Now Kara stood behind her large desk, which now had a couple piles of paper on it. She held out her hand to Amber. “Give me your phone and we’ll have it checked.”
Amber wondered at how relaxed Kara looked this morning in her dark uniform. She also appeared sympathetic, and Amber hoped that this woman who’d become a friend of sorts, as well as a frequent skeptic, actually gave a damn about whether she and her mother were in danger. Kara’s brown eyes almost appeared sad, especially when she looked toward Sonya.
“Thanks,” Amber responded, handing her the phone.
Kara stepped out of the office for about five minutes. When she returned without the phone she asked, “Now tell me what you think the texter meant.”
Amber aimed a glance at Evan, but he was staring over Kara’s shoulder. He must have realized she had looked at him since he turned and met her eyes.
She half expected him to jump in and tell Kara she should know, but instead she responded. “I’m not sure, but I figure that whoever sent the message is probably the person who killed my dad. He or she heard about my rant after the demonstrations at our place on Saturday, and isn’t happy that I’m not leaving it alone, that I actually want to find out who that person is and get him or her arrested.”
“Who do you think the person heard it from?” Kara asked.
“That’s a big question,” Amber said. “If we can figure it out, maybe we can determine who the killer is.”
“The person could have been there but decided to phrase it this way to make it sound like he or she wasn’t,” Evan said, jumping in.
“Of course.” Amber knew that but figured she would let the authorities take over—and Kara was surely intelligent enough to think of that herself.
“Of course,” Kara repeated.
The discussion continued, but Amber didn’t derive much optimism from it.
Soon, Kara brought things to a close. “Now, I unfortunately have another meeting to prepare for. I want to reiterate—again—that we’re still working on Corbin’s case and won’t stop until we figure it out. But for now—well, you’ve all got to be careful.” She looked directly at Amber, then her mother. “Don’t mention the situation to anyone else, not the text, or that you’ve been here. Since we don’t know who’s involved, any kind of discussion, if learned by the perpetrator, could lead to consequences none of us wants.”
“Right,” Amber agreed, also glancing at her mother. Sonya was looking down at her lap. “Are you okay, Mom?” she asked.
She looked up, and Amber saw her brown eyes bathed in tears. “No,” she wailed softly. “I’m not okay with any of this. It’s still so painful to have lost your father, and now to have you threatened this way. I just can’t stand it.”
“I understand, Sonya,” Kara said. “We don’t like it, either. Any unresolved case is a thorn in our side, and a murder is the worst. I know Amber doesn’t believe it—” she looked toward Amber, who knew her pain, for her mother’s sake as much as her own, was written on her face “—but we really are still making this investigation a top priority. I can only hope this text gives us additional information that leads to the killer’s identity. Right now, though, we’re somewhat at a loss, which is why I said to let us know if you happen to hear anything.”
“But you don’t want Amber to jump in and look on her own, right?” Evan said. “Or to ask questions or anything else to anger whoever did it.” He stared straight at Kara’s face, which surprised Amber.
“As I said, I don’t want any of you to do anything to put yourselves in danger,” Kara responded. “Now, please keep in close touch with me, especially you, Amber. But right now—”
There was a knock on her office door, and it opened. A young uniformed officer walked in holding Amber’s phone. “I’ve got all the info I can for now from this,” he said. “So far I haven’t been able to find the source, and though I may not be able to I’ll keep trying. But the text didn’t just come from a burner phone, it’s one that must somehow be routed from overseas. Sorry, but I can’t tell you who made the threat.”
Chapter 22
They left the police station and walked toward Amber’s car in the slight chill of the late May morning. Evan wished he could keep both women downtown with him and not return to the ranch, or anyplace else the person who’d made the threat might be able to easily find Amber.
He even considered taking them someplace farther away, a nearby larger town, or even San Francisco.
But that wouldn’t work.
First, they hadn’t brought any of the dogs with them on this venture to the police station—and even if they had, the three youngsters weren’t well behaved enough yet to handle traveling that far.
Also, Amber had said she’d scheduled a small class that afternoon with a couple of people bringing their dogs for training. They had been students of Corbin’s, although they hadn’t been for long, so they weren’t as well trained as the members of the other class Evan had already taught. She checked her email on her cell phone, which had been returned to her, as they walked, and said the students had confirmed they were on their way.
Plus, those same people were coming for two lessons, one this afternoon and one tomorrow. They were residents of San Luis Obispo, not far, but they apparently were staying overnight.
The class could be postponed—but Amber didn’t seem inclined to do that.
“So what do we do now?” Sonya looked at Amber as they navigated the busy sidewalk toward the Chance main shopping area, where they’d parked.
“Go home and act normal.” Amber walked between her mother and Evan, and her voice was soft as she first looked toward Sonya. But he wasn’t surprised when she turned her head and shot him a glare he considered defiant—as if anticipating his objection.
“That’s what we’ll do.” He apparently surprised her, judging by the arch in her reddish eyebrows. He had an urge to hug her because she was being her ornery and determined self. Not that he’d do it here in public, or anywhere near her mother. Or maybe ever again… Heck, he knew he would, given the chance. “But I’ve got a lot of questions, plus Bear and I will be—”
“Hanging out with us,” Amber said, finishing his thought. There was a hint of a smile on her lovely face now, as though she approved.
A good thing, since he intended to stay as close as possible to them. He figured Amber would watch the class as he gave it, as well as his workouts later with the young shepherds. He nevertheless felt hopeful that if Amber and Sonya were inside the locked house after he’d checked around it, he might take the opportunity to chill out with another hike with Bear…if he found the right time.
They stopped in the grocery store to pick up enough supplies to allow them to stay home for several days. They also visited the town’s deli and bought sandwiches for today’s lunch. Then they went to Pets and Products, where Amber chatted with her friend Mirri, while Evan helped Sonya pick up more food for the dogs.
Finally, they headed back to the ranch. Amber pulled her SUV into the garage and Evan helped remove everything they’d bought. He carried most of it inside and wasn’t surprised to be greeted by both Bear and Lola while the other dogs barked in their den.
He insisted on going outside again to look around, then allowed Amber to help him walk all the dogs.
He looked down the driveway as often as he could, hoping to see that the cops still patrolled the area. If so, they did it subtly since he didn’t see their vehicles. He hoped that was the case and would call eventually to find out—especially when darkness approached later in the day.
Amber, Sonya and he indulged in small talk at the kitchen table while eating lunch, not discussing or even hinting at the reason they had gone to town that morning. But there was still tension in the air that Evan knew resulted from their unease.
The doorbell rang almost as soon as they’d finished eating, and the members of the small new class came in—a mother and her adult son, who both had medium-sized mixed breeds about a year old that ap
peared to have come from the same litter, probably part terrier and part who-knew-what. They were Debbie and Gene Halven, with Marley and Sudsy. Both had taken two days off from work to come here and hopefully pick up their lessons where Corbin had left off.
Evan liked the idea that there were just two of them plus their dogs. They seemed pleasant enough when Amber made the introductions, not pushy, not particularly staring at him, so he felt more or less comfortable. In a few minutes he, with Bear at his side and Amber following, led them outside with their leashed dogs, leaving Sonya inside with Lola. He showed them to the part of the driveway used for classes, excused himself for a minute, leaving Amber in their company, and took another walk around the area with Bear to check things out.
Orrin was in the backyard now, doing some weeding. Evan considered asking about his texting skills but didn’t really think he was the culprit—or at least he hoped not. He merely said hi with a brief wave that Orrin imitated before turning back to his task.
Even if no police patrolled the area, Evan saw nothing to make him worry about security around the place and Bear acted normal without alerting to anything, so he joined the group and soon began his lesson.
Things became more difficult when both mother and son started criticizing Evan for some of his techniques since they were different from Corbin’s—though they criticized Corbin’s techniques, too. They glared at Evan, together and separately, and he did his best to glare right back before going on to the next instructions with their dogs.
Whatever their problems with Corbin had been, they must have liked him well enough to take follow-up classes here at the K-9 Ranch. And when Evan had Bear demonstrate how things were supposed to go with a well-trained dog, they both settled down and followed his lead.
But their young, mostly untrained dogs were rambunctious, and the lesson ran on for longer than Evan had anticipated.
When they were done, Debbie asked Amber about accommodations for that night. “I didn’t think to call that place next door to see if they had a room available. Do you think they will?”
“Let’s check.”
As the two people strode ahead, pulling their leashed puppies in the direction they headed, Amber held back to walk with Evan and rolled her eyes without criticizing them aloud. He understood. They were paying customers.
But he appreciated when she asked in a low voice, “Are you okay?”
“Fine,” he replied, equally softly. “It’s just another kind of challenge for a dedicated dog trainer.” He smiled at her and she smiled back, warming him inside.
Reaching the house, they all went into the kitchen, where Amber called the Chance Resort’s reservations desk. She was given a bit of a runaround and, holding her hand over her phone, told the others she had the impression the place was full.
“Let me take care of this,” Sonya said. She’d been standing near the sink away from the crowd but stepped forward. “I’ll call Nathan. He’ll figure something out.”
She took her cell phone from her pocket as she walked out of the kitchen. And Nathan apparently came through, finding a room at his resort.
Evan was glad when his latest students and their dogs headed to the resort next door. He’d work with them again tomorrow but would know what to expect and be prepared.
It was too late, and he felt too wired after the class and the rest of the afternoon’s events, to take a hike with Bear, but he did conduct quick but necessary individual classes with the ranch’s young dogs.
Then, with Amber, he took them all for brief walks close to the house.
*
The day had been a strange one, Amber thought as she later helped her mother put together fixings for hamburgers for their dinner that night. But she was proud of the way Evan had handled those people who’d come for the classes.
She was surprised at the attitudes of the mother and son. But everything seemed to be turning out okay, partly thanks to her mom’s friendship with Nathan, so at least the second class would be able to go forward as planned tomorrow.
Evan was out of the house now. He’d said he needed to stop by his own place for a change of clothes and more.
But when he’d left, Amber had looked out a couple of the house’s windows and seen him walking around the place with Bear, obviously checking it to make sure no one was out there casing it…and ready to make good on the texted threat from yesterday.
Not that Amber was speaking out again to get people with suspicions or more to let her, and the cops, know who they thought had killed her dad.
Not now, at least. And maybe from now on she’d merely hint at it. People who knew who she was, and who her dad had been, and what had happened to him…well, they’d know what she was thinking.
“How about the onions?” her mom asked, patting the last of the burgers into shape. “Should we just slice them or fry them up to put on the burgers?”
“I prefer them cooked but I don’t know about Evan,” Amber said. She continued to flake the lettuce to be used on the sandwiches. “Let’s make some of both available.”
She put the final bit of lettuce onto a plate since they each would choose the fixings for their burgers. Her mother had already mixed a salad, and they would also have mashed potatoes.
A reasonable dinner, Amber thought. There were enough burgers that she figured the dogs would all get at least a small taste, even if giving them people food wasn’t the best thing for them. They’d like it anyway. And this place was all about dogs and, while training them, keeping them happy.
It was still light outside, and things were pretty much ready for their meal once the burgers were fully cooked.
Amber had gone outside with Evan after the Halvens left, and they both worked with the young shepherds. After the rowdy and disobedient dogs in the class before, it felt like a relief to give the ranch’s pups commands that they pretty much followed, even Rex. Once they had run the pups through their paces and given them praise—and hugs from Amber—she and Evan had talked a bit about the text and the cops and how to handle it all.
Amber was utterly frustrated and—she’d admitted to Evan—even a bit scared. They didn’t know who the killer was, and though the cops said they were still on the case, it had grown cold, and the authorities’ interest might only be a bit warm because Amber kept goading them.
Evan, sweet man that he was, had told her—again—to back off.
Why did she consider that sweet? Because he promised to stay on it and look for her dad’s killer even as he tried to limit her involvement for her safety.
Sweet? Yes. But that didn’t mean she would obey him.
There. The burgers were ready. Her mother was about to put them on the table with the fixings Amber had already set down there.
Amber pulled her phone from her pocket, figuring it wouldn’t hurt to call Evan and tell him to get that gorgeous male butt of his over here…not that she’d phrase it that way.
And now that she’d thought about it, she kept visualizing that wonderful, firm butt and what else had gone on when she happened to have seen it.
Maybe she should leave the kitchen to make this call. That would give her time to chill out.
“I’ll let Evan know we’re ready,” she said to her mom. “Be right back.”
But just as she exited the kitchen door, Lola right behind her, her phone made the sound that a text had arrived.
She froze, remembering the last time she had heard it—and what that message had said.
But this time, it had to be Evan asking what time he should get back there, or something equally bland and innocent.
Right?
Amber found herself inhaling deeply, steeling herself to read this text, even as she tried to laugh at herself for her silliness. Or what she at least hoped was her silliness.
Problem was, when she raised the phone and scrolled to the screen to read the text, she had been right to worry.
This time the text message read: Wasn’t my last message enough? Now you’re talk
ing to cops. This is my last warning. Back off now or what happened to your father will happen to you and everyone else at your damn ranch, dogs included.
Chapter 23
No. No, no, no. Not again.
Amber couldn’t help it. She slipped into the bathroom, leaving the door open but suddenly needing to be alone.
She held out her trembling hand once more, fiddling with her phone.
She looked at the earlier text. It was still there. There were now two threatening messages—the second even worse.
Amber was scared. She was also furious. How did the killer know she’d talked to the police again? Even if Orrin was the culprit and kept an eye on her comings and goings, he wouldn’t have known she had gone to the police station…would he?
Was the killer a cop? One of the local students? Did any of them work downtown? If so, were they watching the police station?
Was it Percy, tracking her whereabouts via her cell phone?
She doubted it was another trainer who’d been angry with her father, since they wouldn’t harm dogs, yet hers had been threatened now, too—unless that was just a ploy.
Was it someone she hadn’t even considered? Someone watching her. From where?
And right now…where was Evan? She needed him to protect her. No, to calm her.
As if she’d screamed his name, he seemed to magically appear at the bathroom doorway, Bear at his feet. Her mother was at his other side and had apparently let him in the front door. They both stared at her in apparent concern.
Only then did Amber notice the pups barking in the den. Presumably, Evan had knocked on the door—but she had been too preoccupied to hear it.
Lola remained on the floor looking up at her, clearly sensing the emotions hurtling through her.
“What’s wrong?” Evan asked immediately.
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