True Blue K-9 Unit: Brooklyn Christmas

by Laura Scott

  He nodded. “Sorry to hear that. Find anything?”

  “Not much.” She let out a sigh and began to scroll through her various video feeds. “I was able to find an image of a man in black leaving the restaurant from the back door roughly six minutes before my salad was set in front of me. The quality of the camera is lousy, though. I’ve been playing with it to sharpen the image but without much success.”

  He leaned over to see the figure she indicated. The camera was awful, and the guy on the screen kept his head down. “Doubt we’d get a good look at his face, even if the image were clear.”

  “I know. And he goes two blocks, then disappears from view. I haven’t been able to pick him up, yet.”

  “I’ll question the staff again. Someone must have seen him.” He lightly rested his hand on her slim shoulder. “Hang in there. We have another potential lead. What if this guy has been watching you come and go from either the fast-food restaurant, coffee shop or drugstore? It’s clear he’s been following you.”

  Eden’s eyes widened as the realization sank deep. Within seconds she was pulling up the closest camera footage.

  They watched in silence as various people went in and out of the fast-food restaurant next to the K-9 Unit. Then a familiar man dressed in black arrived. She hit the pause button. “There! That’s him.”

  “Yeah, it sure is.” He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and gave her a quick hug. “Now that we know he’s watching the front of the precinct, we’ll use the rear exit.”

  “Yeah, but I want to record him following me first.” She played with the controls, and then ran snippets of the video feed, saving them to another location. It wasn’t easy to concentrate with her warm, spicy scent teasing his senses.

  “I have him leaving the fast-food restaurant just ten seconds after we walked toward the 646,” Eden said with satisfaction. “I can track him following me to the diner and to the subway the evening before. This will be key evidence when we finally get him.”

  “Trust me, we won’t stop until we have him behind bars.” Max spoke with confidence.

  “I know.” She smiled when Sam pressed his nose against her.

  The phone on her workstation rang, and she hit the speaker button so Max could hear, too. “Chang,” she answered.

  “Eden, it’s Darcy from the crime lab. I just wanted to let you know we did not find any fingerprints on the snow globe or the package.”

  “Darcy, this is Max Santelli. What about the bomb itself?”

  “We’re still working on that with the bomb squad. They believe the device was armed to detonate from a remote trigger.”

  There was a long moment of silence before Eden spoke. “Thanks, Darcy.” She disconnected from the call, and her shoulders slumped with dejection. “Back to grainy images of our perp.”

  “We’ll get him. But right now, you need to take a break.”

  She nodded, pushed back her chair and stood. When she swayed a bit, he lightly grasped her shoulders. “Whoa, are you all right?”

  “Fine.” Her voice was soft, breathless.

  “Eden.” He drew her slowly into a warm embrace. “I’m here for you.”

  “I appreciate that, Max.” Rather than pulling away, she tipped her head back to gaze up at him. For long moments neither of them spoke, the air shimmering with awareness.

  The urge to kiss her was incredibly strong. He forced himself to release her, his mind whirling.

  The close call struck deep. In the year since losing Jessica, he’d never wanted to kiss a woman the way he longed to with Eden.

  And he had no idea what to do about that.

  FIVE

  Eden leaned against her workstation, hoping her innate reaction to being held in Max’s embrace wasn’t written in bold letters on her forehead.

  They’d almost kissed. Almost being the operative word.

  She licked suddenly dry lips. Why on earth was she so keenly aware of Max on a personal level? They were colleagues, forced to work together because she’d become a target.

  She needed to keep her head in the game. To stay focused.

  Kissing Max Santelli was not allowed.

  “How long are you planning to work tonight?”

  She glanced up at Max, his gaze difficult to read. “Probably not much longer. I’m worried this nagging headache will cause me to miss something.” She didn’t add the issue of her blurry vision. It wasn’t related to the shot of epinephrine, but from staring at the computer screen.

  “Yeah, I’m feeling a little fried myself. Are you interested in stopping to pick up something to eat on the way home? Pizza sounds good right about now.”

  Home? Her dry mouth intensified. Logic dictated Max was only trying to protect her, but did he really need to sleep on her sofa for a second night?

  And why did she secretly want him to?

  “If you don’t like pizza, we can get something else,” Max said, misinterpreting her silence.

  “Pizza is great. But you don’t need to stay overnight again. I’m sure I’ll be safe enough.”

  His blue eyes bored into hers for a long moment before he shrugged. “That’s fine, but since we both have to eat, let’s pick up something once we get to Sunset Park.”

  “Sounds good.” Eden packed her personal laptop in its case and slung the strap crossways across her torso before pulling her coat on.

  “Why do you haul your personal laptop back and forth each day?” Max asked.

  She flushed and ducked her chin. “Normally I go online over my lunch break, you know, to check in with the Geek Quad, that kind of thing. I also practice some technical things.”

  He lifted a brow as he clipped a leash to Sam’s collar. “Like hacking?”

  “Yes, exactly like that. We don’t just do gaming. We create security systems for each other and practice hacking through them. I figure it’s better for me to do that on my own time and on my own equipment, just in case something goes wrong.”

  “Makes sense. Come, Sam,” Max said, giving his K-9 partner a hand signal. The Rottweiler moved to his side.

  Eden decided not to mention the fact that having lunch at the 646 with Max was the closest thing she’d had to a date since college. And it hadn’t been a date, more of a coworker bonding experience. Especially if you consider how Max was forced to jab her with epinephrine to save her life.

  He led the way down to the main level, then out through the exit located in the back side of the building. Hunching her shoulders against the blast of cold air, she accompanied him on a circuitous route to the subway. Sam’s head swiveled around, his nose in the air as he took in the various scents surrounding them.

  “He’s a good K-9 cop,” she said, as they approached a different subway entrance than the one she’d used the night before. “I’m impressed with his ability to find bombs.”

  “The best partner I’ve ever had,” Max agreed, bending over to give Sam a quick rub. “Being assigned to the subway is sometimes more mundane work than I’d like, but still important. Especially when we get bomb threats.”

  “I can only imagine.” She was struck by the fact that Max, like her father, was the one who would run toward danger when most everyone else ran in the opposite direction.

  Her father had died of cancer, but she’d heard about the occasional close call he’d experienced in the line of duty. The way Max was constantly on alert, sweeping his gaze over the area in an attempt to find the man dressed in black, was proof that he’d do anything necessary to keep her and other innocent victims safe.

  Just like her father.

  It was honorable work and she was glad to be a part of it. But being in danger gave her a different perspective. The danger her father had faced and the cops she worked with confronted every day was very real. God obviously had a plan and it wasn’t her place to question Him. But it wouldn’t hurt to
protect her heart from becoming too vulnerable.

  “I know Sal’s is a favorite pizzeria, but there’s another place by the name of Rodolfo’s Pizzeria, located a few blocks from my building.” Max glanced at her. “Do you know it?”

  “Yes, I’ve stopped there a couple of times. Works for me.”

  “Great.” The subway doors opened, and passengers streamed out, giving Sam a wide berth. The K-9’s vest labeled him as a K-9 cop, but he was a big and intimidating animal.

  It was standing room only at this hour and she tried not to allow Max’s sandalwood scent to distract her.

  “Do you have other tech-savvy friends?”

  She lifted a brow. “I had some people I was friendly with during college but haven’t kept in touch over the past six years. Why?”

  “Just curious. I still think that the way this guy stays out of camera range is suspicious.” He was silent for a moment, then asked, “When are you planning another Geek Quad get-together?”

  “Next week—Monday, I believe. It’s more of a holiday party than a gaming session.”

  “You don’t mind if I tag along?”

  Max’s question was spoken like a statement rather than a question. While she didn’t think she was in danger from any of her friends, she could secretly admit that she didn’t relish the thought of traveling across town alone. “I don’t mind, but the guys will badger you with questions. Showing up together will also make them read more into our relationship than there is.”

  “I don’t mind.” Max’s blue eyes clung to hers. She tightened her grip on the pole, feeling as if she might drown in their azure depths.

  There was nothing she could say to that, so she left it alone.

  They got off before their regular stop in order to pick up a pizza from Rodolfo’s. As they stood in line at the counter, she realized Max had done this on purpose to throw off the perp. Taken them to a different subway station to catch the train and getting off at a different location than she normally used. All in the guise of getting pizza.

  No point in complaining. Besides, she felt safe with Max and Sam at her side.

  Max insisted on carrying the pizza as they walked the few blocks to her apartment. He chose a path that brought them up along the back of the building rather than the front.

  She glanced fugitively over her shoulder as she used her key to open the main door. Hopefully, if the guy in black was lurking around outside, he’d take off after seeing her with Max and Sam.

  When she opened her apartment door, she heard Charlie meowing loudly. Distressed at how long she’d been gone coupled with showing up once again with Sam, no doubt.

  “Poor kitty,” she said, as Max placed the pizza box on the table. “He’s not sure what to make of this.”

  “Something tells me that cat can hold his own.” Max’s wry tone made her smile.

  The cat howled again and raced past them from a hiding spot behind the sofa.

  Sam let out a series of sharp barks.

  “Quiet,” Max said sternly.

  The baleful expression Sam sent over his shoulder to Max made her laugh for the first time in what seemed like forever. As if the K-9 understood exactly what was going on.

  And wasn’t at all happy about it.

  They sat down to eat. She murmured a quick prayer before digging in. The pizza had cooled off during their short walk. Smelling the spicy tomato and pepperoni made her mouth water and her stomach growl with anticipation.

  Max didn’t say much as they devoured the pie. When his phone rang, he pulled it from his pocket and frowned at the number on the screen. “Sarge? What’s up?”

  She couldn’t hear their boss’s side of the conversation, but the icy look in Max’s eyes was not reassuring.

  “Okay, thanks. I’ll let Eden know and head over there ASAP.” He disconnected from the call and stood.

  “Let me know what?”

  Max’s expression was grim. “There was a stabbing attack on the subway less than an hour ago. Victim is a Chinese-American female.”

  Chinese-American? Like her? “You think this is some sort of copycat attack?”

  “I’m not sure what to think. Could be completely unrelated, but the coincidence of being stabbed with a knife is something we don’t dare ignore.”

  A chill rippled down her back. “A knife? She was attacked by a man with a knife?”

  “I’m afraid so. And the attack happened a few minutes after the train left the Bay Ridge station.” Max looked apologetic. “I have to go, but I want you to stay here with the door locked, okay?”

  Her throat was so tight she couldn’t speak. She nodded.

  “Sam, Come.” Max bent over to clip the K-9’s leash to his collar. As they made their way to her door, she forced herself to follow.

  Max opened the apartment door, then glanced at her. “I’ll call you when I find out something more.”

  “Okay.” She forced the word past her constricted vocal cords. When he and Sam headed out, she closed the door and shot the dead bolt home.

  Another knife attack on the subway, with a victim of Chinese heritage.

  She leaned weakly against the door. A coincidence or a pattern of deviant behavior?

  Was it possible the attack with the knife wasn’t related to the snow-globe bomb? She couldn’t imagine one person trying to harm her, much less two of them.

  Unfortunately, this nightmare was all too real.

  * * *

  Leaving Eden alone was the most difficult thing he’d done since losing Jessica. Jogging to the subway station, he pulled out his phone to call Gavin.

  He’d been tempted to leave Sam with her as added protection, but knew that wouldn’t fly with his boss. So he decided to request the next best thing. “Someone needs to watch Eden while I’m gone.”

  “I’ve already asked Henry Roarke and his K-9, Cody, to swing by her apartment.” Gavin paused, then asked, “What’s your ETA?”

  “I’m getting a rideshare now, should arrive at the Bay Ridge stop in ten to fifteen minutes.” Max relaxed a bit, knowing Henry and Cody, his bomb-sniffing beagle, were on their way. He trusted Henry to keep watch over Eden.

  Henry Roarke was engaged to Olivia Vance, his former nemesis from the Office of Internal Affairs. Some of the single guys on the force had mentioned how pretty Eden was and he wondered if she was interested in any of them. Not that it should matter to him one way or the other. Eden could date whomever she wanted. He wasn’t interested in a relationship.

  Despite the fact that he’d almost kissed her senseless.

  When he arrived at the Bay Ridge stop, he took the stairs up to street level two at a time. The victim was seated in the back of a police cruiser, her long dark hair partially covering her face.

  He stopped short when he saw that the woman wore a red winter coat. It wasn’t exactly like Eden’s, but similar.

  Close enough to have confused the attacker into believing the woman was Eden?

  Was this attack a case of mistaken identity?

  “Max.” Gavin nodded at him with a grim expression. “You can see why I needed you here.”

  “Yeah.” Most cops didn’t believe in coincidences and he was one of them. He kept his voice low so the victim couldn’t overhear. “The question is, did he attack her by mistake? Or on purpose because Eden thwarted his attempt to follow her?”

  “Neither scenario is a good one,” Gavin admitted. “Her name is Patti Wang, and she works in real estate. See what you can glean from her. She isn’t hurt badly. The EMTs bandaged the shallow wound on her arm, but she’s shaken up by the attack.”

  Who wouldn’t be? Max nodded, then opened the door of the cruiser and crouched down so he wouldn’t look so intimidating. “Sam, Sit.”

  His K-9 partner sat.

  “Hi, Ms. Wang, I’m Officer Max Santelli, and this is my
partner, Sam.” He smiled in a way that he hoped was reassuring. “I know you’ve already spoken to the officers who came to your rescue, but would you please tell me what happened?”

  Patti sniffed and rubbed at her nose. Her dark eyes were red from crying. “I was leaving the office where my friend works, you know the one across the street from the police station?”

  The tiny hairs on the back of his neck rose in alarm. It was one of the businesses that he thought their assailant might be using as a watch point. “I’m familiar with the place. You don’t work there?”

  “No, but my friend Tabitha does. We were supposed to meet to take the subway together, but she got tied up in a delayed closing so I decided to head home.” She twisted her fingers in her lap. “I didn’t notice anyone behind me, but when I got down to the subway station, I felt someone come up behind me. When I turned, I saw the knife and tried to jerk away but the tip caught me along my upper arm. I screamed and the guy ran off.”

  The tear in her coat was long and deep, enough to have cut her skin through her clothing. Her story was eerily similar to what had happened to Eden. “Did you recognize him?”

  “No.” Patti sniffed again. “Why didn’t anyone chase after him? Why did they let him get away?”

  He gently changed the subject. “Do you have any enemies that might be carrying a grudge against you? Anyone at all that you think is capable of doing something like this?”

  Patti hesitated. “To be honest, I thought the attacker might have been my ex-boyfriend.”

  An ex-boyfriend? Maybe this was a coincidence, after all. Max relaxed and dug his notebook from his breast pocket. “What’s his name? I’d like to check up on that possibility, see if the guy has an alibi or not.”

  She blew out a breath. “His name is Ricky Chang.”

  Eden’s brother? “How long have you known Ricky?”

  “I met him about a year ago at one of the clubs. He seemed like a nice guy and all, but I didn’t like his friend.”

  The hairs on his neck were standing straight upright. “Tayron Lee? Otherwise known as Tiger?”