Chapter 11

"So weird without the boss here, isn't it?" Nevaeh stared at the empty armchair where Phoenix always sat with her K-9 Dagian.

Jazz, sharing the sofa with Nev at PK-9 headquarters, followed the direction of her bestie's gaze. "Yeah." Hopefully, it would be more relaxed. Phoenix tended to bring a sense of intensity to every PK-9 Agency meeting just from her presence. And it was nerve-wracking trying to figure out what the boss was thinking the whole time behind her inscrutable, ever-watchful gaze.

"I keep waiting for her to march into the room with Dag." Bristol Jones grinned as she feigned a glance at the break room door from the end of the love seat she shared with Cora Thomson.

Toby, Bristol's black Labrador, paused in the middle of searching for dropped food on the floor to look in the same direction, as if wondering what Bris had seen.

"I'm hoping she'll return in another week or so." Cora gave Nev her sweet, maternal-like smile, her golden retriever narcotics detection K-9, Jana, sitting on the floor beside the blonde's knee.

"She didn't tell you when she'll be back?" Given how tight Cora seemed to be with Phoenix, it was hard to believe Cora didn't know more about these mysterious disappearances.

"Not precisely. But her trips usually don't take more than three weeks. She's already been gone for two this time."

"And she didn't say where she went or why." Jazz knew the likely answer, but she couldn't help trying to dig a little. Phoenix had disappeared two other times like this in the year and eight months Jazz had worked at PK-9. Gone for weeks with no warning and no explanation when she'd come back. And everyone on the team seemed fine with that. More than a little suspicious in Jazz's book. It clearly wasn't a vacation, or that would be public knowledge.

"She told me the location this time but not what she's doing there." Cora moved her notebook computer off her lap and set it on the coffee table in front of her. "I can contact her whenever we need her." The note in Cora's tone and the puzzlement in her eyes as she looked up suggested Jazz might be letting her suspicions show a little too much.

But it was so weird that Cora apparently wasn't supposed to share the location with anyone else. What was the big secret? What was the boss hiding?

"I wouldn't worry about Phoenix." Sof lowered into the armchair near Cora as Raksa left her to find the air conditioning vent by his buddy Alvarez.

The German Shepherd and rottie mix sniffed each other before vying for the closest spot to the cool air pouring from the vent.

"She's one chica who can take care of herself." Sof's statement drew Jazz's attention to her face. Those dark eyes glimmered back at Jazz. Was that Sofia's way of telling Jazz to mind her own business? She wouldn't be surprised. Sof was the champion of secrets, given that she'd lived under a false identity, lying to the whole team about who she really was until last year.

Well, Phoenix had apparently known the truth about Sofia the whole time. But Phoenix didn't seem to want anyone to know the truth about her. Whatever that was.

"So, temp leader," Nev tossed Sofia a grin, "what's up first?"

"Jazz is."

Sofia's answer jolted surprise through Jazz. Though at least the raven-haired superspy had delivered it with a smile.

"We were so troubled to hear about the shooting last night." Cora's big blue eyes filled with concern as she looked at Jazz. "I'm thankful you and Flash were unharmed."

"Thanks." At least Cora hadn't included the usual Praise the Lord stuff. Not that Jazz would've said anything to contradict her or point out a fictional God didn't have anything to do with her survival. Cora was the nicest person on the team and the only one Jazz didn't feel judged by. Jazz wasn't about to ruin that.

"Any idea what led to the attempted shooting? Motive?" Sof watched Jazz closely, but her stare wasn't nearly as unnerving as Phoenix's would be if the boss were there right now.

"I don't know of any." Jazz braced herself inwardly. Nev wasn't going to like this. But if she waited until later to share it, she'd really be in trouble with her bestie. "There was another incident two nights ago, though."

"What?" Nev lifted her dark eyebrows.

Jazz met her BFF's gaze. "Two guys jumped me at the gas station."

"And you didn't tell me?"

"You were busy with Branson."

Nev opened her mouth, clearly about to protest, so Jazz continued.

"And I didn't think it was a big deal." She glanced at the others with a shrug. "I figured it was a random mugging or attempted assault. Those things happen a lot at gas stations these days."

"Sadly, that is true." Cora frowned.

"The police thought it was random, too, so I left it at that."

"You don't mean they actually assaulted—"

"No." Jazz shook her head as she interrupted Nev's horrified question. "I was fine. They jumped me as I came out of the convenience store, so I didn't see them in advance. But I handled them. One guy had a knife. I didn't see any guns. Got one in the shoulder with my knife before they took off."

Jazz shook her head. "They wouldn't have gotten away if Flash had been with me. Right, bud?" She bent over and stroked the Malinois's head where he lay on the floor next to her feet.

"I love how you're so casual about single-handedly fending off two male attackers and stabbing one of them." Bris shook her head as she grinned at Jazz. "Way to go, girl."

A smile found Jazz's face at the compliment from the former cop and explosives technician who could hold her own in a fight, too. "Thanks."

"Okay. Could be random or could be connected." Sof tapped the arms of her chair with her fingers, clearly not as impressed as Bris. Compared to what the former CIA agent had done in her past, Jazz supposed her performance was child's play. "Did you see either of the shooters last night well enough to ID them?"

"No. Too dark."

"I can't believe you didn't tell me." Nev's hurt tone pinged a little against Jazz's heart.

"Sorry." Maybe Jazz should've called her that first night. But she couldn't rely on sharing everything with Nev anymore. Nev had other priorities now. A more important relationship than their friendship. And maybe Nev needed to see Jazz supported that relationship and was okay on her own. "It wasn't a big deal. I handled it."

"With flying colors, apparently." Cora sent Jazz and Nev a smile probably meant to soothe their tension. "Phoenix would be pleased."

Jazz doubted that. The boss never seemed pleased with Jazz or her work.

"I told her about the shooting when I spoke with her this morning."

Jazz watched Cora, her stomach tightening. Would the boss care that Jazz was in trouble?

"She said Sofia should decide how the team will respond to the threat."

Disappointment sank in Jazz's belly. Figured. It was stupid of her to think Phoenix would care enough to cut her mystery trip short and come herself to oversee the protection of Jazz. Never mind that Phoenix was always quick to order security measures for the other team members anytime they were in danger. More evidence Jazz wasn't really one of them, even though she'd been there nearly two years. She was getting the feeling she could be there for ten years and still not be one of them. Story of her life.

"Let's start by looking for motive." Sof's take-charge tone drew the attention of the team. "Do you have any enemies that you know of?"

Jazz shrugged. She'd thought about that last night after the shooters tried to take her out. "Maybe terrorists Flash and I caught in Afghanistan. Or the family of anybody I had to kill over there."

"It seems unlikely they would or could follow you here for a war-related action."

Jazz nodded at Bristol's observation. "Agreed."

"What about your fellow soldiers?" Cora hit a more likely nail on the head probably without meaning to, given her innocent expression.

"They weren't my biggest fans." Not for lack of trying to fit in and get along on Jazz's part. "I don't know of anything they should have against me that would make them want to kill me. But some of them were really letting the war get to them. And a few didn't exactly have what I'd call strong morals."

"Go ahead and check into them, Cora." Sof gave the direction like she was already used to being their boss. "See if any are in Minnesota or this area specifically."

"What about someone connected to us?" Nev glanced at Jazz before looking at the others. "Like from a security job."

"Always a possibility, but why target only Jazz?" Sof stood as if she couldn't contain her energy any longer.

"Good point." Bris's gaze followed Sof as she paced behind her chair.

"What are we going to do to protect Jazz?" Nev asked the question Jazz had thought they'd get to much sooner. Or hoped. Would've been nice if someone else besides Nev cared enough to want to keep Jazz safe.

Sof halted and stared at Nev. Had she not thought about giving Jazz protection? Probably not. "That's a must." She shifted her gaze to Jazz. "You're staying with Nevaeh?"

Jazz glanced at Nev. "Only last night."

"Let's make that a longer stay. We wouldn't need to do patrols at your place then. That'll be best since we're already spread thin covering the fairgrounds."

Of course, they wouldn't want to patrol by Jazz's apartment. Forget that Phoenix did that for everyone else on the team the moment they were in danger. What was it Phoenix had said when Nev had been threatened? Something about not tolerating any threat against the PK-9 agency. That apparently only applied to the accepted members of the team. To everyone but Jazz.

"With Nev, you, and your two protection K-9s, the risk should be far too high for anyone to consider attacking you there." Sof continued her justification for not giving Jazz more security.

Nev snorted. "And if they do try, they deserve what they get just for being stupid." She tossed Jazz a grin she didn't return. Nev must not have noticed how differently they were treating Jazz than everyone else.

"Got that right." Bris chuckled along with Nev, though Jazz's bestie gave her a confused sideways glance.

Nev's smile faded as she spoke again. "What about the fair?" She aimed her gaze at Sof. "Should Jazz avoid doing that because of the danger?"

Jazz opened her mouth to put the kibosh on that idea, but Sof answered first.

"The two attacks on Jazz have been overnight, in secluded areas." Sof's dark eyes aimed at Jazz. "I don't think they'll suddenly switch to jumping her in crowded places in daylight."

Even if Sofia was trying to minimize the danger Jazz was in, Jazz liked where she was going this time. "There's no way I'd give up fair security anyway. Not with the fair being threatened."

"But she should at least check in or something, so we know she's okay, right?" Nev looked only at Sof, probably because she knew what Jazz would say to that.

"Good idea." Sof nodded. "Call Nev or Cora every thirty minutes unless you're with one of us."

"You're kidding." Jazz wanted them to be concerned, not make her feel like a teenager who'd been grounded.

A smile curved Sof's lips. "Just for now. Until we can get a bead on who's after you."

"Speaking of the fair," Cora intervened in her sweet tone, probably trying to prevent a confrontation, "their head of security, Butch Klika, called today to request bomb sweeps every morning."

"Hear that, Toby?" Bris glanced down at her explosives detection K-9, who instantly popped up like he was ready to go. "We'll have a reason to get up early again."

Reassurance calmed the tension that had seeped into Jazz's limbs at the reminder of the threat to the fair. Bris and Toby were a spectacular detection team. There shouldn't be a repeat of sabotage using explosives with them on the job.

"It's rotten what's happening this year." Nev's eyes held a mix of anger and sadness as she looked at Jazz. "I can't believe someone's trying to sabotage the fair."

A lump formed in Jazz's throat. "We can't let anything else happen. People will stop coming. Or start pressuring Aunt Joan to shut down the fair before it's done."

"Would that be the worst thing?"

Jazz had to bite her tongue to keep from asking Bristol how she could even think such a thing.

Nev put a hand on Jazz's leg as she answered first. "So much money would be lost. The fair invests a ton of money in advance of the fair to put it on. If they don't recoup that, it could jeopardize future fairs."

"Not to mention all the people who depend on the Tri-City Fair for their livelihood." Jazz couldn't keep quiet any longer. "Vendors, farmers, breeders—there are thousands of people who rely on the fair to keep them afloat, to provide for their families." And then there were the other reasons. The fact that the fair was the happiest place on earth for Jazz, and she was sure she wasn't the only one who felt that way.

The fact that it was home. The place where she and Nev had spent their summers, having adventures together that bonded them like sisters, forever. The place where Jazz had been accepted by the friendly vendors and other staff she'd seen every year. The folks who knew she was the General Manager's niece and treated her with respect and kindness. People who, like Nev, cared about her more than her blood relatives.

"Oh, my." Lines crossed Cora's pale forehead. "There is a great deal at stake, isn't there?" At least the worry on Cora's face meant she got it.

"Does anyone else think it's a little too coincidental that the first attack on Jazz happened the same day as the fair opened and was sabotaged?" Bris scanned the group.

Nev pushed her fingers into her mass of curls. "I wondered about that. When Jazz finally told us about the first attack." She tossed Jazz a glance. Still wasn't going to let Jazz off the hook for not telling her right away.

"You mentioned your aunt." Bris's voice drew Jazz's gaze to hers. "The sabotage at the fair must be aimed at shutting it down, right? Maybe the culprit thinks if they harm you or threaten you, your aunt will give in and close the fair to keep you safe."

Nev nodded. "This could be the setup period where they're showing they mean business, and then they're gonna give Joan a sort of ransom demand."

"Except that it would never work." All eyes turned to Jazz. "Aunt Joan wouldn't care if I was in danger." The words stuck in her throat more than she thought they would. Silly, given that she'd always known her aunt didn't care about her. Her own dad hadn't. Why would her aunt? Jazz swallowed. "Definitely not enough to shut down the fair."

A silence fell. Great. Now they'd pity her. So much for earning their respect and inclusion.

"Even if that's true," Bris's gray-blue eyes held caution as she broke the hush, "the bad guys wouldn't know that."

She had a point. One Jazz hadn't thought of.

"I wonder if Joan has already gotten threats?" Nev looked at Jazz. "I don't think she'd tell anyone if she had."

"True." Jazz met Nev's gaze. "I should ask—"

"I hate to interrupt the momentum of crime-solving minds at work." Humor filled Sof's tone as she rounded her chair and plopped into it. "But as interim leader, I feel I have to give the reminder Phoenix would at this point. Or would've several minutes ago." She smirked. "We weren't hired to investigate, and that isn't our job."

Nev groaned as Sof paraphrased Phoenix's usual mantra. At least until one of the team members was in danger, and the threat was related to a job.

"We do need to prevent the sabotage on our watches." Sof's dark eyes aimed at Nev and Jazz. "I want you both to focus especially on limited access areas by the rides while you're on patrol. I'm going to handle four to midnight myself to make sure we aren't missing anything."

As if Jazz and Nev weren't doing their jobs as well as Sof. Jazz pressed her lips together to avoid saying something that could get her into trouble.

"The culprit is probably coming in after you and the dogs leave." Bris glanced at the three patrol women.

"Which would mean the greatest need is for the fair to tighten their overnight security." Cora made the observation that only increased Jazz's concern. Would Aunt Joan do that? And how was someone getting in overnight anyway? The fair had always gotten by with lighter security overnight because the grounds were locked up tight at that point.

It could be that someone was managing to hide until closing and then only had to get out after they set up their sabotage. Despite Sofia's boast, no single person and K-9 could cover every inch of the fairgrounds before closing. They were too extensive. PK-9 should probably look at putting two teams on for the last shift. If they had another team, like Phoenix and Dag.

But maybe Sofia was right, and someone was accessing the grounds overnight from the outside. It would be tricky, but probably not impossible. Especially with less security personnel on duty then.

What if Aunt Joan wasn't taking the security measures she could because she was getting threats? Maybe concerning Jazz. Didn't seem likely that would faze Aunt Joan, but Jazz needed to find out what was going on. She couldn't sit by and let her Tri-City Fair be destroyed.

If the PK-9 team wasn't going to help, even with the possible connection between the sabotage and the attacks on Jazz, then she would have to start her own investigation.

Someone had to end the threat on the fair before it was too late. Before anyone else got hurt.