Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 56782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 227(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 227(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
“My brother,” he said with a sage nod. “Him I trust.”
“There’s a start. I can get him a message for you. Where is he?”
“Also in Oklahoma City. He’d have access to the people I used to work with. He knew I was going undercover because he had to explain to Mom why I wouldn’t be around for a while.”
She understood what the gist of that meant. Pushing to her feet, she reached out her hand to him, smiling when he took it and rose. John laced their fingers as she led him to her office. She sat before her computer and brought it up.
“What do you want me to say?”
The man behind her was silent for so long, she tipped her head back to make sure he was still there. He was.
He settled his hands on her shoulders and lightly massaged them. “Tell him you have to talk to him about… about, hell I don’t know.”
“How about this. I tell him I’m contacting him about his canine inquiry. I’m sure people have lots of different email accounts, especially if he was trying to keep a dog a secret. I can tell him I got his email and I think I have one he may be interested in, give whatever code word you two have for one another and leave my number.” She pulled up a map of the United States, specifically the area between Oklahoma and Washington. “I think this way if his phone is being tapped, I don’t mention you and if I am nothing but professional, there wouldn’t be anything there about you.”
He spun her chair around and kissed her, briefly. “You’re good. Damn good at this.”
She smiled at him. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. I’ve not pulled it off yet. The idea looks good, or rather sounds good in theory. Let’s see if I can sell it.” Leena faced the screen once more and called up a topographical map of the land. She got up and encouraged him to take the chair. “You would have had to been around that area I got you from, the current isn’t strong enough to pull a body down. At least I don’t think so. Now, what word am I supposed to give your brother?”
“He used to call me Dennis the Menace.”
She chuckled. “That much of an annoying little brother, were you?”
“Yes, I suppose I was. Never wanted him to go off without me.”
“Okay, let me call him and see what happens.” She reached around the man getting stronger each day and picked up the handset. “Phone number? And name?”
Leena dialed as he told him, then she sat on the desk’s edge while it rang. Her heart stuttered a bit when it was answered.
“Hello?” A deep voice was on the other end, more of a baritone than John’s.
“Hi, Davis? This is Leena Parsons from Cascade K-9 Training in Washington. I do apologize for not getting back to you sooner in regards to your inquiry about a dog. I have one here, male who goes by the name Dennis the Menace. I know it’s heading toward lunch and I don’t want to keep you from any plans you have, could we set up a time later to talk? I’m available all evening.”
He cleared his throat. “Yes, can I call you back at this number?”
“Absolutely, this is my office number. I look forward to hearing from you.” She hung up before he could say anything else. John had been watching her face. She tried for a reassuring smile. “We’ll see what happens when he calls back.”
“You think he’s going to look you up?”
“He’s your brother, but yes, I wouldn’t doubt it.” She reached by him and replaced the phone. “Is he a cop as well?”
“Detective.” He cracked his neck.
“We should eat something then I have to go check on the four in the kennel. Maybe you should take a nap and get some more rest, perhaps lose some stress.”
He turned completely in the chair and tugged her between his legs. Hands on her hips, he gazed up at her. “I know other ways to work off stress.”
“Winter storm. Have to button this place down.”
“Do you worry about losing power?”
“Solar powered backup. I’ve got a lot stored just in case. We’ll be fine.” She stepped away then grinned. “May have to shower together though, just to be on the safe side.”
He followed her, laughing. “I think that’s a sacrifice I’d be more than willing to make.”
“Good to know. I’ll be back in a bit.”
The cold had seeped through to her bones when she made it back inside. She’d locked the dogs inside, not wanting them to get out then have the flap get frozen and lock them out. They were house dogs so they would be okay for a while and she’d let them back out later on.