Death Scent by D. L. Keur

Author:D. L. Keur [Keur, D. L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: D. L. Keur
Published: 2021-04-28T22:00:00+00:00

25 – Formal Complaint

“So what does it take to become an official ‘wildland’, as you call it, search and rescue handler or group?” Darby asked Jessie the next morning over breakfast.

“Ah….” Jessica immediately wondered where her grandfather was going with this. She blew a breath. “In most states, you become a unit affiliated with the Mountain Rescue Association or MRA and the National Association for Search and Rescue—NASAR. In Idaho, it’s a little different, I guess. You usually get sponsored by the local sheriff and apply to the Idaho State Search and Rescue or ISSAR.”

“You’re a SARTECH II tested by NASAR, aren’t you?” Oli put in.

“I am. Since I’m no longer a first responder, it’s iffy on an instance-by-instance basis on whether that certification would still be honored, now. I’m told it’s an insurance thing.”

“You’re FEMA certified,” Ana-Mari said.

Jessie nodded. “But that’s all urban disaster searches.”

“And now by Callen,” Oli put in with a grin.

“Yeah.”

“And all that gets you where?” Darby asked.

“Nowhere in Idaho, I guess,” Jessie answered, defeat coloring her voice.

She sat down with her plate, grabbed the maple syrup, and poured it over her French toast and sausage.

“Why? I’d think that would automatically qualify you to run a search and rescue operation,” Darby came back.

“In another state, maybe. If I was a first responder, especially, but, like I said, not in Idaho.”

“So, it’s all on the county sheriff?”

“Yeah.”

“Great! And you ain’t popular with him, now. You’d have been better off staying in Colorado.”

That was true. But Jessica hadn’t wanted to stay in Colorado. Home was here.

“So, what’s your plan, Jessie?” Oli asked, his voice soft.

“I don’t know.”

“I know you have one.”

Watching her butter swim in the syrup, she took a breath and held it. Then she looked up. “I want dogs to work in packs—to autonomously move in search of the lost or dead. And that’s what I’m trying to train for. But it’s a three-fold battle. One is getting Idaho and other states to let me use drones, second is getting recognition for the method, which I’ve got a start on with Callen’s blessing. The other is refining the training with my dogs, then repeating it with a different bonded pack. Over and over,” she said. “And I want to go national, then international, with it.”

“Whew!”—Darby. He ducked his head and focused on eating.

“Big dream, Jessie, my Jessie,” her dad said softly.

“Yeah. Probably too big.”

“Nothing is ever too big for the Andersons,” Darby put in. “Nevertheless, this morning, we’re tackling the Nelson Remmers problem head on. I won’t be treated that way, and I certainly won’t let Jessica be treated that way. He’s a cad, a slimeball, and a shyster all rolled into one. Already talked to someone and got the fax back. Ana-Mari? Oli? Jessica? Get dressed for town.”

“Not me,” Ana-Mari said. “My 4H group is meeting here today at ten.”

“Spoil sport,” he sniped, grinning as he did.

“Trouble-maker,” she shot back at him with a laugh.

*

Landon Reid did not expect to find Jessica Anderson, her dad, and her granddad all waiting for him when he got to the office at just after nine.

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