“That makes sense, I guess.” There was no way Linc could divide himself in two, so tending to one task while Roark followed up on another seemed the wisest choice.
Taking a deep, settling breath of fresh Texas air once he reached the sidewalk, Linc was struck by the conundrum he’d just acknowledged. A few weeks ago, there would have been no hard choice to make. He would have opted to remain with his K-9 partner and let someone else fill any other gaps.
Now, however, he saw that his loyalties were being divided, and he didn’t like it. In his mind, he visualized being at war with himself, as if he were both friend and foe in an ongoing battle in which there could be no clear-cut winner. If he directed all his energy toward Star and neglected taking care of Zoe and her little boy, he chanced letting harm come to them. If, on the other hand, he concentrated on the woman and child too much, he could lose Star, as present circumstances painfully demonstrated.
Almost convinced to turn and go back inside, he spotted an approaching taxi. To his chagrin, his heartbeat increased in speed and he felt beads of perspiration welling on his forehead. If Zoe was in that cab, then he’d know she was okay. What if she wasn’t?
Keying his mic, he radioed Captain Blackwood and identified himself. “I’m still at the vet’s. They’re taking X-rays of Star. Roark thinks she’s okay.”
“Good. Call me back when you know for sure.”
“I will. But there’s been another development,” Linc said. “Sullivan has been relieved of duty. She’s on her way to join me here.”
“What? Why weren’t we notified?”
“I imagine we will be. I just thought it best not to wait for the information to go through channels. When she told me, I instructed her to come here instead of my going to pick her up.”
“Good. When I told you to get close to the sergeant, I certainly didn’t mean for you to abandon your K-9 in a crisis.”
“Affirmative. One other thing, Captain. Sullivan’s leaving her private vehicle in a parking lot near her classroom.”
“Why? Wouldn’t it start?”
Linc felt his muscles tighten as if readying for hand-to-hand combat. “That’s not the problem. I figured, given the incident at her apartment earlier today, she shouldn’t try to drive. She was away from the car long enough for it to have been tampered with.”
“Now who’s paranoid?” Blackwood asked. “What do you expect me to do about it?”
“I was hoping you’d ask Nick Donovan and his bomb-sniffing K-9, Annie, or somebody from ordnance to take a look. Maybe have it towed to a safe holding area?”
“You honestly think there’s a chance it’s rigged with explosives?”
“There’s a chance of anything at this point,” Linc said firmly. “Until we uncover the reasons for the strange attacks on her I think it’s prudent to take precautions.” He paused. “Listen, she’s here, so I have to go. If anything changes, I’ll let you know.”
“All right. And, Colson?”
“Yes, sir?”
“Keep working on her about her brother. There’s a fair chance he’s the one behind the weirdness.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Okay. Now, go see to your dog.”
“I will.”
Linc smiled and held out a hand to Zoe as she climbed out of the taxi. Her fingers were cool yet as soft as he remembered, her eyes sparkling with delight and her lips lifting in the smile that often graced his dreams of late.
She glanced at the mic clipped to the shoulder of his ABU. “Did you just get another call?”
“No. I was reporting in. Security hadn’t been informed of your duty change yet, and I wanted to be sure my bosses were up to speed.”
“Good old bureaucracy,” she said, grinning up at him. “The news will probably reach interested parties at about the time regular base gossip does.”
“Or after.” Linc held the glass door to the building open for her. “No troubles getting here?”
“Other than having to abandon my wheels, no,” Zoe replied. “I realize that old beater isn’t much, but it gets me around okay. I’d hate to lose it.”
“I’m having it checked for you,” he said. “Until it’s cleared, I’ll drive you wherever you need to go.”
“Thanks.” She sobered as they proceeded down a long hallway. “How’s Star?”
“No report yet, but it shouldn’t be long.” Ushering her into the office where the head veterinarian sat behind his desk, Linc saluted and said, “Captain Roark, this is Staff Sergeant Zoe Sullivan.”
The captain rose and returned the salute as Zoe did the same. “My pleasure. I understand you’ve had a rough morning.”
“Yes, sir. You could say that.”
“Well, if you need a break, we can always provide puppy therapy.”
“Sir?”
Roark chuckled. “It’s a standing joke around the kennels. Five minutes sitting in a pen of happy puppies is our standard cure for the blues. Works every time.”
“My son would love it.”
“I’m sure he would.” The vet sobered and gestured toward a gurney being guided past the open door. “There’s Star now. Follow me.”
They joined the dog in the closest exam room where Roark displayed the X-rays on a monitor. “Star’s X-rays show that nothing is broken, but she was so sore they had to administer a light sedative in order to get her to lie still for clear pictures. She’s still pretty groggy.”
Linc was surprised when Zoe dropped her briefcase, beat him to the sleepy canine, caressed her head and bent to kiss her muzzle. “Poor baby. I’m so sorry, Star.”
Not only did Linc’s eyebrows arch, Roark’s did, too. The captain spoke first. “I wouldn’t try that when Star is fully conscious if I were you, Sergeant Sullivan. She might take your nose off.”
“Besides, we don’t want her too well socialized,” Linc added. “It can take the edge off protective responses.”
Zoe backed away, blushing. “I’m sorry. She just looks so pitiful lying there.”
Linc huffed to cover his own tender feelings toward the injured dog. “Yeah, well, she won’t once the sedative wears off.” He looked to Kyle Roark. “How long will she be sidelined?”
“I’d like to keep her here for a day or so, just to be on the safe side. Internal tissue injuries don’t show up on X-rays, and since she is indicating pain, I want her monitored.”
“Okay. What now?”
“I’ll have Airman Fielding take her to Recovery. You can accompany them if you wish, Colson.”
“I don’t know. I...” His troubled glance lit on Zoe. “Is there anywhere you need to go now that we know Star’s going to be all right?” he asked her.
“Yes,” she said with a gentle look and slight smile as she stroked the rottweiler’s shoulder. “I want us to go with Star, so you can be there to comfort her when she’s fully awake.”
The surprised glance the veterinarian shot Linc was nothing compared to his own awe. Despite all her problems and the way most of the base had rejected her, Zoe Sullivan’s heart remained kind and caring. She’d realized how much he wanted to stay with his K-9 partner and was facilitating it for his sake. And perhaps for Star’s well-being, too.
“Lead