Chapter 52

By the time Ryan and Cassandra got off the plane, it was already the middle of the night. Ryan drove while Cassandra sat in the passenger seat, feeling numb and hollow. Ryan said, "Cassandra, try to hold it together. I know losing Snowball has hit you hard, but now's not the time to fall apart." "I know." When they arrived at the animal hospital, Ryan's friend, Mike Dawson, was already waiting. He told Ryan, "Since you weren't here, I didn't let anyone do an autopsy yet. But honestly, she didn't die of natural causes. She had actually been doing better lately and eating well too. But tonight, she suddenly started foaming at the mouth. She was gone in minutes..." He glanced at Cassandra, then asked Ryan, "Is this your girlfriend?" Ryan clapped him on the shoulder. "Thanks for coming here so late. I owe you one." "Come on, we're brothers. No need for thanks." While the two of them talked, Cassandra went straight in, heading right for Snowball's old cage. Snowball was gone, but th