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boring…”
    “That’s it?” said Richard. “You’ve got nothing else to say to me?”
    Matt scratched at the top of the table with his fingernail. Richard rose, pushed out his chair, and began to walk away.
    “Thanks for all your help,” he said over his shoulder. “I can see Danny’s got a real friend in you.”
    “Don’t go away mad,” Matt called after him. “Hey, he did say one other thing…”
    Richard stopped and looked back, “What’s that?”
    “He said when I heard what he found it would blow my mind.”

 
     
     
     
     
     
    A Plunge into Cold Water
     
    Danny stared up into the darkness and falling rain at the tiny pinpricks of light high above his head. The lights marked the extents of the massive bridge spans that towered above him and the others. The dim glow reflected in puddles dotting the deck over which they trudged, walking their motorbikes across a deeply-potholed section, headed for a rendezvous with Crack and the rest of the gang.
    The group made their way toward the crest of the bridge, five or six surrounding him to block off any chance of escape. Zonk trotted behind, held on a leash by one of the men.
    The drizzling rain had soaked Danny to the skin. He tried to concentrate, but he was still half wasted from the hooch. The beating they'd laid on him during the interrogation had rattled his brain, and the bruises that covered much of his body were starting to throb painfully.
    Unexpectedly, Zonk started to tug at the leash with his teeth, like he was trying to tear it out of the handler’s grip. The man holding the leash responded by swatting him and pulling it tighter. Far from being subdued, Zonk jumped up and put his front paws on the handler’s chest. The handler pushed him back down and tried to kick him, but missed.
    “For Christ’s sake, Swallow,” yelled the leader of the group, “get control of that fucking dog!”
    Danny thought, what’s with Zonk? He’s never acted up like that before.
    Zonk continued his antics, jumping up again on the handler, Swallow, and almost pushing him over.
    “You fucking devil dog!” Swallow yelled. He backed up and pulled out a gun, ready to shoot the dog.
    “What are you doing!” shouted the leader, rushing at Swallow, grabbing his gun and pistol-whipping him. “You stupid fuck!” he screamed. “Didn’t you hear what Crack said! You’re gonna ruin everything!”
    Danny saw his chance. Everybody was focused on Zonk and the two fighting men. He staggered the few yards over to the bridge railing. Mercifully, the night was so black he couldn’t see the water below. He assumed he was going to die, but that no longer mattered. He slipped over the rail and was weightless. He heard a shot and a bullet whizzed by his head.
    The last thing he heard before he hit the water was a voice frantically screaming: “Somebody catch that fucking dog!”

 
     
     
     
     
     
    Zonk Comes Home
     
    Richard had just gotten back from his meetings at the school when he heard a familiar scratching at the front door, and it was as if a huge burden had fallen from his shoulders. Danny had finally come home. But when he opened the door his chest tightened and his euphoria evaporated. Zonk stood on the stoop in front of him, but Danny was nowhere in sight.
    Danny and Zonk were inseparable. Even if by some unimaginable set of circumstances Danny had tried to send Zonk away, Richard knew the dog would follow him if that were possible. The fact that Zonk was here without Danny could mean only one of two things – either Danny was somewhere it was impossible for Zonk to go, or…he didn’t want to consider the alternative. His hands trembled as he pried one of Danny’s school pictures from a frame on a bookshelf and left the house. There was no longer any doubt – Danny was in trouble.
     
    Richard cringed as he burst through the doors of the Police station. The place looked like a disaster in progress. The reception area was jammed with a