Officer Riley, on the other hand, was much younger, maybe late twenties or early thirties. He was tall and broad shouldered with tawny-colored hair that matched the golden-brown flecks in his hazel eyes. His handsome face held a serious expression, and his eyes studied her now in a most unsettling way.
“Not them!” the driver shouted through her now open window. “It was us! Our car broke down.”
“Did you call a tow truck?” Officer Riley asked, coming up alongside the driver.
“No,” the driver said. “We called you!”
“May I see your license and registration?” Officer Riley said.
“What for?”
“Better just do it,” Cassie advised. “He’s a real stickler for the rules.” She met Officer Riley’s narrowed gaze that was now focused back on her.
“You know, Ms. Sherwin,” he said, noting the bundle in her arms. “Your dog is not allowed on this particular section of the beach. It’s against the law. You need to remove him or I’ll have to issue you a ticket.”
She was surprised he remembered her name, but didn’t let it show. She readjusted her hold on the little dog, who was now squirming in response to all the people. “Look,” she said sharply, staring Officer Riley down. “He’s not my dog.”
“She,” said the driver.
“What?”
“She’s not your dog. He’s a girl.”
“Oh,” Cassie said, faltering. “Well, we just found her wandering all alone on the beach, and we’re trying to find her owner.”
Officer Garcia walked over to pet the dog’s head and she licked his hand. “She’s so cute,” he said. “She looks like a little angel.”
“Doesn’t she?” Ani said, scratching the pup behind her ear.
The little fluffy tail thumped against Cassie’s side with all the attention.
Officer Riley stepped around the front of the car to stand beside them, “Is there an I.D. tag or anything?” He reached toward the dog, who immediately emitted a low growl. He quickly pulled his fingers back.
“Hmmm,” Cassie said with a smirk. “She doesn’t seem to like you much, Officer Riley.”
His face reddened, but he said nothing.
Then, before Cassie realized what was happening, the dog leaped from her arms and grabbed ahold of Officer Riley’s pant leg, tugging and pulling at it with her small, sharp teeth while continuing to growl.
“No, no! Stop that!” he shouted, dancing around in his attempts to shake off the little dog.
Cassie pressed her lips together hard to stop herself from laughing out loud.
“Release!” Officer Garcia said sharply, and the dog immediately let go of the pant leg and sat down. Her little pink tongue lolled to one side as she panted and looked up at him expectantly.
“I think she wants a treat,” Ani said.
Cassie quickly bent and scooped her up again. “Well, we don’t have anything.”
“Oh! I do!” Officer Garcia walked quickly back to the patrol car.
“Isn’t anybody concerned that she just attacked me!” Officer Riley exclaimed, bending over to examine his pant leg.
“Oh, don’t be such a baby,” the car’s driver said. “It’s not like she broke skin. I think she was just playing.”
Officer Garcia returned with a brown lunch bag. He fished around inside it and came out with a bit of cheese in his hand. “It’s from my lunch sandwich,” he explained. “My wife and I used to have a dog and he loved cheese.”
He held it out for the dog, who sniffed it suspiciously for a second before popping it into her mouth in one bite.