She’ll do anything to find her missing sister.

Only a Colton cop can crack this case.

The last thing K-9 Sergeant Spencer Colton needs is another routine missing-persons case. But Katrina Perry is insistent on finding her twin sister—at all costs. And as things become anything but routine, so do Spencer’s feelings for Katrina. Someone will stop at nothing to get Katrina out of the way, though. And only Spencer has a chance of keeping her safe...

JANE GODMAN writes in a variety of romance genres, including paranormal, gothic and romantic suspense. Jane lives in England and loves to travel to European cities that are steeped in history and romance—Venice, Dubrovnik and Vienna are among her favourites. Jane is married to a lovely man and is mum to two grown-up children.

Also by Jane Godman

Colton 911: Family Under Fire

Colton’s Secret Bodyguard

Colton and the Single Mum

Covert Kisses

The Soldier’s Seduction

Secret Baby, Second Chance

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk

Colton Manhunt

Jane Godman

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-0-008-90506-4

COLTON MANHUNT

© 2020 Harlequin Books S.A.

Published in Great Britain 2020

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

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For my lovely husband, Stewart, who is gone but never

forgotten. We don’t say “goodbye.”

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

About the Author

Booklist

Title Page

Copyright

Note to Readers

Dedication

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

About the Publisher

Chapter 1

The last ten minutes of every puppy class was off-leash time. The dogs, who were all three months old, had spent almost an hour involved in an intense training session. Now was their chance to release some energy and socialize.

Katrina Perry, owner and head trainer at the Look Who’s Walking dog-training center, knew this informal period would be more stressful for the human clients than the canines. Let their precious babies go free around these other dogs? What if they ran away, got scared, or were bitten by the class bully? Since this was the first session in an eight-week program, she outlined a few rules.

“I need you to remain seated at all times while the pups interact. If you see your pet engaging in something that looks like aggression, don’t be alarmed. Play fighting is a natural behavior and the way they engage with the world.” She gestured to Suzie Calles, her assistant trainer. “If there is a genuine problem, one of us will intervene. If your pup, or any other one, appears shy around the others and comes to you, please don’t pet them or pick them up. The aim is to get them to relate to the other animals, not the humans.”

There were eight dogs in class today, and Katrina had already figured out what would happen. The vocal German shepherd would fall silent the instant another pup approached him. The hyperactive rottweiler would tear around the training ground without even noticing the other dogs. The timid Siberian husky would find somewhere to hide. The others would make some noise before starting to play.

She had been working with dogs since she had volunteered at the local kennels in high school. Initially, her only qualification had been her love of animals but, as her skills had increased, she’d known that this was the only career for her. Yes, she had an intuition where her canine clients were concerned, but she also had years of experience to back up her instincts. Her business had a good name and that had been built on trust.

There was only one pup she had any worries about, and her concern centered more on his looks than his behavior. The little mutt reminded Katrina of another dog she knew, one she hadn’t seen for a while.

“Hey, the brown-and-white one looks just like—”

“I know.” Cutting off Suzie in midsentence made her feel mean, but she didn’t want to have this conversation in the middle of a workday. If she started to have the conversation Suzie wanted, she’d inevitably get upset. The little dog she was thinking of and its owner meant too much to her, and, anyway... “Whoa. Bulldog emergency.” Katrina was glad of the distraction.

Drummond, the English bulldog, unable to keep up with his speedier classmates, had decided to slow them down by sitting on them.

“After a count of three,” Katrina said, then she and Suzie lifted the muscle-bound little guy. Their actions released a Yorkshire terrier and a bichon frise, both of whom barked delightedly and tried to encourage Drummond into a repeat performance of sitting on them. As if wounded by the affront to his dignity, the bulldog ignored them and strutted away to gnaw on a fence post.

Minutes later, Katrina brought the session to a close. As they cleared the training ground and set up for the advanced obedience class after lunch, she was conscious of Suzie sending troubled sidelong glances in her direction.

Eventually, she sighed. “You’re right. The little brown-and-white mutt reminded me of Dobby.”

She sensed Suzie relax slightly. They’d worked together for nearly four years and had become good friends. Until now, there had never been any tension between them. And Katrina didn’t have enough friends to let it become an issue. “Have you heard from Eliza recently?” Suzie asked.

“That obvious, huh?” Katrina asked. “I thought I was doing a good job of covering up how worried I am about my troubled twin.”

“Maybe someone who doesn’t know you well wouldn’t have noticed,” Suzie said. “But you don’t usually check your cell phone every two minutes. And, now and then, I’ve had to call your name twice because you’ve been lost in your own world. But your reaction to the Dobby look-alike was what clinched it for me.”

“Poor Dobby.” Katrina managed a smile. “With looks like his, I always found it doubly sad that he had such a fondness for the ladies.”

Dobby was her twin sister’s dog. With his big, floppy ears, sparse hair and lopsided jaw, he would never win a beauty contest. What he lacked in looks, he made up for in charm. Dobby was the happiest, most self-confident dog Katrina had ever known. But Dobby wasn’t the problem...

“I hadn’t heard from Eliza for months prior to the earthquake. That wasn’t unusual. She’s never been great at keeping in touch.”

Suzie knew all about Katrina’s sister’s checkered past. There was no point in trying to hide it. Not when Eliza could turn up at the training center at any time, either down on her luck, or high on drugs...or both. Or when Katrina might get a call from the police or a hospital and have to drop everything. Eliza claimed to have been clean for over a year, but that was a familiar story.

Then, two months ago, Mustang Valley had been hit by an earthquake. The area was rural and spread out, limiting the overall impact, but many homes and buildings in the small downtown district had been damaged. Since she hadn’t known where Eliza was living at the time, Katrina had fired off a series of increasingly frantic messages to her sister, hearing back from Eliza after a few days.

“I didn’t know if she was even in Mustang Valley when the quake hit.” Having finished setting up for the afternoon session, they went through to the small staff area to clean up before snatching a quick lunch. “I considered reporting her missing again, but this time I had no evidence that she was.”

Suzie shook her head. “I wish you’d told me you were dealing with all of this.”

Katrina shrugged a shoulder. “This is what it’s been like all our adult lives. And it was the same with our mom when she was alive.” She sucked in a breath. Although she didn’t talk about it, she figured Suzie could guess how hard it had been for her. Her mother’s drug and alcohol dependency had shaped her life, and Eliza’s, in different ways. In Katrina’s case, it had made her view close relationships as something to be avoided.

“Addiction makes people selfish. Eventually, after a day or two of almost constant messaging on my part, Eliza replied to say she was fine. She was still drug-free. Her apartment had been destroyed, but I was to stop worrying because she’d found a wonderful relief organization called the Affirmation Alliance Group. They had given her somewhere to stay and were helping her find her best self.”

“I’ve seen the AAG out and about since the earthquake,” Suzie said. “They seem to be doing some wonderful relief work. Everyone in town speaks highly of them.”

“I know.” Katrina moved toward the coffee machine. “They have a guest ranch about ten miles outside of the town center and, from everything I hear, it’s very warm and welcoming. At first, I was pleased that Eliza had gone there.”

“At first?”

“She hasn’t answered any of my other messages. And...” She wrinkled her nose. “‘Find my best self’? That just didn’t sound like Eliza.”

“Why don’t you drive out there and see how she’s doing?”

When Suzie put it like that, it seemed so simple. With anyone other than Eliza, maybe it would have been. But Katrina had always handled her twin with caution. Eliza was volatile and vulnerable. It would only take one wrong word to turn their fragile relationship into a nonexistent one.

If she took action and things went wrong, it would be her fault. Remaining passive had become her default position, her approach to life. So what if it was a dull, lonely place to be? Having friends, relationships, a social life... Those things were overrated.

“Yeah. Maybe one evening—”

“No.” Suzie took her gently by the shoulders and turned her toward the door. “I meant, why don’t you go now?”

“Because we have a class in twenty minutes?” Katrina dug her heels in like one of her own problem pups.

“Laurence has nothing on his timetable until six. He can leave the paperwork he has planned and assist me with this class. Tomorrow, I’ll help him catch up.” She handed Katrina a sandwich and a bottle of water. “You can eat in the car and thank me later.”

Spencer Colton pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to relieve the slight headache that was forming behind his eyes. From beneath the desk, a faint rhythmic snoring was evidence that Boris, his two-year-old chocolate Labrador retriever, was sleeping off their strenuous, early morning training session. Not for the first time, he envied his canine partner’s ability to relax in between jobs. As the human half of the team, Spencer had read and reread the file into the shooting of Payne Colton so many times he knew most of the details by heart.

But they still weren’t getting any closer to catching the shooter.

Although Spencer was a distant cousin to Payne, chairman of the board of Colton Oil and owner of the prosperous Rattlesnake Ridge Ranch, the two branches of the family weren’t close. The thought caused Spencer a moment’s distraction. Close? His own upbringing had been a world away from the luxurious lifestyle of that enjoyed by Payne’s family.

Despite his riches, Payne had been going through a rough patch prior to the shooting that had left him in a coma. Back in January, an anonymous email had been sent to the six board members of Colton Oil informing them that the company CEO, and Payne’s oldest son, Asa “Ace” Colton, was not a Colton by blood. Subsequent DNA testing proved that the bombshell claim was true.

Although Spencer didn’t know them well, he felt for the family unit that had been shattered by the email. The news was bad enough, and no one deserved to hear it in such a horrible way. The anonymous sender had clearly intended it to cause maximum devastation. It was his job to investigate, and he would do it with understanding toward any family in the same situation, but the Colton link made him even more sympathetic.

The family, torn apart at the news, had been in the process of investigating what could have happened. A mystery unfolded around the events in the hospital on Christmas Eve forty years ago, when Ace was born. It appeared that there was a nurse who’d quit on Christmas day after giving birth to a baby son, and there was a possibility that she’d switched infants. But there were so many unanswered questions around that scenario. The baby boy of Payne and his then wife, Tessa, had been born sickly. Why would anyone have switched a healthy child with a sick one?

Events took another dramatic turn when Payne was working late at the Colton Oil building one night. A cleaning woman had heard a gunshot, footsteps, then a stairwell door shoved open and banging against the wall, followed by silence. She ran toward where the gunshot originated and found Payne on his back on the floor of his office, bleeding from two wounds in his chest. He was rushed to Mustang Valley General Hospital, but had not regained consciousness. Doctors were uncertain if he ever would.

“Sergeant?” Spencer looked up from his reflections to find Kerry Wilder, the rookie detective who had been involved in the case right from the start, standing close to his desk. “You wanted to talk to me about the Colton shooting?”

He leaned back, glad of a chance to straighten his spine. “Just prior to the attempt on Payne Colton’s life, Ace issued a threat against him, is that right? Please remind me of the circumstances.”

“When it turned out that Ace really wasn’t a Colton, Payne ousted him as CEO of the company. It’s in the bylaws that the CEO must be a Colton by blood. Ace was devastated and told Payne, ‘You’ll regret this, Dad!’ There has been speculation about whether it was intended as a threat. Ace Colton swears it wasn’t.”

“You interviewed Ace soon after the shooting. What was your impression of him?”

“He was very upset about everything that had happened, and being the suspect in an attempted murder added to his emotional turmoil,” Kerry said. “My fiancé, Rafe, is Ace’s adopted brother.”

“Is Chief Barco aware of that potential conflict of interest?” Spencer asked. He knew Kerry would play things by the book, but he needed to double-check.

“Yes, and he’s happy for me to be part of the investigation,” Kerry confirmed. “For what it’s worth, Rafe doesn’t believe Ace is capable of attempting to kill their father.”

Privately, Spencer didn’t think the opinion of a sibling counted for much of a character reference, but he kept his thoughts to himself.

“In your report, you’ve stated that security camera footage from Colton Oil shows the shooter appears to be of slight build, five-eight or five-nine, in a black ski mask and covered head to toe in black.”

He flicked through the pages of Kerry’s report, refreshing his memory.

“That means there was no way to tell gender or age.”

It also meant they couldn’t rule Ace Colton in or out of the list of suspects. It was frustrating, but typical of this investigation.

“Joanne Bates, the cleaning woman, thinks she heard a man’s voice say ‘Mom,’ followed by the F word. Her vacuum was running, so she can’t be sure. And Dee Walton, Payne Colton’s administrative assistant, found an Arizona State Sun Devils pin in Payne’s office.”

Kerry nodded. “That was weird because Payne had no affiliation with Arizona State, and he wasn’t much into football. There’s speculation in the family that the shooter could have dropped it.”

“Speculation seems to be all we’ve got right now.” Frustration was a tight knot in Spencer’s gut as he placed the pages back in order. “Thank you. This is a detailed account of the investigation so far.”

“It’s not much to work with, I know.” Kerry looked apologetic.

“You can only report on what you’re given. This isn’t a murder case, so we don’t have the same resources. But the shooter obviously meant for Payne to die, and the doctors aren’t hopeful about his chances of recovery.” Spencer took a slug from the hour-old cup of coffee on his desk. “This has the feel of a case that’s going cold.”

The case seemed to be bogged down in uncertainty and doubt. There was nothing which he could grasp and make a proper start. Used to being able to give his team direction, Spencer was irritated by the lack of activity. Determined to take back control, he had decided the forward momentum must come from him.

“Is there anything we can do to change that?” It seemed that Kerry was equally unhappy at the slow progress.

“As I said, the shooter wanted Payne dead. If he hears that his victim is showing signs of recovery, he may make another move.”

“You’re planning to flush him out with false information?” Kerry said. “Isn’t that a risky strategy?”

“Payne won’t be in any danger, and I’ve been working closely with the family on this plan. When I spread the word that his health is improving, I’ll have him moved to a safe place and put a cop in his old room as a decoy.”

With no leads, a sting operation felt like the only logical move. If Payne defied the odds and did start to improve, his attacker might decide to come back for a second try. This way, the police would be one step ahead in an inquiry that otherwise felt like it was going nowhere.

“I’ll let the family know the details when they are finalized,” he told Kerry. “For now, just keep me informed about any new developments.”

When she’d gone, he glanced out of his office window, the bright afternoon sunlight catching him off guard. Maybe he should go out and get some lunch. A wry smile crossed his lips. Who was he kidding? When he had a caseload like his, lunch was usually a curled-up sandwich from the canteen and another cup of coffee that would grow cold by the time he got around to drinking it.

Although he hadn’t said anything aloud, there was a grunt of agreement from under the desk. As far as Boris was concerned, the eating arrangements were never good enough. With a sigh, Spencer flipped over the Payne Colton report and opened another file.

The Affirmation Alliance Group Center was surrounded by beautiful Arizona countryside. There was nothing around for miles in any direction, just acres of unspoiled land, palm trees and a shimmering hint of mountains in the distance. Katrina, having set out in response to Suzie’s prompting, decided that, if this was isolation, she liked it.

After leaving the highway, she drove along a half-mile, tree-lined dirt drive to the main ranch house. The building had a woodsy, fancy log-cabin exterior and a large triangular roof, and was two stories high. Large, hunter-green gates were pinned back, as though always open, while big potted plants in front added to the welcoming feel.

Since the earthquake, she’d seen the AAG had been carrying out good work around the town, helping those affected. From handing out food parcels, to helping rebuild homes and offering accommodation to those worst affected, they had been highly visible in their efforts. Everyone Katrina had spoken to had been full of praise for the job they were doing.

She didn’t know what she’d expected from their headquarters, but it wasn’t anything as warm and feel-good as this. Feeling slightly foolish now about her fears for Eliza, she parked her car next to a row of other vehicles. Her suspicions were the product of years of worrying about her sister. She should be glad Eliza had found this place. Even though she felt a bit reassured by the center’s ambience, she was still worried for her sister. She might as well go inside and see if there was anything her twin needed from her. That way, she could see for herself how Eliza was doing in these surroundings.

At the same time that she crossed the parking lot, a man walked out of the building. As he strode across the porch and down the steps, his swagger and clothing drew Katrina’s attention to him. Skater dude. That’s how Eliza would have described him. He had handsome, rock-star features and shoulder-length hair peeking out from beneath a beanie. With his faded jeans and matching jacket, scuffed high-tops and graffiti-covered T-shirt, he was just the type her sister would have been drawn to. With a guy like him around, Eliza would never leave this place.

Although she told herself it was wrong to judge on appearances, she knew from experience just how good Eliza was at picking the wrong kind of guy. It was an upsetting thought, one that triggered a series of memories of rescuing her sister from bad relationships with men who strutted just like the one she’d just seen. Despair washed over her again as she headed inside the building. She had to find Eliza and see if she needed help.

The interior of the center was just as impressive as the outside. The wide porch led directly to a large, open lobby with wood-paneled walls, comfortable seating and a long table with complimentary beverages, muffins and fruit. Brass signs indicated the many guest and conference rooms. Beneath a long wooden desk, there was a large portrait of Micheline Anderson, AAG’s founder. Blonde, blue-eyed and attractive, she had a warm smile that, even in a picture, seemed to be welcoming. The group’s slogan—Be Your Best You!—was on display everywhere.

“Hi, there.” The pretty young woman who approached Katrina was a blue-eyed blonde with a full-on smile. “I’m Leigh Dennings, the welcome manager here at the Affirmation Alliance Group Center. How may I help you today?”

“I’d like to see my sister, Eliza Perry. She’s been living here since the earthquake destroyed her apartment.”

There was a tiny pause before Leigh pursed her lips. “I’m not sure—”

“I just need ten minutes of her time.” Now she had taken this step, it was important for Katrina to see it through. She needed to reassure herself that Eliza was okay. Perhaps they could even use this as a new start between them. Maybe next time she came, she would feel she could just call her sister instead of taking the formal step of going through the front desk. On this occasion, she wasn’t sure how Eliza would feel about her sudden arrival and didn’t feel comfortable with that approach.

“Oh, please don’t think I would try to stop you from visiting with one of our guests.” Leigh lightly touched Katrina’s arm. “It’s just that I don’t recognize that name. But let me check our records.”

She moved toward the reception desk. Katrina trailed in her footsteps, confusion clouding her thoughts. She had seen signs for about twenty guest rooms. Surely, the welcome manager should know the names of all the people who were staying at the center. There was always a possibility that Leigh wasn’t very good at her job. Or that Eliza had lied about where she was staying... It wouldn’t be the first time her sister, under the guise of maintaining her independence, had misled Katrina about her whereabouts. In the past, once she needed money, or got into trouble, she’d eventually been forced to tell the truth.

After typing quickly on the keyboard of a desktop computer and then consulting the screen, Leigh looked up. Her smile remained in place, but her gaze shifted around instead of settling on Katrina’s face. “Let me just talk to my colleagues.”

Before Katrina could protest, the other woman had crossed the lobby and was talking to two men who were positioned close to the door. As Leigh spoke to them, they both turned to stare at Katrina. It was probably a natural reaction, but something about the way they looked her up and down left her with a crawling sensation along her spine.

Get a grip. Just because they look creepy, doesn’t mean they are creepy.

It didn’t matter what she told herself; the men gave off an unpleasant vibe. After a few minutes of deep conversation, the three AAG members approached Katrina.

“Hi, I’m Bart Akers.” In any other setting, Katrina would have figured Creep Number One was hired muscle. He was in his late twenties, big and brawny, with a blond crew cut. She sensed there wasn’t much going on behind those light hazel eyes. “This is my colleague, Randall Cook.”

Katrina briefly took in the older, taller man at his side.

“I don’t know what’s going on here, but I got messages from my sister saying this was where she was staying.” She still spoke directly to Leigh.

“Maybe she meant another AAG ranch?” Leigh gave a slight giggle, as though inviting Katrina to share the joke.

Clearly, like the fireflies that lived in the Mustang Valley Mountains, the welcome manager was good to look at but not very bright. Even so, Katrina’s instinct told her she was marginally more intelligent than the male AAG members.

“This is the place she came to,” Katrina said.

“Yes, of course. We’ve been so busy since the earthquake, it’s hard to keep track of everyone we’ve helped.” Leigh had regained her composure and her smile was back to hundred-watt capacity. “Your sister did stay with us for two nights back in April. I wanted to check with Bart and Randall in case they had any information about where she went after she left us.”

“We don’t.” Bart’s smile was considerably less attractive than Leigh’s. “She said she was going. Didn’t say where.”

For a moment, the solid tile floor beneath Katrina’s feet felt springy. Then she realized her knees had started to shake. It was June. If Eliza had left this place in April, she had been absent for two months. It wasn’t the first time her twin had gone missing. But it was the first time Katrina hadn’t known about it and been actively looking for her. If she’d known, she would have followed her usual routine and contacted Eliza’s friends, liaised with her counselors, and, if all else failed, reported her missing to the police.

“I’m sorry we can’t help you.” Leigh’s gaze flicked toward the door.

Fighting the fog of panic that was threatening to engulf her, Katrina sucked in a breath. “I don’t understand. Her apartment was destroyed. You offered her a safe place to stay. She had no money or belongings. Why would she leave? Where did she go?”

“We don’t hold that sort of information on our database,” Leigh said. “People who spend time with us are free to come and go as they choose.”

“But you were out and about in the town offering people your help after the earthquake. That means you had a responsibility to care for them.” Katrina wasn’t concerned that the volume of her voice was rising. “You must have known Eliza was homeless and vulnerable. How could you have let her walk out of here without making sure she was okay?”

“Hey.” Bart stepped closer. “You’re clearly worried about your sister, but Leigh has explained the situation. There’s nothing more we can do for you.”

If they thought she was letting this go, they were mistaken. Blank smiles and excuses weren’t going to work. Katrina would talk to every person in this place if that was what it took to find even a sliver of information about her sister. With no other family and addicted friends who drifted in and out when she was part of their dependent lifestyle, Katrina was all Eliza had.

Just as she was about to tell Bart to take a step out of her personal space, a high-pitched yelp and the sound of claws scrabbling on tile made her turn her head. In a practiced move, she squatted in time to catch a squirming bundle of fur in her arms.

“Dobby?”

As she petted the excited dog and dodged the face kisses, her mind was whirling. How could her sister’s pet be here if Eliza left in April? Because...

No. Just no.

Ever since Eliza had rescued the pup—whose face was not his prettiest end—when he was eight weeks old, the pair had been inseparable. Whatever else was going on in her life, Eliza made sure Dobby was fed, clean and healthy. The little guy’s bed was always positioned alongside Eliza’s, he ate ethically sourced food and he had access to the best training at Look Who’s Walking, where, until Eliza had stopped coming around several months before the earthquake, he’d also attended play dates and gotten regular grooming.

Tucking Dobby under her arm, Katrina got to her feet, her resolve hardening. “Since my sister left you two months ago, perhaps you’d care to explain why her dog is still here?”

Dobby looked from Katrina to the two men as though he, too, was interested in the answer. For the first time, Leigh’s pleasant mask slipped and she appeared nervous. It was a momentary lapse and she recovered quickly, but it was enough to fire up Katrina’s suspicions.

“I remember now.” The smile returned. “Your sister said she wouldn’t be able to keep a dog where she was going, so she left him with us. We’ve adopted him at the center. He’s become quite the AAG mascot, hasn’t he, guys?” She threw a help-me-out glance toward Bart and Randall.

“Sure has. He’s found his best self here with us.” Bart reached out a hand to stroke Dobby’s head, but the dog ducked away from him and tucked his head into Katrina’s neck. The little guy always did have good taste.

“When I walked in here, you told me you knew nothing about my sister.” Katrina kept her gaze on Leigh. “Now you’re saying she left her dog behind and he’s become your mascot? Call me skeptical, but I find it hard to believe you wouldn’t have remembered that detail as soon as I mentioned her name.”

Leigh looked down at her computer screen without replying. Bart and Randall also remained silent.

“I’m leaving now. Here’s my business card, in case anyone remembers anything more about my sister.” Anger stiffened Katrina’s spine as she started to walk away. “And I’m taking your mascot with me.”

Chapter 2

By the time Spencer made his way to the lobby, thoughts had moved on from lunch and he was already planning dinner in detail. His stomach, however, needed something fast and filling right now. Boris, ever hopeful of supplementing his carefully regulated diet with a few treats, trotted eagerly at his side.

Although Spencer and his K-9 partner were trained in search-and-rescue techniques and worked as a team, the other MVPD officers could use Boris if they needed him. The dog went home with Spencer at the end of each day and, when off duty, he was a pet rather than a working animal.

Spencer was crossing the lobby and heading for the canteen when a woman burst through the doors, barging straight into him. The impact had the effect of sending them both stumbling backward. She took the worst hit, however, and, for a moment, it looked like she was about to crash to the floor. But four years in the army had honed Spencer’s reflexes, and he grabbed her by the upper arms, steadying her against his body. As he did, his mind registered a few details.

First of all, she was carrying some sort of exotic-looking rodent. Second, she was clearly distressed. And, finally, she was gorgeous.

Tall, with a slender, toned figure, she had dark blond hair that waved to her shoulders with the shimmer of silk. But it wasn’t her flawless bone structure, her high cheekbones, or even her full lips that mesmerized him. It was her eyes. Huge and set under delicately arched eyebrows, they were a shade that was somewhere between green, gold and brown, but the color seemed to shift constantly as it reflected the light around her. Spencer figured it was what his mom used to call “hazel” and realized he’d never really seen it up close until now.

“Are you okay?”

She shook her head. “No, I—”

The creature she was holding that had been trapped between them when Spencer caught hold of her looked down at Boris and gave a friendly woof.

“Is that a dog?”

“Of course Dobby is a dog.” Indignation seemingly startled her out of her distress, and she pulled away from him. “What did you think he was?”

“I was puzzled,” he confessed. “I figured it could be a mutant rat. Or maybe a groundhog that had fallen on hard times?”

For a moment, he thought she was going to smile. He waited hopefully, but her expression clouded over. “I’m not here to talk about Dobby. I need to report a missing person.”

Spencer thought about the mountain of paperwork on his desk. He didn’t have enough time in the day to get through his existing workload. Missing persons were below his pay grade...

“I’m Sergeant Spencer Colton. If you wait here while I get us both a coffee, we’ll go to my office and you can give me the details.”

His willingness to take on her case had nothing to do with the fact that she was possibly the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. That was what he told himself as he dashed into the canteen. It had even less to do with the runt that was now skipping delightedly around Boris. No, this was about the troubled look in those amazing eyes.

Just keep telling yourself that, Colton, and everything will be fine.

Carrying the coffee and the last, sorrowful-looking sandwich, he led the way back along the corridor to his office. Boris, clearly startled by the antics of the overfriendly Dobby, but too well trained to show it, clung a little closer to his master’s heels than usual.

After removing a stack of files from a chair, Spencer pulled it close to the desk and set one of the coffees in front of it. He reached into a drawer and took out a handful of creamers and sugar sachets. “Use plenty of them. Trust me, it’s the only way to drink it.”

His visitor sat down, and Dobby immediately jumped onto her lap. As she wrapped a protective arm around him, Spencer caught a glimpse of the logo on her T-shirt. He couldn’t make out the words, but the picture was a silhouette of a woman and a dog high-fiving each other.

“Colton?” she asked. As Spencer took his own seat and pulled a pad and pen toward him, he was acutely aware of those full-beam eyes watching him. “As in the Coltons?”

“Yes and no. My dad and Payne Colton were distant cousins.” He laughed. “I’m not part of the dynasty.”

“I’m sorry. You must get tired of explaining that.”

He shrugged. “If you live in Mustang Valley and your name is Colton, you get used to it. But we aren’t here to talk about me. Let’s start with some basics.” He wrote the date at the top of a blank page. “Name?”

“Katrina Perry.” She gave him her contact details and date of birth.

“And the person you wish to report missing?”

“My twin sister, Eliza Perry.”

“You’re a twin?” Spencer looked up from his notes.

“Yes.” She frowned. “Is that important?”

“No. It’s just that I’m a triplet. I guess it hit a nerve.”

“Wow.” For the first time, her expression relaxed. “I thought being one of two was hard. Can’t imagine three.”

They shared a brief, sympathetic smile. Giving himself a slight shake, Spencer returned to his notes. “We can go into details of Eliza’s physical description, identifying features and personal information later. For now, I’d like you to tell me why you believe she’s missing.”

“If you check your database, you’ll see this isn’t the first time I’ve made a report of this type.” Katrina took a slug of her coffee. She shuddered slightly as the acrid taste she knew so well hit. “But I’m not some eccentric who does this for fun. My sister is a drug addict... She was a drug addict.” She pushed back her hair with a shaking hand. “She has lapses, lives on the fringes of the lifestyle, but she’d gotten herself clean—”

“I’m not here to judge your sister,” Spencer said. “If she’s in danger, it’s my job to help her.”

“Thank you.” She chewed on her lower lip for a moment or two. He’d seen this inner battle so many times in his job. It was natural for a relative to want to protect the privacy of their loved ones. At the same time, the police needed to know the important details. “Eliza had been in a rehab program about twelve months ago, and she was doing well. Ours isn’t an easy relationship.”

“How could it be? Addiction is a cruel disease and people who suffer from it make bad choices. That has to be hard on both of you.”

She shot him a glance that was half surprise, half gratitude. “Most people don’t get that. What Eliza wants from me are the things I can’t give her. Money, a shoulder to cry on, unlimited amounts of my time...” She shook her head. “Over the years, I’ve tried my best to get the balance right. If she needs help with living expenses, I make payments direct to her creditors instead of giving her cash. I’ve gotten expert advice every step of the way. Physicians, addiction counselors, therapists—I can list them all in the Mustang Valley region and beyond.”

“From what you’re saying, although Eliza has gone missing before, this situation feels different?”

Katrina nodded. “The other times I could sense it coming. This time, everything was fine. Until the earthquake.”

Spencer frowned. “The earthquake was almost two months ago. Has your sister been missing since then?”

“I’m not sure what the time frame is.” She hitched in a breath. “I hadn’t heard from her for a few months prior to the quake, but that wasn’t unusual. I knew she had an apartment and she was working with her counselors. When the earthquake hit, I texted and called her a bunch of times to check she was okay. Eliza finally responded that she was fine, although her apartment had been destroyed. She said she was being helped by a relief organization called the Affirmation Alliance Group and they had provided her with accommodation. After that, all my subsequent messages went unanswered. Today, I drove out to the AAG ranch to check on her.”

“Why only today?”

“It sounds silly...” She shook her head. “I saw a dog that reminded me of Dobby and confided in a friend. She persuaded me that no matter how angry it might make Eliza if she thought I was interfering, I should go and make sure she was okay.”

“Your friend was right. But I take it she wasn’t there?”

“No. At first, the welcome manager at the AAG gave me an empty smile and tried to tell me she hadn’t heard of Eliza. Then, she checked with a couple of security-type guys. They told me my sister stayed for two nights in April, then left without telling anyone where she was going.”

Spencer looked up from circling “security-type guys” on his pad. “Is there a reason why you have a problem with that story, given that your sister has a history of taking off?”

“Dobby is my reason.” At the sound of his name, the comical-looking dog wagged his tail. “He’s Eliza’s. They tried to tell me she left him behind.” Tears filled her eyes. “But she would never do that. She’d die first.”

Katrina figured that the good-looking police sergeant had probably written her off as trouble around the time she crashed into him in the lobby. But telling him she believed Eliza would die before she’d leave Dobby? Surely, that added up to a whole new layer of concern about her sibling’s well-being.

At first glance, Spencer Colton’s blond hair and blue eyes could have appeared boyish, but the strength of his features, combined with a tall, powerful body, confirmed his potent masculinity.

Yes, he was handsome, but why should she care what he thought of her? Her sister’s safety was the only thing that mattered. And she was starting to believe that something bad had happened to Eliza. Even so, this would be a whole lot easier if she could convince Spencer to take her concerns seriously.

He continued making notes, apparently unshaken by her dramatic statement. When he looked up, she allowed herself to be reassured by the warmth of his smile. But then she remembered that life didn’t work that way. Depending on other people was a waste of time and emotion. Although she needed his help to find Eliza, the only person she could rely on was herself.

“Based on what you’ve told me about the uncomfortable feelings you got from the AAG, I guess you’d like me to investigate the circumstances of your sister’s departure from their ranch. And also, of course, try to discover her current whereabouts. Can you explain why you didn’t try to reach out to her before now? And why you’ve only come to the conclusion that she’s missing today?”

“As I’ve said, ours isn’t an easy relationship. Although she depends on me for money and comes to me for help when she’s in trouble, Eliza values her independence. If she suspects I’m trying to interfere in her life, I’m scared that she might disappear for good.” Katrina sighed. “And, although I hadn’t seen her for a few months, until the earthquake, I knew she was still in Mustang Valley because I got regular reports from her counselors that she was engaging with them. It was only when I went to the AAG Center and found out that she’d only stayed there two days that I realized she was missing.

“As for the AAG, uncomfortable doesn’t come close to how I felt. That place was creepy.” She shivered slightly. “I know that’s probably not helpful from an investigative point of view.”

Spencer tapped his pen on the table. “You’d be surprised how useful intuition can be. But the AAG is very visible in Mustang Valley and they seem to be doing a lot of good.”

“But...?” She knew he was unlikely to tell her anything that linked to an ongoing investigation, but Katrina could sense a wariness in his voice that made her even more concerned.

“Let’s just say, they are on my radar.” He flipped his pad closed. “I hope to find they are as charitable as they appear.”

She swallowed hard. “And you’ll let me know what you find out? About Eliza?”

“Of course.” There was that look again. Just the right side of sympathetic. “I know you’ll have been given the standard speech in the past about how some people don’t want to be found, but I can see how painful this is for you. I’m close to both my siblings, and I’d be worried out of my mind if either of them had gone missing in this way. We can’t say for sure that Eliza is missing until I’ve undertaken further investigations, but I’ll do everything I can to help.”

Tears prickled the back of her eyelids again, and she blinked rapidly. Getting emotional over an offer of support from a stranger was a new experience, but it had been a tough day. She needed to get some fresh air and recharge her batteries.

“Looks like you’ve got yourself a cute companion. At least until we find Eliza.” Spencer reached out a hand and ruffled Dobby’s ears.

Dobby was cute. But it took a genuine animal lover to see past his imperfections. It was another reason to like Spencer Colton. Although, at the moment, he was staring at his desk in confusion.

“Did one of you eat my sandwich?”

“Ah.” She felt the blush rise in her cheeks. “Dobby may be cute, but he is also a food thief.”

To her relief, Spencer grinned. “Are you sure it was Dobby?” He nodded to the dog, who was gazing into space, licking his lips. “He looks a picture of innocence.”

Katrina sighed as she got to her feet. “To be honest, I’d forgotten about the food stealing. I’ll have to theft-proof my kitchen. And my own dog might not be happy at the arrival of an unexpected house guest. Holly is a sweetheart. But she likes having me all to herself.”

“You work with dogs?” He indicated her uniform.

“I’m a dog trainer. My business premises are over on Bridge Street—”

“Look Who’s Walking? That’s your place?” When she nodded, he laughed. “I drive past on my way to work each day and Boris always tries to stick his head out of the window to get a sniff at what’s going on.”

She stooped to pat the scent dog on the head. “You should stop by sometime when Boris is off duty. Play dates can be fun.”

When she straightened, Spencer’s blue eyes appeared brighter than ever. Had that offer sounded like something other than a doggy get-together to him? Was there a chance he thought the play date was for the two of them? She could either dig herself in deeper or leave.

“I should...” Explain. “Um...” Go. She pointed to the door.

“Yeah. I’ll be in touch.” He held the door open and she scooted around him to get through it.

Hurrying along the corridor toward the lobby with her face burning, she tucked the dog under one arm as she scrabbled in her pocket for her keys. “Great,” she muttered under her breath. “Now he thinks I’m annoying and desperate. Such a good look, don’t you think, Dobby?”

“Katrina?”

Spencer’s voice just behind her startled her into uttering an undignified squeak. Swinging around abruptly, she found herself face-to-face with the person she’d just been talking about. From his expression, she was fairly sure he had overheard her comments to Dobby.

“You left your keys in my office.”

It had been a long day. Spencer had a dozen cases that took priority over Katrina Perry’s missing sister. But as he left the MVPD building and crossed the parking lot to his car, he couldn’t shake the image of the pain in her beautiful eyes as she talked about her visit to the AAG ranch and her certainty that something bad had happened to Eliza.

“Can’t hurt to pay a visit,” he commented to Boris as he secured the dog in his air-conditioned compartment at the rear of the vehicle. “It’s only ten miles in the wrong direction.”

He’d hinted to Katrina that he had his own concerns about the AAG, but he hadn’t shared any of the details with her. She hadn’t been the first person to describe a feeling of creepiness about the organization, although she was the only one to make an outright allegation against anyone connected with a group that appeared to be doing nothing but good. Spencer’s own suspicions centered on one specific AAG member named Harley Watts.

Following the attempt on Payne Colton’s life, one of the Colton Oil IT guys had tracked down Harley through the dark web, finding rambling references that were troubling enough for the police to get a search warrant. They found the email to the Colton Oil board members about Ace Colton’s birth on Harley’s laptop, and then arrested him. His story was that he’d been asked to send the email by a friend, and since then, he had refused to say anything more. Spencer had tried making a deal for leniency with the DA to get Harley to talk, but the guy was adamant. He was no snitch. He pointed out that he’d been charged under interference-with-commerce laws for his implied threats of exposure regarding the secrets affecting the structure of Colton Oil. The evidence on his computer was enough to put him behind bars, so he may as well stay loyal.

Like everything else connected to the Payne Colton shooting, it was frustrating because it led nowhere. Spencer had no reason to believe that the friend who had asked Harley to send the email was a member of the AAG, even though he had used the organization’s server. But where was the harm in exploring the theory that Harley’s “loyalty” was to someone within the group?

Making inquiries about Eliza Perry would give him a chance to check out the headquarters. He could also ask the tough questions that might not have occurred to Katrina. Like what her sister’s behavior had been in the days before she left town and whom she had been hanging out with. Spencer had seen many missing-persons cases that involved substance abuse and, privately, he suspected that Eliza could have drifted back into her old ways. As much as he hoped to be able to give Katrina other news, he doubted that would be the case.

When he arrived at the AAG ranch, he spent a few minutes behind the wheel of his car, checking out the exterior of the beautiful building. From this viewpoint, it was hard to understand the feeling of creepiness Katrina had described. On the contrary, it appeared the AAG leaders had gone out of their way to create an open, inviting atmosphere.

As he alighted from his vehicle, and released Boris from his compartment, it occurred to him that the place appeared almost deserted. The impression was reinforced when he entered the lobby and found it empty. Frowning, he approached some of the doors that led off the reception area. The delicious smell of cooking food and the sound of voices drew him along a corridor. As he reached the end, he could see into a large room with a long table, where about thirty people, including adults and children, were seated.

The sound of footsteps behind him caused him to turn. An attractive, well-dressed blonde woman, who he judged to be in her midsixties, was approaching him. As she closed the distance between them, Spencer could see her blue eyes sizing him and Boris up.

“Hi. I’m Micheline Anderson, leader of the Affirmation Alliance Group.” Her smile was warm. “I don’t think we’ve met?”

“Sergeant Spencer Colton, Mustang Valley Police.” Spencer was used to reading people’s reaction when he introduced himself. Micheline’s open expression didn’t change. “I’m trying to track down a missing person who was last seen on these premises.”

“Oh, goodness.” Her tone was sympathetic. “I got a message earlier today that a family member had been asking some questions. We’ll do everything we can to help, of course.” She waved a hand toward the dining room. “Please, ask anything you need to.”

Although she gave the impression of being helpful, Spencer felt a twinge of annoyance. He was a police officer. He didn’t need permission to do his job.

“Perhaps I could start with you? The missing woman is called Eliza Perry and she is known to have stayed at this ranch prior to her disappearance in April.”

Micheline shook her head. “I’m afraid you are asking the wrong person. Although I’m the AAG founder and leader, I don’t live on the premises. My home is nearby and I’m here most days, but I don’t know the names of all our guests. Think of my role as that of CEO of a large business. You wouldn’t expect me to deal with every client on a day-to-day basis, would you?”

Her manner was easy and natural and he could see how her group attracted so many people. He figured that Micheline would be good at making anyone feel comfortable. She had also skillfully closed down his line of questioning before he’d begun.

“And we’ve been so busy since April, when the earthquake struck.” With the lightest of touches to his arm, Micheline guided Spencer into the dining room. A few glances were cast his way, but no one appeared troubled by his presence. “Let me introduce you to Leigh Dennings, our welcome manager.”

Micheline beckoned to an attractive young woman. As soon as Leigh got close, Spencer recognized the “empty smile” of Katrina’s description. Flipping back her hair, she gave him a measuring look from beneath the sweep of her long lashes.

“Why, Micheline, I hope you’re not planning to keep this handsome guest all to yourself.” The tone was flirty, but Spencer caught the questioning look that she threw her boss. It appeared that Leigh didn’t make a move without getting instructions first.

“The sergeant here wants to ask some questions about a missing person,” Micheline said. “I’ve assured him that we will cooperate any way we can.”

Spencer watched the way Leigh’s gaze flickered across the room to where two men were finishing up their meal. They were dressed casually, and there was nothing suspicious about their manner. Even so, he sensed they were watching him closely. He figured they must be the security types Katrina had described.

“I think you may already have spoken to the missing woman’s sister.” Spencer focused his attention on Leigh while also watching the two guys. “Katrina Perry told me she came here to inquire about her sister, Eliza?”

“That’s right.” Was he allowing his suspicions to get the better of him, or was there something a little rehearsed about her manner? “I felt sorry for Eliza’s sister, but she was very emotional and didn’t want to hear what we had to say. The truth is that Eliza only stayed here for two days. I asked around some more this afternoon and a few people remembered that, when she left us, she seemed a little strung out.”

“Just like her sister was.” Micheline’s voice was soft and persuasive. “I guess it’s a family trait.”

The corners of Leigh’s mouth turned down. “To be honest, the group members I spoke to told me that Eliza was something of a fantasist. She was inclined to be distrustful of everyone here at the ranch and... Well, she made up stories that people were out to get her. Apparently, she could be quite convincing.”

Micheline shook her head sadly. “Not all actors are on the stage.”

Although he was uncomfortable with the idea that Katrina might also be highly strung and may have been overdramatizing the situation, Spencer knew he had to keep an open mind. And she had been overwrought when she’d talked to him about Eliza. Not that he could blame her. He’d feel the same way if either of his siblings went missing. Even so, her emotional state, and this new information about Eliza, did cast doubt on the validity of Katrina’s claims about her visit to the ranch.

“Was there anyone Eliza was particularly friendly with while she was here?” he asked Leigh.

“Not that I can recall. Randall and Bart may have some more information.” She beckoned, and the two guys Spencer had noticed rose from the table and came to join them. Leigh quickly outlined the details of the conversation. “This is Sergeant Colton. He was wondering if Eliza Perry had any friends while she was here,”

The older of the two men scrubbed a hand along his chin, his expression almost a parody of thoughtfulness. “A lot of people have been in and out of here since April. To be honest, I only remember her at all because of the dog.”

“Randall is our handyman,” Leigh explained. “He gets to know most of the guests. But anyone who only stays a few days—” She held her hands out, palms upward, in helpless gesture.

“What about you, Bart?” Micheline turned to the other man. “Did you see her with anyone while you were out tending the grounds?”

“Hardly saw her at all.” The guy’s job title might be “groundskeeper,” but his attitude reminded Spencer of a bodyguard. There was something threatening about the way he was frowning as he stood protectively between Micheline and Leigh, lowering his eyebrows as he watched Spencer, his glance dropping occasionally to take in Boris.

Spencer decided to try a different approach. “Did Harley Watts live on the premises?”

A swift look flashed between Randall and Bart, but Micheline heaved a sorrowful sigh. “Ah, Harley. Such a sweet, gentle soul, who was trying hard to be his best self. And he was devoted to me.” She placed a hand over her heart. “Which is why it hurt so much when he used our AAG server to send that awful email to the board members of Colton Oil.”

Leigh sent Spencer a reproachful look. “It wasn’t your fault, Micheline. You didn’t know what Harley was doing. None of us did.”

The three other AAG members moved closer to Micheline, as if forming a barrier between her and the outside world. Spencer knew when to call it quits. He wasn’t going to get any more information from them, about either Eliza or Harley. Did that mean his suspicions had gone away?

He looked around the large, comfortable room, taking in the smiling faces and the homey atmosphere. No, he had more concerns than ever about the AAG. But with nothing concrete, and no evidence, all he could do was watch and wait.

He left the ranch house and headed toward his vehicle with the faithful Boris at his heels. Turning back, he caught a glimpse of Randall and Bart watching him from just inside the front door.

“Making sure we leave?” Spencer commented as he opened the rear of the car and Boris jumped in. “You know what this means?” The dog thumped his tail and rolled his eyes. “That’s right. Now we have to go break it to Katrina that we didn’t get anywhere.”

While the thought of seeing her again was exciting, he wished it could be in different circumstances. His job meant he would have to be objective and explain that he had no reason to believe that there was any link between Eliza’s disappearance and the AAG. In reality, he couldn’t dismiss the feeling of discomfort that lingered as he drove away.

Chapter 3

Katrina knew about dogs. And her question, when one of her clients asked about getting a second pooch, was always the same. What would your dog think of that idea?

Like her customers, Katrina was a dog person. And dog people loved their fur babies. Sloppy kisses, wagging tails, furry snuggles and unconditional love were all very hard to resist. And if it was great to have one dog, why not double the magic?

Suppose your partner said, “I love you so much I’m thinking of getting another one just like you”? Usually, when she put it that way, her clients were able to see the situation from a canine viewpoint.

Now, after leaving the police station, she was taking Dobby home and expecting her own Holly to happily accept that she was no longer a single dog.

“You remember Holly, right?” She addressed the remark to Dobby, who was attached to a special harness on the rear seat of her car. “Long black ears? Cute face? Likes tummy rubs and chewing shoelaces? Hates motorbikes and mirrors?”

The two dogs had met once when Dobby had come to a grooming session at Look Who’s Walking. Although they’d gotten on reasonably well, Holly had only been a pup and they’d met on neutral territory. This time, things would be different...

Luckily, her years of experience had taught her exactly what she needed to do in this situation. Having called ahead, she’d arranged for Suzie, who had a key to her house, to collect Holly and take her out to the yard. When she pulled into the drive, her assistant was already waiting on the front step. As soon as Katrina lifted Dobby from the car, the excited dog recognized an old friend and strained to reach Suzie.

“Hey, fella.” Suzie slipped a treat from her pocket and Dobby scarfed it up like his life depended on it. “Holly’s in the yard.”

“Here’s the plan,” Katrina said. “We introduce them out there, let them play together for a while, then we take them into the house.”

“Okay.” Suzie sent her a sidelong glance. “How long will Dobby be staying with you?”

“I don’t know.” Having spent an emotional hour sharing her suspicions about Eliza’s fate with Spencer Colton, Katrina wasn’t ready to tell the whole story all over again. Not yet. “It may be some time.”

“Then we need to do this right.”

“We do.” There was a path at the side of the house that led to the yard, and Katrina walked ahead. Before they reached the gate, she paused and glanced briefly over her shoulder. “And thanks.”

“Anytime.” Suzie briefly placed a hand on her shoulder.

At the sound of Katrina’s voice, Holly let out a volley of barks and started hurling herself at the gate. Dobby, startled at such unseemly behavior, gave a yelp and tried to run away.

“Good start.” Katrina rolled her eyes.

Giving Holly the “sit” command, she opened the gate. Her dog was an excitable, but well trained, youngster. Holly squatted, quivering all over, waiting for the moment until she was given permission to move.

Once Katrina, Suzie and Dobby were inside the training yard and the gate was secured behind them, Katrina told Holly to “come.”

The dog, a nine-month-old bundle of black curls, scurried forward, wriggling with pleasure. Before she reached her mistress, she spotted Dobby, and did the canine equivalent of a double take. The two animals stared at each other as though unsure what to do next.

Taking advantage of their confusion, Katrina reached into a storage tub and withdrew a couple of balls. She threw them across the lawn and both dogs sped off. After they had played a few chasing games, she offered them a piece of knotted rope and was pleased with the way they responded. Grabbing an end each, the two canines tugged away, tails wagging happily. Although they made growling noises, there were no signs of aggression.

“Pack rules state that Dobby should be dominant, even though he’s a neutered male,” she said. “But this is Holly’s house, so she shouldn’t be expected to relinquish her place. And they both need to know that I’m the boss.”

Suzie laughed. “They’re bright dogs. They know that already.”

“We need to reinforce the hierarchy by the way we enter the house,” Katrina insisted. “I’ll go first with Holly. You come next, making sure Dobby brings up the rear. Give me a minute to set up new food and water bowls. I’ll call you when I’m ready.”

The back door led from the yard directly into the kitchen. Blinking at the contrast as she stepped from the bright, early evening sunlight into the semidark house, she took a moment to adjust. After an instant of surprise, she quickly became aware that she wasn’t alone. Half-hidden in the shadows, a man was standing next to her refrigerator.

“What...?”

Before she could call out for Suzie, he crossed the room and shoved her hard on the shoulder. Katrina went sprawling onto the tiled floor, a cry of surprise escaping her. The sound triggered an immediate reaction from the two dogs, who started barking wildly. As the intruder ran from the room toward the front of the house, Katrina caught a glimpse of a male figure clad in jeans, sneakers and a hooded sweatshirt.

The front door slammed at the same time that Suzie burst through the back door with Holly on one side and Dobby on the other.

“What happened? Is everything okay?” She held out a hand to help Katrina to her feet.

“I’m going with no.” Katrina rolled her eyes as Dobby drained Holly’s water bowl before flopping down on her bed. The younger dog retreated under the table with her tail between her legs. “Not when we have an intruder situation, and a male-dominance issue.”

“Never mind about the dogs.” Suzie helped her to a chair at the table and eased her down into it. “Do you have any idea who he was? And, more importantly, are you hurt?”

Katrina took a moment to regulate her breathing. Although she was physically unharmed, the incident had shaken her. The knowledge that someone had gotten inside her house was bad enough. The fact that she didn’t know what his motive was made it even worse.

She hadn’t recognized him. Did that mean he was a robber who’d chosen her home at random? Or was his reason more personal and sinister? Her thoughts went to Eliza and she gripped the edge of the table hard. How could this have anything to do with her sister?

“I’m fine.” She was pleased with the firm note in her voice. “And at least I disturbed him before he could take anything.”

Katrina’s home was in a new development just outside downtown and about ten minutes’ drive from her workplace, off Mustang Boulevard. The Mustang Lake estate featured a collection of small houses with large yards and Spencer figured, as he approached the address she had given him, that the outdoor space would be useful for a dog trainer.

Having pulled up in front of the small house, he was just releasing Boris from the rear of the vehicle when Katrina’s door opened.

“Wow.” A small plump woman looked Spencer and his police cruiser up and down with a critical gaze. “Is this a new MVPD policy? You guys turn up before a crime has even been reported?”

Just as he was wondering if he had the right house, Katrina stepped out onto the small porch. “Take no notice of Suzie. She likes to think she’s funny.” She kissed the other woman on the cheek. “Thanks for offering to stay, but I’ll be fine.”

“Call me if you need me. Anytime.” Suzie patted her arm before walking down the steps. “Something needs to be done about the crime rate in this town.” She addressed the remark to Spencer before stomping off toward her car.

“Has something happened that I need to know about?” he asked as he approached Katrina.

“Would you mind if we talked about this in the yard?” He raised a questioning eyebrow and she sighed. “Holly, my dog, hasn’t taken Dobby’s arrival well. If you bring Boris in here, too, she may have a complete breakdown.”

“Outside is fine by me.”

Stepping out of the house, she closed and locked the front door before leading him along a side path and into the yard. He noted the way the space had been divided. There was a large lawn, an area for the dogs to run free around the outside edge, an obstacle course and a small pool. Clearly, Katrina believed in bringing her work home.

As soon as they entered the yard, two dogs dashed up and gave Boris a thorough inspection. The well-behaved canine remained perfectly still until Spencer freed him from his leash. Then, with a groan, he dropped to the grass and rolled on his back before taking off at a run. After a few seconds, the other two followed.

“Actually, bringing Boris wasn’t a bad move.” Katrina’s gaze followed the chase. “He’s definitely an alpha, so Dobby will be forced to back off. It takes the heat off things for a while.”

“Right.” Spencer viewed her profile with pleasure for a moment or two, then reverted to a businesslike manner. “So, you want to tell me what your friend was talking about?”

“When I got back here, there was a guy in my kitchen.”

“What?” The thought of her in danger made his pulse rate spike, bringing with it memories of another time, another place. “You mean, he’d broken into your house?”

“Not quite.” She hung her head. “When I disturbed him, he pushed me over and ran away. After he’d gone, I checked to see how he’d gotten in and the window of the downstairs closet was open. I must have forgotten to close it when I left for work this morning.”

“Or the intruder forced it open?”

“There aren’t any signs that it has been forced,” Katrina said. “I think he was probably an opportunist who saw an empty house with an open window. He was just unlucky that I came home and surprised him before he could take anything.”

“That’s a nice, neat scenario. And it may be true. But I’m going to take down the details and log this as a crime.” He stepped back, viewing the small house through narrowed eyes. “And, before I leave, I’m going to check out your security system.”

“Are you always this bossy?” There was a smile in her eyes and a teasing note in her voice. He liked them both. A lot.

“I’m a police officer. Bossy is what I do.”

The smile faded at the reminder. “And you’re here because of Eliza.”

There was no way he could avoid giving her the bad news. “I went out to the AAG Center and asked a few questions. I got the same answers you did. Several members say she left two days after the earthquake. They said she may have been a little strung out around that time.”

“No one mentioned that to me.” Her smooth brow creased. “If she was upset, or in trouble, it seems kind of an important detail to mention, don’t you think?”

“You were already worried. Possibly, they didn’t want to share that sort of sensitive information with you in case it distressed you further.”

“I was unhappy when I realized Eliza had left the AAG ranch and no one knew where she had gone. I wasn’t hysterical.” Her lip curled. “So what does this mean? You’re telling me they’re the nice guys?”

He held up his hands. “I’m not making a judgment. Just letting you know what I found.”

“Which is a big, fat zero. Exactly what I discovered on my own.” She watched the dogs for a few moments as they played a three-way game of chase. “What happens next?”

“You need to complete a missing-person-adult-waiver form. This form is essentially an affidavit that details your relationship to Eliza and states that you accept any civil liability for invasions of privacy that may take place during the course of the investigation. I have a copy here. If you fill it in and return it within seventy-two hours, Eliza will remain a missing person on our files and in the National Missing Persons System. We’ll do what we can to find her.”

She had told him that she’d filed a missing-persons report for Eliza before, so Katrina probably already knew how the investigation would progress. Inquiries would include speaking to friends, family and other known associates. It could also progress to checking with banks and a call history, and monitoring internet and social-media use. Even so, if Eliza chose not to be found, there were things she could do to keep her whereabouts hidden.

And, in the case of missing adults, the role of the police was only to verify the person’s welfare. They would not reveal the whereabouts, or any other details, to the reporting person. Similarly, Spencer could not promise Katrina that he would “pass on a message” or provide contact information to Eliza.

“You’ll take charge of this yourself?” Katrina asked.

An image of his overloaded desk came into his head. “I’ll oversee the case, but I won’t be able to undertake the routine tasks.”

Her expression clouded. “But you’re the investigating officer.”

For an instant, he wanted to promise her he would drop everything except this case. He would find Eliza if he had to work around the clock. Actually, when he looked into those incredible hazel eyes, he wanted to promise her the earth...

Try explaining that to Chief Barco.

“I’m in the middle of investigating the Payne Colton shooting—”

“Fine.” She swung away from him, stooped to pick up a tennis ball and hurled it across the yard. “You have your priorities and clearly your family comes first.”

“Katrina, it’s not like that.” It had been a long time since he’d tried to reason with an angry woman, and his skills were a little on the rusty side.

“It’s okay. I’ll investigate Eliza’s disappearance on my own.”

“No.” She raised her eyebrows at the forcefulness of his tone. “You are not to do that. It’s too dangerous.”

Arms folded across her chest, she turned to face him. “So you won’t assist me, but I’m forbidden to go it alone? Thanks, Sergeant Colton, you’ve been a great help.”

“I’m offering you the best I can do with the resources available.” It sounded like a lame official line even to his own ears.

“Well, I appreciate your input.” She huffed out a breath. “If that’s all?”

“It’s not.” He understood that she was hurt, but if she was trying to annoy him, she was succeeding. “I need to check out your security system, remember?”

“I suggest you upgrade the locks on the downstairs windows,” Spencer said after he completed his inspection of the house. “And I’d recommend a video-entry system for the front door.”

“Thank you.” Katrina’s anger had started to fade and she realized she had been unfair to him. In reality, she was more upset with herself than with him. She had gone through her whole life relying solely on her own wits and judgment. Having been born to a teenage, drug-addicted mother, the twins had never known their father. Growing up, their maternal grandparents had been their only other family.

Mollie Perry had been unable to care for herself, let alone her daughters. She had been known to the police not only because of her substance abuse but also because of her attention-seeking behavior. As a result, Katrina’s grandparents had been busy trying to keep everybody safe. As a child, Katrina had quickly learned that she was all alone in life.

Why had she suddenly broken her own rule and placed her trust in Spencer Colton? The only reason she could think of was that she was overwrought because of her fears for Eliza.

Conceding that she’d overreacted was one thing. Acknowledging it was another. She barely knew Spencer, and once they entered the house, he’d retreated behind a professional front. The sympathetic, helpful guy with the warm smile was gone, and in his place was a brisk cop who rattled off a checklist of security questions. Even if she’d wanted to apologize, she wouldn’t have known how to get past the professional barrier he’d put up.

“Have you considered putting in motion-sensitive lights in the yard?” Spencer asked. “It can be a deterrent to anyone snooping.”

“I thought about it. But any canine visitors would probably keep setting the lights off and it would drive me to distraction.”

“You could be right. In that case, I think I’ve covered everything.” He clicked his fingers and the ever-obedient Boris moved quickly to his side. For an instant, as he looked down at her, Katrina glimpsed a return of the softer expression she’d seen at the police station. “Remember what I said.”

She frowned. “You can’t expect me not to look for my sister.”

“Keep trying to make contact with her by all means. Just stay away from the AAG.” He stepped out onto the porch. “And you know where I am if you need me.”

She watched him as he walked to his car, wondering at the curious sensation of emptiness his departure brought. It felt like a connection had been severed. She shook aside the thought, labeling it foolish. How could you break something that didn’t exist? She’d learned a long time ago that the safest attachments were to dogs. Apart from her grandparents, who had done their best to provide love and care against the odds, her only family had been her mother and Eliza, both of whom had depended on their addictions more than her. No, people were best kept at a distance. She had no bond with Spencer. And that was the way she liked it.

You know where I am if you need me. Had it been an invitation? More likely it was just a turn of phrase. The sort of casual remark he made at the end of every encounter. And why would she need him again? His intervention had hardly been helpful.

Stepping back inside the house, she checked the time. She was scheduled to teach a couple of evening training classes at Look Who’s Walking, but she still had time to walk the dogs before dinner. Wandering into the kitchen, she removed a letter that she’d pinned to the cork noticeboard. Dog Daze was a new restaurant that had opened on Mustang Boulevard. Catering to pooch lovers, it featured a canine menu alongside the human one. The owners had offered Katrina a free meal in return for an honest review on her Look Who’s Walking blog.

Tonight seemed like a good time to take them up on their offer. And while she was in town, maybe she could ask a few questions about the AAG.

Spencer’s warning flashed into her mind and she tapped her fingers on the counter. How could he tell her in one breath that the message from the AAG was that Eliza had gone of her own accord, and then warn her to stay away, in case things got dangerous? Without giving her a reason to back off, he couldn’t expect her to take him seriously. It was probably a standard police line.

Having called ahead to make a reservation, she found a split leash, attaching both dogs to it, and set off in the direction of Mustang Boulevard. The three-mile-long main drag was home to several restaurants, bars and coffee shops, and the warm weather had brought the town’s residents out in large numbers.

After some initial reluctance, Dobby and Holly settled into a comfortable pattern of walking together on one leash. Holly was cute enough to attract attention and Dobby enjoyed fussing from humans. They were constantly stopped by admirers who wanted to pet them. The only problems occurred when Dobby smelled food and tried to drag Katrina and Holly with him to track it down.

Since there were AAG posters in almost every window, it was easy to strike up a conversation with people she encountered.

“I hear they’ve been doing good work since the earthquake.” For the most part, she got positive responses to that comment. The AAG came across as popular and well-meaning. Katrina listened to several stories of people who had benefited from their good work.

It was only when she got close to the crossroads near Bubba’s Diner that she came across anything different. A group of five AAG members had set up a stand on the sidewalk, and they were handing out leaflets to passersby. As Katrina approached, she could see that Leigh Dennings and her two goons, Randall and Bart, were among the group. The stand was covered in posters including a picture of Micheline Anderson and the slogan Be Your Best You! The information stated that Micheline was scheduled to give a series of talks about the group’s philosophy over the coming weeks.

Although Be Your Best You! featured prominently in everything the AAG did, Katrina wondered for the first time about the philosophy underlying that slogan. She’d never heard any detail about what it actually meant, but perhaps that was reserved for the paying customers?

Katrina drew level with them and shook her head as one of the group waved a leaflet in her direction. Just then, a car pulled up and the driver’s door was flung open. A woman jumped out and dashed over to the AAG stand.

“You people are cheaters and I want my money back.” Her voice was loud and a group of women who were just about to enter Bubba’s Diner paused to watch what was happening.

Leigh took out her cell and started to make a call while Randall stepped forward. “Ma’am, this is not a good time—”

“I loaned my son a thousand dollars and I’ve just found out he used it for a seminar on ‘becoming his best self.’” Her voice dripped with sarcasm and she made an air-quote gesture as she said the words. “What sort of mumbo jumbo is that?”

“I think you’ll find that your son will have reaped the incredible rewards that come from an Affirmation Alliance seminar.”

“My son just lost his dad in a horrible accident. He’s sad and vulnerable.” Katrina began to listen a little more carefully. Eliza had also been susceptible, and she, too, had become involved with the AAG. Was there a link? “You people preyed on his grief.”

Katrina was close enough to hear Leigh as she ended her call. She spoke quietly to the group around her. “Micheline said this is bad publicity. We need to close it down fast.”

Moving swiftly, the other AAG members surrounded the irate woman, effectively blocking her from view. As she raised her voice, they started to talk loudly, drowning out her protests. Seconds later, she was being hustled into her car by Randall and Bart. Katrina didn’t see them actually touch her. It was more that they invaded her space and gave her nowhere else to go.

She looked around. No one else seemed to have noticed what was going on. Should she film what was happening? Take a picture? Call someone? But who? An image of Spencer Colton flashed into her mind and she reached into her pocket for her cell. Even as her fingers began to swipe through her address book for his number, she hesitated. Why would he believe her about this incident when he had been lukewarm about her suspicions concerning Eliza?

“You’re overwrought, ma’am,” Randall said. “You should go home and rest.”

Instead of calling Spencer, Katrina continued to watch. As she tucked her cell back into her pocket, she looked up and encountered Randall’s gaze. The glare he gave her let her know he had recognized her, and it made her feel uncomfortable. Keeping her head down, she walked briskly away.

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