Buck Vs. the Bulldog Ants

by David Kersey

CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN

  John pulled into the car park and made sure his car and Marlene’s car were out of the way for Beverly to have egress. Her car was sufficiently out of the way. He hung up his coat and tie on the hall tree and made his way into the basement, and was pleased to see the animals and Marlene were still at work in the chamber. “Hello, everyone, how’s it going?” John said as he peeked his head around the corner. John made himself a drink at the bar and then took a seat in the chamber.

  “Hi, John. We’ve done a lot of repeating from yesterday but now we are on the letter M. And can I have one of those that you’re holding?”

  “I’d like to see how it’s going. Finish with your current letter and then I’ll make you a drink.”

  Marlene held up the picture card of the MOON and I pointed to the correct letters. I then started to gag several times and pulled on Marlene’s cargo pants with my teeth. I hoped she would understand that I needed to go outside quickly. I pulled hard and she rose to her feet, and so did John. Cassie hustled and sprawled across John’s feet before he had risen all the way. Marlene said, “I’ll take care of letting him out, make yourself useful at the bar, please.” Guido joined us in going outside. I made gagging sounds on the way up the steps. Once the door opened I ran to the side of the garage and made more gags and then a puking sound. I had to buy time for Cassie.

  “What are you doing, Cassie?”

  She took her position at the cardboard keyboard and began to paw out the letters. D, to which John said d. A, John said a. N, n, G, g, E, e, and then John said, “Is the word danger?” Cassie meowed and then sat on her haunches, rose her front paws to her eyes and flawlessly performed the camera act complete with the clicking sound.

  “Cassie, I think you are telling me that you know of a danger and that it’s because of someone using a camera. Is that right?” Cassie meowed once. “Thank you, Cassie, you are the most amazing feline in the world. I am going to make Marlene’s drink and think about what you just showed me.”

  His immediate conclusion was that Marlene had taken more pictures of the basement. He noticed that the cabinet door to the snooping equipment had not been jimmied. He continued to think as the front door opened.

  “Here’s your drink, Marlene, come sit with me at the bar.”

  “How was your day, John?”

  “Same sixes and sevens, and yours?”

  “Much the same. John, I don’t think Guido is getting it. I think I made the wrong choice of dogs.”

  “Oh, I don’t know about that. These things take time.” John was making conversation but wracking his brain about the danger and camera. He wondered if the license plate number tied in somehow. He also realized that Chip had been right to invite them to his office for a chat. More than a chat actually.

  “Let’s give it another day, don’t you think? Besides, I have something for us to do this evening.”

  “Oh, and what would that be?”

  “If you’re real nice to me, I’ll let you drive Beverly. I have to meet someone in town and I’d like you to go, only we can’t take the dogs. We’ll kennel them and have an evening to ourselves.”

  “Are you going to take advantage of me?” Marlene teased.

  “Like I say, if you’re nice to me.” She didn’t know how prophetic her tease would turn out to be.

  “Let me go make my presentable if we’re going to meet people, and if you are going to take advantage of this poor, defenseless gal. I think I’ll be nice to you, by the way. She waived her fingers back and forth. “I’m thinking about it, hear?” she lied.

  “You’re perfect the way you are. Finish your drink and we’ll go have some fun.”

  “Sir, ladies don’t behave like men. I’ll use the facilities and freshen up a little. Be right back.” Marlene scampered to the TV room without finishing her drink.

  John led Cassie and me to the chamber. “Are you sick, Buck?” I barked twice. “Is there a danger because someone used a camera?” I barked once. “In the house?” I barked twice. “On my property?” I barked once. “Marlene?” I barked twice. “Do you know who?” I barked twice.

  He returned to the bar with a clearer picture of possible scenarios. He placed a high probability that the camera and the license number belonged together. He would mention both things to Chip. It dawned on him that his cat and dog knew about a camera because one of their animal troupe had witnessed something. He almost chuckled when he mused that the intrigue would read like a dime store novel, only there were no more dime stores, those had morphed to dollar stores.

  “Ready,” she said. “And willing,” she added.

  “Alright then, lock and load.”

  Guido and I watched from the kennel as Marlene gingerly eased Beverly around her parked car. I turned to Guido and said, “I think something big is about to happen, what do you think?” Guido whimpered in a total lack of understanding, but I knew he wanted to learn. I could tell.

  “Where to?”

  “Turn right at the highway, we’re going into town.”

  John instructed her to take one of the angled parking spaces in front of the county courthouse.

  “John, are you one of those types that think we have to get married first?” she said laughing.

  “My friend is right across the street. Come on, you’ll see what’s in store for us”

  She grabbed John’s arm and stopped in her tracks. “What the hell is going on?” Marlene said while reading the lettered sign of the County Sheriff, Richard Shermahorn.

  “Come.” He grabbed her hand and led her to the reception counter. A deputy behind the counter said, “Sorry ma’am, you’ll have to leave your purse here, standard procedure.” She laid her purse on the counter but all the while was looking at John. He led her down a short hallway, entered the rear office and shut the door behind them and motioned for Marlene to take a seat. A deputy pulled a chair to the outside of the closed door and took a seat as well.

  “Marlene, this is Sheriff Chip and he wants to say a few words. I didn’t want to do something like this but once you listen to him I trust you’ll see why I had to.”

  “John?”

  “Pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Johnson.” Marlene could not hide the surprise in her eyes. Her hands fidgeted on her lap. “But to make this more casual, may I call you Marlene?”

  “John?” She had a pleading to her tone.

  “Marlene, this is for your own good and for John’s good as well,” Sheriff Chip warned. “Surely you don’t think that twenty thousand dollars is a large sum of money. Do you?”

  Her head bowed and she shut her eyes.