by Muth, Becky
“Yeah, of course. What does she have to do with any of this?”
Owen gave an abridged version of what he told Kurt about trying to help Professor Mason’s daughter by way of grant fraud and, when the grants started being denied, getting mixed up with Ten-Pin Vin’s organization as a way to try to help pay down the other woman’s medical expenses.
Peyton whispered, “They wanted to kill you?”
“If I didn’t pay back the money, yeah.”
“So won’t they come after me for the money now?”
“No, because I turned state’s evidence against them. I gained a lot of information in a short time and helped federal investigators put several of those men away.”
“But why-” Peyton started to ask, but Owen held up his hand and continued.
“Ten-Pin Vin is one cog in a larger machine. If I return to my old life, they’ll kill me.”
“So what does that mean?”
“I’m going into witness protection. We won’t be able to talk again.”
“Until when?”
Owen held his hands out to his sides, palms up, and lifted his shoulders. “Your guess is as good as mine.”
Peyton shook her head. “Then we’ll come with you.”
“Pey-pey, let’s be real here. How are you and Gilda going to search for missing people if you’re the ones who go missing? What about when you take her to the vet and they find her microchip registered to you?”
“This isn’t fair.”
“I agree, and I am truly sorry about how this all worked out.” Owen stood and walked to her side of the table. “Come here and give me a hug.”
Peyton stood and squeezed her brother in a bear hug. “I don’t want you to go.”
“I love you, sis.”
“I love you, too.”
Owen stepped back and held his sister at arm’s length. “My lawyer is going to call and tell you that I’ve left my house in your name. Sell it. Take the rest of mom and dad’s life insurance money. Quit your job and work with Gilda full time. Train other dogs and write that book you’ve always dreamed of writing.”
“It won’t be worth it without you there to share it with,” Peyton argued.
Red rimmed Owen’s eyes. “Trust me, Pey-pey. It’s always worth it. You’re going to be okay, and who knows. If they break down this organization, I may be able to emerge from hiding.”
“You’re the only family I had left.”
“I wouldn’t be too sure about that.” He tilted his head in the direction of the doorway.
Peyton turned to see Kurt standing there with his father.
Sergeant Collins beckoned with the fingers of his left hand. “They say it’s time for you to go.”
“Okay. One sec.” Owen bent to hug Gilda. “You be a good girl, okay?”
Peyton hugged her brother again the moment he stood. Owen’s arms tightened around her as she cried on his shoulder. Lowering his head near her ear, he whispered, “Live your dreams, Peyton. Take the money and do all the things you’ve always dreamed of doing.”
Unable to speak, she nodded as he gently pushed her back. “And give this guy a chance. I know you’re mad at him, but you should hear him out.”
Turning toward the door, Owen shook Kurt’s hand. “Take care of my sister, okay, bro?”
“You can count on it,” Kurt promised.
“Thanks again to you both for helping set this up,” Owen told the men. He turned and waved to Peyton one last time before disappearing through the door.
She turned to face Kurt. “So, wait. First you saw Owen in the alley, and now you knew he was alive?”
“Please, listen to him and hear me out. Okay?”
Peyton put her hands on her hips and tapped her foot. “I’m listening. You have two minutes.”
“Oh geesh, Peyton, really?”
“One minute, forty-five seconds.”
“Fine! I saw Owen in the alley, but he ran off right after, and then I got stabbed. Between fainting at the sight of blood and the hospital giving me narcotic painkillers, I’d forgotten there was a second person until I saw the Reel Life video, and that’s the truth. I’m not sure how the TV station got a copy, but-”
“Your firefighter friend gave it to them.”
“What? She’s not my friend. Wait, are you sure?”
“Yes, she called me. Did you know that Owen was alive this whole time?”
Kurt shook his head. “No! I was as surprised as you were.”
“How did you find out?”
“He showed up at my apartment the day of the funeral. He was on the run and didn’t know where else to go. He saw the footage of you chewing me out on Good Morning Gold Coast and looked me up.”
“Why wouldn’t you tell me?”
“Um, I tried. You wouldn’t take my calls or reply to my texts. He asked for my help. I called dad and he came straight over to my apartment. After he heard everything Owen had to say, he made a couple of phone calls. The next thing I knew, federal investigators showed up to escort him away. Your brother refused to go into the program unless he could tell you goodbye. Dad asked me the best way to get you out here without causing suspicion.”
“And you told them to steal my dog?”
“Hey, that was Owen’s idea. He knew Gilda was the only thing that could get you out here without calling the station.”
Peyton pulled at her bottom lip with her thumb and forefinger. She didn’t want to admit he was right. “In my defense, I thought your failure to say that you’d seen Owen that day was what led to his death.”
“Not saying that we saw him probably helped keep him alive. I showed some of my research to Sam and she recognized the symbol painted in your brother’s living room. These guys are bad news. Going into hiding is the best thing Owen can do right now.”
“I’m going to miss him so much.” Peyton sniffled. When Kurt pulled her into a warm embrace, she didn’t push him away.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Kurt led Peyton from the cabin with Gilda close on their heels. His dad waited with one of the oversized golf carts while the men in tactical gear waited in a second vehicle.
“Come on. Let me give you a lift to your car,” Sergeant Collins offered. Seeing Gilda, he smiled. “Hey, pretty girl, how about if you ride shotgun? Come on, puppy. Jump up.”
In the backseat of the vehicle, Kurt put his arm around Peyton’s shoulders and held her close. His father drove out to the spot where the men initially met up with them and stopped.
“I’m afraid you’ll have to hoof it from here on out. We can’t risk being seen.”
“Thank you for everything you've done to help my brother, Mr. Collins,” Peyton said.
“Please, call me Sarge.” The man grinned, his facial muscles sending his mustache wriggling like a caterpillar above his upper lip. He turned to Kurt and nodded. “You did real good out there, son. There’s a cold case I may want to discuss with you on my day off, if you’re free.”
Warmth flooded through Kurt as the pride in his father’s gaze washed over him. “Sure thing, Sarge. Let me know when and we’ll set something up.”
The Sergeant put the vehicle in gear and drove it back toward the cabin.
Kurt walked next to Peyton on their way back to her car, the backs of their hands brushing up against each other on occasion.
“I’m not ready to go home,” Peyton admitted once they were all seat belted into the Mini.
“You could come to my place. We can order dinner.”
Peyton shook her head. “Your apartment doesn’t allow dogs, and I’m not leaving Gilda home alone again.”
“The landlord put that rule in place for yappy little purse dogs. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind a brave, smart, beautiful working dog—especially after she saved my life.”
With each complimentary adjective about Gilda, Peyton's expression softened until she conceded, "Well, okay."
Kurt noticed that Peyton cried in silence during the drive. When they arrived, once in the parking l
ot, he took her hand. Despite her tears, she laced her fingers through his so that they entwined, puzzle pieces connecting in a perfect fit.
When they reached his apartment, he led her inside and asked, “Want to watch a movie?”
“Sure, okay. You pick.”
Kurt found a chick flick about a pair of complete opposites pushed together by the matchmaking skills of their dogs. Before long, Peyton’s head rested on his shoulder. He waited until the movie ended to carry her back to his bedroom, where he lowered her to the mattress and covered her with a quilt.
Back in the living room, he looked at Gilda, who sat in his recliner with an expression of indifference.
“Not going to let me have my chair?” he asked the dog.
Gilda stared at the television where a van full of teenagers solved mysteries with their dog.
Kurt looked from Gilda to the television screen and back again.
“This is it? This is what you want to watch?”
Gilda gave a soft “woof”. Kurt left it on that channel until they both dozed.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Scents of cinnamon and vanilla, combined with the sizzle of pan-fried bacon, pulled Peyton from sleep better than any alarm clock. She gazed at the unfamiliar surroundings, and a moment of panic seized her. This was Kurt’s bed. Had she spent the night here? Throwing back the covers, relief surged through Peyton as she saw that her clothes from the day before were still in place, minus her shoes.
Peyton took in her surroundings. Pale gray walls remained unadorned. White sheets and a gray-striped, down-filled duvet covered the bed, which lacked a headboard. Her line of vision allowed her to see two open doors, one leading into a cavernous closet and the other into a tidy master bathroom. The single personal touch was a framed photo of a German shepherd, which sat atop a bedside table.
Suddenly, like the turning pages of a book, memories from the day before layered one atop the other in her mind. The resources Peyton needed to open her search and rescue dog training center were there, but at a grave cost. Owen was alive, but she had no idea when—or if—she would ever see him again. She would give up everything to have her brother in her life again.
The mouthwatering scents permeated the room through the closed door until they forced Peyton to search for the source. She stood and stretched. Ducking into the master bath, she washed her face and finger-combed her hair before making her way down the hall to the kitchen.
“Hey there, you. How did you sleep?”
Peyton took in the sight of Kurt cooking breakfast with one hand. An apron printed with police dogs protected his jeans and t-shirt from food splatters.
“Okay, I guess. I don’t remember a lot past getting here yesterday.”
Kurt finished transferring the food to two plates on the counter. “You fell asleep pretty much as soon as you sat on the couch. I carried you to bed and crashed on the sofa because Gilda stole my recliner. If you want to grab a seat in the living room, I can bring you your plate.”
“Kurt, you just fixed all this food with one hand. The least I can do is carry my plate to the living room.”
“I have coffee made, or there’s orange juice in the fridge.”
“Wow. You’ve thought of everything! How is it you’re still single?” she teased. The minute the words left her mouth, she felt the heat creep into her cheeks. She looked at the counter to avoid seeing his reaction. Wow, Peyton! Open mouth, insert foot.
Kurt leaned toward her and in a soft voice replied, “I guess I hadn’t found the right person yet.”
Peyton turned toward Kurt, and he put his forehead against hers. Feeling bold, she asked, “And now?”
“And now maybe I have.” Kurt kissed the tip of her nose and leaned back. “I hope you’re hungry. My mom taught us to cook for a family of eight. Gilda had a pancake that fell on the floor.”
Peyton laughed as she picked up her plate and carried it to the living room. “Wow. That’s why she’s out here with you. You’re bribing her with food.”
“Guilty as charged. Don’t go calling the cops on me.”
Peyton settled on one corner of the sofa, and Kurt, seeing that the golden retriever had claimed his recliner, took the other end.
“Thank you again for yesterday. And today. And, well, everything,” Peyton said between bites of food.
“You and Gilda saved my life. This is the least I could do for you. I just hated not being able to tell you that Owen came by here when it happened.”
“I understand. Owen’s alive and he’s safe. That’s what matters. Until he can come home, I’m going to train search and rescue dogs.” Peyton scooped a forkful of eggs into her mouth.
“You’re pretty incredible, Peyton.” Kurt put his fork down and smiled at her.
Swallowing the mouthful of food, Peyton shook her head. “Eh. I’m just me.”
Kurt’s phone rang and he stepped into the kitchen to take the call.
Saved by the ringtone. Peyton continued eating.
A few minutes later, Kurt re-joined her on the couch. “Can I ask you a huge favor?”
“Absolutely. Anything. What is it?”
“I have an appointment to check how my arm is healing. I might get this thing off today.”
Peyton realized it had been a while since she asked him about his arm. Or have I ever asked him how it was doing? Am I really that self-absorbed? Shifting her hips to better face him, she asked, “So does it still hurt?”
“Only if I put a lot of pressure on it. If you have plans, I can call-”
“Don't be silly. Of course I can give you a ride. Your Jeep is still at my house, anyway.”
“That was my dad on the phone. He asked me if we could drop by his house. None of my sisters will be there this time.”
“Sure, we can do that. I want to thank your dad again, anyway.” She stared into the aquarium while wondering about the picture of the dog on his bedside table.
Kurt broke off a piece of crispy bacon and tossed it to Gilda, who caught it in midair. “Okay, then. It’s a date.”
Peyton wasn’t expecting him to say that and wondered if his words had double meaning. When he looked at her and winked, she took it as an unspoken challenge and agreed, “Fine. It’s a date.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
Kurt flexed his fingers as he and Peyton walked from the medical building to her car. “Boy oh boy, am I ever glad to be out of that splint. Thanks for driving me here.”
“It’s cool. How does your arm feel?”
Stopping in his tracks, Kurt pulled her into a hug. Both his arms tightened around her and, much to his delight, her arms wrapped around his shoulders. A smile lit up her face.
They stood that way on the sidewalk, gazing at one another until Gilda began barking. When they didn’t respond, the dog wedged her body between theirs and they stepped apart, laughing.
“It’s okay, girl. You’re still my number one.” Peyton bent to give her dog a quick snuggle. When she stood, the three of them walked to the car.
Once they were in the car, seatbelts in place, Peyton asked Kurt to refresh her memory about how to get to his parents’ house. It wasn’t until they were on the long stretch of highway that she asked the question he had been dreading since she emerged from his bedroom that morning.
“Can I ask you something, Kurt?”
“Sure. Go ahead.”
“What’s up with the picture of the dog next to your bed?”
Kurt sighed. “That’s Jasper. When I was growing up, I wanted to be a cop and have a police dog to help me catch the bad guys.”
“What happened?”
“While I was at the academy, he died. Jasper needed me, and I wasn’t there.”
“How?”
“Some kind of gastric thing. He had been sick but we all thought he was getting better. He seemed okay when I left that morning, but by that afternoon, he was gone.” Kurt stared out the window, clenching his jaw and blinking back the tears that threatened.
&n
bsp; When Peyton spoke, her voice held a soft tone. “You know, dogs often go and hide when the end is near. They know that’s the only time they ever break our hearts. Before Gilda, I had a golden retriever named Bella. I think I grieved her death longer than I did losing my own parents. In fact, I know I did. It took me a full year before I was ready to let another puppy into my life. I miss Bella so much, even now, and I would do anything to spend one more day with her. But at the same time, I can’t imagine my life without Gilda.”
Kurt listened as Peyton spoke, but relief flooded through him when she stopped. Maybe she's trying to understand, but she didn’t know Jasper. So, how could she?
They rode the rest of the way in silence. Peyton pulled her car into his parents’ driveway, turned the key to kill the engine, and turned toward him. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah. Thanks for sharing that, about your dog.” Kurt leaned over with the intention of kissing her cheek, but found his lips brushing against hers. Much to his surprise, she leaned in to return the kiss, her tongue darting against his lower lip.
A low whine from the backseat reminded Kurt where they were. He pulled back and gave a nervous laugh.
“Are you laughing at me?” Peyton’s nose wrinkled.
Kurt looked at her and exhaled through his teeth. “No, Peyton. I’m grateful my parents didn’t walk outside to catch us making out in your car. I would have never heard the end of it from my sisters. I have nothing against PDA, you know, public displays of affection, but I’d rather our first make out session not be in my parents’ driveway.”
Her laugh filled the car. The sound reminded Kurt of the music created by wind chimes on a breezy spring day.
They exited the car, Peyton holding Gilda’s leash in one hand. As they followed the stone pavers around the corner of the house to the front door, Kurt claimed her other hand with one of his.
She laced their fingers together and asked, “So, does this make me your girlfriend or something?”
Kurt grinned so hard that the sides of his face hurt. “Do you wanna be my girlfriend or something?”
