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Stone turned the car toward home, then decided to stop and get some Munchkins at Dunkin'. He picked up a pumpkin spice coffee, too, and realized he was close to Bluebird. He'd mentioned the property and missing dog to Devine, who promised to do a drive-by, but they'd gotten backed up and it had fallen off the docket. Maybe he'd cruise over and see if there was any suspicious activity.
Munching on his donuts, he turned on the dead-end street and saw a familiar Fusion parked on the corner. Slowing down, he studied the sea-green color. Waited a few beats.
Son of a bitch.
Arilyn Meadows was there.
Cursing, he parked and cut the engine. His body temperature shot up to inferno range. What the hell was she doing? His heartbeat increased as he slid the flashlight from the glove compartment, praying she was okay. Darkness bathed the property. The moon was full and leaked enough light to make out the gate, doghouse, and fire pit.
Stone began foot patrol, straining his ears for any sound. A chain rattled. Holding the flashlight steady, he walked deeper into the shadows and caught a flash of black. Tall, lean. Ski hat. The person perched on top of the dilapidated gate, hunching over as if to protect something in the jacket. Senses pricked, he ducked and stood behind a large tree, waiting.
The person climbed down and jumped to the ground.
Shaking with fury, Stone desperately reached for the stupid breathing exercises before he killed her. He stepped out from behind the tree.
"Stop right there."
The person froze. Taking a few steps closer to make sure he was right, he confirmed the criminal and whipped his voice like a lash. "Take off the mask, Arilyn."
Slowly, she peeled off the knit material. Her strawberry hair was twisted up in a knot. Even with the darkness, he caught the flash of her grass-green eyes, the stubborn lines of her face. Then his gaze dropped to her prize.
The dog was more like a rat. Hardly any hair except for a few tufts on his head. Open wounds scattered over his tiny body. Batlike ears poked up from his bulletlike face. His eyes were the worst, though. Dead. Like he'd seen too many bad things out there and decided to check out. Uneasiness coursed through him, and Stone jerked his gaze away. "What the hell are you doing?" he gritted out.
She stood up from the ground. "Why are you here?" she whispered. "I didn't make any noise. Who called you?"
Red blurred before his eyes. He was gonna strangle her. "Are you kidding me right now? If I was someone else, I could've shot you! You look like a fucking burglar. You're stealing a dog from someone's house, a serious crime, and you're concerned about who tipped me off?"
Her lower lip trembled. "I had to. I came back just to check again. I swear I was careful! I found her right away, lying in the mud. She's severely traumatized, and if I didn't get her out in time, she'd die."
Stone swallowed. Dragged in another breath. Calm. He needed to be calm. "You could've called me! Or the animal shelter, or the abuse hotline, or something! You broke the law. You cannot go sneaking onto someone else's property and kidnap their dog!"
"Calm down," she hissed. "Lower your voice or someone will hear you. Besides, you're scaring Pinky."
Stone shook his head, sure he heard wrong. "You did not just fucking say that to me. I'm the police. I have to call this in and arrest you for kidnapping. Do you understand how bad this is? And what if someone else had found you? My God, does anyone else know about this crazy plan you concocted?"
"No. I'm the one who decided to take Pinky. No one else."
Pinky? He would've called it Rat Fink, the creature was so ugly. As little as the thing was, Stone still didn't want to get near it in case it broke out from its trance and bit the hell out of him. He'd heard little dogs were just as vicious as the big ones. He fought a shudder.
He would've bet she'd shrink back, apologize, and kiss his ass. Instead, she did what she did best. Annoy the crap out of him and challenge him to the teeth.
"Why are you here? You're suspended! Did you just decide to stroll the neighborhood or are you following me?"
He shot her an amazed look. "You have got to be kidding me right now! Like I have nothing better to do than follow you to your yoga classes and monitor your criminal dog activity? I was getting myself some damn donuts and figured I would do you a favor and check the place out. I told you to wait for Devine."
"Donuts at this hour? More fast food, Stone? Do you know what sugar does to your body late at night?"
"Do you think I'm an idiot? Changing the subject to foods that cause stress is not the way to calm me down right now, woman!"
"Use your breathing exercises like I taught you. Besides, I don't think you're an idiot. I think you're extremely smart."
He groaned and rubbed his face, trying to make sense out of the whole nutty situation. "Yeah, flattery will get you everywhere now." What the hell to do? He better move fast before someone else came. "Put the dog back and get in the car," he finally said. Stone knew it was a stretch, but maybe he could pretend he didn't find anyone on the property. The dog wouldn't tell. Yeah, he'd save her ass and then ream her big-time.
"No. I can't leave her." Uh-oh. Her usually serene face turned fierce, and she had the nerve to jab her finger in the air at him. "If you make me put her back, she'll die. Can you live with that?"
"Yes. Get in the car."
"No." Her jaw set. "You can arrest me, but I'm not leaving Pinky."
A vicious curse escaped his lips. The muscle in his eye ticked with fury. "Okay, now I'm pissed. If I arrest you, you'll have a record. Charges will be brought against you. You'll be written up in the Verily paper, and the dog will be returned anyway. Everyone loses. Do you understand? Now get your ass in the car!"
Then it happened.
His worst nightmare came true.
Her entire body shook and tears filled her eyes. "Please don't do this." Her voice broke. "Please let me save her. I'll do anything. I can't leave her behind."
Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck.
Even though he hadn't known her for long, Stone sensed she didn't fake tears. No, this woman didn't cry easily or use emotion for manipulation. Genuine distress and fear was written on her face, but it was for the rat fink dog rather than herself. She probably didn't care if she went to jail and lost her job. She just wanted the dog to be safe.
A headache pounded at his temples. Think. If he decided on his next course of action, it might haunt him forever. Stone believed in rules. He despised dirty cops who used their authority to give out favors or make their lives easier. He served the public for a reason and had never faltered. This next decision would go against every rule he'd ever abided by, on his oath to serve and protect the world against injustice. He might be out of uniform, but what he did next would affect him.
Yeah, he was gonna kill her.
"Don't say another word," he warned. "Not one. Cover up the thing with your jacket quick."
She obeyed quickly and trotted quietly behind him. "What about my car?"
"Leave it. I don't trust you right now. I'll take you home and make a call for someone to get it back to you by morning." He muttered under his breath, berating himself for his own stupidity and weakness against female tears. He cursed her, the rat fink, himself, and the whole damn situation. She got in his car without another word.
He refused to look at her or speak while he drove. She sat beside him, the dog still under her jacket, staring straight ahead through the windshield. She didn't even look sorry. More like resigned to take her punishment. Stone simmered through the drive, examining each angle and hoping he made a clean getaway. Stealing a dog was a crime. As an officer of the law, he'd assisted a criminal. He hadn't even gotten to finish his donuts.
Finally, he pulled up to her house, a small yellow bungalow with a large pine tree in the front yard. He'd been there a few times over the summer when Genevieve had lived there and he'd been called in to a crime scene. Without a sound, he got out of the car, opened her door, and escorted her to the front porch.
; "Umm, thank you very much for helping me and--"
"Open the door and get inside."
She jumped a bit but slid the key in the lock and walked in. He followed, kicking the door closed with his heel. She jumped again but took off her coat, holding the dog tight against her. For protection? Oh, she was sorely mistaken if she thought anything would keep him from exacting punishment. He'd risked his career and his reputation.
Stone was gonna take retribution.
And it would be sweet.
