EPPINGTON: THE GUARDED SECRET, Tanya Taylor [books to read in a lifetime .txt] 📗

up. I didn’t have much of an appetite—at least, not for food.

Around 9:50, we heard the back door open and Rob hurriedly went over to the stair rail to see if it was who we were expecting.

“It’s him!” Rob whispered.

“We’re up here!” He told Jeffreys, seconds later.

Jeffreys walked in with his Doberman Pinscher and we all panicked the moment we spotted the dog. Rob had not mentioned it was with him and I wondered if he’d even seen it.

“Don’t worry,” Jeffreys said, noticing our apprehension. “Hugo’s no threat.”

Baffled, the guys and I glanced at each other.

“Do you mind if I take a seat?” Hugo asked.

Startled, although I shouldn’t have been, I answered, “No. Go right ahead.”

Jeffreys smiled, albeit slightly and took a seat on a chair on the side of the wall while Hugo sat on the floor nearby.

“I think you all had better sit down for this,” Jeffreys said.

The three of us sat on the bench at once.

Jeffreys crossed his legs. “Spader, I can tell from the look on your face that you know they’ve taken your family away and I’m very sorry about that.”

“Yeah.” I nodded.

“I believe we know where they’ve taken them, but I can’t be sure until later on,” he returned. “But before we get into that, I think I ought to let you know what happened to me. Do you mind if I smoke?” He pulled a cigarette out of his shirt pocket without awaiting a reply, reminding me of the reason why we found it so easy to egg his house over and repeatedly. The man acted obnoxious, but right then, I couldn’t care less about his flaws. I wanted to hear what he knew.

“We don’t mind,” I said anyway.

“Well, I’ll have you know that I was no different from everyone else around here after some aircraft hovered over this town.” He lit his cigarette. “Whatever it emitted apparently put all of us in a daze and, in turn, enhanced the minds of dogs to match our intellect. That’s why you see people and dogs acting the way they do.”

“So, it definitely was a UFO?” Sam sought clarification.

“If you can call it that.” He nodded. “It came here to accomplish a strategic mission which has to do with setting things quote unquote right as far as canines, in particular, are concerned.”

“But why?” Rob interjected.

“May I answer that?” Hugo asked Jeffreys.

“Sure, Hugo. Be my guest.” Jeffreys gestured with an outstretched arm.

“The reason for all of this has to do with the handling of dogs in this town over the course of time, where we were grossly mistreated, unappreciated and taken advantage of,” Hugo started. “The opportunity, long-awaited, finally came for us to settle the score by placing humans in a subservient state and for the first time, allowing dogs to rule. Does that explain your question in a nutshell?” he asked Rob.

Rob quickly nodded.

“But how is the UFO connected to all dogs here in Eppington and how did you escape from their hypnotic grip, Mr. Jeffreys?” I asked.

Jeffreys looked at Hugo and smiled. “It’s because of Hugo here,” he revealed. “He saved me.”

“I couldn’t bear to see him the way that he was,” Hugo chimed in. “To me, he wasn’t my master or my friend anymore and having control over him that I never asked for didn’t sit well with me. I wanted the old him back and I opted to take the risk.”

I was amazed at how well he spoke—actually, by how well they all spoke, even Dillinger.

“So, I did what I knew I could to relieve him of the so-called spell,” Hugo continued.

“And how did you do that?” Sam asked, eagerly.

“I’m not quite sure, to be honest. I just know I started to reflect on all the good times we had since he first brought me into his home and how much I loved him and he loved me. Instinctively, I inwardly relinquished my powers and professed that Mark here was my master. That’s simply what I did—all it took.”

“Yes, he told me the same thing,” Jeffreys affirmed. “All I knew was that I was back to myself, but Hugo and I both had to continue the act if we were going to be safe.”

“Interesting…” Sam said.

“So, that means the power to release everyone is in the hands of their pet dogs?” I asked.

“You’re absolutely right!” Hugo responded.

“What about people who don’t have dogs?” Sam noted.

“The leader has the power to relinquish that hold on them,” Hugo answered.

Sam shook her head disappointingly “I guess getting my peeps released is hopeless since the leader’s not about to do them any favors, huh?”

There was a brief lull in the conversation, then Jeffreys said, “I wouldn’t be too sure about that just yet.”

I thought of our dog, Dillinger, and how he had the power to release my family and didn’t. I couldn’t fathom what on earth had made him turn on us like that and I felt betrayed. How he could do this befuddled me.

“Do you remember how it was when you were dazed?” I asked Jeffreys; my curiosity piqued.

“I do.” He nodded. “I heard things, but it took a while before they registered and most times, I don’t think they ever did. Although I knew something was terribly wrong and felt helpless, I was unable to express myself in any way. There was a numbness inside—an emptiness I can’t quite explain and I just couldn’t break out of it no matter how hard I tried.”

I lowered my head momentarily, as I imagined my parents, Carl and Rob’s and Sam’s family experiencing the same thing.

“You’re in a shell and sort of pushed down near the bottom,” Jeffreys continued. “Guess that’s the best way to explain it.”

I looked at both Jeffreys and Hugo. “They’ve got my family and I’m gonna do whatever it takes to rescue them. When will you know where they are?”

Jeffreys uncrossed his legs and leaned forward in his chair. “Hugo gets intel about all the latest developments; one of the generals