AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Call me pls.
The message was from Kerry Wilder.
He gathered up his clothes, then carried them through to the living room and started pulling them on as, with his cell awkwardly held against his ear, he made the call.
“What’s going on?”
“There was some trouble at Joe’s Bar a few hours ago. One of the responding officers was injured.”
Images of what he had pictured when Billie was captured flashed through his mind. “Who was it? What happened?”
“It was Officer Donovan. He was punched as he tried to arrest a guy. He’s fine, just a cut lip and a few bruises, but the guy who hit him got away...” Kerry paused. “I thought you’d want to know who it was.”
Spencer could have taken a few guesses, with one obvious name at the top of his list, but he played along. “Go on.”
“It was Kenyon Latimer. Other customers reported that he appeared drunk, or high, and that he was looking for trouble from the minute he walked into the place.”
“Where is Latimer now?” Spencer asked.
“We don’t know his exact location. After he hit Officer Donovan, he ran off toward Mustang Park. I’ve posted a lookout at the AAG ranch in case he turns up there,” Kerry said. “I’ve also got a vehicle patrolling the area, but it seems he’s lying low in the park. I’m reluctant to send officers on a manhunt when we don’t know if Latimer could be armed.”
She was doing everything right and her caution was understandable, but Spencer could feel her frustration. Latimer had proved to be tricky so far and they already knew he could be violent.
“There is another reason why I called you. Latimer left his jacket in Joe’s.”
Spencer was on his feet and moving toward the door. “Bring it to the park entrance. I’ll meet you there with Boris in ten minutes.”
As he released Boris from the kennel and gave pats to the other sleepy dogs, he considered the situation. He was leaving Katrina alone, something he’d sworn he wouldn’t do. But there was a police officer watching the AAG ranch and Latimer was pinned down in Mustang Park.
She was safer now, in her own bed with the doors and windows locked, than she’d been since this whole thing started because Latimer, the person who’d threatened her, had other things on his mind. If Boris was his usual efficient self, they could have Latimer in custody before she even woke. In the meantime, Spencer would get a patrol car to do a regular check on the house.
When he reached the park entrance, Kerry and Detective PJ Do
herty were waiting for him. Spencer’s body armor was in the rear of his vehicle and he donned it before releasing Boris from his compartment and getting the dog into his own protective gear. Although Boris was calm, his eyes were shining and his tail was wagging. He knew he would soon be needed on a job and that was his favorite thing.
When Spencer joined his colleagues, he overheard a radio message from Lizzie Manfred reporting that there was no change out at the AAG ranch.
“Nothing new to report here, either,” Kerry confirmed. “As far as we’re aware, Latimer is still in the park.”
“It’s a big area for Boris to cover.” PJ’s expression was skeptical.
“He’s an experienced dog.” Spencer had complete faith in his partner. “And, if he has a scent, he should be able to track Latimer easily.”
Kerry had covered Latimer’s jacket with a plastic evidence bag. Spencer pulled on a glove before removing the jacket to ensure he didn’t confuse the dog. Although a number of other people could have handled the garment since Latimer had worn it, he wanted Boris to get as much of the target’s scent as possible.
He crouched and snapped the fingers of his ungloved hand to Boris. The dog obediently came to sit in front of him. Spencer held out the jacket and Boris sniffed it. The dog didn’t need a command; the presence of the garment was enough. After a moment or two, he gave a snort as though indicating he knew what he needed to do.
Spencer attached a tracking line to the canine’s harness. He didn’t always use one, but at night and in a large open space, he didn’t want Boris to get too far ahead and risk the possibility of losing sight of him.
“I’ll maintain radio silence, as I don’t want to alert the target to my presence, but I have it with me if I need to contact you in an emergency,” he told Kerry and PJ.
With that, he and Boris took off in search of Latimer. The park was a different place at night, darkness altering its familiar tracks and forms and giving them a sinister twist. Nose to the ground, and pulling hard on the line, Boris almost flew along the central path. He reached a row of large shrubs and paused, snuffling along its length. This was a danger point for Spencer and he eased his weapon from its shoulder holster. If Latimer was armed and hiding in those bushes, it could be a trap.
After a minute of sniffing, Boris moved on, straining in a new direction. His eagerness was a clear indication that he knew exactly where Latimer had gone. The next time the dog paused, it was next to a large willow tree. Standing at the base of the trunk, Boris looked up and began to eagerly sniff the air.
Could Latimer be hiding among the branches? The willow was sturdy, but Spencer wasn’t sure a person would be able to climb it. Squatting beside his canine partner, he removed a flashlight from his utility belt and shone it up into the leaves. He couldn’t see anything unusual.
“If he was here, he’s gone,” he whispered to the dog.
