“Well, I’m glad there was some good news today.” Gwen smiled weakly from behind the counter. “I was worried that all my pizza crusts would go to waste!”
I could tell she was trying to lighten the mood. “Dodge does make an excellent garbage disposal.” Gwen half laughed. We were trying to focus on the positive, but Hugo’s horrible fate still hung heavy in the air.
“I need to call my dad,” I said. Everyone would want to know I’d located Dodge, and we’d need a ride home. I was halfway to the staff room before I remembered I didn’t have my phone — I’d have to use the landline in the lobby. I headed back, making a quick a detour by Hugo’s pen. There was still time before Dodge woke up, and not much time for Hugo.
I wasn’t expecting Hugo to move, but as soon as I got close to his pen he was on his feet in a flash, snarling and baring his teeth. He looked like he wanted to rip out my throat. I backed away from the cage, breaking into a sweat. “What the heck, Hugo?”
He stared me down, his eyes slits of hatred. He was shaking all over. Maybe Gwen was right. Maybe Hugo was crazy. But I couldn’t believe any dog would be this hot-and-cold. Something had to be setting him off. Only … what?
Dodge’s smell on my clothes? No. I always smelled like Dodge. Different clothes? I looked down. Nope.
Frustrated, I shoved my hands in my pockets, and instantly felt the thing Dr. Byrnes had given me — the thing Dodge had picked up near the Ward mansion. I pulled it out and stared. That was what was different.
I was still examining the piece of black plastic when Taylor walked in. “What’s up?” he asked over the barking dogs. I didn’t answer, though. I was too busy wondering if the puzzle pieces actually fit together. He peered at the little piece of plastic in my hand. “What’s that?”
I flipped it over. “I don’t know, but Hugo hates it.” I still felt sweaty from his freak-out, but it was all making sense. Hugo’s unpredictable aggression. The device. Gwen’s call. Cell phones.
“I know this sounds crazy, but I think this little thingy is what’s making Hugo go crazy.” I waited for Taylor to laugh, but he didn’t. He took out his own phone and started searching for something on the Internet.
“Not crazy,” he said finally. “Look! I knew I’d read about this somewhere.” He turned the screen toward me and I saw snarling pit bulls — obviously dog fighting.
“Ugh.” I grimaced.
“It gets worse. Keep reading.” The picture was part of an ad for a device — a remotely controlled shock device guaranteed to make your dog “attack like a champion.” The fighting dogs were implanted with devices that administered shocks internally whenever their “trainers” pushed a button.
“No way.” It was too awful. Awful and true. I kept reading. Below the price and description were user reviews.
This would be great, but sometimes my cell phone sets it off. I was bitten twice before I realized my phone was activating the shocker.
“Serves him right,” I mumbled.
Another reviewer complained that cell phones interfered with training, that when the battery was low in the remote, it activated all the time, not just when pushed. I remembered Hugo’s agitation the first day I walked him, and we saw the woman across the street on her cell.
If Hugo had the implant it would explain why he freaked when Gwen was on her phone, and why he’d turned on me when I came to say good-bye wearing my backpack with my phone in it, and just now when I’d approached him with the remote in my pocket!
“Taylor, we gotta find the chip and get it out of Hugo,” I said, not bothering to hide the desperation in my voice.
Taylor nodded. “I bet we can use the chip scanner.” The chip scanner located microchips implanted under a dog’s skin, identifying them if they got lost.
Taylor got the scanner from one of the exam rooms and we emptied our pockets of phones and the remote. Then we went to see Hugo. He was depressed, and I was definitely a little nervous, but he didn’t hold a grudge. We scanned the skin around his neck, and the little machine beeped. It didn’t register an address or phone number. It just beeped.
Taylor and I exchanged looks, and I ran out of the kennel to get Dr. Byrnes.
I heard voices in the distance and opened my eyes. The light was bright. My belly throbbed. I heard the voices again. Cassie! One of them was Cassie!
My tail thumped, but I wasn’t on my regular floor. I tried to lift my head. It hurt. And my throat. There was something stuck in my throat.
“Easy, Dodge,” said a voice I knew. A lab coat swam into view. The Lab Coat reached down and pulled something from my throat. A tube. It was a breathing tube. And the coat was Dr. Byrnes. Which meant I was …
“Easy, Dodge. I’m right here,” Cassie said. She my ear. It felt good. Everything else felt terrible. I nuzzled her as best I could. “Shhhh. It’s okay,” she said. “You’re okay.”
I didn’t feel okay. I felt like roadkill. I lay my cheek on the floor and closed my eyes. I needed rest. But there were pictures in my head. The Ward mansion. The bad man. The plastic thing I’d found. I felt around my mouth. My tongue was heavy. Nothing. Did I lose it?
I lost it. Bad dog.
Cassie stroked my ear. “Good dog,” she said, leaning in close.
Right. Good dog. I was good, not bad. I let out a long breath. I needed to rest. But suddenly my nose quivered. My hackles rose. I smelled something nasty. Something from the mansion …
The jail! I smelled the Ward jail! And dog. A lot of dogs, actually. And a certain one. The dog that had been captive at the mansion. He was here!
I wriggled, trying to get up. But I couldn’t. “You have to stay still,” Cassie told me. “You just had surgery.”
Surgery? Surgery came with bandages and cones. Why did I need …
All of a sudden I remembered. The fence. The pain. The blood.
“We should keep him here overnight,” a voice said. Gwen’s face appeared over me. She touched my paw.
I didn’t need to see Cassie shake her head to know she shook it. I’d have shaken mine, too, if I’d had the energy. We’d been apart for one night already. We weren’t going to be apart for another. “Dodge stays with me,” I heard my girl say. Woof. I would have barked if I could.
“Don’t worry,” Cassie said. “Dad will be here soon.”
Not too soon, I hoped. I wasn’t ready to go — I wanted to meet the other dog. The captive. I struggled. I stood. Whoa. Everything was moving. Spinning. I started to fall, and Cassie caught me. Some other time. I could meet the captive some other time …
I tucked the sheet around the cushions on the floor and tossed a fuzzy blanket on top. Dodge watched from the couch. I knew he was grateful that I was sleeping in the living room with him. He couldn’t do stairs and there was no way I’d sleep anywhere else. Last night in my room without him was pretty much the worst night of my life.
I sat on my makeshift bed, fluffed my pillow, and leaned over to give Dodge a good-night kiss. He licked my cheek.
Thump. Thump. Thump. His wet nose tickled my cheek, and I smiled as I settled under the blanket. A moment later Dodge’s paw found my shoulder.
I was so tired I was sure I’d be asleep in thirty seconds, but I wasn’t. I wasn’t asleep in thirty minutes, either. My body was exhausted, but my brain would not turn off. Images of people swirled in my head — Sophia Howe, Ward, Mayor Baudry. I was dying to know what the will said. Did it hold the answer to this bizarre case? Or a clue? Because the pieces were not fitting together …
Rolling over, I pushed the case out of my head, but what came flooding in after was worse: Hugo’s sad face. Even though we understood the reason for his behavior, it didn’t look like he’d be rescued. I still needed to save him. But not tonight. There was nothing I could do tonight.
When the first signs of light filtered through the curtains, I got up and folded my bedding while Dodge dozed. Then I helped him get outside to pee.
“Morning sleepyheads,” Mom greeted us from the
table as a whoosh of chilly air blew through the open door. She was already in uniform, reviewing case notes. Luckily, in all of the excitement and drama about Dodge, she and Dad just assumed I’d gone to Pet Rescue after Dodge got there, not before. I didn’t correct this impression, so I wasn’t in any additional trouble. Plus, I think my parents just felt bad about all we’d been through.
Dodge lingered outside, sniffing around before coming back in, which I took as a good sign. Then he gobbled up his breakfast — including his meds — which I took as an even better sign. “You’re already on the mend!” I told him as I poured myself a bowl of cereal.
“I’m probably going to be late tonight,” Mom said when Sam came into the kitchen. “There is so much hullabaloo over Ward’s will, his lawyer is going to do a public reading after it’s filed at the clerk’s office. I’m going to make sure things don’t get out of hand, but then I’ll have to catch up at the office. Can you guys handle getting dinner started?”
“Sure,” I replied as my brain shifted into detective gear. “What time is the reading?”
“Twelve-thirty,” Mom said with a sigh. “Let’s hope it’s drama free.”
I spooned up my last bite and dropped my bowl into the sink before hurrying upstairs to get dressed. When I came back down, Furball was stretched out in Dodge’s spot, hogging the couch. I was about to shove her off when Sam beat me to it. “Come on, Furbie. The couch belongs to Dodge today,” she crooned over the cat’s yowls. The two of them walked upstairs, and Dodge and I exchanged a look. Unbelievable!
“This’ll be comfy,” I assured Dodge, resettling him on the couch and giving him a kiss on the nose. “I’ll be back right after school.” Dodge whimpered and put his head down on the cushion. “I know,” I said. “But it’s the best I can do. And tomorrow is Saturday.”
Dodge thumped his tail while I put on my jacket and pulled my backpack off the bench in the hall. “Bye!” I shouted into the kitchen, ignoring Dodge’s forlorn expression — I couldn’t handle having two sad doggy faces in my brain all day.
Outside, I hopped on my bike. I had a new tire — probably thanks to Dad. I pedaled to school, ignoring my urge to swing by Pet Rescue. It wasn’t on my way, and I couldn’t be late. Besides, seeing Hugo might make me feel even worse.
Hayley and Alicia were at the bike racks when I rolled in. “Hey, girl,” Hayley said, checking my face and giving me a hug. I had given her the recap last night.
“Are you the welcome wagon?” I asked, cracking a feeble smile.
“Just thought you might need a little cavalry,” she said.
Alicia touched my arm. “I’m so glad Dodge is —”
“Uh-oh,” Hayley interrupted. “Incoming.” She jerked her chin toward the drop-off circle, where Summer was climbing out of her car. My friends flanked me and we headed toward the main doors.
“I think we’re clear,” Alicia whispered with a giggle, but too soon.
Summer was on our heels in a second. “Where were you yesterday?” she sneered.
“Pet Rescue,” I told her.
“Were you getting your shots, or just visiting your cousins?”
I turned and glared, wishing my brain wasn’t too drained to come up with a clever retort.
Alicia paused and turned. “She was getting inoculated against rabid seventh graders who get called to the office and stay there for hours, even when the principal isn’t there,” she said without missing a beat.
Summer’s mouth dropped open, her cheeks turning bright red.
I hid my face behind my hand and cheered silently. Hayley stifled a laugh and yanked open the door, nearly knocking Summer off the top step.
I was smiling my thanks at both of them when the bell rang. “See you at lunch,” Alicia said with a wave.
I waved back and followed Hayley upstairs before saying good-bye. “Thanks for meeting me.”
Hayley nodded and dug around in her messenger bag. “No problem,” she said, thrusting a tiny takeout container into my hand. “For sustenance,” she explained. “You look pretty wiped.”
“Thanks,” I said. “See you in a few.” I slipped through the door and into my seat, ignoring Summer’s glare from across the room. Ugh. On top of algebra, a case that felt like an unraveling sweater, and my worries about two dogs, I had to deal with her, too.
By the time lunch rolled around, I was a grumpy bundle of nerves. I set my mostly empty tray on the table and slumped into my seat. I hadn’t even touched the treat Hayley had given me before first period. In fact, I’d forgotten all about it.
“Didn’t you even try it?” Hayley looked offended. She reached my backpack and pulled out the little box on top. It was slightly squashed.
“This is the thanks I get for getting up at six o’clock to make your favorite toffee bars?”
Alicia eyed the box longingly. “Toffee bars?”
Hayley handed her the box. “You can have them,” she said. “Cassie has clearly lost her appetite … and her mind.”
Alicia hurriedly finished her hummus and cucumber sandwich on whole grain, then opened the tiny container. “Ooooh,” she said, pulling out a bar. “This looks amazing.” She took a bite and chewed blissfully. “And it has pecans!”
“Thank you, Alicia,” Hayley said ceremoniously. “I’m glad someone still has her appetite and taste buds intact.” She looked steadily across the table in my direction, her dark eyes clouded. “Cassie, everything is going to be fine. Gwen and Taylor will do everything they can to save Hugo.”
Alicia licked the chocolate off her fingers. “Who’s Hugo?”
As I filled her in, Alicia’s face went from curious to sad to horrified. “That’s awful,” she breathed. Her eyes glistened. The new girl wasn’t just funny, she was tender. “I had a dog when we lived in Somalia. Gusto. I cried for two weeks when we had to leave him behind. He moved in with another Peace Corps family, but I still wish I’d snuck him out in my suitcase. I really miss him.”
I blinked and sat up straighter — the idea of sneaking out triggered something. My mind started to churn — and a plan started to form. I needed to get close to the case again. And that meant sneaking myself somewhere I shouldn’t be.
I pedaled down the sidewalk away from school. Fast.
I checked my watch. 12:22. I had exactly eight minutes to enact my plan, no Dodge, and I was skipping school. I tried not to think about the lecture I’d get from my parents if they found out. The courthouse loomed ahead, on the corner of Second. I swung a leg over the seat as I rolled to a stop in front of the bike rack. Next to the curb stood a fancy silver car with a license plate that said hunt-r. Something about it pricked at my brain, but it didn’t connect to anything.
Pulling my hood over my head, I walked into the building and tried to look as invisible as possible. I had one small problem: I didn’t know where the clerk’s office was. My best guess was one of the upper floors. I glanced at the crowd in front of the elevator and pushed gently through the door to the stairwell. My heart was pounding from fatigue and nerves when I cracked open the door and peered into the wide, pillared hall on the fourth floor. It was empty.
I tiptoed to the first door and peeked through the little window, but the glass was thick and I couldn’t see a thing. I opened the door and saw a desk and sign that read COUNTY CLERK. Right spot, but nobody was around. They must have been doing the reading somewhere else.
I moved on to the next door and knew that this room was occupied. I could hear murmurings and see dark shapes around a table through the thick textured glass.
I took a deep breath and opened the door a crack. “… Executor of Verdel Ward’s estate.” Yes! I’d found it. There were some low built-in bookshelves between me and the heavy oak table, and everyone’s back was to the door except for the man reading. He had to be the clerk, or a lawyer, because he had the undivided attention of his audience. Mayor Baudry, Sophia Howe, and Louisa Frederick were leaning in and listening to the man’s every word as if their lives depended
on it. My mother watched them intently. They were all so absorbed, I decided to risk going in. I crouched and pushed the door open just enough to fit through, then closed it silently behind me. Staying low, I half crawled around the corner and took cover behind the bookshelf as the man continued to read.
“… do hereby give all of my tangible property and all proceeds of insurance to my twin brother, Sebastian Ward,” the man behind the table read.
There was a sharp intake of breath in the room.
“I protest! I have ne-vah even heard of this bru-thah!” Sophia whined.
“Well, I had never heard of you!” Louisa piped up. The women glared at each other.
“This will is invalid!” the mayor blasted, getting into it. “If there’s a brother, where is he? What if he doesn’t show up? Does it mention anyone else? I vote it goes to the city!”
“That’s ridiculous,” Louisa Frederick could not hold her tongue. “This is not up for a vote!” She shot to her feet looking grumpier than ever, despite her white blouse and the colorful scarf tied around her neck. “I managed the Ward household for thirty years. I can certainly manage the estate if Mr. Ward’s brother can’t be located.”
Sophia flapped her hand in Louisa’s direction. “Yo-wah, the maid,” she scoffed.
Louisa’s eyes flashed. “Housekeeper,” she corrected. “Besides which —”
“Besides which” — a man’s voice interrupted authoritatively — “none of this is actually necessary. Verdel Ward’s twin brother has been located.”
My head swiveled. How had I not heard the large man come into the room? He practically filled the entire door frame. He had gray hair, and if he looked down and to the left, he’d be staring right at me! I scrambled around the edge of the bookshelf, knocking my knee. Mom’s head turned. I swear her hearing was better than Dodge’s!
My heart thudding, I wrapped my arms around my knees and tried to make myself as narrow as the shelf. Mom would be furious if she knew I was here!
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