Chapter 2The Rabbit's Trap

His eyes were bloodshot, tears welling up, making him look utterly pathetic.

I fumbled in my purse and handed him a tissue.

“Hey, don’t cry. I’ll help you look for him. We’ll find him.”

He took the tissue, his voice low.

“There are so many dog-nappers these days. I’m scared he…”

“No way,” I said, my tone firm with a certainty I didn’t feel. “We’ll definitely find him.”

He seemed to calm down a little at my words, his wet eyes fixed on me.

“Thank you. I’m Wyatt.”

“Chloe.”

The moment the elevator doors opened, Wyatt shot out like a cannonball.

Since it was the middle of the night, he had to keep his voice down, calling out in a strained whisper, “Boxer! Boxer!”

I wanted to laugh but didn’t dare. What kind of person names their dog Boxer?

Maybe the dog ran away because he was embarrassed by the name.

Wyatt’s search was… thorough. He lifted manhole covers to peer into the darkness.

I half-expected that if a woman in a skirt walked by, he’d try to lift that too, just to check if his Boxer was hiding underneath.

As he was prying open the third manhole cover, I finally had to say something.

“You don’t really think he’s in the sewer, do you?”

“You don’t know him,” he said, his voice strained. “Boxer’s smart. He knows how to hide from people.”

Uh… smart is one word for it. Possessed is another.

We searched the entire complex, but there was no sign of Boxer.

Seeing the color drain from his face, I made a suggestion.

“We’re not getting anywhere like this. I have a friend who runs a city-wide info group. When the sun comes up, we can post a lost dog notice. More people, more eyes on the ground.”

Wyatt rubbed his face, defeated, and agreed.

Under the pretense of adding him to the group, I got his number and added him on a messaging app.

Then we parted ways in the elevator.

Back in my apartment, I collapsed onto the sofa, staring at the ceiling, savoring the name on my tongue.

“Wyatt…”

After a moment, I got up and pushed open the door to the spare bedroom.

“Boxer, dinner time.”