Free KC Frantzen - May the K9 Spy 03 - May Leads the Way: Trouble Near Tofino by KC Frantzen Page A

sit, there’s something beside me, a tiny woven stainless case. My mosquito! He’s trying to help but… where’s the controller tool?
    Rukan barks orders from up front. “Activate the alternate radar view. Today we’ll appear as a Cessna 206. Our contact will carry a backpack on the left shoulder and a blue sports cap in the right hand. We will deliver the secret files we took from Resolute Mountain and no one will suspect a thing until we’ve vanished.”
    Agent X-Ray says, “Understood. What about the dog?”
    Footsteps. Rukan’s coming! Must hide my mosquito! Thump thump.
    He yanks the lead, pulling me up off my paws, dangling me like bait on a fishing line.
    I show my fangs before I can think about consequences.
    We hold each other’s gaze for the briefest of moments then he lets go.
    I crash to the floor of the box and scramble, covering my mosquito container, just in time.
    He looks over the edge and glares. “The harness holds fine.” Then he looks towards the front of the aircraft. “I placed the collar in the titanium container, after removing the files of course. No chance of them tracking until we are ready. Overlord knows of their excessive delight with animals. At his direction, we will release the dog. Their agency will pick it up. Overlord will track it to their shadow organization HQ.”
    Now they’re treating me as bait!
    Rukan uses his sinister chuckle. “If it survives. It might meet with an accident, then what could I do?”
    I try to stifle a shudder as I meet his stare, but decide to use it to my advantage, and look away.
    “Hmm,” he grunts, before closing me in and making his way forward.
    I so want to be afraid, but must breathe. Think. Okay. Sounds like something bad is planned. Somehow I must alert the K9 Spy Service about NAST and the weapon. But if Rukan releases me, I’ll lead him and Overlord to HQ. What should I do?
    The aircraft slows then settles down. The engines go still. Switches and keys click and a computer voice says, “Hatch opening.”
    The craft shifts left as they disembark.
    Sniff. Salty afternoon air, seabirds calling… Like Washington, DC but wilder. Definitely. And I feel a chill.
    Must find a way out while they’re gone. Note to self: Don’t bark while disembarking.
    Alright, first things first, exit this box. Despite the constricting harness, I pick a corner to scratch and dig. Pant, pant. After quite some effort, all I’ve accomplished is a small hole. At least there’s light. Hmm. Why didn’t I try this before? In spite of the soreness, I leap and hit the side. The box tumps over and I punch my paws through the top. And I’m out!
    Hey, the cargo door is open. Maybe Agent X-Ray is helping me escape. It’s like he’s trying, without compromising his cover. Could he be a double agent or am I too hopeful?
    Either way I must chew through this cable. Blech . Plastic tastes awful– Crunch. Ow! Stainless steel center. Guess I’m stuck on board. For now.
    How can I be of service if I can’t escape?
    Well, I’ll ID these contacts for when I do.
    I cautiously step across the shelf and approach one of the small windows.
    A van marked “Ground Zero, Kitsap, WA” just arrived. W-A. If I remember correctly, Washington is the northwestern-most state in the United States, except for Alaska.
    The small group of humans that exits the van looks grubby. My whiskers are neater than the men’s. They sound like Americans though their accent is slightly different from Dad’s and Mom’s.
    I notice Rukan and Agent X-Ray seem dressed to fit in. As a woman approaches them, Agent X-Ray murmurs, “She carries the backpack and fishing hat.”
    Rukan replies, “See she gets the boxes loaded and awaits further instruction. I will send an encrypted message to Overlord from the plane, letting him know this segment is complete. He will direct the next phase.”

Chapter 18
    Y ikes! Here comes Rukan. Back in the box!
    Once inside, I stretch and bend trying to get