Chapter 46

Saturday, 9:00 a.m.

Tramp was a little scared as he sat on Rodney’s back porch, whining. Even detectives could get scared.

The back door flew open. Rodney’s face was red, his polyester suit blue. He had a rope in his hand.

So far, so good.

“I knew it was you, and now I’ll bet you’re back for more,” Rodney said.

He looped the rope around Tramp’s neck and pulled it tight, dragged him across the floor and kicked him through the basement door and slammed it shut. The rope stuck under the door. He could hear Flip and the chorus yelling, “It’s about time. We thought you’d forgotten us.”

“Never. Just be patient,” Tramp said and curled in the corner of the landing trying to loosen the rope, but that only made it tighter. Breathing was difficult.

The doorbell rang. He heard Officer Johnson. Liz had done her job.

He barked as loudly as the rope allowed. “Whose dog is that? Better check it out,” Officer Johnson announced.

“Hold on. That’s my dog. You can’t barge in here,” Rodney said.

“I just got a call accusing you of dog-napping. That’s all I need. Sounds like the basement to me. Sergeant Olson, hold onto this man. I’ll check down there,” Officer Johnson said.

The basement door swung open.

Officer Johnson started to gag at the odors and sounds Tramp had learned to ignore.

He reached down, loosened the rope and pulled it off Tramps’ neck.