Chapter 5 Who’s a Good Boy? #2
“Oh, aren’t you just the sweetest baby!” she gushed and rubbed his head.
She squealed as he stuck his snout down her blouse and licked over the top of her bra.
“Oh!” she exclaimed again as he pulsed dark energy into it.
He sat back and watched the flush creep over her face at the sensation it had given her.
One corrupted intern, check, he chuckled.
Sitting back, he pondered further on what just happened, surprised it worked.
He’d been trying to use his demon powers since he woke in the shelter without success.
Now, today, they seemed to be almost within his reach again.
He smirked at the young woman who still stared at him, confused by what had happened.
Wagging his tail, he gave his best good boy happy bark.
He put a paw out to shake, sitting up on his haunches.
“Look how cute!” cried Candy, the former stripper.
The young woman jumped to her feet and hurried away, looking back over her shoulder at the large black dog who had just put a smudge of darkness on her soul. She shook her head as she wandered off.
“Behave,” came Chuck’s low warning.
Malachi huffed out a frustrated breath. Chuck was raining on his corruption parade yet again. He turned and sat next to her, determined to be a good boy until they left. He didn’t want Chuck to be too mad at him.
Soon, the cameras were rolling, and they were live.
The interview was boring for him since they didn’t ask about his opinions.
He enjoyed hearing Chuck brag about him and his skills, how smart he was, and what an asset he was going to be to the squad.
The rest was gross, a feel-good story. One of those heartwarming ones meant to make people soften up towards shelter dogs and cops, then donate to both.
Barf. His concentration wandered a bit, and he caught a glimpse of something dark.
As a lover of all things dark, his attention snapped into focus, and he quickly zeroed in on the source.
He saw a man hunched in an oversized coat that seemed a little out of place in the large studio.
The man was glancing about furtively, but no one was paying attention to him.
They were all focused on the broadcast. Malachi had a cold pit in his stomach; it wasn’t a feeling he was used to having.
Causing, yes. Experiencing it on his own? Not so much.
He watched the man a little longer, trying to figure out what was creating the feeling.
Then it hit him. The furtive man intended harm, and Malachi was fairly certain the creep was going to cause it.
A deep rage boiled inside the stranger, his soul oozing malice.
Malachi narrowed his eyes, concerned the man wanted to hurt Chuck as well.
He was not going to let that happen. Whipping his head to Chuck, he gave a soft woof.
She stared at him, startled. He wasn’t supposed to be doing anything right now, and it had caught her off guard. “Not now, Malachi, heel.” She smiled reassuringly at the anchors and cameras. She gently placed her hand on his head and rubbed, trying to calm him.
Malachi grunted in frustration and glanced back to the man who was now creeping up behind a cameraman. No one had noticed him yet. He whined lightly and turned frantically to Chuck. He slapped his paw on her leg.
Now she gave him her full attention. “What’s the matter, Malachi?” Ignoring the anchors who were trying to redirect the interview, worried about what this would look like live, Chuck was focused solely on him.
Grateful for her attention, he stared into her eyes and thought hard. DANGER, DANGER. Assuming his ‘alert’ position, a low rumble built in his chest.
She blinked once. “Retrieve!” she commanded as she unclipped the leash.
Like a shot, Malachi took off, an unearthly snarl ripping through the studio as he rocketed across the stage and ran straight at the ill-intentioned man.
With a leap and a howl, he tackled the would-be attacker and incapacitated him like he’d been taught, holding his arm away from his body.
The man was screaming, fear and pain mixing as Malachi bit down harder on his limb.
Shouts and screams erupted from the crew as the cameras panned to the man, while Chuck ran over in full officer mode, assessing the situation before calling, “Release!”
Malachi let his captive go and lay next to him, growling in warning that the man shouldn’t even think of making a move towards his Chuck.
Hurt her, and I’ll eat your soul, he thought at the now sobbing man.
Sure no one else could see, he flashed some Hellfire through his eyes to drive his point home.
“I won’t!” the captive yelled, his voice trembling with terror. “I won’t touch her!” he cried, sobbing and hiccupping now. He obediently held out his hands towards Chuck and let her turn him on his stomach with his hands behind his back.
She searched him efficiently and found two pistols in his waistband, along with a wicked-looking knife in a sheath on his leg. She cuffed him and pulled him to his feet. “I think this interview is over, Candy, Buck. We appreciate it, but my partner and I have work to do.”
The entire studio broke into applause, and Malachi was praised for his quick thinking, detecting trouble before it started. The whole incident had been captured live.
Candy ran over and dropped down, kissing Malachi’s head.
“Sweet baby! What a good boy!” she glanced at the would-be attacker and froze.
“Randall?” she squeaked. “That’s Randall Johnson, he used to work here!
He was fired for filming women in the dressing rooms.” Her tone was now so frosty, ice practically dripped from her words.
She glanced at the cameras and continued in her professional voice.
“That’s right, ladies and gentlemen; Randall Johnson was terminated from this network and is a registered sex offender.
He came in with multiple weapons, no doubt intending to do harm.
But this brave, amazing K-9, Officer Malachi, and his handler, the intrepid and fearless Officer Kelly Charles, have stopped what would likely have been a mass casualty incident.
So be sure to support our local police department and shelters.
We’ll break here and be back with more at nine!
” She flashed a syrupy sweet smile and waited until she got the signal that they were off air.
Buck ran over and grabbed his co-anchor by the shoulders as he shook Candy. “Are you insane? Why would you say all that? He can get a case of defamation against us!”
Malachi leapt to his feet, snarling and shoved himself between Candy and Buck.
The anchorman stepped back fearfully. “Whoa there, buddy, I’m not trying to hurt her!
” He glanced around and realized everyone was watching him with wide eyes full of concern.
“Right.” He cleared his throat and straightened his tie nervously.
“I’ll be in the prep room.” He turned and stormed off with a stiff posture and an embarrassed flush creeping up his neck.
“Thanks, Malachi,” Candy called softly as she bent down and placed another kiss on his head. She glanced at Chuck. “You’ve got a keeper there.” She smiled and ruffled the fur between his ears, laughing when he licked her hand.
“Yeah, he’s the best.” Chuck smiled fondly at him.
“And now, please truly accept our apologies, but we need to give our friend here a lift to the station. I’ve called it in; one of my partners will be taking statements.
” She pointed at the other officers entering the building.
With that, she whistled, calling Malachi to her side as they made their way back to the squad car.