“Affirmative. One more thing though, and another reason I came back here, since you’re taking a half-day.” Kyle’s expression turned concerned and Alex braced. “I got an email this morning. Noticed that Frank’s the newest member of the K9 Unit. Thought it was gonna be Sylvie.”
Alex stood up straight. “Yeah. That’s how it was supposed to be. But, she turned down the position and it went to Frank instead.”
“You wanna tell me what’s going on?”
“I don’t know the details. But, I think you already know the root cause, Pup.”
Kyle nodded. “How much trouble is she in?”
“Don’t know that either and she’s not saying. But, she’s coming up here and then we’re heading up into the hills. I’m hoping to get her to talk to me.”
“Figured as much. She’s about the only person who could drag you away from the dogs.”
“Kyle—”
“Chief, don’t insult me by denying it.” Kyle grinned. “I know you. I haven’t seen you this happy, well, ever. She’s been good for you, and I’m just hoping that her not getting the position doesn’t change that.”
“It’s why we’re heading out today. Lot of things we need to discuss now. I hope you don’t think less of me for letting…things…go where they did.”
“Hey, I watched a few of the classes. She deserved that position. I’m not about to accuse you of showing her preferential treatment as far as that goes. But, I think I might owe her for more than making you happy.”
“Owe her?”
Kyle nodded. “Because quietly withdrawing herself from the program is why we’ve kept our contract with Boulder, and our reputation. They haven’t said boo to me about dropping us.”
Alex nodded.
“I want to know for sure how it all went down.”
“Me too.” Alex gritted his teeth. “I’ll get to the bottom of it. Permission to use some of our other resources if necessary?”
“Permission happily granted, Chief.”
CHAPTERTWENTY-ONE
Sylvie showed up not long after Kyle left for Lyons and the music festival. She looked like she’d gone a couple rounds with insomnia, but to Alex’s eyes, she was a beautiful sight.
He didn’t hesitate to march out to the reception area, take her into his arms in front of Jodie and the security cameras, and kiss her deeply.
“Um,” Jodie said as she stood up from behind her desk, “I think I need to go file something somewhere else.” She scooted out of Alex’s peripheral but Sylvie had eyes on her as she headed down the hall behind him. A moment later, Sylvie laughed.
“What?”
“Jodie just gave me a thumbs up.”
Alex laughed. “Remind me to give her a raise.” He stroked Sylvie’s cheek. “You okay, baby?”
She nodded and gave him a tight smile that in no way resembled okay. “Shall we grab the pups and head out?”
“Let’s leave the dogs here for today. I just want to focus on you.”On ushe added silently.
She nodded without the hint of a fight. She covered his hand resting against her cheek and pressed as if she needed the extra pressure of his touch. Then she threaded his fingers with hers. Holding hands, they left the kennels.
Sylvie drove them through Lyons and took an almost invisible turnoff from 36 just west of the town. She knew every back road it seemed.
“One of these days when I decide to let you drive, we’ll really get lost in these hills,” she told him as they took a hairpin curve along a dirt road. “Alison doesn’t have the clearance under her chassis to take the logging roads but your truck can manage most of them.”
“Logging roads?”
