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“And if you didn’t find the documents?” I asked.
“That doesn’t matter now. You made things easier, let’s make the rest of this easier. I’m good with a knife. I’ll make it fast just like I did with Struthers. You won’t feel a thing.”
“I won’t but you will,” I said and grinned at Roxie as she launched herself at him.
He turned at the perfect time. Roxie’s claws were out ready to do damage. With a screech, she swiped his cheek, disorienting him and giving me enough time to run for the door and make it outside.
I heard the cars rushing up my driveway, not a siren blaring, so as not to alert Martin. They’d be there any minute, but was it enough time to stop Martin from reaching me and taking me as a hostage or killing me out of sheer desperation?
Martin sprinted out of the house yelling, “You’re gonna die, bitch!”
I had no choice. I had to do it. I started screaming at the top of my lungs, “GERONIMO! GERONIMO! GERONIMO!”
The police cars came into view as I continued screaming, then I heard the glass to my bedroom window shatter and a vicious growl fill the air.
I stopped and turned just as Mo hurdled himself into Martin’s back, knocking him down and face-planting him on the ground. His big paw slammed against his back while his snarling teeth dug threateningly into the back of Martin’s neck.
“Get him off me! Get him off me!” Martin yelled.
Ian hopped out of the police car before it came to a full stop and ran to me, his arms going around me.
“You’re safe, Pep. You’re safe,” he said, squeezing me tight.
He was being sweet, thinking he needed to calm me, but I was fine, until I realized I was trembling.
My dad looked to me and seeing me safe, turned a grin on Mo as he approached Martin who was still screaming to get the dog off him. “Now there’s a brilliant guard dog.”
“I got him, Mo,” Josh said, rushing forward and grabbing hold of Martin’s arms to cuff his wrists, and Mo stepped away and hurried to me.
I slipped out of Ian’s arms and tucked the folder under my arm to crouch down and hug Mo tight and make sure he hadn’t been hurt when he sailed through the window shattering the glass. “You did good, Mo. Real good. Extra food and treats for you tonight.” Mo barked and licked my face.
“Geronimo?” my dad asked walking over to me.
“That’s his full name. His owner, who had him since birth, taught him to respond to Geronimo under dire threat to his life. He was an older man, a great dog trainer, but terminally ill. Mo was a favorite of his, smart as a whip, picking up commands even at a young age, a natural was what he told me. He wanted him to go to a good home, a good person. He had me work with Mo before and after he gave him to me.”
“The fellow picked the perfect person,” Ian said.
My dad looked at Mo. “Good work, Mo. You’re a brilliant dog. And you’re a brilliant daughter for keeping your phone on when you called Ian and for keeping Martin talking so we’d have time to get here.” He shook his head. “I tell you my hair is getting whiter and whiter.”
I laughed and hugged my dad and he squeezed me tight.
Martin was whisked away yelling, “Lawyer! Lawyer! Lawyer!”
My dad and Josh followed me, Mo, and Ian into the house. I got treats for Mo and Roxie, and Mo went to settle with his in front of the TV after turning it on.
My dad stared at Mo. “He really is a brilliant dog. I take it you have an attack cat as well with those claw marks on Martin’s face.”
“Roxie wouldn’t let anyone hurt the servant who feeds her,” I said with a laugh. “I’m sure you have questions, Dad. I’ll get us something to drink and we can talk.”
Ian took me by the shoulders and sat me on one of the stools at the counter. “Sit. I’ll get the drinks.”
My dad gave him an appreciative nod and sat beside me at the counter. I was surprised when Josh joined Ian to help him.
“Did you hear everything that Martin said?” I asked my dad.
“Most of it. Ian got the phone to me right away and I didn’t waste any time in getting here. Ian was mindful enough to hit record. So, it looks like Struthers came here with the intention of offering Ian some kind of deal to keep things quiet. I guess it has to do with that preserve Effie had talked about” He nodded at Ian. “Good to know you’re an honorable man and would have turned him down.”
“I would never do anything unlawful, though I’m curious as to what the deal concerned,” Ian said. “I am also grateful to Pep for helping me retain Hughes as an agent. I had been shocked to learn that the contract I signed with Martin entitled him to far more than I realized. He would have been able to collect from profits I made here if Hughes didn’t go after him to null and void the contract.”
