Colton K-9 Bodyguard

by Lara Lacombe

  Micah smiled at his partner. “That’s what he’s trained to do. It’s important he not disturb the site, since it might contaminate or even destroy important evidence if he started pawing around. And most working dogs are trained to give a subtle signal rather than raise a ruckus.”

  “Why is that?”

  Micah shrugged, searching for an answer. “I think, in most cases, it’s best if the dog remains calm. If you’re talking about a dog that detects explosives or something dangerous like that, you don’t want his tell to set things off or make the situation more volatile.”

  “That makes sense,” Bea murmured. “Was Duke a lot like Chunk?”

  “Ah, no.” Micah chuckled at the thought. “Duke was a high-strung dog. I think perfectionist is the best way to describe him. He was always alert, ready for anything.”

  “What was his specialty?”

  “Explosives. He was trained to detect munitions and roadside bombs, that kind of thing. He saved a lot of lives, and the team held him in high regard.”

  “I’m sure they did,” Bea said. “Do you know how he’s doing now?”

  “He’s good. I actually got an email the other day from the nurse who adopted him. He’s adjusted well to civilian life, and she told me he’s been in some tracking competitions.”

  “I guess you can take the dog out of the army, but you can’t take the army out of the dog?”

  “Pretty much,” Micah said. “It can be hard for these animals to retire. I’m glad she’s keeping Duke occupied. It sounds like he’s happy.”

  “Do you wish you had adopted him?”

  Micah considered the question and the mixed feelings it triggered. He did miss Duke, but he knew he wouldn’t have been able to provide the best life for him. “Sometimes. But I don’t think it would have been fair to him, in the end. He wouldn’t have liked staying at home while Chunk and I worked. It’s better for him to be with her—he’s her only dog, and she can devote all her time to him, which is what he needs.”

  “It must have been hard to give him up, though,” she said quietly.

  The memory of their goodbye put a lump in Micah’s throat. “It was,” he confirmed. “The only reason I was able to do it was because I saw how much she cared about him and how attached he’d grown to her during his time in the hospital.”

  “He sounds like quite a dog.”

  “One of the best,” Micah said simply. “I’ve been thinking about taking a road trip to visit him, once this investigation is over. Maybe you could join me?”

  She smiled. “I’d like that.”

  Warmth bloomed in Micah’s chest. It felt so normal to sit next to Bea, chatting and making plans for their future. For a moment, it was like the last ten years had never happened, like they’d never been apart at all. If he closed his eyes, he could forget about the gruesome scene taking place before them and pretend they were sitting at the kitchen table, talking about a fun summer trip. He was excited at the thought of introducing Duke to Bea. He wanted her to have a connection to that part of his life, and if she met Duke, she’d have a better understanding of what his time in the Rangers had been like. Not all of it—he didn’t want to share the horrible details of war with her. But he wouldn’t mind talking to her about the lighter times, the moments of levity he’d had with Duke and his team. He hadn’t had anyone to share that with since retiring from the army, and as time passed, he realized he wanted to talk about those memories as a way of keeping them alive.

  “Officer?”

  One of the techs was waving him over. Micah stood and crossed the yard in a few strides, arriving at the edge of the dig site. “We’re about ready to remove this body,” the man said, pointing into the hole they’d made. “Thought you might want to check him over now, so we can bag him before we put him on the gurney.” He cast a meaningful look in Bea’s direction, and Micah felt a flash of gratitude at the tech’s thoughtfulness.

  “I appreciate that,” he said quietly.

  He crouched at the edge of the makeshift grave to get a better look at the first body. “I’ll be damned,” he muttered to himself. A flash of excitement sent a tingle through his limbs as he stared down at the face of a man he’d seen just yesterday.

  Thad Randall’s body lay in the shallow grave, the bullet hole in the center of his forehead a testament to how he’d died.

  “Guess you won’t be talking to Evan Larson anymore,” Micah said. He straightened up and nodded at the men to proceed with their work. They carefully placed the body in a thick black bag and heaved it over the edge of the dig. A few minutes later, they’d uncovered the second body. Micah studied the man’s face, but he didn’t recognize him. No matter. The forensics team would go over the bodies with a fine-tooth comb, collecting evidence, fingerprints and DNA samples. If this man ran in the same circles as Thad Randall, he was probably already in the system. It was only a matter of time before they had a name to match the face.

  “You need me to stay?” There was a marked police car out front with a uniformed officer to provide scene security, but Micah wanted to make sure the techs didn’t need him for anything before he took off.

  One of the techs shook his head. “We’re almost done here. Once we get everything back to the lab we’ll get started processing it all.”

  “Put a rush on it, please,” Micah said. “These murders may be connected to the Groom Killer case.”

  “Will do.”

  Micah left the men to their work and punched out a quick text to Brayden before heading back to Bea. Her face was pale now, her mouth set in a pinched line. It was clear she was upset, and Micah figured it was time to go. Even though she hadn’t actually seen the bodies, this situation had to be disturbing to her. He was so used to death and ugliness he had forgotten what it was like to be innocent, and now he kicked himself for dragging her into this part of his world.

  Reaching down, he took her hand and gently pulled her to her feet. He whistled for Chunk and together the three of them set off for his SUV. He couldn’t change what she’d already seen, but he could try to distract her so she didn’t think about it every time she closed her eyes.

  And he knew just how to take her mind off things.

  Chapter 14

  Bea stared sightlessly out the window as Micah drove them back to the police station. He was on the phone most of the drive, talking to one of his fellow officers about the scene in Joey McBurn’s yard. She tuned him out, not really enjoying the color commentary. Micah was trying to be discreet about the details, but somehow his use of dry, clinical terms just made her memories worse.

  Even though she hadn’t actually seen the bodies, she’d found the whole scene disturbing. The techs in their white coveralls, thick boots, hair nets and paper face masks were like something out of a movie. And the way they’d heaved the first body out of the pit up onto the level ground? She shuddered, recalling all too well the meaty thud that had sounded as the bag landed on the dirt. In a way, she wished she had seen more—that way her imagination wouldn’t be torturing her now, coming up with ever more gruesome images that would surely haunt her dreams.

  She turned to watch Micah as he drove. He seemed totally unaffected by what they’d just experienced. And why wouldn’t he? He’d been a soldier before becoming a police officer. Surely he was no stranger to death and its many forms. Still, it bothered her a little to see him so unfazed. They’d just seen two bodies pulled out of the ground, two people whose lives had been cut tragically short. Did that mean nothing to him? Was he really that callous now? Or was he simply compartmentalizing things, turning off his emotions so he could respond in a professional manner? She made a mental note to ask him about it later; she didn’t feel up to talking at the moment.

  Micah drove past the police station, heading farther out of town. She frowned. “Where are we going?”

  “I thought you might need a distraction,�
�� he said, casting a glance in her direction. A moment later, he turned into the parking lot for the K-9 training center. Her sister Patience worked here as a veterinarian, but Bea had never visited her at work before.

  “So you brought me to see my sister?” It was a nice gesture, but Bea wasn’t really in the right frame of mind to catch up with Patience. She’d much rather go home, brew a cup of tea and watch mindless television to take her thoughts off today’s events. No, not home, she remembered sourly. She couldn’t even do that anymore. The reminder made her already dark mood blacken further.

  “Not exactly,” Micah said. He climbed out of the truck and retrieved Chunk before walking over to her side of the vehicle.

  “I don’t understand,” she said flatly. Whatever was going on here, she wished he would get to the point.

  “I want to show you something.”

  Bea sighed. “I’m not really in the mood for surprises.” She sounded bitchy even to her own ears, but recent events had taken a toll on her usual sunny outlook. After the break-in and her assault, and finding out her father had betrayed her and that Micah still had feelings for her, today’s surprise exhumation was the icing on the cake of an emotional roller coaster. She needed to step off this ride from hell and center herself before the next blow that was sure to come.

  Micah’s green eyes were warm and understanding, as if he could tell she was at the end of her rope. “Five minutes. That’s all I’m asking for.”

  She nodded. “Five minutes,” she agreed. “Then you’ll take me home?”

  “If that’s what you want.”

  Bea couldn’t imagine why she wouldn’t want to go home, but she let his comment slide. Together, the three of them walked into the training center and stopped at the front desk.

  A young woman beamed up at them, her reddish-blond hair pulled into a serviceable ponytail. “Hey, Officer Shaw! Good to see you!” She stepped around the desk and knelt to lavish attention on Chunk. “And you, too, you pretty boy!”

  Chunk sniffed and licked at the woman, clearly excited to see her. “How’s it going, Danica?” Micah asked.

  “Good, good,” she replied, not bothering to look up. She only had eyes for Chunk, and the dog was eating up the attention. Bea had never seen his tail move that fast. “What brings you in today? I didn’t see Chunk on the vet schedule. Is he doing okay?” Her voice changed, taking on a singsong quality as she addressed the dog directly. “Are you feeling all right, buddy? Do you need to see Dr. Patience?”

  Micah smiled. “He’s fine. I thought we’d stop in and take a look at the new recruits.”

  “Oh!” Danica popped back to her feet. “They’re doing really well. I’d be happy to show you.” She turned to Bea and stuck out her hand. “Sorry, I’m being rude. Danica Gage. I’m one of the trainers here.”

  “Bea Colton. Patience is my sister.”

  The woman studied her face, a smile blooming. “Yes, she definitely is. I can see the resemblance. Nice to meet you.”

  “You, as well,” Bea said. She liked Danica already. There was something disarming about her obvious affection for Chunk, and Bea suspected he wasn’t the only one to receive such an enthusiastic welcome.

  “Right this way.” Danica led them down a hallway, past several doors sporting large windows. Bea glanced in as they walked by, catching glimpses of kennels and what looked like dog supplies—food, toys, bedding and the like.

  Danica made a few turns, then stopped in front of a door facing a bank of windows. A large, fenced-in yard was visible, and beyond that, Bea saw part of Black Hills Lake.

  “Nice view,” she remarked.

  Danica turned to follow her glance. “Yeah. It really is pretty. Sometimes I have to tell myself to stop and enjoy the view. I get so caught up in work that I forget how nice it is.”

  Bea nodded, understanding perfectly. She was surrounded by beautiful gowns all day, every day. Each dress was a work of art, and yet she often found herself treating them as just another article of clothing. She handled them carefully, of course, but there were days she didn’t really see them at all. Often, it took the exhilarated look of a bride who’d found her dream gown to help Bea appreciate the beauty again.

  Danica peered through the window cut high in the door. “Okay, these guys are working on simple commands right now, but they’re about due for a break.” She knocked twice on the door and it was opened by another young woman. “Up for some visitors?”

  “Sure thing,” the second trainer replied. “We’re wrapping up now.”

  Danica nodded and gestured for Bea and Micah to come inside.

  Bea followed her into the room and gasped. Sitting in a row along the far wall was a line of puppies, each one wearing a mini harness like the one Chunk had been wearing earlier. There were five dogs in all, each one so adorable it nearly made her teeth hurt to look at them.

  The dogs studied her, their eyes bright and interested as they watched Danica and Bea walk into the room. But when they saw Chunk they yipped in excitement and danced in place. A few piddled on the floor, and the second trainer moved quickly to mop up the messes.

  For his part, Chunk let out a happy bark and made an elaborate bow to the puppies. Apparently interpreting this as some kind of signal, the dogs rushed at him en masse, circling and jumping on Chunk with abandon. Chunk sniffed at the newcomers and tolerated the attention with good grace. He pawed at the noses of a few of the bolder puppies, but his actions were gentle and the dogs were undeterred in their investigation. After a moment, Chunk rolled onto his back, his long ears spread out on the floor as the dogs scampered over and around him.

  “Oh, my goodness,” Bea whispered. “I’ve never seen anything so cute in my life!”

  “Would you like to pet one?” Danica offered.

  Bea started nodding before Danica had finished speaking. “If that’s okay. I don’t want to mess up their training. I know working dogs aren’t supposed to be touched while they’re on the job.” She found a spot a few feet away and sat, unable to tear her gaze away from the scene before her.

  “It’s okay. They’re on break now. Besides, thanks to Chunk, we’ll never be able to get their attention again.” She walked over and scooped up one of the quieter puppies and deposited the dog in Bea’s lap.

  Bea touched one velvet-soft ear with her fingertip, then the other. “Hello,” she said quietly. “What’s your name?”

  “That’s Zoe,” Danica said. “She’s a sweetheart.”

  Bea felt Micah settle on the floor next to her and lean close. “Pretty girl,” he said, his voice soothing.

  Zoe wriggled her little body, her tail going a mile a minute as she sniffed and licked Bea’s hand. “What kind of dog is she? She looks like a German shepherd, but not quite.”

  “She’s a Belgian Malinois,” Danica replied.

  “How old is she?”

  “About nine months. Training doesn’t officially begin until the dogs are around a year old, but we like to start early, acclimating them to the staff and the facility. We play with them and teach them simple commands, then work on building and expanding their skills as their attention span matures.”

  “They’re all so cute.” Zoe settled into her lap while another puppy wandered over to sniff Micah’s shoes. He jumped back, startled, when Micah stretched out a hand to pet him. The dog sniffed cautiously, then allowed Micah to touch him.

  “I’m not gonna hurt you, buddy,” Micah said. He stroked the puppy’s back with firm, even swipes of his hand. After a few seconds, the dog decided he liked the attention, after all, and his little body relaxed. Micah smiled. “He reminds me of Duke.”

  “He was suspicious of new people?” Bea asked.

  Micah nodded. “Yeah. But once he knew you, everything was fine.” He continued stroking the puppy, his expression thoughtful. “I like dogs that make you work for it a little bit. Fe
els like you’ve really earned something when you gain their trust.”

  “Chunk seems like an equal-opportunity kind of dog,” Bea observed, watching as he interacted with the puppies. She’d never seen him so relaxed and playful before, and she imagined this was a nice break for him, too.

  “Yeah, Chunk’s a big softie,” Micah confirmed. “But I don’t hold it against him. He’s actually pretty good about separating the good from the bad. In my experience, he’s only affectionate toward people who are innocent or can be trusted. If we’re around bad guys, he’s very reserved and standoffish. He even snapped at someone once, when he thought they were trying to hurt me.”

  “Wow.” She glanced at Chunk, who was lying on the ground, a look of total bliss on his face as one of the puppies chewed on his ear. “That’s surprising.”

  “He’s got his limits, just like we all do.” Micah gave the puppy a final pat, then got to his feet. “I have to run back to the station for a bit. Would you like to stay here? I think you’ll be safe with all the people around.”

  The thought of going back to the world of dead bodies and serial killers was unappealing, but she didn’t want to wear out her welcome at the training center. “Only if it’s okay,” she said.

  “Totally,” Danica said. “You can help me feed these guys, if you want.”

  “Absolutely,” Bea said, feeling a flash of gratitude at the woman’s easy acceptance of her presence.

  Micah nodded, a small smile playing at his lips. “I’ll come back for you later. Call me if you need me.” He called for Chunk and his partner got to his feet, albeit a little reluctantly.

  “You can leave him, too,” Danica said. “I’d be happy to look after him, as well.”

  Micah nodded. “If you’re sure,” he said. “I think he likes being around the little ones.”

  “It’s good for them, too,” Danica replied. “Gives them something to strive for.”

  Bea laughed at the absurd thought but she appreciated the sentiment.