The Puppy Boy
A story by e
Chapter 8 - Carlos and Daniel: Pet Detectives
The summer passed without any major incidents. The two of us had managed to impress Ms Topher just as mom said we would. By the end of class I was reading and writing at sixth grade level and Daniel was at seventh grade level. I had nearly caught up. Ms Topher saw to that. I had volunteered to assist her in the library three days a week and as a result she had spent a lot of extra time tutoring me.
Daniel was doing his own volunteer work with Coach Sims in return she let him slack off a bit in class, but I got no such benefit. She worked my butt off and I was in great shape by the end of summer.
Jane was outside the gym to watch me wash myself every day. She and I were becoming good friends. She was making friends with Daniel too. But it was risky. Her mother hated puppies, so did her older sister. So we had to take care that she wasn't seen with us. That meant that our friendship was restricted to walking to and from class and the showers outside the gym. Those were the most fun times. She always giggled when she saw my puppy parts and she was amazed at how my dick grew one day when I showed her how to make it hard. I never let her touch me, though. She was too young for that, but she asked several times.
Daniel and I were getting along again, but I was still jealous of his dick. Mine had grown some more, but I knew it would never be as big as his. Shelly said she didn't care and Linda said it didn't matter. But Coach Sims thought it did, and since she was the adult with all the experience, I couldn't help but think it made Daniel the superior lover. He was everything that I wasn't. Maybe that's why I love him.
The girls had worked hard all summer. Their public school had been good, but it had left them a bit behind the academy. They had taken a full load of classes to catch up. We didn't see much of them. Our only contact was at lunch and on weekends when they stayed at the house instead of the dorm.
Allowing a couple of puppies to attend summer classes was one thing. But with the full student body in attendance for the fall, there was no room for us. We went from being puppies to being gophers; you know, we had to go for this or go for that. We each spent a couple periods out of the day assisting mom. I was also assigned to assist Ms Topher in the library and she continued tutoring me. Daniel was assigned to Coach Sims and she continued tutoring him. Damn I was jealous. The one class I was permitted to take was PE. Daniel was in the class too. Puppies have to stay in shape, you know.
*****
"What's wrong mommy?" I had come to her room to tell her breakfast was ready when I heard her crying. She made me wait a moment before allowing me to enter.
"Oh, nothing Carlos, I'm alright."
I wrapped my arms around her and hugged her tight. "But you were crying."
"I'm just a bit sad today." Her eyes were red and she wiped another tear from them. "Five years ago today, Jacqui died."
"Oh" I hugged her tighter and she hugged me back. "I wish I would have known her."
"She was a wonderful person, Carlos. She loved you very much. She really enjoyed helping me taking care of you before you were sent to the farm. She always laughed at your silly little games."
"I don't remember her. I don't remember anything before the farm." We held each other for a moment before going to breakfast.
It was a work day, so breakfast was simple, just eggs, bacon, and toast. Daniel was just setting the plates on the table as we walked in.
"Morning mom."
"Good morning Daniel. This looks like a fine breakfast, boys." Her mood suddenly seemed to be a lot better.
"How would you boys like to go with me to Athens this weekend?"
"Could I visit my matron?" Daniel was referring to Dr Wills.
"Are the girls coming?" As much as I wanted to go, I really looked forward to the weekends when we got to spend time with Shelly and Linda.
"We'll be staying with Janice and no, the girls are going on a field trip with their class this weekend. They leave this afternoon and won't be back until Monday." Mom answered us both at once. Janice was Dr. Wills first name.
"Oh yeah, I forgot. Shelly told me they're going to the state capitol to learn about the government." I looked at Daniel. He was smiling. I knew he missed his matron. "I don't want to stay here alone. I'd die of loneliness." I pretended to be unenthusiastic, but I was really quite excited.
"Well I could send you on the field trip to assist, but it will be a lot of work and you'll have to put up with fifty very curious girls." Mom was smiling; she knew my game and had just beaten me at it.
"Umm, no thanks, I'm goin' with you." I couldn't get the words out fast enough. Just the thought of being tormented by fifty girls was more than I could handle.
"Good. It's settled. I've already packed. You two have the day off from your duties at school. Clean the house, get packed and ready to go. We leave when I get home." She got up from the table and started towards the door to leave for work. "One more thing, Priestess Melinda has asked if you might be interested in helping prepare the Temple for the Fall Equinox. If so, you will be staying all week."
Daniel and I looked at each other. We both broke into big smiles and nodded.
"Then pack your long clothing, you know the Temple dress code."
*****
Cleaning the house was quick and easy since we kept up with it on a daily basis. We were done cleaning and packing before noon.
"Mom was really sad this morning. It's the anniversary of Jacqui's death. She was crying."
Daniel looked at me and nodded. "I noticed. She seemed kind of down at breakfast even though she was trying not to."
"Yeah, I think it's even harder this year because of what they told her about it not being an accident."
Daniel nodded. "Maybe we can do something to cheer her up."
I broke out into a big evil smile. Daniel smacked me playfully in the face.
"Ow! What'd you do that for?" It might have been playful, but it stung.
"You said to smack you if you ever got another stupid idea."
"But it's not stupid." I was massaging my jaw. "Besides, you're the one who said we should do something."
"No you don't. You're not blaming this on me." He was laughing.
"Ok, it's my idea, but it's not stupid this time."
"It's never stupid until it's done, then it's too late."
"You haven't even heard what it is, just listen."
*****
We arrived at the library and as expected Ms Topher was behind the main desk. She looked up as we approached.
"I didn't expect to see you boys here today. Ms Miller said you'd be out today."
"Hi Ms Topher." We said it together. I continued, "We finished up our chores a little early and wanted to stop in to look something up before we left. Is that ok?"
"Certainly, Carlos. Do you think you'll need some help?"
"Yes ma'am. You taught me really good how to use the subject index, but we need to find a newspaper article and I'm not so good with that."
"Well that's easy enough. C'mon back and let's get started." She lead us to the periodical section and we at a computer. "Ok, is it the Brighton paper?"
"No ma'am." I answered again. "It's probably the Athens one."
"Alright, Insert your library card and log in. Then type in 'Athens Herald'."
I did as she instructed. The holonet opened up to the home cube of the newspaper.
"Now just reach in and touch the morgue. That will take you to the older editions."
Again I followed her instructions.
"Now you need to type in what it is you're looking for. You'll need a name, place, a subject, or something to tell it to search for. You'll also need a date range"
"Ok, I think I can do it from here. Thanks Ms Topher."
"Anytime boys, I'll be over here if you need further assistance." She headed back to her desk.
"I though for sure she'd want to know what we're looking for." Daniel breathed a sigh of relief.
"Yeah, me too. I don't want this getting back to mom. Not yet anyways."
I typed in Jacqui's name and the date of her death. I left the end date open.
"There it is."
I read the article with Daniel looking over my shoulder. It said she was killed in a fiery car crash on a sharp curve on a main highway out of town. There were four unnamed witnesses. Police were investigating, but it appeared to be an accident. The car was traveling too fast and lost control. Jacqui was killed on impact.
"Four witness." Daniel muttered.
"Yeah, I wonder who they are."
"I bet the police would know. Remember how they took all our names that night?"
"Yeah, they must have taken the names. I wonder if we can find out. Maybe I can ask Ms Topher." I logged off the newspaper.
"Carlos, no. She'll get suspicious and tell mom." He was about ready to slap me again. I wouldn't blame him. This idea was pretty stupid.
I was undeterred and headed for the front desk.
"Excuse me, Ms Topher." She looked up at me. "Is there a way to find out what the police know about something?"
Daniel had a very strained and worried look on his face that was a dead giveaway that we were up to something. "Let's just go." He whispered through clenched teeth.
"Just what is it you're looking for?" She had definitely seen Daniel's expression.
"Promise you won't tell Ms Miller?" I couldn't refer to her as 'mom' in such as situation. Puppies weren't supposed to be that informal when referring to their mistress or matron to someone else.
"No promises. Now let's have it. Or I'll call her right now." She was quite firm.
"There was something that happened; a break in at our house before we moved here. We wanted to know if they found who did it." Ok, so I lied.
At my explanation, Daniel relaxed a little and closed his eyes.
I continued, "Ms Miller's been a bit upset lately, kind of depressed. Please don't tell her. We don't want her to worry."
"Well I guess there's no harm in it. We can't access that kind of information from the library. Police records aren't accessible. You have to talk to them directly."
"Oh. Well thanks for helping and thanks for not telling." We turned and walked out.
"Anytime boys." She called after us.
*****
We walked out of the library and headed for the rear exit from the school. It was the fastest way to the commons which was a large field of grass and trees between the school buildings. We followed the bike path. Our residence was on the far end of the commons, close to the elementary school.
"Do you think she'll tell?" Daniel was worried.
"Nah, Ms Topher's pretty cool once you get to know her." I tried to reassure him.
"She seems to like you."
"Not nearly as much as Coach Sims likes you," I laughed.
"We've gotta get the names of those witnesses." Daniel was changing the subject.
"Maybe Dr. Wills or Priestess Melinda can help." I was already planning to ask.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" Jane's older sister Nancy stepped from behind a bush and into our path.
I grabbed Daniel. "C'mon, run." We wheeled around.
"Not so fast." There were two more high school girls behind us. I didn't know them.
We both froze. Jane's older sister had threatened me once before. She had shoved me to the ground, bent my arm behind my back and stripped me naked. She was bigger and stronger. Besides, a puppy isn't permitted to harm a girl, even in self defense. If we did, we'd be sent to the corporate labor camps for sure.
"What did I tell you about wearing school uniforms?" It was more threat than question.
"Please... we don't... we don't have a choice. They make us wear them on campus." I pleaded with her.
"What did I tell you?" She demanded.
"That... that... that... you'd rip my balls off." I was crying.
Daniel looked sick. He was even more frightened than I was. One of the girls had grabbed him, hooking her arms through his from behind.
"Then maybe you should get what you deserve." She reached between my legs and grabbed them. It hurt.
"Pleeeease."Suddenly I felt a familiar sensation building in my groin. "Let go! Let go!" I was terrified.
But she didn't; at least not until it was too late. I peed just like I had in school that first day last fall.
As soon as she felt it she jerked her hand back. "You filthy..." She slapped my face hard. I felt the wetness on my cheek.
"It... it just happened. I... I'm sorry... I tried to warn you." This was worse than when it happened in school. I was humiliated and ashamed, the worst part was Daniel had seen it.
"Strip!" She shifted her gaze to Daniel. "You too."
My eyes were full of tears and I could barely see. I was trembling. But I did as she ordered. Daniel did too and within a few second there were two naked puppies standing in front of her.
"Please, please don't hurt us." Daniel was begging now. His face was streaked with tears.
"Alright. If you can amuse me enough, I'll let you keep your balls. Just to prove how nice I am. Jack off."
Scared as I was I wasn't sure I could get hard. Let alone jack off. But I didn't hesitate to try. Neither did Daniel.
The girls were laughing at us.
I was surprised at how quickly I got hard. Just a few minutes later I shot off. I looked at Daniel. He wasn't even erect.
"I guess this one loses his." She reached out and grabbed him by his balls, pulling, squeezing, and twisting.
He gasped in pain and staggered back a couple steps before dropping to his knees.
"No, wait. I'll show you something even better."
She looked at me and released him. Daniel fell to the ground, hands between his legs.
I didn't wait for her to answer. I quickly knelt down and sucked his dick into my mouth. I let some saliva drip onto my fingers; then inserted them into his anus. I knew right where to find his prostate.
The girls were making fun of us, hurling insults and showing their disgust. I paid them no attention.
Daniel hardened quickly. Seconds later he shot into my mouth. I didn't swallow. I let some dribble out of my mouth and onto my chin as proof he'd cum. I looked up at them.
"That's the most disgusting thing I've ever seen. But it was entertaining. You can keep your filthy little balls. But don't ever let us see you in these again."
The girls left us with nothing more than our sandals. We just lay there for a couple minutes, still crying and holding onto each other.
*****
Mom heard us as we entered the house. "Where have you two been. I'm ready to... Oh my!" She was shocked when she saw us.
There was blood on my chest and stomach. It had come from my lip which had split open when Nancy slapped me. There was a deep red handprint on my cheek too. We were both naked and dirty.
"Are you ok? What's happened?" She sounded angry, worried, and frightened all at once.
We both started crying all over again.
"It was some girls from the high school." Daniel began explaining. "I never saw them before. They didn't like us wearing uniforms. They made us strip and... and do things."
"I'm calling security." Mom headed towards the holophone.
"No! Mom wait!" I yelled out.
She turned back.
"Please don't. It'll make it worse. Even if they find out who did this, they'll have friends." I begged her. "Just don't make us wear uniforms again."
"We moved here to prevent this kind of thing from happening. I won't tolerate it."
"I should have told you before. I... I was too scared."
"Before? This happened before?"
"Once, just the stripping part. Please mom, don't call."
"Carlos, you should have told me. You're sure you don't know them?"
"I'm sure." I lied.
Mom thought for a moment. "Ok, I won't call. But I will do something about it. This is not going to happen on my campus."
*****
After a four hour trip, we arrived at the Wills residence and both Daniel and I ran to her and gave her a great big hug. She had also moved and this house was even bigger than the other one.
"Boys, carry Ann's things upstairs to the first room on the left. You're room is across the hall. Get your stuff up there and then you can get undressed and come back down here. I want to see how you've grown."
"Yes, matron."
"Yes, Dr Wills."
Dr Wills treated us well and we liked her, but we were always puppies around her. There was no role confusion. She had never given us permission to be informal. The two women were already deep into conversation when we returned, naked as the day we were born.
"... well that's a bit disturbing, but I'm glad everything else is going well." I heard Dr. Wills speaking to my mom.
"Just look at you two." Dr Wills said with a big smile. "Daniel, you're looking very fit and trim. Ann tells me you've been assisting the gym teacher."
"Yes ma'am." Daniel was looking pleased."
"And just look at you." She turned to me. "I almost wouldn't even recognize you; all those muscles. You must be carrying a lot of books around that library."
I couldn't stop myself from giggling. "Yes ma'am, but I worked hard in gym class over the summer. It was physical conditioning."
"Well you are certainly conditioned and muscles aren't the only thing you've grown." She was staring right at my crotch.
"So do you tell me how big it gets or am I going to have to measure it myself."
She was teasing me, of course. At least I think she was. She wouldn't really measure it, would she? It didn't matter. I was proud of they way it had grown. "It's almost six inches now." I could feel my face turn red as I saw my mother smile. Daniel was laughing too.
"Ok, it's getting late and time for bed. I want you two up early to fix breakfast. I have to go into the hospital to see a couple of patients. Ann are you going to take Carlos with you?"
"If he wants to come," She looked at me "I'm going to visit Jacqui's grave. The two of you can come along if you like."
"I'd like that mommy."
"Me too, mom."
"He's calling you 'mom'?"
"Yes, I wanted him to feel like he's a part of the family, so I gave him permission. I just can't see treating him any different than I treat Carlos. He's like another son anyways. He might even be one someday, if the two girls continue to get on the way they've been."
"I've always been a bit more formal with Daniel. But perhaps it's time to relax a bit. Boys, you can call me 'mom' if you like, or Janice if that's more comfortable."
"Daniel gave her a hug. "Thanks mom. I always wanted to call you that." He was smiling.
"Yeah, thanks, umm, Janice." I decided not to call her mom, at least not yet.
*****
I was exhausted from the day's events and fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. But it was fitful and filled with nightmares of puppy-eating monsters and other horrible things. Then Nancy appeared. She was ready to cut my balls off when I peed. I could feel it happening even though I was asleep. Finally I awoke, but it was too late. The bed was wet. If I moved I'd wake Daniel. I couldn't let him see me like this. But I didn't know what to do to prevent it. I just lay there crying.
Eventually Daniel woke up. "Hey, what's the matter?"
He reached around to hold me with his arm. I realized too late what was happening and couldn't roll over in time.
"What the... It's all wet. Oh Carlos..."
I was bawling like a baby now. I began wetting the bed shortly after being taken to the farm, but I hadn't done it since I was six. Now, here I was, almost fifteen years old.
"It's ok, Carlos. Let's get you cleaned up." He tried rolling me over, but I rolled the other way, burying my face in the pillow, sucking my thumb.
Carlos made several attempts to get me up, but I just couldn't. It's not that I didn't want to. I did. But something inside was keeping from moving. Finally, he went to get mom and Dr. Wills. They got me up and into the tub. I was too embarrassed to look at them. Mom had to bathe me and I wouldn't stop sucking my thumb. She kept trying to soothe me by whispering in my ears, telling me how much she loved me, and singing lullabies while holding me in her arms and rocking me until I fell back to sleep.
I found out the next morning that Daniel had told his mom every detail about the incident in the commons except the girls' names. We had been pretty vague about what we'd told my mom.
I apologized to Dr Wills for my behavior and for ruining the mattress, but she just reassured me that it was ok and perfectly understandable given the circumstances.
None of it made me feel any better, though, and I still couldn't look anyone in the eye, especially Daniel.
*****
Daniel complained of some pain in his testicles from when the girls squeezed them so Dr. Wills decided to take him to her office for a thorough exam. She said we both should have a complete physical. I wanted to go to the cemetery with my mom so she promised the Dr. that she would bring me afterwards.
I had never been to a cemetery before. It was a beautiful sprawling lawn with headstones marking the graves, lots of trees, flowers, and statues. Mom stopped at the flower shop and bought some daffodils. She said they were Jacqui's favorite.
When we got to the grave, she cleared away some grass clippings and placed the flowers at the foot of the headstone. She whispered some things to Jacqui that I couldn't hear. She then moved back to a bench a few feet away and sat, looking sadly at the grave. I could see tears falling down her face and knew how much she missed her wife.
I just watched her a moment and then I knelt at the grave and whispered to Jacqui, too. "Hi Jacqui, you probably don't recognize me 'cause I've grown up, but I'm Carlos, the little baby puppy you helped take care of. I don't really remember you, but mommy says you loved me and I just wanted to say thanks."
I hoped she heard. I moved to the bench where mom was sitting. She was still crying. I hugged her and she kissed me on the forehead.
"Mommy?"
She looked at me.
"Can I tell you a story?" Whenever I felt bad, she always cheered me up with a story. This time I thought it was my turn.
"Of course, Carlos." A little smile grew on her face.
"Once upon a time," she always began her stories like that so I thought it was a good place to start.
She giggled just a little.
I continued, "There was a cute little puppy."
"I'll bet his name was Carlos." Mom interrupted.
"Hey, am I telling this story or are you." We both laughed because that is exactly what she always says to me when I interrupt her stories. "Yes, his name was Carlos, but he was so tiny that he wasn't even born yet."
Mom looked at me rather curiously.
"He needed to find a mommy. So he looked everywhere. There were lots of women who wanted babies, but very few who wanted puppies. Most of them didn't really want puppies, they just wanted money. The little puppy wasn't going to settle for one of those. He wanted a real mommy."
Mom hugged me a little tighter.
"Along the way he met a little girl. 'What's your name little puppy?' She asked.
'Carlos', answered the puppy, 'What's yours?'
'My name is Shelly,' said the little girl. 'I'm on my way to meet my mommy so I can be born.'
'Oh,' said the puppy, 'I don't have a mommy yet. I'm still looking.'
'Well I have two mommies and one of the wants a little puppy. Why don't you come with me?'
So the little baby puppy followed the little baby girl until they met her mommies.
'They're beautiful,' said the little puppy.
'That one is my mommy Jacqui,' said the girl pointing at one of her mommies. 'I'm going to crawl in side her and grow big enough to be born. The other one is my mommy Ann. She's the one that wants the puppy.'
"Do you think she'll want me?' asked the little puppy.
'I know she'll want you, 'cause you're the cutest little puppy ever.' The girl said. 'Go ahead and get inside.'
'Will I see you when you're born?' the puppy asked.
'Of course you will. You're going to be my puppy and I'm going to take really good care of you and my mommy will too.'
"That was all the little puppy needed to hear. He crawled up inside his mommy and when he was born she and the little girl loved him and took really good care of him even when he was a bad puppy and even when he disappointed them and even when he embarrassed them, they still loved him."
Mom kissed me on the forehead again. "That was a really nice story, Carlos."
"But it's not over."
"No?"
"No." I smiled up at her. "Because the puppy loved them so much he decided he was going to take care of them too."
"And he does. He takes really good care of all of us and we're so proud of him." She hugged me and kissed me again. "And he's not a bad puppy; he's not embarrassing or disappointing. He's the best puppy any mommy anywhere could hope for and this is one mommy who is sure glad he found her."
*****
I was happy to get naked for Dr. Wills. She had never wanted sex from me, but I know she liked looking at my body and even touching sometimes. She was always very interested in the size of my penis, but she had only asked about it, she had never measured it.
"Alright, we need to get you on the scale." She took me by the hand and led me out of the exam room and down the hall.
I knew she was showing me off to the nurses and other patients in the hall. I was proud she wanted to and smiled happily. I liked showing me off too.
"One hundred twelve pounds." That's almost as much as Daniel. "Ok, stand against the wall." She took a stick and placed it on top of my head so the end touched the wall. "Sixty three inches." She wrote on her chart. "Daniel's got you by four inches, but only six pounds. Must be all that muscle you've put on." She squeezed the muscle of my upper arm. "Oh yes, nice and firm, isn't he Robin?"
"He's a fine specimen, Dr. a very fine specimen." The nurse smiled at me.
"Step on over there and let her get a good feel." Dr Wills pushed me in her direction.
Nurse Robin got out of her seat and I made a muscle for her. She winked at me and felt it with her right hand. Her left hand felt a muscle just a little bit lower. "Oh that feels nice, but I'll bet he could make it a little bit harder if he wanted to." She giggled.
I couldn't help it. I doubled over in laughter. I liked physical exams.
I followed Dr. Wills back to the exam room, giggling the whole way. She then examined my puppy parts and had me turn my head and cough while holding my balls. Then I had to bend over and she put a finger inside me to feel my prostate. I was hard when she got done.
"Yes, I thought you were enjoying this." She smiled at me. "Nurse Robin will be in to get a blood sample, a urine sample, and what do you think? Should we let her get a sperm sample as well?"
I smiled and nodded. Besides, that muscle was good and hard now. We needed to do this more often.
*****
That evening we went to the Temple for the service. We were seated in a special pew up front for honored guests. Mom said they were going to say a special memorial blessing for Jacqui. It was something she requested every year to mark the anniversary of her death. The Goddess Mother, Priestess Melinda, and another Priestess I didn't recognize conducted the ceremony. The Goddess Mother offered the memorial blessing. Finally it was over.
I saw Priestess Melinda greeting people as we exited the Temple. I ran to her and grabbed her in a big hug, almost knocking her down. It wasn't proper, but I didn't care. I missed my favorite Priestess. I kissed her on the cheek and she started to hug me back just as we were joined by Daniel.
"If it isn't my two favorite little puppies." She said in a sort of mock surprise. "How have you been?"
"I love you Priestess," Daniel exclaimed.
"Yes me too." I added, "We're going to stay and help all week."
"Looks like you've got a fan club, Melinda." It was a woman from the congregation. I'd seen her before.
"Yes, Mary. You remember our two handsome little puppies, don't you?"
"Why of course, are they going to be cooking on Wednesday evening?"
"Well boys?" The Priestess looked at us.
"We'd love to." I said.
Absolutely," was Daniel's response.
"Then I'll be sure to be here. I've so missed your cooking." She looked back to the Priestess, "No offense Melinda."
We all giggled.
"Priestess?"
"Yes Carlos?"
"Can we talk to you privately?"
"Of course." She guided us down a hallway. "Come this way." As we walked she continues to speak. "I just can't get over how much you've grown, and not just physically. You've both gotten so handsome."
She led us into her office and closed the door. "I've really missed both of you, you know?"
Daniel and I smiled.
It was funny how difficult it was to be around her in the beginning. I dreaded coming to the Temple on Wednesdays because she was so mean. I never had a chance with her. She hated puppies. She just rejected me immediately. I remember the Goddess Mother taking pity on me and getting me away from her by having me clean her office and the spanking I got when I got home. That hurt. Then came the Winter Solstice; she really needed my help then and I worked really hard to impress her. After that, everything changed. She's what I miss most about Athens. I wish I could see her more often.
"Priestess, we need your help."
Daniel looked at me with apprehension.
"Oh?"
"Ever since you told mom about Jacqui's death, she's been depressed. She hides it really good, but I've seen her crying a couple of times. This week's been really hard for her." I wasn't too sure how to ask what I wanted.
"Yes, she's spoken with me on the phone several times and to the Goddess Mother as well. I've tried to get her to visit the Temple in Brighton, but she doesn't want to go." She was shaking her head.
"I'm glad you're trying to help. But we're trying to help too."
"Well, then how can I help you?"
I thought for a moment, "Daniel and me, we're tryin' to figure out how Jacqui died. We looked up the newspaper article in the school library. It didn't say much, except there were four witnesses. But we don't know who they are. We think the police would know, but Ms Topher said we can't access their records from the library." I looked at her hopefully.
"Ms Topher?"
"She's the school librarian," Daniel answered.
"I see." She thought for a moment. "You think I can get the records."
We both nodded.
"It would draw unwanted attention if I just walk in and ask to see the report. But I know someone on the force. She might be willing to help. I'll give her a call."
"Thanks Priestess." I jumped up and gave her a hug.
"Ok, you boys run along. I've got work to do. And I'll see you both first thing Monday morning."
"Bye Priestess."
"Yeah, see ya."
We both headed out of the office and back down the hall.
*****
Sunday morning mom and Dr Wills were greeted with a breakfast of waffles with maple syrup and caramelized pineapple, soft boiled eggs, bacon and Daniel's own concoction of French roast coffee with honey, chocolate, and cinnamon. We decided to serve them puppy style. That meant no fancy breakfast for the two of us. Instead we waited on them hand and foot. Later, we had our own breakfast of puppy biscuits and buttermilk.
"I still wish the two of you had joined us."
"Sorry mom," Daniel responded, "but we wanted this to be special."
"Yes, ma'am," I chimed in, "we didn't want you to think we had forgotten how to be puppies."
"Well, just as long as the two of you understand that you are our BOYS, I guess it won't hurt to let you play puppy once in a while." My mom winked as she said it.
We laughed.
"We'll be home for dinner. You two have the day to do whatever two puppies do when they're having fun." This time it was Dr Wills who winked.
We giggled again knowing exactly what she was hinting at. But we weren't done playing yet. Besides, we'd done enough of that last night to last a while.
I looked at Daniel, "Top to bottom?" My turn to wink.
He looked back to me with a smile, "Spic and span." He turned to Dr Wills, "You won't recognize the place when you get back it'll be so clean."
"Boys, are you implying my house isn't clean?" Now the Dr. seemed slightly perturbed.
"Oh, it's clean, mom." Daniel said slyly, "It's just not puppy clean." He broke into a big smile.
"Janice, I think we better get while the getting's good." Mom laughed and the two women left for the mall.
We had the place spotless in just a couple hours. That left just enough time to prepare dinner. Daniel smoked some duck breasts with tea leaves while I prepared a spicy mango-ginger chutney out of the dried fruits we found in the cupboard. He also made a brown rice pilaf and I baked some acorn squash halves.
The women returned to a house that smelled of curry and tea smoke. They were right on time and dinner was served a few minutes later. The squash was served on a bed of rice and stuffed with the chutney, then topped with slices of duck breast. Dr Wills had a nice wine cellar and I found a spicy German gewürztraminer to serve with it. I also used some in the chutney. After dinner I served a cool mango lassi.
After dinner the two ladies refused to allow us to clean up. We argued of course and a compromise was reached. We had to allow the women to clear the table, then Daniel and I did everything else. It was just a matter of allowing them to feel helpful.
When all was done, mom said her goodbyes and left for the long drive home. She promised to return next weekend in time for the equinox celebration.
*****
Priestess Melinda wasn't kidding when she said she had lots for us to do. She wanted every floor in the building stripped and waxed, including the main auditorium which was full of pews. Those were bolted to the floor and we had to remove them. It took all morning just to unbolt them.
About mid-morning, Priestess Melinda brought us each a banana, some peanut butter, and a glass of apple juice.
"Thanks" I said when we finally got to take a break.
"Yeah thanks," added Daniel.
"My pleasure, boys, now what would you like for lunch? Anything is ok, within reason of course.
I looked at Daniel who had a big grin on his face. "You thinkin' what I'm thinkin'?"
"Puppy biscuits and buttermilk," was Daniel's reply.
We both started giggling.
"You don't trust my cooking?" The Priestess looked disappointed.
"Your cooking's fine," said Daniel, "but we hardly ever get treated like real puppies anymore."
"Yeah," I added, "we kinda miss it."
Priestess Melinda just shook her head and gathered up the empty plate and cups before walking away.
We no sooner than finished getting the last of the pews unbolted and began moving them into the hallway than the Priestess called us to lunch. We were surprised to see three plates of biscuits and three glasses of buttermilk on the table.
Our faces lit up. "There's another puppy!" Daniel blurted out.
"Yeah, where is he?" I looked around. We hadn't seen another puppy.
"Right here." The Priestess was pointing at herself. "I've decided to see what all the fuss is about." She looked a bit apprehensive as she picked up a biscuit and took a very small nibble. "They're a bit dry."
The two of us giggled. I picked up a biscuit and dunked it in the buttermilk. "Ya gotta dunk 'em."
A couple minutes later the Goddess Mother entered the room. "What on earth?" She looked a bit surprised when she saw what we were all eating.
"It's what they wanted," was Priestess Melinda's reply. "They're not as bad as you'd think."
"Would you like some?" Daniel offered.
"Well, I did come down for lunch." The Goddess Mother looked less than enthusiastic. She sighed. "When in Rome..."
We all had a good meal, though the Goddess Mother stopped with a single biscuit, insisting she wasn't very hungry, though she did have a second glass of buttermilk.
When we finished Priestess Melinda said "Tomorrow it's my turn to pick the lunch."
"Correction," said the Goddess Mother, "It's your turn for the rest of the week."
We all laughed. I got the feeling that it would be quite some time before either of the two women would have biscuits again.
By mid afternoon we had the pews in the hall and by the time Dr. Wills came to pick us up the floor was stripped and ready to be waxed. We convinced her to let us stay and get the wax on the floor so it would be ready for us to bring in the pews first thing in the morning. She was a bit disappointed because she was looking forward to spending the evening with us since she rarely gets to see us. We felt a bit guilty, but we promised to make it up to her.
As a compromise Daniel suggested that she bring dinner to the Temple and eat with us. Priestess Melinda suggested that she not ask what we wanted as she'd be likely to end up with a meal of puppy biscuits. We all laughed.
Priestess Melinda agreed to take us home when we finished. On the way she handed Daniel a report.
"This is a copy of the police report on Jacqueline's accident. It only lists two witnesses, not four."
We looked at the report. The witnesses were a mother and daughter, Margaret and Nancy Hatch. They reported that the car appeared to be speeding and lost control as it went around the curve.
We were more than a little disappointed.
"My detective friend mentioned the report seems a bit strange. The file dates are wrong, indicating the report may have been altered after it was approved by the supervisor."
"What does that mean?" I asked.
It means that we're going to give your reporter a call to see if she might still have the witness' names."
*****
Thursday couldn't come fast enough. That was the day we were going to meet the reporter with Priestess Melinda. Daniel and I were a couple of very excited, yet very nervous puppies. At least we had lots of work to keep our minds occupied. In addition to the floors, we had to cook dinner Wednesday evening for the congregation.
"So these are the two curious little puppies you told me about."
"Yes." Priestess Melinda scooted us towards the woman. "Boys this is Suzanne Winters, the reporter from the Herald."
"Hello ma'am," we said in unison.
"I understand you're interested in a story I did on a fatal car crash a few years back."
"Yes ma'am," I answered. "The woman who was killed, Jacqui Miller, she was my mother's wife."
"I see. So how can I help?"
"Your story said there were four witnesses, but the police report only lists two. We wanted to know who the other two were and what they saw." Daniel answered.
"You think they saw something different?"
"We think it might not have been an accident." I wasn't sure what to say. I didn't want to give away too much. I could risk exposing myself and Daniel.
"Oh? Why would you think that?"
"Perhaps I should answer this one." Priestess Melinda to the rescue. "But first, you have to agree that everything I tell you is off the record. No quotes. No references to the boys or to the Temple."
"Well I wasn't interested in rewriting the story. It happened five years ago."
"You might be, though, if you dig into it a little."
"I think you need to tell me what's going on."
"I'll tell you what I can," Priestess Melinda continued, "but my first priority is protecting these two young puppies."
"Why do they need protection? And from who?" This lady asked a lot of questions.
"You might remember last spring, the two puppies who received the Goddess' blessing?"
"These are the two?"
"Yes. They were harassed outside the Temple, and then there were crosses burned in their front yards."
"I remember. That touched off a rash of harassment against women who owned puppies."
"Not to mention the harassment of the puppies themselves." The Priestess was obviously chiding her about who the hatred was really directed against.
"Yes, of course. But what does that have to do with this accident from five years ago?"
"We believe the same group of hate mongers who harassed them last spring has been watching them since well before they left the farm."
"Why would someone be watching them? What's so special about them?"
"That I can't tell you. But I do know that the head matron of the farm discovered an employee who had compiled a complete dossier on these two and several other puppies. Her source of information was Jacqueline Miller."
"So she betrayed her wife. You think the wife had her killed?"
"NO!" I stood up angrily. My mom would NEVER have done that!" I shouted at the woman.
It was a good thing Daniel grabbed me and pulled me back down. I might have done something we'd all regret. I can't remember ever being that mad.
"Carlos. Calm down." Priestess Melinda was on her feet as well.
"But she..."
"Quiet!" The Priestess cut me off. She turned back to the reporter. "No, the wife had no idea this was happening. She only found out recently."
My heart was still pounding and I was breathing heavily. I wiped a bit of sweat from my forehead.
"Then who?" The reporter asked her next question.
"That's what we're trying to find out." Was the Priestess reply.
"So far, you've not convinced me that anything other than an accident occurred that night. You've got nothing more than conjecture and little to support that."
"I know it's not much, but we're not asking for much. Just a couple of names." The Priestess handed her a copy of the police report. "Still, you might want to look at this."
The reporter quickly looked it over. "So? It says nothing."
"Exactly," was the Priestess reply. "Did you obtain a copy for your story?"
"It wasn't necessary. I spoke with the officers at the scene and the paramedics. It was straightforward and didn't merit any follow-up. It ran in the paper the next morning." The reporter was a bit smug.
"So you never spoke with the witnesses either?"
"Like I said, there wasn't any need."
"There may have been more need than you think."
"Convince me."
"According to my source, this report may have been altered well after it was approved. The possibility exists that the statements of the other two witnesses were deleted."
"That would make the police complicit in a possible murder."
"Now wouldn't that make an interesting story?"
"I'll look into it. I hope you're not just yanking my chain."
"The boys leave on Sunday. We need to know about those witnesses before then."
The Priestess walked her out, leaving Daniel and me sitting there wondering what just happened.
*****
That night Daniel and I lay in bed. I was restless and couldn't get comfortable. Daniel seemed to be moving around a bit too. I just kept wondering about the two witnesses named in the police report and about the two who weren't mentioned. Why were they left out? What would the reporter find?
"Carlos?"
"Yeah?" I could feel Daniel's boner poking me in the butt. I wiggled against it.
"Not now."
I stopped wiggling. Now I was confused. "I thought that's what you wanted. I'm game if you are. It might help us sleep."
"You remember that girl, Nancy that hurt us in the park?" He changed the subject.
"Yeah?" I was curious.
"Her last name's Plummer, right?"
"I dunno." I wondered where this was leading.
"Her mom's name is Margaret?"
"I think so. She's that new teacher my mom hired right after she got her new job. What's this all about?"
He put his arms around me and hugged me tight. "Ever since that day, I can't stop thinking about her. I keep thinking I've seen her before."
"Nancy?"
"Yeah." Daniel was trembling.
"Where?" I was afraid to ask.
"Do you remember when the Temple confirmed our blessing?"
"Yeah." I said it tentatively.
"You remember those people outside the Temple yelling and threatening us when we left."
I didn't reply.
"And the girl that pushed me?"
"You think it was her?"
This time he said nothing.
A couple minutes passed. "Do you know how your mom changed her last name when she married Jacqui?"
"Yeah," I wondered how this related to our previous conversation.
"What were the names of those two witnesses on the police report?"
My mind suddenly went numb. I gasped and rolled over and grabbed onto Daniel as tight as I could, holding on for dear life.
*****
All that was left for us to do on Friday was to help the women's auxiliary decorate the Temple for the following day's festivities. It was easy compared to the work we'd been doing all week.
That afternoon, Ms Winters dropped by and Priestess Melinda called us into her office.
"Good afternoon, boys."
"Good afternoon ma'am." We both said at once.
"It looks like you could be onto something. I'm not sure what just yet, but what I found this morning is a bit strange."
The three of us looked on intently.
"First, there are some inconsistencies with the dates on the police report. It might mean something, it might be nothing. Second, and most intriguing are the witnesses. Margaret and Nancy Hatch just seem to have vanished."
"What do you mean vanished?" It was the Priestess turn to ask questions.
"It's like they never existed. The only record of them I've found is this report."
Daniel started to say something, but I gave him a quick elbow to the ribs and he stopped before he even got started. He gave me an angry look and I just mouthed the words 'Keep quiet' hoping that the two women didn't see.
"The other two witnesses are both deceased."
We all just stared at Ms Winters, waiting for an explanation.
"Billie Jean Reyes' house burned down just a month after the accident. She died in the fire. It was arson. The investigator blamed her for the fire. It was said she was trying to collect the insurance money."
"Martha Sumner was shot and killed during a robbery at a convenience store just two weeks after the accident. Oddly, she was shot by police who mistook her for one of the thieves. You'll never guess who shot her."
We were hanging on every word.
"Officer Laura Bates, the same officer who wrote the report on Jacqueline Miller's accident.
The room went silent. We were stunned.
Finally Priestess Melinda broke the silence, "So what's next?"
"Three things, obviously I need to check on Officer Bates. There could be a connection between the accident, the report, and the shooting. Or it could be a really odd coincidence." She smiled as she said that last part.
"I also need to try and figure out who this Margaret and Nancy Hatch really are. Then I need to figure out if they just happened to be there that night or if there is something a bit more sinister going on."
She took a deep breath and looked right at Daniel and myself. "It would also help if I knew why these two puppies are so special that they're worth killing for."
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