Wild Rescue (15 page)

Chapter 58

There had to be some connection
between Instant Oil and Carhardt’s. I was convinced Eddie was involved—maybe copying house keys from people’s car key rings. All I had to do was prove it. If the police searched Eddie’s home, they were sure to find Mrs. Watson’s jewelry as well as stuff from the other houses.

I opened my first sandwich and ate it in about five bites. The chips were salty and good—I ate two bags fast. The water had almost melted completely, and I drank the rest of my first bottle.

I dialed the farmhouse again. Ashley must have been out with the alpacas. I sure hoped she hadn’t run into that bear.

A door banged and the mechanics returned. I settled back under my cover. I was so close to the floor I could see under Sam’s front seat. There were empty water bottles and food wrappers, plus a lot of dust. Before I could stifle it, I sneezed.

“Bless you, Eddie,” somebody said.

“That wasn’t me,” he said.

Chapter 59

Denise was still there
when the officer, the animal control lady, and the ambulance pulled away.

“Where did the girl go?” I said.

Denise scowled. “I told you, back down the road, that way.”

“But there aren’t any houses there. And I don’t see any trail of blood.”

She shrugged. “She just said she didn’t want the paramedic treating her. But she gave her number to the guy and said she’d have her dad call to make sure they put the dog away.”

“You mean kill him?”

“The cop said they’d have to if they couldn’t get hold of the owner.”

“What!?”

Denise shook her head. “I’m sorry about the dog, but there’s no way they can let that thing run loose.”

“I have to find that girl. You sure you don’t know who she is?”

“Maybe a high schooler. Could be in college. I don’t know.”

I ran full tilt back to the barn and hopped on my ATV. By the time I roared to the road and shut the gate, Denise was gone. I was kicking up so much dust I decided to get off the road and into a field near some pine trees. The mountain loomed to my left and a cow pasture to my right.

Where could the girl have gone? I scanned the horizon. Near the access road off the interstate about half a mile away, someone ran toward a small car. I gunned it toward the road and tried to catch up, but the car pulled out in a cloud of dust and raced away.

Chapter 60

I held my breath
as the guys tried to find who had sneezed. Finally someone turned the radio back on, and I felt relieved. I wondered what would happen if I just got out and walked to the waiting room and then outside. I could hoof it to Mrs. Watson’s, and Ashley could come get me, if I ever got hold of her.

Eddie said something about the exhaust system, and suddenly the truck rose several feet. My heart raced when I looked out the window. It felt like I was 10 feet off the ground. No way was I going to jump that far.

I could see out a window at the top of the garage as the sun traced across the sky. I wondered if Mom was worried. Maybe Ashley was already home and trying to cover for me. I tried the farm again, but there was no answer.

I could hear Eddie under the car. “Hey, we still on for the horse trailer? Remember I was hoping to borrow it this weekend?”

“Why don’t you just use your truck?”

“I need more space. Now can I use it?”

The other guy paused. “I don’t think my dad needs it.”

“Good. I’ll pick it up tomorrow morning before work if that’s okay.”

Chapter 61

I called Bryce
as soon as I got back to the farmhouse. He picked up but didn’t even whisper. “Call when you can talk,” I said.

“When you can talk,” Lewis said.

“Shut up, bird.”

“Shut up, bird!” Lewis squawked.

While I was making myself a sandwich, Bryce finally called and told me what he’d heard.

“How do they get the keys?” I said.

“I’m not sure yet, but I know they’re planning a big heist tomorrow night.”

“Where?”

“I don’t know that either, but—”

“Bryce, remember we saw Mr. Morris there, talking to the owner about going out of town. Could the big heist be here?”

I heard clanging in the background, like someone had dropped a tool. Finally Bryce whispered, “Could be. We have to catch them.”

I told Bryce about Buck. He couldn’t believe it. “I guess animal control can’t take any chances,” he said, “but how are we going to protect the herd in the meantime?”

“We have no choice. We’ll have to do it ourselves and stay here overnight. When are you coming back?”

“That’s up in the air right now—literally.”

“I’ll come and get you,” I said.

“No, go home and wait. I’ll meet you there. If I’m not there by dinner, call me.”

Chapter 62

Ashley and I couldn’t leave the alpacas alone—
especially at night—as long as Buck was away.

What if we did save their lives? Would Mr. Morris pay more? What if he gave us $5 an alpaca each day? I did the math on my watch calculator. Ashley and I would both get $700!

I knew it was wrong to think that way. I had to do a good job whether or not we were paid at all.

The longer I lay in the pickup, the more cramped my legs felt. I wanted to sleep, but I had to stay alert. I wondered what Ashley would tell Mom when she showed up at home without me.