Maren felt bad for Dodger Andrews because not knowing where a loved one had disappeared to was torture.
Colt turned off the engine. “You ready for this?”
His question triggered her defensiveness. “Of course.”
Was he suggesting she wasn’t up to the task of finding her sister? Did he view her as less than because she was only an officer rather than a full-fledged federal agent?
Her rational brain reeled her back from the edge. She purposely relaxed the fists she’d made.
No need to snap at the man. He was helping her, even if doing so furthered his own investigation.
She hated that her first reaction to any sort of perceived judgment was to lash out. It was because people underestimated her all the time due to her looks. In some situations, her silly dimples and unassuming demeanor worked to her advantage, but she didn’t want Colt to believe she wasn’t good at her job.
She met his green-eyed gaze, liking the way the edges of his irises were rimmed with a darker color, and was suddenly aware of an unwanted attraction zinging through her veins.
Stay on point, she admonished herself and jerked her gaze away. “Sorry, I’m on edge.”
“Understandable,” he said and popped open his door.
They climbed out of the truck and released the dogs from the back compartment. Both K-9s were well trained and sat next to their partners until they were leashed.
With silent agreement, Maren and Colt led the dogs to a patch of sparse grass and weeds so they could see to their needs, before heading into the apartment building where Steve lived on the fifth floor.
The inside of the building was as run-down as the outside. The walls were dingy, and several light fixtures were broken. Caution tape across the elevator sent them to the stairs. A musty odor had all of them sneezing. They reached the fifth floor and stepped out into the hallway.
A couple of teenagers were hanging out near an open apartment door. When they saw Colt and Maren they disappeared inside and slammed the door shut.
“We have to make this quick,” Colt said. “I’m sure the gossip train will be announcing our presence within seconds.”
She nodded and tucked her jacket behind her sidearm. She wanted nothing to get in the way if she needed to defend herself and Haven. She glanced at Colt and wanted to assure him she was up to whatever they would face. “I have your back.”
He smiled, lighting up his whole face. Her heart did a little bump. “And I have yours.”
They found Steve’s apartment at the end of the hall. Colt knocked. A faint rustling could be heard from inside the apartment.
Maren hung back so that when Steve looked through the peephole, he’d only see Colt. She didn’t want to spook the man.
The door was yanked open. “What are you doing here?”
Steve had a gravelly voice. The stench of burnt cabbage wafted out the open door.
“We need to talk.” Colt and Rusk stepped into the apartment, forcing Steve to back up.
Maren and Haven filled the space behind Colt and Rusk. She shut the door behind her, locking it. Rusk sniffed the ground and then stood still, his body pointing toward a black lacquered cabinet against the wall. Haven lifted her nose, her ears twitching. She strained at her lead but Maren kept her close despite the obvious signs of alert to drugs in the apartment.
Steve was a wiry guy with greasy hair. He wore baggy sweat bottoms and a misbuttoned plaid shirt. His feet were bare. His gray eyes grew round as he stared at Maren. “Oh no. No, no, no.”
He put his hands up in the air like he wanted to ward her off while his gaze darted everywhere as if looking for an escape. “Why did you bring her here? You were supposed to save her, not drag her and her mess into my world.”
Maren stepped forward. Haven sniffed the air and let out a bark. She was alerting. There were definitely drugs in the apartment.
Rewarding her dog’s reaction with a treat, she asked Steve, “How did you know Opal would be in Barren Valley?”
Steve tucked in his chin, a frown deepening the lines in his forehead. His beady gray eyes landed on her again. “Hey, hey, hey. Who are you? You look like Opal.”
Choosing not to answer the question, Maren said, “You answer my question first.”
Steve backed up toward the window. “Man, you two shouldn’t be here. Were you followed?”
