“She goes off to sulk, but because of Jessie, she’ll never leave Colson’s Corner.” Becca put a hand on his arm. “If you’re so worried, I can tell you where to find her. My mother used to have an artist’s cabin past the cow pasture. It’s near the creek so you’ll see a grove of trees. Linx hides there when she’s hurt. We pretend we don’t know where she is, but we keep it stocked with canned food, and after a few days, she always comesback.”
Maybe this time was different. This time, she might never come back—because of Jessie andhim.
“Show me where the cabin is,” Gradysaid.
Becca walked with him partway to his truck and pointed toward a green patch past the fields ofhay.
“Thank you.” Grady clasped her hand. “For trusting me. Whether I get Jessie back or not, Linx and I are on the sameteam.”
* * *
Linx spedtoward the interstate with Cedar in the passenger seat. She had to get out of the state of California before Grady and Becca informed the court that she’d committedperjury.
Stopping at a convenience store, she hit the ATM machine and withdrew her limit of cash for the day. Then she called Vanessa Ransom. She needed someone to take care of her dogs, and Nessa had contacts with other dog rescuecenters.
“Hello? Dr. Ransom speaking.” Nessa answered herphone.
“It’s Linx Colson. I need someone to take over my rescue center, and you mentioned you were a dogtrainer.”
“I am a dog trainer, but what’s going on with your rescue center?” Nessaasked.
“I need to leave the state. Short notice. Do you know anyone who could take over? Any other centers needing space toexpand?”
“I, uh, don’t get why you’releaving.”
“I’m a fugitive from the law. Please don’t tell anyone I called, but I have to leave California. I can’t leave the dogs without anyone to care for them. I have volunteers, but I need a center director to takeover.”
“Grady’s family is out there,” Nessa said. “Have you askedthem?”
“I can’t let Grady know where I’m going. He’s going to sue me for fraud. I shouldn’t be calling you, but I don’t know anyone else to turn to who won’t turn mein.”
“How do you know I won’t turn you in?” Nessaasked.
“I want you to be my therapist. Client confidentiality,” Linx replied. “You told me that I could call you. I need yourhelp.”
“Then come to my office and we cantalk.”
“I can’t do that.” Linx hung up the phone and started up her Durango. Less than an hour later, she entered Nevada and headed north toward Montana where the forest service had a large firefighting basecamp.
* * *
Grady hikedthe last mile down the creek to the abandoned artist’s cabin Becca described. The trail in front of him looked undisturbed, and Sam, who walked at his side, didn’t seem to be excited about tracking Cedar—the closest dog he had for a girlfriend. Not that they got it on, since both had been fixed, but they enjoyed playingtogether.
Grady stopped when he spotted the tiny cabin. It was little larger than a storage shed and the roof was covered with pineneedles.
“Cedar?” he called half-heartedly. “Linx?”
The place looked deserted, but he hadn’t come so far to not take a look. Maybe Linx’s mother left tools behind, or unfinished work. Or this was the place she used to assemble her horrid metalsculptures.
Sam sniffed the trail and picked up speed as they approached the cabin. He definitely picked up something interesting, although it could be asquirrel.
Someone had been by, and it could have been Linx. He rushed to the door. It was unlocked and openedeasily.
He turned on the light and peered into the dimly lit space. An old easel was stacked along one wall and pieces of scrap metal lay in a heap in theback.
Grady swept aside cobwebs and stepped through the door. Sam sniffed the corners of the cabin and appeareddisinterested.
“Think she sent me on a wild goose chase.” Grady rubbed Sam’s neck. “Nothing to seehere.”
