Chapter 31

Jazz raised her eyebrows as Phoenix and Dag veered toward the older, two-story house instead of the large building with a sign that read: Forever Home.

Jazz followed with Flash, but her nerves tensed. This whole setup was so weird—Phoenix bringing only Jazz somewhere she didn't bring most of the PK-9 team.

And now she was leading Jazz to a house that looked very lived-in, judging from the tricycle and toys on the front porch.

Phoenix didn't take detours. So why was she going up to someone's personal home instead of to the kennel where the sound of dogs barking echoed through the walls? Or out to the grassy property where it looked like fences partitioned off sections that held agility equipment.

Jazz kept her questions to herself as she followed the boss. But she wasn't going to be caught unaware if Phoenix was setting up some kind of trap. Even if it was an emotional one to lay all her insecurities bare, like Nev had suggested last night.

The front door swung open before Phoenix reached it.

"Phoenix." A woman of medium height with dark brown, wavy hair appeared in the doorway, a sweet smile on her face. Like the kind a person would give a long-lost friend.

Not the usual response people had to Phoenix.

"Come in." The woman stepped back, and—another shocker—Phoenix and Dag walked in.

Jazz followed, counting on Flash to give her warning if Phoenix had set up some kind of ambush to test their skills.

Squeals jerked Flash's attention to two small bodies tumbling past. He pulled at the leash, wanting to chase the boys who couldn't be more than three or four.

"Phoenix!" Another boy, maybe about five or six, and a girl who looked the same age shouted the boss's name in unison from the kitchen counter. They smeared what appeared to be blue paint from their hands onto the cushions as they slipped off the bar stools they had sat on.

"Hold on." The brunette's voice held more gentleness than scolding as she pointed at them. "Wash first."

They groaned as they scrambled around the counter to a sink where they suddenly grew in height. Probably thanks to a short stool or something.

"You'll have to excuse all the chaos. It gets lively around here sometimes." The brunette turned a smile toward Jazz, letting her see the other side of the woman's face for the first time.

Jazz tried to keep her expression blank as she took in the scarring that puckered and marred the entire left cheek. The poor woman.

"I'm Marion Moore, Director of Forever Home and mother to these tykes." She waved toward the children, the smile not leaving her face as she extended her other hand toward Jazz. "Though it feels more like I'm a ringmaster at a circus most days."

Jazz shook the woman's small hand. "Glad to meet you. You're a dog trainer, too, I understand."

"I try to be. I think the dogs teach me more than I teach them." Marion's gentle demeanor and laidback friendliness had such a warming, welcoming effect that Jazz's tension relaxed.

The two fingerpainters rushed over to Phoenix and Dag, then braked abruptly one foot away as if they'd been trained to do so. "May we pet your dog?" The girl asked the question as the boy leaned forward, clearly anticipating the answer.

"You may." They shot toward Dag, who sat perfectly still and solid, as always.

"Slowly." Marion smiled at the children as they reached out their hands in closed fists to Dag.

Jazz chuckled. They'd clearly been taught how to safely approach a strange dog.

But Dagian looked like he was only tolerating a ritual he knew was completely unnecessary.

The kids then petted Dag, but quickly shifted their gazes to Flash, who was eying them just as eagerly.

The children turned big eyes up at Jazz. "May we pet your dog?" The boy asked the question this time.

Jazz smiled and nodded. "You may."

They approached Flash much more slowly as their mother looked on. Flash nuzzled their fists with his nose, probably hoping they had treats hidden in their small hands. They giggled and stepped closer to rub his furry neck.

"I see he's very comfortable with children."

"Oh, yeah." Jazz smiled at Marion. "He's pretty rock solid about everything. Except cats. He wants to chase them, I'm afraid."

Marion laughed. "Well, we don't have any cats here. Yet. My oldest, Marnie, is working on that." Marion looked at Phoenix. "She and Joe are waiting for us out—"

"Phoenix." The male voice jerked Jazz's attention to the bottom of the staircase across the small living room. "Good to see you." A thickly built, bearded man walked toward them, carrying a baby that looked tiny nestled against his large chest. Marion's husband? His dark brown skin and black curly hair explained where some of the adorable kids had gotten their black curls and brown skin tone that didn't match their mom's ivory shade.

The guy stopped by Jazz, giving Flash an assessing gaze. Probably trying to make sure the dog was safe. Good thinking.

He pulled his attention up to Jazz's face and extended a large hand. "Eli Moore. I get to call this beautiful woman my wife." He gave Marion a wink as Jazz shook his hand.

Marion blushed like a newlywed.

Jazz squelched a smile as she returned Eli's firm handshake. "Jazz Lamont."

"Here to see the new additions, right?" Eli gave Jazz a close look that was a bit like the assessment he'd aimed at Flash. But his body language seemed friendly enough, and a glint of humor lit his eyes.

"I guess so." Jazz glanced at Phoenix, who was in silent mode as usual, though she watched their interactions.

"We've worked hard on the expansion, so I hope you like it. But speaking of work," he turned toward his wife, "I'd better get going." He dropped a kiss on the infant's small head. "Though I hate to leave this one." Then he stepped closer to Marion and swooped to land a sudden kiss on her lips. "And especially this one."

Oh, brother. Jazz barely stifled an eyeroll. This couple could be in the movie she and Nev had watched last night.

Scratch that. Nobody was that romantic. Especially not after as long as these two must've been married to have all those kids.

But her cynicism didn't keep a bit of envy from pinching her chest as she watched the loving couple exchange the baby, briefly embracing the child and each other as they said goodbye.

Marion tucked the still-sleeping infant against her shoulder and looked into the kitchen where a taller boy Jazz hadn't noticed before was going to the refrigerator.

"LeBrae, you're in charge."

The kid waved an acknowledgement that must've satisfied Marion, since she turned to smile at Phoenix and Jazz. "Shall we? Marnie is probably wondering what's taking us so long."

Phoenix gave a nod, and Marion led them out the front door into the bright sunlight and thickening air. If it was that warm at only six thirty in the morning, today would be a scorcher.

They walked along a gravel path to the building Jazz still assumed was a kennel, given the loud barking of several dogs coming from within.

Her deduction was confirmed when she followed Marion and Phoenix inside. A large, open space held about twenty runs, most of them filled with dogs.

"Would you like a quick tour?" Marion turned her brown eyes on Jazz.

"Sure."

"If that's okay with you." Marion looked toward Phoenix, who returned her question with a silent stare. "Great." Marion launched into explaining the facility as she led them around, as if Phoenix had actually given her an answer. Maybe she had a knack for reading Phoenix, like Cora. Or she'd learned to do whatever she wanted unless Phoenix stopped her.

Jazz smirked at the thought.

Marion gave a brief history of the twelve-year-old shelter, which she'd expanded into a training and rehab facility for the dogs she rehomed. "Phoenix has given many of those dogs homes and purpose in life by partnering them with the ladies at the Phoenix K-9 Agency."

Jazz nodded. "I heard you trained Toby and Alvarez?"

"Yes." Marion smiled. "Such sweet dogs."

"And Cannenta, right? She's my friend's dog."

"Oh, yes." Marion caressed the baby's back with her hand as she walked. "Cannenta came from our training program with inmates at the prison. Such a blessing to help dogs and humans bring healing to each other. How is Cannenta?"

"Great. Living the dream. And she helps my friend a ton."

Marion's smile broadened. "Wonderful." She opened a door that led from the kennel to another large space she explained they used for training and adapting dogs to household environments.

She looked around the empty room with a frown. "I told Marnie and Joe to wait for us here. She was going to work with Kippie." Marion looked at Pheonix.

"The training field."

"Of course." Marion nodded like Phoenix had given her the answer and moved toward another door Jazz guessed would take them outside.

After walking about a half-acre along a gravel driveway, they reached a chain-link fence that bordered an open area of grass containing training obstacles and agility equipment. Must be what Phoenix had wanted to show her.

A skinny girl and a stocky boy stood in the middle of the grassy area while a short-haired, brown and white dog sprinted around them in circles.

The girl swung a pole away from her body that was attached to a string with a ferret-like stuffed toy on the end of it.

Flash pulled toward the toy as Phoenix opened a gate to let them into the yard.

"Flash, lass es."

The K-9 worked hard to restrain himself at the leave it command.

Marion glanced at Flash, then the kids. "Marnie, that's enough. Our guests are here."

The girl lowered the toy, letting the hyper mix grab the fake ferret in its mouth.

As Phoenix, Marion, and Jazz approached with Flash and Dag, Marnie stood in front of the dog and commanded it to drop the toy in a confident tone.

The dog obeyed, and Marnie tossed it what Jazz assumed was a treat from the pouch on her hip.

"Put the leash on him, Joe." She threw the order at the boy as she turned toward the newcomers. "Phoenix." Her small mouth spread into a smile, and she squinted up at the boss. The girl looked to be eight or nine judging by her size, but something in her brown eyes suggested she was older. Or maybe it was the way she seemed happy to see Phoenix but didn't shout with excitement like the children in the house. "I knew you were here before Mom told me."

Her glossy, straight black hair, olive-toned skin, and Asian features were a puzzle. Didn't look like she could be a child of Marion or Eli.

Stranger still was the slight movement Jazz caught on Phoenix's face. The boss's lips lifted the tiniest bit at the corners in the almost-smile Jazz had only seen Phoenix give Cora. Once. "Well done."

And a compliment from the boss? Jazz looked from Phoenix to the girl and back again as the two watched each other.

"Hiya, Phoenix." The boy brought the bouncy dog toward them on leash, his Hispanic features and coloring making Jazz all the more curious. Were some of the kids adopted? Marnie had called Marion her mom.

"See the ladder we added?" The boy Jazz guessed to be eight years old pointed toward a ladder angled upright against a steep ramp that sloped downward on the opposite side. He looked up at Jazz. "Mom says your dog can climb that." The eagerness in his voice, like he couldn't wait to watch, made Jazz smile.

"Oh, yeah. No problem."

The boy's eyes widened, and he threw a hopeful look at his mother.

"Yes, Joe, you can stay. But I need to talk to Marnie."

"Why?" The girl's black eyebrows lowered.

"I told you to wait for us in the training center, Marnie. You disobeyed me again."

"Only because I knew Kippie would have more room out here. You said you wanted to try him on the weave poles and the ramp. I did that before we played with the flirt toy. So you wouldn't have to get it done later."

Jazz squashed an amused smile at the girl's tactic of making her rule-breaking sound like she'd done her mom a favor. Smart kid.

"It's still disobedience, Marnie. You know that." Marion's voice stayed gentle as she put one hand on her daughter's shoulder. "Now you'll have to go inside and help LeBrae with the little ones until we're done out here."

Anger snapped in the girl's eyes as she stepped away from Marion's touch. "That's not—" Her voice suddenly cut off as she jerked a glance toward Phoenix.

Jazz hadn't heard the boss make a sound.

But Marnie stared at her for a second, her features scrunched with fury. Then she spun and walked at a quick clip out of the yard. Though her coiled posture suggested she'd prefer to stomp or kick something.

"I don't suppose you have time to talk to her while you're here?" Marion sent Phoenix a hopeful look.

The boss? Talk to a kid?

Phoenix gave a short nod. "Later."

Marion sighed, apparently relieved. "Thank you." She turned an apologetic gaze on Jazz. "Sorry you had to witness that."

"No problem. You have a big family."

Marion smiled. "That's a very nice way to put it. Thank you. Many people have other choice words when they see us with seven or more kids."

"More?"

Marion nodded. "We've been privileged to adopt, give birth, and provide a home to some still in foster care. So the number can change, but we're always a family built on love, as Eli likes to put it."

A family built on love. A lump formed in Jazz's throat. How different her life would've turned out with a mother like Marion. And a dad like her husband. Sounded like they accepted and loved everyone.

"But you aren't here to meet my family. You're here for Flash to see our new training facilities." Marion supported the baby as the infant shifted slightly against her shoulder. Then she walked Jazz and Phoenix through the training layout of obstacles and agility challenges, explaining how it would function as a place for all the PK-9 Search and Rescue dogs to keep their skills fresh.

Marion took them to another section of land farther out and gestured toward the extensive acres they'd fenced in to have a controlled area for Dag, Flash, and any other tracking and SAR dogs to train.

"Phoenix, I think we'll shift our cadaver training to the east section there." Marion pointed at an area that included the edge of a forest. "There are more trees there for varied terrain, and we'll get a different set of scents by changing location."

Jazz didn't register much of Marion's continued explanation. She was stuck on the first part. Cadaver training? Was that one of the secrets Phoenix was keeping from the team?

Jazz turned to the boss and opened her mouth before she lost her nerve. "Did you get a cadaver dog?"

Phoenix stared at her for a silent moment. "Dag is the cadaver dog."

"Oh." Jazz dropped her gaze to the sandy colored dog who finally panted in the heat as he sat by Phoenix's leg. "I never heard he scents cadavers, too."

Marion looked from Jazz to Phoenix, then back to Jazz. "We've been training him for the past six months. He picked it up very quickly, as he does with everything."

So it was a new thing. Did anyone else on the PK-9 team know? Jazz cleared her throat and ventured another question. "Why are you training him for cadavers?"

"We'll be able to expand our services for clients." At least Phoenix didn't look annoyed with the questions. Though she never showed any emotion anyway.

Jazz didn't buy for a second that was the only reason she wanted Dag to be able to find cadavers. Though she had no idea what the real explanation could be. Unless Phoenix had literal skeletons buried in her closet. Wouldn't Nev be surprised.

Marion interrupted Jazz's train of thought with the suggestion Flash try the equipment right then.

The poor dog had been fidgety ever since the kids in the house had gotten him excited. And seeing the flirt toy had only amped him up more.

They returned to the agility equipment where Joe still waited to watch. Jazz unclipped Flash's leash and ran him through the obstacles, letting him show off his insane athleticism.

After a while, Marion's baby awoke and started to fuss. Marion headed inside, telling them to stay as long as they wanted.

But Phoenix told Jazz to leash Flash, and they headed back to their vehicles in the driveway, Joe following along.

"We'll need a photo of Freddie Blain." Phoenix startled Jazz by speaking as they neared her white van, and Joe angled away to continue to the house.

"Did Cora find something about him?"

"Not yet. No trail to find." Phoenix stopped at the rear of the van but didn't make any move to open the double doors.

"So no criminal record then."

"No record at all."

Meaning, Freddie didn't exist? Or he'd been careful to stay off the grid somehow. Jazz kept the thoughts to herself. Phoenix would probably keep any answers she had secret anyway. "I can get a photo of him tonight when I'm on patrol."

"Sofia or Nevaeh will attempt to get one in the daylight today."

Jazz nodded. "He might not come in until noon or after if he takes another late shift."

"Cora has a narcotics job in the afternoon. Her response to photos may be delayed until she's finished."

"Okay. Keep me posted." The words popped out before she thought. Did Phoenix keep anyone posted? Maybe Cora. But certainly not Jazz.

"I guess I'll head out." Jazz gave an awkward wave before she thought about who she was waving to and went to her SUV parked a few feet from Phoenix's van. As she stopped at the rear and opened the liftgate, she glanced toward the boss.

But she wasn't by the van anymore.

She and Dag had disappeared.

Jazz pressed her lips together. So creepy how she could do that.

Was she going to talk to the girl, Marnie, like she'd hinted to Marion she would? What could Phoenix say to a young girl that wouldn't just frighten her?

Jazz shrugged and closed the liftgate after Flash jumped in. She hurried to the driver's door to start the air conditioning before poor Flash overheated inside the SUV.

Since Phoenix likely wouldn't keep Jazz informed about Freddie, maybe Jazz should call Cora after her narcotics job was finished to hear what she'd discovered as soon as possible.

A little progress in finding the person trying to destroy the fair would go a long way toward calming the warning in Jazz's mind that had been growing louder every day. The warning that said the danger to the fair and the threat to her own life were far from over.