by Terri Reed
He admired her compassion and commitment to her dogs. “Are you sure you’re up for dealing with a puppy tonight?”
“Sasha is my responsibility,” she said. “I’ll be fine.”
“Tell me about your breeding business.”
She leaned her head back, then abruptly sat forward. No doubt putting pressure on the wound reminded her of her injury. Her hands twisted in her lap. “I breed Alaskan huskies. I took over the business from my father after college. My parents had run a smaller operation. But it was enough for us to get by on.”
“Aren’t the Alaskan huskies part Siberian husky?”
“The Alaskan husky isn’t its own distinct breed but rather a mix of various northern breeds such as the Siberian, greyhound or German shorthaired pointer, and bred primarily to be working sled dogs. Most of my dogs were sired by one of my father’s original dogs, Thorn. He was a mix of malamute and saluki. He was the best dog and sired a lot of champion sled dogs over the years. He passed not long after this last litter was born. I kept Sasha as a tribute to Thorn.”
“How many dogs do you have?” Hunter asked.
“At the moment, nine including the puppy. I compete in smaller races with them in an effort to show off their abilities. People see how well they do and want their offspring. We have a race coming up the Sunday after Violet’s wedding.” She gave a sigh filled with despair. “You will find her, won’t you?”
“We won’t rest until we do,” he assured her. “Tell me about your friends.”
“Violet and I were college roommates. She became my best friend even though our lives are so very different. She’s kind and generous.”
“What do you know about her fiancé?”
“He owns his own business. Violet met Lance at the golf club. Violet’s mother doesn’t exactly approve of Lance.”
“Interesting. What’s your take on him?”
There was a moment of silence before she said, “Violet is happy with Lance. That’s all that matters to me.”
Hunter had the sense there was something she wasn’t saying. Did she not approve of Lance, too? Did Violet know this?
He brought his vehicle to a halt in front of her house. A ranch-style with two outbuildings and a large pasture rimmed by dark woods.
Ariel popped open her door. A cacophony of dogs howling echoed through the night.
In the dome light of the cab of his vehicle, her panic was visible. “Something’s wrong!”
“They probably heard the crunch of the tires on the drive,” Hunter said, praying that was the case.
“No. This is not normal.” She jumped out.
Hunter hurried to her side and let Juneau out. The dog sniffed the air and then growled. He took off at a fast run toward the closest outbuilding.
They rushed after Juneau.
A light glowed through the high windows along the side of the structure.
Ariel grabbed Hunter’s arm. “Someone’s in the kennels. My dogs are in trouble.” She ran past him toward the building.
Adrenaline pumping through his veins, Hunter quickly caught up to her at the entrance door and kept her from touching it. The lock had been jimmied.
Tugging her behind him, he commanded, “Hang back.”
He withdrew his sidearm and held the piece in a two-handed grip at the ready as he toed open the door. His ears were assaulted with the ferocious barking of the dogs.
At the far end of the kennel, a person dressed all in black had muzzled a dog and was attempting to drag the canine out of its kennel.
“No!” Ariel yelled and tried to push past Hunter, but Juneau blocked her.
“Halt, police!” Hunter shouted.
The intruder swung the beam of a flashlight in their direction, momentarily blinding Hunter, but not before he glimpsed the glint of a silver handgun tucked in the thief’s waistband.
Abandoning what was clearly an attempted theft, the perpetrator turned and bolted for the back door of the kennel building, escaping into the night.
Hunter pivoted with Juneau at his side and ran around the outside of the building. Then he abruptly stopped, unwilling to leave Ariel alone to chase after the suspect. He could barely discern the dark figure running away from Ariel’s place through the open field toward the woods beyond. A few moments later an engine turned over. The armed suspect had escaped.
* * *
“Quiet,” Ariel shouted as she quickly flipped on the overhead light switch. Her heart thumped in her chest so hard she hoped she didn’t crack a rib. The fatigue she’d suffered in the car on the way home had evaporated to be replaced with anxious adrenaline.
The dogs immediately ceased their howling at her stern command. Each sat in its kennel, ears back and tail high. A quick glance at each assured her all but Dash in the last crate appeared unharmed.
She raced to the far end of the building and dropped to her knees inside Dash’s open crate. He was a beautiful Alaskan husky with a blue-gray and white coat. A muzzle had been strapped in place over his nose and mouth. He lay on his side.
“Shh,” Ariel soothed him. “It’s okay. I’m here.” She undid the muzzle and stroked his thick coat. “What did that bad person do to you?” She ran her hands over the dog but found no obvious injuries.
Hunter and Juneau returned. Juneau whined and sat down next to Ariel.
“Is he okay?” Hunter asked as he crouched beside her.
“There’s no physical injury that I can see,” she said. “But he’s groggy.” She rose. Hunter followed suit.
“I need to call Cora,” she said. Worry for her dogs made her limbs quake.
“Dr. Madison?”
“Yes. Do you know her?”
“She’s the veterinarian the K-9 Unit uses.”
Ariel wasn’t surprised. “She’s the best in the area.”
“I have her on speed dial,” Hunter said. He made the call and Cora promised to come right away. “She advises not moving Dash in case there are internal injuries. She said the best you can do is keep him quiet and still.”
The thought of Dash hurting brought tears to Ariel’s eyes.
Grateful to know help was on the way for her dog, she said, “I take it the intruder got away.”
Hunter nodded. “I’ve called for backup.”
Ariel shivered and burrowed deeper into the trooper’s jacket as the cold seeped through the thin scrubs. The scent of his spicy aftershave clinging to the fabric was pleasant and soothing. But still, a lump rose to her throat and she sniffed back tears in an attempt to keep them from spilling down her cheeks.
“Hey, now.” Hunter gathered her in his arms. “You’re safe. Your dogs are safe.”
She found solace in the comfort and security enveloping her. Trooper Hunter McCord had a charisma and energy about him that filled the building, making the space seem somehow smaller, yet she didn’t mind.
Must be the head trauma.
“Thank you for being here,” she said, not at all inclined to step away from the warmth of his embrace. “I’m sorry to be such a burden.”
“No apologies necessary.” He rubbed her back. “And you’re not a burden. This is my job. It’s what I do.”
Logically she understood he was doing his job. And for some reason a bubble of disappointment floated through her. Odd. There was no reason for her to wish this man wanted to be here because he cared about her. They didn’t even know each other. It had to be the upset from the day causing her to be an emotional mess.
So much had transpired in a short space of time. Had it only been this morning that she’d left to go hiking with Violet?
Worry for her friend crowded her chest. Please, Lord, let Violet be okay.
In the distance, the whirling red-and-blue lights of more law enforcement coming meant this night wouldn’t be ending anytime soon.
She eas
ed away from the trooper and found his dog was leaning up against her leg as if he too wanted to offer her support.
Hunter smiled. He had a nice smile that crinkled the corners of his blue eyes and made her heart do a little skip. “He likes you.”
She tangled her fingers in Juneau’s fur. “And I like him.”
Ariel had to admit she was thankful for Hunter’s and Juneau’s presence. If she’d returned home to find the intruder on her own, what would have happened?
She swallowed back the bile rising to burn her throat. A question tore through her mind, making the pounding at her temples increase. “Could the intruder have anything to do with what happened on the mountain?”
Hunter’s eyes met hers. “We can’t rule anything out.”
Exactly what she’d been afraid he’d say.
FOUR
As the Metro patrol cars stopped side by side in the driveway of Ariel’s house, Hunter stepped out of the kennel building, followed by Ariel and Juneau. She’d returned his jacket and had put on a barn coat. The dog seemed glued to the woman. Considering her traumatic fall, he was sure the dog sensed she needed comfort, and he respected how well she was holding up after everything she’d been through.
Another vehicle pulled in behind the officers, and there was no mistaking the Alaska K-9 Unit logo on the side of the SUV. His boss, Colonel Lorenza Gallo, had shown up, as well.
Hunter’s surprise gave way to a heavy breath of frustration. He’d let the perp get away. But he’d been more concerned about Ariel and the dogs. He didn’t know if whoever had tried to take her dog was working alone or not. Chasing down the suspect would have left Ariel vulnerable and exposed to another attack. And he wasn’t going to let anything happen to her on his watch.
This case was proving to be confusing and worrisome. First Ariel was pushed off a cliff and then, later that same night, someone broke into her kennels. Coincidence? Or was she the intended target on the mountain to begin with? But where were her friends? Why kill the tour guide? The questions spun through his mind, turning his brains into cotton candy.
Focusing, he said to Ariel, “I’ll be right back.” He jogged to Lorenza’s side but kept Ariel in his peripheral vision. She stood near the kennel building door with Juneau at her side. “Colonel Gallo?”
“Trooper McCord,” Lorenza replied with a sharp nod. Her silver hair peeked out from beneath the edges of her dark blue wool hat. Over her dress suit she wore a calf-length warm coat. “I heard the call come in.”
“Any news on the other hikers?”
She shook her head. “Unfortunately, no. Sean and Grace searched the base of the cliff and found nothing.” Her gaze zeroed in on Ariel. “This is the victim from the mountain?”
Was no news good news? He wasn’t sure in this case. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Does what happened tonight have anything to do with what happened on the mountain?”
Hunter blew out a breath. Ariel had asked the same question. “Possibly.”
“Two random attacks on one person seem unlikely.”
He tended to agree. “Except this wasn’t an attack, per se. The suspect attempted to steal her dog.”
“Maybe someone followed her up the mountain and tried to get rid of her so they could steal her dog,” Lorenza said.
“It’s an awful lot of mayhem just to kidnap a dog when they could’ve easily done the deed while she was out on her hike. As far as I can tell, there’s no security system.” Something he would have to make sure Ariel remedied.
“Except a pack of dogs,” Lorenza said with a glance toward the kennel building, where the sound of dogs howling and vocalizing emanated. Huskies didn’t bark but they sure tried to talk.
“Yes, they would definitely sound an alarm,” he admitted. “However, Ariel lives alone. A neighbor kid cares for the dogs when she is out. The intruder must have waited until he’d gone home before breaking into the kennels.”
“The nearest neighbor is a mile back up the road I drove in on.” Her gaze shifted back to the house. “I’d like to meet Miss Potter.”
Ariel hung back with her arms wrapped around her middle as if holding herself together. Juneau remained close, his gaze alert on the police officers climbing out of their cars.
The bandage on her head was a stark reminder of the danger that had come close to ending her life. Something primal tightened in his gut. He never liked to see anyone hurt.
“Ariel,” he called to gain her attention. When her gaze swung to him, he waved her over. She moved purposefully to his side.
“Ariel, this is my boss, Colonel Lorenza Gallo. She put together the Alaska K-9 Unit here in Anchorage.”
Ariel lifted her chin and stuck out her hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Colonel,” she said. “I appreciate all that the K-9 Unit has done for me today. Everyone has been so kind and helpful.”
Lorenza smiled, her eyes glimmering with approval at the praise of her team. “It’s nice to meet you, Miss Potter. You’ve had quite the day.”
Ariel’s lips twisted. “That is an understatement. Has there been any word on Violet and the others?”
“No, but we are doing everything we can to find them. Have you given your statement to the police yet?”
Hunter answered, “No, ma’am. We haven’t. Everyone arrived at the same time.”
“You two need to speak with the officers,” Lorenza instructed and gestured toward the officers. “Shall we?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Hunter put his hand on the small of Ariel’s back and guided her forward.
Recognizing Officer Everett Brand from earlier in the day, Hunter introduced his boss and Ariel before explaining the situation. Everett took notes as they talked. It was important that both Hunter and Ariel give their own statements, because perspective was everything. He perceived things through the lens of a cop, while she viewed things through the eyes of a civilian and victim. She might’ve seen something he hadn’t and vice versa.
Two officers fanned out to look for evidence with their flashlights.
“We’ll have a crime scene unit come out in the morning when there’s daylight,” Everett said. “We wouldn’t normally pull in CSU for a simple breaking and entering, but since Miss Potter had been so violently assaulted earlier today, we’re giving this a more serious response.”
“Thank you. I heard an engine start up off in the distance, so the suspect is long gone now,” Hunter said. But that didn’t mean the intruder hadn’t left something behind, like a shoe print or tire print, that might lead them to identifying the would-be thief.
“On the far side of the property line there is a fire road for the forestry service,” Ariel explained.
Lorenza looked at Hunter. “Did you get a good look at the suspect?”
He shook his head. “It was dark. The person was dressed in all black. Average height, slender. It could have been a man, a woman or even a teenager,” he replied, wishing he’d been quicker and not let the perpetrator escape.
“We’ll have someone check the area out there,” Everett said. He focused on Ariel. “Why would someone want to steal one of your dogs?”
Hunter wanted to know the same thing. “Are the dogs chipped?”
“Yes, they are,” Ariel answered. “My dogs are worth several thousand dollars apiece. They are all from champion lines and champions themselves.”
“That sounds like motive,” Everett said.
“But if the thief had succeeded, what were they planning?” Hunter asked. “To claim ownership of the dog? With the chip, passing a stolen dog off as their own would be a risky endeavor.”
“Dash, the one the thief tried to take, is slated to sire my next planned litter, which would provide for my first quarter operating expenses. If I’d lost him...” She shivered. “I should check on him and the other dogs.”
The sound of tires crunching on the
gravel drew their attention. The veterinarian brought her vehicle to a stop and climbed out.
Dr. Cora Madison hustled over. She was a tall, regal woman with short, dark hair. She wore a thick shearling-lined coat, jeans and snow boots. In one hand she carried a black medical bag. “Hello, everyone.”
“Cora, it’s good to see you,” Lorenza said. The two women shook hands.
“Hey, Doc,” Hunter said. “Thank you for coming out.”
Cora adjusted her red-framed glasses. “Of course.” She moved to Ariel’s side and put an arm around her shoulders. “Let’s go see our patient.”
He noticed the shadows under Ariel’s eyes and how her shoulders drooped. She was exhausted and barely functioning. He wanted to alleviate her burden. “I can take you,” Hunter said to Cora. “Ariel should go inside and rest.”
A flare of surprise widened Ariel’s eyes briefly. Then her eyebrows drew together and her gaze narrowed. “I’ll rest once I know my dog is okay.”
Her affronted tone doused his concern and grated on his nerves. “Ariel—”
“Hunter, let them go.” Lorenza’s clipped command kept him from saying more. “You and I are not finished.”
That sounded ominous. Was she going to bring him to task for letting the suspect get away?
Keeping his frustration in check, he nodded. With a wary look at him, Ariel walked away with Cora. Juneau appeared torn between following Ariel or staying at his partner’s side. Hunter gestured for the dog to heel. Juneau moved slowly to his side and sat, but the dog’s gaze remained on Ariel. Hunter didn’t blame him. He didn’t want to let Ariel out of his sight, either, which was strange. She was safe now. There was no reason for him to be so protective.
“I’ll go with the ladies,” Everett said, taking off after Ariel and Cora.
Hunter couldn’t protest, though he wanted to. He wanted to be the one to stick close to Ariel’s side. It was his job.
“No need for you to be overbearing. It won’t win any points with Miss Potter.”
His boss’s words jolted through Hunter like a rut in the road. “Excuse me?”