Adios Angel Read Free Page A

than
an hour.  Have her hold tight.  No sense sending the kids home for nothing.”
    “How’d ya’ come up with names like Mutt and Jeff for
your dogs?” asked Delbert.
    Josh Diamond chuckled, patting the dogs on their heads
and tickling their ears.
    “When they were pups they were exploring around at my
store, like young dogs do and they came across a case of Bazooka Joe
Bubblegum.”
    “Mutt and Jeff. You mean those cartoon guys inside the
gum wrapper?”
    “That’s right.  The little fellas, at least they were
little fellers back then, started in on that gum. The next thing you know they
were chewing away.  Funniest damn thing I’ve ever seen a dog do.”
    Delbert slapped his knee.  His body spasmed with
uncontrollable laughter.
    “Dang, I’da paid a whole week’s worth of wages to see
that one.  They were okay, weren’t they?  I mean they didn’t get sick from it,
did they?”
    “They were none the worse.  I would like to think they
were a little smarter for the experience.”
    “Don’t that beat all?  Dogs chewing gum.  Well, I
betcha you couldn’t hardly teach a dog to do that if you tried, now could ya?”
    Sheriff Hanks stared at the low hanging, sparse clouds
over the northwestern horizon of the morning sky.  Behind the clouds the peaks
of Mount Graham were beginning to reveal the stable unchanging nature of a
mountain.  The scene calmed him.  Something told him they would find nothing--there
would be no explosion.  Everything about the call pointed in a single
direction.  Somebody, a disgruntled student, a sick practical joker, had wasted
his time, his deputies’ time and that of hundreds of children and their
teachers.  God, as they say, was probably the only one who knew why.  Sheriff
Hanks glanced at his watch.  Nine-sixteen.
    “Let’s go back in and have another look around.  Let’s
be thorough but make quick work of it.  Josh, I imagine you have a plan
already?”
    “Yes, sir, I do.  I’ll take the dogs and one of the
deputies.  We will do the first floor.  You and the other deputy do the second
floor.  Then we will double back and check each other’s work.  We will finish
up with the locker rooms.”
    “Deputy Funke, come with me,” ordered the sheriff. 
“Deputy Steele, you go with Josh.”
    A search of twenty-four rooms, six lavatories, two
locker rooms, miscellaneous nooks, crannies and janitor’s closets took the team
exactly fifty-seven minutes.  Relieved that nothing was found, Sheriff Hanks
gave brief consideration to kidding the young principal about making her
students stay late to make up for the classroom time they had missed. The
stressed look on her face made his decision for him.  Something about the way
she carried herself told him she would not find his remark humorous--especially
under these circumstances. 
    “The school is clear, Principal Newlin.  You can let
the students go back in now.”
    “You’re absolutely certain there isn’t a bomb in there
somewhere?”
    “Yes, ma’am.  We have searched the school thoroughly.”
    “What am I going to tell the parents?  The school
board?  The superintendent?”
    “Ma’am?” asked the sheriff.
    “How do I explain a bomb threat?  Do you know how many
reports I’m going to have to file?”
    “Yes, ma’am.  I believe I do.  Deputy Steele will be
talking with you.  If you need anything, do not hesitate to call us.  She can
help you with the specific details from our end of things on any reports you
may have to file.”
    Sheriff Hanks knew all too well about report filing
rules and regulations.  He would have to file multiple reports.  Delbert and
Kate would have to do theirs.  Under new state regulations someone from his
office would have to interview the principal, vice-principal, superintendent,
and possibly the teachers, janitors and some students.  Plus, he would need to
get an official statement from Josh Diamond.   His head felt light.  His
stomach rolled with