Tom Kropp’s novels all started as short stories he wrote that were published in well-known magazines such as Chiron Review, Churches Children and Daddies, Down in the Dirt, Horror Zine, Short-Story Me, Flash Phantoms, Listening Eye, Evening Street Review, Freedom Fiction, Dark Harbor, Blood Moon Rising, Phantomania, J Journal, Lowlife Lit, Conceit, Muscle and Fitness, Outdoor Life and many other magazines. You can read more of his writings at . Tom Kropp's books are currently free at Google Plays Books in audiobooks and eBooks.

     Foxy’s Stolen Ride

     By Tom Kropp

            “Keep it running and ready!” Jake ordered his brother, Danny.

            “Got it! Go!” Danny barked back.

            Jake got out of the car. Both Danny and he were tall, lean and clean-looking young men with matching blonde hair and blue eyes wearing nice clothes. Jake guided his gorgeous girlfriend, Kathy ahead of him as they rounded the building bend to enter the jewelry store around the corner. Kathy shook her long dark hair and batted her big brown eyes at the guard inside while revealing more leg and cleavage in her thigh high dress and deep slit neckline plunging between her big breasts. The middle aged, white, gargantuan guard gawked at her goods and opened the door for the cute couple. Only a few folks were scattered inside. Jake the thug slugged the guard’s mug with a plug of his gun butt. The sledge to the head bowled the big boy over. Jake kneeled to nab the guard’s gun as blood welled from his wounded, slit skull. The guard lay dazed from that knock to his noggin

            “No one move!” Jake shouted while waving his weapons. Everyone froze in fright at the sight of his brisling barrels.

            “Now everyone get face down slowly with arms spread! Except you!” Jake jutted his guns at the owner behind the counter.

            The panicked couple prostrated themselves under his pointing, pilfered pair of pistols.

            “Open that safe I the floor fast or I’ll nail your knee with a bullet to start.” Jake leveled the barrel low.

            The elderly owner believed the belligerent brute and crouched down, sliding fake floor tiles aside and spun the correct combination. Jake tossed the nylon bag down. The owner started stuffing the fat cash and diamonds in the sack. Jake’s distraction dealing with the stealing made an off duty cop on the floor risk pulling his pistol from an ankle holster. He swung the gun at Jake. Jake saw that and wheeled his weapon the cop’s way. Jake’s pistol potently popped nonstop, propelling a passel of projectiles. The bedlam battery of bullets bopped the cop’s body and lambasted his leg. The cop’s return rounds rabbeted in near misses, except one shot that tacked and trounced Jake’s torso low. The cop was clocked by Jake’s shots and dropped his gun. Jake grabbed the heist bag and hurdled for the door. What he witnessed outside amazed him.

***

Foxy spotted the car. The midsize Fox colored, mutt ran at her car, which had been stolen the other day. Foxy focused her fury on Danny behind the wheel. How dare some stranger ride Foxy’s car!

            “Foxy! No!” Brunette, svelte shaped, lovely little Lily screamed after the dashing dog.

            Foxy pounced with predatory power. She nimbly whipped through the open window and buried fierce fangs in Danny’s face. He screamed as she chomped his cheek and ripped his skin. He furiously failed at the unexpected attack and jumped out of the stolen car cursing and grabbing his chewed open cheek. Foxy possessively stood on her car seat, savagely snarling in her car. He realized he’d left his pistol on the floor of the vehicle.

            “Move! Get out!” Danny shouted while waving his arms. He risked reaching closer. Foxy nipped his knuckles and he retreated.

            Jake burst from the building to encounter Foxy’s invasion of their stolen escape car.

            “She’s vicious!” Danny shouted, pointing at the monstrous little mutt in the driver’s seat.

            “Move you little bitch!” Jake shouted, opening the door and pointing his purloined pistol at the crazy critter, ready to shoot her.

            Foxy was a blur of fur and fanged fury erupting over to nip into Jake’s mitt. He shouted and jumped back, trying to club the gun on her. Adroitly, with smooth celerity and amazing agility, Foxy switched spots, chomping on his ass cheek. Jake twirled with the clout that almost knocked Foxy out as she hung from his ass.

        Jake was so focused on Foxy he didn’t see the tall, good-looking, musclebound man named Mike that was a furloughed Army Ranger rush and punch at Jake’s flank. Mike’s fists professionally pumped to thump the nape of Jake’s neck twice. Both blows laid Jake low as the Ranger pilfered both pistols from Jake. Danny and Kathy fled the scene on foot. Kathy’s wig fell off in flight. Later it would be revealed all three robbers wore wigs and slight disguises. All three would be caught and convicted. The cop that was shot inside survived just fine. Mike kept Jake covered waiting for the cos to come.

            “Foxy!” Lily exclaimed excitedly. “You found the car!”

            Foxy yapped in affirmation, wiggling excitedly in her car seat, hoping for a ride. She had a sinister smile of terrible teeth revealed. She yapped happily.

            “It’s your car?” Mike asked Lily.

            “Yes. It was stolen yesterday two blocks away. I guess Foxy spotted it. She loves going for rides and is very territorial of this car. Crazy dog!” Lily laughed.

            “She bit both guys. Do you think she’d do that again?” Mike smiled.

            “Do it again?” Jack yelled from face down on the ground.” I am not letting that little bitch bite me again! I’ll kick her!” Jack proceeded to curse and issue threats.

          Foxy yapped back at him confidently from her car. Mike and Lily laughed and soon the police were pulling up on the crime scene.