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“The dead one looks like a collie, the puppy shorter hair with the same markings. Why?”
“Ah, crap. Sofie belonged to one of the owners of the real estate company I used. He often came out and did sweeps of the cabins the firm rented, which included several on that road.”
“Then where the hell is his vehicle? And why bring the dogs?”
“There’s a service road a few hundred yards east. He loves the outdoors and his dog went with him everywhere. He’s a nice older gentleman with no family. Sofie was his life outside of the business.”
“Fuck. There’s a sign of a scuffle or maybe he was running away after having interrupted whatever they were going to do.”
“I’ll be there in less than fifteen minutes.”
“Okay.”
I shifted around the body and sighed. While I didn’t recognize him, it was obvious the guy wasn’t a hunter by the way he was dressed, but he had been prepared for the elements, his boots meant for hiking. He must have surprised the perpetrators. I wanted to continue following the trail since the scent was stronger, but I couldn’t risk Wren being attacked.
Still, I took another short sweep before returning to the cabin. By the time I walked in, the puppy was nestled in blankets on the couch, Wren standing over him. She slowly turned her head as I walked inside, her entire face pinched.
“He’s not injured, but he needs food. I washed off his blood in the sink. He kept crying for his mother. He can’t be more than six weeks old.” While her words were flat, tears remained in her eyes, several drops spilling past her eyelashes. As she started to run her hands down her dress, I took long strides toward her, pulling both into mine.
“The female dog wasn’t his mother.”
“How do you know that?” Wren’s tone was demanding, full of anxiety.
“I just do. Okay?”
“Why won’t you tell me anything? I’m not a little girl. I can handle it.” She rubbed her hands more roughly, her chest rising and falling from exertion and fear.
“The blood is gone.”
“No, it’s stained my skin. I can’t stop thinking about it. Why? What is going on, Phoenix? You need to trust me enough to talk to me.”
I kissed the knuckles of one hand then the other, lowering my head. “I’ll tell you in the truck. Go change and get everything you think you’ll need for a few days.”
“Why? Are you trying to tell me someone was coming after me?”
Exhaling, I glanced back at the puppy before answering, “It’s possible. There have been several murders recently, fires used to cover them up.”
“What does that have to do with me?”
“I think there’s something more personal going on.”
“You’re scaring me.”
“I’m not trying to, Wren, but this is a dangerous situation. Please get your things.”
She backed away, nodding then pointing to the puppy. “Stay with him.”
Sighing, I moved to the couch, looking down at the little guy. “Looks like you have a new family.” The same ominous feeling remained.
* * *
Wren
Terror.
I’d been afraid several times in my life, but not like this. I couldn’t get the images of the poor dog out of my mind. Cruel, heartless people. No, they couldn’t even be qualified as humans. While we’d agreed not to talk further about it until Justin was settled back in the house, I could tell how worried and anxious Phoenix had become.
Every move he made was stilted and he’d glanced into the rearview mirror at least a dozen times since leaving the cabin. I’d grabbed everything I owned, tossing it all into my bags haphazardly, he’d terrified me so much. He’d returned to the protector mode, which scared me even more.
