'Did you offer her enough money?'
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'We didn’t get that far. The minute I mentioned using Monty as a cadaver dog, she iced down.
She accused me of being with the ATF and being sent by someone named Madden. Whom she evidently doesn’t like.'
'Do you want me to help?'
'No, I want you to butt out. I’ll get Sarah or someone else to help me.”
“But you want Sarah Patrick.'
'Of course I do. She’s the best in the business and she’s a loner. She’d be less likely to turn me in to the police.' She added dryly, 'And she can’t stand the IRS, which should prove she’s the right stuff to you.'
'Definitely.'
'But if I can’t have her, I’ll find someone almost as good.”
“I could try to—'
'No, stay out of it, Logan.' She hung up. 'We’re not going to see Monty again?' Jane asked.
My God, her voice was almost wistful. 'Have you ever had a dog?'
Jane shook her head.
Eve felt sorry for her. She had fallen like a brick for Monty. Who wouldn’t. He was utterly adorable. 'I’ll try again tomorrow.'
'If you want to. He’s kind of cute, but I don’t really care.' Jane headed down the hall. 'I think I’ll go read my book.'
Sure she didn’t care. She was just raising the walls again. An entirely natural response by a child who’d been betrayed too many times in her short life. Eve couldn’t let the opportunity for Jane to have warmth and contact slip away.
She would try to get Sarah Patrick and Monty. If she couldn’t, she’d find another handler with a dog as smart and appealing as Monty.
Fat chance.
Dammit.
She reached for the phone and dialed information for the number of the Camelback Inn.
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ELEVEN
The desert night was chill, the breeze sharp and cool on Sarah’s face as she ran. Monty ran beside her, pacing her. She could feel the blood pumping through her veins, the muscles of her calves flex with every step.
Monty was getting impatient. She could feel it. He wouldn’t leave without permission, but he wanted to stretch out.
Halfway up the knoll, her pace faltered. Monty looked back at her.
She chuckled. 'Go on. Make me look bad. Beat it.' Monty flew.
She watched the moonlight brush a silver sheen on his golden coat as he ran straight up the incline. Beautiful… Scientists believed dogs were descended from wolves, but she never associated Monty with wild animals except in moments like these.
He was waiting for her on the top of the knoll. She could almost see his satisfaction. Weakling.
'I have two legs, not four.' She stopped, trying to get her breath. 'And I think you’re part billy goat.'
Excuses.
Monty loped over to lean companionably against her. Silence. Wind. Night.
She closed her eyes, tasting them all. God, this was good. Monty whimpered.
She opened her eyes and looked down at him. 'What’s wrong?' He was staring down at the cabin miles below them. 'Monty?'
She moved closer to the edge, and then she could see it too. Lights. A car approaching the cabin.
She stiffened. Eve Duncan again? She had thought she’d made herself more than clear yesterday. But Eve had impressed her as being very determined. Maybe she’d decided to drive out and give it another try. She was tempted to just stay up here until the woman got bored and went home.
Monty had other ideas.
He was already on the trail going down. 'Did I say we were going down?' Child.
Monty loved kids, and he remembered the little girl Jane. Okay. Face Eve Duncan, be brief, get rid of her. Sarah started down the trail at a trot. 'Wait for me, blast it.' Child…
