KC Frantzen - May the K9 Spy 02 - May Finds a Way: Peril in Paris Read online

  Please visit us at www.MaytheK9Spy.com

  Copyright © 2012 KC Frantzen. All rights reserved. First Edition.

  Cover photographs © KC Frantzen. All rights reserved.

  Illustrations by TW Vanya at http://twvanyafineart.com/

  Cover design by Kimberly Van Meter at www.kimberlyvanmeter.com

  This novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations or persons living or dead is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of either the author or the publisher.

  Written permission must be secured from the publisher to use or reproduce any part of this book, except for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles.

  We will donate a portion of the proceeds to causes we support. Ask about special discounts for bulk purchases, FUN-raising opportunities or book clubs: RushJoy Press, PO Box 4031, Crossville, TN 38557

  Email: [email protected]

  Ask about author and illustrator visits:

  KC Frantzen: [email protected]

  TW Vanya: http://twvanyafineart.com/contact

  ISBN: 978-0-9833563-2-5

  RushJoy Press

  an imprint of Bottom Line Clarity, LLC

  For Dad & Mom:

  Congratulations as another big milestone approaches.

  You’ve kept your focus on the Lord, worked hard and as a result, experienced success in many areas. You are truly inspirational and I love you.

  KC Frantzen

  For my teachers:

  I dedicate the illustrations in this book to my teachers: Mrs. Morgan - first grade, Mrs. Miller - 3rd grade, Mrs. Funderburk - high-school; Professors John Alexander, Bill Anzalone, and John Simple from the University of Houston and most recently to Joe Parker, John Erickson and Joyce and Roland Jones for all they do in helping artists’ dreams to come true.

  TW Vanya

  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Sneak Peek – May the K9 Spy Book Three

  May Finds a Way Discussion Questions

  About the Author

  About the Illustrator

  Acknowledgments

  Check out the story that started it all!

  Chapter 1

  Plop!

  Wshew. That last step was a doozy.

  I shake it off. Sniff. Edgrr’s scent has vanished. And uh oh, my infrared goggles aren’t working. Can’t see a thing.

  “When lost, stop. Assess the situation.” Ms. Schwind just taught that in survival class so, okay… I dislike the dark, but don’t panic. What are my knowns?

  I’m participating in a timed agility exercise and dashed past the correct turn. Obviously. I dropped down some kind of metal tubing, it gives a bit when I push. Landed okay, but not much room to maneuver. Infrared goggles on the fritz. All in all, status not so good.

  On the other paw, I’m not injured. Nose and ears functional.

  I really want to make Miss Sandy and Sassy, her K9 partner, proud they picked me for the program. With twenty days of K9 Service boot camp behind me – almost half-way – I’m near the front of the pack. And bonus points if I’m the one to find the mole!

  Me, a chance to graduate Top Dog!

  Well, wrong turns are an automatic deduction in this test, but maybe I can earn extra credit for “creativity and resourcefulness.” I’ll need both to graduate and for sure if I land the assignment to nab Rukan. Please-please-please!

  I almost got him last time, and that was without any training.

  Okay. Time for further assessment.

  Things smell new here – drywall, paint, linoleum. I faintly detect human scents and voices below. Donuts too. Yum.

  Maybe I’m near the renovated offices. Somewhere… inside an air duct?

  Our instructors keep telling us to “improvise and use any resources at your disposal.” Would it be cheating to remove these goggles? But how? The straps are still on tight.

  I stamp my paw, listening. Sounds like a big open space ahead.

  I’ll test each step while practicing my stealthy cat walk. It’d sure help if we had an actual feline instructor instead of video. But this is the K9 Service. Dogs only.

  I scrape alongside something. A latch? And I aced the latch exam. Hey. Maybe if I turn my head a little, and back up I can use it to ditch these goggles.

  I squirm around, hook the strap near my ear, and step back… Starting to give…

  YANK.

  The goggles pop off, hurtling me backwards. Not again! I fling all four paws out to slow my fall.

  Wham!

  So much for incognito. I stand and shake it off.

  Blink, blink. Righty-o, goggles are gone.

  I’m looking down into an office through a vent grate. From the photos I’d say it’s General Jim’s, Administrator of Special Services, K9 Division. I don’t know him – yet – but I like his kids. They brought treats for all us recruits. I like treats!

  The desk is far away but I think that’s Miss Sandy’s agent file, I mean, dossier. Yep. There’s a photo of Sassy too, with her jagged ear, won in a Venezuelan street fight.

  I squish my whiskers up to the grate.

  Drat. No way in.

  I turn around and scramble up the shaft.

  My goggles! At least I’m back where I started this part of the journey.

  “Leave no evidence. Pack it in, pack it out.” I almost hear Edgrr’s gruff voice as I tuck the goggles into my collar pouch and start to search. Here’s another metal tube, branching downward. I see a little glimmer of light through another vent grate. And I hear… Buzzing? Let’s go!

  Few overhead lights are lit in this office, but my eyes adjust quickly. Look in that flat glass case. Bees, working as a team. And they seem content, like they don’t mind being cooped in a crate like I used to be. April, my grouchy sister, said she ate bees to survive, before coming to live with Dad and Mom. Can’t imagine.

  The wall calendar has this week crossed off with letters: V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N. Great! Since nobody’s here, I can exit incognito… when I figure out how to get down. I’m going to check out those bees, bee-sides.

  Dad would say something silly like that. I sure miss him and Mom and Hans, and my Lobbie. Okay admit it. April too. Though she always thinks she’s so smart.

  Well, I think I could travel along the shelves, so how do I remove this grate?

  I notice small screws on the sides. Dad says “Lefty loosey, righty tighty.” Using my underbite, I take the end of a screw and twist left. Drat. It’s tighter. Wait – he used that device on the flat part, not the pointy end. Mus
t twist it the other way.

  After several twists and a little nudge, one side swings open. Pawsome! Thanks Dad.

  When I look straight down at the shelf, I notice awards for beekeeping and an old mesh helmet. Wonder if this is a hobby or another special branch of the Service? Maybe both.

  Good thing I’m not afraid of heights. I position my front paws over the edge and glance at the clock. I’ll make good time if I report in soon. Let’s go… No, wait. There might be extra points if it’s like I was never here.

  I scootch out further, nosing a trophy out of the way. ACK! It wobbles and tilts. I catch it with my paw and tip it back into place.

  I push off, then balance on the narrow shelf. Steadyyy… I stand on my hind legs, nose the grate into position and twist the screws. Okay, I’m on my way!

  I dodge trophies and some plaques, jump to another shelf, dodge two large dead cow gloves, dodge books, dodge – What’s this?

  It’s bee-shaped, though a little larger than the real thing. Definitely mechanized, with little rotors and tiny colored wires. I suspect that’s a camera where the eyes should be. This resembles that dragonfly Miss Sandy and Sassy use for surveillance and communication. And that piece is probably the controller.

  One day I’ll use devices like this on a real mission!

  Three more shelves before I make it to the credenza – vault to the swivel chair – steaaadyyy – now leap onto the desk. Don’t slip on the folders.

  Ooh how thoughtful, a half-full glass of water. I’m parched.

  Piffle. This glass is narrow and a bit tough to navigate since we dogs use our tongues to toss water back. A bowl would be easier. Still, I’m thankful for something to drink while I “improvise resourcefully and apply lessons creatively.”

  Lap lap lap. I stuff my face deeper inside, extending my tongue farther and farther and…

  My eyes pop open wide. Panic rises from my toes.

  I jerk my head and feel liquid dribbling down my neck. When I look through the glass, the overflow is spreading across the desk. Quick! Must get this off without breaking it.

  I lurch to the desk lamp, positioning the glass rim at the edge of the metal shade and carefully pull back.

  Good. It didn’t break. I nudge the glass into place.

  Now guess I’ll have to use my fur like a towel.

  When I stand back, it’s clear I’m only making a bigger mess. The ink is blotchy on some of the papers and the folders are curling. Sorry Mr. Bee Man.

  I arrange the files so the contents will dry – I hope – and jump onto a chair and down to the floor. I trot to a coat rack and inspect a white over-suit. Same scent as the dead cow gloves. Here’s some boots and…

  Yikes, the time. Gotta go! But how to exit? That door handle is way high.

  I spy a wall panel marked “Electrical.” Maybe…

  I push and it springs open. Lots of wires and circuitry inside, and hey. I think that’s another latch. I stretch and tinker.

  Yep. I can just fit. There are benefits to being small.

  I use my underbite to shut the panel into the office, wedge in between the conduit and circuit boards, and… I’m through. I push on the panel cover and hear it click into place. Now to the finish line!

  I look down two long empty hallways.

  Drat. I’ve completely lost my sense of direction.

  Chapter 2

  Door after door stands at attention in the gleaming white corridor, little tags – no names, just letters and numbers – and keypads by each one. From the looks of it, this is a highly classified part of the building and I shouldn’t be here. What happens if I’m caught?

  Maybe I’ll be booted out and never get Rukan. Best move quickly so I don’t find out. Sniff. Okay, elevators that way. As good a direction as any.

  As I approach a “T” in the hallway, I hear two sets of footsteps and voices. Must act like I’m supposed to be here. I take a deep breath and continue.

  Odd… The mirror near the ceiling isn’t flat.

  Ingenious. From around the corner, I spy two humans approaching. It’s General Jim and another human in uniform having an intense conversation.

  I walk more slowly and watch from under my eyebrows. I can almost hear our tactics instructor bark, “Do not make eye contact when attempting to remain anonymous.”

  Just before the corner, General Jim stops, his back blocking my mirror view. Sounds like he’s activating a keypad. After it beeps, I hear an electronic latch unhook. He and his companion enter and shut the door.

  Wshew. They didn’t seem to notice me. All according to plan… if I had one.

  I raise my nails so they don’t click, click, click. When I pass the closed door, I overhear General Jim’s voice.

  “We should be certain. Maintain surveillance on Team Dog’s Nose Two.”

  “Straightaway, sir.”

  That is Miss Sandy’s and Sassy’s team!

  I’d love to hear more, but it’s not polite to listen if someone doesn’t know you’re there, unless you’re on a mission.

  How will I ever be ready for a real mission? I’m lost on this simple exercise…

  There’s one of those E-X-I-T signs and another with a zig zag symbol. Sassy taught us that indicates stairs.

  Uh oh, it sounds like a lady’s shoes on some steps. When she opens the door, I’ll zoom past. Perhaps she won’t notice. Even if she does, if I can evade and escape, I still might get credit for my time. It’d be nice to win a challenge instead of coming in second or third.

  A cell phone rings near the door. There’s a shuffle of paper then the footsteps stop.

  Now what? Is she coming through or not? I’m vulnerable here. Guess there’s just one thing to do.

  I raise a paw to scratch, but the door opens. A lady juggles files and papers as I scurry past and zip down the steps. The first sign I see says “Floor 5.” As I descend, the numbers get smaller. The last floor is plain concrete with two doors.

  One sign says “Lobby” except they misspelled it. Oh Lobbie, my all-time favorite toy ever in the whole wide world… Sigh. I miss you.

  The second door has two signs and smells of fresh-mown grass. Perfect!

  From the looks of it, I’ve got to push that bar enough so it unlatches. But I can’t possibly reach it on my own. Maybe there’s something… Okay, what about this mop? I could maybe nudge the handle up to the bar.

  I try but nothing happens. Needs some umph behind it. Yeah, I’ll walk up the handle ‘til I feel it open and jump down. Let’s go, time’s a-wastin’.

  I balance like we did on the ropes course and click… I’m out.

  CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

  Quick. Must make the finish line before I’m caught.

  Sniff, snuffle. I follow my nose towards the mess hall. Why do they call it a mess hall anyway? It’s spotless when we finish cleaning our bowls.

  As I dash into the courtyard and race to the finish, I notice Mr. Munns and Ms. Dutcher. They seem surprised to see me. No sign of their K9s, Houdini and Rascal.

  Though I’m panting, I give a crisp salute as the lead instructor, Captain Davis, walks up.

  “Where did you come from, May? And what happened to your fur?”

  Blush.

  “Ms. Schwind left to locate you when the monitors lost visual. That’s a first. Kudos. You’ve completed this exercise in the lead.” He activates his comm unit. “Schwind. She’s here. Return to base.”

  “HUA.”

  Heard-Understood-Acknowledged. Miss Sandy taught that when she recruited me. At least I knew something when I arrived here.

  Captain Davis makes notes on a tablet computer. “You’ve excelled at memorization and agility. Overall, this win puts you solidly into third place for Top Dog, quite close to J.R. in second.”

  I’m so excited, I wiggle my entire self! After we catch Rukan they’ll call me on occasion and I’ll travel the world, and use all the equipment and codes and–

  “Remember first assignments are
coming up, but all recruit placements are decided by Ms. Schwind.”

  I hope she doesn’t put me on something like airport duty. Filling out forms, watching events from a monitor – don’t think so. I want to be in the action!

  “May?”

  My attention returns to Captain Davis. “Yes, sir?” I woof.

  “There is, however, the matter of tripping that alarm.”

  Chapter 3

  I’m glad we’re meeting privately in Ms. Schwind’s office.

  She continues, looking at me sharply. “All decisions have consequences. Though you completed the previous exercise first and showed ingenuity in doing so, you destroyed property and tripped an alarm. Operatives work in shadow, undetected. In this you failed badly. Missteps can get you and others injured or killed.”

  I hang my head and whimper, “Yes ma’am.”

  When she does not respond, I look up to make eye contact. Do I detect a flicker of amusement?

  She continues. “I offer a choice: Take the demerits due, or accept an undemanding assignment for your first practice outing.”

  Neither choice sounds good. I cock my head slightly. “So I understand, ma’am, what exactly does this mean?”

  “Good girl, May. You’re thinking. It means you either lose your third place class ranking, with demerits on your permanent record–”

  Drat.

  “–or take an assignment which awards fewer points for your first practice. This option offers the possibility of an exceptional performance with no mention of demerits. You might maintain your status.”