Page 63 of The Attercop

“Good,” Sam said. “Anyone been showing any interest in the van?”

“No one. Street’s been dead all morning.”

Charlie began to check out the van. Duck stood in the driver’s seat of the car and barked madly.

“Duck! Sit!” Charlie yelled out. It always worked for Mrs B.

Charlie continued. “As far as I can see, there’s nothing out of the— Oh, for crying out loud. Duck—shut up!”

Sawchuck looked at him. “You better let him out of there before he tears the interior to pieces.”

As Charlie stomped back to the car, he heard Sawchuck ask Sam, “Did you really have to bring him along?” Charlie wasn’t sure if he was referring to Duck, or himself.

When he got to the vehicle, he found that Duck had completely tangled up his leash with the stick shift, brake and turn signal. He looked up at Charlie plaintively.

“Come on, boy. You’re all right.”

Charlie held onto the leash as he unknotted the trapped animal, then made his way to the van. He pulled out his set of keys and opened the door. Before Charlie could stop him, Duck leapt up into the cab, sniffing the steering wheel and driver’s seat, then onto the floor. He howled loudly, then jumped out onto the road, snuffling his way along the street.

“He isn’t tracking, is he?” Sawchuck asked.

“I…I have no idea,” Charlie said, holding tightly onto the leash. Nose to the ground, the dog dragged Charlie to a fence and pawed at the gate. Duck looked up at Charlie and whimpered.

“Sit,” Charlie said. Duck ignored him and sniffed at the gate. “What do you think, Gary?”

“I suppose there’s no harm in seeing if anyone’s home,” Sawchuck said. He went up to the front door and rang the doorbell, but there was no response.

After another try with no response, Sawchuck shrugged and tried the door. It was locked.

Duck continued to scratch at the gate post. Charlie opened the gate. The dog put its nose down to the ground once more and made his way to the back door. Sam and Sawchuck joined them.

Charlie hesitated.

“Go ahead,” Sawchuck said.

Charlie tried the door, and it was unlocked. He glanced around then followed Duck inside. The house had the feeling of not being lived in—no shoes by the door and nothing on the kitchen table. The furnishings were basic, and coated in dust.

Duck pulled hard on the leash.

“What the hell?” Sam said. “Let him go.”

Charlie dropped the leash and Duck sniffed around the landing then headed down into the cellar. The dog’s nose swept back and forth across the floor as he followed the scent. He continued forward until he reached a closed door. Charlie took a hold of the leash then reached for the handle.

Sawchuck cleared his throat and moved in front. He cautiously opened the door far enough that he could reach in with his hand and flicked on the lights.

Charlie prepared himself for the worst.Please don’t let there be…anything bad in there.

“Hold onto the dog,” Sam advised.

The room was a combination laundry and furnace room. Nothing appeared out of the ordinary.

“Okay, let the dog go,” Sam said. Duck started to sniff the floor, heading toward the furnace, but stopped and sneezed. He shook his head then sniffed the floor, but immediately backed up.

“Wait a sec,” Gary said. He walked over to the furnace and bent down, then pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket, using it to cover his hand. He gently picked up a fragment of what appeared to be a broken bottle. Gary took it over to the light and examined it. He held it up to Duck’s nose and the dog jumped back.

“What is it?” Charlie asked.

“Don’t know, but your dog doesn’t like it,” Gary said as he looked up from the fragment. “I’ll see what my guys in the lab can find out.”