Читать книгу The Military K-9 Unit Collection - Valerie Hansen - Страница 62

FIFTEEN

The food at Carmen’s was pleasing as usual, and so was the ambience. Linc reported their location and plans, then settled back to enjoy his meal.

She called me her parachute. He couldn’t get that image out of his mind. A parachute slowed a jumper’s descent, settled him gently on the ground and could be used again and again. But there was more to it than that, wasn’t there? Zoe was counting on him to be her safety net, her ever-present, reliable guarantee that when all this was over, she’d survive the same way a parachute kept a jumper alive. Did she realize that the person in the harness had to know when to deploy an emergency chute? How to tuck and roll when making a hard landing? What to do if coming down in enemy territory?

Linc doubted she had made that detailed a comparison when she’d complimented him. That was just as well. As much as he wanted to be everything she needed, he knew that was impossible. So when had the pretty sergeant gone from being an assignment to something more? The change was in his outlook. In the way he perceived both her and their companionship. What had once been a job was now more than a pleasure, more than his duty. It was as if their lives had been joined by circumstances with the glue of compassion, perhaps even budding love.

Love? Linc looked across the table at her and found her studying him, as well. Hoping to seem nonchalant, he smiled and gestured with his fork. “Pretty good, huh? I love their lasagna.”

Zoe mirrored his smile, but there was a poignancy in her eyes that made them glisten. Seconds later, she dropped her gaze to her plate and simply said, “Yes.”

“Captain Roark says I may be able to take Star home with me tonight. Tomorrow at the latest.”

“Good.”

“Sergeant James is going to assign one of our female Security Forces members to your watch tonight. If I were you, I’d invite her in and let her crash on the couch. Her dog will alert if anybody approaches.”

“Okay.”

One-word answers were unlike Zoe, and her mental state had him worried. “Look. I know you say you’re fine, but I’m not sure that’s completely true. Talk to me. Tell me what’s bothering you. I really do want to help.”

She laid aside her fork and blotted her lips with a napkin before answering. “I know that. I just feel overwhelmed. So much has happened lately, and we have so few clues. It’s as though I’m stuck in a flat spin at ten thousand feet and can’t pull my aircraft out of it before I crash.”

“You won’t crash.”

“How do you know? How can anybody be sure?”

Linc sighed. “Well, for one thing, we’ve got reports that your brother has been seen—”

“Stop.” Teary-eyed, she held up a hand, palm toward him. “Stop calling him my brother, okay?”

“What should I call him?”

“I don’t care. Call him Boyd or the Red Rose Killer or abbreviate it to RRK the way I’ve heard other law enforcement officers do. Just stop reminding me we’re related. Please.”

“All right. I’m sorry. I didn’t think it would be a problem.”

“Normally, it isn’t.” She sniffed and touched her napkin to her cheek where tears had begun to dampen it. “It’s everything together. The attacks on me, the shooting I saw that left no trace, the—” Her eyes widened. “That’s it! That’s our answer.”

“What is?”

“Fake blood. Like in my apartment. Your CSIs were using a blue light to look for the real thing in that warehouse bay. Nobody thought to check it for what that stuff in my apartment was made of.”

“Whoa.” Linc sat back in his chair. “You’re right. I don’t suppose there are traces of it left by now, even if there were drops in the first place, but I’ll mention it to Captain Blackwood. Matter of fact, I’ll do it right now. Wait here.”

Zoe started to rise when he pulled out his cell and started for the door, so Linc repeated, “Wait here for me. I’ll be right outside where I can see you.”

He could tell she wanted to argue. To stay close to him. And although he knew that making the call in a crowded dining room wasn’t smart, he was sorely tempted to do it anyway. Seeing Zoe’s shoulders finally relax, he smiled back at her. “Thanks. This won’t take a minute.”

After wending his way between tables, Linc stepped outside as he was connecting. “Captain Blackwood. This is Colson. I’m still with Sergeant Sullivan and in view of what was involved in this morning’s incident at her apartment, we were wondering if that same artificial blood could have been used in the shooting she witnessed at the warehouse.”

Silence on the line worried Linc until he heard his captain clear his throat. “You may be right. It’d be hard to tell at this point, though.”

“It doesn’t leave trace evidence?”

“Not that remains discernible. What we collected this morning was a homemade concoction instead of one of the professional brands the movies use. That kind lights up when we spray luminal. This stuff was made of food you’d find in most kitchen cupboards, as I said. Anything that landed on the ground outside was probably eaten by insects almost immediately.”

“Hmm. Too bad. Zoe’s going to be disappointed.”

Blackwood’s voice rose. “What did you say?”

“Sergeant Sullivan will be disappointed.”

“No. You called her by her first name, Colson. I hope you remember that you are with her as a duty assignment.”

“Yes, sir. Of course, Captain. It’s just that—”

He was cut off. “No excuses. I know Master Sergeant James suggested that you befriend her, but that doesn’t mean you should actually become personally involved. Is that clear?”

“Yes, sir. Crystal clear.” And almost totally unacceptable, Linc added to himself. Personally involved? Oh, yeah. It was already too late to prevent that. So how was he going to obey orders and still guard Zoe to the degree necessary?

That was a good question. Too bad he didn’t have a good answer. Linc clenched his jaw muscles. He not only did not have a feasible idea, he didn’t even have a poor one.

Turning on his heel, he straight-armed the restaurant door and returned to Zoe. Yes, Zoe, he affirmed. He’d have to take care to use her rank and last name when speaking to others, but in private, she was going to be Zoe.

Besides, he added, feeling his cheeks warming as their eyes met, he liked her, and Zoe was what he wanted to call her. What he would call her.

Linc smiled, rejoined her to report on the call and once again began to eat. The meal was cool and less appetizing than it had been but he was determined to finish so his companion would, too. She’d been picking at her food and he wanted her to keep up her energy.

“How about dessert?” Linc asked when she failed to follow his example.

Zoe shook her head and gave him a fond look that practically melted his heart. Why did he care so much? What in the world was wrong with him? Here he was, ready to defy a direct order and actually desiring chances to do so. That was more than stupid. It was insane.

Looking for a suitable diversion, Linc waved their waitress over.

“More sweet tea?” the young woman asked.

“Not for me. Zoe?”

“No, thanks.” She sat back and pushed her plate away. “I’m finished.”

“Then we’ll have three slices of apple pie to go,” he said. “And the bill.”

“You remembered Freddy,” Zoe said softly.

“Of course, I did. How could I forget Star’s little buddy? I should have asked you if it was okay, though. Sorry.”

“No need to apologize. It’s more than okay,” Zoe told him. “Way more. You’d be surprised how many adults overlook children.”

“Your son’s hard to overlook,” Linc quipped. “He’s a really special little guy.”

The expression on Zoe’s face made him wonder how he had upset her. She’d seemed a tad down in the dumps during their meal, but now she looked as if she might cry. Should he ask? Or should he go on as if he hadn’t noticed?

Linc opted for the latter. He stood up and dropped a tip on the table. “We can settle up and get the pie at the register,” he said. “Come on. It’s time we checked in on Star again.”

With a protective hand at her waist, he ushered her through the restaurant. The urge to keep her close was almost as strong as his determination to use her first name. Worse, he wasn’t merely thinking of her as Zoe, he was seeing her as his Zoe. And there was no way he could talk himself out of it.

* * *

Seeing Star being her old self again made Zoe happy, but that was nothing compared to Linc’s reaction. He was so overjoyed he was grinning from ear to ear. The exuberant dog obviously felt the same, because she was doing her version of the Texas two-step at his feet.

Zoe laughed. “I think she’s happy to see you.”

“Yeah.” He tousled the recovered K-9’s ears and laughed at her antics. “Something tells me she’s ready to go back to work.”

“Won’t she be scared of being hurt again?” Zoe asked.

Captain Roark agreed. “Good point. How about a short retraining session? I’m sure we can find a volunteer to wear the bite sleeve.”

“I’d rather send her after the real thing, but you’re right. It would be a good idea. I’ll check in with Caleb Streeter at the training center and set it up.” He continued to pet the excited dog. “You sure she’s ready for that much running this soon?”

“Absolutely.” Roark smiled at Zoe. “And I owe you a puppy therapy session.”

Although the idea appealed, she demurred. “Can I get a rain check? I’d rather come with my son and he’s in day care during the week.”

“Absolutely. Just let me know when you want to visit and I’ll see that you and your son get the full tour.”

“Thanks.” Glancing at Linc, she couldn’t help smiling. “I think they’re glad to be back together.”

“True. How are things going for you?”

She was touched that someone else was expressing concern. “Pretty good, considering. I still feel terrible that Star was hurt on my behalf.”

“They’re working dogs,” Roark said. “We train for all branches of the military, as you probably know. Our K-9s are expected to do their jobs regardless of danger or injury.”

“That sounds like the description of a human soldier.”

Smiling, the vet agreed. “You’re right. And we retire them after their working days are over, too. In fact, I’m waiting for one special case to be returned from overseas so I can check the dog’s health and see if he’s suitable for adoption, but there have been complications.”

Linc straightened, still smiling broadly. “Sounds like the dog Isaac Goddard’s been trying to adopt. Has there been any word?”

“Yes,” Roark said. “Isaac was notified that Beacon had been cleared to return to the States, but there was an enemy attack on the base over there that damaged the kennels and the dog escaped. It’s a crying shame. Isaac is having a really hard time dealing with the fact that Beacon may never be found and sent home.”

“I understand exactly how he feels.” Linc’s hand was resting on Star’s broad head.

Zoe smiled at both men. “I can see how important all the dogs are to you. I suppose it’s inevitable that you’d get particularly attached to individual animals. I’m glad you get to adopt the retirees.”

“Most of them qualify,” Roark explained. “There’s even a website where civilians can apply to adopt one of our dogs. There’s a long waiting list, though, and strict requirements. The dog’s handler gets first dibs.”

She looked to Linc and Star. “Are you planning on keeping her if you can?”

“Absolutely. But it’s going to be years before she’s put out to pasture. We have a lot of work to do before that.”

“Yes,” Zoe said, “like capturing the Red Rose Killer and figuring out who has been making my life miserable.” She heard a tiny gasp from behind her and turned. It was the vet tech who had taken care of Star when she first arrived, Airman Fielding.

Zoe easily identified with the fear she glimpsed in the young woman’s eyes and offered solace. “Don’t worry about the Red Rose Killer. I’m sure he’d have no reason to bother you, unless you dated him or crossed him somehow.”

“I never met him,” Fielding said. “Excuse me. I have patients to check.”

Linc’s brow was furrowed when Zoe looked to him and said, “She seems frightened.”

Captain Roark agreed. “Rachel’s always been kind of sensitive. Working here, surrounded by animals, is a perfect placement for her. Believe me, she’s a lot calmer than she used to be.”

“Good to hear,” Zoe said. “If she were in one of my flight classes, I’m afraid she’d wash out quickly.”

“Speaking of that, any word on when you can go back to work?” the vet asked.

“Nope. None.” Smiling at Star, she added, “So for the time being, I’ll be Star’s volunteer sidekick. I can brush her and get her dog bones and...”

Linc was laughing when he held up a hand. “Whoa. That’s my job. Sorry. How about you just try to stay out of trouble from now on and give us all a break?”

Eyes rolling, Zoe chuckled, too. “That, Sergeant Colson, is my fondest wish. From your mouth to God’s ears, as they say here in the South.”

Although he didn’t stop smiling, he did say, “I doubt I have much influence on Him.”

“You’d be surprised,” Zoe countered. “God loves everybody who believes in Him. Even stubborn, hardheaded guys like you.”

That made Roark laugh, too. “Look out, Colson. I think she’s got you pegged.”

Although Linc made a face at them both, Zoe thought she glimpsed a flicker of recognition, a spark of truth. She knew he didn’t have to fully accept all his losses, in Afghanistan and before. He simply had to let go of his guilt and anger and hand it all over to his heavenly Father.

As I have to do regarding Boyd, she added to herself, knowing she was right. It wasn’t the understanding she lacked, it was the will to act, the strength to forgive. And the faith to trust so completely that she was able to release her wounded spirit into the care of a loving God.

That wasn’t the same as worshipping on Sunday morning. It went much, much deeper.