Up In Smoke

By Jean Lauzier

Soon as I pulled up in front of the shop, I knew something was wrong. Gladys never went anywhere without Roger yet there she was, sitting on the step, waiting for me. I pulled my jacket tighter and climbed out of my truck. Next thing, I was up to my knees in snow and ice left by the snowplow. I'd been watching Gladys, thinking back to their visit last week instead of where I was walking. She cringed as I cursed the snowplow driver, the snow, broken truck heater and anyone else who came to mind. I finally made it to the door and promptly apologized for my language. She grinned one of her crooked grins in return. I opened the door and motioned for her to go on in. She made herself home on the sofa and waited while I turned the heat up. Grabbing a bottle of water off the shelf, I poured about half in an old chipped mug and offered her a drink. She gladly accepted, it was all I had but she didn't seem to mind.

I'd always been jealous of Roger's relationship with Gladys. Every afternoon, rain or shine, they would walk down the sidewalk side by side. Roger and Gladys, regular as the 3:15 Amtrak to Dallas . His lady he called her. They'd stop over at Rosie's and get ice cream right before going home. Roger cause he needed the extra calcium and Gladys just liked ice cream. . I looked her over as she finished her drink. This morning her golden hair wasn't nearly as well groomed as normal and there was blood spatter on her feet and coat. Her eyes met mine. I'd always heard that the eyes were the window to the soul and this was especially true of Gladys but today it was a troubled soul that shone in Gladys's eyes.

I told her to rest on the sofa and I'd go check on Roger. Was the least I could do. Besides business was at a standstill. Not many people rode motorcycles when there was a foot of snow on the ground. I locked up the office behind me and gazed at my truck but decided to walk. It was only a couple blocks to Rogers and I'd warm up soon enough. Sometimes I wished I'd had the heater fixed but most of the time I didn't need it. I kept a blanket up front just incase it was extra cold.

I found Gladys' tracks in the snow pretty easy and walked over them to cover up the blood. No need to let everyone know where she'd gone. I got to Roger's place and stood out front by the fence looking around. A manger scene with camels and donkeys filled one corner of his yard. Santa and his workshop along with a dozen or so elves took up another chunk of yard. Along the front, he'd squeezed in a sleigh and 8 reindeer led by Rudolph. The walk needed shoveling but everything else looked normal. Except Roger never left his gate open.

I made my way up the walk to the front door and rang the bell. Chimes echoed through the house but Roger didn't answer. I stepped off the porch into a snowdrift and looked in the window. Couldn't see much other than a normal looking living room. A tree covered in twinkle lights cast odd shadows from the far side of the room. Roger had said he'd leave a key under the ceramic snowman planter so I climbed back on the porch. I decided to give the door a try, figured it wouldn't hurt and as luck would have it, the knob turned with no problem. I looked around to see if anyone was watching then hurried in. It was so cold inside I could see my breath when I called for Roger. I looked around the living room, took a deep breath and headed down the hall toward the back of the house. Roger was in the kitchen, lying on the floor in a pool of blood. Gladys' bloody footprints circled his body and a knife stuck out of his chest.

For once, my cell phone actually had enough bars to make a call so I dialed 911. After I gave them the details, they told me to stay right where I was but I decided to wait outside. Thankfully it didn't take long for the cops to arrive. Soon as they got there, I put my hands in the air, didn't want them getting the wrong idea. I answered their questions, told them Gladys was at my place but there was no way she could have done this. Even volunteered to bring her down to the station for them but donut breath wasn't going for it. Back at my shop, I introduced him to Gladys. He didn't get much from her but at least he agreed she couldn't have killed Roger. Together, Gladys and I watched donut breath drive away. I breathed a sigh of relief when his car finally turned the corner out of sight. Gladys returned to her spot on the couch and I sat down next to her. I held her face in my hands and looked into her brown eyes. Told her I wished she could tell me what happened to Roger but not to worry, that I'd take care of her. She leaned in, kissed my cheek, and gave me another of her crooked grins. I ran a hand through her hair one last time and got my nerve together. Time to look in the box Roger left on his last visit.

It had been snowing that afternoon when Roger and Gladys stopped in. He had a shoebox under his arm and I could tell he was upset. Usually they stop on their way home and sit a while. Roger would put his feet on the table and shoot the breeze but not that day. Told me I was the only one he trusted and that if something happened to him to make sure Gladys was taken care of. I told him nothing was going to happen but he insisted I give him my word so of course I did. I've always loved Gladys so it wasn't a big deal. It was the shoebox that bothered me though and the way he kept pacing to the window and looking out. He held on to it like a drowning man hangs on to one of those rings you see thrown overboard. After another trip to the window, he handed me the box. Asked me to keep it for him, just in case. Said I'd know when to open it. I could tell it meant a lot to him so I put the box on a shelf and told him it'd be there when he got ready for it. They'd left right after that and though they still walked by every afternoon, he hadn't even glance my way.

I took a deep breath and got the box off the shelf. Sitting next to Gladys, I pulled the duct tape from around the top and carefully lifted the lid off. I put them both on the table in front of the couch. Gladys moved closer and looked in the box with me. An envelop with my name lay on top a bunch of folded newspaper clippings. I dropped it on the table next to the box and pulled out the first clipping, unfolded it. Suspected hit man on trial read the headline. I skimmed over the report and set the paper aside. Seems a crime boss had turned state's evidence on his own hit man, gave them names, dates, and places along with how much he'd paid for each hit. Trial continues was the next headline. Again, I skimmed over the report. I placed it on the table next to the first article and picked up another. This time the headline declared the trial over and the jury was deliberating. The last clipping in the box contained the verdict in big black letters across the top of the page, guilty. I started to read. A couple paragraphs in, I knew why Roger had been upset that day last week. As the verdict had been read in court, the hit man swore the judge and attorneys would die along with anyone who had taken part in the trial.

I looked over at Gladys. "Poor Roger." There were no pictures so I couldn't tell if Roger was the judge or attorney but I now knew he'd been in hiding. Gladys laid her had on my shoulder and sighed. I folded the papers, put them back in the box and picked up the envelope. Inside was only a short, handwritten note. Turning that bastard in was the only good thing I've ever done other than rescuing Gladys from the animal shelter. I don't know how they found me but I saw his brother today. I'm not sure he saw me but since he's here, he must know I am also. I could call for help but I'll take what's coming. Please take care of Gladys for me; I know you love her as much as I do. And please, if you don't mind, keep my secret. You were my friend when I had no other; I just wanted you to know the truth.

I reread the note again and decided he'd always be my friend Roger, no matter what he'd done before we met. No one who loved a dog as much as he loved Gladys could be all-bad. I put the note back in the envelope, dropped it back in the box added the used duct tape put on the top. Together Gladys and I made our way through the garage area and out back to the trash barrel. I placed the box inside, gave it a liberal coating of lighter fluid and dropped a lit match onto the top. Flames made quick work of destroying Roger's past life as Gladys and I stood watching black smoke swirl upward. I reached down as the fire died and gave Gladys a pat on the head. "How about a walk girl?"

Gladys grinned and wagged her tail. I grinned back at her, gave her another rub. "We'll stop for ice cream on the way back."