by Terri Reed
Gina lifted her chin. “No, sir, I won’t.”
Sophie and Ryder joined them. They’d managed to corral the puppies and now each had one in their arms.
“Where’s Marco, the third pup?” Gina asked.
“He’s probably inside,” Sophie said. “I’ll round him up and put him in the crate with these two.”
“I didn’t see a third puppy when I was inside,” Ryder said. “Just these ones.”
For a moment no one said anything. Then Shane asked, “Could the killer have taken the puppy?”
* * *
Shane thinks I could have killed Veronica! Standing beneath the bright glare of the flood lamps that illuminated the crime scene in garish detail, Gina curled her fingers into fists and pressed them into the sides of her thighs. She stared at Shane as he stepped away to call another rookie—his roommate, James Harrison—and wanted to scream. How could he think she’d do something so horrible?
But it wasn’t as if he knew her, despite their having spent every day together the past twelve weeks. She knew he took his job very seriously, but really?
She inwardly scoffed. What did it matter anyway? So what if the handsome officer had invaded her daydreams over the past weeks. She couldn’t, wouldn’t, allow herself to develop deep feelings for him. There was too much risk involved. And risky behavior was something she avoided. Besides, now that his training had ended, he’d be moving on. As he should.
Forcing her mind away from what Shane thought of her, she tried to focus on the missing puppy, Marco. But the fear of Tim and where he might be made it difficult. His presence loomed, a dark shadow at the edges of her awareness.
“Maybe Marco got out of the yard,” she said, careful to keep her gaze from where Veronica lay in the dirt. Even though the coroner had covered her body with an opaque plastic sheet, Gina didn’t want to look. The image of Veronica’s lifeless eyes, so like Gina’s father’s after Tim had killed him, would haunt her nightmares for a long time to come.
Instead, out of habit—or out of self-defense, as her therapist would most likely observe—she shifted her gaze to the wooded area behind the training center. “The puppy could be in the woods.”
So could Tim. A shiver chased the thought across her flesh.
She turned to look down the residential street flanking one side of the center. “Or in someone’s backyard. Maybe he ran out and someone took him in?”
“Good thought,” the chief said. “As soon as Harmon arrives I’ll have him start searching for the pup. The woods will have to wait until daybreak since we don’t have the manpower to spare.”
“The puppy has a distinct black circular marking on its head, between its fawn-colored ears,” Gina told them. “He’s a very sweet puppy. They all are.”
“Is there a way to check if Veronica chipped the dogs? That would give us a better time line for when she was...killed.” Ryder nearly dropped the wiggling pup. “Hey, settle down.”
“That’s Ricky,” Gina told him. “Mrs. Foxcroft insisted on naming the puppies. Marco was named after one of her relatives who founded Desert Valley. The other two are Ricky and Lucy. She loves the I Love Lucy show.”
Sophie stroked Lucy’s head. “I can check to see if they’re chipped. It will only take a moment. But we’ll have to go inside.”
The chief asked Ryder, “Did you find the scene of the crime?”
“Yes, sir,” Ryder replied. “The trail of blood leads to the clinic.”
“That’s where Veronica would have done the chipping,” Gina interjected, sick at the thought of Veronica facing down Tim alone.
“Any sign of a struggle?” Sophie nuzzled Lucy. The pup squirmed in her arms, clearly wanting to be set free again.
Ryder shook his head. “Not in the clinic. My guess is she knew the killer. Otherwise, Veronica would have fought. She’s— She was a fighter.”
Gina’s heart thumped. “She didn’t know Tim.”
No one in Desert Valley even knew she had a brother.
She’d been careful to keep her past buried. She hadn’t wanted the attention. She’d tried to keep a low profile. With her brother on the loose, having escaped police custody and out for vengeance after she’d turned him in for killing their father, she’d hoped and prayed he’d never find her. But he had. How? What had led him to Desert Valley?
“But if he came in asking for you and she didn’t think he was a threat...” Shane said, rejoining them and pulling her from her thoughts.
Gina frowned, hating that he was right. Tim could be charming when he wanted to be. He could have surprised Veronica, not given her time to defend herself. Gina’s insides twisted. How had Tim found her? How many more lives would Tim ruin before he was stopped? Cold sweat broke out on her neck.
Ryder eyed Gina’s fellow trainer and friend Sophie with a speculative gleam in his blue eyes. “Where were you tonight?”
Sophie’s gaze hardened. “Home. Alone. As I said, I heard over the police radio that something was going on here.”
“Which means the press will have heard, as well,” the chief interjected. “No doubt a reporter from the Canyon County Gazette is on the way. Let’s secure this crime scene pronto.” He looked to the coroner. “Randolph, what do you think?”
“My preliminary examination supports that the scene of the crime was elsewhere. Rigor hasn’t set in yet, so estimated time of death is within the past hour. There are two visible wounds in the chest, consistent in size and shape to what one would expect to see from a bullet. No exit wounds. Once the...”
He faltered as he straightened. In such a small town as Desert Valley, it was conceivable that Randolph had known Veronica. Since Desert Valley didn’t have a crime lab, everything including the victim’s body would be transported to Flagstaff and processed there. Gina considered that a blessing for the visibly shaken coroner.
Randolph removed his gloves and tossed them into a plastic bag before plucking his thick glasses from his nose. His dark eyes were sad. “Once the autopsy is performed you’ll be provided a conclusive cause of death.”
Ryder gestured to the dark trail of blood. “What I can’t determine is if Veronica was dragged out here or if she crawled out on her own steam before she died. Even with the lamps it’s too dark to see impressions in the dirt. In the morning we’ll have a better idea of what happened.”
“She might’ve been trying to find help,” Gina said. “Though why wouldn’t she use the phone? Either the center’s landline or her cell?”
“Good questions,” the chief said. “Ryder, I want you to take the lead in this investigation.”
Clearly surprised, Ryder nodded. “Yes, sir. I’ll do everything possible to find Veronica’s murderer.”
“What’s the story with your brother, anyway?” Shane asked Gina, drawing everyone’s attention. “Why was he in police custody?”
Gina bit her lip, loathing to air her sordid family history in public. She’d purposely kept her personal information vague when asked, but with everyone staring at her, waiting for an explanation, she had no choice but to explain.
“He suffers from schizoaffective disorder. Our father enrolled him in an experimental program two years ago, but Tim didn’t want to go. He was in one of his manic phases and had a psychotic break. He killed—” Her voice wavered. “He killed our father with Dad’s own service weapon. The police arrested him, but he escaped custody and fled. He blames me for calling the police and turning him in. Now he’s here and has made it very clear he wants to kill me, too.”
“That’s rough,” Ryder said. The puppy in his arms licked his face.
Earl put his hand on her shoulder. “We won’t let anything happen to you.”
Shane’s gaze was skeptical. He didn’t believe her. And that hurt.
Sophie snuggled Lucy closer. “If Tim has Ma
rco, do you think he’d hurt him?”
Gina put a hand over the pain exploding in her heart. “I hope not.” She gave a helpless shrug. “He has killed before, so I’m not certain of anything when it comes to Tim.”
“James is headed to your house,” Shane said. “As soon as he gives the all clear, we’ll head over so you can change.”
Gina looked at Sophie and admitted softly to her friend, “I’m afraid to go home.”
“Weston will accompany you.” The chief squeezed her shoulder.
Her stomach somersaulted. For the past twelve weeks she and Shane had danced around each other and the attraction that, at times, was so strong between them she grew light-headed. Like she was now as she stared into his emerald gaze.
But apparently the attraction had been one-sided.
Just as well. She had homicidal tendencies floating in her genetic soup. A fact she couldn’t deny, nor would she burden anyone else with it.
Besides, Shane was leaving town as soon as he was given his assignment. She’d be a fool to ever let herself become attached to him.
“You’ll be safe with Harrison and Weston.” The chief’s voice was reassuring and confident, yet did nothing to assure her.
Would she be safe with them? Would they be safe with her? Or would they become two more victims of Tim’s rage?
She didn’t want to go anywhere with Shane if he thought she could be a murderer.
A taunting thought screamed through her. You share the same DNA as Tim. Why wouldn’t he wonder if you’re capable of murder, too?
THREE
Giving herself a mental shake, Gina tore her gaze away from Shane and focused on Sophie. She liked the other trainer; they got along well. Veronica had intimated that Sophie had somehow failed as a cop, but Gina had been careful not to ask many questions about what had brought Sophie to Desert Valley. Not that Gina wasn’t curious, but she’d figured she’d better not probe if she didn’t want anyone probing into her past. “Can you take me?”
Sophie winced. “I’m going to need to stay here and see what else might be missing besides our little Marco.”
Gina blew out a frustrated breath. “I understand. You should also check the vet’s prescription drug supply next door. If Tim needed money, he could sell the dog and any drugs he stole.” She glanced at Shane as he answered his ringing phone.
After a moment, he hung up and said, “Officer Harrison says your house is clear.”
She was boxed in with no other option. “Okay, fine. Let’s go.”
She hurried away. Each step that took her closer to her house pounded another shard of fear into her. What if Tim had slipped past them and was waiting for her to return home? What if he was there now hurting James Harrison? She shook her head to dislodge the horrid thought.
“Hey, wait up,” Shane called as he hurried toward her, Bella trotting at his side.
She slowed, keeping her gaze alert for any sign of Tim. Having Shane and Bella close did help keep the terror from overwhelming her. She whistled for the puppy. “Marco!”
Shane fell into step beside her. Bella stayed at his heel on his other side. He swept his flashlight over the bushes and at the trees. “Marco, here, boy.”
Worry for the pup churned in Gina’s stomach. Predators such as coyotes, mountain lions, bobcats and bears roamed the area. Though most stayed clear of the town, there had been enough sightings for Gina to know the small puppy wouldn’t stand a chance on his own in the wild.
She knocked on every front door between the training yard and her house, but no one had seen Marco. He must have run in the opposite direction. Or toward the woods at the back of the training center.
Though the moon was high and the clouds had moved on, there was no way to track the puppy at night. She shivered, grateful for Shane’s presence. His calmness helped to ground her fears and keep her coherent as she woke her neighbors with her questions about the missing puppy.
As they neared her house, Shane said, “For the record, I don’t want to believe you killed Veronica.”
“For the record, I didn’t kill her,” Gina shot back with frustration. “I may have had my issues with her, but I would never hurt another living soul.”
At least she prayed not. But the fear was always at the edge of her consciousness. “I can’t imagine how Marian Foxcroft will react to learning one of the puppies she donated to the center has gone missing.”
“Ellen’s mother, right?”
“Yes.” Ellen Foxcroft was another graduate from the same training session as Shane. “Marian has a purebred German shepherd.” Acid burned in Gina’s tummy. “I pray we find Marco. I can only imagine how upset Marian will be.”
“It was very generous of Mrs. Foxcroft to give the puppies to the training center,” Shane commented.
“Yes. Very generous. However, Veronica was certain Marian’s intention wasn’t pure benevolence.” A wave of sadness washed over her. Veronica had had her faults, but she hadn’t deserved to die.
Shane stopped walking and drew her into the shadows of a mesquite tree. “How so?”
His closeness sent her senses spinning. She backed up a step and bumped up against the tree. “I’m not sure. Veronica could be so caustic at times that I rarely paid any attention to her snide remarks. But she’d said something to the effect that Marian holds her donations over the center and expects something in return.”
“Like what?” He braced a hand on the tree near her head, surrounding her in a warm cocoon.
Her brain became a muddled mess. “I have no idea.”
“What’s the story with Mrs. Foxcroft?”
Needing distance from him and the confusing effect he had on her, Gina sighed and pushed away from the tree. She really hated telling tales out of turn. But if doing so helped her to earn Shane’s trust, then so be it. She stepped back onto the road. “I don’t know all the details. Her husband left about five years ago. As far as I know they never divorced. Marian’s family dates back to the founding of the town, though I’m not sure where her wealth came from.”
“I find it interesting that Ellen became a police officer,” Shane said, falling back into step with her. “How did her mother take it?”
“I don’t know. Ellen doesn’t talk much about her mom.” Gina wrinkled her nose. “Marian Foxcroft is...” She struggled to come up with a polite term for the town’s feisty matriarch.
“Intimidating?” Shane supplied.
“Yes, exactly.”
A car horn beeped. Shane waved a hand. James Harrison, another of the rookies from the most recent graduating training session, pulled up alongside them in his truck. His bloodhound, Hawk, poked his droopy-faced head out of the open passenger window.
James leaned over. “Hey, I was headed to the station.” He turned his focus to Gina. “Your house is in shambles. But there was no sign of the intruder.”
“That’s good,” Shane replied.
Gina detested hearing her house had been violated. Obviously, Tim had doubled back just as she’d thought. He could have easily sneaked past them through the woods. And he’d taken out his rage on her home. The thought knocked the breath from her lungs.
If she hadn’t been quick enough to get out of the house, if he’d overtaken her at any point, she could very well be dead at this moment. Like Veronica.
Gina clenched her jaw tight to keep from throwing up.
“Is it true? Veronica’s dead?” James asked, openly stunned.
“Yes,” Shane replied.
James ran a hand through his hair. “That’s shocking. I mean, I just saw her this afternoon at the station.”
“You’ll need to give your statement to Ryder,” Shane said. “That’ll help with the time line leading up to her death.”
“Yeah, sure,” James said. “Should
I head over there now?”
“Not yet,” Shane said. “The chief wants us to stick close to Gina.” He turned to her. “Which is your house?”
“The one on the corner.” She pointed to the end of the street, at the small yellow-and-white two-story cottage that had been her safe haven for two years. She’d had the house painted yellow because the color had been her mother’s favorite.
James nodded and turned his truck around before heading back to Gina’s and parking in the driveway. As Gina, Shane and Bella approached, James let Hawk out. Bella and Hawk greeted each other.
Shane filled James in on what had happened both here at Gina’s house and at the training center.
James whistled through his teeth as he climbed out of his truck. “Wow, this is a lot to process. Veronica had insisted she needed to come to the condo tonight to show me some pointers she thought would be helpful with Hawk.”
“That’s strange,” Gina said. James had done well with his and his bloodhound’s training. “What kind of refresher would you need?”
The tall blond and blue-eyed man shook his head. “I have no idea. I thought it was weird, too, but...” He shrugged.
Dismissing the mystery of what Veronica had been thinking, Gina stepped through the open front door of her little house. She stopped at the sight of her living room. Everything was smashed and broken.
A deep sense of violation and helplessness spread through her, choking off her air. The destruction was senseless.
“The upstairs is just as bad, if not worse,” James informed her, with sympathy tingeing his words. Hawk, James’s bloodhound, let out a long wail that echoed through the house. Stark fear grabbed Gina by the throat. Had Tim managed to sneak in after James’s walk-through?
But the dog turned toward the front door. Something outside the house had him on alert.
Was Tim out there?
Gina moved closer to Shane. He stepped slightly in front of her. The protective gesture melted some of the animosity she’d been feeling toward him.
A woman and a dog entered. Gina let out a relieved breath at the sight of rookie Ellen Foxcroft and her large golden retriever, Carly. After a quick nod of acknowledgment to James and Shane, Ellen turned to Gina. Her normally bright blue eyes were clouded with anxiety. “Are you hurt?”