“Glaser here. We’ve got an intruder.”
Jackson smiled to himself. For hours he’d been stuck in a motel room off Interstate 81 with nothing to do but stare out the window at the weather. Finally, they were getting somewhere. “Has he been there long?”
“Can’t say. He showed himself about fifteen minutes ago. Reconnoitered the premises before retreating to the tree line opposite my location.”
“Can you give me a description?”
“Didn’t get much of a look before retreating. Male. By the posture. I’d guess he’s had some military or law enforcement training. If I hadn’t caught the flash off his goggle lens I wouldn’t have suspected he was there until he moved into the clearing. Thought I’d better pull back before I called or he’d get the same opportunity to make me.”
Jackson thought fast. It didn’t sound like Dr. Gunnar. “Keep an eye on him. If he makes a move toward the house or the people inside, contact me immediately for further instructions.”
“There was a visitor to the house. Came along thirty minutes before I spotted the second one. He knocked on the door about an hour ago and was admitted.”
“Hellfire, son. Why didn’t you start with that?”
“I was told I was to report only suspicious conduct. The man came straight up the drive on foot and knocked. As he was admitted, I assume he was known to those inside.”
“Jesus. That kennel is busier than a corner dealer handing out samples. What did he look like?”
“Plaid shirt and gimme cap and jeans. No coat though it’s snowing ninety to nothing out here.”
“Anything else? Anything at all.”
“Hold on. Looks like we’ve got a situation developing. The lights on the Harmonie Kennel property just went out.”
“Shit.” Jackson automatically reached for the reassurance of his non-government-issued weapon on his hip. “Sit tight. I’m coming to you, and calling for backup.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
The darkness lasted only for a few seconds before lights flickered on again, dimmer than before as the emergency generator kicked in.
Even as Yardley moved to begin turning off non-essential lights, Kye was on the move, too. “Call Sheriff Wiley now. Tell him we’ve got a guy tied up in the closet who tried to kill your boyfriend and that there’s a good chance he has a partner close by who slashed your tires. He’ll believe that bullshit story if it comes from you.” As he talked, he headed for the back door.
Lily followed on his heels. The sudden darkness had been enough to excite her into doing a great imitation of a hysterical person. Her unnerving toller scream was a shrill-screech match for a victim in slasher movie. The high-pitched keening went through everyone within hearing, like fingernails on a chalkboard.
Kye paused and looked down. “Lily, no.”
Lily paused and looked up at him, prancing in place, as if she knew he intended to leave her behind and she wasn’t having it.
“No screams. No barks. No sound, Lily.” He made the closed mouth sign.
The calm deep tone of her handler’s voice soothed the toller. She continued to stare at him with an alert gaze but didn’t make another sound.
“Good girl.” He reached down, offered her a bit of kibble, and then picked her up. Holding her high on his chest so that she had physical contact, he stroked her in long smooth glides of his hand. “You can’t go with me this time, Lily. It’s not safe out there.” After a moment he nuzzled her neck. “Be good until I come back.”
He shifted his body and handed Lily to Yardley, who’d come up. “Take care of her. She’ll be okay once I leave.”
Yardley nodded, her eyes wide as she gazed at him. He really was an extraordinarily good handler. Pausing in his mission to calm his dog when she wasn’t coming along.
“Just a second.” She grabbed Kye by the arm as he made to swing around. Well, he paused and turned to her. The biceps bulging under her touch could easily have resisted her effects to stop him. “What are you planning?”
“You’ve got ordnance in the classroom building. I need it.”
“We’ve got flash bangs and rifles and lots of weaponry out there.” She dug a hand into her pant pocket, pulled out a set of keys, and handed them to him. “Most of it will be useless as defense because we fire blanks around our handlers and dogs. Our insurer told us it’s not safe to do otherwise.”
He grinned. “You know that and I know that. But whoever’s out there won’t know that. Besides, a flash bang is a flash bang.”
She dragged at his arm again as he tried to turn away. “You don’t know who’s out there.”
“I know he slashed your tires and cut our power. I don’t want to wait to see what he has in store next without letting him know he has a fight on his hands. If you’re nervous about the gun, give it to your doc. I’m sure he’s handled firearms where he’s been.”
She nodded solemnly. “Be careful. I don’t want you to get hurt.”