Christmas K-9 Protectors by Maggie K. Black

Author:Maggie K. Black
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2021-09-13T14:05:40+00:00

* * *

Eli stayed in front of Mallory and Koko. She’d given the dog the quiet command, and so far, he was obeying. Eli prayed Koko wouldn’t go wild and start barking again. They probably should have left him in the house, but Mallory was right. Koko had to be tested and what better time than now, after all the excitement earlier? They had to find out what was going on.

Maybe a bad case of road rage? Or something much worse?

Eli feared the second scenario. They worked with people who took out criminals every day, so they had access to criminal records and all kinds of information that never made it to the public. Of course, criminals tended to hold grudges. What if someone could be retaliating?

He glanced around the wide backyard that sat below a jutting bluff, not far from the Chugach State Park. Eli had often hiked along these trails, so he knew the path up to that bluff. If they could get up there, they’d have a good view of the open ground between the house and the thicket. But that could be treacherous in the ice and snow.

They heard another noise. “That’s coming from inside the barn,” he whispered.

The small barn was about fifty yards from his cabin, toward the back of the property. It needed some work, but it was sturdy and built to last. Unless someone worked on destroying it right now.

Mallory held to the back of his jacket, Koko by her side. The dog growled low, meaning he could sense the danger. But did he know the intruder?

Mallory held on to Eli. “Why hasn’t someone arrived from headquarters?”

“Snow, ice, treacherous roads,” he explained. “They’re short-staffed during the holidays.”

“The dispatcher said she’d send someone immediately, but this place isn’t easy to find even when you’re in law enforcement.”

Eli could agree with that. Though he liked the isolation most days. “Meantime, let’s check it out.”

They maneuvered their way around trees and shrubs, but when they didn’t see anyone, Eli motioned to her. They slipped up onto the back porch of the barn. It sat dark and shuttered, its roofline hunched over with heavy snow.

Another crash and then someone came hurling out onto the small porch and fell at their feet. Eli went into action and jumped the man, holding him down, his gun pressing into the man’s ribs. “Start talking! Who are you and why are you here?”

A shaky voice called out, “Eli, it’s me. Aidan. Don’t shoot me, please.”

Mallory let out a held breath while Eli flipped the man over. “Who’s Aidan?”

“My brother.”

Eli held the gun away as he let the boy go. “Aidan, what’s going on? Did you follow Mallory here? Did you run her off the road and then shoot at us?”

The boy’s breath came in panting huffs. He looked scared and confused, thick bangs jutting out from his black wool cap. “Yes, I tried to get her off the road, but I wasn’t the one doing the shooting. I was trying to stall her, to get her out of the way.

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