Page 43 of Shenanigans

Jana called from the van, “What are you looking at?”

“Dad’s search and rescue chopper.”

“Oh hell. That’s not good. The situation must have gone to a tactical rescue.”

“Looks like.” My cellphone howled. “What’s up Dad?”

“I’m sending the Huey to pick you up,” my father’s voice was taut with concern. “We finally got ahold of the missing hiker’s family. Harriet Grant is diabetic and has heart problems.”

Crap. Why in the hell did idiots insist on hiking the Superstition Mountains when they had medical conditions? “Which trail does she normally take?”

“Peralta Trailhead, but her neighbor said she wanted to see the hieroglyphics.”

“So, you’re thinking she took the Lost Goldmine trail?”

“That’s where her dog was found.”

Whump. Whump. Whump.

“The Huey’s landing. Talk to you soon.” I disconnected and hurried over to the van.

The old chopper settled down in a whirl of dust.

Jana climbed out with her go-bag and Tinkerbell. “Is the helicopter going to freak her out?”

“Probably, but we can’t leave her behind.” I opened the rear doors and grabbed the pooch pouch, a doggie version of a baby carrier. Yanking it on, I put Tinkerbell in the carrier and grabbed my backpack. “Let’s go.”

As we ran toward the helicopter, I noticed a police cruiser heading our way.

Chapter Fourteen

As the Huey lifted off, the patrol car skidded to a stop. The officer yelled over his loudspeaker. “Land immediately.”

Buck, the pilot and my Dad’s best buddy, laughed and flew low enough to kick up one hell of a dust storm.

The swirling red sand engulfed the patrol car.

Jana and I exchanged grins.

Shivering violently, Tinkerbell whimpered.

“The noise hurts your ears? Let me see if I can fix that.”Digging in my backpack, I pulled out my gloves and placed them over her ears.“Better?”

The Yorkie woofed.

“Good. I’ll buy you some ear muffs tomorrow.”

Tinkerbell yipped anxiously.

“No, this isn’t a monster. It’s a helicopter. My dad uses it to find lost people and sometimes he needs my help. Today we’re going to locate an elderly woman who disappeared in the mountains. If we can’t track her, the heat and lack of water will kill her.”I stroked Tinkerbell’s soft fur soothingly.“You’re my partner now. Our job is to find lost critters and people.”

Tinkerbell licked my face and barked.

“No, the silly alligator wasn’t lost. He ran away from home. My job was to catch him before he could eat a little dog like you.”

Arf? Arf?

“The critter police?”

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