Play Fetch: An Avery Barks Dog Mystery (Avery Barks Dog Mysteries Book 3) by Mary Hiker Read Free Book Online Page A

trying to get to the other side of my truck when another shot hit the blacktop near my feet.
    After that, all I heard was screaming and sirens as the high school couple ran to the building, and I dove into my truck laying on the horn.  Within a minute, three deputy vehicles sped into the parking lot and converged on the scene.  My eyes were still squeezed shut when Don pulled my hand off the horn.  I collapsed in the seat face down as Chevy jumped in the truck on top of me.
    “It’s okay, they got him walking down the road,” Don said.
     
     

Chapter 12
     
    “I need you to bring Chevy to a search,” Don said over the phone.
    I laughed at what I presumed was a joke.  Chevy had failed miserably at search and rescue dog pre-tests, playing with butterflies the entire time.  He had a big heart and I loved him dearly, but he was not a working dog by any sense of the imagination.
    “I’m serious.  We’re back out at the Leeder residence, but this time it’s the little girl that’s gone,” Don said.
    “Anna?” I asked, my heart clenching in sudden fear.
    “Yes, and we think that she’s running from us,” he said.
    “What?”
    “Evidently, when she saw the news after school about her cousin being arrested, she screamed ‘They’re going to put me in jail’ and ran out the door.”
    “Why would anyone arrest her, she’s just a little kid?”
    “We’re not arresting her.  But we think she’s scared of us and running from us. There’s a cold front coming in and we need to find her before hypothermia sets in,” Don said.
    My back tensed up. “I’m on my way, but it’ll get too cold for Chevy to be left out in the truck.”
    “Bring Chevy with you.  Miss Brenda says the girl loves him, and Anna will not run if Chevy’s with us.”
    “I guess it’s worth a try.”
     
    ###
     
    Don was pacing back and forth in the Leeder’s driveway when I arrived on scene.  His cheeks and nose were red from the cold air and I could see his breath. 
    “We’re heading out to a pasture about a quarter mile behind the old shed across the road,” he said as he opened my passenger door and jumped in. 
    “Drive down that path over there and I’ll show you.” He pointed to a dirt road leading back toward the old shed.
    He spoke into his radio, “Stand-by, we’re on our way.”
    Someone answered, “Ten-four.”
    “Ace worked Anna’s trail back this way and found her little bike in the bottom of a small ditch over there.”  He pointed across the field.
    “Okay. Then where’d he go from there?” I asked.
    “He sliced one of his pads on some broken glass.  One of the guys drove him out to the vet to get him stitched up.”
    “Is he okay?”
    “Yeah, they notified the office and Dr. Arrowood was waiting for him when they got there.” 
    Don pointed up ahead at a group of three searchers kneeling down on a path that ran between two pastures as a light snow began to fall. 
    “We found a small print in a patch of dirt over there.  The tread matches the bottom of the girl’s tennis shoes.”
    “Then we better stop here,” I said.
    “Do you have another search dog on the way?” I asked as we got out of the truck.
    “Gino’s coming, but Susan was at work so she has to go pick him up at the house.  They’ll get here in about an hour, but with these cold conditions…” Don trailed off, not needing to finish the sentence.  He shook his head as he looked out toward the woods.
    One of the guys from the group trotted over to the truck as we got out.
    “Sorry about your dog getting hurt, Don.” He patted him on the shoulder.  “Hi, Avery. Thanks for coming.” He nodded to me.
    “Thanks, buddy,” Don said.
    “They’re covering the footprint with a tarp. Gonna try to keep any snow off of it.  What’s the plan?”
    Don said, “Avery and I will continue out in that next field to search.  Chevy will be coming along because he’s Anna’s friend.  That might make her more comfortable and