Chapter 5

Chapter 5

“Happiness is a warm puppy.”

― Charles M. Schulz

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Leena stared out the window and shook her head. Two feet already and more forecasted. “This is one hell of a winter storm.” Jennifer Thomas played in the background on her music system.

She peered over her shoulder and smiled. John lay on the couch, sleeping. Pax beside him on the floor, the man’s hand in his coat and Erma curled up around his feet.

He’d had breakfast ready for her by the time she’d finished cleaning runs and feeding the dogs. Couldn’t deny how nice that had been. She angled her body, so she had a clear view of the man who’d come into her life. Fingers curved around the heated mug of coffee, she sighed.

Last night—and this morning—with him had been off the charts amazing. Even when something had changed in him and he’d given off a vibe that he needed something. The fucking had gotten harsher, not in a mean way, just without the emotion she’d gotten before. It was raw, almost angry.

Still amazing as everything but I want to know what he’d been thinking about.He was recovering and she let him sleep because honestly, that was the best thing for him. Her phone rang and she hurried to pick it up before the noise woke him.

“Hello?”

“Leena, hi, this is Captain Hansley from over near Ellensburg.”

She pulled out a chair with her foot and sank into it. “I remember you, Captain. You have Diablo the Giant Schnauzer.” Ellensburg was about two hours away from her.

His deep laugh was comforting. “I do. I’m impressed you remember.”

“I don’t see a lot of them, much less as nice as yours. How can I help you, Captain?”

“I know we had some training sessions coming up, but I’m going to have to cancel them on you, I’m sorry.”

“Me too, but I understand, stuff comes up.”

“We’re trying to find one of our own. So, yes, it has.”

“A missing dog?” She sat up straighter.

“No, human.”

She looked back to the man sleeping on the couch. “I’m sorry to hear that. Best of luck in finding him. I’ll take you off the schedule, just give me a call when you are ready to put him back on.”

“I’ll be sure to do that. Do you have anyone you would recommend for Search and Rescue? Anyone else that we don’t know of around here. We could use all the help we could get.”

Not around here she didn’t. In California she knew of Wildcat Rescue, they were a mounted SAR unit who were incredible. There was an East and a West coast group.

“I’ll make some calls. Not sure how they would get in with the weather but yes, I’ll do what I can from here.”

“We’ll fly them in by chopper if necessary.”

“I’ll be in touch, Captain and I’m sorry for the loss of your man.”

“So am I. Thank you, Ms. Parsons.” He ended the call.

“Captain?” John sat up. “Who were you talking to?”

The concern in his voice had her worrying. “A K-9 cop I know from Ellensburg area. He had to cancel some training we had set up. Why?”

“What was his name?”

“Captain Hansley. Matt Hansley.”

John sat up and scrubbed a hand down his face. “Ellensburg. Where am I?”

“Washington.”

He frowned. “I’m in Washington?”

“You are.” She moved closer to him and joined him on the couch. “Do you remember anything more?”

“And where did you pick me up at?”

“At a rest area around the area of Missoula, Montana.”

Frustration filled his features and both Pax and Erma leaned on him, offering comfort. She wasn’t sure he was aware of their actions, but it did her heart good to see him pet them and take the solace they so freely offered.

“I don’t know why I would be in Montana. I don’t live there, and I didn’t work there.”

“Where do you work?” Could he be the one they were looking for around Ellensburg?

“I was in Oklahoma City.” The corners of his mouth pinched as it turned down. “I think. It’s all so jumbled.”

She wanted to offer comfort. “Okay, it’s a start. Is there a name of someone I can contact for you? Your handler? Something coded so he or she knows it’s from you and not anyone else?”

“No, it’s too dangerous. Someone sold me out. I can’t trust anyone in that department. I need to figure out when my cover was blown so I can move in on who did it.”

If he couldn’t trust his handler, that was the worst kind of betrayal, in her mind. How could you betray the one person who had you as a link to their real world, real life? Sanity. This was why she worked with dogs. You were good to them and they were loyal, never had to worry about them betraying you.

“So, what can I do? Someone has to be looking for you. What about a family member?”

“My brother,” he said with a sage nod. “Him I trust.”

“There’s a start. I can get him a message for you. Where is he?”

“Also in Oklahoma City. He’d have access to the people I used to work with. He knew I was going undercover because he had to explain to Mom why I wouldn’t be around for a while.”

She understood what the gist of that meant. Pushing to her feet, she reached out her hand to him, smiling when he took it and rose. John laced their fingers as she led him to her office. She sat before her computer and brought it up.

“What do you want me to say?”

The man behind her was silent for so long, she tipped her head back to make sure he was still there. He was.

He settled his hands on her shoulders and lightly massaged them. “Tell him you have to talk to him about… about, hell I don’t know.”

“How about this. I tell him I’m contacting him about his canine inquiry. I’m sure people have lots of different email accounts, especially if he was trying to keep a dog a secret. I can tell him I got his email and I think I have one he may be interested in, give whatever code word you two have for one another and leave my number.” She pulled up a map of the United States, specifically the area between Oklahoma and Washington. “I think this way if his phone is being tapped, I don’t mention you and if I am nothing but professional, there wouldn’t be anything there about you.”

He spun her chair around and kissed her, briefly. “You’re good. Damn good at this.”

She smiled at him. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. I’ve not pulled it off yet. The idea looks good, or rather sounds good in theory. Let’s see if I can sell it.” Leena faced the screen once more and called up a topographical map of the land. She got up and encouraged him to take the chair. “You would have had to been around that area I got you from, the current isn’t strong enough to pull a body down. At least I don’t think so. Now, what word am I supposed to give your brother?”

“He used to call me Dennis the Menace.”

She chuckled. “That much of an annoying little brother, were you?”

“Yes, I suppose I was. Never wanted him to go off without me.”

“Okay, let me call him and see what happens.” She reached around the man getting stronger each day and picked up the handset. “Phone number? And name?”

Leena dialed as he told him, then she sat on the desk’s edge while it rang. Her heart stuttered a bit when it was answered.

“Hello?” A deep voice was on the other end, more of a baritone than John’s.

“Hi, Davis? This is Leena Parsons from Cascade K-9 Training in Washington. I do apologize for not getting back to you sooner in regards to your inquiry about a dog. I have one here, male who goes by the name Dennis the Menace. I know it’s heading toward lunch and I don’t want to keep you from any plans you have, could we set up a time later to talk? I’m available all evening.”

He cleared his throat. “Yes, can I call you back at this number?”

“Absolutely, this is my office number. I look forward to hearing from you.” She hung up before he could say anything else. John had been watching her face. She tried for a reassuring smile. “We’ll see what happens when he calls back.”

“You think he’s going to look you up?”

“He’s your brother, but yes, I wouldn’t doubt it.” She reached by him and replaced the phone. “Is he a cop as well?”

“Detective.” He cracked his neck.

“We should eat something then I have to go check on the four in the kennel. Maybe you should take a nap and get some more rest, perhaps lose some stress.”

He turned completely in the chair and tugged her between his legs. Hands on her hips, he gazed up at her. “I know other ways to work off stress.”

“Winter storm. Have to button this place down.”

“Do you worry about losing power?”

“Solar powered backup. I’ve got a lot stored just in case. We’ll be fine.” She stepped away then grinned. “May have to shower together though, just to be on the safe side.”

He followed her, laughing. “I think that’s a sacrifice I’d be more than willing to make.”

“Good to know. I’ll be back in a bit.”

The cold had seeped through to her bones when she made it back inside. She’d locked the dogs inside, not wanting them to get out then have the flap get frozen and lock them out. They were house dogs so they would be okay for a while and she’d let them back out later on.

She smelled grilled cheese as she shrugged out of her thick coat. Her stomach rumbled in anticipation.

“How are they?” he asked from the kitchen where he stood over the stove.

“Good. They’ve been here before so they know the routine.” She hung up her coat and took off her boots. Padding to her room, she changed out of the damp pants and into some dry sweats. Then she took several deep breaths and went back out to where John was. She was falling for him despite all her best pep talks about not doing that exact thing.

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αβ

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He tossedand turned in the bed. Frustrated he pounded the mattress with one fist. “Damn it!” Why couldn’t he remember it all?

Rolling to his side, he tried again to piece it all together. Going deep to infiltrate a gun running organization with the Ukrainians. The Fyodorov crime family. They dabbled in just about everything illegal under the sun. Being with them had blurred the lines between good and evil, right and wrong. He’d done things he never would’ve had the badge been pinned to his chest.

He sat up with a huff. What kind of monster am I? Jumping to his feet, he left the room searching for the woman who’d managed to calm the storm of unease within him. Leena sat on her couch, feet curled up under her and papers all around her as she worked on something. As usual, her dogs were scattered about, always near but not being intrusive.

Her natural curls had been drawn away from her face and he stared at her. She was beautiful. He wanted to latch onto her and never let go. Not only had she saved his life, but she was still saving it. Anytime the nightmares got too much, he thought of her and he calmed down. Sure, there were times he was afraid it was nothing more than a dream and he was scared of what faced him once he woke, but she rolled with it. Not asking for more than he could give and offering all of herself.

She lifted her head and smiled at him while she turned the music down with a point of the remote. “Sorry, did I have that on too loud and wake you?”

“No, I’ve been up for a bit. He hasn’t called back?”

“I would have woken you, if he’d done that.”

“What are you doing?”

“Revamping my training classes. I do them for civilians as well, groups and make up handouts for them to take with them. Since I have time with this weather, I thought I’d make good use of it.”

Just then her phone rang, and his heart leapt in his throat. She reached over and picked it up. “Cascade K-9 Training, this is Leena, how may I help you?”

He inched closer as she made a few noncommittal grunts and murmurs.

“One moment please.” She handed the phone to him. “Here you go,” she said.

John hesitated.

“He said it was a secure line.”

Taking the phone, he allowed his fingers to brush over hers while completing the exchange. “Thank you.”

“I’ll give you some privacy.” Gathering her papers, she vanished off down the hallway.

He stared at her ass until he couldn’t see her any longer. Then he put the phone to his ear.

“Hello?”

“Jesus H. Christ, John, I can’t tell you how good it is to hear your voice.”

“You too, Davis.”

“What the fuck is going on? They won’t tell me anything but that you haven’t checked in for damn near four weeks. Where are you and who the hell is this Leena Parsons? Are you in Washington? You were supposed to be…what the fuck is going on?”

“My cover was blown, they found out who I was and took me off site. Tortured me for twelve days when I got away.” He clenched a fist and occupied the seat Leena had vacated. Seconds later, Pax jumped up beside him and lay down, head in his lap. John rested a hand on his head.

“The fuck? Who fucked up?”

“I don’t know. To tell you the truth, I’m not even sure of all the details yet. They’re coming back slowly. Right now, the only facts I know is my cover was blown. The torture. My escape and being found by Leena, naked in a river somewhere near Missoula, Montana.”

“Fuck,” Davis uttered. “You sure this Leena isn’t part of the crime family?”

He snorted. “Not unless they’ve started working with black people. Last time I checked they were racist fucks.”

“True they are, but money talks and we’ve known them to sell to blacks. Just be careful. I’ve had a hard enough time explaining your two year absence to Mom, I’ve no wish to bring her to your funeral.”

“Not looking to die. I want to know who sold me out. Do you think you can find out if they tried to put someone else in my place?”

“I’m not exactly in the know here, John. I’m a detective, not SRT nor on loan to the ATF.”

“But you are a detective and my brother, surely they would give you something.”

“I’ll try but if you have a traitor somewhere, I’m going to have to go slow and be cautious. If they find out I’m poking around it could get worse.”

John rubbed the back of his neck. “I know. I just want to know who sold me out and why.”

“Does the why really matter?”

“No,” he said honestly. “I’m going to make them pay regardless.” Pax lifted his head and gazed at him. “Easy boy. I’m okay.”

“Who are you talking to?”

“Pax. One of Leena’s dogs.”

Davis whistled. “You are hanging out with dogs. Impressive. Tell me something, kid. Are you okay? With whatever they did to you, are you recovering?”

“Getting better with each day. I feel like someone is out there looking for me. There are times when it’s like this place is being watched. I don’t like it.”

“I’ll work as quickly as I can. Keep your head down, John. Who was your handler? Tell me then let me talk to this savior of yours.”

He gave up the name as he took the phone to Leena who spoke with Davis for a few moments then hung up. “Get everything straight?” she asked him as she put the handset on the desk beside her.

“No, but it’s a start. He’s going to do some quiet digging. What did he say to you?”

“Thanked me for saving your life. And told me to be careful.”

“Do you mind if I do some looking on a map around the area you found me?”

“Not at all. Knock yourself out.” She slipped out of the chair and he claimed it. “I’ll be back on the couch if you need anything.”

Then she was gone.

He looked at the area around Missoula and marked the rest areas. Then he did the same for the travel plaza, he remembered waking at. Doing some calculations on the distance from Oklahoma City to Missoula, he wondered if this was another of their main facilities. The family organization ran like clockwork, smooth and efficient. But if they snagged guns, there wasn’t ever anything else there, no drugs, diamonds, or even smuggled humans. So however, it was run, it was clean and separate. Kept that way for a good reason. If one got busted, they still had the others.

Plus, not smart to bring lots of loose gems to a gun sale, that could get ugly.

Something beeped and he looked around. Pax who’d followed him back there, left with alarming speed. Wishing for a gun, John got up and walked to the living room. Leena stood by a monitor and watched the screen.

“What’s going on?”

“Nothing. Someone was just turning around in the driveway. I think they’re lost. They’d better get to some shelter soon or they will be trapped on the road. They’re barely drivable now.”

“You sound suspicious.”

“Why would you be out in this to begin with? The weather has been crapping all day and you choose to go through the mountains? Yes, I’m suspicious.”

He moved up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. Chin resting on her head, he waited with her as the red two-door barely made it out of the drive. She’s right, not the smartest people in the world.

With it gone from their view, he stepped away and walked to her kitchen for a cup of coffee.

“How are your injuries?” Her question followed him.

“Good. Whatever you put on them, the burns especially, worked wonders.”

“Glad to hear it. How goes finding out where you were being held?”

“Not good. I just don’t know the area that well to make a judgement call.” It was impossible to miss the frustration in his tone.

“Let’s look.” She gave a small grin. “I go along there often for events.”

“Why are you helping me?”

“I found—well, technically Argo did—a naked, tortured man in a partially frozen stream. I’m not the smartest in the world, but that to me says something is wrong. I’ll tell you like I did in the van. I’m not keeping you here, you want to go, go. But I think your smart choice is staying here.”

“I agree. I’m staying. Let’s go nail these bastards.” He sucked the spoon clean he’d stirred sugar into the coffee with then placed it in the sink.

His brother would be working on one end and with him—along with Leena—on the other, he knew they would figure it out.

In her office, she drew up another chair next to the desk then claimed her spot before the computer. “Okay, so, I found you here.” She made a mark on the screen then enlarged it. “You were in this river, heading down, so logically we should look upstream from here.” She glanced at him. “Unless you think you were running and fell into the stream there?”

“I don’t know. I don’t believe I was, not sure how I would have been able to run, I was shot to shit when you found me.”

“Argo found you,” she corrected.

“Right, when Argo found me.” He sipped some coffee and inched his chair closer to her. “I still don’t think I would have been up for running through deep snow. Possibly the water would have given me a better chance of getting away without expending as much energy.”

“Any idea how long you were out there? I mean in the water and cold? Not how long they had you. Given your injuries and how slow you were moving, combined with the flow of the river, we can get a circle of the area around it with how many miles we think you traveled.”

I wish I had an inkling.“I don’t have a fucking clue. Couldn’t have been more than a few hours. I would have frozen to death.”

“I agree. Taking into account how good of shape you’re in, let’s say maybe five miles?”

“Generous—although, I’m pleased you recognize how good of a shape I’m in—with the distance I think but it’s a starting point.”

She typed onto the keyboard and a perfect circle formed around the dot she’d first made. Then it enlarged and he was looking at the five mile radius from where she’d found him. Argo. Where Argo found me. Love that she gives him the credit.

“Is there anything you can remember from the place you were being held? Type of topography? Landmark? Style of house? Anything?”

“Nope. My head was in a bag on the way in and on the way out, it was night and I was running for my life.”

“Okay, what about the type of vehicle that took you in?”

He followed her line of thought. Damn she’s good at this. “SUV or truck. I believe SUV.” He inhaled sharply as the memory of being in the back with the bag over his head and a gun in his ribs slammed him. All the jarring of the road didn’t help his confidence that he’d find a way out of the situation currently surrounding him.

“So, we need to see the roads in the area.” A few keystrokes and all roads popped up, both paved and dirt. “Let’s add in structures as well.”

As the program was responding to her instructions another of those distinctive beeps went off. Without missing a beat, she clicked her computer and the camera brought up the end of her driveway. A black SUV was there this time and she tensed.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, wishing for a weapon.

“That’s the same one that stopped me in the rest area and followed me to the plaza. Looking for an escaped and dangerous man.”

His blood ran colder than the weather outside at the thought of her being in harm’s way. “I should leave.”

“And what,” she snapped. “Give yourself over to the jackasses who tortured you?”

“I don’t want you in danger.”

“Life is full of them. I’m not pushing you away just because an SUV is at the end of my drive.” She got up. “I will be back.”

She was gone before he could say another word. He heard the door close but remained riveted to the screen. The vehicle wasn’t moving.

The whine of an engine hit him before he snapped his head to the window and saw a streak go by. “What the fuck?” He ran to the glass and saw her leaving on a snowmobile. “Shit!” he cried. Back at the screen, he watched her zoom up to the gate and slow. She climbed off and Argo who’d been in front of her, jumped down as well.

The doors on the SUV opened and two men got out in the snowy weather.

“I fucking need audio here.” Every muscle in his body was tense as he prayed nothing happened that he was too far away to stop. He wanted to run down to her side, but another portion of him didn’t want to look away from the screen. John understood what she was doing, giving him a chance to see if he recognized the men there.

They stepped closer to her and the camera picked up on their faces. His blood went arctic. He knew two of them. Top men in the organization.

Leena didn’t show them any fear, walked up to the gate and spoke to them. He barely blinked, wishing he knew what she’d planned. I’m going to kill her when she gets back in here. Or was that kiss her?

She pointed off to the west, nodding her head. They spoke a bit longer and the unease he had grew. Was she part of this entire thing? No. She couldn’t be. He wasn’t going to believe it. Refused to.

She waited until they got back in and drove off before she and Argo got back on the snowmobile. Only then did he breathe a bit easier. At least she didn’t turn her back on them. Still didn’t mean he wasn’t going to turn her over his knee. The snow had increased, and he waited impatiently for her to return.

“What the fuck did you think you were doing?” he barked the question the moment she walked into the room.