Undercover Mission

by Sharon Dunn

  It opened again not more than a few inches.

  Sarge’s barking was the last thing she heard before the darkness surrounded her.

  * * *

  David managed to get the door open far enough for Sarge to squeeze through. The barking was filled with menace and punctuated with growls. David pushed hard against the door, but it was held in place.

  On the other side of the door he heard Joel yelp in pain. David grabbed the knob and pushed on the door again. There was still some sort of weight on the other side, but he was able to open it wide enough so he could get through. Once in, he saw that the weight was Maya’s unconscious body. The sight of her lying there so still was like a blow to his stomach that knocked the wind out of him.

  He knelt down. She still had a pulse.

  Both Joel and Sarge were nowhere in sight. He hurried toward the entrance that led up the stairwell toward the sound of the muffled barking. He swung the door open. Sarge had cornered Joel on the landing.

  “Call him off.” Joel’s voice was filled with terror.

  David hurried up the stairs. Sarge stopped barking but licked his chops and kept his eyes on his prey.

  David pulled Joel’s hands behind him and secured them with zip ties they used as cuffs. “You’re going to be locked up for a long time for what you’ve done.”

  Joel jerked and lifted his chin. “We’ll see about that.”

  Noah appeared at the bottom of the stairs.

  “Take him in please,” David said. “I’ve got to take care of Maya. Come on, Sarge.”

  David returned to where Maya still lay unconscious. Her head tilted to the side and her long dark hair covered her face.

  He gathered her in his arms and brushed the hair away. Sarge whimpered and licked her face. “It’s going to be all right. She’s going to be okay. She has to be. I love her.”

  Sarge licked David’s face and wagged his tail.

  “It’s true, buddy.” He stared down at Maya’s beautiful face. “I realized I loved her when I thought about a world without her if she didn’t survive this operation to take down Joel...” He brushed his finger over her cheek.

  Her eyes fluttered open. “David.”

  He gushed with joy. “So good to see you.”

  “Joel?”

  “We caught him.”

  “Oh...good.” Her voice was still very weak.

  He cringed when he saw the bruises on her neck. “We almost lost you.”

  She looked directly at him. “Yes, but you didn’t, and the important thing is that Joel has been apprehended.”

  “That is a great thing, but it’s not the most important thing.”

  “What are you saying?”

  David’s throat constricted and his mouth went dry. He wanted to tell her he loved her but the words would not come. Sarge whimpered and licked David’s hand as though offering support.

  Maya lifted her head a little and then pushed herself into a sitting position. She glanced at the dog and then at David. “Is everything okay?”

  “Great...fine.”

  “Well, once we’re in port, Joel will be taken into custody and I can head back to headquarters in Anchorage. I missed everyone so much.”

  “I’m sure you’re excited to get back.” David rose to his feet and reached a hand down to help her to her feet.

  “Sure of course.”

  They faced each other as the sun was coming up and the lights of Seward glowed in the distance. It was clear Maya had already shifted focus to getting back to work with her team. Even if he could find the words to tell her how he felt, she might not feel the same way.

  TWENTY

  The next day, before she could even make it to her office at headquarters with Sarge, Maya got a text from her boss.

  Welcome back. We need you in the conference room ASAP.

  Back to work. Though she was excited about seeing the rest of the team, she’d felt an emptiness ever since she’d said goodbye to David and left Seward. If he had truly cared about her, he would have said something, right?

  Sarge trotted beside her as she headed to the conference room. “We just got to let him go, don’t we? It wasn’t meant to be.”

  Sarge whimpered in response.

  When she entered the conference room, the first thing she saw was a banner that said Welcome Home, Maya.

  Four team members stood around the conference table that held a box of cupcakes frosted in bright colors. Lorenza, her assistant Katie, Helena with her Norwegian elkhound Luna and Eli, the tech guy.

  Helena stepped forward and gave Maya a hug. “The rest of the team is out on assignments. Otherwise everyone would have been here.”

  “It’s good to be back,” Maya said. Sarge let out a little yip. “He agrees.”

  Katie handed Maya a cupcake with yellow frosting.

  Maya looked up at the sign.

  I am home. And then she looked at the people surrounding the table. And this is my family.

  Katie’s green eyes flashed. “So you’ll have to tell us all about your adventures on the cruise ship.” She took a bite of her cupcake.

  The sudden pang inside surprised Maya. She couldn’t just forget David and get on with her life. Because the truth was, she cared deeply for him. If only he felt the same way... “Maybe sometime over lunch we will talk about it.”

  “I hate to rush this along,” Lorenza said, running her hands through her silver hair. “But we do need to get to work. Maya, I want you and Helena to go back out to Chugach State Park where she was shot at after she started asking questions about Eli’s godmother’s family.” Lorenza rested her gaze on Eli. “I think we are getting closer to finding the Seavers. Given what happened to Helena, I’m sending you out in pairs to ask questions.”

  Maya nodded, glad to be able to dive right into work. Maybe that would help ease her broken heart.

  She and Helena loaded up into the K-9 trooper vehicle and headed out to the park. The day went by quickly. Though they questioned several people who were close to where Helena had been shot at, no new evidence emerged. They headed home just as the sun was setting. Maya was grateful for the longer days of summer.

  Helena was driving as they pulled back into the headquarters parking lot. “You want to grab a bite?”

  “Sure.” Maya looked through the windshield. She wondered if her eyes were playing tricks on her. David, still dressed in his uniform, stood on the sidewalk holding a bouquet of flowers.

  Helena leaned a little closer to the windshield. “Who’s that handsome guy?”

  Joy flooded through Maya. “Someone I met on the cruise.” She clicked open her door and then unloaded Sarge. She raced over to where David waited.

  He handed her the flowers. “I didn’t go back out with the ship. I knew I couldn’t.”

  She shook her head. “What are you saying?”

  “Maya, when I thought you might die I realized something. I love you. I don’t want to live in a world without you.”

  “But David, your life is on this ship.”

  “I can take a leave of absence and we can figure it out together. I’m open to anything as long as it’s with you. Wherever you are is my home, Maya.”

  “I agree. You and me, together is all that matters.” She looked down at her partner. “And Sarge of course.”

  He smiled. “Of course.”

  “Why the change of heart? You love that ship and your job. I saw that would never force you away from that.”

  “That’s one of the reasons I love you Maya. Cause you want me to be happy.” Light danced in his blue eyes. “After you left, I felt this huge hole inside.” He brushed her cheek with the back of his fingers.

  His touch made her feel warm all the way through. “Me too.”

  “I realized that what was holding me back had nothing to do with who
you are. I can’t let the fear that I will be like my father keep me from having love in my life. And I don’t want to miss out on a lifetime with someone as wonderful as you.”

  Joy surged through her, and she reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Oh David.”

  Being in David’s arms made her feel alive.

  He pulled his head back, smiled and kissed her.

  His hand rested on her cheek as he looked into her eyes. “I love you and I want to be with you. That is all that matters.”

  “I love you too.”

  Sarge gave his bark of approval. David drew Maya close and kissed her again.

  * * *

  ALASKA K-9 UNIT

  These state troopers fight for justice with the help of their brave canine partners.

  Alaskan Rescue by Terri Reed, April 2021

  Wilderness Defender by Maggie K. Black, May 2021

  Undercover Mission by Sharon Dunn, June 2021

  Tracking Stolen Secrets by Laura Scott, July 2021

  Deadly Cargo by Jodie Bailey, August 2021

  Arctic Witness by Heather Woodhaven September 2021

  Yukon Justice by Dana Mentink, October 2021

  Blizzard Showdown by Shirlee McCoy, November 2021

  Christmas K-9 Protectors by Lenora Worth and Maggie K. Black, December 2021

  Keep reading for an excerpt from Peril on the Ranch by Lynette Eason.

  Dear Reader,

  Wow! What fun I had writing about danger and mystery on a cruise ship. I hope you enjoyed watching Maya, Sarge and David work together to track down a killer. As I was writing, I thought about how much fear has a hold on David’s life. Because of past bad relationships and a father who was not a good role model, David is afraid of falling in love, of being hurt and of hurting someone else. In big ways and in small ways, fear can control our lives and we might not even realize it. We fear making a mistake or a bad decision, so we end up stuck doing nothing. I am one who is quick to beat myself up if things don’t go well when I take action. I am learning to rewire my brain, so when something turns out different than I had intended, instead of condemning myself, I ask myself what can I learn from my mistake. That is where growth begins. How about you? Is fear holding you back in relationships, a job or in some other area of your life? Be courageous. God has not given us a spirit of fear.

  Sharon Dunn

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  Peril on the Ranch

  by Lynette Eason

  ONE

  Isabelle Trent woke with a start. She lay still, trying to figure out what had jarred her just as the sun was beginning to make its way above the horizon. She’d forgotten to pull her curtains closed before she’d fallen into bed with a half-finished prayer on her lips.

  Maybe it was just the light that had disturbed her.

  A faint cry reached her.

  Or maybe not. One of the children?

  Isabelle threw off the covers and hurried to pull on her robe and slippers. She darted out of the bedroom and into the hall, pausing to listen. Nothing. She went to the room nearest hers and peered in. The twin beds on opposite walls each held one child. Twelve-year-old Danny Billings and fourteen-year-old Zeb Hammrick, who’d become best of friends since being placed with her. Zeb had arrived first, two months ago. Danny had come a short two days later. Both boys slept the deep sleep of those without worries—exactly what she’d worked so hard to help them do.

  In the next room, five-year-old Katie Miller snored gently, her left arm wrapped around the neck of the little doll she was never without.

  The sound reached Isabelle’s ears once more coming from farther away. A cry that sounded like...a baby? A kitten? She retraced her steps back to her bedroom, bypassed it and stepped into the great room.

  The sound grew louder, and it came from the wraparound porch just ahead.

  Finally, she identified it.

  A baby.

  With a soft gasp, Isabelle hurried forward to unlock the French door and step outside. A brisk October wind whipped her hair around her face and chills skated up her spine. The wood creaked beneath her weight and the crying stopped for a brief second before resuming at an ear-piercing decibel level. She flipped the light on.

  At her feet, an infant was strapped into a carrier. A heavy wool blanket covered the baby. A small box sat next to the carrier. “Oh, my sweet little one.” Isabelle released the straps and scooped the tiny body, blanket and all, into her arms. Sniffles and hiccups greeted her. A piece of paper fluttered from the blanket back into the carrier as the baby jammed a fist into its mouth.

  Another angry wail rattled the roof. “Okay, I hear you. You’re definitely hungry.” She knelt to check the box and breathed a sigh of relief when she found a full bottle and a can of formula, along with a pack of diapers and wipes. She snatched the bottle and shook it. How long had it been in there? It was room temperature, so it was probably fine. If it had been out much longer, it would have been cold thanks to the temperatures hovering in the midforty range.

  Movement from the edge of the porch caught her attention. “Hey, who’s there?” She stuck the nipple into the baby’s mouth, and blessed quiet ensued.

  The figure moved, slipping away from the glow of the light.

  The slow-moving sun only revealed the silhouette of the person simply standing there. Not moving. Just watching. Male or female, she couldn’t tell. Unease crawled through her. “Hey, is this your baby?”

  Again, nothing. But she thought it might be a man. Then again, the lanky form could be an older teen. His hoodie-covered head swiveled left, then right. She tried to see his face hidden by the cloth but could only make out a shadow. “Hello?”

  Still, he stayed silent. He looked back over his shoulder one more time, then seemed to make up his mind about something. Her nerves jangled and alarm shuddered through her. He took a step toward her and Isabelle spun. Holding the infant in the crook of her left arm, she twisted the knob with her right hand and pushed the door open just wide enough for her to slip through. She shut the door and locked it.

  Her phone sat on her nightstand in her bedroom, but she was too busy worrying about if she’d locked the other doors. Heart pounding, she watched the figure through the glass while the baby was content to suck down the contents of the bottle.

  He moved as though to leave, then turned back, dark eyes on hers. He came toward the glass door, reaching for the knob. Clutching the baby, Isabelle whirled and raced to her bedroom to snatch her phone from the nightstand. She dialed 911 and hurried back to the den area to see the dark-clad figure pacing in front of her door. Quick as lightning, he spun and slammed a fist on the wooden part of the door. The noise jarred the infant, who let out a wail.

  “911. What’s your emergency?”

  “Someone’s trying to get in my house.” Breathless, she rattled off her address over the baby’s cries. She pushed the bottle back into the child’s mouth and the wails ceased. “He’s outside on the porch and I’m afraid he’s going to break the glass and push his way in.”

  “Can you get somewhere safe?”

  “No, I can’t leave the house. I’m a foster mother and I have four children here.” She hurried to the garage door and twisted the dead bolt. The lower knob was locked.

  “Other adults?”

  “One in the apartment above the garage, but she’s sixty-five years old. I don’t want her down here. One man, who’s also in his sixties, in the bunkhouse.” Her parents lived on the same land, through the trees and up the hill about half a mile away, but she wasn’t about to call them.

  She lost sight of the intruder as he rounded the corner of the porch. Isabe
lle hurried to keep him in her sights. As she stepped into the living area facing the front of the home, she spotted the headlights of a vehicle coming up the drive. A quick glance at the front door reassured her it was secure, with the dead bolt on and the chain in place.

  The truck pulled to the top of her U-shaped drive and stopped. Who—? She spotted the time. 7:30. Brian McGee. Mac. The man she was supposed to interview this morning for the ranch foreman job. He was early, and she couldn’t let him get out of the truck with a potentially dangerous person on the loose.

  Isabelle unlatched the nearest window and raised it a fraction.

  “Izzy-belle, what’s going on?” Five-year-old Katie stood just inside the living area, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. “Why do I keep hearing a baby cry?”

  “Hang on just a second, honey.” She set the baby on the floor, keeping an eye on the driver of the decades-old truck. He was just sitting there, looking around. What was he doing? She turned to Katie. “Come sit with this little one for a minute, okay?”

  Katie trotted over to plop down next to the child, who clutched the bottle with both hands. “She’s cute.”

  All babies were she to Katie. Isabelle hadn’t had a chance to find out if that was an accurate description, yet. Finally, the person she thought was there for the interview opened the truck door. “Get back in your truck,” she called. “There’s an intruder on the property!”

  “A ’truder?” Katie looked up with a frown. “What’s that?”

  The man stilled. “Where is he?”

  “He went around the side of the house. The police are on the way, but he might be dangerous. Please, get back in your truck and lock the door.” She wasn’t about to urge him inside her home until she knew exactly who he was. He could always drive away if he needed to.

  The sound of breaking glass pulled a gasp from her. “I think he’s trying to get in the kitchen!”

  * * *