The Spotted Tail

Tache led the way, heading toward the tree house ladder. He looked as if he was going to climb the ladder, but he only rubbed his muddy feet on the first couple of rungs. His fur stuck against his body and mud coated his legs and belly. Paxine was glad for her rubber boots.

She was also glad Tache didn’t intend to climb up into the tree house. The ladder wobbled, not looking too strong. She wiped her own muddy boots on the first two ladder rungs, knowing what he was thinking. Anyone following them would see the mud, thinking they were up in the tree house, and have to climb the whole way to make sure.

Tache trotted off, keeping to grassy areas as much as possible. Paxine took the same path as Tache, making sure she left few footprints. There was little need to worry since the rain washed away their trail as fast as they passed.

The road that ran behind her house curved, meeting up with them. She was surprised to see a car parked right behind their house. How could someone park there and their guards not notice? Where were their guards?

She shuddered at a mental image from Tache. He knew where their security guards were and that was why he avoided the ditch. He could smell them floating there.

Paxine clutched her raincoat, following Tache as he ducked back into the woods until the car was out of sight. He crossed the road, leading her through yards, avoiding the roads.

The quiet neighborhoods became city streets, loud with traffic noises. She had no idea where they were going. The people she did see hardly took notice of her following a cat. It was raining so hard that everyone was in a hurry to get out of the rain.

Tache turned down an alley where one side of a roof hung over, keeping it dry. He shook, sending water flying. There was no more mud on him, but he was drenched, looking miserable. She used her hand like a squeegee, wiping as much water off him as she could.

She needed something to dry him. The alley was full of trash bags. She swung off her backpack, grabbing her Swiss Army knife out of a side pocket.

“Thanks, Alice,” Paxine said as if Alice was there.

Paxine sliced through the bags until she found some clean dry paper. She blotted his fur, but the paper didn’t soak up much water.

She used a bag of trash as a chair, while she searched through her backpack. There was a bunch of papers and a yellow and blue striped sock. So, that’s where that sock went. Her mom hadn’t thrown it away after all. She laughed to herself about wearing that pair of socks again. Her mom hated those socks.

The sock absorbed water better and in no time, she had soaked up all the water that she could off of Tache.

“You’re on your own,” she said, startled by her voice. Her voice seemed loud even though she whispered. They were alone in the alley and few people passed. She felt a little scared.

Paxine sorted through the papers in her backpack for something to do. The papers were the homework from her grandma. Someone hurried past the alley. She half expected it to be her grandma, but it wasn’t. Her pinky ring was hard to see on her hand, but it gave her some comfort. Her grandma would be able to find her. She wasn’t lost, just waiting.

She smoothed out the papers. The clouds were so dark that the streetlight at the end of the alley was on, creating just enough light to read by.

The document heading was in big bold letters: The Child Protection Act.

Groan.

This wasn’t going to be as exciting as she expected. The document, peppered with legal terminology, was boring and didn’t always make sense. No wonder her dad got so frustrated with his job.

Page four…This was what upset her grandma so much. Her dad probably wouldn’t like it either. She didn’t even like it and how could someone think that the government should have this power. ‘Selective parentage…the government’s obligation to protect…’

She scanned through the rest of the document, but only that one paragraph stood out as inappropriate. Although as far as she was concerned, the whole document was unnecessary. Sometime adults could be so stupid.

Paxine stroked Tache’s fur, finding he was almost dry. He was curled up in a tight ball in her lap, sleeping. She wondered if Tinder would get wet when her grandma came. No one passed by the alley for some time now.

There were twelve more sheets of paper left, and each one seemed to be about a particular person. They proved to be much more interesting reading and there were pictures.

Mr. Huntsboro. She remembered him from the newscast. There was a paragraph about his parents and his grandparents. The next one was about someone she didn’t know. There again, was a paragraph about his parents and his grandparents.

The third page was about Judge Sampling. She knew him. Then she realized what the paragraphs about their families meant. They were from underprivileged or poor families. Judge Sampling had worked his way through college the hard way. He didn’t have rich well-to-do parents to pave his way. It was the same for each person listed.

Paxine shifted on the garbage bag, her butt hurt. The garbage bag didn’t seem so soft any more. Where was her grandma? Was her mom okay? Everyone must realize she was missing by now. She leaned over Tache, putting her cheek on his head. He was warm and dry, and comforting, but her butt still hurt.

There was nothing else to do but re-read the papers, and then put them away. Her grandma had to come soon. The rain eased up, but the darkness didn’t as evening set in. Tache woke and stretched.

“Well, what do we do now? We don’t even know where we are,” she said in a quiet voice.

Tache pawed at his nearly invisible Aural ring.

“Garon’s? I don’t know where that is. We always traveled by cube. Now, if I had a cube…” she said.

Tache wrinkled his nose.

“You can smell him? So what are you now a blood hound?” she said, sniffing. “All I smell is wet garbage and cars.”

Tache pawed at the backpack, wanting to get inside. Paxine put the papers in another pocket and then let Tache hop inside. She hoisted up the backpack, putting it on so he was in front, like when they had been with her grandma smelling soap. His head and swiveling ears were all that was visible.

The street at the end of the alley was empty. Streetlights glared off the puddles. The rain had stopped altogether and it was eerily quiet. She felt as if this was not the place for her to be even with a Tail to protect her.

Tache leaned forward in the direction he wanted to go. Not a single person or car in sight. He leaned to turn her up a street, toward a busy thoroughfare. Cars whizzed by. Still no people walking. She felt uncomfortable, but Tache didn’t seem concerned, his ears acting like mini antennas, twitching in all directions.

He directed her back onto a quiet street. Lights leaked around curtains, but the street was empty. He leaned to direct her down an alley. She stopped in her tracks. The alley was black like a hole.

“Too scary. I’m not going down there. I can’t see a thing,” she said in a whisper.

The alley came into view as if a light switched on. There were trash bins lined neatly against one wall and a door with a broken overhead light half way down. Tache was showing her the alley through his eyes.

He bumped her to stop before she reached the end. There was one car parked by a broken street light. A man got out, heading for the building nearest her. She backed up before Tache bumped her, hoping the man hadn’t seen her. There were footsteps up the stairs and a door opened and closed.

Tache’s ears flew back, causing Paxine to spin. The door halfway down the alley opened behind them, spilling a sliver of light. An older man exited the building, hurrying down the alley.

Garon.

His name was on the tip of her tongue.

Bump.

She almost bit her tongue when Tache hit against her. He didn’t need to give her any more prompting. She knew she had to follow Garon. However, at the end of the alley, Garon was nowhere in sight.

Tache leaned to the left.

How could Garon be out of sight already, she thought, breaking into a run.

Bump. Bump.

She felt as if something was jarring her whole body.

Tache.

Bump.

Tache slipped in the backpack, unable to keep his footing from her movement. She slowed to a fast walk so not to bump him around so much.

Tache directed her across the street, into another alley. She felt more like she was being chased rather than the other way around. The backpack felt heavy and she was getting tired. She had no idea where she was, dodging in and out of streets and alleys. Her only comfort was that Tache seemed to know where they were going.

Paxine caught her breath, waiting for a light to change at a busy intersection. Where was Garon? Could he really move that fast? She crossed the street, turning into an alley half way down.

There was Garon, waiting for her by a door. He put a finger to his lips to keep quiet, ushering her inside. The door closed without a sound behind them. Paxine couldn’t believe how fast he could move, climbing the stairs ahead of her.

His breathing was as heavy as hers when he stopped at a plain door on the fourth floor. Apartment four zero seven. The numbers were faded. He was careful when he inserted a key as if the door would bite him if he wasn’t careful. The door opened without a sound. He guided her in with a hand before being just as careful closing the door.

Paxine backed into a table, grabbing it to keep herself from falling. There was nothing on the table, so she turn around, letting her backpack slide down with relief. Tache hopped out.

“My. My,” Garon said, stepping up to Tache. “You are a smart one.” He scratched Tache’s head, then gave him a gentle head butt that Tache reciprocated. Garon stood there as if he could pet Tache all night. “Goodness. He is a good kitty.” Garon laughed.

Paxine didn’t know what to say. A million questions zoomed through her head while Garon stood there petting Tache. She could feel her lips move as if she was trying to ask those million questions, but none of them came out.

“Your mom is fine,” Garon said as if sensing her questions, “but she doesn’t know you’re safe yet. Goodness, things are getting tricky.” He stopped petting Tache to fill a kettle with water, putting it on the stove.

“This place is a little old fashioned; you’ll have to excuse me. Sit down, sit down. We will be here for a bit until the all clear. Did you get wet in that rain? Here let me put the heater on,” Garon said, turning a knob on a box on the floor. In moments, the box glowed red, radiating heat.

Paxine shivered, not sure if she was cold or just relieved to find Garon. The water was boiling in the kettle before she took off her coat and boots, settling on the torn sofa with Tache on her lap. He was warm.

Garon handed her a cup of tea. The scent of tea with sugar and milk drifted up to her. Tache tapped his tail with his approval of the tea even before she thought of it. The tea was delicious, warming her. She drained the cup, setting it on the floor.

Garon continued to rummage through the kitchen, setting down a bowl. Tache jumped over to it, crunching as fast as he could. There was already a water bowl. Her lap felt cold without him.

“Thank you,” she said, remembering her manners.

Garon smiled with a nod, turning to his own tea. She leaned back on the sofa, but never saw him drink.

Big yellow eyes. Paxine woke with a start. Her hand found Tache curled up beside her, sleeping. Big yellow eyes? Two big yellow eyes stared at her from the end of the sofa where a full-grown cat sat. Grayish in color. Tinder? Her movement to check for her grandma caused the cat’s eyes to open even wider and the head to turn as if it was thinking of fleeing. This wasn’t Tinder. This cat was brown spotted like Tache but more faded which made the cat look gray at first.

Garon sat in the kitchen tinkering with something on the table. The apartment was so quiet she didn’t want to disturb the peace.

She spoke in a whisper, “Who’s that?”

“Shaloonya,” Garon said in a normal voice. “The naughty child.”

“Who?”

“Shaloonya, my Tail,” Garon said with a grin, but he didn’t look up from the table.

She reached out a hand to Shaloonya, but Shaloonya leaned away as if terrified that she was going to be touched. Tache whacked her with his tail. He wanted to sleep. He ignored Shaloonya as if she wasn’t even there.

Paxine felt she was still dreaming. How could Garon have a Tail? Only she and her grandma had Tails. Yes, she had to be dreaming. Besides, he hadn’t a Tail when she and her grandma visited his shop.

Rap. Rap.

A quiet knock on the door.

Garon rose, unlocking and opening the door as quiet as before.

“Grandma,” Paxine said, bolting upright. Tache rolled into her warm spot. Shaloonya dashed behind the sofa.

“Garon taking good care of you?” her grandma said, giving Paxine a hug and Tache a quick pet before joining Garon at the table.

Paxine nodded, not knowing what to say. Her grandma and Garon sat there without a word, staring at each other. Shaloonya appeared from behind the sofa, approaching her grandma’s handbag. Tinder popped her head out and the two sniffed noses, then Tinder disappeared back into the handbag and Shaloonya disappeared behind the sofa.

“Paxine,” her grandma said, sounding loud in the quiet apartment. “You’ll stay with Garon for a few days. Your mom was worried sick about you but I’ve calmed her. She knew immediately something was up when the lights went out. She trusted your Tail and escaped in the cube before the men were even up the stairs. Your dad doesn’t know you’re safe yet, but soon will.”

“What time is it?” She couldn’t see a clock.

“About 3am. I want you to stay missing. So enjoy some time here. I brought your gamer. There are no deactivators here,” her grandma said, handing her the gamer. “Remember to listen to your Tail. Garon will teach you a few more things that you and Tache will enjoy.”

Her grandma rose.

“You’re leaving already?” She was expecting her grandma to stay awhile and explain what happened.

“Soon, but first, I want you to listen to a call, but I don’t want you to say a word. Okay?” Her grandma moved her chair closer to the sofa.

“Grandma?” Paxine said.

“Yes,” her grandma said, poised to dial her phone.

“I didn’t know others had cats, I mean Tails,” Paxine said, looking at Garon.

“There is a lot you need to learn. Now listen,” her grandma said.

“Hello Doug. Do you have a moment?” her grandma said into the phone.

“You do realize what time it is,” her dad said, sounding tired.

“You’re still at work,” her grandma said, setting her phone on her lap in speaker mode so everyone could hear.

“My daughter’s missing. We need to find her,” her dad said as if that explained everything.

Paxine recognized the dangerous tone of her dad’s voice. He was upset. She didn’t think he appreciated her grandma’s call in the middle of the night, thinking she was interfering.

“Have you thrown out the black mail theory?” Her grandma smiled, winking at Paxine, knowing she hadn’t been kidnapped.

“No one has contacted us or any of the staff,” her dad said. “We can’t rule out any theory.”

Paxine could almost hear the word ‘yet’ in her dad’s voice. That’s why her grandma brought it up. That’s what he and his staff suspected, but they were wrong.

“I hear she was wearing her raincoat and boots. No kidnapper would have allowed her to put on rain gear,” her grandma said, setting the stage.

“Yes, those were missing from the house,” her dad said in a flat voice. “Dalia thinks she left on her own with the cat protecting her.”

“Quite possible,” her grandma said.

“He’s a cat, not a bodyguard,” her dad said with some irritation.

“Are you sure about that?” her grandma said as if teasing.

“We are already…doing everything… we can possibly do…to find Paxine,” he said in a tired voice.

“The same security that can’t protect her is trying to find her?” Her was no longer sounding being nice.

“I can’t discuss my security with you,” her dad said.

“Oh? For fear that I can defeat it?” It was a challenging question.

“I don’t know or care what you think. My security is quite capable…”

“Of failing to protect a twelve year old girl,” her grandma said, completing his sentence.

There was silence on the other end. Had her dad gotten mad and hung up?

“You have an internal security problem. My granddaughter…” her grandma said.

“You think I’m not worried about my own daughter?” Her dad’s voice exploded out of the phone.

Paxine wished she could tell him she was okay, but her grandma kept her eye on her.