The Activist

  side of the table where Judge clung to life. Dr. Kohl’s assistant was a strange young woman named Star. She had purple hair and a ring in her nose, but in spite of first appearances, she was incredibly sweet and deeply concerned about Judge. When Dr. Kohl said good-bye around 9:00 p.m., he explained to Theo and his parents they were welcome to spend the night in the clinic, and Star would take care of things. Dr. Kohl would keep his cell phone nearby and could be at the clinic within ten minutes if something happened. The Boones thanked him repeatedly.

  Out in the reception room, Woody, Hardie, and Mr. Quinn were still waiting. They had been there for hours with nothing to do but wait. They had ordered a pizza, which they had shared with Star. When Dr. Kohl left, they decided to leave too. Woody and Hardie promised Theo they would return early on Saturday morning to check on him and Judge. When they embraced for the night, all three boys had moist eyes. It had been a long, rough day.

  A few minutes after they left, April Finnemore arrived with her mother, May, an unusual woman Theo and everybody else tried to avoid. Because Star refused to allow visitors back in the exam rooms, Theo had a chat with April in the front reception area. He didn’t want to tell the story again but didn’t have much of a choice. April was one of his best friends, and when she asked, through tears—“Theo what happened?”—he had little choice but to start with the fishing trip and finish with a badly injured dog.

  Ms. Finnemore, who had a big mouth and a penchant for high drama, listened with wild eyes and her hand over her mouth, as if she had never heard of such brutality. Mrs. Boone managed to ease her off to one side so the kids could talk. Theo adored April, but he was relieved when she left with her mother.

  Things changed when Uncle Ike arrived ten minutes later. He insisted on seeing Judge, and when Star objected Ike growled at her and she ran for cover. After a visit with Judge, and a few words whispered into his ear, Ike announced he would be staying there through the night with Theo. Mr. and Mrs. Boone were to go home and get some sleep. Star could hang around if she wanted. She explained that Dr. Kohl had instructed her to monitor Judge throughout the night. Ike seemed to approve of this.

  Mr. and Mrs. Boone left again, with another round of hugs and thanks to Star, and they promised to sleep with their cell phones in case something happened. Star locked the front door of the clinic and retreated to a small employees’ lounge. Ike assumed a seat next to Judge and said, “Theo, it’s important for Judge to hear our voices, okay? So you and I are going to talk as long as we possibly can. We’re going to tell stories, take turns, make up jokes, whatever it takes to keep the words flowing, okay?”

  “Sure, Ike.” Theo was standing beside Judge. Ike slung his feet and sandals onto a small counter and somehow managed to get comfortable in the cheap plastic chair. He said, “Now, I want you to tell me again the story of how that stupid kid got himself bitten by the copperhead last week.”

  Theo frowned and said, “Come on, Ike. I’m sick of that story.”

  Ike said, “It’s not about you, not about me, it’s all about Judge. Maybe Judge wants to hear the story again. Your voice, Theo, somewhere down deep, in the deepest part of his little wounded brain, Judge can hear your voice. He doesn’t care what you’re saying. What matters is that he knows you’re here, next to him, talking to him.”

  Theo swallowed hard, and began the story of Percy and the copperhead.

  Ike shook his head and interrupted. “No, no, Theo. Start at the very beginning, and go slow. We’re in no hurry. Judge is in no hurry. We have hours to kill.”

  So Theo tried again. He started with Troop 1440 leaving on the bus, headed for Lake Marlo, and he threw in every large and small detail he could possibly remember. Ike nodded along, smiling. Attaboy.

  When he finished the snake story, Ike said, “Now, Theo, we just had a big murder case here in Strattenburg, the biggest ever. What’s the man’s name?”

  “Pete Duffy.”

  “Right, right. Mr. Pete Duffy, accused of killing his wife, wasn’t he?”

  “That’s correct.”

  “So tell me that story, and start with the murder and how the police found the body. You watched the trial, right?”

  “I did.”

  “Good. Tell me about it.”

  Theo sat in the other chair and pulled his knees to his chest. The Pete Duffy murder case was one of his favorite subjects, and he talked about it forever, it seemed. From time to time, he glanced at Judge, who appeared to be resting quietly, motionless. Occasionally, he glanced at Ike, who was wide awake and staring and nodding at the wall. Star peeked through the open door from time to time, always with a smile, always listening not far down the hall.

  When he wrapped up the last installment of the Duffy story, Ike said, “Remember that time we took off and went to rescue April Finnemore, just the two of us?”

  “Of course I remember, Ike. How could I forget?”

  “Okay, let’s do that story.”

  “It’s your turn, Ike. You were involved in that one.”

  Ike said, “Well, as I remember it, your buddy April disappeared from her home one night when no one else was there.” Ike stood and stretched his legs. He did a few quick squats, cracked his knuckles, and when the blood was flowing he continued with the story. Theo added details along the way, just a few at first but after twenty minutes the two were tag-teaming as they relived their adventure of finding April and rescuing her from her crazy father.

  Around midnight, Star brought them bottles of cold water and did a quick check of the patient. Judge was breathing but not awake.

  Ike said, “Star, welcome to our little story time. Would you like to play along? You can choose any story you want because Judge doesn’t care. He just loves stories.”

  Theo wanted to hear the story of how she managed to get a ring in her nose, but knew that was probably off-limits. Star said, “Let me think about it. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

  “I guess she doesn’t like to tell stories,” Ike mumbled. “What about that time, Theo, when someone broke into your locker and planted some stolen goods? And the police were about to arrest you? Just a couple of months ago, right?”

  “How could I forget?”

  “And someone kept slashing your bike tires.”

  “That’s it.”

  “Great. Tell Judge and me that story again.”

  Theo was suddenly tired. He was physically exhausted and needed sleep, and he was emotionally drained as well. He stood, did a few squats like Ike, and began the rather frightening story of being accused of a crime and nearly arrested. Ike had been involved in that story, too, and he inserted a few details along the way.

  The chatter continued, and down the hall Star listened with amusement. Around 2:00 a.m., things became quiet in the exam room, and Star peeked inside. Theo was asleep in one corner, curled into an awkward position on top of a sleeping bag his father had brought. Ike had somehow managed to fall asleep sitting in a chair with his feet propped up.

  She eased inside and gently touched Judge near his heart. It was still beating.

  * * *

  The police investigators arrived at Dr. Kohl’s clinic early Saturday morning. Dr. Kohl was not yet in, but Star had unlocked the clinic and welcomed the officers. They chatted with Theo and Ike for about fifteen minutes and left. They said their plans were to talk to both Hardie and Woody that morning. Theo learned that the survey crew had disappeared by the time the police arrived yesterday afternoon, so no arrests were made. The police did retrieve Theo’s bike and he could pick it up at the station. Ike made it very clear that the Boone family certainly intended to press charges, and have the men arrested and brought to justice.

  Unknown to Theo, Hardie had managed to memorize the license plate number of the survey crew’s truck.

  Mr. and Mrs. Boone arrived with doughnuts and coffee. Ike left soon thereafter. He promised to return that afternoon. Dr. Kohl examined Judge at 9:00 a.m. and said there was little change in his condition.
The fact that he had survived the night was obviously a good sign, but the veterinarian cautioned them against too much optimism. Mrs. Boone suggested Theo go home, take a shower, and get some rest, but Theo refused. He was not leaving Judge until Judge was fully awake and feeling fine.

  No one argued with Theo.

  Mr. Boone left but Mrs. Boone stayed at the clinic. She established herself in one corner of the reception area, opened her laptop, and began going through her e-mails. She had a thick briefcase by her side and lots of work to do. Theo sat with her for a few minutes and made small talk, then he went to check on Judge. Back and forth, back and forth. The day dragged on as sick dogs and cats came and went through the reception area. Dr. Kohl was popular because he’d been there so long, but he had also discovered that Saturday was the perfect day for business. He didn’t work on Mondays, preferring instead to play golf, but on Saturdays, he was a busy vet. Once an hour, he checked on Judge.

  Mr. Boone arrived and Mrs. Boone left. April returned on her bike, without her mother, and stayed with Theo for an hour. When Dr. Kohl and the technicians weren’t looking, Theo sneaked her in for a quick visit with Judge. She could not hold back the tears at the sight of the patient, partially tucked under a white sheet, his head shaved, eyes closed, and little pink tongue hanging out. Theo, though, was tired of crying.

  Dr. Kohl X-rayed Judge again and reported the swelling had gone neither up nor down. At 2:00 p.m., another vet, a Dr. McKenzie, arrived at the clinic. According to Dr. Kohl, Dr. McKenzie was a friend and trusted colleague and was there to examine Judge and give a second opinion. With Theo out of the exam room, the two vets poked and prodded, studied the X-rays, and seemed rather gloomy about Judge’s condition.

  Throughout Saturday, Theo rarely left Judge’s side. His parents came and went. Vets came and went. Technicians came and went. Woody, Hardie, and April came and went. Alone with the door closed, Theo gently stroked the soft fur along his dog’s back, whispering and assuring him that things were going to be fine. He watched intently as Judge’s stomach rose slowly, then fell, clear proof he was still breathing, still alive. “Come on, boy,” he said for the millionth time.

  * * *

  Judge was a mutt whose age and breeding would always be a mystery. He had been abandoned by someone and taken into custody by the city’s Animal Control unit. He had been placed in a shelter, given his shots, fed and groomed, and put up for adoption, but no one wanted him. The animal rights activists in town had long been seeking a no-kill policy at the city’s shelter, but the sad fact remained that there were too many stray dogs and cats and not enough people willing to adopt them. After six months in the shelter, the city had no choice but to “put down” the unwanted animals. For Judge, his six months had expired, and he was hours away from the end.

  Two years earlier, when Theo was eleven, he had gone to Animal Court with his dad to help a friend whose German shepherd had bitten the mailman for the third time. Animal Court, also known as Kitty Court, among other names, was in the basement of the courthouse, and was considered by the lawyers to be the lowest possible place in the entire judicial system. In fact, most lawyers avoided Animal Court.

  Judge Yeck was a part-time judge, and perhaps the only lawyer in town who wanted to fool with Animal Court. During the dispute over the German shepherd, Judge Yeck looked at Theo and said, “Say, Theo, what kind of dog do you have?”

  Theo, who was sitting behind his father, was honored to be recognized by a judge, even if it was in Animal Court. He stood and said, “Well, sir, I don’t have a dog.”

  “Why not? Every kid needs a dog.” Judge Yeck looked at Mr. Boone and said, “Woods, why don’t you let your kid have a dog?” Theo was thrilled and couldn’t help but smile, braces and all. He had been bugging his parents about getting a dog for at least a year.

  Mr. Boone looked embarrassed and said, “Well, Judge, we’re talking about it.”

  As Theo would later learn, after he and Judge Yeck became pals, the judge loved animals and hated to see them destroyed. He looked at a bailiff and said, “Bring that mutt in here.” The bailiff disappeared through a door and within seconds returned with the mutt, the one who was about to be renamed Judge.

  Yeck said, “Look at this handsome dude, Theo. Wouldn’t he make a great friend?”

  The handsome dude looked directly at Theo, and Theo looked directly at him, and at that moment the friendship was sealed. Judge was knee-high to an adult, weighed forty pounds, had a lot of terrier and thick fur and big brown eyes and was the cutest dog Theo had ever seen.

  “He sure would,” Theo managed to say.

  “What about it, Woods?” Judge Yeck said.

  “Gee, I don’t know.”

  “Well, here’s the deal. This guy has been in the shelter for six months, the limit. He’s scheduled to be put down tomorrow morning. If you guys don’t take him, then it’s over. Wouldn’t that be a shame?”

  Indeed it would. Theo left with the dog.

  His father told him later that Judge Yeck was known to pull that stunt, to bring in some poor dog or cat about to be “destroyed” and shove it off on some unsuspecting person in his courtroom. That was another reason a lot of people avoided Animal Court.

  * * *

  Around dark, Mrs. Boone said rather sternly it was time for Theo to go home, if only to bathe, brush his teeth, change clothes, and get something to eat. Mr. Boone agreed and they seemed determined to see this happen. Theo, however, wouldn’t budge. “I’m not leaving Judge,” he insisted. A brief family feud was under way when Ike strode through the front door and said, “How’s old Judge?”

  “Hanging in there,” Theo said. “Could be a long night.”

  “Well, we survived last night,” Ike said with a grin. “I’m sure we can pull Judge through another one.”

  “Are you staying?” Theo asked.

  “Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

  Mr. and Mrs. Boone eventually left. Star returned for the night shift. Dr. Kohl examined the dog around 8:00 p.m., then said his good-byes. As always, he would be waiting by the phone.

  Another long night began.

  Chapter 16

  At dawn on Sunday morning, two deputies knocked on the door of a small brick house in a rural part of Stratten County, near a community called Tuffsburg. The owner finally came to the door and demanded to know what was going on. When asked his name, he replied, “Larry Samson.”

  “Then you’re under arrest,” one deputy said as the other unhitched a set of handcuffs from his belt.

  “For what?” Samson demanded.

  “Assault. Step outside. You’re going with us.”

  Samson argued for a few minutes, but soon backed down and surrendered, griping the entire time. The deputies suggested he shut up as they shoved him into the rear of the squad car.

  At that same moment, three other men were being arrested at various points around the county. Shorty, as he was known to the boys, was actually Lester Green. The supervisor of the Strategic Surveys crew, the older guy, was Willis Keeth. The fourth guy, the one who tripped Woody, was Gino Gordon. All four were taken to the Stratten County jail, where they were processed, fingerprinted, photographed, and charged with assault and trespassing. After a couple of hours of phone calls and paperwork, they were released on bond and given dates to appear in court.

  Once they were in custody, a police officer, a Captain Mulloy, drove to the vet clinic to meet with the Boones. Captain Mulloy had been around for a while and was well-known and respected, especially by the older lawyers in town. He had been monitoring the situation that began on the Quinn farm Friday afternoon and involved a badly wounded dog now fighting for his life. Captain Mulloy was also a member of the church where Hardie’s father was the minister, and thus knew the Quinn family well.

  Theo’s father always said life in a small town can be irritating because everyone knows your business, but at the same time, it can be easier and safer because you know the right people. Captain Mull
oy was one of the good guys.

  He arrived at Dr. Kohl’s clinic and found Mrs. Boone in the reception area, a quilt over her legs, reading the Sunday newspapers. She explained that she had been there about an hour; that Theo and his uncle Ike were back there in the exam room, where they’d spent a second night in a row; and that Dr. Kohl was expected any moment. There was no change in Judge’s condition.

  Captain Mulloy and Mrs. Boone drank coffee for a few minutes as he told her of the arrests. Halfway through the story, Theo and Ike appeared in the reception area. Theo, who hadn’t bathed since Friday morning, looked as though he’d been sleeping on the floor, which he had. And Ike, well Ike always looked rumpled and wrinkled with his long, straggly gray hair pulled into a ponytail. After introductions, Captain Mulloy asked, “So how’s the dog?”

  Theo replied, “Hanging in there. A slight heartbeat, but not much else. Still unconscious.”

  “Sorry to hear that,” Captain Mulloy said as he reached for a file. “Let me show you something.” He removed four large color photos, each of a different face, and laid them on a coffee table covered with magazines. “Look at these guys, Theo. Ever seen them before?”

  Theo leaned down, and within seconds said, “That’s them. All four of them.” He pointed to Lester (Shorty) Green and said, “He’s the guy who grabbed my phone and knocked me down.” He pointed to Larry Samson and said, “This is the thug who kept hitting Judge with a stick.” He pointed to Willis Keeth and said, “He’s the older guy, the boss.” And about Gino Gordon, he said, “This is the guy who tripped Woody and was cussing at us so bad.”

  Captain Mulloy smiled and said, “Thought so. At this moment, these guys are downtown, under arrest and getting booked. They’ll probably post a bond this morning and get out. Do you understand all this, Theo?”

  Theo certainly did. He nodded and said, “Yes, sir.”

  Ike picked up the photo of Larry Samson and said, “This is the bad boy who tried to kill Judge?”

  “That’s him,” Theo said, no doubt.

  “So when does this jerk face a judge?”

  “Not sure,” Captain Mulloy said.

  “He looks guilty,” Ike said, spitting contempt.

  “He is guilty,” Theo said. “There are witnesses.”

  “Where do these guys live?” Mrs. Boone asked.

  “Around here. They work for a survey company that was hired by the state to do some early work on the bypass. It appears as though they were a bit too eager and entered some private land without permission.”

  “They’re gonna serve time in jail,” Ike said as if he were the judge. “Mark my word, these clowns are serving time. Plus, we’ll sue them for damages.” Ike looked as though he was ready for a fistfight.

  Mr. Boone walked through the front door with a dozen doughnuts and another stack of Sunday newspapers. Theo was always amazed at the volume of newsprint consumed by his parents on a typical Sunday. Often there were four thick newspapers scattered from the kitchen table to the den and even on the back porch in good weather. One of Theo’s household chores was to organize the recycling program. In one corner of the garage he kept four large plastic bins, one each for glass, plastic, aluminum, and paper. The paper bin was always full, always overflowing with stacks of old newspapers. On several occasions he had asked his parents why they simply didn’t read the news online. They owned laptops and used them for business and personal e-mails. Why not get the news online and save all that paper? Their answers were vague and unsatisfactory, at least to Theo.

  He stared at the stack of Sunday newspapers and thought, What a waste. Then he flashed back to the present and wondered why he, Theo Boone, a boy whose dog was practically dead and a boy who’d just slept two nights on the floor in a vet clinic, was worrying about recycling old news-papers. He grabbed a doughnut and downed it in three bites.

  Mr. Boone was saying hello and asking about Judge when Dr. Kohl appeared from the rear. He was wearing a suit and tie and said he was on the way to early church. The group passed around the photos of the four freshly arrested men and, with frowns, silently condemned them. Dr. Kohl said something like, “Rough bunch.”

  Theo had an idea. He looked at Captain Mulloy and said, “Can I borrow that photo of Larry Samson?” Captain Mulloy handed it to him. The adults watched Theo as he disappeared into the rear of the clinic.

  The exam room was dark and deserted; only Judge was there, still motionless on the table where he had been for so long. Theo turned on a light and hovered over his dog. “Hey buddy,” he said softly into his ear. “Got something for you.” Theo held the photo of Larry Samson close for Judge to see. “This is the outlaw who did this to you, Judge. His name is Larry, and right now Larry is sitting in jail. They’re gonna bust him, Judge, and make him pay. Look at him, Judge, big bad Larry, the guy with the stick who thought he was so tough, whipping a little dog, is now behind bars. We won, Judge, and we’re not finished.”

  Theo held the photo, but Judge did not look. Theo fought back tears. The photo was shaking. Theo closed his eyes and asked God to look down on this poor little dog who’d never harmed anyone, who was the best friend in the world, who’d been badly injured trying to protect Theo. Please, God.

  Minutes passed, and Theo was ready to give up.

  There was a sound, sort of a weak grunt, as if Judge was trying to clear his throat. Theo opened his eyes, and at about the same time Judge opened his. Not wide, just two narrow slits, but Theo could see the dark brown irises of Judge’s eyes. “Judge, you’re awake!” he gushed, and leaned even lower so that his nose was about two inches from his dog’s.

  Judge opened his eyes wider. He seemed to look at the photo of Larry Samson, to stare at it, then he opened his mouth and licked his lips. Theo placed the photo on a table, then with both hands began rubbing along Judge’s back, talking nonstop.