Protect And Serve. Terri Reed
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out of his office. “What’s the trouble?”
Bucks shot Shane a venomous look. “He’ll explain.” He marched off.
“On our way here from Gina’s house a bolt from a crossbow pierced the cab,” Shane explained. “I asked Officer Bucks if he’d dust the arrow for prints.”
Chief Jones’s jaw hardened. “Seems your brother is determined.”
“Yes, sir,” Gina murmured as she sank onto a bench.
Bella went to her and put her chin on Gina’s knees.
“Thank the Lord above none of you were hurt,” Earl said. He’d seemed to age in the past few hours. The lines around his mouth and eyes were deeper, adding to his haggard look. Undoubtedly, Veronica’s murder was hitting the man hard. “This has been a horrific night for our town. We’ve seen more crime in the past six hours than we’ve had in five years...since Melanie Hayes’s unsolved murder.”
Ryder Hayes’s wife, Melanie, had been gunned down on a wooded path near the couple’s house on the eve of the big annual Canyon County Police Dance and Fundraiser. Robbery was the suspected motive, since Melanie’s purse had gone missing.
Shane had also heard about two other mysterious deaths. Each on the night of the annual dance and fundraiser event, and each a year apart. But both fatalities had been deemed accidents.
The chief rubbed his chin. “Tonight makes retirement that much more enticing.”
Back home in Flagstaff, this night would have seemed tame to Shane’s dad and brothers. “Did the canvass around the training center yield anything useful in determining who killed Veronica?”
Earl held up a hand. “So far no one heard any shots fired or saw anyone come or go from the center.”
“Has anyone turned in the missing puppy?” Gina asked.
“Unfortunately, no,” the chief replied.
Gina’s arms wrapped around her middle as if holding herself together. The tender skin beneath her eyes appeared bruised from fatigue and her face was pale.
Empathy twisted in Shane’s gut, despite his need to stay emotionally detached. First being attacked in her house by her crazed brother, then stumbling upon Veronica’s dead body. It was obvious she loved the animals she worked with and they loved her, if Bella’s actions were any indication. No doubt the thought of the little German shepherd puppy running loose outside where wildlife could prey on it weighed heavily on Gina’s slim shoulders.
“Was Sophie able to determine if the other two puppies were chipped?” Gina asked.
“They were,” Earl replied. “Chipped and registered to Veronica with the training center’s address just as we’d expect.”
“Hopefully, someone will pick up the pup and take him to the vet,” Gina said. “If Veronica was able to get him chipped then the vet will find the chip and contact the center.”
“I’ll give the vet a heads-up,” the chief said.
Bucks returned a few moments later. “I got a partial. I’ll run it through IAFIS.”
Shane hoped the FBI’s national fingerprint database would provide a visual of Tim Perry. Or whoever had handled the arrow. Shane struggled to believe no one had known Gina had a brother to begin with, let alone one who was a criminal. Was the shooter the same person who’d killed Veronica? Or was there more than one villain running around Desert Valley? That seemed too much of a stretch.
“Let’s finish our discussion in my office,” Earl said, ushering Shane, Bella and Gina inside.
The chief had just settled into his chair behind his desk when there was a knock on the doorjamb. James and Hawk entered the office, looking grim.
Shane gave him a questioning look.
James shook his head. “Hawk tracked a scent but lost it on a street two blocks away from Gina’s house. The shooter must have jumped into a car and taken off.”
“Did you get a look at the archer?” Earl asked.
“No, never caught a glimpse of him,” James said.
Earl looked at Shane. “But you’re sure it was her brother?”
“Hard to say without confirmation,” Shane said. “But without any other suspects...”
The chief considered him a moment. “Okay.” He focused on Gina. “Where will you be staying? Obviously you can’t return to your home until we have your brother in custody.”
“Sir, Gina is going to move into the empty room at the rookies’ condo,” Shane stated. He met Gina’s gaze. She arched one delicate eyebrow. Okay, maybe he shouldn’t have answered for her.
Earl nodded approval. “Good.” He settled his gaze on Gina once again. “We’ll find your brother. Or whoever did this. No one can hide in Desert Valley for long.”
“Thank you, sir.” Her voice was tight. She turned her gaze on Shane. “I’d like to keep the puppies with me if possible.”
The anxiety in her hazel eyes tugged at him. If having the two pups close comforted her, then... “Of course. We’ll swing by the training center and pick them up.”
She gave him a grateful smile as she stifled a yawn.
“You all go and get some rest,” the chief said. “You won’t do anyone any good if you’re too exhausted to be of use.”
Shane escorted Gina from the station. They took James’s truck to the training center. Sophie had crated the puppies and had locked up the center for the night. Gina used her key card to enter the building.
They gathered the puppies and their crates, along with their beds, water and food bowls, and put them in the back of James’s truck. Gina held both pups on her lap during the ride to the condo.
James parked in the carport stall reserved for the rookies’ unit. He grabbed her bag from the back and led the way to the front door. Shane carried the pups’ accoutrements and brought up the rear with Gina and the puppies between them.
Once inside, Shane showed Gina to the room at the end of the short hall. He arranged the crates side by side along the far wall beneath the window facing the queen-size bed covered with a deep burgundy comforter.
Gina set the puppies down on their respective beds and left the crate doors open. They immediately went to sleep, obviously tuckered out from their run in the yard and the move to the condo.
“Shouldn’t you shut the crate doors?” Shane asked.
“I will when I’m ready to go to sleep, but for now I want them to feel safe inside their crates and safe to leave, as well. The crate needs to become their safe haven. Locking them in too soon can be traumatic.”
Her concern for the puppies was touching. Given she’d just lived through a very dramatic and dangerous situation, she was holding it together really well. Assuming she was telling him the truth, which seemed more likely with every passing moment. His admiration and respect for her increased. How had he questioned whether she could be guilty of hurting Veronica?
“The place comes furnished,” Shane explained, to battle the discomforted way she made him feel. “Each room is a suite. Housekeeping launders all the linens between the training sessions. The bedding’s clean and there are towels in the bathroom cabinet.”
“Thank you,” Gina said. “I appreciate all you’re doing for me and the puppies.”
Her teeth tugged on her bottom lip. She looked so vulnerable. Blood surged through his veins and his gut tightened. It was all he could do not to step closer and gather her in his arms. He’d been attracted to her from the beginning, but this was more intense and focused. The disturbing urge had him backing away. The last thing he wanted was to become emotionally attached to this woman. It