chapter 38

and that dog

Joe sat in the passenger seat of the Caddy, holding Stevie’s phone. He was visibly upset. “Chief, that dog was really hurt. I can’t believe we just took off without making sure . . .” Joe couldn’t bring himself to finish the sentence. 

Chief pulled the Cadillac into a small, unlit parking lot adjacent to a park. He turned off the car and flicked off the headlights. The park was deserted and silent; in the darkness, he could barely make out the shadow of a swing set. 

Chief looked out his window, Joe’s window, the back window, then he turned to Joe and said loudly, “We’re on a mission, Joe.” Joe jumped. “We’re not here to save dogs,” Chief continued. “We are here to capture the Ching and return it safely to the LightYear lab . . . besides, that dumb dog never should’ve run off with the Ching in the first place.” 

“I don’t know about her being very dumb, Chief,” Joe replied quietly. He flipped Stevie’s phone around in his hand and showed the screen to Chief.

Chief read the message out loud: “I am saving your life, you must save theirs . . .”

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