Chapter 46: Chapter 46: Multiple Dogs Go Missing

Old Hag Crawford refused to give up, her hands clutching the gift box ribbon in a death grip. The bodyguards had to pry her fingers off one by one.

Renee Jennings told Rhea Dempsey to take Sylvia Brooks upstairs first.

"I’ll help you look for Goldie a little later." She looked at Boo, worried that Old Hag Crawford would bully him if he stayed. She stroked his little head. "You should go back first."

"Okay!" Boo agreed obediently, turning and running toward the complex entrance.

Upstairs, Rhea Dempsey brought out her finest tea to serve Sylvia Brooks. "Sorry you had to see that display just now."

Sylvia Brooks smiled. "Not at all."

She didn’t stay long at the Jennings family’s home, rising to take her leave half an hour later.

Renee Jennings tried to get Sylvia Brooks to take the gifts back, but she wouldn’t hear of it.

"It’s just a small token of my goodwill. If you don’t mind, Miss Jennings, please accept it as a gesture of friendship."

"Why would I mind?" Renee Jennings had a very good impression of Sylvia Brooks and wasn’t against the idea of being friends with her. She chuckled lightly. "The honor is all mine. From now on, just call me Renee."

Hearing this, a joyful smile appeared on the woman’s face. "Alright, Renee."

Renee Jennings gave her two gifts in return.

Old Hag Crawford stood on her balcony with a handful of sunflower seeds, her heart nearly bursting with jealousy when she saw Sylvia Brooks leaving with only two inconspicuous bags.

’Did that damn hag Rhea Dempsey take all those expensive things?’

"I’m so pissed!" Old Hag Crawford practically ground her molars to dust, her mind racing with ways to get revenge on the Jennings family.

Renee Jennings parted ways with Sylvia Brooks at the complex entrance and rode Rhea Dempsey’s electric scooter to Prosperity Gardens.

She arrived at the place where Boo and Goldie lived and called out, "Boo? Boo?"

She called several times, but the little guy didn’t appear.

Renee Jennings frowned, a grave expression appearing on her fair face.

She rode the electric scooter around the area in a loop, but there was no sign of Boo.

Renee Jennings went over to the area near the trash heap. Eggy, the four-eyed dog, and Tutu, the pug, cried out as soon as they saw her.

"Renee!"

"Renee, you’re here!"

Renee Jennings squeezed the brakes. "Eggy, Tutu, have you seen Boo?"

"Renee, we were just about to tell you about that!" Eggy rushed to the side of the scooter, his voice fraught with worry. "A little while ago, we heard Boo crying for help. When we ran over, we saw an electric scooter and two human males."

Tutu chimed in anxiously, "They were carrying a burlap sack, too! I think they’ve taken Boo!"

"And Goldie and the others!" Eggy added.

Hearing this, Renee Jennings’s brows knitted together, a sense of unease rising within her. "Besides Goldie, have other dogs gone missing?"

Eggy nodded vigorously. "Xiaohua, Maomao, and Dashu are gone too."

Renee Jennings: "How long have they been gone?"

Eggy tried hard to recall. "Xiaohua and Maomao disappeared first, then Dashu. Goldie only went missing in the last few days."

At first, everyone thought they had just wandered off to another area. But then Goldie disappeared, and he had a partner. Even if he were to move on, he would have taken Boo with him.

So many dogs had gone missing.

Renee Jennings sensed that there was more to this than met the eye.

She looked at the anxious Eggy and Tutu, her tone serious. "We don’t know what’s going on yet. It’s dangerous for you to keep staying here."

Tutu asked sadly, "Then what should we do?"

Renee Jennings: "I’ll contact a stray dog shelter. You two can go there for now."

She had suggested getting a shelter to take them in before, but the dogs hadn’t wanted to leave their familiar territory.

"But what about Boo and the others?" Eggy was worried about his old friends.

Renee Jennings pressed her lips together, lost in thought.

With no evidence, the police might not even open a case if she reported it.

"First, we have to figure out why they’re taking the dogs."

Eggy said anxiously, "But we don’t even know who the bad guys are or where they are."

Tutu was extremely distressed. "Yeah, I’m so worried about them."

Renee Jennings looked at them as an idea flashed through her mind. "I have a plan, but it might be dangerous."

"I’m not afraid of danger!" Eggy’s stance was firm. "As long as we can save Boo and the others, I’ll do it!"

Seeing his companion’s bravery, the usually timid Tutu also mustered his courage. "Renee, I’m not afraid either!"

Renee Jennings was moved by the bond they shared and how much they cared for each other.

She said in a low voice, "My plan is to send the other dogs to the shelter, leave one or two behind as bait, and follow them when they show up again."

Eggy nodded. "I’ll stay behind as bait!"

Tutu: "Me too!"

Renee Jennings stroked their heads and smiled gently. "You’re both very brave."

She called the stray dog shelter, and within an hour, staff members arrived in a vehicle.

All the nearby stray dogs were taken away, leaving only Eggy and Tutu behind. They watched with mournful expressions as the shelter’s van drove into the distance.

Renee Jennings watched their retreating figures, her heart heavy, as if a large stone was weighing on her chest, making it hard to breathe.

She worried that she wasn’t confident enough in her plan and might end up getting Eggy and Tutu hurt.

A sharp ringtone sounded from her pocket.

Renee Jennings took out her phone and answered. "Mom."

Rhea Dempsey was calling to tell her to come home for dinner. Hearing the gloomy tone in her daughter’s voice, she frowned and asked, "What’s wrong with you?"

"Nothing." Renee Jennings paused, then said, "Mom, can I ask you for a favor?"

"What is it?"

"Can I bring two little doggy friends home to stay for a couple of days?"

"..."

Just when Renee Jennings thought Rhea Dempsey would refuse, she suddenly heard her mother’s resigned voice. "I must have owed you in a past life. Only for two days."

"Thanks, Mom." The corners of Renee Jennings’s lips curled up, her tone becoming light and melodic. "You’re the best mom in the whole world."

After hanging up, she told Eggy and Tutu they would be staying at her house tonight.

But the two little guys hesitated.

"What’s wrong?" Renee Jennings looked at them, confused. "Don’t you want to come to my house?"

Tutu shook his head so fast it was a blur.

"Renee, it’s not that we don’t want to go to your house." Eggy’s tone held a rare note of insecurity. "We’re too dirty. We’ll get your house messy, and your family will be disgusted with us."

"Yeah..." Tutu hung his little head.

Hearing their words, Renee Jennings felt her heart ache, and her eyes began to sting.

"It’s okay," she comforted them softly. "I’ve already spoken with my family. They’ll welcome you."

"Really?" Surprise filled Eggy’s glossy black eyes, turning to delight when he saw Renee Jennings nod. His eyes sparkled brightly.

"Then we’ll stay at Renee’s house tonight!" Tutu was very happy too.

Renee Jennings led them home. Before entering, the two little dogs kept rubbing their paws on the doormat, afraid of tracking dirt into the house.

Once inside, Eggy and Tutu stood stiffly in the living room. In that moment, their insecurity was made manifest.