Grave Instinct by Bev Pettersen

Author:Bev Pettersen [Pettersen, Bev]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781987835205
Publisher: Westerhall
Published: 2020-06-04T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

The K-9 training complex was a sprawling property surrounded by a six-foot chain link fence. A rectangular building with attached dog runs sat next to a football-sized field sprinkled with agility courses. Nikki spotted at least three obstacles that involved ladders.

“Is that where Gunner flunked out?” she asked.

“Don’t know,” Justin said, his voice brusque as he expertly backed into a parking space beside several unmarked cars. He’d barely spoken since pulling over on the road earlier. However, she felt better after clearing the air. Based on his shocked reaction, she was positive he’d never had sex with Erin and even more certain he’d had nothing to do with her disappearance. His concern had been about Nikki’s mental state rather than his own alibi.

Obviously he’d been hurt by her questions and that bothered her. She’d let the contents of an old file push her to hasty conclusions. She wished he had remained parked on the side of the road longer, but they’d both been processing each other’s comments. It was clear he worried about her emotional health but she wasn’t certain if that concern was related to her as a woman he wanted to date, or as the kid he’d always watched out for.

“We’ll start outside,” Justin said, turning off the ignition. “I’ll let Tony know we’re here.”

Nodding, she pushed open her door, gathered Gunner’s ball from her pack and clipped on his lead. He rose but remained rooted. A flurry of barks sounded from the outer kennels but Gunner stayed motionless as a statue.

“Let’s go, boy,” she said.

He stepped to the ground. But instead of an agile leap he moved stiffly, lacking his usual exuberance. She glanced across the hood of the vehicle at Justin, but he was talking on the phone, his back to her.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, crouching beside Gunner. “Thirsty? Want some water?”

He didn’t lift his paw or wag his tail, his usual response to any of her questions. He only pressed against her knee. Then she noticed something even stranger; he was trembling. He’d lived here before. Did he think she was bringing him back? Leaving him?

“Silly.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his head. “I’m not dumping you. I love you.”

Justin whirled, his hot gaze on her. Then his eyes shuttered. “Come on,” he said as he jammed the phone in his pocket. “Tony will meet us at the second field.”

She rose and walked beside him, still concerned about her dog. Gunner had stopped shaking but lacked any animation. He wasn’t dragging on the leash but he acted like an aged family dog taking a duty walk rather than an energetic young Shepherd.

But as they passed a silver-colored horse trailer his head shot up, his ears pricking. Now he looked more like his normal self. And it hadn’t been the other dogs that cheered him up, but the smell of horses.

“Do they keep police horses here?”

“No,” Justin said. “But they periodically bring them in so the K-9s can get used to them.

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