Residual energy, a solar flare—”

“Or maybe he’s the Loch Ness Monster, darling.” Miss Dola chuckled. “Look, friends, at a certain point, it doesn’t really matter where your dog came from, or how it became able to do the rather unpleasant things it likes to do. You need help, I have an idea of how to stop it, and my fee is nominal. So: What’ll it be?”

They were all quiet. Amy felt uncomfortable, bothered by the silence like she was annoyed by Rover’s calm attitude. She wanted to say something, anything.

“Are you not going to eat any of your omelet?” she asked, nodding at Miss Dola’s plate.

“I’m waiting for your food to arrive, young lady,” said the woman, furrowing her brow. “I may be a little unusual, but I am not rude.”

Chapter 23: Beware of Dog

They went back to the motel and spoke with Dad out front while Katie watched a movie in the room. Amy was impressed by how forthright her mother was. She told Dad everything Miss Dola had told them in a steady, honest voice, and then she even said it out loud:

“That dog … there’s something wrong with that dog, Mitch,” she said. “In a paranormal way. A supernatural way. And I don’t want it to hurt Amy or Katie.”

“Are we really paying this woman?” asked Dad.