“Weston will accompany you.” The chief squeezed her shoulder.
Her stomach somersaulted. For the past twelve weeks she and Shane had danced around each other and the attraction that, at times, was so strong between them she grew light-headed. Like she was now as she stared into his emerald gaze.
But apparently the attraction had been one-sided.
Just as well. She had homicidal tendencies floating in her genetic soup. A fact she couldn’t deny, nor would she burden anyone else with it.
Besides, Shane was leaving town as soon as he was given his assignment. She’d be a fool to ever let herself become attached to him.
“You’ll be safe with Harrison and Weston.” The chief’s voice was reassuring and confident, yet did nothing to assure her.
Would she be safe with them? Would they be safe with her? Or would they become two more victims of Tim’s rage?
She didn’t want to go anywhere with Shane if he thought she could be a murderer.
A taunting thought screamed through her. You share the same DNA as Tim. Why wouldn’t he wonder if you’re capable of murder, too?
Giving herself a mental shake, Gina tore her gaze away from Shane and focused on Sophie. She liked the other trainer; they got along well. Veronica had intimated that Sophie had somehow failed as a cop, but Gina had been careful not to ask many questions about what had brought Sophie to Desert Valley. Not that Gina wasn’t curious, but she’d figured she’d better not probe if she didn’t want anyone probing into her past. “Can you take me?”
Sophie winced. “I’m going to need to stay here and see what else might be missing besides our little Marco.”
Gina blew out a frustrated breath. “I understand. You should also check the vet’s prescription drug supply next door. If Tim needed money, he could sell the dog and any drugs he stole.” She glanced at Shane as he answered his ringing phone.
After a moment, he hung up and said, “Officer Harrison says your house is clear.”
She was boxed in with no other option. “Okay, fine. Let’s go.”
She hurried away. Each step that took her closer to her house pounded another shard of fear into her. What if Tim had slipped past them and was waiting for her to return home? What if he was there now hurting James Harrison? She shook her head to dislodge the horrid thought.
“Hey, wait up,” Shane called as he hurried toward her, Bella trotting at his side.
She slowed, keeping her gaze alert for any sign of Tim. Having Shane and Bella close did help keep the terror from overwhelming her. She whistled for the puppy. “Marco!”
Shane fell into step beside her. Bella stayed at his heel on his other side. He swept his flashlight over the bushes and at the trees. “Marco, here, boy.”
Worry for the pup churned in Gina’s stomach. Predators such as coyotes, mountain lions, bobcats and bears roamed the area. Though most stayed clear of the town, there had been enough sightings for Gina to know the small puppy wouldn’t stand a chance on his own in the wild.
She knocked on every front door between the training yard and her house, but no one had seen Marco. He must have run in the opposite direction. Or toward the woods at the back of the training center.
Though the moon was high and the clouds had moved on, there was no way to track the puppy at night. She shivered, grateful for Shane’s presence. His calmness helped to ground her fears and keep her coherent as she woke her neighbors with her questions about the missing puppy.
As they neared her house, Shane said, “For the record, I don’t want to believe you killed Veronica.”
“For the record, I didn’t kill her,” Gina shot back with frustration. “I may have had my issues with her, but I would never hurt another living soul.”
At least she prayed not. But the fear was always at the edge of her consciousness. “I can’t imagine how Marian Foxcroft will react to learning one of the puppies she donated to the center has gone missing.”
“Ellen’s mother, right?”
“Yes.” Ellen Foxcroft was another graduate from the same training session as Shane. “Marian has a purebred German shepherd.” Acid burned in Gina’s tummy. “I pray we find Marco. I can only imagine how upset Marian will be.”
“It was very generous of Mrs. Foxcroft to give the puppies to the training center,” Shane commented.
“Yes. Very generous. However, Veronica was certain Marian’s intention wasn’t pure benevolence.” A wave of sadness washed over her. Veronica had had her faults, but she hadn’t deserved to die.
Shane stopped walking and drew her into the shadows of a mesquite tree. “How so?”
His closeness sent her senses spinning. She backed up a step and bumped up against the tree. “I’m not sure. Veronica could be so caustic at times that I rarely paid any attention to her snide remarks. But she’d said something to the effect that Marian holds her donations over the center and expects something in return.”
“Like what?” He braced a hand on the tree near her head, surrounding her in a warm cocoon.
Her brain became a muddled mess. “I have no idea.”
“What’s the story with Mrs. Foxcroft?”
Needing distance from him and the confusing effect he had on her, Gina sighed and pushed away from the tree. She really hated telling tales out of turn. But if doing so helped her to earn Shane’s trust, then so be it. She stepped back onto the road. “I don’t know all the details. Her husband left about five years ago. As far as I know they never divorced. Marian’s family dates back to the founding of the town, though I’m not sure where her wealth came from.”
“I find it interesting that Ellen became a police officer,” Shane said, falling back into step with her. “How did her mother take it?”
“I don’t know. Ellen doesn’t talk much about her mom.” Gina wrinkled her nose. “Marian Foxcroft is...” She struggled to come up with a polite term for the town’s feisty matriarch.
“Intimidating?” Shane supplied.
“Yes, exactly.”
A car horn beeped. Shane waved a hand. James Harrison, another of the rookies from the most recent graduating training session, pulled up alongside them in his truck. His bloodhound, Hawk, poked his droopy-faced head out of the open passenger window.
James leaned over. “Hey, I was headed to the station.” He turned his focus to Gina. “Your house is in shambles. But there was no sign of the intruder.”
“That’s good,” Shane replied.
Gina detested hearing her house had been violated. Obviously, Tim had doubled back just as she’d thought. He could have easily sneaked past them through the woods. And he’d taken out his rage on her home. The thought knocked the breath from her lungs.
If she hadn’t been quick enough to get out of the house, if he’d overtaken her at any point, she could very well be dead at this moment. Like Veronica.
Gina clenched her jaw tight to keep from throwing up.
“Is it true? Veronica’s dead?” James asked, openly stunned.
“Yes,” Shane replied.
James ran a hand through his hair. “That’s shocking. I mean, I just saw her this afternoon at the station.”
“You’ll need to give your statement to Ryder,” Shane said.