Dev put out his hand and yelled, “Touch.”
Chance raced across the training center to Dev’s hand, popping his nose against Dev’s palm.
Maren smiled. She loved to watch the trainers and the puppies. Her gaze tracked Trooper. “Uh-oh.”
Trooper slipped between the small gaps of the gate and disappeared out of sight.
“Not a good sign,” Dev said. “You three want to help find the little guy?”
“Do you mind if I release Haven?” Maren said. “It would be good for her to have some experience tracking the puppy.”
“If you think she can be gentle when she finds him,” Dev said. He looked to Colt and Eli. “Do your dogs need some practice?”
Eli chuckled. “Wrangler is always up for some fun.”
Colt shrugged. “Rusk will do what he does. He’s trained to track narcotics, not runaway puppies. But we’ll give it a shot.”
The three released their dogs from the kennels and put them on leads.
“Can he get outside?” Colt asked.
“At that end of the ring.” Eli gestured to where Trooper disappeared. “The exit leads to the outdoor training yard.”
He and his Belgian Malinois, Wrangler, walked through the training ring and out through the gate where Trooper had escaped. Maren and Colt, with Haven and Rusk, walked around the outside of the ring, looking in the various open doors of the offices, the locker room and restrooms.
“Over here,” Eli called. He and Wrangler found the puppy who had tunneled beneath a blanket in the far corner. Wrangler sat quietly as Eli pulled the blanket off the sleeping puppy.
Maren’s heart melted. The snoozing puppy was adorable. Haven nudged the dog with her nose.
Rusk stood watching, his head tilting in curiosity.
Trooper woke up and let out a series of excited barks. He jumped to his feet and did figure eights between the bigger dogs’ legs. Wrangler turned in a circle, keeping an eye on the pup. Haven danced aside then folded her legs into the down position, nearly sitting on Trooper.
Everyone laughed except for Dev, who gave a sigh. “This one might be pet material instead of a K-9 dog.”
Handing Haven’s lead to Colt, Maren scooped up Trooper and cuddled him close. “You are a sweet, sweet boy,” she told the pup. “You’re who you are and that’s just fine.”
She handed the young dog back to Jessie, who returned him to his crate.
Suddenly all the dogs turned and gave a bark of warning as three people walked into the center and stopped at the edge. Maren didn’t recognize either of the two men or the woman who stopped a few feet away.
“The candidates for my job,” Dev said. “Dodger Andrews asked me to watch each of the potential replacements work with Trooper and to report back with my assessment of them. They have their work cut out for them. Come, I’ll introduce you.” He walked toward the three people.
Maren didn’t like the idea of Dev leaving. Since the day she’d arrived to be a part of the task force, Dev had been a wise and steady presence, making her and Haven feel welcome.
“Dev seems young to retire,” Colt murmured.
“He wants to spend more time with his grandkids,” she told him. “It’s our loss for sure. But I trust Dev to find someone good.”
“His decision, then?”
“From what I understand he’ll have the final say,” she explained. “But Emmett and Dodger will weigh in. Dev wouldn’t leave us in a lurch. He’ll pick the most qualified. And hopefully, one who will fit well with the task force members.”
She assessed the three contenders. They all appeared to be in their early thirties. “Let’s go meet them.”
Leading their dogs over, Maren, Colt and Eli joined Dev and the others.
Dev introduced Maren, who in turn introduced Colt.
