Play Dead

by Jane B. Mason

  “Looks great, Cass. I’m starved,” Dad said as he sat down.

  “No. I’m starved,” Sam said. She always had to be more than everyone else. More cool. More hurt. More starving. More obnoxious. I shot her a look. Bad idea. “Cassie didn’t get home until seven,” Sam whined. “I was so hungry I was about to order pizza. I thought she was grounded.”

  I kicked my little sister under the table, wishing I was wearing boots.

  “Really?” Mom squinted in my direction. “You came by my office at four.” Her fork dangled in midair while she did the math. “And we were going to have tacos. So you never made it to the store. Where were you?”

  Um, spying on you at the Ward estate?

  I glanced out the window at the dark night and realized how lonely my feet were without a big, furry head to keep them warm. “I was looking for Dodge,” I said with a gulp. Tears sprang to my eyes and I hurried to wipe them away. “He wasn’t here after school. I was, um, going to take him shopping. And he hasn’t come home for dinner,” I choked out.

  “Oh,” Mom said. And that was all. The room got totally quiet.

  After a moment, Dad leaned over and put his arm around my shoulder. “Don’t worry, Cassie. Dodge can take care of himself. He’ll be back.” It was true. Dodge could take care of himself. But who would take care of me?

  For the rest of dinner I pushed my noodles around my plate. I should have been asking Mom where she went so fast. I should have been playing dumb and digging. That was what Dodge would want. But all I wanted was Dodge.

  Even without my help, the conversation eventually turned to Ward. Mom explained about the supposed break-in at the mansion. “The house alarm never went off — just the perimeter — though the housekeeper claims she set it. The only prints we found were Frederick’s and Ward’s. And nothing was missing.” She smiled a little smile. “In fact, we found something we didn’t think was there.” Mom chewed a noodle, savoring the suspense. “The will.”

  “The will?” Dad echoed.

  Mom nodded with satisfaction. “The will. And it appears to be legal. But here’s the weird part: Ward has left everything to his twin brother, Sebastian.”

  “There were two of them?” Owen asked, aghast.

  “Yes. Apparently there is another Ward,” Mom said. “Nobody seems to have known about him. We’re trying to track him down now.”

  Dad stopped chewing. “Have you told the fiancée?”

  Mom smiled. “No, but I’m enjoying thinking about it. It will be a pleasure to inform her that she’ll be getting a fat lot of nothing. I won’t mind telling Baudry that he can keep his greedy hands to himself, either. The vultures can fly back to their nests.”

  I stared at my plate of food. Normally a break like this would put me in a great mood. But without Dodge, I just felt numb.

  The tears started to fall just before Sam knocked on the door. “Can I sleep in here?” she asked. “It’s kind of lonely in my room.” She carried her sleeping bag under one arm and a pillow under the other. Not waiting for an answer, she came in and spread her sleeping bag on the floor, pretending not to notice me wiping my nose and wet cheeks. I said nothing. Furball strolled in next, curled up next to Sam, and purred.

  It helped to have Sam and Furb in the room, but I still couldn’t sleep. I lay awake all night, listening to their breathing. Listening for Dodge. I thought I heard scratching at the back door a hundred times. Once I even got up and went downstairs, but there was nothing. Finally the cool gray dawn light came through my window and I heard Mom head out for her run and Dad grind his coffee. Night was over.

  I forced myself up and staggered down to the kitchen. Without thinking I scooped Dodge’s kibble, stopped, and gulped. Dad saw and pulled me away from the dish.

  “I know,” he said, wrapping me in a hug. “I couldn’t stop thinking about him last night, either.” I let my forehead rest on his chest while my arms lay limply by my sides. I couldn’t look at him. I’d break down.

  “But, Cass, listen. We know Dodge. He’s a survivor and he loves us. He’ll be back.”

  When Mom came in from her run she took one look at me and held a hand to my forehead.

  “I’m not sick, Mom. Just tired.”

  “And worried,” Dad added. “She didn’t sleep.” They exchanged looks, and I tried to appear extra pathetic. If I played it right, I might be able to stay home … and look for Dodge instead of going to school.

  I stayed in the kitchen while Owen and Sam ate cereal and Mom showered. When she came back, I went for it.

  “I don’t know if I can make it through the day.” I let my head drop onto my folded arms, collapsing across the counter. “I wish I could just stay home.” I peeked with one red eye to see if Mom was buying. She was.

  “On one condition.”

  I lifted my head and waited.

  “That you actually stay home. And rest.” She looked straight into my face and all the way through me. She knew me too well. “I can’t be worrying about your whereabouts today. I’ve got to attend the reading of Ward’s will.”

  “Okay. I’ll stay home.” For a while, I added in my head as the doorbell rang.

  Dodge! I went from floppy and exhausted to full speed. I raced to the door and yanked it open so fast I startled the man on the stoop — Mayor Baudry. I wondered fleetingly why the mayor would be bringing Dodge home and pushed past him to scan the walk. Nothing. No Dodge. My shoulders slumped. Duh. The mayor wasn’t there to return my dog. I suddenly felt foolish standing outside in jammie bottoms and a camp T-shirt.

  “Where is your mother?” Mayor Baudry demanded. He sounded irritated. It probably hadn’t improved his mood to be pushed aside by someone in fleecy PJs, but he was never smiley anyway. Not unless he was on camera. “I need to speak with her immediately,” he grumped. I turned to get Mom, but she’d already appeared.

  “Mayor Baudry, is this a work matter?” She had a smile on her face, but her voice made it clear that she wasn’t exactly thrilled to see the mayor on her doorstep at 7:42 A.M. “You do understand that this is my home, not my office?”

  I ducked back inside and stood behind Mom, silently applauding. Not everyone was gutsy enough to remind the mayor about boundaries.

  “You’re in uniform,” the mayor replied as he shoved his way in. “That’s close enough. Where can we talk?”

  Mom’s smile disappeared. “We can talk right here,” she told him, leaving the door open and not budging from the entrance. She gave me a look that told me to go to my room, but there was no way I was leaving.

  “Where’s this will that’s suddenly appeared? I want to see it for myself.” The mayor ran his thick-fingered hand over his head, smoothing the sparse black hairs.

  “You know the rules, Morris,” Mom said patiently. “It hasn’t been filed with the county clerk yet, so it’s not a public record.”

  “I don’t care about public record,” the mayor bellowed. He puffed himself up in an effort to look Mom in the eye but didn’t quite make it. “I want to see that will!”

  Mom’s face was steely. “Then come and see me tomorrow afternoon,” she advised, “at the station.” She was good.

  The mayor sputtered in frustration. “Dorrie, I came to you because I thought you could help. I thought we could help each other.”

  “I’ll be happy to help you tomorrow, at my office,” Mom replied sweetly.

  Baudry turned and stomped down the porch steps. “Just remember who you work for!” he called from halfway down the walk. It sounded like a threat.

  “Oh, I do, Morris,” Mom said softly. “I work for the people of Bellport.” She pushed the door closed and spotted me by the coat rack. “Shouldn’t you be in bed?” she asked meaningfully.

  I dragged myself upstairs and flopped on my quilt, replaying the scene I’d just witnessed.

  I picked up my book, but even a good mystery wasn’t enough to keep me from worrying about Dodge. Time seemed to crawl, and it took all my will not to stuff my bed with
clothes and climb out the window. After what seemed like a million hours, the house was finally empty. I left my phone right where it was so Mom couldn’t GPS me and took off on Owen’s bike.

  Gatsby was waiting by the Gundersons’ back gate. He liked to be outside when the sun was shining, and his Dogloo had a stash of bones to keep him busy while his people were at work. Today, though, he was going to be at work, too.

  “Dodge is missing,” I told him. I wasn’t sure Gatsby could understand me the way Dodge did, but he looked at me with his droopy eyes and trotted out the gate when I opened it. I pulled Bunny out of my pack so Gatsby could sniff it. He went a little nuts, pushing his nose into the soft fleece and snuffing hard. “Can you find him?”

  Gatsby looked at me somberly before turning and heading down the sidewalk with his nose to the ground. He was on the trail. I just hoped it was Dodge’s trail and not the trail of the Kebab Kart.

  “I’m going to check Pet Rescue and see if anyone’s heard anything,” I called as Gatsby’s tail disappeared into somebody’s garden. “Maybe he’s headed there.” I hopped on Owen’s bike and pedaled. It felt good to be doing something.

  I made it to PR in record time and pushed through the door. The little spark of hope glowing inside me was snuffed the moment I saw the look on Gwen’s face.

  Oh, no. Dodge.

  “What is it?” I asked, afraid to find out.

  Gwen gulped and let out a puff of air. Whatever it was, it was bad. “It’s Hugo.”

  I must have looked a little relieved because Gwen gave me a hurt look. “They’re going to put him to sleep.”

  I felt the wind go out of me. Hugo’d been given a death sentence! “But why? He was doing so well, and he hasn’t even been here two weeks! I thought they gave dogs at least —”

  “They do … usually,” Gwen said. “But Hugo’s behavior isn’t settling down. One minute he’s fine, then suddenly he’s going ballistic. And yesterday … he bit me.” Gwen lifted her bandaged hand. She looked apologetic.

  My heart sank lower than the floor. I knew that a biting dog was a problem dog. Biting was inexcusable behavior, even at Pet Rescue.

  “The worst part is that it was kind of my fault,” Gwen added, dropping her eyes.

  I didn’t know what to say, so I just listened.

  “We were doing great. I was getting him water and he even let me pet him, like you said. Then my cell rang in the office, so I ran back here to answer it. When I got back to his kennel I was still talking, so I was sure he heard me. But I must have startled him because he whirled around and … attacked.” Gwen flinched, remembering, and let her story trail off.

  My stomach lurched. “I’m going to go see him,” I said. I left the lobby and walked into the kennels, but Gwen wouldn’t let me go into Hugo’s cage. I sat down just outside, put my hand on the bars, and wondered how this had happened.

  Hugo opened his eyes. He whimpered, happy to see me, and wagged his tail. “Good dog,” I told him. My voice cracked. Hugo scooted closer and looked up at me with trusting eyes. That did it. I couldn’t fight them off any longer. I let the tears pour.

  I woke up slowly, struggling. I wanted to wake up. I wanted to stay asleep. I couldn’t tell which I wanted more. Or which I was — asleep or awake. All I knew was that I hurt. All over. I tried to yawn and shake off the feeling, but couldn’t. My mouth was tied shut with something that smelled like sock.

  Panic set in. I opened my eyes wide and tried to move my legs. Moving hurt. I was on my side and couldn’t see much. Then I heard voices.

  “It’s okay. You’ll be okay.” A woman. She crooned softly from behind me. I felt hands on my neck and back. Kind hands. “He’s waking up.”

  Another voice. A man. “Okay, I have the compress on.” I didn’t know what a compress was. The man was back by my tail. I could make out the shape of him, moving a little. He was on his knees.

  I felt pressure on my belly. It made me squirm. The kind hands pushed me back to the ground and held me.

  “What does it say to do next?”

  When I craned my neck, I could see the woman. She took a hand away from my back and looked at her phone. “Can you see any organs?”

  “Ugh! Gaw. I don’t know,” the man groaned.

  “We’re supposed to wash protruding organs with saline solution and push them back in,” the woman said.

  The pressure came off my belly. “There’s nothing sticking out. And I don’t have my contact lens solution handy,” the man reported. Then the pressure was back. I think I whined.

  “We should get him to the vet and call his owner.”

  I felt my collar being turned.

  “No ID,” the woman reported.

  Cassie took my ID off when I was at home so it wouldn’t jingle against the other license and drive me crazy. I had on only my vaccination tag. The woman leaned in close to read the small print. I could feel her warmth on the back of my neck. Then I heard other tags. Not mine, but familiar….

  Gatsby?

  “Look, he’s worried about his friend,” the woman said.

  Our noses touched through the sock. Gatsby’s touch said it would be all right. I wanted to know what was wrong. My mouth was tied shut, but my brain wasn’t working right, either. I was glad when Gatsby touched my nose again.

  “Pet Rescue. Five-five-one Woodside,” the woman said. “Let’s take him there. If they have his vaccination records, they’ll know who owns him. Besides, he could use a little rescuing.”

  I could?

  The man counted, “One, two, three … lift.” I felt my feet being picked up. Then pain. Nothing but pain as I was swung onto a cloth. I whined through the sock.

  “Okay.”

  The woman’s voice.

  “It’s okay.”

  Gatsby’s worried eyes.

  Okay. I smelled the inside of a car. Saw the roof. Heard the engine start. Then … nothing.

  I thought maybe I was dreaming when I heard the question. “You guys looking for a big German shepherd? Black ears, tan face?” I inhaled sharply. Yes! A big German shepherd was exactly what I was looking for. Only when I looked up from the counter I didn’t see a German shepherd. I saw a woman with blood all over her hands and jeans.

  I don’t remember getting up or running toward her. “Dodge! Is he okay? Where is he?”

  I either startled her, or she was already flustered. “H-he’s in the car,” she stammered. “We found him by the road.” She followed me to the parking lot where a man was waiting by a station wagon with the hatch up. Gatsby was standing in the back, next to Dodge.

  “Dodge!” I ran to the back of the car. Dodge was passed out on a bloody towel, but breathing. Gatsby bayed loudly when he saw me. “Bauuuu!”

  “The little guy found him, actually,” the man said. “He was barking so much we stopped to see what was going on.”

  I gave Gatsby a pat on the head. “Good dog.” There’d be time to thank him properly later. We had to get Dodge inside.

  Carrying ninety pounds of dog was not easy, even with a towel hammock and five people. Dr. Byrnes took one look at Dodge and led us to the operating room. We lifted Dodge onto the table and I cradled his head, taking off the sock they had used to tie his muzzle.

  Dr. Byrnes anesthetized Dodge, and his eyes flickered as the medicine took effect. I kept petting him until the vet tech arrived and the doctor told me I should go.

  “He’ll be fine, Cassie. His abdomen is torn and he’s lost some blood — nothing we can’t fix,” she assured me.

  I had no desire to leave Dodge’s side, but Dr. Byrnes knew what she was doing. I covered Dodge’s head with kisses.

  Dr. Byrnes touched my arm gently. “He’s a lucky dog — lucky that couple found him when they did, and lucky to have a girl like you.”

  She didn’t know that I was the lucky one.

  I staggered back to the lobby feeling wrung out. I wanted to thank the couple who’d found Dodge, but they’d already left. Gatsby was curled up
on one of the chairs in the waiting room, snoring. I stroked his long soft ears and watched him sleep. “You saved him,” I whispered. “Thank you.” I eased down in the seat until my neck was resting on the back.

  I must have dozed off, because I woke to somebody calling my name. “Cassie? Cassie.”

  It was Dr. Byrnes. She was sitting next to me and looking into my face. “Dodge is fine. He’s all stitched up and in recovery. I thought you’d want to know.”

  I blinked a couple of times and bit the inside of my cheek to make sure I wasn’t dreaming. Dodge is fine. Dodge was fine! I threw my arms around Dr. Byrnes. “Thank you!” I squawked in her ear. That woke Gastby up and he barked, complaining and celebrating all at once.

  “You’re welcome,” Dr. Byrnes said. “He’s in a little shock and has lost a lot of blood. Another half hour on the roadside and …” Not even the vet could finish that thought. “Well, he’s fine and that’s what matters. But Cassie, I found this.” She opened her hand to reveal a small electronic gadget that looked like a cross between a tiny telephone and a remote. “You really shouldn’t let him play with this stuff.” Her face was grave. “I know Dodge is smart, but if he swallowed this, or even parts of it, it could be very dangerous.”

  Of course it could! I thought. I took the thing from her and turned it over in my hands. Dodge had been known to enjoy a good chew now and again, but he wouldn’t eat a phone, unless …

  “Where’d it come from?” I asked, sitting up straighter.

  “It fell out of his mouth when he was under anesthesia.”

  “So, where did Dodge get it?” I asked, looking right at Gatsby. Gatsby yawned and lay back down to finish his nap. “Gwen, did that couple tell you where they found Dodge?”

  “Yeah,” Gwen nodded. “They said he was on Sea View.”

  My brain started firing like mad as I put the pieces together. Dodge had gone back to the mansion, too, only somehow we’d missed each other. And Dodge had gotten hurt! And he found this. It had to be important. I turned the black rectangle over in my hands before tucking it into my pocket. I hoped Dodge would be able to help me figure out what it was when he woke up.