Where Mercy Is Shown, Mercy Is Given - Duane Dog Chapman [44]
As we spent more time together, our families began to bond too. His stepson, Josh, used to come spend a couple of weeks every summer with my family in Denver. Josh became another sibling to Duane Lee and Leland, and my boys tortured him like the kid brother he had become. They’d spray shaving cream on him late at night after he fell asleep or place a little doll under his arm and take a picture. They teased each other all the time, but it was all in good adolescent fun.
Josh’s background was the complete opposite of my boys’. He grew up in the lap of luxury, surrounded by mansions, maids, and fancy cars. Our home was rather modest, with lots of rules. We also required all of our kids to do their chores. When Josh first came to stay with us he had no idea he’d have responsibilities to attend to, but he didn’t seem to mind pitching in.
Josh would believe any story you’d tell him, so I’d make up these incredible tales about flying and other stuff, fairy tales. He soaked in every word like I was preaching the gospel. There were lots of nights when the boys and I would camp out in the backyard. Sometimes we’d pitch a tent, while other times we’d hang out in an old trailer I got from one of my fugitives. What was considered normal for us was definitely “roughing it” for Josh. It didn’t take long for him to adapt to his new surroundings though. In fact, I think he began to like how different our lifestyle was from his.
As a boy, Josh spent endless days and nights traveling with Tony and his mom. He was constantly on the move. And while I suppose he had opportunities to see places most kids his age can only read about, I got the distinct sense that he liked being stationary when he stayed with us.
He spent a lot of his time working in our office answering phones and filling out bond applications. Josh quickly became completely obsessed with going on an actual bounty hunt with me. He was fascinated by the adventure of tracking down a fugitive. To be honest, what thirteen-year-old boy wouldn’t love the chance to capture a bad guy and play cops and robbers for real?
In order to be on my team, Josh was going to have to learn the basics of the trade. I explained that hunting a fugitive was no different from anything else in life you really want. When a woman hunts for the perfect wedding dress, she knows exactly what she’s looking for. She knows what it looks like, where it is made, what style flatters her, and how it will ultimately come together when she walks down the aisle. I told Josh it’s the exactly the same when you track down a human being. You have to know their weaknesses, who made them the way they are, who they love, who their enemies are, and where they hang out. You want to become their friend as naturally as possible. But you can’t get too close to the fire. That’s why I have no friends who are or were ever fugitives. Convicts? For sure. Fugitives, never.
The big day finally came. When I told Josh he’d be riding with me, he nearly jumped out of his skin with excitement. He was with me every step of the way while we chased a fugitive named Merrill. When I finally captured the guy, I cuffed him and put him in the backseat of my car.
“Slide in next to him, Josh,” I said. I could see he was a little confused about the direction I was giving him. That’s when I turned to Merrill and said, “I know you can see this kid sitting next you.