Accidental Hero

Chapter 9 The Man in the Boat

Whoops and whistles fill the air as we stand clapping furiously. The kids take another bow and I can see Morgans face lit up like a winter moon. She's standing tall and straight with eyes rounded in wonder and a crooked smile playing on her lips. They take another bow as the crowd washes them in appreciation. They were truly amazing and Mr Carver, the music teacher deserves some serious praise. A woman comes out bearing flowers and hands them to Mr Carver as the applause and cat calls raise in timbre. I'm so proud of Morgan, she's come a long way.

As the crowd finally settles down Abbys mother Jane and I sit back in our lawn chairs to wait for the kids to return. I start to unpack the picnic supplies when a golden blurr races through the periphery of my vision. Curious I look up to see Tracker racing down the lakefront away from the crowds toward the docks. Abbys running behind her hollering her name at the top of her lungs. I quickly point out my predicament to Jane and go running after them both.

Arms pumping and shirt flapping I start calling Trackers name as loud as I can. Why isn't she stopping? That dog usually listens so well. Damn, shes gonna jump in the water and make a total mess of things again. Finally I see her stop at a small dock with a dingy tied to its side. She starts growling and barking and baring her teeth at the man and a young boy in the boat. What's wrong with her? Recklessly, Abby finally catches up and grabs her leash keeping her from getting any closer to them.

All the commotion caught the attention of a police officer who comes jogging over to us. Panting heavily with my hands on my knees I look up to see him studying the situation.

As the officer stands there the man in the boat hastily begins untying the tether and pushes the boat away from the dock. The paddles are attatched in metal rings and as the man grabs them the boy yells "Look at me! Im getting a boat ride! Hey mister can we go show my Mom?"

"Quiet boy, we'll go over in a minute." he says gruffly looking down as though to hide his face.

"Everybody stay where you are!" the officer says as I reach over to grab Trackers leash. Her growls persist and her attention is solely focused on that boat. Body rigid, hair spiked across her back, Tracker bares her teeth as the boat begins to drift further away. "HANDS OFF THE PADDLES NOW!"the officers yells in a barrelling voice.

Everything seems frozen for an instant as the man pauses before slowly lowering the paddles into the water. "No harm done officer, just taking my boy here on a little boat ride." Something dark and hidden oozes from this mans words.

"And ice cream!" The boy cries happily "Hes gonna give me some ice cream he's got over in his truck!, Chocolate chip, my favorite!" The boys toothless grin is disarming.

"Back, everyone get back right now! Get that dog outta here. You, bring that boat back here right now!" The officer places his hand on his gun and unsnaps the holster.

The small crowd that gathered is backing away as Abby and I drag Tracker back up the hill. A second officer is running from the parking area and soon joins the first at the beginning of the pier. He's got a police radio in his hand as numbers and jumbled jargon crackle through the air.

The man in the boat smiles crookedly as he says "This boy's my nephew officer, just visiting for a weekend. We're just out for a day of fun." He's conspicuous in his failure to bring the boat in. I realize I'm holding my breath as the tension creeps upward.

"Boy, what's your name? Do you know this man?" The officer has softened his voice trying to keep the child calm.

"Sure! His name is Mr Frank and we met at the hotdog stand. I'm Timothy and I'm 6 years old" he says puffing out his chest in evident pride "almost 7!"

"Bring that boat in right now sir, or I'm going to have to you escorted in" His body is straight and tense and his hand is still resting on the gun at his side. As if on que the sound of a boat engine can be heard racing across the lake. Since no gas powered engines are permitted by recreational users it's clear that park police are on the way.

Realizing he's got nowhere to go boat man slowly begins to paddle the dingy toward the dock. The second officer, shorter and stockier than the first walks slowly to the end of the pier.

"Keep your hands on those paddles sir, where we can see them." He's taken his gun from its holster and is holding it down by his hip.

Just then a park policeman appears and asks us to move further up the hill. Slowly the crowd turns as we look back for glimpses of the boy being hauled from the boat. Tracker fights the leash at first then relents and follows easily. Back up under a huge oak tree we can't hear whats going on but watch silently as the man is handcuffed and taken off to a waiting car.

"Whats happening, Mom?" I'm shaken from my thoughts by Morgan as she bends down to pet Tracker.

"Im not sure" Abigail blurts out "but I think Tracker just saved that boy from a freaking creepyman. He was gonna take that kid somewhere and do who knows what to him."

"What? How can you know that?" Morgan scoffs. "I don't understand."

"Abigail may be right Morgan, but it's hard to know. I think the police are going to have questions for us. Can you go and let Jane know what's going on? You can take Tracker with you if you want." I say feeling a sense of deja vue. I'm really starting to wonder what kind of training this dogs had. How could she know about a crime before its even happened?

" I don't know what's going on Mom! How can I tell anyone anything?!" Morgan says in a huff.

"Ok, you and Abby go together and she'll fill you in." I say and move to give Morgan a quick hug. "You were wonderful on that stage today. I couldn't be more proud of you."

Rolling her eyes Morgan smiles a quick grin and the two of them head off together.