Wanted

by Ho, Jo

  It felt like I was in the midst of a heart attack. Gideon paced as the Doc checked on Bandit, who still hadn’t woken up. She pressed a finger high on the inner side of his thigh and felt for a pulse, nodding, happy with whatever she found. I felt a small fraction of my tension lessen. At least that was something. I was just wondering what the hold up was, when an almighty explosion went off, shaking the very ground we were standing on.

  That was it. Chase had set the cannisters off. A bright orange plume of fire sprang up into the night, illuminating the area for what seemed like miles. Windows shattered, destroyed by the soaring heat. I stared into the dark tunnel, straining my eyes, willing with every ounce of my being for Chase to appear.

  “Come on, come on…” I mumbled.

  After the longest time, something moved in the tunnel. A dark shape. It was so slight, I thought my eyes were deceiving me. But then a figure appeared, lurching forward, coughing up lungfulls of smoke. The face was blackened with soot, but I recognized her anyway. Sprinting forward, ignoring the pain that shot up my leg, I crossed the distance between us and hugged Chase tight.

  “What, you wait for a bus to get here?” I said.

  She coughed again in answer, but grinned at me. “Just keeping you on your toes.”

  “What now?” Gideon asked. The Doc hesitated, thinking fast.

  “We can’t take my car, they’ll have it surrounded by now,” she said.

  “Is there anything else around here?” Chase asked, gulping in large mouthfuls of air. The Doc nodded and pointed.

  “There’s a gas station and a drive in burger place around two blocks away. There should be cars you can acquire.”

  I wasn’t the only one who noticed the way she said “you”. We turned to her, concerned.

  “You’re not coming with us?” I asked.

  She shook her head, eyes shining with regret. “I need to see these dogs are safe. They can’t go with you, so I’ll have to lead them away.”

  “But where will you go?” Chase asked.

  “I have friends, organizations I can contact who will help. I’ll see to it that these dogs are rounded up and adopted into good families. It’s the least I owe them.” She stopped, her voice cracking. “Thank you for your help. I hope… I hope Bandit is OK.”

  Chase and I both took in her use of the name Bandit. With a small smile, she spun on her heel and ran the opposite way to them, calling out to the dogs. Some of them followed her, but others cocked their heads at them, as if confused.

  Chase pointed after her.

  “Go with her. She’ll keep you safe,” she told them.

  I didn’t know if they really understood her or not, but they ran after her.

  And then, for the third time that day, we found ourselves running for our lives.

  CHAPTER 137

  CHASE

  My lungs felt like they were drowning in smoke, but otherwise, I felt pretty great. Platinum Industries was burning to the ground, the dogs were free, and we were on our way home. Not a bad day’s work.

  The gas station and drive-in Dr. Robins mentioned loomed up ahead. I spotted it easily since there wasn’t much around these parts. Sully was weary, sure that the drive-in and gas station served PI staff more than anyone else. We had to be careful. It wouldn’t do to get caught now, when we were so close to freedom.

  Approaching the parking lot, Sully scanned the area until his eyes fell upon an old — and to my eyes — barely standing Range Rover. It was empty. Its owner probably inside, feasting on a happy meal.

  “That one,” Sully pointed at the car.

  I frowned at his choice. “You don’t think maybe something more new and comfortable?”

  But Sully shook his head. “Too conspicuous. Besides, the owner is likely to care less about a rust bucket like this.”

  Gideon and I nodded and followed him there. Sully tried the doors — locked. He started searching the ground for a rock to smash the window with when Gideon stopped him.

  “I’ve still got my lockpicks,” he said. I was confused, not understanding this exchange, but Sully stepped back to let him do his thing. He slipped the tools inside the lock, twisting it in a series of directions, feeling for the right moment. The lock sprung open much to my astonishment.

  “You have got to teach me that,” I said.

  Sully knew, as the adult, he really should dissuade them from such criminal activities, but the usefulness of the skill couldn’t be denied. And truth be known, he wanted to learn how to do it too. Only for emergencies though, of course.

  Gideon opened the door and climbed inside. A jacket had been dumped carelessly on the backseat and there were a few cans of coke in the footwell, but the car was otherwise empty. In the trunk, Gideon came up with a toolbox, blankets, and the usual car maintenance items one found in a vehicle. But what he couldn’t find were the keys.

  I folded a blanket and laid it over the backseat. Sully carefully lifted Bandit from the gurney and set him on top of the blanket.

  “So, you know how to hotwire the thing too?” Sully asked hopefully. Gideon shook his head however.

  “I just broke into vehicles, I never stole them,” came his reply. My ears pricked up at this bit of information, a fact Sully seemed to notice with some discomfort. I was searching the car for something, anything that would help, when opening the glove compartment, I suddenly grinned.

  “Jackpot.” I sat back, a cell phone in my hand.

  “What’re you gonna do, call AA for help? Couldn’t we just use Bandit’s iPad for that?” said Gideon.

  I was already busy pressing buttons.

  “No stupid, it’s out of charge.”

  “So what’re you doing with the phone?” he asked again.

  “I’m gonna show you how this is done,” I replied, confident. Moments later, I held up the phone.

  “Look, here’s a video showing you exactly how to hotwire an old car.”

  Sully looked down at the phone’s screen and goddamn if she wasn’t right.

  YouTube. What an invention.

  CHAPTER 138

  CHASE

  We drove through the night.

  I kept watch by Bandit’s side, hoping he would wake, but Sully had said it was a big operation and he needed rest. He said I shouldn’t worry. The length of time he was sleeping meant nothing.

  I wasn’t sure I believed him.

  Gideon drove while Sully sat shotgun. It wasn’t until we got into the car that Sully had collapsed, unable to move. He’d been forcing himself to continue despite his injury, but now that we were safe, he just sat, keeping watch in case our stolen vehicle was flagged up. There didn’t seem to be much crime in these parts to generate any concern however, or the cops were all asleep. Either way, our drive passed in relative calm. I however, had had two cans of coke on an empty stomach, so I was on a nervous buzz from the caffeine high.

  Sully kept the radio tuned to a news station. We figured if there was an arrest warrant out for our motley crew, we’d soon be hearing about it over the airwaves. I was starting to feel the beginnings of my sugar crash when we finally arrived back in Montpelier. And with a pang of deep shame, I remembered about Sully’s dad. I’d been so consumed with fear for Bandit that I’d completely forgotten about his dad and the condition we’d left his house in.

  We drove up to the ranch. Police tape formed the morbid outline of deceased people on the ground, though the bodies themselves had been moved. The bullet-riddled vehicles had been towed, and a tent now enshrouded the barn to contain DNA and forensics. Gideon parked the car and turned off the ignition. Sully took one end of the blanket, and Gideon the other. Stretching it taunt, they lifted Bandit out of the car. I hurried on ahead.

  “Zeb? Are you here?!” I called out without thinking.

  “Chase?” came his relieved voice, answering from his bedroom.

  I ran in to find him, propped up in bed. And he wasn’t alone. Sam, our singing, hitch-hike driver sat next to him wearing a Sheriff’s out
fit. Seeing me, her mouth fell open.

  “Why, Bella. Hello again.”

  CHAPTER 139

  SULLY

  Hearing voices, I hurried to my father’s room, but the last thing I expected to see was Sam again. I blinked at her stupidly, gaping at the outfit she now wore.

  “You’re a Sheriff?” I asked.

  Sam nodded, tipping an invisible hat. Seeing Bandit held between them, Sam rose out of her chair.

  “Why do I get the feeling I haven’t been given the whole story?” she said. Zeb stared at the two of them, frowning.

  “You know each other?”

  “I gave them a ride on their way here.” She looked at me. “You’re Zeb’s son?”

  Gently, I laid Bandit onto a couch, throwing cushions to the ground in front of him in case the dog rolled off in his sleep.

  “Yeah.” I didn’t trust myself to speak further, unsure what was happening right now, of what Zeb might have told her.

  “So your father isn’t dead after all,” she said this wryly, with an arch of an eyebrow. I had the decency to look embarrassed off Zeb’s glare.

  “Zeb here explained about the attack, but he hasn’t said who they were or why they came after you. Apparently he doesn’t know. I’m inclined to believe differently.”

  “You hear that, Jake? She’s calling me a liar to my face.” Zeb’s words were fighting, but there was a sparkle in his eyes. He liked her, I could tell. Still unsure what to reveal, I tried for distraction.

  “What happened to the men who attacked us?”

  “Dead. All of them. Damndest thing too, none of them carrying any ID. It’s gonna be a while till we can find out who they were.” She studied our faces, one by one, trying to get to the truth, but neither I nor the kids would cave. Eventually, Sam settled her gaze on Chase.

  “So what’s your real name when you’re not plagiarizing Twilight characters?” she asked. I flushed, called out. Sam went on, “I have nieces. They’ve made me watch that trash some six or seven times.”

  Chase hesitated as if wanting to lie, but must have sensed it wouldn’t do any good. “Chase,” she finally answered.

  Sam nodded thanks and turned her attention to Bandit. “What happened there? That’s a real nasty wound on his head.”

  As Chase plugged in the depleted iPad, preparing for a possible test of Bandit’s skills, I was trying to think of a believable explanation, when two things happened simultaneously.

  One, Bandit stirred, waking up.

  And two, Forbes appeared in the doorway.

  CHAPTER 140

  CHASE

  I didn’t know where to look first.

  Bandit was finally waking up, but there was Forbes, pointing some kind of military rifle at us, eyes bright with madness.

  “You escaped,” was all I managed to say.

  Forbes glared at me, triumphant.

  “You thought your little fire would kill me? Think again,” he said.

  Sully made a move towards him, but Forbes immediately swung his gun at him.

  “Do not move Mr. Sullivan. One more step and it will be your last,” he warned.

  Throughout the exchange, Sam had been watching the whole time, keen eyes assessing the situation. Her hand moved slowly towards the gun clipped onto her belt, but Forbes must have seen the motion.

  “I wouldn’t do that, Sheriff. Not unless you are prepared for the aftermath,” he warned.

  Sam stopped immediately, raising both hands above her head. “Sir, I don’t know what any of this is about, but if you lower your weapon, we can discuss whatever it is that’s bothering you.” Her voice was calm, almost pleasant, though I heard the underlying steel there.

  Forbes looked at her, expression scathing.

  “Oh stop. Your tactics won’t work with me. These people destroyed my life’s work and stole my future! Now I’m going to take back what’s mine, and there’s nothing any of you can do to stop it.” As he spoke, he waved the rifle around, not a care in the world that it could go off. Like he was playing eenie, meenie, he pointed the gun at each of us, finally settling the sights back on Sam. “Very slowly now Sheriff, I would like you to kick your gun away from you.”

  Sam nodded and slowly removed the gun from her belt. Bending down, she set the gun on the ground then kicked it away from her, into the center of the room.

  Forbes swung the gun very deliberately to Bandit, who sat up now, shaking his head groggily. I don’t know if he meant him any harm or was just getting used to aiming with that gun first, but I didn’t think at all. I dived for Bandit, shielding his body with my own.

  “Bandit, get down!” I cried.

  But Bandit didn’t move. I landed beside him, fully expecting my insides to be blown apart any minute, however, Forbes didn’t shoot, focused intently instead on Bandit’s face. He was waiting for his reaction. I rose onto my knees, staring into his eyes.

  “Boy. Do you know who I am?” I asked, unable to stop the tremor in my voice. He stared at me blankly. There was no sign of intelligence in those eyes. No hint at all that he recognized me.

  With horror, I realized that the Bandit I knew and loved was gone.

  CHAPTER 141

  CHASE

  My heart exploded painfully in my chest. At least, that’s what it felt like. Bandit looked at me, but there was nothing there that showed he was the same dog I had gone through so much with.

  “Bandit?” I cried, broken. He didn’t even look at me, gazing around the room in confusion, then at Forbes. Directly at Forbes. It hit me like a sucker punch right then - Bandit wasn’t afraid of Forbes. Forbes noticed the same thing as he suddenly started to laugh.

  “All that wasted effort, when it seems he’s nothing but a dumb dog after all,” he guffawed, lowering his gun. Sam was staring at him hard, unmoving, trying to piece everything together, but there wasn’t a single one of us who were able to explain. We were all too busy grieving. I reached out gently and took Bandit’s face in my hands.

  “Hey fella. It’s OK. All that’s important is now that the tumor’s gone now, you won’t get sick again. I love you. You’re my best friend.”

  Realizing he had won, that there was nothing worse he could do to us, Forbes turned away, leaving, uninterested in us any longer.

  Bandit barked once.

  I froze, as that simple sound caused hope to flare inside. By the door, Forbes stopped dead. He turned slowly around, a frown beginning to appear over his features.

  My bag was lying beside me, I took out the stylus and handed it to Bandit who took it gently in his mouth. Then, as we all watched, he very deliberately typed out the words I LOVE YOU CHASE.

  Overwhelmed with relief and love, I flung my arms around him as Sam looked on, shocked. Gideon was grinning stupidly, Sully had tears in his eyes. Even Zeb was smiling. The only one not happy was Forbes. He stood there, shaking his head. “No… how can this be?”

  Sully looked at him, triumphant.

  “I’m guessing even without the tumor, his brain re-organized itself so he could stay intelligent. Nature is nothing but prolific when it comes to adapting. Funny how a simple dog can do what you can’t, not even with all the billions you own.”

  WOOF! Came Bandit’s timely response. His tongue was hanging out goofily again, and he couldn’t stop licking my face. Having twisted in the knife, Sully turned his back on Forbes to fuss Bandit… which is how he didn’t see the other man looking suddenly enraged. He didn’t see Forbes raise his gun and point it at Sully’s back.

  But I did.

  The world slowed to a crawl as adrenaline kicked in. I saw his fingers close in on the trigger. Without thinking, I dived for Sam’s gun - on the floor in front of me - took aim, and fired. The recoil almost snapped my arm off. I was flung backwards, but as I hit my head on the floor, I saw the muzzle flash tear out of the chamber as the bullet tore into Forbes’ chest. A look of astonishment appeared on his face. He staggered back, blinking in disbelief, as blood blossomed over his shirt. Falli
ng against the wall, he touched his chest. Seeing the blood on his fingertips, he slid down, unable to breath, unable to take it all in.

  Sam jumped into action, bounding over to snatch his rifle, which had clattered to the ground. She pressed her hand onto his chest.

  “Don’t you dare die. I want to see you do time for your crimes,” she said grimly, but it was a losing fight. The color had already drained from his face, now encased in a sheen of sweat.

  At the sound of the gunshot, Sully had looked over at me, at the gun in my trembling hands, still pointed at Forbes. It took a moment, but then it must have sunk in, how close he had come to meeting the reaper. He rushed over to me, holding me tight.

  “It’s alright now baby girl, everything is alright now.”

  I dropped the gun and wrapped my arms around him, bawling like a baby.

  CHAPTER 142

  SULLY

  The following hours passed by in a blur.

  After Chase had saved my life, Sam had called in the cavalry, who arrived just in time to witness Forbes’s demise. I didn’t have faith in the system like Sam did, and was mightily relieved when the paramedics announced his time of death. Justice had prevailed. Sam assured us that Chase would not be facing any charges. There were five allowable witnesses to testify that it was self-defense. The coroner removed Forbes’s body, and we were left to recover while Sam personally oversaw our statements. Still, it took a while to corroborate our reports, seeing as the words “super-intelligent dog” couldn’t make it onto the document.

  So much had happened in the last few hours, but one thing was startling: I was surprised how happy I was to see Sam again. As she worked at collating our reports, as she was told the whole story, I was taken by her confident yet compassionate attitude. She was a trooper too. After Bandit’s initial words, he came right up to her and introduced himself. Bandit shocked us by telling her he liked her as she was a good person. Sam had seemed tickled pink by this.