KC Frantzen - May the K9 Spy 02 - May Finds a Way: Peril in Paris (13 page)

I
scratch at the human door to lady Marie’s. Alexis has a curious look but lets us all in. Léonce prances to the table with the red cloth and disappears underneath.

Alexis stoops and pulls back the cloth. “You live here? I didn’t realize. Nobody does.”

I pull out the drones and tracking devices and bugs and my camera bob and vest.

He shakes his head. “Incredible.”

In the quiet, I watch the struggle on his face. Idea! I’ll put my paws on his knees and ask him to pick me up. Seems to help Mom when she needs to think.

“Hey,” he says, reaching around my ribs then folding me to his chest. “Thanks.”

My pleasure.

As he carries me around the room, Alexis speaks to himself. “I used to think it was someone else controlling her, but it’s not. She decides whether she is doing the right thing… or not. I love her, she’s my mother. I’ve tried everything to make her love me but…”

Thlbpt.

“It hurts, you know?”

I look away his gaze is so intense.

Finally he says, “I can’t let her hurt others, not if I can stop it.”

I hardly breathe. Don’t want to disturb his thoughts.

Alexis carries me to the table and says, “Your equipment is chill!”

He sets me onto the floor near Léonce.

I shake it off, then watch the young human’s face.

“Look, this is hard but I’ve got to stop her. Director will be calling anytime, so we have to hurry. Since I’m programming the cell phones and radios, I’ll make sure your devices won’t be detected.”

While Léonce positions cameras into the high windows, Alexis modifies the phones and radios. Didn’t know how I’d
insert the tracking devices, but he’s an equipment expert. Plus he has thumbs. He’s ensuring they’re undetectable and even decoded the necessary activation protocols.

I’ve got to figure out this camera and bob. If I can’t, maybe Alexis can. Ms. Dutcher says, “When all else fails, read the directions.” But we don’t have anything to read.
Sigh.
Because I didn’t bring the manual.

I’m not telling Alexis about my relationship with Miss Sandy and Sassy. If we’re caught, he’ll be protected. “Plausible deniability” is the term I think.

Alexis sets down the last cell phone and picks up the extra bugs. Still can’t believe I dropped one onto Miss Coralee’s desk. Though… I think I can trust her, now that I know who not to.

Alexis says, “Let’s save these in case one of us gets close enough to the others. I’ll slip a tracking device and bug onto Director, if I can.”

Léonce reviews his own work from the floor, then asks, “Should there be adjustments?”

Alexis gives it a thumbs up.

Thumbs are useful for so many things.

When I make a suggestion, Léonce rumbles, “Ze others give a full view. That one focuses on ze screen, for when Rukan checks in.”

“Good thinking. And the bug?”

“Behind ze screen. Purrhaps it will capture ze conversation and his transmission.”

“Really good thinking!”

Alexis’s phone chirps. “Director?” Alexis rises. “No, I’ll come there first.”

He snaps the phone shut and looks at both of us. “This might be our final goodbye. I really don’t know what’ll happen after this goes down. She’ll know it was me.”

I yip, “You be careful.”

“Look, everyone would be better off if I wasn’t around.”

I stamp my paw and woof, “It’s a lie, Alexis! Don’t say that!”

“It’s the truth. No one wants me. Unless they want something
from
me. After they get it, then I only take up space. Useless.”

Léonce purrs, “We don’t want anything.”

I yip, “Yeah, and you’re not useless. You give genuine hugs for one thing.”

That brings a hint of a smile. Good. Everyone needs a little encouragement.

He says, “I’m to meet her at the apartment, then she’ll come here soon after. While she’s here, I will kick off our counter-plan. I better go.”

Alexis walks out and latches the door.

Piffle. I forgot to ask about the camera bob. How can I communicate with HQ without it?

D
irector strides across the room and flicks the switch. The lady Marie’s painting morphs into monitor mode and after a short delay, Rukan appears, patterned cloth wrapped around his neck and shoulders. He’s in some kind of communications center that’s… kinda familiar. I spy circular walls with shelving full of equipment and computers, some backpacks. A huge round door off to the side. Maybe from a training film? No, that’s not it…

He growls, “Personnel report?”

“Group guides identified. Section Leader and K9 are detained.”

Good. Sassy would detect me in here for sure.

The view gradually narrows to focus only on Rukan, his frown dominating the screen. “Section Leader should be in attendance to finalize these plans. I will not tolerate another failure. Continue.”

Director almost conceals her sneer. “I will relay your displeasure to Section Leader. Recruit training went well. Modified equipment will transfer at 1900 hours. Will stand by to implement at your signal.”

“Good. My text will coordinate the effort tomorrow morning. You will ensure the code is received and teams are en route. Do not fail. Your phase of the plan is as follows: while the pawns distract the citizenry and authorities, your elite team will disrupt the target Embassy satellite communications.”

Director’s eyes widen for a split-second, then her face sets.

“Section Leader will deliver American drones procured for this assignment. You, Section Leader, and two assistants will be stationed to ensure line of sight drone operation. Have you prepared access?”

“We have secured space plus acquired rooftop entrée keys for two additional buildings.”

“And assistants you trust?”

Director says, “The promising young man from the recent attack, and my son.”

We all hear the door open and two sets of footsteps approach. Miss Sandy and Sassy – Oh no!

The evil man continues in a tone I know well. “Excellent. It is important to prepare others for the Movement’s longevity. It
must continue. Perhaps my own son will also show promise as he matures.”

Tense silence as Miss Sandy is seated. Sassy assumes a security stance at the perimeter and snuffles the air.

I’ve had it. She knows I’m here.

Rukan’s gaze coarsens. “Thank you for joining us, Section Leader. To continue. Our analysts placed a keylogger into the system. They will access the block up converter and backup systems to disrupt failover and redundant equipment. We will strike. They will hear our demands.”

“To the Cause!” cries Director.

“To the Cause!” cries Miss Sandy.

“To the Cause… Maintain silence until you receive the code. That is all.” The monitor display darkens and reverts to the painting.

Sassy signals Miss Sandy. I didn’t get all of it, but she knows I’ve been here. Or…
Shudder.
Maybe she said I AM here. Wish I could signal Léonce…

Sassy starts sniffing around the passage, then pushes. She’s too large to go in so the stone doesn’t move far. That’s one good thing.

Miss Sandy steps nearby, concern in her voice. “What’d you find, girl?”

Director yells, “Look what your rotten dog has done. The wall needs repairing before we can safely meet again.”

Miss Sandy – I mean Section Leader – glares at Director while Sassy continues searching.

Hans will just be heartbroken… They endangered Dad and Mom. They tricked April. They lied to me, to everyone. They betrayed my country!

I burst from my hidey-hole and snarl, “You… You… MOLES!”

Director looks up, shocked. Miss Sandy too. Sassy scowls and starts towards me.

Yikes! Did I jeopardize everything?

I race to the hatch and push for all I’m worth. Through clenched teeth Sassy yelps, “All is not as it seems,” as she grabs me by the back leg and pulls me into the room.

Click.
A weapon being cocked!

In an icy tone Director says, “I will claim the reward
and
the promotion for killing the dog that stopped the DC operation.”

I hear Miss Sandy running. Sassy flips me over in time to see Léonce soaring through the air. He howls and slams into Director’s head. The weapon fires and clatters to the floor.

T
hat shot was loud enough to wake the lady Marie.

Miss Sandy grabs the weapon. Léonce howls and leaps, scratching her with all he’s got. Sassy releases me and jumps to protect Miss Sandy.

Léonce roars, “Proceed!”

What does he mean… With the plan, the secondary location?

“Run!”

My legs start working. I yelp over my shoulder, “What about you?”

“LEAVE!”

I scramble through the hatch and out. Do I…? No, must be open for his escape.

BANG.

Sassy growls, the humans shout, the door creaks open.

I dash two tombs over, dive down the steps, roll, bank off the side and through the cracked wall.
Thump thump.
This is no drill. I jerk the small concrete piece. It clunks into place with finality.

I’ll die if Léonce doesn’t come. I don’t want to think about that – or who else is inside here. I’ll sit next to the entrance, at the ready.

C’mon Léonce. Hurry.

Sounds are muffled. All I smell is mold and rot. And spiders. Rats. Crawly things. Slimy things.

STOP IT.

Second year trainees told us about solitary confinement, how their minds started playing tricks when they were left alone a long time. They said to get through you have to “focus on a principle, a fundamental truth.”

I’ll focus on home. That’ll help.

Lobbie! Hans and the doggie door. Pestering April. Cuddling with Mom. Dad yawning real big on purpose to make me yawn.

He’s fun but serious too. He’s already taught me so much. He said, “Learn the lesson and pass the test because if not, you get the fine opportunity to repeat it.”

Here I am, repeating this darkness test again.

Alright, enough already!

“I
detest
the dark.”

There. I said it. Out loud.

Sigh.

It’s just me and the Creator again. I admit, I’m in the dark and it doesn’t look good. I have no way to know when it’s safe to come out, or if I can even get out.

Light gleams in my mind like in
Le Panthéon
corridor.

Alpha and Omega.

That’s right. The Creator knows where I am. The plan could still work. Things have changed, but they haven’t stopped.

Rukan hasn’t stopped either.

I’m still alive and… And… I’m sure I’m imagining that sniffing on the other side of the wall.

“May?”

Sassy’s voice!

“Your scent leads here. Can you hear me? Please listen. There’s little time to clarify. You don’t know–”

Sirens! Voices and running feet.

She’s gone, the traitor. Maybe the authorities will catch her and Miss Sandy since I’m stuck in here. Alone. In the DARK.

Sigh.
Focus. Think fundamental truth.

“Creator, you hear my voice… I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.” And…

Piffle. Wish I could remember more of Psalm 5. Note to self: pay more attention when Dad and Mom are working on memorization.

Righty-o. Rukan’s call will come tomorrow morning if he’s not stopped. But Alexis seemed ready for his part. I’d better be ready for mine, when opportunity comes and I find a way. Lots of people are depending on us. Maybe whole countries.

The wail of sirens intensifies, then stops. Voices on a radio. A passing pulse of light, then another. Odd. I turn around and notice color bursts in the distance.

That light is coming from somewhere. Maybe there’s a police vehicle… outside the wall! Right. If I’m underground in the cemetery, that’s street level on the other side. Maybe that opening is big enough for a small Schnauzer to escape. Action is better than sulking. Let’s go!

When the light flashes I can see my paws. One step, two step, three step, four step.

I’m not the only one to use this route but I’m the only one at the moment. The mold is stifling.
WACHOO
. Up ahead – a split in the concrete! Leaves!

I silently squeeze through the wall opening behind some shrubbery.

There are a few police cars in the
rue
, lights flashing, doors open, but no one’s around. I’ve got to be sure somebody knows in case I don’t make it.

Look, an inkpad they make pawprints for humans with. Thank you, Creator! I might not have thumbs, but I can still leave a message.

I carefully open the inkpad with my underbite and use my puppy pads to write in Mr. Louis Braille’s language: US Emb hit morn by TDN2 Rukan.