Dear Mr. McGuire,
We have not formally met,though we do keep crossing paths. Usually when that happens it is under unfortunate circumstances. We think you misunderstand our goals and intentions and do not realize that we could ultimately be allies. We, too, want a safe and peaceful place to live and work as you surely must know. The increase in illicit drug trafficking had come to our attention and we were debating our next move when you and the good people of Watchdog took care of the matter for us. For that, we are grateful.
However, that placed us momentarily in your debt. We do not savor debt when it is our own, so allow us to rebalance the scales by showing you our reach and our accompanying mercy…
Kyle stopped reading and touched the blue star. “The last time I saw this, I was putting it away in a box of decorations that has been sitting in the attic at our ranch.” He picked up the Kong. “This is Camo’s favorite old dog toy from his military days. I thought he’d lost it in the woods, but Arden swore up and down she’d last seen it in our bedroom.”
He picked the letter back up and continued reading:
Inside please find photographic proof that we don’t have to work at cross purposes. You began the task of wiping out the vermin infesting our fine home and we have continued your work in what we hope is to your satisfaction. As fate would have it, this particular rat was a bit of a turncoat for us as well.
We will be in touch again. Until then, be of good health and cheer.
Sincerely,
The Capitoline Group
Everyone was tooshocked to speak. Even Gina looked like she’d been punched between the eyes and she was the coolest person Alex had ever met. She was one of the co-owners of Watchdog’s main office in Los Angeles and had ties to the CIA—and possibly more.
Kyle set the letter aside and picked up the other envelope. It was brown manila, the size of a sheet of notebook paper. Inside were several eight-by-ten glossy photographs of a police officer they had trusted who betrayed them. In the first photo, he was whole, but by the last, there wasn’t enough of him left to identify him as human.
When he recognized the man, Alex did his best not to be sick. His heart pounded as his palms turned slick with sweat.
No. This can’t be.
Gina spoke first. “You know we have your back, Pup. Through all of this. Anything you need.”
Kyle nodded. “I know.”
Meanwhile, Alex’s blood ran cold. He feared for the future and safety of everyone associated with Watchdog. But more immediately, he feared for the woman who’d told him of her suspicions of police corruption and her determination to root it out and put a stop to it, then swore him to secrecy. A woman who he was supposed to meet up with at the music festival but who’d stood him up and wasn’t responding to his texts. A woman with ties to the dead cop in the photo.
His lover, Officer Sylvie Madden.
Alex took a deep breath. “Kyle. We need to talk.”
CHAPTERTWO
Two weeks before finding the package
Alex steppedout of his company-issued SUV into the Watchdog Protectors parking lot, eager to start the day. The scent of pine in the cool morning air contrasted with the warmth of the rising sun, promising another midsummer scorcher, even on the mountain. Sometimes he wondered how he’d ended up coming to Colorado from San Diego, from ocean to high desert, big city to quaint little town. But on a beautiful morning like this, it all made sense.
Especially since he would be seeing Officer Sylvie Madden and her dog, Chewie in class in an hour. That kicked his personal body temp up about a hundred degrees. After a couple months of circling each other, he’d decided today was the day he’d ask her out once their classes together ended.
Right up until he talked himself out of it. Again.
He went around to the back of the vehicle and let Mac out of his kennel. The Malinois gave him a big grin before he jumped down, looking just as eager to train up a bunch of humans in the ways of their much smarter four-legged partners. Waiting in the crate, tail wagging, was Mac’s son, Champ. Champ was the first puppy in what Alex hoped would be a long line of proud military working dogs who would train at Lackland in Texas where Mac was born and raised, then go on to serve their country alongside their humans. If the puppy’s enthusiasm and smarts were any indication, they were off to a good start.
Alex lifted Champ out of the carrier and set him on the ground before leashing him. He was still learning to heel and needed the leash as a reminder not to go chasing rabbits and squirrels. With Mac trotting on one side, Champ on the other, Alex entered the Watchdog canine training facility—his own little kingdom and the real reason he’d answered Kyle’s call to come to Colorado after Alex retired from the SEALs. Where else would he get the chance to head up a department like this one? He kept Watchdog’s in-house guard dogs in top form and oversaw the new breeding program. He taught classes for private service dogs. And he designed and taught classes for trained law enforcement in working with their dogs, a supplemental program to the one the Boulder and Denver police used.
Which brought him back to thoughts of Sylvie. He hadn’t expected to be attracted to anyone out here—his days of taking home base bunnies for a night of fun were far behind him—but then she walked into his very first class. Tall, long-legged, curves that even a police officer’s uniform couldn’t hide. Bright, inquisitive eyes that missed nothing. Quick with a joke, a smile always tugged at the corner of her full lips. Especially when she looked at him.
Or so he liked to think.
He had to be careful not to treat her like a teacher’s pet, but it wasn’t easy. Not just because of his attraction, but because she and Chewie excelled in class. The only other person he’d ever trained who worked as hard with a dog was Kyle, back when they were SEALs together. But Kyle never lookedthatgood.
Alex couldn’t help but laugh at the thought as he opened the door to find the man himself there with his dog, Camo.
“What’s so funny, Alex? You know I don’t allow laughter this early.” Kyle grinned and reached down to scratch Mac’s head.
