Delivery

The day started out like any other. Linus, as usual, was buried in his files and papers while Linneaus sat around and watched television. It was surprising how the kid actually liked watching the stuff Linus, himself, watched, let alone on a much smaller screen than what he was probably used to. The boy had voiced that the idea of black and white television was something he enjoyed, and Linus couldn't help but wonder if the young lad was born at the wrong time, or if he was somewhat colorblind.

But at least it kept him entertained, and it made Linus feel more at ease with someone else in the house. He was usually alone, with nothing but his soft jazz and the ocean waves, and while they were a constant and offered noise, nothing came close to knowing that an actual presence was there, a presence that didn't mind being there.

Time passed since Linnaeus first made himself comfortable, and most days Linus barely looked at the clock. However, there was always one point in the day where he knew what time it was...

The doorbell buzzed.

It was three o'clock. Mail time.

"I'll get it!" The boy chimed. Linus just hummed his consent before narrowing his sight upon his work.

Now, Misses Williamson is a widow and her husband passed away four years ago. A year after her husband's death, she had reported finding things in her house either disturbed or placed elsewhere around the house. The door showed no signs of wear but she had mentioned that there were only two keys made, since they had no children and their closest family was miles away from Puffer Point. She had one key, and the other key was her husband's.

"Um...Linus?"

Her husband's key was found within its proper place, in the nightstand where it always was. Further inspection of the windows had produced no evidence of tampering or breaking and entering. Someone had to have gone into the house somehow, but how? She mentioned that none of her guests at any time had gone into the bedroom, when she had guests, so there was no way they could have accessed the only other key. Her own key is on her keychain, which is always on her person, whether in her purse or in a pocket. It would take time to pry that key off and she would have seen or known of it if someone took it off her own keychain.

"Linus? Hello?"

Whoever was breaking in was still doing it. In fact, she's convinced it's the ghost of her husband because he's been leaving notes, all with her husband's signature. Which is absolutely ridiculous, how could a ghost come back? Why would he come back just to write her letters? Linus groaned as he scratched his head. There were no other witnesses that had seen anyone go in or out of the house, which is particularly odd given the neighborhood she lives in. How could they have gotten through without anyone outside to see them? Perhaps he could interview--

"Linus!

"What! What! What is it, what?" The detective nearly growled as he lost focus, dark eyes now looking to the boy who dared disturb his thought process.

Linnaeus merely blinked before pointing to the door.

"You got a dog in the mail."

...

"A what?"

"A dog." Linnaeus said with a calmness Linus could not even begin to comprehend.

"In the mail?"

The boy nodded and all Linus could do was lean back in his chair in disbelief.

A dog? Who the heck sends a dog?

...Wait.

"Who's it from?"

"It's from the Degaldo City Police Department."

"Of course." Linus pinched the bridge of his nose before rising from his seat.

"Why'd it come from there? That's so far away." Linneaus questioned, looking up to the detective as he came forward.

"Because I used to work there, kid. Though I don't know what got in their heads to send me a dog. I don't even think that's legal..."

"You never told me you were from Degaldo." Linneaus huffed.

Linus only chuckled at that. "Well, now you know. I was part of their police department before they shipped me off here, thinking that I needed to start considering retirement." The thought still stung, to think they thought he needed to slow down. Oh, yeah, he'll slow down alright... when pigs fly.

Opening the door, Linus was suddenly greeted with a stupidly large cage with an equally large dog inside. The dog inside looked close to a Mudi, if it weren't for the size. It was close to the size of a wolf. Despite the sheer size of the dog, it's face was welcoming and the sight of a familiar face had that large, fluffy tail wagging, hitting the bars that kept it contained. Linus only smiled.

"It's been a while, huh, Higgins?"

"You know him?" Linnaeus came wandering over, weaseling himself between Linus and the doorframe just so he could get a look at the dog.

A soft chuckle escaped the detective. "Oh, yeah. Higgins and I have had some good times. Though he was given to sergeant Huckabee as his personal dog. I don't understand." He was quick to swipe the letter taped to the cage. With a swipe of his fingers, he opened the letter and pulled out of the contaminants... which included sergeant Huckabee's badge.

The look of it alone sobered the detective as he stared upon it for a few moments... Gripping it in his hand, he looked to the letter, which only granted him more clarification of what had happened to the man.

"What happened?" Linnaeus soon begged.

"...Sergeant Huckabee was killed in action."

The news hit the boy like a slap to the face, even though Linus knew Linn had not even known the man. "Oh..."

"He was a good man."

"Did he have a family?"

"Mhmm. A wife and four kids." Idly, Linus made a mental note to send them something later.

"Why didn't they keep the dog?"

"Higgins brought back too many memories, I suppose. That and the dog, by what the letter has said, hasn't quite been the same since Huckabee passed. Doesn't eat, sleeps most days... I suppose they thought sending him to me might help. The brute has always liked me."

"Well, he looks happy." The boy pointed to the dog, who only panted upon seeing the two, almost looking like a grin sprawled across his maw. Linus couldn't help but smile a little at the sight.

"I suppose he does. Let's get him out, I'm sure he'll be happier yet." Only after he spoke did he realize just what this meant. He was going to own a dog. A dog that needed a bed, food, and to go out once in a while. A dog that would need to be walked once in a while and bathed on occasion. A dog. He was going to own a dog. A big dog. Woof. He wished he'd known this earlier.

The boy unlocked the gate and immediately Higgins padded out, smelling Linus's pants with a soft whine before going to Linnaeus, soon just lapping the boy with kisses as the boy laughed, hands amidst the dog's curly fur.

"I like him! I never got to have any pets." The lad chimed amidst his giggles.

A brow rose at that. "Oh? Why ever not? You allergic?"

Linn shook his head. "No. My mom is."

"I see... well, you'll be able to come over and see Higgins."

"Yeah, so long as she doesn't find out." Linn murmured.

Linus only sighed, shaking his head before motioning for the dog to come into the house. Linnaeus knew how Linus felt about it, and he knew that only voicing such an opinion again would be like listening to the same song for the hundredth time in a row. This would be much easier if Linn would tell his mother, but even the detective knew how that'd turn out... No more Linnaeus coming over. No more of his little friend, his only friend... well, his only human friend in Puffer Point.

He shook his head before looking to the dog as it jumped right up onto his worn sofa and settled on the cushion, he unable to help but chuckle as he came to sit beside the large dog, petting his warm, fuzzy fur.

"You've been through a lot, huh, Higgins? Yeah..."

The dog huffed up at him, bright blue eyes looking into Linus's deep red. Blue eyes that swirled with happiness, and yet a sadness brewed just underneath.

"It's okay, buddy. You're staying with me now."

A dog would be staying with him now... a dog. The initial thought of it had the detective only dreading the change... but the sound of it, of Higgins staying with him, it actually didn't sound too bad. Sure, there'd be a little more to do now, but he'd have something else in the house. Something living that wasn't the men in the television or the houseplant at the window. Something that lived and breathed and felt. Something that would be there with him when things were either good, bad, or both.

And Higgins needed him. The dog has lost his world, the master he had. Of course he was still mourning... but the dog needed a distraction and a home where he wasn't constantly reminded of what he had lost.

This was for the best. It was for the best for both of them, Linus realized. He reached to pat the dog on the head.

"You're staying with me."