Running Off Radar by MB Austin

Author:MB Austin [Austin, MB]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781626399907
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Published: 2018-05-28T16:00:00+00:00

* * *

Out front, Maji saw what he meant. AET Taira was standing next to the driver’s door, talking to a woman who seemed to be making her blush. The flirty woman wasn’t more than five eight, but Taira had to tilt her head to look up at her. Maji put her at five one.

“Hey,” Maji said to the two. Then to Taira, “Hope I’m not inconveniencing you.”

“Not if you introduce her to Billy Idol,” the taller woman said with a grin. Maji assumed she meant Lt. Green.

“Abby…” There was real warning in Taira’s voice.

“I think she’s in the no-go zone,” Maji replied. By now Jack would have issued some sort of standard notice that the station had visitors on classified business. More would not be said, and station staff would be expected to not ask.

“Just your type, OT,” Abby persisted. “Completely unavailable.”

Maji’s frayed patience snapped. “We need to get going. Now.” She climbed in as AET Taira and her friend exchanged a hasty good-bye.

“Sorry,” Taira said with a hint of chagrin and a rev of the powerful engine. She pulled smoothly onto the drive and glanced over at Maji. “I really need to make a quick stop. For Jack, um, the Lieutenant Commander.”

“Seriously?”

Taira exhaled. “Ten minutes max. His dog just flew in, and I said I’d drop him home.”

“Jasper can ride with us to town. Drop him home after.”

“Really?” Taira looked surprised but pleased. “He’d like that.”

At the airport, they left the pickup at the curb and headed straight for the baggage carousel. Nearby, the taxidermied bears in glass display cases still looked ready to devour tourists. As did the woman holding Jasper by his leash. Tina.

“Oh, shit,” Maji heard the Coastie by her side say softly.

“Hey, Tina,” Maji said warmly, moving ahead to reach the woman and dog first. She knelt and put a hand out to Jasper, who sniffed her in a friendly way but stayed seated. “Aren’t you a good boy?” She looked up toward Tina. “You really trained him well.”

Tina looked ready to cry, her anger transformed. “I suppose I should be glad he sent you.” She spoke over Maji’s head.

“He’ll be happier here,” Taira responded, ignoring the reference to Jack while nodding toward the dog. Jasper’s tail wagged while his eyes were fixed on her, Maji forgotten.

Maji got up and stepped back, making room for the reunion. As soon as she did, Jasper surged forward.

“Ah!” Taira said, raising one hand in a signal to halt. Jasper froze and sat again. “Good boy,” she said, unfolding one palm to reveal a treat. With a series of hand commands only, she led him through a paw shake, a lie down, and a roll over before he sat and received the treat on top of his nose. With a small flick and snap, it was gone.

Taira ruffled his ears and accepted the leash. “Good consistency,” she said to Tina. Maji almost expected to see her pull out a people treat.

“Just go,” Tina said.

Taira nodded and pivoted away, the dog heeling smartly by her flank.

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