Emily trotted downstairs at first light. Though her uninvited guest still slumbered in a mound of blankets on the couch, she clattered about in the kitchen, putting away last night's tower of dishes and humming a deliberately loud tune.

One slipper skidded when she passed the door into the laundry room. Wet. A yellow puddle.

Emily growled. She cracked the door and took one look at the improvised kennel. Apple boxes all akimbo, no dog in sight.

Kicking off the soggy slipper, she stomped to the couch and jerked the blankets away.

Clarissa's little pooch cringed and burrowed beneath its mistress' elbow.

Emily grabbed that elbow and gave it a shake. "Dogs won't foul their den, but no, you had to set it free!"

Ten minutes later Emily ushered Clarissa out the door, deaf to all her protests. "If I find that shoe, I'll mail it to you at your new address," she told her great-niece.

"Is this the thanks I get for looking after your house while you were gone?"

"Goodbye, Clarissa."

"You said you were leaving the place to me, so why on earth not let me--"

"I was considering that at one point. Changed my mind."

"Well, truth is, I'm changing my mind about inviting you to my wedding."

"Sorry to hear that. Goodbye and good luck."

With houseguest gone, Emily's home practically rang with silence. She sank into a kitchen chair and just sat there, focusing on slowing her breathing -- and reconsidering her will. Perhaps she could bequeath her property to the library.

It took until afternoon to put the house to rights. Emily was girding herself to go out and pooper scoop in the rain when the phone rang.

"I hope you've recovered from yesterday's drama," Officer Edwards said.

"You're too kind!"

"Truth is," Edwards said, sounding sheepish, "I have an ulterior motive for ringing you up. We have a situation that could use your talents."

"Oh no, no, no! No more tracking criminals! I need to stop fueling rumors! You see what trouble that has brought!"

"I wouldn't ask unless we were desperate. And it's not a criminal this time. An elderly man has wandered away from an old folks' home. They've been hunting for him since dawn. He must be soaked by now, and dark will fall in an hour."

"Oh my." Emily put a hand to her heart. "But the rumors--"

"You could work incognito."

"Undercover? Really? How?"

"Joe used to work in search and rescue. We'll call his German Shepherd out of retirement, and give you a leash and a uniform. No one'll think twice about a dog handler joining the hunt!"

"Officer's cap and all?"

"Yup. You can tuck your hair out of sight. Pick you up in ten minutes?"

Emily put her hair in a bun then dug her old galoshes out of a closet. While waiting for Officer Edwards to arrive, she threaded the shepherd's whistle on a string around her neck. Maybe Joe would know how to work it.

.

prompt: truth