“That’s where our dogs come in.” Scott flashed a reassuring glance at Cole.
“Exactly. Officer Jamieson’s Bouvier des Flandres is one of the breeds registered to compete in dog sports. We’ll be using them to infiltrate the dog competitions. With her training experience they should pass inspection as competitorworthy. Meanwhile Agent Lucca’s K-9 will work drug detection backstage at the shows.”
Refusing to make eye contact with Scott, Cole angled her chair toward the front of the room. “Why not go in separately, sir? There’s no need to pose as a couple.”
“Actually, there is. Being a couple keeps you and your partner from looking suspicious. You will be expected to have dogs with you wherever you go. The fact that Scott’s canine doesn’t compete won’t look suspicious if he’s paired with you. I’m told Shajuanna Collier’s a very outgoing young woman. Likes to chat with other dog handlers when on the road. The dog competition circuit is very clubby. You’ll be status seekers, new to the game, looking to learn the ropes. We need you to buddy up to Shajuanna. Get in. See what you can stir up.”
Cole nodded. “How long do you expect this is going to take?”
“The faster you do your job the quicker it’s over. Two, three weekends of shows should be enough to tell us if this operation can yield anything of value.”
Cole smiled. “So I’m home during the week? I can work my patrols?”
“No. You have to have a home base in case Shajuanna decides to befriend you.” Lattimore clicked through a few slides. “Lucky break for us, Shajuanna owns a home in Potomac, just off River Road, where she breeds her dogs.”
“That’s Montgomery County. My patrol area.”
“But you won’t be patrolling. Weekdays the two of you are to cozy up at home and work the dogs for the next show.”
“Great.”
“Shit.”
Cole and Scott eyed one another, not sure who had said what. But, clearly, neither was happy about the proposed arrangements.
“I’d prefer not to use Officer Jamieson’s home.” Scott didn’t glance at Cole. “It’s risky. What if something went wrong? She’d have to move.”
“It does seem invasive, sir.” One of the Baltimore reps spoke up. “If anything goes wrong, they’ll know where to find Officer Jamieson. Even if she moved, with a bit of snooping they’d have her name, her badge number, everything.”
Lattimore’s mouth lifted in one corner. “That’s why we’re looking for suitable housing. First order of duty is to get our K-9 teams in sync. To get you up to speed ASAP, I’ve made arrangements for you both to spend a few days at Harmonie Kennels to refresh your skills. So when you go home pack a bag. The training begins in the morning. Ms. Summers has agreed to supervise your training herself.”
Cole was impressed. Yardley Summers, owner and operator of Harmonie Kennels, was nearly a legend. Everyone in the K-9 law enforcement world knew of her. Her kennel was one of the top training facilities for K-9 services in the United States. They trained canines for law enforcement, local, state, and national, as well as for military and Special Forces use. And Lattimore had arranged for Cole to train under her. Cole was impressed all over again.
When the meeting broke for the day, the FBI agent slapped Scott on the back. “Sweet deal you got going there, Lucca. All the perks of a live-in girlfriend without the baggage. Tough break, you’re the bracelet on this one.”
Over Scott’s shoulder Agent Hadley snagged Cole’s eye and winked.
Cole winked back, pleased when surprise was reflected in his expression. Good. She would rather have given him the finger. But that, she suspected, was what he’d wanted, as proof that his needling had gotten to her.
Beyond exhausted after spending hours in a boardroom when she would rather have been doing, well, anything else, Cole stifled a yawn as she gathered her things and headed out the door, not making eye contact with anyone else.
“Hey. Officer Jamieson.”
Halfway down the hall, Cole turned back at the sound of Scott’s voice. She’d almost made it out without having to deal with him face-to-face.
He waited until he caught up with her before he spoke. “Lattimore wants to talk to you.”
Cole went still. “What about?”
“My guess? He wants to know what you saw in those photos.”
“How could he know I saw something of interest in the photos?”
“Same way I did. By watching you. I saw your face as you went through those pictures of Shajuanna. You saw something the rest of us missed.”
“Maybe.” Cole found she was having a hard time looking at him. The last time they’d been this close she’d thrown him out. Because I wanted to kiss him.
If he had guessed her thoughts Scott didn’t give any indication. “Don’t underestimate Lattimore. He’s got as many eyes as a spider. But before you go in there you need to tell me exactly what you’re going to tell him.”