by R. Scott Faucett

Walking along a typical suburban neighborhood street was a man and his three year old golden retriever. From a distance, he looks like any other middle aged white man, slightly overweight, receding hair line. However when you get closer, this man, Sam Franklin, doesn't look like an ordinary man. His facial features revealed he was a man carrying a heavy burden. His eyes, although blue, are dark and sunken. He doesn't speak very often and smiles even less. Those who know him all agree he is a very quiet person. But even they don't really know him. For they didn't know, at one time, this man had a second career. He was a government assassin.

Over the years, as with most men, appearance had begun to slowly change. From a young muscular athletic type, ready to take on the world, to middle aged with a significant middle. Along with the significant amount of weight he had gained, his hairline had also receded. He found being middle aged and overweight wasn't a good combination. His doctor told him he had to lose the weight and quit smoking if he wanted to live a long life. Little did the doctor know this life style change could also shorten his life. Although the cold war was over, a large number of people and organizations were still looking for him. Sam considered this for several weeks. In the end, he decided to take the doctors advise.

After six months of exercising and dieting, Sam was about three-quarters towards his weight goal. One evening he was on his daily walk with Max, the family dog. Winter was approaching and Sam was dressed in long johns, sweats and a heavy coat. They were walking down the street in a neighborhood next to their's, when Sam smelled something unusual. Max noticed too. He normally kept his nose close to the ground to catch scents of the other neighborhood dogs, but now he had his head up and was sniffing hard in the direction they were heading.

"Let's go, Max." said Sam as they sped up the pace. They reached the end of the block and turned the corner when they spotted what had caught their attention.

One of the houses was on fire. It was a light brown, wood-framed ranch. It was fairly well kept, with nice landscaping and fairly new siding, at least what hadn't been burned up to this point. The fire department hadn't shown up yet, so Sam started to move towards the house next door that had a car in the drive, an indication someone would be home. Before he and Max had taken a few steps, they both heard a scream coming from the house. Sam moved back to the other side of the sidewalk next to a tree where he looped Max's leash to keep him out of danger.

"Max. Sit. Stay. I'll be right back." Sam said. Having gone through a couple of training classes and being an obedient breed, Max sat right down and didn't move.

Sam moved towards the house and took a quick assessment. The windows next to the front door had already been broken and flames were lapping up towards the roof. This must be where the fire started, because the bedroom area still looked OK. Sam headed towards the end bedroom window and tried to open it. It was locked so he used his gloved hand, smashed a pane and unlocked the window. He grabbed the middle of the frame, pulled the rest of the window and the upper sash out on to the ground. He climbed in and crouched down on the floor to assess his surroundings and avoid the smoke. This was a kids room and was vacant. There was no fire in this room, but the smoke was fairly heavy. He heard another scream, it was coming from the next room.

Sam crawled over to the door, pulled off a glove, and put his hand on it to feel for heat. The other side of the door must have been on fire because Sam's hand was burned after only a second of contact. He listened for voices to determined where they were located. They were apparently in the next room on the right. he moved down the wall and listened again. They were in there. Looking to make sure there wasn't an electric outlet where he was planning to break through, Sam first kicked a hole in the wall, then put his shoulder into it to make the hole wider. Next he focused a kick on a wood stud to make a large enough opening to get through to the next room. The drywall on the other side was torn up from his kick, but didn't seem to have broken through. Sam surmised there must be a dresser or something else large against that side of the wall. He listened again and heard a man yelling, so he quickly pulled the bottom of the stud away from the wall. He figured someone was in trouble so his entrance into the other room was going to need to be abrupt. He moved back a couple of feet and slammed his body against the wall board and the object in the next room.

He definitely caught them by surprise. The woman, also in the room, screamed and the man finally closed his mouth for least a moment. Holly Lockard was about 25 years old, and her husband, Andy, was close to thirty. Sam could tell Andy's abuse had been long term and extensive, because she was cowering in the corner. She also was holding on to a little girl, her daughter. Sam noticed Andy out of the corner of his eye. He began to move. As Andy lunged to tackle Sam, he moved easily out of the way and Andy slammed into the wall next to the hole Sam had just made. Sam grabbed Andy and shoved him through the hole into the next room. He then turned his attention to the woman and the little girl.

She was about six years old and was sobbing. Sam moved closer to them and said, "It's OK, I won't hurt you. We need to get out of here now."

"Take Laurie first." Holly said as she started to push the girl toward Sam.

"Mommy, I want to stay with you." Laurie said.

"Laurie, Mommy will be right behind us. Move over towards the hole in the wall so I can find you when I get back. Don't go near the door the fire is in the hallway." said Sam as he pulled her towards the hole."

By the time Sam got Laurie through the door, Andy had moved towards the open window and had begun to climb out. He was either drunk, or suffering from smoke inhalation because when he leaned out he fell to the ground. Sam didn't want to leave Laurie alone with Andy being out there, but he didn't want to leave Holly for very much longer either. So when he got to the window, he climbed out and ran over to where Max was tied up. By now, a small crowd had shown up

"Laurie, this is my dog Max. If you stay next to him, no one will harm you. Here hold on to his leash and don't leave him." Sam said as he untied the leash and handed it to Laurie.

"OK" said Laurie.

"Max, guard Laurie, You take good care of her, I'll be right back." Sam said to Max as he turned to leave.

Max would actually take care of anyone that would pet him and Laurie was more than willing to do that. Andy didn't have a chance now, Laurie was now part of the pack as far as Max was concerned. No one would harm her as long as she was near him.

Just to make sure, as Sam was heading back to the window, he hit Andy in the face as he was beginning to get off his knees. Sam climbed back into the house and moved back towards the hole where he told Holly to stay. She had climbed through the hole and collapsed on the floor. Sam picked her up and moved back towards the window.

When he got to the window, he yelled to a man on the sidewalk, "Please, come over here and help me with this lady."

The man ran up to the window and took her from him. Sam climbed out behind them and retrieved Holly and ran over towards Max and Laurie.

"Mommy, Mommy!" Laurie yelled.

Sam leaned over and started mouth to mouth resuscitation. After a couple of breaths Holly began to cough. Now that they were out of the smoke filled house, Sam finally noticed Holly's face. She had been the recipient of a terrible beating. The whole right side of her face was red and swollen, so much so her right eye was shut. The way her left arm bent Sam could tell it was probably broken. Even in all that pain, Holly's motherly instincts made her sit up. She yelled. "Brian! Where's Brian?"

"Who's Brian?" Sam said to both Holly and Laurie, as he held on to Holly to keep her from getting up.

Laurie responded first. "Brian's my little brother."

"Is he still in the house?" asked Sam.

"Yes, mommy hid him in the closet, when Daddy started yelling. She told him not to move until she came and got him."

At this point Laurie was more coherent than her mother, so Sam kept looking at her. "Where's the closet?" Sam said.

"It's in the room we were in."

"Was the closet over where you were, or on the other side of the room?"

"My side." Laurie said.

"Take care of your Mom. Don't let her leave."

Sam again turned to Max, "Guard them both."

As Sam ran back to the window, he didn't notice Andy wasn't laying where Sam last saw him. Sam climbed back in the window and moved towards the hole.

Andy woke up and moved off into the crowd away from the house. He was watching Sam talk to Holly and Laurie before he ran back to the window. After Sam was out of sight, he stormed towards Holly. He was about five feet from them when he saw Max. This friendly Golden Retriever was suddenly not so friendly. At first there was a low deep growl, then a single bark that was loud enough to startle everyone in the crowd. Although Laurie was still holding on to Max, he had moved so he was between the two girls and the threat, Andy. Andy tried to look nonchalant about the whole thing, but everyone there knew exactly who the dog was staring down. Andy looked back a second time, Max growled again and stepped forward. At that point, Andy began to walk away. Holly's neighbors had known there was trouble in their household, some had even called the police before, however, none had seen the effects from one of Andy's beatings. All they could do was to stare at the three of them in total shock.

Meanwhile, Sam had made his was back through the hole and over to where he first saw Laurie. The smoke was thicker now so Sam slid his way along the wall. When he got there he opened the closet door and said "Brian? Brian are you in here?"

Nothing. Sam then said "Brian, your mom sent me in here for you. I want to get you to safety." No one said how old Brian was, except that he was younger than Laurie. The smoke was building up even faster and the room was getting hotter. Sam moved on into the closet and began to feel around for the boy. His hand felt hair. He felt around and found a face, then shoulders. Sam pulled the boy towards him and when they were face to face he looked at him. He was still conscious and now crying.

"Let's get out of here. Your mom's outside and very worried about you."

Sam pulled off the scarf he was wearing and wrapped it around the boy's face. "OK, were gonna slide right on outside."

Sam looked through the hole before lifting Brian up and through it. The smoke was drafting towards the open window and he could see flames lapping around the top crack of the door. Maybe minutes, hopefully minutes, Sam thought. He lifted Brian through the hole and slid through himself. He began to crawl to the window, cradling Brian in one arm. He leaned out the window and handed the boy to the same man who had helped with Holly. Sam then climbed out the window, took Brian, while thanking the man, and ran over to the rest of the family.

He put Brian into his mother's arms and turned to see why Max was growling. At that point, Andy got brave. He probably thought Sam would restrain the dog and intimidate Sam. He walked up to Sam, Max immediately moved back to the subservient role behind Sam, but still growling.

"Thanks for being the hero. You can go now." Andy said to Sam as if he was talking to the dog rather than the man.

"I appreciate your gratitude." Sam said sarcastically. "But I think I'll wait for the police to show up so they can take my statement and arrest you for assault."

Instantly, Andy's expression changed. From friendly, yet assertive, to blind rage. Probably the same look Holly had seen too many times in the past. Most people wouldn't have seen the clinched right fist coming up at Sam's face, but Sam did. Sam struck faster. Rather than block the punch, he moved to his left, grabbed Andy by the shoulder, and slammed his knee into Andy's face as he pulled his shoulders down. The only bad thing was Sam's knee was padded because of the extra clothes he was wearing due to the weather. Andy probably wouldn't even get a black eye, but he was unconscious again.

A couple of the firemen were moving around the crowd to find the owners of the house. Sam quickly walked back over to where Holly was sitting on the ground holding her two children. He crouched down and with his left hand he gently pulled her face up so he could look her in the eyes. "The police will be here soon. I want you to press charges and put this guy away. You don't have put up with this. I'll be keeping track of what's going on. If you don't, I'll be back to find out why and then take care of the situation, personally. She could tell by Sam's expression, he meant permanently too.

"Do you have someone you can stay with?" Sam continued.

"Yes. My sister lives in Evanston." Holly said.

"Get the police to call her to come get you. Remember I'll be close by." Sam said as he started to turn to Laurie.

"Wait. Who are you?" Holly asked.

"Someone who doesn't think anyone should have to live like this." Sam replied.

He then turned to Laurie and said, "You're a very brave little girl. Take care of your mother and little brother. Maybe you'll see Max and I again on one of our walks, but we need to go now."

Laurie gave Max's leash back to Sam, leaned forward and hugged Sam. When she let go, Sam reached up and wiped away one of her tears. He then stood up and put Max on a heal and headed back down the street towards their house. On the way home Sam thought about going back and giving a statement to the police and making sure Andy got arrested. But publicity wouldn't be a good idea right now. If he was identified, he'd have to leave town, change identities, the whole works. He liked his new life and if he left, no one would be there to watch over Holly and her family.

After he got home he changed his clothes and threw them in the wash to try to get the smoke smell out. He also started a fire in the fireplace. That night he and his wife, Kathy, were watching the television when the story of the fire came on the late news. One of the bystanders, talked about a guy pulling the family out of the burning house. Another spoke about a guy knocking out the husband when he tried to attack the woman. A third spoke of a dog protecting the little girl and her mother. The police wanted the man to come forward so the town can thank him.

Kathy turned to Sam and said, "Isn't that house over near the high school?"

"I don't know." Sam replied.

"Well I think its time for bed." Kathy said. Which was the cue for Max to get his late night treat. Max jumped up, ran over to the kitchen door and waited for her.

"I think I'll stay up for a while. Sleep good. I love you." said Sam.

"I love you to." Kathy replied as she left the kitchen on her way to the bedroom.

Sam got up, turned off the television and turned on some music. He sat back down in his easy chair and began to think about the events of the day. For the first time in his life he actually saved a life rather than taken one. A long time ago, the government had recruited him for his natural talent to kill, which they witnessed one night when he was just sixteen years old. For they, unlike Sam, thought he is one of the few people who can kill without remorse.

Actually it did bother him. Others in the business found ways to vent, but Sam kept it bottled up inside. So much so, he quit twice. Even though the government had always said he was helping by taking out the bad guys, this time he actually felt like he had really helped someone. This was the first time the good guys had a face, one battered, one too young to really know what was happening, and one strong little girl who, Sam hoped, would be able to forget what she had to live through for the first six years of her life. The tears that were streaming down Sam's face weren't for himself because he finally felt like he had really done something for someone else. They were for a family who would soon become fatherless because Andy would get out and Sam would put an end to his abuse, forever. Also because this family, like a lot of others, shouldn't have to live through this kind of terror.

When Sam woke up the music had stopped and Max was licking the salty residue of the tears from his face. "OK, boy. Let's go to bed."

(c) 1997 R. Scott Faucett - All Rights Reserved