A Mountie Always Gets His Man!: Chapter 3 – Heroes and Villains (mm bdsm celeb)

Disclaimers: QAF characters don’t belong to me. This is fanfic and just for fun. Most, if all are OOC. Set in Canada because guess what!!? I’m Canadian! <wink>

Read previous part

The first thing he became aware of was a splitting headache. Chloroform is a cruel mistress. He groaned.

“D’uhh!! He’s awake, boh-ooss,” said a thuggish, stupid sounding voice

The next thing he realized was that he couldn’t move. He smelled pine.

He cracked his eyelids, closed again the light then tried again. Finally, he opened them and looked around and promptly wished he hadn’t.

He was in the forest. He was tied to a tree. He was terribly thirsty. Before him, in a makeshift camp that consisted only of a small campfire and a few stools were three men, the two who had took him and one more in a cape. All three were masked with these creepy, black masks that extended over their whole head like hats that had been pulled down too far. Only eye, nose and mouth holes had been cut out.

Justin groaned again and moaned out: “Water! Please....water!”

The man in the cape nodded and gestured simply. The huge one jumped up and brought a canteen over to Justin and poured some of its contents down his throat. But he poured too fast and some of it ran down his front.

“Ooops, sorry!” the moose-like man said, not sounding sorry at all. He was huge, bigger than Brian and yet it was ugly. The muscles were overgrown and disproportionate. His forearms were huge. He was barrel chested and he had no neck. The nose sticking out of the mask was squashed flat and ugly. When he talked, he talked like a moron.

“Check his ropes!” Caped Man said.

Moose checked. “D’uhhh! Yup! He’s still tied up, boh-oss!”

Caped Man sighed long sufferingly. “Check to see if he’s tied up...tightly!” he elaborated, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“Ohhhh! Oh, OK, Boh-oss!” Moose checked him over.

He had been tied with rough, hemp rope at least as thick as his thumb. At least 6 coils wrapped around his chest and arms, attaching him to the tree. His hands had been tied together in front of him and then coiled several times around the tree, attaching them in place. Coils of rope were also attaching him to the tree just above the knees and at the ankles.

Everything looked secure. However, Justin found he could move his hands a little away from his body, forward and back. When Moose checked the front, he held them fixed and against his front and when he checked the back he pulled them forward so the coils against the back would seem tight and secure. He closed his eyes and hoped it was enough to fool the moose with the squirrel sized brain.

It was. “He’s still tied up tight boh-oss!” said Moose. Justin sighed in relief and as soon as the buffoon’s back was turned, he began to pull his hands forward and back, moving a section of rope against the sharp contours of the bark. He worked slowly and carefully.

“So what do you want with me?” he asked. “I can give you no ransom. I’m just the schoolmaster.”

“Shut up!” said Caped Man.

“Who are you? You seem to be the brains of this outfit. You should know I’m the...I’m a very personal friend of a cop. He’ll have your guts for garters for what you’ve done and if you hurt me.”

Caped Man sighed hugely, as if speaking to this lowly creature was taking up a huge amount of his time.

“We know all about your...relationship with Constable Brian Kinney...”

Justin gasped involuntarily. Had they guessed? What exactly did they know?

“He doesn’t have a girlfriend and chooses to spend every waking moment with you instead. Therefore we’ve taken you instead of some insipid female. He will be under the impression that you will be released if he leaves town. Of course, we’re going to kill you anyway. And he’ll be right on hand when we do!” He chuckled evilly

“What do you mean?’

Cloaked Man sloooooowly got up, slooooowly approached his tree, took off a glove, and....SMACK!!!...slapped him across the face with it. It was a stinging blow and Justin saw stars.

“That’s for making me get up. If you make me get up again, I’ll have him take off a sock...” Him was Moose. “Then I’ll stuff that sock into your mouth as your gag! Now SHUT UP!”

He shuffled back over to the fire. Justin shut up. But he kept an eye out. Rub...rub...rub....

BJBJBJBJBJBJ

Brian’s first clue that something was amiss was when he came back into town on Midnight at about 10 AM and saw a group huddled around the outside of the schoolhouse. His eyebrows knit together in sexy perplexion.

He galloped over. It was all the children, sitting around the front of the schoolhouse.

“Children! What are you doing here? Why aren’t you in school?”

“We ain’t playin’ hooky! We promithe, offither!” said little Timmy, who had to be fresh in the first grade. He smiled a huge smile and there was a glaring hole where his two front teeth had fallen out.

“Please sir! What he means is...Mr Taylor hasn’t let us in yet! I don’t think he has come yet!” said Anne who was a bit older.

“What!!? Not come! That’s very strange! Where is he?”

Anne shrugged. “We don’t know. We’ve just been waiting here.”

“Maybe he’s playin’ hooky!” yelled Timmy joyfully.

Brian smiled in spite of his worry and got down off the horse. “Well, everybody just stay here and I’m going to check things out. I happen to know this is not supposed to be a holiday.”

He went up to the door and was prepared to force it but was surprised when it opened easily. Someone HAD been here. He stepped inside.

Brian’s sense of worry escalated several notches and was added with an icy ball of fear in the pit of his stomach and a blush of red anger to his cheeks. It was not a good recipe.

His trained eye at once picked out disturbances in the dirt on the floor that indicated a struggle had taken place. Two desks and their chairs were knocked over. The fire had not been lit. And on the floor was Justin’s grey bowler.

“So, Sunshine...you came in...you were probably lighting a fire.... but before you could you were attacked...probably from behind...Bingo!” The last was when Brian turned to see the inside of the door.

A piece of paper was attached to the inside of the door with a Bowie knife. Brian took the knife and put it in his belt. If anyone had hurt his sunshine... Dark and cloudy thoughts followed. He pushed them away and read the paper.

If Constable Brian Kinney is not on the 1:00 train out of town the schoolmaster will be killed.

Cordially yours,

Mr. X

Hmmmm. Concise and to the point. Brian could respect that. But Mr. X?? Really??? What a whacko!!

Brian took Justin’s fedora and rolled up the note and left the scene.

“OK, kids! There’s nothing to worry about, but Just....uh...Mr. Taylor’s not coming. School has been cancelled for today. I want you all to go straight home. He’ll be back tomorrow!” he promised them and himself grimly.

All the kids cheered and wandered off.

Brian just stood there for a few minutes, wondering what to do. He was stymied. He had no real clues. He had no idea where they had taken Justin and they had a whole forest to take and keep him in. The only other choice was to comply but Brian knew better. Kidnappers never let the hostages go. Even if he decided to get on that train, Justin was a dead man. The only hope was to rescue him first. But how??

“Maybe he’s playin’ hooky!!” Timmy screamed into his memory in gap-toothed joy.

Brian looked down at the fedora in his hands and slowly a plan started to form. “That’s it! That’s the answer!” he whispered in excited revelation. He jumped onto Midnight and galloped out of town and away.

BJBJBJBJBJBJ

Several hours passed in un-companionable silence.

Justin rubbed, Caped Man smoked these thin white cigarettes that smelled like the backside of a bear, and the other two Mooseheads played gin rummy for matchsticks.

Now the both of them were pretty stupid but the second thug seemed to have slightly smarter smarts and used them to count the cards and win all the matchsticks. Justin just rubbed and waited for the inevitable outcome of stupid and failure.

“D’uuuhhhh! You was cheatin’!!” accused Moron Moose.

“I was not!” answered Slightly Smarter Moose. (Who totally was.)

“Check up his sleeve,” suggested Justin from his tree, adding fat to the fire. Rub...rub...rub....

“D’uuuhhhh! Yeah!” elucidated Moron Moose. He grabbed his partner’s arm and yanked. Two aces fell out.

Rub...rub...rub....

“D’uhhhh!!! You...you... you big cheater!” yelled Moron. The two began pummelling and wrestling each other in earnest. In their heated struggle, both of them trod in the fire and knocked over all the stools, one of which contained cards and matches. It upended and landed everything in the fire. Also both Moose were on fire.

Justin just rubbed, bit his cheek to keep from laughing and wished he could have sold tickets.

“YOU MORONS!!!” yelled the Caped One. “Well, now you’ve done it! Those were our only matches and cards. You’re stuck with nothing to do now and serves you both right! Honestly!!!” he continued, using his cape to put out their legs, “It’s a good thing I didn’t let you play with actual money!”

“Sorry boh-oss!!” they both said, eyes downcast.

Rub...rub...rub....

“And you!! Thought you’d get your two cents in! Thought you’d create a stir! Is that it!!?” yelled Mr. Cape as he swirled over.

“I’m your hostage, not your guest. What did you expect me to do? Give tips on home and gardening!?”

“How about, sit there and be quiet!! Oh...and die when you’re told!!” Mr. Cape said malevolently.

“Hmmmmm....oh, sorry, we’re fresh out of that!” said Justin just as nastily, “How about....we find out who you really are!!”

He pulled on his hand ropes as hard as he could and the bits that had been frayed twisted and unravelled and snapped free. He grabbed Mr. Cape and grabbed that strange hat mask and pulled as hard as he could.

“No! No!” yelled Mr. Cape, struggling. But Justin had too firm a grip and in the end he succeeded in pulling it off.

Justin’s eyes bugged out. “Oh...My...God!!! It’s YOU!!!!”

Mr. Cape positioned himself so that the thugs couldn’t see his face. He grabbed the mask out of Justin’s still tied up and now numb with horror hands. He put it back on and growled: “Oh, you really shouldn’t have done that! Now I really have to kill you!!”

“But I don’t understand! Why are you doing this!? And how do they not know!!? I mean, you’re...MMMMMPPPHHHH!!!!!” Was all that got out before Mr. Cape’s black leather gloved hand smacked down over his mouth.

“Ah...ah...ahh!!!!” admonished Mr. Cape, waggling a finger. “None of that! Oy!! You!!” he yelled, pointing. “Take off your socks!!”

Justin’s eyes widened in disgust and horror.

BJBJBJBJBJBJ

Brian galloped through the forest as fast as the riding trails would take him and arrived at the forest cabin in record time.

BANG!! BANG!! BANG!! “This is the police! Open up!”

“ Just a minnn-niiiiittte!” trilled a voice. “I’m just putting an apple crumble in the ovvvv-veeeen!”

“Dammit, Emmett!! Forget that and open the damn door!! I said this is the police!!”

“I know who you are, Brian! You wear that damn jacket every waking moment and won’t let any of us forget it! I’ll just be one sweet second more!!”

That sweet second stretched into quite a few more and soon Brian swore 30 sweet seconds had passed.

BANG!! BANG!! BANG!! “Emmett!! For the love of God, open up! I swear, if you are just screwing with me I’ll…”

The door flung open dramatically. “You’ll what!? Will I experience some….police brutality!?” Emmett drawled out dramatically…and hopefully.

“Dammit, Emmett, this is serious! I’m on police business here!”

“Oh really! What seems to be the problem, officer!?” he drew out the words seductively. He draped himself across the doorframe in a sexy pose. Or so he thought.

“Emmett, this is serious police business. I need your help! Move out of the damn way and let me in!” growled Brian putting his scary police face on.

“Oh for heaven’s sake! You never let me have any fun!! You know you’re the only sexy policeman I can play my games with,” Emmett pouted as he moved aside and finally let Brian inside.

Dear…God. Those were the only words that would penetrate Brian’s psyche each and every time he entered Emmett’s home. The outside looked the stereotypical rustic log cabin but inside, Emmett’s inner damsel ran amok…oh, I mean…free.

The walls were pink and white. There were lacy sham curtains on the window and doilies on the end tables. The sofa was a hot pink overstuffed nightmare as was the matching easy chair with a high back and impossibly thin, curved, and pointy legs.

The kitchen table was polished wood and had matching chairs with overstuffed cushions. In lieu of a percolator there were teapots and various fruited and berried teas. Every teapot had its own matching cozy. There were matching placemats and china and delicate bone china teacups with those impossible tiny spoons whose only meaning in life was to stir. The silverware was silver, never stainless steel. Emmett would shudder at the thought.

There was a grandfather clock. There were silver candy dishes always filled with teeny white mints and fruit bowls always filled with just the right amount of apples or oranges to make a perfect pyramid. There was a cherry wood bookshelf filled with books on birds and wildlife, plants, gardening, and indoor decor.

Through this feminine minefield, Emmett’s large Alsatian dog would mince his way around (Brian was positive the queen had taught the dog how to mince) and somehow not knock over a thing. He had his own bed by the fireplace where he often lay like a pampered prince holding court. He was doing so right now, lying on his side, tongue hanging out, looking especially spoiled.

Emmett himself was wearing a pink, midriffless shirt, green pants with a native Indian style fringe, moccasins, and a frilly, immaculately white, apron tied around his waist. As always, Brian was visually assaulted and horrified at Emmett’s fashion sense. As always, Emmett thought Brian was looking at him like he was the sexiest creature on the planet. (Well, next to Justin, that is.)

“And where….is my sweet ray of Sunshine!?” asked Emmett, looking past Brian out the door, expecting to see a familiar mop of yellow hair. He was startled when he didn’t.

“Actually….” Brian ground out, “He’s my sweet ray of….I mean, he’s my Sunshine!” He always had to be careful not to get sucked into Emmett’s fe-male zone that permeated the area like a perfumed fog. “And he’s not here! That’s why I’m here! I need your help!”

“My help? Whadd’ya mean, my help!? Where is he Brian? Stop kidding around!! Where’s Justin!!!?”

Brian took a deep breath. “He’s been kidnapped.”

“WHAAAAT!!?”

Wordlessly, Brian handed over the rolled up note.

Emmett unrolled it. “What’s this? Well, let’s just have a look see….Brian Kinney…mmm-hmm…out of town, 1:00….mmm-hmm…schoolmaster…mmm-hmmm….will be killed. Well, that’s clear enough. I mean if he’s going to be….KILLED!!!! Killed! Killed! Oh my God! Oh my God! Justin’s been kidnapped!! Kidnapped! What are we going to do!!? He’ll be killed!! Brian! We’ve got to do something! The police! We’ve got to get the police! We’ve got to get help! Police! I’ll run for them! I’ll run right now!!!”

And darn it, if he didn’t run right out the door, apron and all!

Brian just crossed his arms and waited. He counted softly: One….two…three…four…and….five!

Exactly on cue, the door bursts open again and Emmett ran back inside. “Oh my God! Brian! YOU’RE a policeman!!!”

“No shit, Sherlock!!”

You’ve got to do something!!! Save him!!”

“Nice of you to figure that out! And I am doing something! That’s why I’m here! I need your help!”

“My help!!? But what can I do??”

“Well, if you’re finally finished with your histrionics fit, I’ll tell you!”

BJBJBJBJBJBJ

Well, he wasn’t sure how things could have gotten any worse...but they had.

Mr. X (that was Caped One’s code name, one of the Moose had called him it.) had carried out his threat and stuffed his mouth with one of Moose’s disgusting, sour tasting socks and secured it there with the other one by tying it tightly around his head. Justin was in a constant state of complete and utter disgust. But Mr. X checked it constantly so there was no chance of his getting out a single word.

Since there was now the constant threat of exposure plus the fact that there was absolutely nothing for them to do at this waiting area, Mr. X decided to move things along and transport Justin to his final destination.

And so it was, Justin found himself marching a grim death march through the forest, bound and disgustingly gagged.

He had been re-tied, his legs free except at his ankles, which had rope tied around them like manacles and attaching them to each other like leg cuffs. His torso was again tied with about 8 coils of that thick, strong rope. His biceps were also tied in this section, firmly attaching his arms to his body. His hands were tied handcuff style and behind him with a trail of rope extending out and the end being held by Mr. X. There was no hope for escape this time.

For what seemed like forever and what seemed like miles, now marched Justin, followed by Mr. X who would give him a vicious unnecessary jab to keep him going, followed by his moronic minions. If only he knew where he was. If only he could leave a clue. If only Brian….did Brian even know? Did he care? Even if he found out, would he be able to track him? Would he even want to? No! Justin wouldn’t go there. That was a throwback to the dark times, back when he was in control of his life. But no more. He was gone and Justin would be damned if he’d let….

“We’re here!” Mr. X’s nasty voice cut through his thoughts like an axe through a tree trunk.

Justin shook his head, as he was jolted back to the present. He saw where they were. His eyes widened and he screamed through his gag. In sheer desperation, he yanked the rope out of Mr. X’s hand and made a break for it. But he only got a few yards before the leg cuffs did their job and tripped him up.

Mr. X just laughed cruelly and advanced on him at his own pace. He knew Justin wasn’t going anywhere. He grabbed back the rope and dragged Justin kicking and struggling to the destination of his doom.

BJBJBJBJBJBJBJ

“I need to borrow your dog!”

“My dog! Why do you need to borrow Candy Boy?”

Brian inwardly cringed every time Emmett used the dog’s name and now doubly so since he realized he was going to have to use it today as well. He usually got away with avoiding the mutt or calling him “hey you” or Get lost, Mutt” but today he was actually going to need his help.

“Didn’t you tell us once that Cand…that he has a really good sense of smell? Is he a good tracker?”

“Well, sure as shootin’! Why, I can tell the time and know it’s noon because Candy Boy whines and smells Debbie’s burger’s all the way – I mean, yes, Brian,” he said, catching a look at Brian’s face.

“All right! Get him ready then, because he’s going to help us find Justin!”

“All right Candy Boy! Did you hear that! Big strong Mountie Man needs our help! You wanna help Big Brian, Candy Boy!?” wheedled Emmett.

Candy Boy raised his head, looked over at Brian, with sleepy, lazy, and distrustful eyes. He gave a slow, wide, squeaky yawn and collapsed back into his doggy throne.

Brian just gave a disgusted look.

“Oh dear! Well, I can’t force him Brian! I’m not sure what to do!” Emmett fretted.

“You might want to try not spoiling him rottener than week old garbage!” muttered Brian.

“What was that?”

“I said….Just try mentioning it’s for Justin…that he’s in trouble,” said Brian. “I need to get something out of a saddlebag.”

“You hear that Candy Boy! It’s for Sunshine! Wouldn’t you like to find Sunshine!? You know…Yellow Head? He might have some of those yummy beef jerky’s that you love so much! How bout it? Find Sunshine?”

The words ‘Sunshine’, ‘Yellow Head’, and ‘beef jerky’ had an electric effect on Candy Boy. He perked up immediately, rolled onto his legs, stood to attention. He barked twice and wriggled with energy. He jumped excitedly and barked again and rushed outside.

Brian met him on the porch. He was holding Justin’s grey bowler. He let…ugh – Candy Boy sniff it all around and he said, “ Can you find him? Find Sunshine? Find Yellow Head?”

Candy Boy sniffed the hat all over and took a deep sniff in the hollow of the hat. Then he sniffed the air deeply. The world was full of wonderful smells, trees and grass and foxes and squirrels and rabbits and….

Faintly, far away upon the wind was the smell on the hat, the smell of a friendly yellow-headed man who petted him, gave him treats and spoke kindly to him. He smelled of chalk and children, of coffee and meat, and now…now he smelled a little like the Man in the Boots who didn’t like him very much. But Candy Boy wouldn’t hold that against him if he kept the jerky coming. Candy Boy would do anything for jerky. AAAAAnything….

Candy Boy gave his head a shake and smelled the hat again. Then he sniffed, looking with his nose again, trying to focus on that one smell. It was there, but so faint that he couldn’t make out the direction. He moved off in one direction and immediately the smell grew even weaker. No…He tried another direction. Yes…that was better…still weak…but better…..

He moved off, sniffing the ground, sniffing the air, anything to get a fix on the faint scent that eluded him. Brian hopped on Midnight and followed him.

“Now…now you find him!! You find him Brian Kinney! I want to see the both of you back here at two o’clock!!! And if you’re not, I’ll have you know, I may be a pansy-boy but growing up in Hazelhurst, Mississippi taught me more than a few things! If you don’t get back my ray of Sunshine, I will kick your ass and use your own boot to do it!!!”

Emmett’s door slammed angrily.

BJBJBJBJBJBJBJ

“Hold him down!”

Since he was already tied up pretty effectively, this was an easy task. The two thugs held him down and Mr. X re-tied his ankles together and then securely to the– Justin still couldn’t believe it.

His torso and wrists were still tied up securely so when his feet were secure again, Mr. X. was confident to tell the thugs to take off and meet him back at HQ that night. The thugs obeyed and soon it was just the two of them.

“Well, now that it’s just the two of us…we don’t really need this, do we?” Mr. X untied the gag and pulled out the disgusting thing and threw it away.

“But why? Why you, of all people? Why are you doing all this?”

“Why else, my boy!? For the gold, of course! So I need Constable Kinney gone! But he has to leave of his own accord!”

“So….so where does this come in? I mean really…are you seriously tying me….to the railroad tracks!!!!?”

“I am, indeed!” said Mr. X cheerfully, kneeing him in the nads. Justin groaned as all the strength went out of him and Mr. X quickly used that time to loop several coils under each armpit and around each shoulder and then thread that rope under the rail and pull everything tight. The extra rope that was trailing out from his hands was looped around his neck. He checked to make everything secure and was done at last.

He stood up and surveyed his handiwork. “Well, now! Don’t you look cozy!”

“It’s damn uncomfortable! And you might as well untie me now, you fiend! You’ll never get away with this!”

“Bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!!!!! You fool! I already have gotten away with it! Soon, it’ll be business as usual, Kinney will be gone, and you…well…oh my! You’re liable to be quite the mess actually! I’ve brought you far enough out of town to have the train pick up a fast speed and run you over good and proper! I told you Kinney would be on hand when I killed you!”

Justin was shaking with rage. “You –are –a –monster! Brian will never get on that train! Brian is a great cop! I don’t know how, but he’ll find a way! Brian will save me! You’ll see! And then you’ll be finished!”

“Hmmm that’s a possibility! But even if he does defy my orders and try and sleuth for you, there’s nothing to do! He’ll be spinning his wheels! There were no clues. You could be anywhere. And you’re deep enough into the forest that no one will hear you yell for help!”

“Damn you!” ground out Justin.

“Well, I guess that’s it! Don’t struggle too much or you’ll strangle yourself! Yell all you want. Gotta go! So little time, so much gold to steal! Bwa ha-ha-ha-haaaa!”

Continuing to laugh like a maniac, Mr. X strode away, following the tracks a bit and then turning aside into a trail into the forest.

Justin was alone. It got quiet. And so he filled it with his periodic screams for help.

“Help! HELLP! Is there anybody out there! HELLLLLLP MEEEEEE!!!!”

BJBJBJBJBJBJ

Candy Boy led him all the way back to town. He ran straight over to the schoolhouse and gave a triumphant bark.

“Yes…that’s right. Justin’s the schoolteacher. But where to now?”

Candy Boy seemed to understand and he sniffed all the way around the porch and even a ways around the schoolhouse. He grew very confused. There were a lot of scents here…different young humans, chalk, wood, other men with strong B.O. Candy Boy meandered around and began to forget why he was here. HE meandered over to the mercantile where he could smell beef jerky.

“Huh?? Is Justin over there?” asked Brian. He left Midnight tied to the hitching post at the schoolhouse and ran after the dog.

There was definitely jerky here. Candy Boy trotted into the mercantile. Brian followed.

“Oh, hello, Constable Brian!” said pretty Emmy Lou Gold, “How nice to see you,” At the words ‘nice’ and ‘you’, her voice dipped and deepened strangely. “I should let you know, that we don’t uuusually let dogs in here. But if it’s for a good reason…and it’s potty trained…”

“It damn well better be,” Brian muttered to himself, “Out loud, he said, “The dog’s been deputized temporarily…he’s tracking for me. This shouldn’t take long. I don’t suppose you’ve seen Justin Taylor today, have you?”

“Why no! No, he hasn’t been in all day! I’ll keep a look out for him though.”

“Thanks! I’d appreciate it! Now why on earth did that dog come in here for then?”

Candy Boy was nosing the shelves and grabbed a box and dropped it at Brian’s feet. Wondering, Brian picked it up.

Beef jerky.

Brian took a deep breath and suppressed a great urge to scream and rant. It was just a dog. Just a dog…Just a dog…just a dog…” He chanted it in his head like a mantra and wondered what Justin would do.

“No Candy B…Candy…dog! We came to find Justin, remember! Yellow head! Remember?” Brian held out the hat.

Candy Boy minced away and knocked another box of jerky of the shelf and sat primly in front of it.

“No! Not jerky! Hat!”

Candy Boy knocked another box of the shelf and nosed both boxes toward him “YES, Jerky!” was the adamant, almost audible reply.

“Ummm, officer? The jerky’s only ten (ahem..ahem)… only ten cents a box. Perhaps humouring the creat…um…doggy might be the best way to get him on his way,” suggested Emmy Lou.

“Brian could not believe he was seriously negotiating with a dog. “Arrrrrgh! Fine! Here 50 cents!” He slapped the money down. He grabbed 2 boxes of the jerky and the three that Candy Boy had knocked over and held them up like cards. “Here! Are you happy! I’ll be feeding you these if you track Sunshine! Track Yellow Head, OK!!?”

Candy Boy wriggled and sniffed and jumped and barked. Jerkyjerkyjerkyjerkyjerky!!!!! JERKY!!!!!!

“Have a nice day, officer,” said Emmy Lou.

“Uhh, yeah… you too. Sorry for the trouble. I hope you’re feeling better soon.”

“I’m sorry?”

“Oh…Well, your voice. I figured you may have had a…cold or something,” Brian guessed.

Emmy Lou tittered and flapped her hand. “Oh my, you are a good detective, aren’t you!? Oh, it’s just a teensy sore throat. Giving me a bit of a frog in my throat. I usually just take one of my mints and I’m right as rain! You’ll see!” She took a small silver box out from somewhere and opened it to reveal a stash of small white…mints (pills) flitted across Brian’s mind….and then popped one and snapped the box closed.

“There we go! I’m sure I’ll be all right any time now. I’ll be sure to keep an eye out for Justin! Nothing’s wrong is it?” she asked, not so subtly changing the subject.

“Uhh, no! But just keep an eye out and send him over to Debbie’s if you see him, OK?” He was working off the assumption that Justin might be able to escape. He knew it was a good meeting spot and Debbie would be able to handle any kidnapers who would likely try again.

“Will do! Have a nice day Constable!” Emmy Lou’s innocuous goodbye washed over him reminding him that to everybody else, this was just an ordinary day. Oh, how he wished it were for him as well! This day seemed to be taking forever and it was only half over and was only a couple of hours since he discovered Justin was missing. Would they ever get normal back?

“Bye!” he choked out and clumped out the door, leading the dog out by the jerky.

Once outside, Brian gave him a piece, which Candy Boy chomped enthusiastically. Then he held out the hat. Candy Boy sniffed deeply and remembered. Yellow Head….and he was close!

Barking loudly, the dog ran over to the schoolhouse again. The B.O. was very strong here but under it was Yellow Head smell too. He sniffed around and moved in wider and wider sweeps around the schoolhouse. The scent went into the forest. The chalk and kids and wood from the schoolhouse faded and Yellow Head and B.O. got stronger and then…and then….

“Ahhh-wooooo!!! ARF! ARF ARF!!!” Candy Boy barked joyfully, because he could tell this was it! Yellow head had been right here and his scent was moving further into the forest, like a gorgeous yellow line striping its way forward from his nose. It was this way!! For sure!” He wiggled and barked in pleasure, telling the Man in Boots anyway he could, Yellow Head was just a little further.

“Good Boy! Good Boy, C andy B…Candy Bo….oh God, I cannot do it! I cannot call you that stupid name! OK, Candy how about…just for today…I call you Candy Andy instead!”

Candy cocked his head in confusion.

“Come on, Candy Andy…there’s a big piece of jerky in it for you!” Brian took it out and waved it back and forth hypnotically. Candy Andy’s eyes watched it like he was hypnotized.

Then Brian threw it and Candy Andy jumped and caught it in the air and “Mmmmmmmmm….” He guessed the Man in Boots could call him whatever he wanted. Like he said, he’d do anything for jerky. AAAAAAnnything!!!”

They were just about to head into the forest heading out of town the opposite way they had come in when Brian heard a friendly “tooot – tooot!” He head whipped around.

It was 12:30. The train was just pulling into the station where it would unload and stay around for a half an hour before leaving at 1:00 PM on the dot. The train he was supposed to be on.

Fear squeezed his heart with icy tendrils. He was running out of time. He had a half hour to find Sunshine before Mr. X or whoever else figured out he had no intention of being on that train.

He mounted Midnight, and together, dog, horse and man, all plunged into the forest.

BJBJBJBJBJBJBJBJ

A half an hour later…

Justin lay back and lay still. The way his shoulders were tied to the rails was very effective and he had resigned himself to the fact he wasn’t going anywhere. The noose around his neck was tight enough to take notice and his throat was raw from yelling.

Mr. X had done his job well. He couldn’t get free and he must indeed be miles from anywhere because no one could hear his desperate cries for help.

Then, under his body he could feel a slight vibration, then slightly stronger. Justin listened and put his ear to the rail. It was definitely giving off a hum, the slightest of vibrations but to Justin it was the trumpet herald of the angel of doom.

The train was coming.

“HELP! HELP! For the love of everything holy, HELP MEEEEE!!!”

The vibrations grew stronger, and far in the distance there was a cheerful ‘Toot! Toot!”

“HEEELLLP!!!”

And then…he saw it. Off to the right, cheerful white, smoke, cowcatcher and all, wayyyy off, came the locomotive that would…Justin shuddered. He didn’t even know what that thing would do to him. He panicked and wriggled a bit and his noose tightened a bit.

Surely there had to be a hunter or a camper or a hermit or…or a friendly, freaking mouse who could chew his rope! Something! There had…to… be…something!!

“HELP! HELP!!! SOMEBODY, ANYBODY, HELP ME!”

The train was picking up speed. It grew louder and louder and soon he wouldn’t be able to hear himself much less have anyone else hear him. Justin sky-blue eyes were wide with terror and he slumped back as he lost all hope. He fixated on the cowcatcher, letting it hypnotize him a little as he drew in a deep breath for a final scream.

“HELLLP MEEEEEEE!!!!!!”

Relentlessly, the train grew closer…and closer…and closer…..

To be continued

A/N: All right, well a few of you guessed it but the rest of you will be wondering….Awww, dang it! Did he really go there? Did he really do a lame, tied to the tracks scenario? Well, all I can say is…..You BET I did! :P Bwahahaha! But if you put up with me, I promise future cliffy’s will be more inventive.

CAPTCHA