by Dale Mayer
“Right,” he said. “Seriously crazy. But, if my dad and I can build a few and sell them, maybe that’s the way for me to get started.” They arrived at the military air base, and he parked near the office end of the hanger and hopped out. “You want to come in with me?”
“Sure,” she said. “Anything is better than sitting here alone with my thoughts.”
Parker walked in and saw a few guys hanging around the mechanics’ area. He grinned. “Almost quitting time?”
They nodded. “Yep.”
“Anybody here at the time the dog Samson went missing?”
Two shook their heads, but one nodded.
“I was,” he said. “Darnedest thing. A great big shepherd, black all over, sitting in the cage, nice and happy. We finished loading up everything, did the flight checks, turned around to load up the dog, and the cage was there but no dog.”
“You didn’t see anybody approach?” Parker asked.
The guy, whose tag on his shirt read Ronnie, shook his head. “No. I don’t know what happened. Makes no sense. I didn’t see the dog running free. I was in the plane for a little bit, moving gear around, but it’s not like a bunch of us were here or anything.”
“But somebody surely opened the cage, right? It wouldn’t accidentally open.”
“That’s what I figure,” he said. “The only way that could happen is if it was one of us. Or a local who saw an opportunity to take him.”
The two other men whistled. “That’s quite an accusation there, Ronnie,” said the one named Drake according to the name tag on his overalls. “It’s not like any of us want him. We can’t keep him, given where we live.”
“All kinds of options though. I’m surprised not more has been done about it,” Ronnie said. “That was a nice-looking dog.”
“Do you guys ever get approached about dogs for sale or gear for sale on the black market?”
All three nodded. “I think it’s a standard thing for anybody in the supply chain and, in our case, because we move items in and out of the country all the time,” Drake said. “But it’s not just us. The black market is a big machine. I’m sure there are ways to steal things, but it is not worth our jobs or a possible court-martial.”
“What would somebody do with a dog like that?” Sandy asked. The men’s gaze turned and locked on her.
Ronnie said, “Maybe as a pet, maybe for sale as another military dog, maybe for breeding. Who knows?”
“Anybody leave around that time?” Parker asked, not saying anything about the fact that K9s were always neutered. It made them easier to handle. “I’m just wondering if somebody managed to take the dog. Depending on where you had him caged, it might not have been all that hard to do it. Versus the clasp just popping opening and the dog running away.”
Ronnie hopped up, walked over, and said, “We unloaded him here.” He pointed to a spot about forty feet from the mechanics’ room. “That was where he stayed, until we went back to get him. So it is possible somebody came through here and grabbed him and took him up to the front, but we never did see anybody.”
“Do you know of anybody missing whose shift ended around that time?”
Ronnie looked at Parker for a long moment. “And why are you asking?” He walked several steps to the side.
Parker followed. “Because Commander Cross has shut down the War Dogs division and has asked me to take a look into this dog’s disappearance. An adopted family stateside is expecting Samson. That dog served a lot of years for the US Navy and deserves a good life.”
Ronnie stuck his hands in his pockets. “A kid was hanging around that day,” he said quietly. “A local. We would put him to work often, just washing up stuff for a few bucks. I haven’t seen him since.”
“Do you have a name?”
“Anatol,” he said. “He’s from the village on the other side of that hill.”
Parker nodded. “Was he a good kid?”
“Honestly, I’d say he was. I’m hoping he didn’t take the dog for meat, but it’s possible. He was hungry enough.”
Parker winced. “I sure hope not. That’s a very expensive canine roast.”
“I think he knew Samson was worth more money, but Anatol was also pretty googly-eyed over any of the animals that came through here. A real animal lover. So I don’t think that was his end in mind.”
“Let me see if I can find the dog before I leave for home.”
“And when is that?”
“I’m flying out tomorrow, as it stands now. If possible, I’d like to take the dog back with me. We’ll head out there now. See if we can find Anatol or Samson.”
“Tell him Ronnie sent you.”
“Did you know what happened at the time?”
Ronnie’s back went up.
Parker shook his head. “I don’t care. I’m not part of it. I’m out of the military in a few days. My whole job is to take my brother’s body home and hopefully a live dog.”
Ronnie relaxed a bit and said, “I saw the kid, and then the dog disappeared around the same time. Haven’t seen either since. Draw your own conclusion.” And he walked away.
Chapter 2
As soon as Parker and Sandy returned to their vehicle and headed out,” Sandy asked, “What was that about?”
“He may have an idea where the dog is,” Parker said and explained the little he’d learned.
“And he didn’t tell anyone?” she asked in outrage.
“I’m not sure what that is about either,” he said. “Ronnie didn’t seem to think the kid would hurt the dog, but that’s not the same issue.”
“No,” she said. “He doesn’t know for sure that the dog is okay, nor does he know for sure that the kid took the dog.”
“I know. Maybe the kid loved the dog, but that doesn’t mean that any adults around here will let him keep it.”
Sandy sagged back in her seat. “Can we go to the village and see? It’s still early.”
“Sure,” Parker replied. “I was planning to and hoped you’d be okay with it.”
“We might as well have something to do,” she said, “rather than sitting around, waiting for the myriad of emotions to hit us unexpectedly.”
“Yeah, ain’t that the truth.” He changed directions and headed off toward the village. “I hope it’s not too far away.”
“If the kid’s coming here cross-country, his home can’t be more than a few miles away. Likely he grabbed the dog, then led him back the same way. Unless he’s driving, and I don’t know about that, given he’s a kid, but it’s possible, since no one said he was alone.”
It was a five-minute drive to the village. Parker slowed down as they approached. Just one main street and a couple side streets. He said in a low voice, “Look for the dog.”
It wasn’t as if Sandy needed to be told twice; she had been searching for any animals since they’d left the hanger. She pointed out several dogs, but they were nothing like the big shepherd Samson. They got to the other end of the street and saw a young man walking. Parker pulled off to the side and hopped out to speak with him.
Sandy watched the animated discussion, and the man pointed up the road. Parker returned and started up the engine. Sandy asked, “Does he know where the dog is?”
“He saw the dog with the kid, but then he said a group of men came.”
“Uh-oh,” she uttered.
He nodded. “Like I said, if the dog has any value, the kid can’t keep it. Out here, only the strong win that battle.”
“That’s too bad,” she said. “I forget sometimes just how Americanized we are.”
“It’s a different world here. Poverty is everywhere.” He drove farther up the road and came to what looked like another settlement. He parked, got out and walked over to a door. An older woman came to meet him. She didn’t speak English from the look of the conversation. Sandy stared out the front window, trying to understand what was being discussed, concentrating hard, until somebody rapped on the window beside her, and she let out a shriek. She tur
ned and rolled down the window. “Hi,” she said, drumming up a smile. “We’re looking for a large shepherd.”
The frown deepened on the middle-aged man, but his eyes darted to the side.
Her gaze followed his to a young boy. She pushed her door open, sending the man back slightly. She called to the little boy, “Are you the one who took the shepherd?”
The man beside her spoke urgently. “He knows he did wrong,” he said, holding out his hand for the boy to come closer. “He wanted to take the dog back, but it was too late. The cage wasn’t latched, and, when he called out to the dog, the dog pushed the gate open, then hopped down and raced toward him. He took that as the dog wanted to come away with him.”
She glared at the little boy, leaning against his father. “Where is the dog now?”
The boy looked to the father. “A group of men came and took the dog,” he whispered.
“What did they want the dog for?”
The boy shrugged.
But she could see the worry in his eyes. He had to be twelve, maybe a little younger. The typical age of those who hung around the base, hoping for a chance to deliver water or to get a few coins for a simple job. “Did you recognize these men?”
The boy nodded his head.
Sandy crossed her arms over her chest and looked at Parker, who seemed to realize something was going on and joined them. When he arrived, she explained.
Parker pushed his fingers through his hair. “Where can we find these men?”
“That’s not a good idea,” the boy’s father exclaimed. “The men are dangerous.”
“That’s why you gave them the dog?” she asked. “It was a stolen dog. You know that, right? Stolen from the base,” she added for clarity.
The father winced, looked at the little boy, watching the boy’s shoulders as they sagged.
“Just because you want a dog doesn’t mean you can have the dog,” she said gently. “Thousands of dollars went into his training. He was going home, where he should have started a good life of retirement. Instead he’s been kidnapped by these men, who could have done anything from kill him to use him to terrorize other people.”
Parker turned to the father. “Where can I find these men?”
The father pointed up the road. Parker wanted to know how far. The man shrugged. The discussion went back and forth a little bit more; then, finally, the little boy said something about rebels.
Parker looked down at him. “You think they’re up at a rebel hideout?”
The boy nodded his head.
“Have you seen the dog since?”
The little boy shook his head.
Sandy felt sad for the little boy who badly wanted a dog, but, at the same time, she felt worse for the dog. Samson was very valuable, but no way would the military pay a ransom to get him back, especially not since he was being decommissioned. She turned to face Parker. “Do you want to drive ahead and take a look, then return to the base for backup?”
She watched as he fisted his hands on his hips, glaring at the world around him. She didn’t like the answers any more than he did. To go into a rebel holdout alone was suicide. But it wasn’t as if they would get any backing either. “I suggest we take a look,” she said. “Obviously we won’t get too close. We don’t have any weapons.”
He nodded. “Exactly.” He glanced at the boy. “Do you know where they live?”
The little boy nodded. He glanced at his father.
“Any idea how many men?” There was a discussion about the men, the weapons, how far away they were and how much difficulty they made for the villagers’ lives. Anything this group of people had, the rebels came through and took.
No love was lost between the groups. Parker couldn’t blame them. These villagers worked hard for anything they had, and to have a group like that come through and just take what they wanted would never sit well. Thanking them, he got back into the vehicle, and Sandy hopped into the passenger side.
As they drove up the road, she said, “The little boy looks devastated.”
“Of course he does. Not only did he take a chance and do something that was wrong and grab a US Navy dog but now he lost it too. And he’s probably put his whole family in jeopardy.”
“It’s a terrible thing,” she said. “I wonder why they wouldn’t let him have one.”
“I don’t know,” Parker said. “They might rethink that issue now. Maybe they’ll realize he needs to be punished, and he definitely won’t get one because he tried to steal one. But stealing from the military base is bad news. He’s probably afraid he can’t go back to the base. That’s how a lot of them make money.”
“I remember,” Sandy said. “Always a dozen local kids were around, willing to go and get us water or food or whatever was asked.”
Parker smiled and nodded. “There used to be a regular group. And I’m sure we were the reason those families survived.”
“Right?” she said, leaning back, holding up her hand to shade her eyes from the bright sun as it started to set. “It’s amazing, when you look back on the months you spent here, how it became so normal. And then you return stateside, and you don’t see the urchin street kids anymore. You don’t see people making a living off delivering water.” She shook her head. “It’s like apples to oranges, and yet, at the same time, it really makes you realize just how privileged we are.”
“I’m not missing this,” Parker said. “I spent too many months here. And it feels like a lifetime ago, and I feel like a stranger, even now.”
“Well, we’ve just arrived,” she said. “So, as far as being a stranger, … that’s due to our unique circumstances.”
“Exactly, and it would normally take a couple days to get adjusted, and then, all of a sudden, it would seem like I had never left. I didn’t really like that. It should feel vastly different and stay that way. Instead it all blurs into an existence that’s no longer different. There’s such an odd sensation to know that you could fall back into any given norm so quickly.”
They kept driving until Parker pulled off the roadside near a large tree. “Would you mind if I got out and walked a little bit? I want to take a closer look.”
She studied this face. “I’m going with you. Don’t even think about telling me to stay behind. But why did you pull off here?”
“Because I saw a light up there,” he said. “Chances are they are looking at us, and I just wanted to pull off to the side as if we were sitting here intentionally. And I’m not ordering you, but I need you to stay behind.”
Damn. She glared at him. “Not fair. And how the hell will you get out without them noticing? You shouldn’t be up there alone.”
He smiled. They were driving a navy jeep without a rear window and open sides. Still, he slid over the back of his seat into the rear seat, then snuck out the back door on her side. Next thing she knew, he was among the trees and dashing up the hillside.
“I guess I’m not going after all,” she said out loud, watching him disappear from sight. She wasn’t scared. Never really had been out here, yet that awareness of rebels around was always with her. War was a constant fear factor which you became dulled to after a while. She stared at the bushes where she’d last seen Parker. How long would he be?
Parker used the ground cover to his advantage, crawling up the hill far away from where he’d seen the light. As he crested the top, he could see a little bit of a rise, and nestled on the other side were several huts and small buildings. A compound with dogs was around the back. He was too far away to see if the shepherd was there, but it would make sense that, if these guys had the shepherd, it would be with the other dogs.
Time was tight. He didn’t want to leave Sandy too long. He’d rather not leave her alone at all. It would be inexcusable to have something happen to her from this decision. But the opportunity was here. And if there was one thing he’d learned from his navy days, it was to make the most of those.
Making a quick decision, he slid down the hill along the back behind the
dog compound. As he approached the fence, he saw a big black male shepherd. He gave a slight whistle that he knew the dog should have heard many times in the military. The dog jumped to its feet and came racing to the back fence. Parker gave a second whistle on a different octave, wondering if the dog was capable of jumping to that level. The dog, from a standstill, soared over the fence and ran toward him. Parker had no lead for him, but, carefully maneuvering back the same way he came, Parker slid down the hill on the other side, keeping the dog at his side.
Once they got to the trees, he stopped and hugged the dog. Samson still had a collar on him with his name. Parker crept to the jeep, holding the dog by the collar.
Sandy stared at him. “That easy?”
“It’s never that easy,” he said. Just then shots were fired over his head. He swore and got the dog into the back seat of the jeep.
Before he could head to the driver’s side, Sandy slid over and already had the jeep running. “Get in, get in.”
He jumped into the passenger side. At his feet, he found a piece of rope for a lead for the dog.
Sandy drove like a crazy person, leaving a huge plume of dust behind them. As they hit the small village, everybody was already undercover and hiding, but Parker knew people were coming after them.
“We have to be prepared for them to gain on us,” he cried out as he watched behind them.
Sandy gave him a startled look and yelled, “I’m going as fast as we can.”
He nodded. “After the village we have to find a place to hide. We don’t want to hide close to the village, in case the rebels attack the villagers.”
“No, that’s not happening,” she said. “If we can get to the base or to the airport, that would be the best.”
He nodded. “They were at least prepared for us. I don’t have any weapons. Do you?”
“No,” she said. “I wasn’t issued one. I’m just here as a visitor. Remember?”
“I know. Me too,” he said. “Doesn’t matter what we used to do. It’s what we currently do that matters.” He looked behind them to see a vehicle coming faster than they could drive. “Do you want me to take over?” he yelled.
