EXCERPT

One summer the twins, their cousin Trevor, and best friend Larry became involved with the police. Of course this was in a good way. Lieutenant Morley Berkeley was an ace dog trainer and was distinguished for getting results with even the most contumacious animal.

This is the account of that summer. The is the story of Keta.

Wallis Derrick Wakerly is my name and I am one of the finest plastic surgeons and I live on an acreage in the suburbs of Toronto. Today I have just arrived at my vacation home on the shore of Lake Forest. Oh I know I said my home was on an acreage in an upscale neighborhood in Toronto but I went on vacation to get away from the harassesement of a fine doctor in demand and certain other things. Certain other things I did not want my lovely spouse or children to find out about.

I drove along the twisting, dusty dirt trail leading to my summer home. Coming to the end of my driveway I turned in and continued up the driveway to the house where I stopped.

My two children, then my wife, with me last piled out. My wife and children continued into the house. I paused to breathe in the pure clean northern air and take in the sceneful of natural spleanours all around me. I viewed the sparkling waters of Granite Bay, a huge inlet of Lake Forest. Then I headed around to the back of the house where a smaller building housed runs and inside the runs, two dogs should have been exercising. Today they were empty.

I like to think I breed the finest Akitas in Canada. I own a small kennel with only two fine dogs of my own but the two have produced litters of the finest of the breed on the face of the earth. I love to envision, when my busy schedule of a famous plastic surgeon allows it, my dogs winning all shapes and colors of ribbons, and my den inside the house all covered with these ribbons to prove I am telling the truth; and pictures of me with my dogs in every phase of show winning, covering the kennel walls.

I dashed inside and looked into one of the cubicles. Sure enough a stunningly beautiful beige coloured female Akita gazed back at me. But I got the shock of my life when I looked in the pen beside this one. It was empty! Both dogs were supposed to have been shipped ahead of me by train and in their runs when I arrived with my family.

Neilson, I called out.

There was no answer.

Neilson, where is NightSky the First? I called again but no head kennel man appeared.

In the coolness and fog of early morning Wallis Derrick Wakerly then a young man, was out jogging, taking in his usual five miles before starting his day of work. Beside him on a leash his friend and companion, NightSky, an Akita with a solid black body with white on his chest and four white feet, ran. The two jogged along when he saw ahead of him another man happily running along. On and on Derrick and Nightsky jogged eventually taking a different route than other man. The swiftness and ease with witch Derrick covered the ground showed this was not the first morning he and the dog did this but that he jogged regularly. He left the sidewalk and jogged across a grassy park, down a slope and along a river bank for a mile or two. Having come to a shallow part in the river he crossed over to the other side then up the slope and to the sidewalk again. There was little resistance for him as very few people were up at this hour.

On the street where Derrick lived a car drew up to a house. Trees grew in abundance in the property surrounding the house. Two men got out of the car. And using the trees as a shield, crept along until they came to a huge tree beside the entrance way. Here they stopped and waited. Both carried a rifle equipped with silencers.

Okay here he comes, one said as the man came into sight.

The two rifles were raised and using either the trunk of the tree or a branch for support, the rifles were aimed at the young man.

Get ready to shoot, said the same man.

Suddenly NightSky came to a dead halt.

What is it NightSky? Derrick asked the dog. Whats frightening you?

Just keep quiet and wait, his companion commanded. He will come towards us eventually and when he does pow!

I wonder what is wrong with NightSky? Derrick wondered. Whats scaring him?

The dog continued to whine and fret but refused to go one step towards home.

Whats there? Derrick asked as if the dogs could answer.

The huge solid black Akita continued to act nervous.

What are they trying to tell me? Derrick inquired.

Then feeling a sudden wave of panic sweep over him the second jogger started to retreat. But he was too late. Two rifles spat out bullets. The jogger let out a cry of anguish fell backwards into the grass and lay still.

The dog beside Derrick yelped in sheer terror and tucked his tail between his legs.

As the two men with weapons scurried back to the car one detoured long enough to check on the jogger.

Hurry up, his companion ordered.

We dont have to worry about him, the second man said with a wide smile. Hes dead.

We have to get out of here before anyone sees us, his companion said anxiously.

No one will see us, the second man said confidently. He checked the dead mans pockets. Finding what he wanted he withdrew his hand with a gleeful evil grin on his face.

Ive found his drug stash, he told his friend. Theres money here too. Lots of it. Its too bad he had to try and move in on our territory.

With the roll of money and bags of drugs the two men dashed to their car.

The driver fumbled with the starter.

Speed it up a little we want to get out of here before the cops arrive, grumbled the passenger.

Im not afraid of no cops, the driver said.

The engine started and as silently as the men could drove away and vanished into the mist of early morning

Before the foggy mist prevented him from seeing anything else Derrick noticed another car appear. The two stopped opposite each other. The drivers rolled down their windows and the driver of the new car held out a hand. The driver of the get away car slapped a horrifically enormous wad of money in his hand. The two cars then drove away in opposite directions.

That ought to keep the cops off our backs, the driver cackled.

They were cops? the passenger said in disbelief. You just paid off a pair of cops?

Thats right, the driver replied with a devilish grin. Lotsa cops in this city accept kickbacks and let us drug dealers go on with our business.

The second car continued in Derricks direction. Constable Tyler Cook spied him standing on the sidewalk and guessed correctly that he had witnessed everything. He stopped and honked at Derrick to come over and talk to him.

As Derrick approached the car Sergeant Jim Thompsom rolled down the window.

Am I assuming you witnessed that murder? he inquired.

Thinking this was help from the good guys Derrick nodded. After all they were cops.

I sure did, he answered. I saw those two men kill the man with the dogs in cold blood. The victim, I doubt is even armed.

Maybe not, Jim said. But you had better keep your mouth shut about this. Dont even report it to the police.