Maddie's Gone

By John L. Guerra

A lost dog is the framework for this collection of stories about Key West, JFK, and lost dreams. Embedded between the chapters in Maddie's tale are self-contained short stories in which the little terrier appears briefly during her accidental adventure – stories that span the length and breadth of the island's history and culture.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AbsolutelyAmazingEbooks.com
• Release date: Jul 23, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310613579

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MADDIE’S GONE

&

Other Key West Stories

John L. G u e r r a

The New Atlantian Library is an imprint of

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING eBOOKS

Published by Whiz Bang LLC, 926 Truman Avenue, Key West, Florida 33040, USA

Copyright © 2013 by John L. Guerra.

Electronic compilation copyright © 2013 by Whiz Bang LLC.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized ebook editions.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. While the author has made every effort to provide accurate information at the time of publication, neither the publisher nor the author assumes any responsibility for errors, or for changes that occur after publication. Further, the publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their contents.

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ISBN: 098870787X

ISBN: 978-0-9887078-7-0

MADDIE’S GONE

&

Other Key West Stories

For my sister Catherine, and my angel Laura Turner, very special women who saved my life.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1: Maddie finds freedom, then loses it

Manny’s Story

Chapter 2: Maddie hears Julia’s voice

Honor Student

Chapter 3: Maddie near death

The Dog Thief

Chapter 4: Night of hell

Dying Declaration

Chapter 5: Encounter in the cemetery

The Metal Detector

Chapter 6: A reprieve before terror

Chapter 7: From the frying pan into the fire

Chapter 8: Endgame for Maddie

Epilogue: Life with Scrappy

Introduction

Several short years ago in Key West, a Jack Russell terrier named Maddie disappeared under a house. The dog’s owner posted flyers all over Key West, hoping someone would find her dog and bring her home.

These are the only facts to which I adhere. I have never met the dog’s owner nor talked with anyone connected to the dog’s disappearance. All characters and events in this book are fictional; any resemblance or connection to real people is entirely coincidental.

Chapter 1

Maddie finds her freedom, then loses it

Maddie pushed the screen door open with her paws. The young Jack Russell terrier had tested that door a hundred mornings but it never popped open – until now.

She stepped onto the front porch, lifted her nose and sampled the riot of smells in the moist air. It had rained all night and now it was tapering off in a drizzle.

The blue sky was pushing aside the rain clouds, allowing sunrays to start drying the streets and wet grass.

Maddie smelled aromas  – bitter, sweet, earthy and rotting things, all mixed into a pot of grand adventure.

She hopped down the porch steps and sniffed around the tiny front yard until her nose bumped the bottom of the chain link fence. Maddie glanced back at the front door to make sure the man wasn’t around, then launched herself like a spring. She sailed over the fence, using her rear paws to guide her down the other side. She took off at a trot down the sidewalk, her nose just a few centimeters above the pavement. Heading up her own street – Catherine Street – she picked up the smell of garlic, chicken, beef, and the robust scent of steaming coffee as she passed the Cuban restaurant less than a block from her home. She took a left at the corner and moved into new neighborhoods.

Winding through the small, tree-lined streets of Old Town Key West, Maddie found herself in unknown, but comfortable territory. Tightly packed homes much like her own – small front yards, small concrete front porches and large, spreading trees with roots breaking through sidewalks. Then there were the alleyways, tight lanes behind houses where families put out their trash and recycling bins. She passed early risers out for a stroll as she made her way through the streets. She’d stop for a moment to greet them before continuing on.

An hour after she left the house, she found herself sniffing along the base of a short wall that bordered the sidewalk. The wall was slightly taller than she was and marked the edge of a large front lawn. She picked up the strong scent of a cat, large cat by the smell of it. She looked up and froze. Just above her on the wall, a fat, gray cat stared down on her, its eyes wide with surprise. Maddie backed up a few steps, tightened into a spring and leaped at the cat, which had already turned and fled toward its house. Hitting the top of the wall and the lawn, Maddie charged after the streak of feline and followed it as it dashed through a break in the latticework under the porch. Maddie, her terrier instincts in working order, didn’t apply her brakes but shot right into the darkness under the house.

The cat, which had parked itself just inside the darkness, struck out with a heavy, lightning-fast paw that struck Maddie’s face and sent her tumbling in the dirt beneath the porch. The dog quickly recovered her stance and again charged the cat, but the feline was already gone, having run the rest of the way under the house and into the bright sunlight of the back yard.

Emerging into the daylight, Maddie saw the cat sitting on a brick wall at the end of a garden path. The cat gave Maddie a bored look, a look that drives dogs crazy and Maddie was no exception. She growled but something kept her from charging. Something wasn’t right. Thirty paces away, her adversary doubled down on her boredom by yawning. Maddie scanned the backyard with her eyes. She saw no doghouse, no chain, nothing to indicate she was on property claimed by another dog. Nor was there any obstruction between her and the cat. It would be a straight shot across the back lawn, down the path surrounded by plants and then she’d ... well, like most dogs, Maddie wasn’t sure what she’d do once she caught the cat because she’d never caught one before.

Across the gulf of lawn and the garden, Maddie and her adversary stared at each other, sizing the other up like prizefighters. The cat’s tail flicked with growing irritation.

Maddie could no longer contain herself; she charged. When she reached the wall, she leaped at the cat, aiming for its midsection. But the cat jumped out of the way. Maddie hit the top of the wall and slid over the other side. The world disappeared behind the wall and she fell backward, landing on her butt in filthy water. It wasn’t deep, but came almost to her chin.

Surprised and frightened, she leapt upward immediately but was weighed down by the water. There was no hope of reaching the top of the wall. It was much too high. She bounded through the water, trying to find an end to the wall, but it was circular. She was trapped inside a cistern. She kept running around in circles, splashing inside the cistern, hoping to find a door, something through which to escape. Frantic, she searched along the wall for a ledge, something upon which to climb, but only saw the smooth, brick wall that penned her in. Above her, she saw only a circle of blue sky and puffy white clouds passing slowly by. Chin deep in the water, she had no dry place to stand. She was inside a brick cylinder, out of view of the world.

Then the cat’s face came into view, peering down from the heights.

Maddie exploded into a wet, leaping frenzy, launching herself again and again toward the top of the cistern, but her paws never came near the top. Barking furiously, she jumped and jumped, until she stood exhausted in the water, her lungs aching, water dripping from her chin.

Evidently pleased with itself, the cat batted its tail twice and dropped out of view. It walked slowly back to the house.

≈≈≈

Maddie’s heart sank as fear began to rise from beneath the water into her limbs. She whined, trying to think a way out of this impossible situation. Beneath her, dirty water and around her a smooth, brick wall. High above her, a circle of blue sky and as the day heated, anvil clouds. As the hours passed, the sun appeared above her, baking the interior of the cistern until it traveled over the other side in early afternoon. Into the afternoon she struggled to think of what to do. She would try barking and when no one appeared, she’d whine. She couldn’t lay down to rest; the water was too deep for that. Then she’d bark for a time, then whine quietly until she gave barking another try.

Then she thought of Julia. She would wait for Julia. She would come for her. She always had.

≈≈≈

Julia Harvey awakened to loud and wretched snoring. Turning her head on the pillow, she discovered its source.

Her mouth opened in silent disbelief. It was Jim, the man she’d ordered out of her home two weeks ago. Now here he was, sounding like a pig in all his snorting fury. His mouth hung open, releasing rum vapors into the bedroom with each grating exhalation. He must have come in the house during the night and got into her bed as she slept. It didn’t matter that he was on top of the blankets and fully clothed. His presence was incredibly creepy.

Julia slowly slid out of bed slowly to keep from waking him. Better to let him sleep. It would give her some peace as she drank her coffee. Then she’d kick his ass.

Screw waiting.

Get out of my bed, you idiot! Julia screamed. Who do you think you are, you creep! Get up!

Jim’s snoring stopped and his eyes fluttered. He rolled away from Julia and went back to sleep.

I said, get out of my bed!

Slowly, ever so slowly, the tall young man stirred. Moaning, he sat on the side of the bed and put his feet on the floor. He put his head in his hands and rocked back and forth, moaning some more.

What’s going on Julia? Jim said in light greeting, his voice hoarse. He wiped the dried drool from his face and rubbed sleep dust from his eyes. He put his head in his hands and stared at the floor, waiting for his head to clear.

What’s happening? Julia cried out. How dare you come into my home while I’m asleep and lay down in my bed? That’s breaking and entering, you creep! I told you not to come back here. I made myself clear when I kicked you out of here. Now I’m going to call the police.

No, Julia! Don’t do that, Jim said, now fully awake and on his feet. I’m sorry, I had nowhere else to go.

Julia has lived in Key West for four years and knew the answer to that excuse. This guy was bad news. She didn’t consider him evil, just a loser. She wasn’t going to call the police, but still she’s no fool.

That’s not my problem, she snapped. I told you when I kicked you out of here that I don’t like you. I don’t want you near me. This is worse than stalking. I’m surprised Maddie didn’t ...

She paused. Maddie should be in the bedroom right now. Jumping on the bed and waking her up. She looked at the clock on her side table. It was 10 a.m. She had slept longer than she wanted. Maybe Maddie was in the living room, avoiding Jim.

Maddie, come here baby! Julia called, heading from the bedroom to the living room. Come here, sweetie! Nothing. No bark in greeting; no toenails clicking on the hallway’s wooden floors, no jingling of her dog tags.

Maddie? She walked down the hallway toward the living room, stopping to peer into the bathroom in case she was drinking out of the toilet again; no Maddie. In the living room, she saw Maddie’s toys, including her favorite little rubber ball, but no Maddie.

Julia saw that the heavy front door was ajar. She pulled the wooden door inward and pushed on the outer screen door. It swung free. Un-latched. Dammit! She looked outside. Maddie wasn’t on the porch or in the front yard. Running down the steps in her pajamas, Julia went through the front gate and gazed hopefully up and down the nearly dry street.

She turned on Jim, who had emerged from the house to stand on the porch.

You left the front door open when you stumbled into my house last night, didn’t you? You let Maddie get out! She’s gone. This is why I told you never to come around here. Whenever you come around, things go to hell.

Julia is so angry she begins to cry. She’s not weak; it’s just her way of relieving tension. Standing on the porch, looking so confused and dumb, Jim is at a loss for words. He wasn’t intentionally an ass, it’s just the way he is. She crossed her arms and looked up into the sky, calming herself.

Look, Julia, I didn’t even think about Maddie getting out, Jim tried. I came here because I miss you and I ... just miss you.

It’s OK, it’s OK, Julia said, ignoring his entreaties. I have to go look for her. She’s got to be nearby somewhere. You have to leave. I am sorry you don’t have anywhere to go, but you have to go."

I understand, I’m leaving. Thanks for letting me stay over, Julia.

I didn’t ... she stopped, trying to control her anger.

Jim walked up to Julia, started to give her a hug, but thought better of it when he saw the look in her face. He walked through the gate and got on his scooter. He drove off down the street.

Julia ran inside the house. In her bedroom, Julia pulled on her shorts, sat on the side of the bed and put on her tennis shoes. No time for socks. She pulled on her T-shirt, grabbed Maddie’s leash, and headed out the door and down the street. She must get her baby back. Jack Russell terriers can cover a lot of ground and in Key West anything can happen to a pet, including getting hit by a car, getting hauled by other dogs ... Julia didn’t want to think about it.

Manny’s Story

Alan stood under the dripping awning of the Blue Marlin Motel and stared out at the rain-slicked street. A young couple in yellow rain coats, coffee cups at the end of wrist-less arms, walked hurriedly past. Across the street, a bald man scowled at the rain from inside a Fury water sports booth. The colorful poster behind the man that depicted a snorkeler staring into the face of a giant angelfish wasn’t going to help the man sell reef trips today.

Not today, Alan thought. No snorkeling on the reef today. Not with low, grey skies and rainwater pouring off roofs and store awnings up and down Simonton Street. An early morning taxi, its headlights reflecting off the wet asphalt, planed past the motel, its tires sending a wake into the overflowing curbs. Cigarette butts and other castaways of the night floated in the storm water, seeking a place to come ashore.

Dreary Sunday morning, the perfect day for a hangover. Alan, however, didn’t suffer the consequences of a night of heavy drinking like normal people. His brain was soaked, his thoughts slow, thick and chemical. A cold sweat bathed his body as chills crawled under his scalp. Above all was the sense of