“Likewhat?”
“Like I disgustyou.”
Diggs shook his head. “You don’t disgust me, but I’m going to need some time to wrap my head aroundthis.”
He started to pace, his restless energy returning in full force. He could feel the dog’s eyes following his every move. “Did you do any experiments on animals? Were there side effects? Did they go crazy?” Was he going to have to worry about Trigger attackingAudra?
“Some on rats and monkeys. No canines.” She paused allowing him to digest that information. Then she continued, pushing off from the counter and pacing in a small circle on her side of the room. “So far, he’s only shown signs of healing and some paranoia, but we can’t be certain that’s just a result of the serum. He was a bomb-sniffing dog, his handler was killed in the line of duty and he was severely injured, and he’s been physically abused. He more than likely has some post-traumatic stress as a result of all thattrauma.”
“And we know from your team that the serum tends to exacerbate certain tendencies, especially until you learn to control them. It’s likely Trigger’s going to need some rehabilitation. And some moretraining.”
Training he could handle. Rehab? For a dog? “And how exactly are we supposed to go aboutthat?”
“I will do some research and get you some details. I’ve heard of plenty of cases of dogs fully recovering from PTSD, even becoming service dogs to wounded veterans. I can develop a treatment plan for him, if you’dlike?”
“Hell, yes, I’d like. Audra won’t recover if Trigger doesn’t make it. He’s the only connection she has left to her brother, and I promised her that I’d do what I could to protect him.” If that meant doing K-9 therapy, so beit.
“Great, then you can start by getting him into that cage over there in the corner.” Melissa tilted her head indicating an almost man-size wire cage with a huge pillow completely covering the bottom ofit.
For some reason he got the feeling Trigger would not like being locked up. “I don’t think that’s a goodidea.”
Melissa paused in her pacing and stared at him. “We can’t let him run loose around the lab. I don’t know how he’s going to react over the next 24 hours, and it’s safer if we keep him in a controlledenvironment.”
Trigger was watching the two of them as if he could understand every word they were saying. And if the hair rising on the back of Trigger’s neck was any indication, the dog wasn’t liking their plan one bit. “I’m just saying, he’s not going in that cage, not unless you sedatehim.”
Melissa threw up her hands, her frustration palpable. “So, you want me just to leave him out in my lab? What if he destroysit?”
Diggs glanced around at the stainless-steel tables and chairs and drawers. “I’d say it’s a risk I’m willing to take. If he chews through the legs of a table, we’ll know he definitely got a boost ofstrength.”
Melissa gave him a frown. “Your sarcasm is notappreciated.”
Diggs shrugged. “You think you can get him in thecage?”
Trigger’s half snarl had turned into a full-outgrowl.
Melissa blew out a long sigh. “No, I guess not. But we’ll need to limit access to the lab, then. At least I can observe him through the video cameras while I do my research on treatment options. You can go find some food and water forhim.”
Melissa grabbed up her laptop, a few supplies off the counter and walked out of the room, leaving Diggs alone with Trigger. They stared at each other for a long moment, Trigger’s fear and deadly determination becoming more obvious by the second. He was now actually leaning toward Diggs, his hind legs crouched prepared to spring. Diggs didn’t get the feeling that the dog wanted to attack him, but that he was going into a panic and was scared for hislife.
Diggs lifted up his hand and slowly backed from the room, pulling the lab door shut with a soft snick. Through the window, he saw that Trigger seemed to be okay with being left alone, and his top lip had stoppedcurling.
Juarez came strolling down the hallway, gave Diggs a once over and a grin. “She chew youout?”
“Dr. Averton?” Melissa never chewed anyone out. She was always calm andcollected.
“The redhead.” Juarez came to a stop a few feet away, amusement obvious in his blackeyes.
Diggs scowled at his teammate. He knew the ribbing would start, but he wasn’t in the mood forit.
“Don’t go in there.” He hooked a thumb over his shoulder toward the lab. “The dog isn’t taking too kindly to strangers right now.” Diggs strolled down the hall heading back up to thekitchen.
“Where you going?” Juarez asked from behindhim.
“Gotta find the mutt some food. If he chews up Dr. Averton’s equipment she’s gonna blow a gasket.” Diggs slapped his hand on the scanner and ran upstairs, needing to get away from Juarez’s all-too-knowing gaze. Diggs didn’t doubt for a second that his teammate knew exactly what he and Audra had been upto.
The pantry didn’t lend much in the way of dog food, but there was a package of hot dogs and some leftover slices of bacon in the refrigerator. Diggs pulled out both, along with some lunchmeat and a couple of cheese sticks. He found two large bowls and filled one with water and dumped all the food in the other, except for the bacon. It had been cooked, but it was cold so Diggs wrapped it in a paper towel and shoved it in his pocket, intending to use it to distract the dog ifnecessary.
He managed to make it back down to the lab without spilling the bowls. When he opened the door and went inside, he found Trigger in exactly the same spot where he’d left him, alert and wary in thecorner.
