Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 56782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 227(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 227(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
Chapter 5
“Happiness is a warm puppy.”
― Charles M. Schulz
* * *
Leena stared out the window and shook her head. Two feet already and more forecasted. “This is one hell of a winter storm.” Jennifer Thomas played in the background on her music system.
She peered over her shoulder and smiled. John lay on the couch, sleeping. Pax beside him on the floor, the man’s hand in his coat and Erma curled up around his feet.
He’d had breakfast ready for her by the time she’d finished cleaning runs and feeding the dogs. Couldn’t deny how nice that had been. She angled her body, so she had a clear view of the man who’d come into her life. Fingers curved around the heated mug of coffee, she sighed.
Last night—and this morning—with him had been off the charts amazing. Even when something had changed in him and he’d given off a vibe that he needed something. The fucking had gotten harsher, not in a mean way, just without the emotion she’d gotten before. It was raw, almost angry.
Still amazing as everything but I want to know what he’d been thinking about. He was recovering and she let him sleep because honestly, that was the best thing for him. Her phone rang and she hurried to pick it up before the noise woke him.
“Hello?”
“Leena, hi, this is Captain Hansley from over near Ellensburg.”
She pulled out a chair with her foot and sank into it. “I remember you, Captain. You have Diablo the Giant Schnauzer.” Ellensburg was about two hours away from her.
His deep laugh was comforting. “I do. I’m impressed you remember.”
“I don’t see a lot of them, much less as nice as yours. How can I help you, Captain?”
“I know we had some training sessions coming up, but I’m going to have to cancel them on you, I’m sorry.”
“Me too, but I understand, stuff comes up.”
“We’re trying to find one of our own. So, yes, it has.”
“A missing dog?” She sat up straighter.
“No, human.”
She looked back to the man sleeping on the couch. “I’m sorry to hear that. Best of luck in finding him. I’ll take you off the schedule, just give me a call when you are ready to put him back on.”
“I’ll be sure to do that. Do you have anyone you would recommend for Search and Rescue? Anyone else that we don’t know of around here. We could use all the help we could get.”
Not around here she didn’t. In California she knew of Wildcat Rescue, they were a mounted SAR unit who were incredible. There was an East and a West coast group.
“I’ll make some calls. Not sure how they would get in with the weather but yes, I’ll do what I can from here.”
“We’ll fly them in by chopper if necessary.”
“I’ll be in touch, Captain and I’m sorry for the loss of your man.”
“So am I. Thank you, Ms. Parsons.” He ended the call.
“Captain?” John sat up. “Who were you talking to?”
The concern in his voice had her worrying. “A K-9 cop I know from Ellensburg area. He had to cancel some training we had set up. Why?”
“What was his name?”
“Captain Hansley. Matt Hansley.”
John sat up and scrubbed a hand down his face. “Ellensburg. Where am I?”
“Washington.”
He frowned. “I’m in Washington?”
“You are.” She moved closer to him and joined him on the couch. “Do you remember anything more?”
“And where did you pick me up at?”
“At a rest area around the area of Missoula, Montana.”
Frustration filled his features and both Pax and Erma leaned on him, offering comfort. She wasn’t sure he was aware of their actions, but it did her heart good to see him pet them and take the solace they so freely offered.
“I don’t know why I would be in Montana. I don’t live there, and I didn’t work there.”
“Where do you work?” Could he be the one they were looking for around Ellensburg?
“I was in Oklahoma City.” The corners of his mouth pinched as it turned down. “I think. It’s all so jumbled.”
She wanted to offer comfort. “Okay, it’s a start. Is there a name of someone I can contact for you? Your handler? Something coded so he or she knows it’s from you and not anyone else?”
“No, it’s too dangerous. Someone sold me out. I can’t trust anyone in that department. I need to figure out when my cover was blown so I can move in on who did it.”
If he couldn’t trust his handler, that was the worst kind of betrayal, in her mind. How could you betray the one person who had you as a link to their real world, real life? Sanity. This was why she worked with dogs. You were good to them and they were loyal, never had to worry about them betraying you.
“So, what can I do? Someone has to be looking for you. What about a family member?”