Reckless Past

Chapter 3: Dog Bite

Eddie gets out of his car with a sigh. Ian couldn't make it to work today so he's by himself. Of course the one-day Ian isn't here he gets called for a dog bite of all things. There is an ambulance outside of the house and he shakes his head, assuming someone overreacted to the situation.

A frazzled woman is talking to another officer and Eddie wonders why he's even here right now. The woman can't seem to calm down as she tries to explain what happened. He watches her for a second then spots another officer standing off to the side. He walks over to the man and asks, "What's the story?"

"Apparently the one neighbor has a dog that's caused problems before. I've gotten called over here at least on one other occasion. It's a good-sized dog, looks like a shepherd mix. This street has a few little kids on it. What I've heard is that a couple of kids were outside playing tag and the dog got out. The dog went after the one kid, but the other one tackled the dog. I guess it pissed to dog off more cause he chomped down pretty good on the kid's arm."

"Chomped down hard enough to need an ambulance?"

"It was pretty good. I wouldn't be surprised if the little kid needs to get a few stitches."

"Seriously?"Eddie raises an eyebrow.

"Yeah, you gotta check it out."

"I will. Where's the dog?"

"The owner has it in the yard. The owner is saying the kids provoked the dog. But the dog has bit someone before so I don't think it's the kids' fault."

"Who's your partner talking to?"

"The kid's aunt. She was the one watching him. She saw it happen, shook her up."

"Anyone talk to the kid?"

"Not yet."

"Are both kids together?"

"No, the one that got bit is in the ambulance though."

"Then I'm headed that way."

Eddie is curious about how bad the bite actually is. He walks over to the ambulance and turns the corner so he can see into the back of it. A small boy is sitting next to a female paramedic. The paramedic is checking out the boy's arm and there is bloody gauze sitting around. The little boy is staring at his arm, watching everything the paramedic is doing.

"Hey there tiger," Eddie says and the little boy looks up at him, "Can I talk to you?"

"Sure," the kid's voice is soft and calm.

Eddie steps into the ambulance and sits next to the boy. He glances over at the kid's arm. There are deep teeth marks and his arm is already bruising. Just from taking a quick look he can tell that some stitches are going to be needed.

"How's your arm feel?"

"Okay."

"I'm gonna numb up your arm, okay kiddo?" the paramedic asks, she smiles at the kid, trying to reassure him.

"How?"

"Just a shot or two, okay?"

"Oh, okay," he watches as she prepares the syringe and puts a couple of shots into his arm. He sucks in a sharp breath and closes his eyes tightly.

"Good job tiger," Eddie says to him, "So what happened outside before you got bit?"

"I was playing with Dylan. We were playing tag. I was it and I was chasing him," he pauses when he sees the paramedic get ready to stitch up his arm.

"It won't hurt, swear," Eddie says when he sees the little boy begin to freak out. The deep voice soothes the child and he lets out a shaky breath.