Back
in those days, to be successful, in the construction business, you had
to rub noses with both city officials and the mob. The right contribution
could buy a lot of jobs.
Lucky Lassieano had just taken over as crime boss from his paw and pretty
much ran the unions. There was a lot of suspicion that Bull and Lucky
had formed an alliance to control the woofing business. It was a fact,
that Bull Mastiff got first crack at every big city job. Bulls' relationship
with Lucky went back to the days when they both attended Obedience School
together. Although, Lucky got kicked out for bad behavior. Bull always
poo-pooed the hanky-panky accusations of favoritism and my father chose
to keep his nose out of Bulls' business. And he did just that, until the
big Kennel Club scandal.
(Rods'
eyes water up at the memory of the incident and he pushes it out of his
mind and gets back to the case at hand.)
There's the old warehouse that's coincidentally adjacent to Bull Mastiffs' old place. I can't imagine why Babette chose this old, dilapidated building. My nose is twitching and that usually means trouble. I'd better sneak in the back.
(Rod walks
through a pile of trash and rubble to the back of the warehouse and sees
a black stretch limousine barely visible in the darkness. Rod walks over
and peers through the tinted windows.)
Empty. Hmm, looks like those paw prints lead to the entrance on the
loading dock.
(Rod traces the steps and slips into the darkened
building.)
I remember, I've been here before. That musty smell, still lingering from generations past. Typical of the high beamed one-story warehouses built so long ago.
(Rod moves
through a series of smaller rooms until he reaches a large open space.
A sliver of light shines beneath a door on the far side of the room. Rod
feels for his Sniff & Wesson, holstered on his chest, and creeps silently
towards the light. He puts his ear against the door and hears the whimpering
of dogs in distress. Removing the safety from his Sniff & Wesson,
Rod turns the door handle and quietly slips into the room. The scene stops
him cold.)
A light dangles high from the ceiling. A single bare bulb castes an eerie glow over Babette deBeagle and Rex Bow sitting back-to-back tied together and muzzled. Above them stalks a hulking figure.
(To himself) What do we have here, the notorious
Al K. Bone, Lassieanos' number one husky. He is one mean-looking dog. Real spikes in his collar and I hear that he's got really bad doggie breath too.
(Al K. Bone circles his captives, pounding a rolled-up newspaper in his hand, which he uses to smack Babette and Rex.)
Such inhumanity
against defenseless animals.
(Suddenly, Rod rushes forward into the light with
his Sniff
& Wesson pointing at Al K. Bone.)
Freeze, Bone. And keep your paws off of those two.
(Al K. Bone turns quickly. He stops circling, but holds the newspaper menacingly, at Rod. Without saying a word, he moves slowly but deliberately towards Rod, completely ignoring the Sniff & Wesson. He smirks and reveals a nasty snaggle tooth that glistens from the overhead light.)
Hey, bonehead, I'm not going to tell you again. Freeze!
(Al K. Bone continues to ignore Rods' command.)
Okay, then…stay!
(Al K. Bone finally stops, but the smirk stays on his face.)
(Sarcastically) Hey, tough guy, you ever get whacked by a rolled-up newspaper?
Yeah, but I'm not too happy about getting newsprint on my trench coat.
(Suddenly, Rod realizes that Bones' bravura is bolstered by the presence of an accomplice in the room. Rod drops suddenly to the ground and sees Ratsy Terrier emerge into the light, with gun in hand. Rod desperately tries to roll towards the darkness, but it's too late. A shot rings out. Rod feels a piercing pain in his side and the shattering of bone.
He blacks out...)
