Except from K9 Mine: Saoirse’s First Deployment

Are we there yet?” the small voice from the back cabin whined.

“Just arrived.” Travis rolled to a stop at the rear of a half dozen parked police cars. With their lights flashing, the berries and cherries created a weird strobe effect on the abandoned house and the surrounding woods. Still adjusting to the K9 Unit cruiser, he fiddled with the buttons before tugging on a fresh pair of latex gloves. “It’s showtime. Are you ready for your first real deployment?” he asked in a low voice.

“Just let me at him,” Saoirse giggled, snapping her teeth in a fast, staccato motion.

“Oh Jesus, I’ve created a little monster,” he said with a chuckle. “Don’t forget—biting is the next-to-last resort. We do not need any lawsuits, and I’m not trying to go to jail.”

The voice from the rear transport bordered on pouty. “I understand.”

Suddenly nervous, he drew in a sharp breath, held it for a long moment, and then exhaled slowly before getting out. He slammed his door a little harder than intended. Wincing, he opened the rear door for Saoirse. He grabbed her harness, snapping on the lead before moving aside to let her bound out. He took a knee, pretending to adjust her prong collar.

“This thing feels strange,” she whispered, “but it is much better loosened.”

“Part of the uniform. Now remember what we talked about,” Travis murmured near her ear. “Do NOT get yourself hurt, understand?”

Exasperated, she rolled her eyes. “I promise,” she whispered back.

“Let’s show ’em how to do this.” Aware of the many eyes watching them, he gave her a firm pat on the shoulder and stood up. He took two steps before he realized Saoirse was not beside him. He turned to find her sitting beside the cruiser, a pensive frown on her furry face.

He moved back and squatted in front of her, adjusting her collar again. “Nervous?”

The frown deepened. “No. I have to…” She faltered and then completed her sentence. “…you know.”

“One of the best things about being a dog is that you can go almost anywhere. Do what you gotta do and let’s get to work.”

“You are looking at me,” she whispered. “I cannot with you watching. Turn around, please.”

Struggling not to smile, he turned his back and inspected the items on his duty belt until the quiet trickle subsided. “Ready now?”

“Ready.”

Saoirse began yelping with excitement as the crowd of officers around the dilapidated porch stepped aside to let them through. Without a word, Travis waved to the sides of the house, confirming cover for the windows and back door before mounting the steps. He pounded on the front door with the flat of his fist, sending the old paint chips fluttering like dirty snowflakes. “Police K9—If you are inside this building, make yourself known. Come out now with your hands up, or you’re gonna get bit,” he bellowed. Saoirse kept up the energy, barking and chattering her teeth with excitement.

No answer.

He repeated the same order a second time, then a third. When there was still no response, he took a step back. One of the officers used a pry bar to force open the locked door, cracking the frame. Holding Saoirse by the harness handle, he unclasped her lead. “Police K9—last chance—come out now or you will get bit!”

He waited another full minute before leaning down. “Revir,” he commanded, releasing her.

The flashing lights pulsed on the dirty, yellowed walls, illuminating the room in short bursts. The thin carpet had been beige, but time and misuse left only patches of the former color in between spreading stains and burns. This house had been abandoned for some time, and for a moment, he feared she wouldn’t be able to pick up the target’s scent. The gloomy interior reeked of cigarette and marijuana smoke layered over the overpowering stench of unwashed bodies, urine, mold, and human feces. He raised his flashlight to his shoulder, pointing the beam upward to light as much of the area as possible.

Saoirse dropped her nose to the ground and took off running, disappearing into the ominous darkness. Travis kept her in sight, giving her a comfortable space as she darted from room to room. Nearing the back of the house, she slowed in the narrow hallway where the bedrooms were. She scentcasted the air and raised a paw, indicating the last room on the left, the only one with a closed door.

Travis paused to listen, then turned the knob and nudged the hollow-core veneer door open. Ducking, he peeked through the crack. Once assured no ambush awaited them, he waved her ahead.

Before he could even blink, Saoirse darted inside. Her sharp gaze swept the room, which was empty save for a foul-smelling mattress, trash strewn about, and piles of discarded clothing. The louvered doors hung askew, revealing an oversized walk-in closet. The broken window allowed enough light in to illuminate the one possible hiding place.

She poked her head inside the closet and sniffed loudly. The filthy, ragged man crouched in the corner, a challenging smirk of tobacco-stained teeth peeking through his greasy beard. A boxcutter glinted in one hand, and he beckoned her closer with the other. “C’mere, bitch—I ain’t afraid of you.”

She tilted her head and grinned, showing every sharp tooth. “Oh? How about now?”

The officers clustered outside around each door and window, listening. Suddenly, screams of bone-chilling terror erupted from inside the house, raising the hair on the back of every neck within earshot. The shrieking man exploded through the hole in the window glass, landing flat on his face. Then, to everyone’s shock, he scrambled to his feet and stumbled toward the nearest officer, dropped the razor, and held out his wrists. “Arrest me, save me,” he blubbered. When the officer hesitated in disbelief, the man glanced back toward the window with wild eyes and wailed again, even louder. “IT’S COMING!”

“Clear,” Travis called into his shoulder mic. The waiting officers swarmed the hysterical man to cuff and Mirandize him. He screamed and babbled all the way to the cruiser and, although muffled after the car door slammed shut, continued his unhinged howling.

Flicking his body camera off, Travis peered out the window at the spectacle just as the grinning velociraptor stuck her head out. “Little over the top, but effective,” he said, chuckling.

“That man reeked of methamphetamine and was not at all nice,” she retorted with a haughty sniff. “He said he did not fear the dog. I but gave him something he could be afraid of.”

“Major tweaker—scared him straight, I bet,” he whispered, bending to retrieve her vest as the sparkling preceded her shift back to Search. “Why didn’t you take him down when he ran past you?”

“Your companions are waiting just outside, so he could not go far without being caught. Also, I do not know what a law-suit is, other than something you do not desire. You must explain so I do not err and bring one upon you.” 

“I can do that.” He grinned as he strapped her vest back on and reattached the lead. “I am so proud of you. Ready to go mingle with your fans?”

As they stepped out onto the porch, they were met with some desperately needed fresh air and enthusiastic applause. “Good job, Search,” several called out while others said, “Way to go, McLean.”

He nodded his thanks and patted the victorious K9 on her shoulder. “It’s all my girl here. I’m just the idiot holding the lead.”

As Saoirse bounded down the steps, the prisoner in the back of the cruiser stared at the dog in wide-eyed horror. She deliberately turned her head to look straight at him and grinned from ear to ear. The terrified man began kicking the seat, banging his head against the window, and bawling his eyes out. One of the nearby officers shrugged. “He got hold of something bad, been yelling some shit about dinosaurs after him. Hey, anybody got a helmet?” he called out.

“Dinosaurs, huh?” Travis kept his face deliberately blank. “Well, he’ll sober up quick enough in lockdown.”

The gathered officers exploded with laughter. “That one doesn’t need a jail cell—he needs a padded cell and one of them pretty white jackets with the extra-long sleeves.”

“I cannot with you watching. Turn around, please.”