David released a sigh of his own.“Look, I’m not a private detective.”
“Gee, you don’t say?”
“But Iamlooking into the mistreatment of working dogs.Okay, I’m a veterinarian, and a patient of mine came in showing signs of severe abuse.Her handler’s covering it up, and my attempts to gain clarification have been met with threats.I need to know if there’s a chance that your husband might have suffered the same thing.”
Once more, Anneliese was quiet for a long time.When she spoke, her voice was shaky.“Um… I don’t really…”
“You don’t need to be involved,” David insisted.“You don’t know my real name, and this is a prepaid phone that can’t be traced.Please.I’m just trying to help these dogs.”
Anneliese took a deep breath and said, “The Marine Corps reassigned Gene’s working dog without telling him.He was broken up over it.He tried requesting information on Champ’s whereabouts so he could visit, but the Corps ignored him.When he started getting angry, his CO sat him down and basically told him to shut up about it, or he could kiss his career goodbye.He gave up after that, but I could tell he thought they were lying to him.Then he died, and…” She paused again, then finished with, “And I don’t know.I can’t believe they would have killed him for being upset about a dog, but…”
“But?”
“But he found some stuff.Something about a 93rdTesting Brigade.”
Heat and cold ran through David’s body.“Can you tell me what he found?”
“No,” she replied curtly.“I have no interest in getting involved.Damn it, Daniel, or whatever your name is, I’ve moved on.Okay, that was Gene’s obsession, and it got him… Or might have gotten him…” She sighed.“I’m done.And if you’re smart, you’ll let it go too.For God’s sake, it was just a damned dog.”
She hung up, and David sat there for a long moment, absorbing what he’d just heard.
There was no doubt now.The 93rdTesting Brigade was real, and they had been taking dogs and abusing them for years.And they had probably killed Gene or at least had a hand in his death.Which meant they’d have no problem killing him.
But Anneliese’s last words echoed in his mind.Just a damned dog.
He didn’t blame Anneliese for her grief, but he couldn’t see it the same way.Just a damned dog.
No, they were thinking animals.Loyal animals literally bred to be the best friends human beings could ever have.And itwasn’tjust dogs.If David was right, then they had killed Gene Kowalski too.The 93rdTesting Brigade was abusing that and using their influence and power to kill people who got in their way.
His life was in danger, but Faith put her life in danger all the time to protect the innocent, even when David had begged her not to.What he was doing now was no different.
I’m sorry, Faith.
He dialed the next number.
CHAPTER FOUR
What if it was Turk?
Faith’s eyes opened.She stared at the ceiling of their hotel room and blinked the cobwebs away.Her heart pounded and sweat beaded on her forehead.Had she actually had a nightmare and forgotten it, or had she woken before the nightmare could take hold?
Doesn’t matter.My real life is a nightmare right now.
A furry head popped into view, carefully licking her cheek.She grimaced and pushed it away.The head barked and resumed its attentions until Faith straightened.She gave Turk an exasperated smile, and Turk returned a parental look.You were having a nightmare, and I woke you up.You’re welcome.
She chuckled and pulled him into a hug.Not all of her life was a nightmare.
What if it was Turk?
She got to her feet with an irritated sigh.Itwasn’tTurk, and itwasher husband, and he was wonderful and sweet and brave, but he was also clumsy and sometimes annoyingly stupid and so far out of his depth right now, that if he swam downwards for the rest of his life, he wouldn’t reach bottom.
And there was that little thing about how the rest of his life might not be that damned long.She supported his desire to help, but he was surrounded by people who could help better than he could.Why didhehave to be the one to do this?
The door to the hotel room opened, and Jessica entered carrying two plates with biscuits, gravy, eggs, and cottage cheese.“Oh Good.You’re up.I just got a call from Wilma Pruitt at the animal shelter.They’re keeping the facility closed for the day so they can install a new security system.They’re available to talk whenever we want to show up.”
Faith checked the clock.Six a.m.She felt a flash of irritation that Jessica was already up and cheerful when she was foggy, sweaty, and in desperate need of coffee.God, am I that old already?
She took the plate with a muttered, “Thank you,” and accepted the cup of coffee that followed with a much more heartfelt “Thank you.”
