Case of the Great Danish

by Erik Schubach

  Unleashed

  Case of the Great Danish

  By Erik Schubach

  Copyright © 2018 by Erik Schubach

  Published by Erik Schubach on Smashwords

  P.O. Box 523

  Nine Mile Falls, WA 99026

  Cover Photo © 2018 Vadymvdrobot & Willeecole / Depositphotos licenses

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author / publisher, except by a reviewer who wishes to quote brief passages in connection with a review written for inclusion in a magazine, newspaper, blog, or broadcast.

  This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  Manufactured in the United States of America

  FIRST EDITION

  ISBN 978-0-9993740-8-5

  Contents

  Chapter 1 – Central Park Tails

  Chapter 2 – Sign

  Chapter 3 – Gifts

  Chapter 4 – Danish

  Chapter 5 - Havermail's Baked Goods

  Chapter 6 – Oh Fin

  Chapter 7 – Gulliver's Gate

  Chapter 8 – Gilbert Kennels

  Chapter 9 – I'm Coming Fin

  Chapter 10 – Breadcrumbs

  Chapter 11 – Bulldogging

  Chapter 12 – Bow Bridge

  Chapter 13 – Reunited

  Epilogue

  Chapter 1 – Central Park Tails

  Damn, these rookies are green! I walked up and down the line of four fresh-faced recruits, my hands clasped behind my back. The two young women and one young man who all looked like kids to me, were alert and excited... ready to be pressed into service. This was no picnic, and not for the faint of heart. They needed to be ready to do what was needed to protect their charges and the public, and not just anyone could answer this calling.

  The fourth of the group stood apart from the others, nervously swallowing, showing his apprehension and borderline fear. I stepped up to him and looked up into his freckled face. “There is no room for fear in this job. Fear is the enemy, do you understand recruit?”

  He straightened his back like a tin soldier, and he looked straight over my head, not daring to make eye contact. “Ma'am, yes ma'am!”

  “I can't hear you!”

  He repeated with more conviction, “Ma'am, yes ma'am!”

  I nodded. Better. I looked at my lieutenant, who cocked his head at me. Good, he agreed, with their hard work and dedication. This group would work out fine. I barked out, “Check your gear!” They went about quickly checking their gear and that of the person to their left, I nodded in satisfaction as I paced the line, my hands still clasped behind my back.

  What? Oh no, not military. I guess I should introduce myself, the name is Finnegan Temperance May, dog walker extraordinaire, at your service. No really, at your service, you can hire me online in the Manhattan area at FinneganWalks.com.

  I beamed a big smile at the new recruits as I bounced on my toes. Swinging from side to make my snow white sundress, which matched the newly fallen snow outside, swish around me. I reached up and brushed some of my loose, light brown curls out of my face as I reached over to the counter and grabbed a plate, thrusting it at the volunteers. “Now have a cookie.”

  They all relaxed and returned the smile. Well all except Mark that is, who blushed instead. Puppy love was so cute. I held the plate, which I had neatly labeled 'Cookies for the Newbies,' under his downward gaze. “Mark, cookie consumption is required in the swearing in ceremony.”

  The dogs running around the space, predominantly long-haired Dachshunds, were all hoping to hoover up any crumbs that fell as they flowed around me like a liquid canine wave. My lieutenant of mischief, Sir Calvin Cornelius Fluffytoes, my adorable border collie, was first in line for any spillage.

  Mark, then Felicia, Harmony, and Kirk all selected cookies and I accidentally spilled the broken up cookie from the other side of the plate on the ground, making sure the old Golden Retriever, Ruff, got some. Oh, no! Spillage, such a tragedy. I giggled at the dogs as they enthusiastically disposed of the freshly baked oatmeal raisin evidence.

  What? You'd do the same, and you know it.

  Then I put the plate down, reached out a hand, and with military precision, Ralph slapped four leather leashes in my hand. I stepped up to the volunteers and grinned at each as I clipped the leashes into the loops on their belts, right next to the plastic bags to pick up whatever gifts the dogs dropped on their walks, and the water bottle with the collapsible water bowl that each wore, courtesy of my dog rescue, here in Manhattan.

  Then I stood and straightened Mark's winter jacket for him and said to them, “Congratulations, and welcome to Central Park Tails. Remember, for the first two weeks, you can walk only one dog at a time until you get used to controlling the little tail waggers in public. Go get 'em, recruits.”

  With the enthusiasm of the nineteen to twenty-one year olds they were, they smiled broadly at me and grabbed some harnesses from a chuckling Ralph and selected their first dog to walk out on the snowy paths of Central Park.

  I exhaled and flopped into one of the many couches in the space, then giggled as I was mauled by a half-dozen tongues as the dogs hopped up to get some good lovin' from me. I glanced around the place, my place... well Calvin's place technically, as it was all being done with the money bequeathed to him by his late owner.

  The rescue was like no other kennel. When we designed it, I insisted there be no cages in it. If a dog is homeless, it is just bigger stress to throw it in what amounts to a doggie jail with concrete floors and chainlink cages. CPT was different, the entire place was made up to resemble a big home. The main room had a half dozen couches, various dog beds and throw rugs in open spaces, and dog doors out to the small yards. There were a couple isolation rooms in case we got temperamental dogs in who needed to be socialized, and even those rooms were set up like small bedrooms.

  The only room that didn't look like it belonged in a house in the suburbs was the exam room, which looked like any other veterinary clinic, and that was out of both practicality and necessity, as well as letting the dogs get used to how things would be at the veterinary visits they would be subjected to their whole lives.

  We had two full-time employees, and the rest, including our vet and groomer, were volunteers. For the most part, each dog got at least one walk a day, sometimes two, and they were walked by the professional dog walkers of New York City. Over the course of any given day, ten or twenty of the thousands of dog walkers in the city would show up to walk the dogs.

  We... are legion.

  But we also encouraged other volunteers to pick up the slack on holidays like this to try to get each dog out twice a day. This human interaction, love, and attention are key to a happy and well-adjusted pup. Not to mention the socialization skills they gained by being around so many other dogs, what with new dogs coming in and out every day until they found their new forever-homes.

  I glanced over to another couch where an older gentleman and friend, Barnabas, otherwise known as the Broadway Cat in another life, sat brushing out one of our new arrivals, a little Sheltie I got off the streets of the city before Animal Control could bring the little girl to doggie jail. The gentle old man returned my smile. I can't imagine him in jail at his advanced age and was glad the DA struck a deal that had him doing two thousand hours of communi
ty service after three months in a medical detainment facility which had nursed him back to health after a massive coronary.

  I squeaked when I was lifted off the couch by strong arms. Kerry said as she moved us toward the front doors, my arms wrapped around her neck, holding on for dear life, my feet kicking as I blushed. “Let's get going, Tempe. You know your mom will have our hide if we're late.”

  As usual, she was dressed head to toe in bike leathers, with a US Air Force leather and denim jacket over them. Her blonde hair was cropped in a short pixie cut, some of her copious tattoos visible at her neckline, low enough to be hidden when she was in uniform. She had a surety and charisma about her that just commanded the room. And for those of us who know what sexy was, my childhood best friend was it.

  Harmony virtually skipped up to us with her dog in tow, hero worship in her eyes as she looked at Kerry as she asked, “Is this your famous girlfriend, Finnegan?”

  I snorted, wondering which of the many exaggerated tales the girl had heard about Jane and me. So many of them had popped up over the past few months. I squeaked as Ker kissed my cheek suggestively, then said to the young lady, “Alas, I had my chance, but it was not to be, she loves another.”

  The curvy redhead behind us was wearing all black, with a heavy winter leather trench coat she must have picked up at the City Kitty alternative attire boutique which she managed. The coat just hit the arches of her thigh high leather boots. She said, “Alright, Miss Casanova, drop the merchandise.”

  She tugged at my arm until Kerry set me down while I said, “No, this oversized Ker-Bear is not Jane.” Calvin found this game of 'Pass the Finnegan', quite fun as he barked once, his tail swishing as he flowed around us.

  The girl, transmitting loud and clear on the rainbow frequency, gave my friend an appreciative once-over as I found myself squeaking and being dipped by Jess, who placed a hand over my mouth as she mimed a passionate kiss, but really kissing the back of her own hand.

  I could feel the burn of the blush traveling down my body to the tips of my toes. The two women were always flirting with me, to make each other jealous and especially to make my Jane jealous. They knew Jane was the one who held my heart. A little part of me was always thrilled about the teasing as it made me feel... well, loved I guess, as odd as that sounds.

  Harmony's smile bloomed, and she opened her mouth to ask, but I cut her off, shaking my head. “No, this isn't Jane either. This precocious upstart is just my motorcycle mechanic.”

  The new girl's brow furled in confusion over the way the two women from Bad Girl's monthly were playing with me. She asked to break the awkward pause, “You have a motorcycle?”

  I felt terrible at the complete befuddlement on her face when I responded with a chirpy, “Nope.”

  She half said and half asked in her confusion, “Oh?”

  As Jess helped me into Jane's black leather jacket, which I had stolen for my own just days after meeting my Jerk Cop, she offered in explanation while rushing me, “We just keep Fin warmed up for the main event.”

  My eyes went wide, and my voice hit one octave higher than I thought I was capable of producing as I spluttered out, “Mable Jessie Freeman!” By the swishing tail and lolling tongue, these two were going to be the death of me. I needed to clean something, the magazines on the various tables could be straightened up and the...

  Ker caught that they had tipped me over my coping threshold and she placed a calming hand on my arm and then just said in explanation to the girl with the one cocked eyebrow and a smirky smile on her face, “We tease. We're just her friends. Jane would skin us alive if she were here.” Then she winged a thumb toward her partner in crime, “I'm with Red.”

  That was almost close to an admission that they were a couple, which Jane and I can't get them to admit no matter how we present the copious amounts of evidence. It is so very clear that they are smitten with each other, and they do it like rabbits every moment they get, and Jess has never gone past a first date before, read 'booty call,' except when she was dating Jane. Jess and Kerry have been dating four months now, and the shy and adoring way they looked at each other when they thought the other wasn't watching was obvious.

  Jess leaned over me to give her girl an appreciative peck on the lips.

  Harmony looked as if she was about to burst into a cloud of estrogen any moment watching the two gorgeous women share a smoldering look. I pulled on my white winter boots with their stark white faux fur tops, thinking I must look a sight, white summer dress, fuzzy white winter boots, and a black jacket that clashed with the winter wonderland look I was shooting for.

  I snapped my fuzzy white earmuffs over my ears, pulled on the white winter cap, and said, “Bad Jess, bad Ker. Leave the poor girl alone.” Then to Harmony, I said, “I apologize for their barbaric behavior, I'm trying to break them of it. Calvin is better behaved than them.” I crouched to clip Cal's leash on his harness. He wagged in staunch agreement with me, he always had my back like that.

  The new girl gave a look I couldn't decipher as she shrugged and said almost suggestively to them, “Oh, no, no, no. I don't mind one bit.” She walked past us all, smugly, and through the first set of doors with a little Jack Russel mutt leading the way. Good lord of all that was fluffy in the world, there were three of them!

  Jess turned with an eyebrow cocked to appreciatively watch the girl go through the second set of doors of the 'airlock' which prevented dog runaways, just to be slapped on the back of the head by Ker. I reached up and slapped Kerry similarly, grumbling, “I can't take you two anywhere,” as I imperiously marched past the misbehaving women, just to trip on a whole lot of nothing, catching myself on the door and then scurrying through in my embarrassment.

  I heard the two evil ones chuckling as they followed us. I hid a smile from them as I levered open the second set of doors, bracing myself for the expected blast from the bone-chilling cold winds which followed yesterday's blizzard through the island.

  My smile widened when Kerry pointed out, “We love you, Runt.” Jess grunted in assent.

  I turned and looked at them dubiously as I shivered when a gust of wind chilled the parts of my legs that were encased only in white tights. I was seriously rethinking my penchant for dresses in the middle of winter. “I love you brats too.” Then I lifted my chin and supplied, “Calvin says you act like twelve-year-olds.”

  Kerry snorted and countered, “Then why is his tail wagging?” It was true, Calvin was exhibiting traitorous behavior just then, with his cute face and waggy tail.

  I exhaled in apparent defeat and said, “I can only say one thing about that Ker-Bear.”

  She cocked her head in invitation for me to go on. I was smirking as her eyes widened, realizing what I was just about to do. “Shotgun.”

  She muttered, “You little sneak! I thought you were supposed to be the gracious one.”

  I shrugged and pointed out like it were obvious, “Between graciousness and sitting in the back seat for two hours with Calvin. I choose comfort.” I stuck my tongue out at her, and she huffed with a smile.

  Then she sidled up seductively to Jessie as we walked up to her car, which she had somehow been able to park right up front. I swear she has some sort of car parking super power. Jess' eyes lit with hunger as she shook her head. “You know the rule, Fin called it, Fly Girl.”

  Ker muttered, “Poo,” then playfully shoved Jessie's shoulder as I opened the passenger side door and pulled the seat forward for my poor airman friend. She cutely snubbed me, nose held high as she slipped into the back.

  I countered by telling my excited black and white ball of fur, “Calvin, attack!” as he hopped in after her.

  Calvin... didn't attack. Although, he did find an opportune moment to give her a loving slurp up the side of her face as she gacked and windmilled her hands at him, which just got him bouncing and wiggling.

  I commented as I started tidying up the parking tickets strewn all over the dashboard and
wiping down the dash with a wet-wipe from my white shoulder bag, “Get used to it, he's your date for the two-hour drive to Liberty, lady.”

  They shared a chuckle with me as Calvin laid across my old friend's lap, with her absently rubbing his ears. My current BFF started the convertible and turned the heater on full, as I wondered at them. They were my extended family, and they loved me just as I was.

  Jess muttered out the side of her mouth to me without looking over, “You don't have to keep cleaning my car, short stuff. I like the clutter.”

  Well fine, they mostly loved me just as I was. Shut up.

  I let her know in no uncertain words that, “You're lucky I don't detail your whole car after what you two just pulled in there.”

  She nodded once with an unrepentant smirk and accepting shrug. “Fair enough.”

  As we started for mom's in Liberty, I sighed. I would much rather have ridden with Jane, but she was finishing up on a case here on Christmas Eve and would be joining us later. It was one of the reasons I loved Detective Jane McLeary, her dedication to her job. But I could still miss cuddling in her arms.

  I winced as Jess slowly reached for the radio, humming. I knew what she was doing, but I couldn't carry a tune, this was going to be a long and aurally painful trip.

  Chapter 2 – Sign

  Two hours and multiple butchered songs later, we pulled into the familiar driveway on Cedar Street in Liberty, laughing and belting out Kelly Clarkson's, ‘Since U Been Gone’. I can't believe these two women who preferred edgy alternative rock even knew the words. I seriously think they are closet pop rock fans.

  I glanced at the little robin's egg blue house with its striking white trim and white door which always reminded me of frosting. Becky and Gar's red Land Rover Defender was in the drive. But I started blinking at the sign hanging on the little picket fence around the front yard. “For sale?” Whaaa?

  I stared at the sign in a daze as we unfolded ourselves from Jess' little convertible. The family dog, Puddles, was barking like crazy in an excited fury in the living room window, along with Becky's pup, Oscar.