“D-ah-ah-dge!” I screamed. I couldn’t see him at all anymore — wasn’t even sure where he’d just been.
“Bauuu-auuu-auu,” Gatsby bayed, leading the way up the path. I followed, and we scrambled out to the cliff that jutted over Ward’s cove. Cold water sloshed in my shoes. Below us, waves crashed against the rocky wall with alarming force. I could feel the tears coming. I didn’t care who saw us anymore. Dodge was out there!
“Bauuu-auuu-auu,” Gatsby bayed again anxiously. The moon cast a faint reflection on the ocean, but the churning water twisted the light. I couldn’t see a thing. I shivered and realized that Dodge must be half frozen. If he wasn’t already under. Oh, God. Dodge.
He needed help. I needed help. We needed help.
I pulled out my phone and stared at the time. 9:59. I hesitated, wondering who to call. My parents would kill me. I was supposed to be on a short walk, not a dognapping, breaking-and-entering escapade!
I looked at the screen for a long time. Finally, I dialed.
My legs ached. My lungs burned. My stitches throbbed. My nose was useless. Filled with water. I was dog-tired. How much farther? There was no way to know. There was nothing to do but keep going. Keep going.
A wave crashed over my head. I sucked water up my snout. It burned. I sputtered. My legs stopped. Just for a second. A second was all it took. I started to sink. I jerked my head up. Above water. I had to stay above water.
Cold. I was so cold. I forced my legs to move. My eyes stung. I pumped. And felt it. The sucking ocean was letting go. Not pulling. Not hungry. I swam sideways then. Away from the hungry current. Along the beach. The next beach. The safe beach.
Only I couldn’t get there. Couldn’t get out. I told my legs to move, but they didn’t listen. Bad legs. Move. The waves lapped at me. I thought if Ward couldn’t leave it, he could make it. But maybe he couldn’t make it. Maybe I couldn’t make it. Maybe nobody could.
A wave crashed over my head. Maybe I was going to drown….
My heart leapt with joy when my brother’s head appeared in the moonlight. “Owen!” I shouted, running. I threw my arms around him, and he squeezed me in a tight hug. Owen peered down at me, his hands on my shoulders, and I felt like he was holding me up.
“Okay. What’s going on? Give it to me straight.”
“Dodge is out there! He swam out to sea!”
“Whoa, whoa,” Owen said as he took two flashlights out of his backpack. “Can you back up a little?”
I took a deep breath and explained in a rush about Ward. And Hugo. And the case. And the breakout. And the break-in. Owen took it all in, nodding.
“If he swam out there, we need to search the shore,” he said, handing me one of the lights.
I nodded and wiped my cheek with my sleeve. “Are you cold? You look cold.” He pulled a fleece out of his pack. “Put this on. We don’t need two of you with hypothermia.”
Dodge … hypothermia. I put on the cozy jacket.
“If he was washed … I mean, if he swam back to shore, he’d be east of the cliff.” Owen gestured with his hands, and I pretended not to hear the “washed ashore” part. That wouldn’t be Dodge. That couldn’t be Dodge.
Owen led the way down the other side of the jutting rock wall. Gatsby insisted on coming with us, and did an impressive job keeping up on his short legs.
“Spread out, but make sure you can see my light,” Owen said when we got to the bottom. I was glad he was giving orders. Glad somebody had a plan. I numbly searched the shoreline, searching for a familiar shape. For Dodge. I clamped my mouth shut so I wouldn’t start to sob. Dodge …
“Bauuuu.” Gatsby’s echoing bark rose in the air, and I turned. Dodge! My beam of light searched the beach, but I didn’t see the basset. He bayed and bayed, like he’d treed a fox.
“Bauuu-auuu-auu!”
Where was he?
I raced toward the sound, struggling in the soft sand. I couldn’t see him!
Then my beam settled on a dark opening in the rock face — a cave. I raced toward it and ducked inside just in front of Owen. I held my breath, shining my light frantically in all directions. Sand, rocks, a puddle, and …
“Dodge!” I dropped down next to him, putting a hand on his side. He lay limp, his fur sopping and stiff with salt. He was exhausted, but alive. I leaned in and kissed his cheek, and he let out whimpery breath. “Oh, Dodge,” I said. I crouched over him and we breathed together, forehead to forehead.
Owen kneeled beside me, checking his stitches. “They look loose, but they’re intact. I think the cold saltwater might have been good for them.” He gently stroked Dodge’s flank.
Gatsby started to bay again. “Bauuu-auuu-auu. Bauuu-auuu-auu.” Over and over.
“Good boy, Gatsby,” I said, looking up. “You found him! Twice!”
But the hound wasn’t looking at Dodge. He wasn’t even looking in our direction. He was digging up something in the corner of the cave.
“Whatcha got, boy?” Owen asked. His light flashed on the spray of sand piling up behind Gatsby. “What is that?”
Owen got to his feet and crossed the cave. “Whoa,” he said. “Check this out.” He tugged on something dark sticking out of the sand, and it grew and grew, like a scarf being pulled out of a hat. When it was finally free, I blinked in surprise.
Owen was holding a man’s wetsuit.
I could barely move. I just lay there. I lay there trying not to notice the cold. My throbbing belly. Trying to take it easy. To focus on Cassie. Cassie came like she always did. Good Cassie.
I licked her face weakly. It was all I could do. The swim had almost done me in. Almost finished me. I’d basically given up when my feet touched the bottom. I staggered out. My fur was a mess. My eyes burned. Everything looked hazy. But I’d survived the swim. The ocean had not swallowed me. And it had not swallowed Ward, either.
The ocean hadn’t washed away the greedy smell. The greedy smell was still in my nose. I’d followed it to the cave. The greedy smell filled the cave. I tried to bark when I got there. Only I fell down instead. I fell down and lay there until Gatsby showed up. He smelled it, too. And he barked for me. The Nose knew. Hugo knew.
Verdel Ward could still be alive. Was still alive. He was the man in the house, the man Hugo was running from, the man who tasered me. The man who smelled like tuna, onion, axle grease, and smoke. It still hung on his wetsuit.
I could see The Brother holding up the suit, shining his flashlight over it. The light reflected off a tiny metallic circle with a zigzag design. A lightning bolt.
I raised my head just enough to nuzzle Cassie’s arm. To let her know. Cassie pointed to the bolt. She opened her hand. She had the cigar. Gatsby’s cigar. And the paper circle. The same sign.
“Check this out — a perfect match. Ward lives.” Cassie showed The Brother. “Isn’t this the same lightning initial symbol that was on the Halloween candy? It’s a V and a W. Verdel Ward.”
“So … this suit is Ward’s? You think he swam away?” The Brother lifted the suit. “You think he’s alive?”
“Of course I am,” sneered a voice from the cave entrance. “You don’t think I’d let someone take all of my money, do you?”
I raised my head, growling. It was him. Tuna. Grease. Onion. Smoke. Ward.
“Verdel Ward?” Cassie inquired.
“Mr. Ward?” called a new voice. Female. My nose quivered. Laundry soap. Fried eggs. Louisa Frederick.
Louisa stepped into the cave behind Ward. “Is that you? Why, you’re …”
“Fat,” The Brother said.
“Thanks, punk.” Ward pulled the Taser out of his pocket. I heard it this time. I growled. But I couldn’t get up. “Can’t look too identical to my ‘twin,’ now can I?” He aimed the electroshock weapon at The Brother. He pulled the trigger.
“I di —” The Brother slumped onto the sand. I knew the pain and helplessness he felt. How it felt to be frozen.
Cassie screamed.
My legs finally o
beyed. I was on my feet. Snarling. I felt weak, but I stood my ground. I barked, and it sounded pathetic.
Ward laughed. He released the Taser. The Brother groaned and rolled over. Ward aimed at me.
Cassie stepped between us. “You’re done torturing animals.”
Ward laughed. I tried to move between him and Cassie. Too late. He pulled the trigger. My girl fell right into me. We were both on the ground.
“That’s enough, Verdel!” Louisa shouted. She rushed forward and kicked him behind the knees. Knees are soft. He fell forward, heavy on the cold sand.
The Brother rolled. He grabbed the Taser and aimed it at Ward. He rubbed the spot where the Taser darts had gone into his chest. “This is for you,” he said. “A little thank you for those Halloween mints.” He squeezed.
I set the pizza box on the floor and flipped open the lid. Two slices of cheese — full slices, not just crust. “Here you go, boy,” I told him, petting his soft-again fur. It had taken a good hot bath, an entire bottle of conditioner, and over an hour of combing, but Dodge’s coat was finally back to normal. And he smelled good, too!
“Woof!” Dodge barked and leaned in, getting a noseful of extra cheese before inhaling it.
“Somebody’s hungry,” Mom said with a smile.
“Save room for my sweet potato cupcakes!” Hayley said, waving a brown paper bag in the air.
“He deserves every bite of both.” Owen held out a plate with a piece of my favorite — sausage, pepper, and mushroom — and I almost fell over. My brother was serving me? He shrugged, hiding a smile and ducking past Mom, who was moving in.
“Yes, he deserves it, and so do you, Cassie. I can’t thank you two enough.”
I took a big bite. “Thanks, Mom. But it was really Dodge. He proved that the swim was possible — that Ward could be alive. After that, everything just came together.”
“Don’t forget Gatsby.” Owen said, rubbing the basset’s ears.
The Gundersons were so happy to have him back after he joined our investigation, they’d agreed to let him to come over for the after-party … or anytime.
I tossed Gatsby a crust, since a full cheese slice might keep the little guy up all night. Not that he didn’t deserve a pie to himself. He did and then some. Gatsby gobbled up the goods.
I stretched a piece of melted cheese until it broke and swirled it around my finger. “Dodge, you owe your little buddy big time,” I said with a smile, sitting back to enjoy my slice.
“It’s still hard to believe that Verdel Ward faked his own death.” Dad sounded a little offended. “But at least that explains why there was no body …”
“Dad!” Sam protested. “Stop talking about dead bodies!”
“He’s definitely alive!” Mom and I said together. Though it was hard to believe.
“And how about that Sophia Howe? Money Hunt-R indeed. I knew I didn’t like that woman the moment I met her — and not just because of her big hair.” Mom was a practical hairdo person all the way.
“Do you think that’s why Ward tried to swindle her? Her giant Texas hair?” Hayley asked.
“I think Ward tried to swindle everyone,” I said flatly. “The man was a crook.”
“Is a crook!” Owen corrected. He nudged me with his shoulder and very nearly smiled.
“Not anymore. His illegal doings days are over,” Mom pronounced. “When Sophia Howe found out he was siphoning money from his clients, she blackmailed him. But she was as greedy as he was and kept raising the stakes. When Ward realized his fortune would soon be gone, he needed a way to disappear and keep his cash. The answer was right outside his front door — Tempest Point. ‘Drowning’ in that riptide seemed like the perfect plan. And since he swam there daily, he was already training for it. I had no idea Sebastian was really Verdel when he showed up at the reading of the will.”
“It was a clever disguise,” Dad agreed. “A beard. Forty or so pounds. But Cassie and Dodge could smell the truth.”
“So true.” Mom toasted us with her pizza. “I thought we’d find one criminal, but we ended up finding three. Ward is looking at extortion, corruption, and fraud. Sophia Howe is facing blackmail charges. And Louisa Frederick is charged with obstruction of justice for burning the original will.”
Mom held up the scrap of scorched paper Dodge had pulled from the fireplace a week before. I’d totally written it off, but it explained why Louisa was so surprised to see the will in the safe after the “break-in,” and why the house alarm hadn’t gone off that night. Ward knew the code, which made it easy for him to turn off the alarm, enter his home, and place a new copy of the will in the safe, where it was was soon discovered.
“So, she burned the will?” Sam asked. “Why?”
Mom put down her pizza. “There are only two reasons to scrub someone’s toilets for thirty years: love or money. Nobody loved Ward. Louisa’s not an evil person, just an angry one. She saw she wasn’t in the will and wanted her due, so she acted like there never was one. And if she hadn’t burned the will … and Dodge hadn’t jumped in the ocean … and Gatsby hadn’t dug up the wetsuit … and Hugo hadn’t ID’d the guy …”
I knew Mom was saying thank you, that she was proud. But hearing Hugo’s name made me flinch. I pushed my plate away. Solving a case felt great. But losing a dog felt awful. Hugo may have escaped death row, but life on the streets was a sentence in itself. The poor pup would never know what it was like to have a home, and he was out there on his own because of me.
The doorbell rang. “Who in the world could that be?” Hayley asked, her dark eyes sparkling.
I gave her a suspicious look — she had been texting all afternoon with a big smile on her face but wouldn’t tell me what was up. I crossed my fingers I wouldn’t find a guy in gorilla costume holding a balloon bouquet when I went to answer the door. I didn’t. When I opened up, there, standing on the front porch, was Alicia and …
“Hugo!” I shrieked, dropping to my knees for a slobbery hello. I threw my arms around him, feeling happy all over. Now I could really celebrate.
Dodge and Gatsby came to the door, greeting Hugo with welcoming wags. Hugo licked a string of cheese off Dodge’s face.
“I found the poor guy shivering in an alley yesterday,” Alicia explained. “It took forever, but I coaxed him out. I texted Hayley, and she said you might know who he was.” She stroked Hugo’s broad head. “He’s been with me ever since.”
I felt my whole body smile. “Really?”
“Really,” Alicia beamed. Hugo licked her hand and she crouched down to get closer. “I know, I know!” she cooed, ruffing up the fur on his back. I looked at Dodge. We knew just how they felt. It was puppy love.
“And that’s not even the best part,” Alicia added. “My parents said I could keep him!” Hugo grunted happily.
“Woof!” Dodge exclaimed.
“Exactly,” I agreed. “There’s nothing better than a dog and his girl.”
Copyright © 2013 by Jane B. Mason and Sarah Hines-Stephens. All rights reserved. Published by Scholastic Inc. scholastic and associated logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Scholastic Inc.
First printing, September 2012
The text type was set in Adobe Garamond Pro.
Cover art by Steve James
Cover design by Nina Goffi
e-ISBN 978-0-545-51009-7
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher. For information regarding permission, write to Scholastic Inc., Attention: Permissions Department, 557 Broadway, New York, NY 10012.
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