Hero Read online

  “Okay, Hero. Are you ready?” Ben held the piece of Mitch’s jeans under Hero’s nose. Hero sniffed and exhaled, sniffed and exhaled. After a few minutes, Ben breathed in deep, filling his diaphragm with air. “Hero, find it!” he said in his most commanding voice.

  Hero sniffed at the ground. He sniffed at the breeze and bobbed his head up and down with the air currents. Then he took off at what was, for him, a reasonable pace. Hero couldn’t run, but he walked quickly, favoring his sore leg. Ben and his dad were able to keep up, while Scout’s little legs worked double time as he ran along at Hero’s side.

  They walked down a quiet road with very few houses on it. Horses grazed behind fences along their route, but Hero was too focused on tracking to notice. His entire body moved in one fluid motion, following an invisible trail. He stayed totally on task, even as his ears twitched at the sounds of chirping birds and planes passing overhead.

  They came to another road, leading off at an angle to the right. Without hesitation, Hero led them to the right.

  “Good boy,” Ben said.

  They continued on for what must have been a couple of miles, through several turns, until they were in an isolated residential neighborhood. Ben noticed more on foot than he had while riding his bike through here the other day. The houses were set far apart from each other, and the streets were quiet. There were no kids playing on the lawns. No neighbors waved at each other over hedges. The area felt deserted. It gave Ben the creeps.

  He looked over at his dad. His face was serious, and he studied their surroundings carefully. His hand rested on his gun holster. Ben could tell he was in police mode. Ben felt so much safer having his dad there with him.

  Soon, they found themselves on a street with only a couple of houses on it. This was starting to feel familiar to Ben. Scout barked a few times as they rounded a slight curve, and Ben saw it: A hundred yards up on the right was Mitch’s house. The SUV was in the driveway.

  They were there. Hero had done it.

  Ben’s heart picked up speed in his chest. His hands were clammy. Could Mitch really be in there? He had no idea what they were about to find.

  “That’s it, Dad,” Ben said quietly, pointing at the house. They stopped walking. Ben’s dad squinted and surveyed the house carefully.

  Hero’s whole demeanor grew even more focused and alert. He scanned the street and the handful of houses on the block. His face was neutral, unreadable. He stood with his back straight, his shoulders down, and his body ready for action.

  Ben picked up Scout and gave both dogs a treat from his jeans pocket.

  All the windows and doors of Mitch’s house were shut. The street was totally silent.

  “Listen to me, Ben,” his dad said, his voice low. “I know how you feel about this guy. Believe me—he tried to hurt you. No one wants to catch him as much as I do. But we need to be safe about this, okay?”

  Ben nodded.

  “I need to get a look at that license plate,” his dad said. He walked quickly and quietly so he could get a clear view of the house and car. Ben hustled after him, Hero walking close to his side and Scout safely resting in his arms. They stopped behind a tall hedge just past the house.

  Ben’s dad pulled out his cell phone. He tracked their location on his GPS, dropped a dot on the map, and called the station.

  “Sheridan, it’s Landry,” he said quietly into the phone. “I’m at the suspect’s possible location. Address is . . .”

  Ben squatted down behind the hedge and peered through it toward the house. From that angle, he had a view of the driveway that ran along the house to a backyard. It was getting dark. Shadows had started to fall across the roof.

  A curtain moved in a side window. Ben sucked in his breath. Someone was in the house.

  “Dad—” he whispered.

  “. . . tell them to get here as fast as they can. Southeast corner. Vehicle is here. House appears to be empty but have not confirmed whether suspect is inside.”

  The curtain parted farther, then quickly fell closed again.

  “Dad!”

  Ben’s dad gestured for him to wait.

  “That’s right. Delta Alpha Tango. Right. Niner . . .” He held up a finger to Ben, telling him to wait one more second.

  Still holding Scout, Ben slipped farther along the hedge, toward the house.

  “Hang on,” his dad said into the phone. “Ben, what’re you doing?” he whispered loudly. “Stay here. They’re five minutes out.”

  Ben kept walking.

  “We’re not going in without backup,” his dad said.

  Ben stopped. His dad started talking into the phone again. Through an opening in the hedge, Ben had a better angle on the house. He studied the window, waiting for something to happen. Then, it did. The curtain moved aside, and someone looked out the window and nervously surveyed the street. Ben gasped. It was a familiar face: It was Mitch.

  “Dad—I see him,” Ben said over his shoulder.

  His dad spoke urgently into the phone.

  “Sheridan, we have a visual on the suspect. Repeat: We have a visual on the suspect. We’ve got to get in there. They need to double-time it!”

  25

  IT ALL HAPPENED SO FAST. SCOUT leaped from Ben’s arms, landed lightly on the ground, and bolted at top speed toward the house.

  Without thinking, Ben ran after him.

  “Ben!” his dad yelled. “Stop!”

  Ben couldn’t stop. Not when Scout was headed for danger. There was no telling what Mitch would do to Scout if he saw him again—after all, it was Scout who had brought down Mitch’s dogfighting ring. It was a safe bet that Mitch wasn’t feeling too fond of Scout at the moment.

  Scout darted around the house, into the backyard. Ben followed him. He came around the back corner just in time to see Scout slip through a narrow opening in a sliding glass door. The puppy disappeared into the house. Ben grabbed the door and slid it open enough to fit through. Before he could go in, though, Hero ran up from behind him and dashed through the opening after Scout.

  The house was dark inside. Scout was nowhere to be seen. Ben and Hero stepped quietly forward. They crossed a darkened room, then turned into a long hallway. There, at the far end, where the hallway opened up into a large living room, was Scout. He stood with his back to them. His whole body was shaking.

  “Scout, come,” Ben whispered. But Scout didn’t move. He didn’t even turn around. He was focused on something that Ben and Hero couldn’t see—and he was paralyzed with fear. At Ben’s side, Hero picked up on a scent and started to growl.

  Then Ben heard a very unwelcome noise: a guttural, nasty snarling from not one but two very angry dogs, around the corner from where Scout stood. Before Ben could stop him, Hero took off down the hallway and headed straight into the room where the dogs were. The sickening sounds of a vicious fight rang out almost instantly.

  Ben ran toward the fight. Scout stood off to the side barking frantically, while Hero and the two dogs spun in circles, snapping their jaws and pouncing on each other. It was a cloud of fur and spit.

  “Hero, no!” Ben shouted. But there was no stopping him. Hero was going to fight those dogs with everything he had—he would die to protect Scout, and Ben knew it.

  “What the heck’s going on out there?” Ben heard a man’s voice yell from the other side of a swinging door, which Ben figured was the kitchen. Limping footsteps thumped in their direction. Mitch had heard the commotion—and he was coming for them. Ben had to get his dogs out of there, and fast.

  Scout skittered back and forth around the fight, barking and whining. Ben watched in horror as, suddenly, Scout ran right into the middle of the battle.

  “No—Scout!” Ben screamed.

  Mitch’s footsteps grew louder.

  “Ben?” His dad had come in through the back of the house and was heading for them.

  It was all happening at once.

  The chaos of the fight grew louder with one more animal in the ring. Ben heard Scout cr
y out in pain, then saw Hero bite down on one of the other dogs in response.

  All of a sudden, Scout zipped out from the scrum and took off toward the sound of Mitch’s footsteps. At the same moment, the kitchen door swung open, and Mitch appeared, his face lit up with rage. Scout scurried between his legs and ran—faster than Ben had ever seen him move—into the kitchen. One of Mitch’s dogs broke away from the fight and chased after him. The bigger dog was fast on Scout’s tail, barking fiercely. Hero ran after them, followed closely by the second dog.

  The sound faded as the door swung shut behind them. Ben could hear the muffled noises of their ongoing fight.

  “Hello again,” Mitch said, a cold sneer on his face.

  “Ben—are you okay?” His dad was right behind him, his service revolver in his hand. He quickly took in the scene.

  “I see you brought backup today, huh, Ben?” Mitch said. He looked from one to the other. There was a hole in Mitch’s jeans and bloodstains where Hero had bitten him. The wound was clearly bad, but there was no way Mitch could show his face at a hospital or doctor’s office with a dog bite like that on his leg. Not when the whole police force was out looking for him.

  Ben’s dad stepped forward and positioned himself between Mitch and Ben.

  “I wouldn’t do that,” Mitch said, his voice laced with hostility.

  Ben’s dad eyed Mitch up and down, sizing him up. “You need to leave my son alone, Mitch.”

  Mitch let out a nasty cackle. “Do I? Maybe you’re the one who needs to keep a better eye on him.”

  “I’ve got my eye on you now, and that’s all that matters,” Ben’s dad said. Mitch took an uneven step toward Ben’s dad.

  “Dad!” Ben cried.

  “It’s okay, Ben,” he replied without taking his eyes off Mitch.

  Sirens wailed in the distance. Mitch’s eyes hardened.

  Ben’s dad slid his gun into its holster. He held up his hands to show Mitch that they were empty.

  “Look, Mitch—I’ve put away my gun,” Ben’s dad said, his voice calm and matter-of-fact. “My son is here, and I don’t want anyone to get hurt. Backup will be here any second. You’d be crazy to do anything stupid right now.”

  “What do I have to lose?” Mitch countered.

  Ben heard a stampede of animals headed back toward them. Just as Mitch registered the sound, Scout and Hero came blasting into the room from behind him. Scout scuttled through Mitch’s legs, and Hero slipped around him. They stopped by Ben and his dad. Mitch’s two dogs skidded into the room, their nails scratching on the hardwood floor. The dogs barreled around Mitch and cornered Ben, his dad, Hero, and Scout.

  “Good dogs,” Mitch said. He grinned at Ben. “Gotcha now, kid.”

  The dogs snarled at Hero and Scout. Hero lowered himself into a fighting stance. Scout crouched down by Ben’s side and barked back at them. The sound of the sirens grew louder. Mitch took another menacing step toward them.

  “What’s it gonna be, Mitch?” Ben’s dad asked.

  Mitch lurched forward, favoring his good leg. His miserable face was screwed up in an angry scowl.

  He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could get a word out, Scout launched himself at Mitch. The puppy jumped onto Mitch’s wounded leg, closing his small but sharp teeth on his calf. Mitch bellowed in agony, his eyes practically popping out of his head from the pain. He tried to shake Scout off, but Scout clamped his jaws more tightly, wrapped his paws around Mitch’s leg, and held on for dear life.

  Mitch spun around in a circle, flailing his arms. Hero saw an opening and flung himself forward, knocking Mitch backward to the ground—where he landed on top of his demonic dogs. The dogs howled in pain and tried to wriggle out from underneath him, but Mitch was too big. Scout was still gnawing on his leg, and Hero had them all pinned. Mitch writhed in misery.

  The sirens were right outside. Four cops in uniform—and one K-9, the Akita that Ben had seen at the training course—burst into the room. The officers pointed their guns at Mitch. One of them stepped forward and cuffed him. As she did, she looked over at Ben.

  “You okay, Ben?” It was Officer Perillo.

  Ben nodded.

  It was over.

  “Hero, Scout, come,” Ben called out.

  Hero hobbled toward Ben. Ben could tell that his leg was hurting him. Scout released his grip on Mitch’s leg and scurried over too. Ben picked him up. He squatted down so he could hug both dogs at once. He buried his face in Hero’s neck, then into Scout’s fur.

  “You did it, guys,” Ben said to them. “You saved us.”

  Ben’s dad wrapped his arms around Ben and the dogs. “You guys okay?”

  Ben nodded.

  “You were all very brave,” Ben’s dad said. “I’m proud of you.”

  “Thanks,” Ben muttered. Relief washed over him. Mitch was headed to jail. Hero and Scout were safe.

  Ben’s dad put a hand on Hero’s head. “Hero, you’ve never failed me once. There will never be another dog like you. You’re truly a lifesaver.” Then he put his hand under Scout’s tiny chin and tilted his head upward. “And you, mister.” Ben’s dad gave the puppy a long look. “You’re one fine dog.”

  Perillo had Mitch up on his feet, hands cuffed behind his back. The officers led him and his dogs out of the room.

  “You’re under arrest . . .” Ben heard Perillo say as they headed down the hall.

  Ben looked around the room. His heart swelled with gratitude and pride—for his dad, Scout, and Hero.

  He was the luckiest kid on earth.

  26

  HERO LIMPED ACROSS THE KITCHEN FLOOR while Scout yipped at his heels and scurried around him. About halfway across the room, Hero stopped. Scout stopped too and gazed up at the bigger dog. Hero lowered his nose and nudged Scout on the belly, knocking him over and rolling him onto his back. Scout wagged his tail and licked Hero on the nose.

  “Hey, Ben,” his dad said, “hand me those burger buns, would you?”

  “I got it, Mr. Landry,” Noah replied, snatching up the package from the counter and tossing it to him.

  “Nice arm, Noah.” Ben’s dad grinned. “You getting ready for the season?”

  “I’m ready! If it were up to me, there wouldn’t be an off-season.”

  “You’ve been warned, boys,” Ben’s mom joked. “No one will be cheering louder than us.”

  Ben shook his head and grinned.

  “I believe you, Mom.”

  Ben had barely had time to think about it: He was going to be the starting shortstop. On the varsity team. Practice started in a few days. It had been his dream for so long that it still didn’t seem real.

  Coach had called Ben that morning to talk about his expectations for the season. On the phone, Ben had asked him about Jack.

  “I’m not sure Jack is ready to be part of our team,” Coach had said. Ben didn’t know what he was going to say until the words were already out of his mouth.

  “Coach, I know this isn’t any of my business,” Ben said. “But do you think you could give Jack another chance?”

  “I’m surprised to hear you say that, Landry,” Coach replied. “And why do you think I should do that? After all, you’re the one who got hit with the ball.”

  “I know. But I think—I mean, I think Jack has just been having a really hard time. He’s new in town, and he didn’t really have anyone to help him out. Maybe he just had a bad day. We all do sometimes, right?”

  Coach chuckled. “I guess we do, Ben. I guess we do. Okay, I’ll consider it. I haven’t quite figured out what to do with first base. And he’s got a good arm.”

  “Thanks, Coach. I really appreciate it.”

  “Well,”—Ben’s mom interrupted his thoughts, nudging past him with a tray of hamburger patties—“it seems like we have a lot to celebrate around here, doesn’t it?”

  “We sure do,” his dad chimed in. “Including the fact that you’ve got another great dog on your hands, Ben.” He pointed at Scout, who was now
playing a competitive game of hide-and-seek with Erin. Scout was gnawing on a squeaky chew toy, and Erin took it away from him to hide it. Scout sat patiently and waited for Erin to give him the find it command.

  “Erin, honey,” his dad said with a laugh, “if Scout watches you hide the toy, he knows where it is.”

  “He’s still the best puppy ever!” she squealed.

  The doorbell rang. Ben’s parents looked at each other.

  “You expecting someone?” his mom asked. His dad shook his head.

  “Actually,” Ben said, “it’s for me.” He opened the door. It was Jack. “I think you guys know Jack Murphy. Jack, this is . . . my family.”

  “Hi, everyone,” Jack said with a shy wave.

  “Come on in, Jack,” Ben’s mom said, leading him into the kitchen. “I hope you’re hungry.”

  “Yes, ma’am, I am,” Jack said.

  Ben swallowed, trying to clear the lump in his throat.

  “There’s, um, something I wanted to tell you guys about Scout,” he said softly.

  The room went quiet. Ben’s mom and dad fixed their eyes on their son, worried expressions on both their faces. Ben couldn’t blame them—he and the dogs had given them plenty to worry about recently.

  “It’s nothing bad. Don’t worry!” Ben said. His parents visibly relaxed. “It’s just . . .” This was harder to say out loud than he’d expected. It was a decision he’d played out in his mind dozens of times, running it backward and forward until he was sure it was the right thing to do. And it was the right thing to do. It just wasn’t going to be easy.

  Ben swallowed and waited a moment until he knew his voice would be steady when he spoke. Everyone was watching him, waiting. “I knew as soon as Hero and I found Scout in the woods that he was something special. And Hero really thinks so too. Scout has come so far. He’s not the scared little guy he was a few weeks ago. He’s a . . . well, he’s a hero!”

  Everyone laughed. Ben forced himself to go on.

  “And I think he deserves a really happy home, where he will get as much love and attention as he can handle. Which is a lot.” Ben looked at Jack, whose eyes were wide open in surprise. “And a home that’s close by so we can see him all the time, right, Hero?”