The look on Sam’s and Rob’s faces was one that I’d never forgotten all these years later. They looked like they’d seen a ghost and I can only imagine the expression my face held which was forever embedded into their minds. I started to get up and Rob stood to his feet immediately.
“So, this is where some teenage brats have hidden all this time…” One of the dogs walked slowly and arrogantly around the room, passing the three of us with a reprimanding gaze.
“What is this?” I asked, boldly, yet with cloaked timidity. “What’re you doing here and what do you want?”
“Don’t look in their eyes!” Sam warned me.
The other dog waited just past the doorway, nearby where Rob was standing nervously.
“I see. That’s been your strategy, huh?” The dog who’d spoken before remarked. “By the way, in spite of everything, there’s no need for us all to remain strangers. My name is Brick and this here…” he gestured, “…is my brother, Dutch. Our father is who you know as simply Leader.”
The guys and I instantly glanced at each other. We knew these canines were at the highest level of this blasted conspiracy to take over our town and to eliminate our families.
“We’re not afraid of you,” I charged. “You’re a bunch of four-legged bullies who think you’re better than everyone in this town. Well, you’re not gonna stop us. You’d have to chew us to pieces first!”
I happened to glance at Rob after I’d said that and noticed the clear fright on his face. Certainly, none of us wanted to be chewed to bits, but I had to say something to show we weren’t any pushovers. I knew well enough that the only way to not become hopeless victims was to stand up to bullies. Worked every time for me throughout middle school and even if it didn’t work right then and there, it was worth a try.
“I second that!” Sam blurted, nodding at me approvingly.
“Yeah. Me too!” Rob chimed in.
“I must confess… they’ve got guts,” Dutch said with a sinister smile on his rugged face.
Brick grinned. “They do. I’m thinking they’d be perfect in the military once they’d been properly programmed. Maybe we won’t give them the full effect, but should keep them with some sense of individuality. Although risky, it might benefit us even more in the long run.”
“Or maybe, we should scratch all that and just dispose of them. Not such a good idea to keep troublemakers around, huh?”
Contemplatively, Brick soon replied, “You’re probably right.”
Just then, Jeffreys and Hugo entered the room; Hugo, walking on hind legs. They both appeared eerily calm about what was seemingly transpiring in front of them. Jeffreys’ hands were inside his pockets and he and Hugo remained near the doorway, a couple of feet behind Dutch.
Brick looked at them and smiled. “You’ve done a wonderful job, gentlemen. You will be greatly rewarded for your efforts.”
Sam nudged me.
“I knew that bastard couldn’t be trusted!” she exclaimed. “I knew it from that first day he showed up here.”
Rob was shaking his head, disappointingly.
“How could you do this?” I said to Jeffreys. “We depended on you to do the right thing. But you just couldn’t; could you? I was right about you all along—and so was Ms. Pearl!”
He didn’t respond.
“He’s a punk; that’s what!” Sam said. “Punks do what he did and that animal of his, to think he fooled us like that! I should’ve known he was no different from the rest of ‘em. They all have everything to gain.”
Brick made his way over to his accomplices and stood proudly next to Jeffreys. “There is nothing at all comparable to loyalty,” he said. “Our father taught us that from a tender age and it’s obvious to me that Hugo has done the same with this fine human as of late, who has willingly betrayed his own kind for the good of this town.”
Jeffreys had stood silently all along and I wondered if cat had suddenly got his tongue in spite of the heated confrontation. Then, I saw one of his hands slip from his pocket, and Hugo was moving in closer to Dutch who was in front of him. Together, Jeffreys hand went up and Hugo’s front paw, and in an instant the guys and I witnessed the most shocking thing ever since our town had been turned upside down. Jeffreys had sneakily injected something into the side of Brick’s neck while Hugo injected something into Dutch’s. Both canines fell to the floor seconds later like two sacks of potatoes.
Our eyes widened with astonishment as Jeffreys and Hugo stood before us with both a satisfied and nervous expression on their faces. The two brothers never saw it coming.
“No need to fear,” Hugo started. “They’re not dead. Just in a very deep sleep right now.”
“So, you didn’t betray us after all!” Sam smiled.
“Doesn’t look like it, huh?” Jeffreys replied, evenly.
Rob advanced a little closer toward the sleeping dogs. “Serves ‘em right.”
“So, what now?” I asked Jeffreys and Hugo.
“We have some chains in the car and a chair. It would be great if two of you will go down and get them. They’re in the trunk. The car’s unlocked,” Jeffreys said.
“I’ll go,” Rob offered.
“I’ll come with you.” Sam eagerly joined him.
“You really had us all fooled for a minute there.” I walked over to him. “Why didn’t you tell me what was going to happen?”
“I wanted to, but Hugo and I felt it would be too risky. We needed your reaction to them being here to be as genuine as humanly possible so that when we made our move, it would be seamless. And so, it was.” He nodded.
“So, what do we do now?” I asked.
“We chain them, videotape them and send the recording to Leader—their father,” Hugo answered.
Sam and Rob walked in with the chains as Hugo was explaining.
“What will keeping them here do to help get our peeps out?” Sam asked, handing the chain to Jeffreys.
Rob rested the iron chair and the chain he was carrying on the floor a couple of feet away from Brick. The chair looked like one you would’ve found in many of the houses in our neighborhood. It was a simple dining room chair.
“Oh! I got it!” Sam exclaimed. “You’re setting up an exchange. The leader’s sons, I guess you could call them…for our peeps.”
“Not quite,” Hugo replied, much to Sam’s surprise. It was obvious she thought she had it all figured out.
“If my assumption is correct, Leader’s loyalty to his sons is paramount and if we are able to twist his hand a good bit, their confinement may be the thing that turns everything around in this town. If we play our cards right, of course.”
I didn’t get a full explanation, but figured if anyone in that room knew those canines for what they were, it would be Hugo. And it would be Hugo that would give us the best shot at hitting them where it hurts.
“Anything you say,” I replied.
“Yeah. We’re in,” Sam said, after glancing at Rob.
“Well then, grab that chair from over there, young man, along with this one you just brought up,” Hugo said to Rob. “And let’s get these two officers up and seated. They’re about to make their television debut.”
8
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Brick and Dutch were each confined to a chair. We were careful to ensure that when they happened to wake up, they wouldn’t be able to fight their way out of them. The chain was placed on them starting from the chest area and swirling around the chair several times until their body was properly restrained. We all worked as a team—Hugo, being the instructor as to how things must be done.
Jeffreys moved the bench away from the window and set up a camera he’d also brought along in the car to face the sleeping canine giants. It was decided I would be the one to speak and no one else except for me, Brick and Dutch would be visible in the background. Hugo said it would be obvious to the leader that I hadn’t taken down two of his canines by myself and it would have him wondering how many of us were wandering arou
nd with our perfect senses, prepared to wage war against them. I thought it was a plan of pure ingenuity. I just hoped in the end, everything would turn out the way Hugo thought it might. He was still privy to something we couldn’t quite comprehend.
I stood behind the restrained, sleeping dogs as Jeffreys and Hugo had instructed and I sent a clear, concise message to their father concerning his sons’ captivity and what was coming next for them if he didn’t agree to allow me safe entry into the compound right away along with a few friends, and subsequently meet our demands. The recording was no more than three minutes long and after that, with a click of a button, Jeffreys sent it as an email attachment to the leader. Hugo had access to the leader’s private email address and his cell phone. His internet access did not go beyond Eppington’s perimeter. These dogs were certainly taking over. I was stunned to know that they were just as technically savvy as many humans were and even more organized than most.
“There it is,” Hugo said with a yawn. “Now, we just wait.”
Jeffreys had created a new email address so that the leader would not automatically figure out who had sent the message. My involvement in this matter was not a secret, but theirs was for the time being.
Within five minutes, a notification went off on Hugo’s phone that Jeffreys was holding.
“It’s him!” Jeffreys said, peering down at the small lettering. “He’s agreed to meet right away and promised we have immediate clearance to enter the compound.
“Yay!” Sam jumped and clapped, then hugged me. Rob was smiling from ear to ear.
Then I think the reality of what was coming next hit Sam like a ton of bricks.
“This means you’re going without us?” She asked, knowingly.
I nodded. “I have to. You and Rob have to stay here with these two brutes.” I was hoping to make her laugh.
“We’re still in this together even though it seems like I’m entering the lions’ den without you guys,” I added.
I could sense her reluctance to see me go.
“Just do what Jeffreys and Hugo said to do if these dogs show the slightest sign of waking up.”
“Yeah. Stick ‘em again!” Rob boldly announced. He had the syringes in his pockets for safekeeping.
“Those two are not likely to wake up for hours, so we might very well be back by then.”
“Yeah…might,” Sam said.
“We will,” I told her, looking into those beautiful eyes of hers.
“But what if you don’t come back?” She asked. “What are we supposed to do and with these two?”
There was a brief period of memorable silence.
“You will know, my dear,” Hugo said. “You have a natural instinct to survive.”
I knew my friends had to take those words for what they were worth. It wasn’t like they had much of a choice otherwise.
I gave Sam the tightest hug I think I’d ever given her before and shook Rob’s hands briskly. He and I were teenagers, but in our minds, we were grown men—if not before, then at that moment in time.
“Take care of Sam ‘til I get back,” I told him.
He gave me a military salute with an assuring smile, then Jeffreys, Hugo and I headed out to the car.
We were on our way to the compound.
9
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Asking Rob to take care of Sam was a tall order, particularly when I knew she was tougher than he was. Nevertheless, she was a girl—excuse me—a lady, despite the fact she rarely ever acted like it other than when she expressed concern about me, for one reason or the other.
This time, I didn’t have to crouch down in the trunk, but sat with some dignity in the back seat behind Jeffreys as we took the same route we’d travelled together a couple of days earlier.
“You’re a brave young man,” Hugo said to me from the front passenger seat. “I assume most other people your age would not have opted to risk their life for the people they love.”
“It may surprise you, Hugo, but I know a number of people who would’ve done the same thing that I’m doing. We’re not all selfish, you know. I believe human beings have the innate ability to genuinely love one another and to show it just like canines can. This town may have some shady, unkind people in it just like every town does, but there are a lot of good people here too.”
Jeffreys glanced at me through the rearview mirror a few times as Hugo and I conversed.
“Well, I suppose your deep commitment toward others will be obvious by the one who’s capable of granting you the one wish you so desire,” Hugo remarked. “I’m rooting for you.”
“I am too,” Jeffreys said.
“Thanks, guys. I appreciate that,” I replied.
It seemed like the drive to the compound this time was quicker than the last. I wasn’t sure if that was a good thing since I was nervous as hell though I believed I succeeded in not showing it. I told myself over and repeatedly “I can do this”. It didn’t matter if I was about to meet the leader of the canines or the leader of the free world. I had a mission which required entering enemy territory and at my young age I had enough sense to know there was a greater chance of strength and determination helping you when weakness would only kill you.
We slowed down to a complete halt at the security gate where a fierce-looking canine gestured for us to continue along after I’d indicated, without making eye contact, that I was there to see their leader. I saw that he had a screenshot of me in his paw and also noticed he gave Jeffreys and Hugo a somewhat condescending look.
At the distillery, I was under the impression for a while that Jeffreys and Hugo would’ve stayed out of sight, particularly when I was instructed to make the video solo. The question about how I’d do it all alone did cross my mind, but before I’d bothered to ask, I realized the plan consisted of stages. This planning thing was something I wasn’t used to at all, as I once indicated. So, to think there would be actual parts or stages to a particular plan was like me studying physics. It was mind-boggling. Thankfully, I had pretty good guidance that hopefully, wouldn’t get us killed, as well as everyone else held on that compound.
I realized Jeffreys and Hugo had taken a huge risk by getting directly involved; especially Hugo. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to tell me that he’d be labeled and treated as a traitor by those who looked like him. He was a part of their military, for goodness sake! What’s worse than a soldier being a traitor? Yet, he boldly came along with me like the fine canine that he was. And Jeffreys, whom I never thought too kindly of before all this stuff happened—spoiled, self-centered Jeffreys—surprised me by risking all that he held near and dear which was largely himself.
Jeffreys and Hugo decided we’d drive straight around to where the pit was first to see what progress had been made. To our surprise, work on it had seemingly been halted, though we had no idea for how long. The image of my folks working out there like slaves was embedded in my mind even as we sat there for a minute with the engine running, looking over at the pit.
“I wonder why they let them do all that digging,” I said. “They could’ve easily gotten a backhoe or something like that to do the job.”
“They’re aware that heavy equipment would’ve been faster and easier,” Hugo replied. “They were in no rush and they preferred to put the people to work. It’s that simple.” He looked at Jeffreys who was unusually quiet. “We’d better go now.”
I could see this task was not an easy one for Hugo, but he seemed to be at peace with what he was doing. I imagined being in his shoe and betraying all the humans I knew—even though they were wrong—for the sake of the canines. I’m not sure I would’ve been as brave or as honorable as he was. In my opinion, Hugo was one of a kind. He certainly was no Dillinger. I’d made up my mind that if I was successful in this mission, I would have a man to dog discussion with Dillinger, face to face. He’d have to answer to me for all the crap he’d done and after that, I’d never want to see him again.
Jeffreys put the car in drive
and we circled back around to what I initially thought was the main office. It was the place Hugo had entered after we’d dropped him off the first day. From what he described, it wasn’t merely an office, but a prison for those condemned without a fair trial.
Jeffreys didn’t bother to pull into a parking spot, but instead parked brazenly in front of the main door of the building.
“Here, we are,” he said, glancing at us both. Then he focused on his dog. “I guess, all I can say is that I’m proud to have you as my friend, Hugo, and I really hope this ends well for all of us.”
“I do too, my friend. However it turns out, it was all worth it, eh?”
Jeffreys smiled. “Yes indeed.” He turned my way. “Spader, it’s largely up to you now. We’ve gone over this and we’re confident that you can do it. At the same time, know that we’re not going to blame you if it turns out differently than we’d hoped because we know you’d done your best. I hope you’re successful in getting your parents back home to safety. I sure wish mine were still around.”
I was sure I saw a slight welling of tears in his eyes.
“Anyway,” he cleared his throat. “You go in there and you speak from the heart. We’re right behind you.”
“Thanks, Jeffreys.” I nodded. “I’m indebted to you both.”
Hugo stepped out the car first and Jeffreys and I followed him. Two armed canine guards were on both sides of the main door just like before; they looked more like statues than dogs. Hugo told them their leader was expecting me, but it appeared from their nod, that they already knew who I was. One of them opened the door for us and Hugo allowed me to enter first.
The Hewey Spader Mystery Series (The Complete Trilogy * Books 1 -3 ) Page 11