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Halo grinned down at Max. “Sounds like you were good and relaxed.”
Titus pulled an Iniquus suitcase for Nutsbe and one for Max off the belt. “We just need the crate, and we’ll get a cab.”
“Did you all get out to the bog yesterday?” Nutsbe asked as Halo stood, signaling Max to a down-stay.
“We did,” Thorn said. “Our guide was knowledgeable and professional. She went through a laundry list of things that could go wrong on the bog. Everything from flying reindeer to wolves. We’re going to need to get plans together in advance, ones that comply with Estonian laws.”
“All right,” Nutsbe shoved his hands in his pockets. “I’ll be glad to hear about them.”
“I think some of the situations need to be tested out,” Halo said. “Titus gave me permission to go out with Max tomorrow and play around with some scenarios. I want to try some of the survival techniques Marilin mentioned. See how we do without the expert there to talk us through.”
“She’d be there with the executives on their tour, right?” Nutsbe asked, his gaze on the conveyor belt and the rotating garden of colorful luggage.
“Do we want to depend on her as the sole expert?” Gage asked. “What if someone were to fall behind to look at something interesting?”
“Want to come with me,” Halo asked Nutsbe. “Or are you going to be busy with your own list?”
“I usually don’t turn down opportunities,” Nutsbe turned to Halo, “but there are certain things I’ll take a pass on. I’m thinking that strapping the bog shoes to my prosthetic legs might not be the best choice.”
“Yeah, sorry, mate, I wasn’t thinking that one through.”
“And you shouldn’t.” Nutsbe focused back on the carousel, watching for the dog crate. “I want every opportunity presented to me so I can make the decision. No need to exclude me on the off chance that I might be offended. I’m not.”
“Well enough. Will do. Seriously, though, thank you for taking good care of Maxi on the way over.”
“All’s good.”
Once the passengers had their bags and the carousel came to a stop, Nutsbe’s phone pinged. Turning to Titus, he said. “I just got an alert that the crate didn’t make it onto this flight. It’s on the incoming. The staff will deliver it to our hotel in the next three hours.”
“We’re good then?” Titus asked. “Let’s roll.”
***
Split between two taxis, both vehicles were at a standstill as a construction crew maneuvered heavy machinery toward a gaping hole in the road.
The driver in Halo’s car opened his palms. “It is sometimes like this. They are trying to fix the roads, but when they dig down, there are ancient ruins. The ruins must be protected, and then the roads must go back over. It is a long process. It will be years like this. But not for us.” He sent a smile toward Titus. “For us, the inconvenience is another ten minutes.”
Titus handed over a credit card. “We’re going to walk the last couple of blocks. Thank you.” Card swiped, the driver got out to pull their rucks from the trunk.
Seeing that, the other half of the team got out of their taxi, as well.
“We’re walking?” Nutsbe called forward.
“That’s the plan,” Titus said, reaching for his pack and pulling it over his shoulders.
As the team moved to the sidewalk, Max had his nose in the air, chuffing in some ambient scent. That wasn’t a typical Max move. Halo sniffed too to see if there was something obvious, but Halo had that sad human nose, while Max was a sniffing machine.
Titus looked down at Max’s posture. “Something’s up.”
“Yeah.” What, though, Halo hadn’t a clue. “Dunno, mate. This is his ‘mission ready’ stance.”
Suddenly, Max stopped and caught Halo’s gaze, his whole body rigid with concentration.
“He’s locked onto something,” Halo said. “What’s up, Maxi? Something you want to show me?” Halo turned to Titus. “I’m curious what this is. I’d like to check it out.”
A scream wrenched their attention up the street.
“Go. Go. Go.” Titus said, his hand over his head, blading toward the woman’s shriek.
