by Geri Krotow
“You won’t be able to do anything if Daddy says to shut it down.”
“There are other sources of funding if he does, but he won’t. He has his hands full right now.”
“Like trying to make sure he keeps Hamlin on his side and supporting Colton Energy?”
Layla’s gaze sharpened. “We are going to have to agree to disagree on my choice of future husband. Hamlin can save Colton Energy.”
“I’m sure Daddy can find another way, Layla. You can’t tell me there’s a lot of chemistry between you two!”
“Sex isn’t everything.”
Patience tried not to frown. She loved Layla and wanted her to be happy, not chained to a false sense of duty.
A movement outside caught her eye and she noted a tall woman walking two dogs. Two very familiar dogs. Her pulse quickened. She would know the adult Belgian Malinois, Nico, anywhere. She’d helped when his mother had whelped him and his littermates, and done a lot of the initial training, which was continued by Danica Gage, one of the Red Ridge K9 center’s dog trainers. Patience was certain the slightly smaller dog next to him was definitely the Malinois pup that had been stolen along with Nico, back in May. The puppy would be that exact size by now.
“I’m sorry, but I’ve got to go, Layla.” She stood up, ready to break for the door.
“I do, too. Wait—are you okay, Patience?”
“Yes. I’ll call you later, promise. Pay the check, will you? Next time’s on me!” She ran from the café, ignoring the cold wind that whipped down Main Street.
Lucky for her, the dogs weren’t with the dangerous Larson brothers, who Patience and Danica believed had been behind the theft. And the dog walker had been stupid enough to leave the dogs tied outside the café. The woman was nowhere to be seen, but Patience wasn’t waiting for her to return. She approached Nico with confidence, but carefully, just in case he didn’t remember her.
“Nico.”
The dog cocked his head, his intelligent expression the same as she remembered. After a few moments she held out her hand for him to sniff, which he did, then immediately licked, adding a happy yip to the affectionate gesture. He remembered her!
“Good boy.”
The younger dog followed suit, doing whatever Nico did.
“Come on, boys, I’m springing you two loose.” She unwrapped their leashes and hurriedly led them to her loaner car from the RRPD. There were no safety buckles for them like she kept in her vehicle but she’d take her chances. Her hand shook as she put the key in the ignition. She couldn’t risk getting caught by the woman the Larson brothers had hired to walk the dogs. Anyone associated with the criminal twins couldn’t be trusted. Patience was likely to be shot if they caught her. They’d long been on the RRPD’s radar, but were great at covering their tracks. One day, one or both of the twins would slip up.
Once she was driving away, she let out a huge sigh, followed by a whoop. She’d gotten Nico and the puppy back for the K9 training center!
Frustration ran its familiar hand down her spine when she remembered she didn’t have a hands-free phone in this car. She’d have to wait until she got back to the clinic to call the police department.
With a jolt she realized that when she thought about letting the team know she’d gotten the dogs back, she wasn’t picturing Finn or any other officer, or one of her veterinary staff. The only person in her mind was Nash.
To be fair, as frightened as she was of the Lake Killer, Nash occupied the bulk of her waking thoughts.
* * *
“Where’s Dr. Colton now?” Nash stood in front of the receptionist, his heart pounding. He’d driven back to the clinic within twenty minutes of arriving at his desk. When Finn walked in and told him that Patience had “found” Nico and the puppy, now five months old, he’d been elated.
It was about time the Larson twins saw their own machinations used against them. But then the chief had gone on to explain how Patience had acquired the dogs, and Nash thought his head might explode like a cartoon character’s.
“She’s back in the kennels, checking on her patients.” The receptionist gave him an easy smile. “Did you hear she found Nico and the pup?”
The woman’s exuberance tamped down some of his ire, but not enough to keep him from making a beeline for the area.
He found Patience kneeling at the lowest row of kennels, placing the Belgian Malinois puppy in its new enclosure. The dog looked like it had as a pup, but was so much larger.
Patience must have heard Nash enter because she looked up, her hand still rubbing the pup’s chest. The triumph in her eyes threw ice water on his fury.
“Hey, Nash. So you heard?” She smiled and all—well, almost all—the words of anger he’d been ready to spew, accusing her of putting herself and the baby at huge risk, dissolved on his tongue.
“Son of a—” He stopped himself and knelt next to her. Peering into the crate, he saw the pup that Danica Gage had just started to work with before he was stolen. “He’s so much bigger. They both check out okay?”
Patience nodded. “Yes.”
“Where’s Nico?” He was relieved the adult Malinois was back in the RRPD K9 family, but not that it put Patience in more danger than she already was. Noel and Evan Larson were despicable, cruel men.
“Out in the back field. Danica couldn’t wait to put him through some training exercises, to reacquaint them both.”
“She must be over the moon.”
“Yes, for sure.” Patience closed the kennel door. “Have a good nap, buddy.”
“Do you think he’ll settle back in here that easily?”
“We just wore him out on the agility course. He’s not had any formal training since he was stolen, from what we could tell. But he’s eager to learn, trusts us and will pretty much do whatever Nico does. In fact, it’s fair to say that Nico saved both of their lives. He didn’t fight the Larsons, but followed the training we’d already given him, which protected the pup.”
“He have a name?”
“Not yet. We’ll go through our usual process to name him.” The RRPD’s policy to name K9s involved the community. The dog’s photo would be put on social media and Red Ridge citizens were asked to offer suggestions. The elementary schools were all involved, with each classroom coming up with one name to put forward. The chamber of commerce voted on the final choice.
“The Larson twins are going to have a fit when they see that.” Nash stood and helped her up. “Speaking of which, the real reason I came back today wasn’t to see the dogs, Patience.”
“I thought maybe you were still worried about Greta.”
“I was worried about you. You know who the Larsons are, what they’re capable of. If one of them had seen you take their dog, I could have lost you both.”
“Us...both?” She stared at him for what felt like forever. “I wasn’t thinking about anything but getting the dogs back to where they belong. God knows what they went through with those men.”
“I don’t care about that. I care about you. And the baby.” His insides felt as soft and warm as her eyes appeared. What was it about Patience Colton that made him forget his reason for coming here? That made him think he could willingly fall into a serious relationship with her, something more than co-parenting?
“Okay. I hear you. You’re not the only one getting used to the baby, you know. I only knew about him, or her, a few hours before you did.”
“I know you said you thought you missed your two periods due to stress, but you should know your cycles better. You know about period apps, right?”
Her eyes widened and her mouth lifted on one side. “Look at you, all knowledgeable about the menstrual cycle.”
He refused to be embarrassed for his lack of ignorance. “I’ve been raising teenage girls for the last five years. They each started their cycles under my watch. Of course, I know just about
everything a man can regarding periods.”
Patience’s smile softened and she placed her hand on his cheek. “I’ve underestimated you. I’m sorry.”
A loud bam cracked through the air as the swinging door from the reception area hit the side of the kennel wall. Patience jumped and her heart froze when she identified who’d slammed it open.
Noel and Evan Larson entered the room and walked toward them with menace stamped on their faces. “I want my dogs back. Now.” Noel, known to be the ringleader, spoke as Evan glowered.
“Hold on a minute. Who let you in here?” Patience said. Nash placed his hand on his holstered weapon, letting his body language speak to the twins.
“They cleared us at reception. Don’t worry, I gave them my gun for safekeeping.” Noel’s sarcastic smile angered Nash. The Larsons had a bad reputation and were suspected of drug dealing in Red Ridge, and had been connected to murders, including the Groom Killer’s. But their alibis were solid on the murders and there wasn’t enough evidence to nail them for the drug crimes—yet. But wherever trouble was, there were the Larsons.
And they’d taken two of the K9 training center’s dogs. That was fact.
The Malinois puppy growled from his kennel.
“They were never your dogs, Noel. They belong to the county and to the RRPD.” Patience spoke as if she dealt with hardened criminals every day.
Noel pointed an accusing finger at her. Nash wanted to snap that finger in half, but stood his ground and let Patience do the same. He completely trusted her instinct and abilities, even with a big bad bully like Noel Larson.
“You stole them from in front of the café. My dog walker saw you! They have microchips proving my ownership.”
“Calm down, Noel. You’re right. That’s the best way to prove canine identity and ownership. Nash, will you escort Noel and Evan to Exam Room One? I’ll bring the dogs.”
Nash’s gut tightened. He knew the Larsons weren’t that ignorant—they would have had the dogs microchipped by another veterinarian as soon as they’d captured the puppies. But there was no doubt that these were the two that the Larsons had stolen. How would he keep them from the thieves, from danger? And how could he stop Patience from placing herself between the dogs and a dangerous man?
Chapter 11
Patience was quaking inside, but damned if she’d let the Larson brothers see it. The jerks had kidnapped these precious dogs and tried to pass them off as their own. Worse, they’d paraded them around town as if there were no repercussions for stealing dogs. When, in fact, they’d stolen police property.
She was beyond grateful that Nash let her take the lead and didn’t challenge the Larsons or kick them out of the clinic. It would have totally been within his purview to do so, since they were acting in a threatening manner, and doing so on county government property. And with the suspected illicit drug connection between the victim she’d seen dumped into the lake and the Larsons, Nash must want to see Noel and Evan behind bars. But to his credit, he stayed cool, while shooting her reassuring glances.
He believed in her.
As if she were a foot taller and a hundred pounds heavier, she entered the exam room with Nico and the younger dog on leashes. Nash stood near the door, while Noel Larson’s hulking frame was braced in the center of the room, next to the exam table. Evan leaned against the wall.
“This won’t take long.” She took the scanning gun from a counter drawer and turned it on. “We agree that whatever this reveals, we’re all good with it, right?”
Noel met her gaze and she saw fury, indignation and the promise of revenge in his eyes. He really thought he was going to walk out of here with the dogs he’d stolen, after having one of their best K9 handlers knocked out? The memory of Danica’s pain and suffering made Patience see red.
“Right, Noel? Evan?” She used all her willpower to keep from snarling at them.
“Right,” Noel grunted. Evan refused to speak. Their reluctance would have been laughable if they weren’t such vile men.
“Nico.” She gave the hand signal for him to stand in front of her, and when he complied, she waved the wand over the space between his shoulder blades. A digital readout reflected a unique ID. She held the display up for the Larsons to see.
“This is a code assigned only to our K9 clinic.”
“That’s impossible! I had microchips put in those dogs the minute I got them!”
Yes, Patience thought. Right after you stole them from us. As Noel complained, Evan pushed back from the wall and stood alongside his brother.
She sensed more than saw Nash close the short distance and step between her and the men.
“Tamp it down, Larson.” Nash’s deep baritone was smooth and professional, but to Patience, it was the definition of pure security. Nash had her back, and she and the dogs were safe.
Noel took a half step back, clearly struggling with his temper. “Wave that wand of yours over his entire body. You’ll find my microchip.”
“I’m happy to do that, but it doesn’t matter if another microchip shows up or not. K9 property takes priority unless there’s a legal contract giving ownership to a civilian. You’re a civilian and there is most definitely no contract between the RRPD, the RRPD K9 training center or Red Ridge County and you. These are not your dogs, Noel.” She stared at him, refusing to budge.
Noel Larson wasn’t the first person she’d had to take dogs from, but in past cases it’d been because the owners had neglected or abused their animals. Noel had taken care of these dogs well enough—they’d been fed—but he’d held stolen the canines. They weren’t his.
He glared at her. “I get what’s mine, Doc. Don’t forget it.” He turned to Nash. “And you—you have nothing on me or my brother. Screw you.” With that, he and Evan left the exam room.
She turned to Nash. “There’s so much I wanted to say to him, but didn’t. I deactivated their microchips from the Larsons, by the way, when I put in ours. I called the manufacturer and reported the Larsons’ identification as illegal. It’s official—they are RRPD K9 property again. As they always were.”
Nash gently turned her around.
“Thank God you thought so quickly. Let me do this for you.” His warm hands settled on her shoulders, massaging her tension away.
“Why are there such awful people in the world?”
“Who knows? What matters is that you handled them perfectly. Trust me, given enough time and more evidence, those two are going to end up in jail, if I or my fellow cops have anything to do with it.”
“I know.” She did know, and more, she trusted Nash. She turned around and gave him a quick kiss on the lips. “And I know I’m contradicting my edict to be professional, but you know what? I don’t care. Noel scared the crap out of me.”
“You were incredible with him.” Nash’s eyes shone with intensity. “You know your stuff, Dr. Colton.”
She laughed. “When it comes to the animals and especially K9s? I hope I do. It’s my job!”
“I’m going to make sure he’s off the property. Promise me won’t put yourself on the line again today? I’d like to meet you safe and sound at the cabin.”
“I’ll be there when you get there.”
He gave her a firm kiss goodbye. Patience wished it could last longer. The only time she didn’t think about the Lake Killer was when she was in Nash’s arms.
* * *
Nash didn’t get to see the kids until much later. He was relieved that he’d been at the clinic when the Larson twins had shown up. If his hackles weren’t already up from the Lake Killer case, the Larsons would do it. The twins were bad guys and at heart, bullies. He made a mental note to ask Patience if there was any way they might know about her cabin.
He’d taken a circuitous route home, practicing evading techniques he’d learned at the police academy. He couldn’t risk the Lake Killer showing up and fo
llowing him. Threatening the kids. He’d missed them, for sure, but to his surprise he’d been so completely absorbed with the case he hadn’t spent a lot of time thinking about them. Knowing his aunt and uncle had them helped.
You don’t think about anything but Patience when you’re with her.
He took a minute as he got out of his car in the driveway. Sure, he thought about Patience a lot, but wasn’t that normal? She was carrying his baby!
“Nash!” Troy jogged down the driveway toward him, all limbs and squeaky voice at twelve years old. “I didn’t know you were coming home.” He stood awkwardly in front of Nash at an age where he wasn’t sure how to show affection.
Nash immediately enveloped him in a bear hug, kissing the top of his head. “Hey, bud! I had some time and wanted to make sure you hadn’t tied up Uncle Jim and Aunt Clara. You behaving?”
“Yeah.” Troy shrugged out of the hug, but his grin split his face. “Paige and Maeve are keeping things going, but Maeve thinks she knows it all.”
Nash laughed. His younger half sister had recently scored perfectly on the PSATs and was obsessed with the naval academy and all things military. She also had a very strong maternal instinct, which she practiced on the boys.
“What about Paige?”
“She’s always at swim practice or studying.” Paige, a senior, had two athletic scholarships and was hoping for more by spring semester. Nash was proud of his sister and overjoyed that something was going so right for them. Losing their parents in such a tragic manner five years ago had cast a long sad shadow over their teen years. But they’d pulled out of it, thank God.
“How’s school going for you?” Nash was careful to not specifically ask about the bullies Troy had been plagued with. While he was at the top of his class academically, his brother had yet to find his place in any sport, music group or other extracurricular activity. But he was clear about wanting to go to college, at least. He’d shown an interest in marching band, and Nash planned to support him in joining it when he was eligible at the end of eighth grade. But as a seventh grader, Troy was in the thick of middle school growing pains.
