Hey look! It's an update! I feel awesome about this story, just saying. :) It's moving along smoothly and I have to say, I am a little proud of this chapter. But I must warn ya'll...I tried to be funny again, so if you didn't crack a smile at all, I apologize for my failed attempt at humor. ;D
In other news, depression is almost gone. Still feeling a little upset today, but once my best guy friend started scaring the crap out of me every time we had a break, it got a little better. Especially when he tried to kill me with a plastic fork...that's a story for another time, though. :D Enjoy! (And thank you for all the reviews. I get a smile knowing that this story is liked. :) )
Maria was shocked when Mal and Natara brought in the large cage with Diggs in it.
"What on earth is going on here?" she asked, approaching the detectives.
"Well," Mal said, "what does it look like we're doing?"
"Dragging a mutt into my well-organized station," Maria growled. "Mal, is this an anniversary present or something? It could have stayed at home."
"Actually Captain," Mal said, rubbing the back of his neck, "The SFPD is in charge of the dog. Mostly me, since everyone suddenly has a family to go home to..."
"Suddenly," Maria repeated. "Is this about that 'emergency' call last night, Detective?"
"If I said yes, how would you react?" Mal asked and Maria sighed.
Maria sighed heavily. "And I'm guessing you didn't get that much sleep, either."
"You know, you're really good at the guessing game," Mal said and Natara hid her smile.
"This isn't a joke, Detective. Where are you going to put the mutt," Maria asked.
"He has a name," Natara added quickly and Mal sighed.
"Nat...right now, he's referred to as the mutt..."
"And should I refer to you as Detective from now on?" Natara asked, her tone serious. Mal hated it when she did that.
"His name is Diggs," Mal said, after examining Natara's face for any sign that she could be kidding. "He's an ex-police dog."
"Ex?" Maria asked. "What did he do?"
"We don't exactly know. The institute where he was held is shut down and all of the dogs seemed to have escaped."
"Actually, Detective," a voice said from behind and Mal jumped. He flipped around to face Officer Young.
"Oh my...Don't sneak up on me like that," he said, catching his breath.
"I apologize. Anyway, the Institute is abandoned, but the dogs haven't left," Officer Young informed. She held out a clipboard and Mal took it. "Twenty seven dogs," she said, nodding her head. "All every single one of them was there and they're all alive. They must have gotten into the food supply or something. They're weak though and none of them attacked me when I went in."
Mal glanced down at Diggs and noticed he was wagging his tail slightly. "Well, you seem to have a special connections with dogs, Officer. I mean, Diggs tried to eat my face last night and he's all cozy around you. I think he even likes Nat."
"You don't have a heart for animals, Detective," Young reported coldly. "That's probably why Kai's parakeet attacked you last Thursday."
Mal frowned slightly. "I wasn't the only one it attacked."
"But we all know now that Joe is just unfortunate with animals," Young replied, her voice now monotone. "If you're like this with animals, I can't imagine what you'll be like with your own kids."
Mal hesitated to throw back a reply. Maybe she was right...No, he wasn't going to let some intern officer tell him what he was and wasn't...Was he?
"That's not true," Natara muttered. "Mal's great with little kids. And I'm sure little kids love Mal."
"I see," Officer Young said and turned to Captain Yeong. "Anyway, Captain, as I was searching, I called in an Animal Control team. They said they weren't able to handle all the dogs. But they did give me an idea."
"I know what you're leaning towards, Officer, but we are not installing a K-9 Unit in the SFPD. I have a job to do and having to take care of dogs along with actual people...it's just not worth it."
"But Captain, these dogs were going to be given second chances..." Officer Young protested and Mal whispered to Natara,
"Is it just me, or is this beginning to sound a lot like the Maskmaker Case."
Natara shrugged it off, but to her, yes, it was. It was actually going beyond the point of creepy.
"I don't care, Officer! I have a business to run!" Captain Yeong replied to Officer Young's come-back. "There is no way I am taking in a bunch of other psychopath dogs."
"You believe in second chances though, right?"
"With humans, Officer. These dogs only got one chance. Also, if someone has been in an institute, we tend to not lean towards them in any way! I refuse to have any institutionalized humans or animals in my department."
"I know what happened with the Maskmaker, Captain. I'm not stupid. But I really believe we can help these dogs out!"
"I don't like it, and that's that. Even if I wanted to, we don't have that kind of money to build kennels and supply dog food. Unless someone were to come up to me with, say, $2500, then you could begin your little kennel. Now be on your way, Officer Young. I don't want to hear any more about the K-9 Unit."
Maria stormed off and Officer Young sighed. She then turned to Mal. "Detective..."
"No way I'm giving up $2500 to make kennels for dogs. Besides, you were mean to me earlier."
"Mal," Natara said warningly and she pulled out her own wallet. "I could possibly donate maybe half of the money," she said quickly. "After all, I do like dogs unlike some heartless people."
"What kind of girlfriend calls their dashing boyfriend, heartless?" Mal asked.
"The kind of girlfriend that doesn't want a bunch of dogs to get killed for just being a stain to society." Natara paused and shook her head. "Wow, this is turning into the Maskmaker isn't it."
Mal shrugged. "All we need is a mask for Diggs and we're golden."