Unleashed_Case of the Collie Flour

by Erik Schubach

  Kennedy turned on the lights then flipped a U-turn. Jorge hopped into the car with a tip of the hat to me. I crouched and waved at the silver-haired Kennedy. The man looked embarrassed but waved back. I had to grin, the big bad man didn't like to be seen being nice. It made me giggle and want to encourage it more.

  Then I endured the embarrassment of a police cruiser driving slowly down the road beside me all the way to the park. It was even worse once we hit Central Park and the guys signaled an officer on horseback, and he trotted over to pace me as well. Was the entire 19th precinct going to walk my clients with me? This was stupid. Were they all that afraid of Jane?

  That was pretty much how my day went. Hundreds of walkers checked in signaling the all clear on the Broken Leash throughout the day. And it wasn't until we dropped the ladies off at home in the early afternoon that my cell started ringing as Calvin and I left Princess' place.

  I looked at the screen and grinned. I answered with a huge smile on my face. “Hi, Jamaaaal.”

  He was equally as flirty, “Well hello there Fin. I call bearing news.”

  I perked up, all the pretense of flirting with the model gorgeous man was gone. “What is it?”

  He shared, “I got a call from Marty, over at the Bennington, he just held the door for a woman he swears was Tanya McKnight. She got into a hired car, and they looked to be headed south toward the Queensboro. I'll text you the make model and license.”

  By the swishing tail and lolling tongue! She was heading out of the city, she must have fenced the gems. I know, that sounded like an old James Cagney film. Concentrate. I said absently, “Ok, thanks, Jamal, you're a gem.”

  He chuckled and said, “You're welcome Fin. See you tomorrow.”

  He hung up as I thought. Ok, I had to tell the police... I looked over to the patrol car trailing me and waved them over. If she got out of the city, she'd disappear like she's done twice before.

  As Garcia hopped out of the cruiser and ran over, I dialed my new speed dial one, and on the first ring, a familiar detective with that awesome smoky tone asked, “Fin? Are you ok?”

  I nodded to the air as Garcia stepped up and put her on speaker, “Yes, I'm fine Jane. I have Jorge here on speaker. I just got a call from Jamal. McKnight was spotted coming out of the Bennington a couple minutes ago. Heading South in a hired car. Probably toward the Queensboro or even the Lincoln Tunnel.” In reality, there were seven ways to get off the Manhattan island to the south. But that was good, because if she had headed upstate, there would have been no way to track her.

  She paused then asked, “Fin, why was Jamal calling you?”

  I shrugged an apology to Garcia. “Umm... he sort of put the word out to the New York doormen for me that we are looking for McKnight.”

  She blew up on me. “Finnegan! What do you think you're doing? She's a murderer! One who threatened you with a knife! Leave the police work to the professionals!”

  Then she calmed as my face started to burn with an embarrassed blush. Her tone was almost awkward when she asked in a hushed tone, “I don't suppose they got a description of the vehicle.”

  I grinned wide and toothy at Jorge as I said smugly, “As a matter of fact, yes. Texting it to you now.” I quickly forwarded Jamal's text to her.

  She growled out, “Good thinking Fin. Just don't do it again, ok?” Was that concern in her tone? Then she said in a tone that conveyed her smug smirk, “Now get off the line so I can get the APB out.”

  I squeaked, “Bye,” and the line went dead. I glanced at Jorge, and he just shook his head at me like you would a misbehaving child. I shrugged, and he just chuckled.

  I asked, “Will you be able to catch her?”

  He took a slow, deep breath and nodded slowly. “So long as she takes the bridges or tunnels, we can have cars there to stop her. But if she figures out we have them covered and heads upstate? We'll get her, it just might take some time.”

  I nodded slowly in understanding, then he tipped his hat to me and headed back to the cruiser.

  One thing McKnight wasn't, was stupid. She's been able to evade the police for almost two decades, staying one step ahead. She'll see the increased police activity at the bridges and tunnels and then head north, upstate. If she gets past Martin Luther Boulevard, she'd be, how does Jane say, in the wind?

  There are about fourteen streets heading upstate from Manhattan, but once you crossed MLB, there were dozens of ways off the island and out of town. Maybe the Broken Leash could help, watch for the car and relay it to the police? I sent a text out on the network. We couldn't let a murderer go free. And as I stated before, we are legion. We could cover fourteen streets, and most likely at any given time, there were dozens of us on each street.

  Jorge startled me when he yelled out the window of the cruiser, “They just sounded an all cars in Lower Manhattan, Finnegan! They've got her penned in. We've got to go.”

  I nodded, feeling a relief and excitement flood through me. I hadn't known I was so tense. I waved as their lights and siren cut through the hustle and bustle of the city and they were off. Godspeed men.

  I smiled at Cal as we started to head home. It was over. But then my smile faded when a text arrived from the network. A walker named Sandra in the East Village saw McKnight switch cars to a rented limo. She gave the make and license in her text, flooding the net. Oh god, the police were tracking the wrong car! Others texts popped up almost immediately that the limo was spotted heading back north, up 3rd.

  A moment later my cell was ringing, thank god, it was Jane, I had just about been ready to call her. “Jane!”

  She cut me off. “Finnegan, what's going on? I just got a call that there are people with groups of dogs on leashes blocking the MidTown and Lincoln Tunnels.”

  Whaaaa? I blinked and almost barked out some surprised laughter. The Broken Leash? Were my people trying to contain McKnight? I pushed that aside and said, “Tanya switched cars! A walker in the East Village saw her switch to a limo. I'm texting the license number now.”

  I quickly texted then added, “Other walkers spotted her heading back up 3rd.”

  I heard her curse under her breath, “Fuck.” Then she said, “Hang on.” I heard a rustling then her muffled voice, “All cars, this is Detective McLeary...” She rattled off the new information then she was back with me. “I don't know what you're doing Fin, but tell your people to back off, someone can get hurt.”

  I felt sheepish as I rocked from foot to foot, my face screwing up in apology as I said, “Umm... I don't know if I can. I sort of asked for help spotting McKnight yesterday and Raife put out a Broken leash – that's a runaway dog – on McKnight. They were just supposed to keep an eye out for her. Not this. It's become something organic with a life of its own.”

  She didn't say anything for a moment, and I almost looked to see if we were disconnected and she muttered, “Shit.” Then she asked, “How many participate in this Broken leash thing?”

  I swallowed and said almost in question, “Umm... all of us. Thousands.”

  She sounded surprised. “There are thousands of dog walkers in the city?” Before I could answer, she growled out, “Get home, now. Most of our manpower is down here now, we're heading back up and should box in the limo in a few minutes. Tell your people to back off!”

  But... she could be out of the city by the time the cavalry could get turned back around.

  I looked at my phone when another text came in. A Larry said he and two others blocked off third and the limo turned onto East 34th. I blinked... they were blocking the... my eyes flew wide, and I texted a request, squinted an eye almost in pain and hit send.

  I told Jane in a hoarse voice, my mouth dry, “I've got them funneling her to me. We'll have her at 64th and Madison for you.” She started cussing at me, and I hung up.

  I ignored her repeated callbacks as I watched the flood of texts scrolling past on the screen. It was like a continual real-time update of McKnight's progress through the city as more and more walkers
converged, confining the limo to a corridor toward Cal and me.

  Jimmy said he and another walker, Anne, had slowed the traffic behind the limo.

  Barry said that he and his gaggle crossed in front of them slowing them to isolate them a block from any other vehicles as he pretended to untangle leashes before moving on. What had I done? Why were they putting themselves at risk?

  Before long the traffic on Madison was only a trickle past me, though I could see from the intersection that on both Park and 5th, traffic was as heavy as normal. And I saw a girl with two dogs on Park who waved at me. I hesitantly waved back. Then when traffic cleared and there was just one lone limousine driving my way down a street devoid of vehicle traffic. People on the sidewalks were all slowing and looking around at the unnatural sight of an empty street in the city.

  I wasn't sure what I was supposed to do now... Jane hadn't made it even with the Broken Leash slowing McKnight's progress. I looked over when a familiar voice said, “Fin.” Rafiel was there with three dogs looking at me then the limo with a look of apology on his face.

  No.

  I wasn't going to let the woman who murdered Calvin's mom get away. I looked at Raife and then steeled myself and held out Calvin's leash. He hesitated then took it without a word. I took a deep breath, smoothed my skirt, then stepped out into the street in front of the limo. I closed my eyes and held up my hand, palm out in front of me and prayed to the canine lords.

  I didn't move nor open my eyes as I heard the tires screeching on the warm pavement. It wasn't until the limo driver started honking the horn and I realized I was still alive that I opened my eyes. My hand was held out over the hood of the limo, the bumper mere inches from me. I swallowed and just stood there.

  A shrieking Tanya McKnight threw one of the back doors open and slid out, looking a million bucks and glamorous as ever. She stormed toward me as I saw dog walkers converging on us from every corner. Sirens were echoing through the streets around the buildings, building upon themselves to sound like they were everywhere. “You stupid girl. Get out of the way. I thought I warned you...” She froze when I heard the roar of an engine as a car came around the corner behind me to skid to a sliding halt.

  I stood there, shaking, hand still outstretched and relief washed through me as half a dozen other police cruisers came up Madison behind the limo. Jane's voice, ferocious and commanding shouted out, “Freeze McKnight! NYPD! On your knees, hands behind your head!”

  The caterer to the stars hesitated, her eyes locked on me full of hate and rage as she gradually dropped to her knees, slowly placing her hands behind her head. She never lost eye contact with me, and I could finally see the murder in her eyes. I knew instinctively right then and there that she was capable of it because all I could see in her eyes was that self-important rage that put her needs above all else.

  Jane moved past me, her service weapon trained unwaveringly on Tanya, as the confused limousine driver stepped out of the vehicle to be detained by some of the officers pouring out of the vehicles. An officer came up behind her and cuffed her as Jane reached her and grabbed her arm firmly near the elbow, pulling her to her feet as McKnight winced.

  Then Jane holstered her weapon and started leading her back to her SUV as she read her her rights. “Tanya McKnight, you are under arrest for the murder of Abigail Reeves. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.”

  Keeping herself between McKnight and me, Jane paused as they passed me. She reached a hand out to place on my shaking arm. She said softly, “It's ok, you can put your arm down now. It's over, Finnegan.” I relaxed as my entire body started shaking from the adrenaline. I sure hope I hadn't soiled my panties, I'd never live it down.

  I nodded and took a shuddering breath as my heart pounded violently at my ribs, then I stepped in front of McKnight and locked gazes with her. She actually smirked at me. I exhaled and then stomped on her toe as I said almost manically, “That's for killing Calvin's mom, and for ruining my dress!”

  Jane slipped between us as the woman stumbled then started almost hopping. I was face to chest with my detective again. We had to stop meeting like this. I almost started giggling just as maniacally. It was either that or breaking down on the spot. She leaned down, her silky black hair tickling my ear and neck as she whispered to me, “Easy there killer. I'll have Kennedy and Garcia see you home. You did good.”

  I was frozen in place with her leaning into me, her scent a promise of safety and of Jane. She pulled back, and I could move and breathe again. I just nodded and numbly turned toward Raife and Calvin on the corner. Calvin was going crazy trying to get to me.

  I could hear Jane as she continued bringing Tanya to her car, “You have the right to an attorney...”

  My fingers had no feeling as I took the offered leash from Raife and dropped to a knee to place my forehead against Cal's and rubbed his ears desperately as I whispered, “It's over boy.”

  A cheer went up around us, and I looked around. There had to be at least three dozen dog walkers around the scene, with over a hundred dogs who started barking at the cheering. I smiled at Calvin's wagging tail and looked around.

  We – are legion.

  Chapter 14 – Decompressing

  I was anxious as heck at home, waiting for a no doubt ticked off Jane McLeary to arrive and read me the riot act.

  I went through all the texts I received and thanked each person personally after the Broken Leash was canceled. I hesitated when I saw one voicemail from a number I didn't know. Had someone else called while I was ignoring Jane's calls? Oh god, she was going to kill me for that.

  I listened to it as I cleaned the coffee table for the sixth or seventh time in as many minutes. Shut up, it's how I deal. To my surprise, it was the lawyers for the Abigail Reeves estate. “Miss Finnegan Temperance May, this is Trent Ives with Thornton, Kissinger, and Ives. We are the firm representing Abigail Reeves estate. We request your presence along with Abigail's dog, Sir Calvin Cornelius Fluffytoes at our offices after the funeral and internment of Miss Reeves' remains at Marble Cemetery this coming Friday.”

  I inhaled sharply as it went on to give the time and location of the reading of Abigail's will and 'other legal matters.' It terrified me... they were going to take Calvin from me, weren't they?

  The coffee table... I started scrubbing it. Why wouldn't it come clean?

  I had to calm down. Cal had started whining. I was ok, I was good. I didn't need to stress him. God, I loved him. I put on a smile and pretended everything was ok. “You got a middle name boy? Cornelius?” His tail swished tentatively, ears still flat. The poor guy was confused.

  I shoved away all my anxiety and told him, “Come on, let's get the place cleaned up and have dinner ready for Jane, so she doesn't skin me alive. What do you think.” I gave a genuine smile at his enthusiasm.

  I started to clean the coffee table again then stopped and forced myself to move on to something else. I cringed at six when Jane sent a text. It was a text, she didn't call. I stepped in deep doggie doo this time. I stared into the cupboards. Maybe I could make her cupcakes? I cursed at myself for not knowing what she liked... besides chili and spaghetti.

  Then I had it, and my smile bloomed as I grabbed my cell again. Mom always said the key to a man's heart was through his stomach. Here was hoping it tamed a modern day Amazon as well. I made a quick call then got into my cat pajamas. I stared at Jane's jacket... on my peg and then slipped it on and hugged myself as I went to sit on the couch with Calvin.

  He decided to be my lap warmer as we switched on the television. That – may have been a mistake. Every channel was talking about the huge disruptions on the island. Dozens if not hundreds of dog walkers and dogs, blocking the roads.

  Not good. Not good.

  I switched channel after channel, then stopped on KDRN, I could actually feel the blood draining from my face as the news anchor went on about the capture of the suspected killer of Abigail Reeves.
And how the dog walkers of the city seemed to help.

  I swallowed at the picture taking up the whole wall behind him. There I was in my pretty orange sundress, with matching orange flats, standing in the middle of Madison with my hand out, a limousine just inches from my legs.

  No, no, no... so not good.

  My cell started ringing, and I swallowed, praying to the holy tugging rope that it was Garrett. I looked at the screen and winced. I accepted the call, “Oh hi mom, what a pleasant... yes ma'am... no ma'am...” This went on for a while so I'll spare you and just skip ahead to when I hung up, equal parts mortified and chastised. I reeeealy hate the 'told you so' speech.

  I needed to catch my breath, I hated arguing with mom, but Manhattan was my home now, I wasn't going back to Liberty. I almost let slip that Garrett was going to be moving here too just to get the pressure off me. I think mom understands though, that I have to do this to be me, I have to stand on my own or I would slip into the shell I find myself slipping into at times.

  I started toward the drapes, the pleats weren't hanging evenly, I'd have to... my anxiety spiked when I heard the keys rattling in the door. My emotions were already running high after my call with mom, I didn't know if I had it in me to listen to another lecture.

  I crossed my arms over my belly and hugged myself, trying to hide away into the leather jacket. Jane stepped through the door and greeted an overly excited Calvin. He was all wiggles and swishing tail as she thumped his side. She stood, and her sharp brown eyes scanned the apartment, a hard look on her face.

  But she froze when her eyes landed on me, and that hard look softened. I looked down at my shoes, afraid of what she was going to say.

  Instead, she was silent as she slid up in front of me and wrapped me in her arms. All of the overwhelming emotions I had been holding in since Abigail's murder came crashing down on me. I hadn't even known I had created a dam to hold it back. I think it was a self-preservation thing. But I felt safe in her unyielding arms as that dam burst.