The two deputies who had raced into the woods reemerged, each of them holding the arm of a runaway teen.

“I broke up with you, Rob!” the girl cried. “And you just tried to get even because it embarrassed you!” The girl turned to the deputy. “It’s true. You have to believe me!” She pointed a shaky finger at Kennedy. “Ask him! He saw it all and stopped them from forcing me into the car!”

After saying that, the girl dissolved into tears and would have collapsed if not for the support of the deputy’s arms around her. Kennedy was glad the girl wasn’t badly hurt, but she was definitely shaken up. He was relieved when the female officer guided her to a county vehicle and got her safely tucked inside. The cops would call her parents now, and they’d probably take her to the emergency clinic after filing a police report.

* * *

Kennedy stayed to give his statement to Deputy Barney Sterling. Kennedy really liked Barney. He was a hometown boy and came from a well-respected family. He wasn’t on his high horse about being a cop, either. Even so, the whole time Kennedy was being questioned, he kept expecting to be cuffed and stuffed for beating up four minors. Instead Deputy Sterling asked if he needed to see a doctor. Kennedy didn’t hurt that much anywhere and refused medical attention, even though Sterling told him he was bleeding from a scalp wound. Kennedy’s student insurance had a pricey deductible, and he really couldn’t afford an emergency room charge right now, when none of his cuts and scrapes felt life-threatening.

When he walked back to his truck, he saw that Domino had eaten the rest of his hamburger and fries. Normally he might have scolded the dog. It wasn’t okay for Domino to take human food unless it was offered to him. But the black-and-white collie hadn’t jumped out the open driver’s window, and Kennedy knew that had taken a lot of restraint. Things had gotten pretty exciting for a couple of minutes, and Domino was still young enough to want in on all the action. Kennedy was glad the dog had stayed put. To him, all of it would have seemed like a game, and he could have gotten hurt. Kennedy doubted that Domino had ever witnessed a serious fistfight, only scuffling when a bunch of ranch hands were playing around.

“Good boy, Domino. You stayed in the truck. Awesome job.” Kennedy ruffled the dog’s fur and then removed the tray from the slightly upraised window to set it on the concrete median. He figured someone who worked there could collect it. He sure wasn’t going to carry it to the building. The jock had dealt Kennedy a kidney punch, and his flank ached. His head didn’t feel all that great, either. He climbed back in the truck, started the engine, and backed out of the parking slot. “Mystic Creek, the town with no crime. Ha! Shit goes down almost everywhere,” he told Domino. As he got the truck lined out on the road, he fondled the dog’s ears. “You were a really good boy, Dom. I’m proud of you.”