He went into the dreary bathroom, and did his business, including washing his face. Time to walk the dog.
He grabbed the lead and halter, and Maverick sat calmly while he put them on. “Let’s go.” If only he could take the dog for a run. That would be better for both of them. That might be months away for him, if he’d ever recover the mobility in his leg to move at that fast a pace. He grabbed his cane and keys, and they moved out of the room and across the parking lot. He’d seen a park several blocks away on his way here last night—a good place for them to exercise.
Maverick needed exercise as much as he did, although the dog’s gait didn’t have as pronounced a limp as Rob did. They walked slowly at first, eventually extending their stride and increasing their speed. It felt good to stretch his legs. He’d done a lot of driving in the past several weeks. First from Quantico, where he’d been in rehab. After being released from the Corps, he’d bought his truck. His travels took him to Camp Lejeune in North Carolina to pick up Maverick, and finally to Ridgeview. When he sat too long, his leg cramped up.
Maverick matched his pace, but when they got to the park, he gave the dog the “at ease” signal that allowed him to relax and sniff to his heart’s content. Judging from his thoroughness, a lot of other dogs had passed this way. They did three rounds of the park before resting. Maverick lay by his side, his tongue lolling from his mouth.
They watched a young woman push a toddler in a stroller toward a building containing the park’s restrooms. He watched her mouth move as she talked to the child. This was what he’d fought for. This was why he and his fellow Marines risked their lives in foreign lands. So that people in small towns all across the US could be safe.
He frowned as a tall man moved from the side of the building to intercept the mother and child. The man must have said something to her, because she froze for a moment before her hands tightened on the handles of the stroller. Her body language told him she felt a threat, and Rob jumped to his feet seconds behind Maverick. The dog let out a low-throated growl and took off at a run toward the building. He followed as quickly as he could and arrived to see Maverick positioning himself between the man, and the woman and child, his teeth bared.
“Maverick!” The dog shot him a brief glance before refocusing on the man.
“Get your dog under control, mister,” shouted the stranger. His fear was palpable.
“Are you all right, ma’am?” Her rigid body posture and flushed cheeks showed her fear, but he didn’t think it was fear of Maverick.
“Go away, Kent! I have an order of protection. You aren’t supposed to come near me or Angela.”
“I can do anything I want,” the man snarled. “No piece of paper will keep me away from my daughter. She has a right to see me.”
The little girl reacted to the angry adults and let out a series of wails that increased in volume and intensity.
“Damn it, Rosalind, shut her the fuck up! You’re trying to turn her against me!”
“You molested her, you sick pervert! I walked in on you and saw what you were doing to her. She’s just a baby!”
The baby’s wails combined with the adult’s shouts at each other. Maverick joined in by barking. “Hold it! Both of you. Calm down. Buddy, if she’s got an order of protection against you, you need to take a hike. To make sure you do, I’ll call the cops.”
“Guardalo.” Maverick stood at attention, his focus on the threat as Rob dialed 9-1-1. “What’s the name of this park,” he asked the woman who comforted her upset child.
“Dogwood Park.”
He explained the situation to the dispatcher who promised to send a squad car. “Do you have the papers with you?” he asked the young mother.
She nodded and pulled them from a small backpack.
The man was inching away, and Maverick growled again.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Rob told him. “He’s a military dog, and he’s trained to take care of bad guys. Sounds like you qualify.” He shook his head in disgust. If what the woman said was true, this loser had sexually abused his own daughter, a child who looked to be under two.
A squad car rounded the corner and slid into a parking spot at the curb. He spent the next half hour telling the officer what he’d observed, and how he and Maverick had become involved. The woman’s papers confirmed that an order of protection was in effect, and the man was cuffed and led to the back of the squad car.
“Thank you.” The woman sighed with relief. “I don’t know what would have happened if you and your dog hadn’t been here. I’m always afraid he’ll take her away and molest her again.” She shuddered.
“I’m glad I could help. I’m Rob Michelini, and this is Maverick.” The dog’s tongue lolled, and he looked as if he was smiling.
“I’m Rosalind Barnard, and this is Angela. We’re very grateful for your help.”
“No problem. Are you okay to get back home?”
“Yes. We don’t live very far. We come here a lot, so I guess he knew where to find us.”
“Well, be careful. From now on, you might want to carry some pepper spray with you.”
They said their goodbyes and headed off in opposite directions. “Well, Maverick. I guess we were in the right place at the right time. Thanks, boy. Grazie.”
Rob led them back to the motel, Maverick taking care to water nearly every bush, tree, and fire hydrant. Rob
