A puppy stolen, a woman in jeopardy...

The next exciting True Blue K-9 Unit story

When guide dog trainer Eva Kendall stumbles on a dognapping, someone sets their deadly sights on her. Now she’ll do anything to find her guide-dog-in-training—except admit her most painful secret to K-9 officer Finn Gallagher. But can Finn and his K-9 partner help her track down the puppy...and uncover the criminal’s true motives before attacks on Eva turn fatal?

LAURA SCOTT is a nurse by day and an author by night. She has always loved romance, and read faith-based books by Grace Livingston Hill in her teenage years. She’s thrilled to have published over twenty-five books for Love Inspired Suspense. She has two adult children and lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with her husband of thirty years. Please visit Laura at laurascottbooks.com, as she loves to hear from her readers.

Also by Laura Scott

True Blue K-9 Unit

Blind Trust

Military K-9 Unit

Battle Tested

Military K-9 Unit Christmas

“Yuletide Target”

Callahan Confidential

Shielding His Christmas Witness

The Only Witness

Christmas Amnesia

Shattered Lullaby

Primary Suspect

Protecting His Secret Son

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk.

Blind Trust

Laura Scott

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-1-474-09646-1

BLIND TRUST

© 2019 Harlequin Books S.A.

Published in Great Britain 2019

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

All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

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Version: 2020-03-02

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Finn couldn’t stand seeing her distress.

“I’m sorry,” Eva murmured. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

“Nothing is wrong with you, Eva.” Finn’s own voice was low and husky with emotion. “You have every right to be upset. There’s been nothing but threats and danger at every turn.”

She didn’t answer. Finn had promised himself to offer comfort, nothing more.

Even if it killed him, which was a distinct possibility.

If he had one single functioning brain cell in his head, he’d assign someone else to protect her and the boy.

But even as the fleeting thought went through his mind, he rejected it.

He didn’t want anyone else here, watching over them.

He trusted only himself and his K-9 partner to keep them safe from harm.

TRUE BLUE K-9 UNIT:

These police officers fight for justice with the help of their brave canine partners

Justice Mission by Lynette Eason, April 2019

Act of Valor by Dana Mentink, May 2019

Blind Trust by Laura Scott, June 2019

Deep Undercover by Lenora Worth, July 2019

Seeking the Truth by Terri Reed, August 2019

Trail of Danger by Valerie Hansen, September 2019

Courage Under Fire by Sharon Dunn, October 2019

Sworn to Protect by Shirlee McCoy, November 2019

True Blue K-9 Unit Christmas by Laura Scott and Maggie K. Black, December 2019

Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.

—Psalms 27:7

This book is dedicated to Gregory and Marianne Iding, and their chocolate Lab, Moose. It’s fun to dog-sit for you when you’re on vacation.

Dear Reader,

I was blessed and honored to be given the opportunity to participate in this True Blue K-9 Unit continuity. It’s been amazing working with this fantastic group of talented authors.

I’ve visited New York City many times and had fun researching the Queens area, but please know that any errors are strictly my own.

I hope you enjoyed Finn and Eva’s story. And if you’re wondering about Pete and Mikey, don’t worry, you’ll meet them again later this year in my True Blue K-9 Unit Christmas novella!

As always, I love hearing from my readers. Please drop me a note through my website at www.laurascottbooks.com, or message me through my Facebook page at Laura Scott Author. I’m also on Twitter @laurascottbooks.

Yours in faith,

Laura Scott

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

About the Author

Booklist

Title Page

Copyright

Introduction

Bible Verse

Dedication

Dear Reader

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN

ELEVEN

TWELVE

THIRTEEN

FOURTEEN

FIFTEEN

SIXTEEN

SEVENTEEN

EIGHTEEN

Extract

About the Publisher

ONE

Eva Kendall slowed her pace as she approached the single-story building housing the modest training facility where she worked training guide dogs. Lifting her face to the sky, she basked in the sun warming her skin. June in the Forest Hills area of Queens, New York, could be incredibly hot and humid, but today was the perfect summer day.

Using her key, she entered the training center, thinking about the male chocolate Lab named Cocoa that she would work with this morning. Cocoa was a ten-week-old puppy born to Stella, who was a gift from the Czech Republic to the NYC K-9 Command Unit located in Queens. Most of Stella’s pups were being trained as police dogs, but not Cocoa. In less than a month after basic puppy training, Cocoa would be able to go home with Eva to be fostered during his first year of training to become a full-fledged guide dog. Once that year passed, guide dogs like Cocoa would return to the center to train with their new owners.

A few steps into the building, Eva frowned at the loud thumps interspersed with a cacophony of barking. The raucous noise from the various canines contained a level of panic and fear rather than excitement.

Concerned, she moved quickly through the dimly lit training center to the back hallway, where the kennels were located. Normally she was the first one in every morning, but maybe one of the other trainers had got an early start.

“Hello? Kim, is that you?” Rounding the corner, she paused in the doorway when she saw a tall, heavyset stranger scooping Cocoa out of his kennel, a tire iron lying on the floor beside it. Panic squeezed her chest. “Hey! What are you doing?”

The ferocious barking increased in volume, echoing off the walls and ceiling. The stranger must have heard her. He turned to look at her, then roughly tucked Cocoa under his arm like a football.

“No! Stop!” Panicked, Eva charged toward the man, desperately wishing she had a weapon of some sort.

“Get out of my way,” he said in a guttural voice.

“No. Put that puppy down right now!” Eva stopped and stood her ground, attempting to block his ability to get through the doorway.

“Last chance,” he taunted, coming closer.

Fear was bitter on her tongue. She twisted the key ring in her hand, forcing the jagged edges of the keys between her trembling fingers. As he approached, she braced herself, hoping to find a way to stop him. He punched her with his right arm, roughly hitting her shoulder. Pain reverberated down her arm and into her hand, but that didn’t stop her from lashing out with the keys, scratching him down the length of his forearm as she tumbled to the ground.

He called her a vile name as he went by, but she didn’t care. Ignoring the pain, she surged to her feet and took off after the assailant. Roughly five feet from the doorway leading outside, she lunged, grabbing ahold of the waistband of his black cargo pants and pulling back on it with all her might.

“Stop! Help! Please help! He’s stealing a puppy!” She raised her voice, hoping someone outside might overhear.

“Let go!”

No! She couldn’t let him get away with Cocoa!

The big and strong assailant dragged her along for a couple of feet before he abruptly turned on her. His meaty forearm, lined with three long, bleeding scratches from her keys, lashed out again, and this time he struck her across the face.

Her head snapped back, sharp pain blooming in her cheek, bringing tears to her eyes and blurring her already diminished vision. The sheer force of the blow knocked her off her feet, and she fell against the wall with a hard thud. Unable to hang on, she released him and slid down along the wall, collapsing on the floor in a crumpled heap. The sound of the puppy’s panicked yipping tore at her heart.

“Cocoa,” she managed in a choked voice. It was too late. The heavy door leading outside opened and slammed shut with a loud bang.

The assailant was gone, taking her precious puppy—the one she’d hoped to use one day as her own Seeing Eye dog—with him.

Eva forced herself upright. She rushed back to the main reception desk and picked up the phone.

If only she’d got a better look at the guy, she thought, as she dialed the number for the NYC K-9 Command Unit. Her retinitis pigmentosa was already impacting her ability to see clearly. Especially in areas that weren’t well lit. The dim interior of the kennels along with his baseball cap had shadowed his face.

With trembling fingers, she clutched the phone to her ear, hoping it wasn’t too late to find Cocoa.

* * *

“Hey, Gallagher!”

Finn stood and looked over the edge of his cubicle. “What?”

“Pick up line three. Something about a missing dog.”

K-9 Officer Finn Gallagher abandoned the notes he was reviewing on Chief Jordan Jameson’s murder to pick up the phone. “What’s going on?” The NYC K-9 Command Unit headquarters was located in the Jackson Heights area of Queens but served all five boroughs in New York City.

“One of Stella’s puppies has just been stolen,” Officer Patricia Knowles informed him. Patricia manned the front desk of headquarters, ruling the place with her no-nonsense attitude. “The pup that’s missing is Cocoa, the one donated to the guide dog program.”

“Stolen?” Finn scowled and glanced down at his yellow Labrador retriever, Abernathy. His K-9 partner’s specialty was search and rescue, fitting for finding a stolen puppy. Finn clipped a leash onto Abernathy. All the K-9s were named after fallen K-9 officers, and his was no exception. Abernathy was named in honor of Michael Abernathy, who was killed in the line of duty while trying to rescue a child from his suicidal father. The child had survived, but Officer Abernathy had been hit in the cross fire and ultimately died. “I’m on it. Thanks.” He hung up the phone. “Come, Abernathy.”

Wearing his K-9 vest identifying him as a law enforcement officer, Abernathy was all business, keeping pace beside Finn as he left the K-9 Unit headquarters. The guide dog training center was located in Forest Hills, a ten-to-fifteen-minute drive from Jackson Heights. Finn opened the back of his white K-9 SUV for Abernathy and then slid in behind the wheel.

Rush hour made the ride to the training center take longer than he’d hoped. A beautiful blonde hovered just inside the doorway, anxiously waiting for him.

With Abernathy at his side, he assessed the woman. She appeared to be in her late twenties, her heart-shaped face and stunningly beautiful features framed by long straight blond hair. He scowled as he noticed she was holding an ice pack against a dark bruise marring her cheek. She stepped back and gestured for him to come inside.

“I’m Officer Finn Gallagher. What happened?” he asked with concern. “You were assaulted? I was told that Stella’s puppy has been stolen.”

The blonde offered a lopsided smile. “I’m Eva Kendall, and I’m the one who reported the puppy-napping.”

“You’re hurt. I’ll call an ambulance.” Finn reached for his radio.

“No need,” Eva said quickly. “It’s more important to find Cocoa.”

Finn knew Cocoa was a chocolate Lab. A valuable animal, sure, but worth stealing? He had to believe the other guide dogs at the facility might be worth just as much, maybe more. He looked at Eva. “Tell me what happened.”

She moved the ice pack so she could speak, and he was struck anew by her clear porcelain skin and brilliant blue eyes. He did his best to avoid being distracted by her beauty, focusing on her story. “I came in early to work with Cocoa. The minute I entered the building, I heard thumps and loud barking from the dogs. I feared something was wrong, so I headed back toward the kennels.”

“Alone?”

She lifted a shoulder, then winced as if the motion hurt. “I convinced myself that it was nothing, until I found a stranger grabbing Cocoa from his kennel.”

Finn clenched his jaw, imagining the scenario. Was it possible the chocolate Lab had been targeted on purpose?

“I shouted at him to stop, but he didn’t listen.” Distress darkened Eva’s blue eyes. “He punched me in the shoulder, knocking me to the floor, but I managed to scratch him with my keys.” She gestured to the key ring sitting on the counter. “I thought you might be able to get a DNA sample from them.”

He lifted a brow, secretly impressed she’d thought of that. “We can try. Go on, what happened next?”

“I ran after him and grabbed him from behind, but he hit me again and got away.”

Hearing that the perp had hit her twice had him grinding his teeth in a flash of anger. It deeply bothered him when men used their strength against women. “Are you sure about not calling an ambulance? I think it’s best if you get checked out at the ER.”

“I’m fine.” Eva waved a hand dismissively. “I’ve been hurt worse tussling with my older sister. We used to wrestle a lot when we were younger.”

“Your older sister?” Finn felt a bit confused by the change in topic.

“Yes.” Eva’s gaze reflected a deep sorrow. “Unfortunately, Malina died three weeks ago when she was struck by a car.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” He wanted to offer comfort but told himself to focus on the issue at hand. “I have to ask about the attack. Did the guy look at all familiar?”

“No. But I still don’t understand. Why steal a puppy? Especially since we have older dogs here, too. Although it’s possible the older dogs might try to bite more than a puppy would.”

“Good question.” He flipped his notebook shut and cast his gaze around the interior of the building. “Take me along the assailant’s path. I’ll also need to review the security video.”

“The video won’t be available until my boss gets in, I don’t know how to use the equipment. But aren’t you going to head out to try to find him?” Eva asked, exasperation ringing in her voice. “I specifically asked for a search-and-rescue team.”

Finn flashed a wry grin. “Abernathy is the best search-and-rescue K-9 on the force, and, yes, I plan to head out to search for Cocoa. But I need to see the path the guy took, and I need something belonging to either the perp or Cocoa to use, as well.”

Mollified, Eva wheeled around and led the way back through the training center. “There’s a tire iron on the floor near the kennel. I think he used it to break inside the building then dropped it here by the kennel.”

Finn took note of the tire iron on the floor. Metal wasn’t the best substance to use for obtaining a scent, but Abernathy was exceptionally smart. “Don’t touch anything,” he warned. “We may be able to use the tire iron or the keys to pick up the perp’s scent.”

“I won’t.”

He went back to put the keys in an evidence bag, then led his K-9 partner to the tire iron. He pointed at the object and offered the evidence bag of keys as two ways for the animal to pick up the scent. “Find, Abernathy,” he commanded.

The yellow Lab sniffed along the entire length of the tire iron, going back and forth as if to distinguish the smell of the metal compared to the person who’d held it, and then buried his nose in the evidence bag.

“Find,” Finn repeated. Abernathy put his nose to the ground and began following the scent. Finn let his K-9 take the lead, following his partner as the dog made his way from the kennel out to the main corridor toward the main entrance, alerting at several spots along the way.

“He’s on the trail,” Eva said excitedly.

“He is,” Finn agreed, energized by his K-9’s ability to track the perp. “Stay here. We’ll be back shortly.”

“Wait! I want to come with you.” She tossed the ice pack on the counter and hurried to catch up with him. She didn’t like leaving the place unlocked and hoped they wouldn’t go too far.

“We work better alone,” he protested.

“I’m coming. If we find Cocoa, he’ll be scared to death, but he knows me. Cocoa might even respond to the sound of my voice.” She sent him a frustrated glance. “Come on, Officer Gallagher. Stop wasting time. Let’s go!”

“Call me Finn,” he told her. Giving up, he reluctantly allowed Eva to tag along as he and Abernathy went to work. The K-9 alerted at the doorway leading out the main entrance, then turned to the left as he followed the perp’s scent.

Eva didn’t say anything but seemed to watch in awe as Abernathy alerted again a short while later. They went one block, then a second, the K-9 picking up the scent at regular intervals.

“Good boy,” Finn encouraged his partner, giving him a nice rub as a reward for his good work. Then he straightened. “Find, Abernathy.”

The yellow Lab put his nose back to the ground, sniffing and moving in a circular and seemingly random pattern. Abernathy made a circle and then came back, alerting on the same spot he had before.

“I guess this is it.” Finn battled a wave of disappointment that their attempt to find Cocoa had come to such a quick end. He glanced back the way they had come. Three blocks. The perp had clearly gone in this direction for at least three blocks. “Abernathy has lost the scent, here at the intersection in front of the Grocer’s Best convenience store.”

“Maybe we could go up a block or two, just to be sure?” Eva suggested.

Finn nodded. “I’ll take him a few blocks each way.”

Twenty minutes later, Finn knew it was no use. The attempt to pick up the perp’s scent had failed. Abernathy didn’t alert once.

“It’s likely the guy had a car waiting here for him,” he told her as they walked back to the training center. “Otherwise, Abernathy would have picked up his scent.”

“I guess I hadn’t thought of that,” Eva acknowledged, her slim shoulders slumping in defeat. Then she brightened. “Maybe we’ll be able to catch the vehicle make, model and license plate number from the video.”

Again he was impressed with her cop-like instincts. Most of the women he’d dated—of which there had been many, although no one serious—didn’t have a clue about what law enforcement really entailed. He looked up at the security cameras posted on the outside corners of the training center building. “Maybe, but it will depend on the camera range and the quality of the lens. It would be a huge break if we could get something from the tapes. How soon can I check it out?”

Eva shrugged, then winced, putting a hand on her injured shoulder. “As soon as Wade gets in.”

“Your boss?”

She nodded, her straight long blond hair shimmering in the sunlight. “Wade Yost is the director in charge of the guide dog training center. He reports to the owner.”

“Have you seen anyone lurking around over the past few days?” Finn asked. “The fact that this guy broke in through the back door, makes me think he cased the center before deciding to grab Cocoa.”

“No, I haven’t noticed anyone. Although maybe the security video will give us that information, too.”

“How far back do they go?”

She pursed her lips. “I’m not sure. Maybe a week or two? I know they run on loops.”

Two weeks wasn’t very long, but he’d take what he could get. “Do you think you’d recognize the guy if you saw him again?”

“I’m not sure.” Eva looked away, gazing off into the distance. “Maybe.”

Her tone lacked conviction, but he wasn’t deterred. “Tell you what. How about you work with a sketch artist to give us an idea of what this guy might look like? Witnesses are always surprised at how much they remember.”

“I don’t know,” she hedged. “I don’t think it will help. I honestly didn’t get a good look at his face.” Her lack of enthusiasm toward working with the sketch artist bothered him. Where was the woman who had insisted on coming with him to find Cocoa?

“Give it a try,” he persisted. “It can’t hurt.”

There was a long pause before she gave a curt nod. “Okay. But please don’t pin all your hopes on the sketch. The keys I used to scratch him with will likely help more than the brief glimpse I got of him.”

“DNA takes time, and if this guy isn’t already in the system, having it won’t help until we get a suspect to use as a potential match. The sketch is a better place to start.”

“Okay.”

He held the door of the training center open for her, wondering once again why Cocoa had been targeted. The pup was only ten weeks old—what was the point of stealing him? Especially since there were other, more valuable dogs in the kennel?

Did someone have a grudge against the training center? Had the pup been taken as a way to ruin their reputation? He made a mental note to ask Wade Yost for a list of employees who had been fired in the past year.

Finn waited fifteen minutes before Wade showed up. The director was roughly five feet eight inches tall with a husky build. He had dirty-blond hair and nondescript features.

“Eva? What happened? How did you let Cocoa get away?” Yost demanded.

“I tried my best to prevent it,” Eva said. “I’m sorry.”

“The man attacked her,” Finn said, speaking up on her behalf. He shot the director of the training facility a narrow glare. “She’s fortunate she wasn’t seriously injured or killed.”

“Yes, of course,” Yost said, backpedaling. “Eva, I’m so sorry you were hurt. Do you want to take the rest of the day off?”

Finn glanced at her and she rubbed a hand over her shoulder.

“Maybe. But first Officer Gallagher wants to see the security video.”

“Yes, I do,” Finn said. “And you don’t seem to have a security system, correct?”

“With all the dogs in here, didn’t think I’d need one.” Wade Yost led the way to his office and the computer screens he had sitting on a table in the corner. The director went over and pulled up the video feed, going back a few hours. There was no sound from the video, and a heavy silence fell among them as they watched.

Finn rested his hand on Abernathy’s silky head. He saw Eva entering the guide dog training facility through the front door. The cameras were only on the outside of the building, not on the inside. They waited, watching various cars driving by on the street, as the timer clicked through. Nine minutes later, the door abruptly swung open and a man dressed in black rushed out. The guy instantly turned left, the same way Abernathy had tracked him, then disappeared from view. The man’s face was averted, a ball cap pulled low on his forehead as if he’d known exactly where the camera was located.

“Do you have another camera?” Finn asked. “Something pointing down the street?”

“Afraid not,” Yost said. “The other camera points to the parking lot in the back of the building.”

“That might show him breaking in,” Eva pointed out.

Yost went to work pulling up that security feed. As Finn watched, he could see a tall man wearing black from head to toe, along with the baseball hat pulled over his brow, coming out from behind a dumpster. He again kept his head down as he made his way to the back door. Using the tire iron, he opened it up and disappeared inside. Once again, the angle of the camera made it impossible to see his face beneath the rim of the cap.

Finn blew out a frustrated breath. “I want copies of the video going as far back as you have it.”

“Should be about a week’s worth,” Yost said. “Maybe eight days at the max.”

Great, that was just great. The video they had wasn’t helpful, and Eva hadn’t got a good look at the guy. He’d still have Eva work with a sketch artist, but at this point they had very few clues.

Finn turned toward Eva’s boss. “Tell me, do you have a list of employees who were let go in the past twelve months?”

“Uh, yeah, sure.” Yost looked uncomfortable as he glanced at Eva, then back at Finn. “I’ll, um, get that for you.”

Yost rummaged around in his desk drawer, then pulled out a sheet of paper. He glanced again at Eva before handing it over. “You’ll, uh, keep that confidential, won’t you?” he asked.

“Of course.” Finn didn’t understand why the guy was so uncomfortable until he scanned the list, his gaze stumbling across a familiar name.

Malina Kendall-Stallings.

Eva’s older sister.

TWO

Eva could feel Finn’s intense gaze boring into her and desperately wished she could see him more clearly. Unfortunately, he was standing with his back to the large window overlooking the street, and the light coming in behind him cast a shadow over his face.

“Is something wrong?” she asked, finally breaking the strained silence.

“No, of course not.” Carefully, Finn folded the paper her boss had given him and tucked it into his pocket. “Wade, do you mind if I take Eva down to the station with me? I’d like her to work with a sketch artist. We need all the help we can get identifying this assailant in order to get Cocoa back.”

“That’s fine,” Wade agreed. “Eva, why don’t you take the rest of the day off? You were planning to leave early anyway, right?”

“Yes, I was.” Normally working with the animals relaxed her, but since her brother-in-law, Pete Stallings, had just left town to attend a conference, she needed to pick up her three-year-old nephew, Mikey, from his preschool program. Spending extra time with him would be nice. The poor little boy was struggling after his mother’s death just three weeks ago.

She picked up her purse from the counter, wishing there was a way to get out of going with Finn. She really didn’t want to work with the police sketch artist, knowing that what little she’d been able to see of the man wasn’t enough to recreate a good likeness. Yet she wasn’t about to reveal her degenerative eyesight issues to Finn Gallagher, either. She knew only too well that men treated her differently once they discovered the truth. Sure, her ex-fiancé, Rafe Del Rosa, had denied breaking off their relationship because of her diagnosis, but she knew the truth.

Rafe was an artist and the ability to see was very important to him. The fact that one day she wouldn’t be able to see or appreciate his work had bothered him. Considering they’d met at one of his art exhibits, she could somewhat understand.

Despite what she’d heard on the rare times her parents had taken them to church, love did not conquer all.

Losing Rafe, her sister, Malina, and all too soon her vision had been three life-changing events too many. She’d turned away from the church, unable to believe that all of this adversity was part of God’s plan.

There was no plan. Wasn’t she living proof of that?

“Eva? Are you ready to go? Joey, our sketch artist, will meet us there.”

She realized Finn and his yellow Lab, Abernathy, were hovering near the main entrance, waiting for her. She shook off her depressing thoughts and moved toward him.

She wasn’t blind yet. She cleared her throat. “How far away is the K-9 headquarters?”

“In Jackson Heights. Don’t worry, I can drive you home afterward.” Finn held the door open, and in the bright sunlight she was able to see him more clearly. Earlier, she’d been too worried about Cocoa to notice, but now she could see just how broad Finn’s shoulders were and how handsome he was. His dark brown hair was longer than most cops she knew generally wore it, a lock falling over his forehead and his green eyes were incredible. There was a tiny part of her that wanted to take the time to memorize his features so she could picture him in her mind’s eye forever, but she gave herself a mental shake.

A relationship was out of the question. In a few years she’d be deemed legally blind. Her diagnosis was such that her field of vision would narrow over the next few years, until she could only see through a small circle. She’d already accepted the fact that she’d spend the rest of her life alone. At least she had her nephew, Mikey, to help care for. And the dogs she trained were also important to her.

She didn’t need anyone else.

“Where do you live?” Finn asked.

“Not far. I don’t need a ride home, but maybe you could bring me back here to the training center. I live a short subway ride away.”

“We’ll see,” Finn said, his tone noncommittal. She sensed he wasn’t the type to take no for an answer, but she didn’t need his help.

Remaining independent was very important to her. No way was she going to start leaning on a man now. The more she took the same route to and from work, the better she’d be able to navigate once her eyesight vanished for good. Granted, she’d have a guide dog of her own by then, but still it was important to establish a routine so she could continue to work. Who better to train guide dogs than a blind woman?

Finn opened the back of the police SUV so Abernathy could get into the back. Then he came around and opened the passenger-side door for her.

“Thanks,” she said, sliding inside.

“Not a problem.” Finn closed the door behind her, and instantly she became aware of the musky scent of his aftershave, which seemed to permeate the interior of the vehicle.

“You mentioned your sister passed away three weeks ago. What happened?”

The change of subject was odd, but she sensed he was making small talk. “Malina was hit by a car and killed on impact. It’s been a difficult time for all of us—her husband, Pete, and their little boy, Mikey.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” Finn paused, then asked, “Did your sister have a job?”

“She worked with me at the training center for a while as the receptionist slash part-time bookkeeper, but then decided it was too hard to juggle her responsibilities there while caring for her son.” Eva didn’t add that Malina suffered from the same disorder she did, retinitis pigmentosa. Her sister was three years her senior and in the months before her death, Malina’s eyesight had begun to rapidly deteriorate.

“I see. And how old is Mikey?”

“Three and a half.” She glanced over at Finn, sensing there was more to these questions than mere curiosity. “Why do you ask?”

“No reason.” Finn grinned and, ironically, the softening of his features made him all the more appealing. “Sorry I was playing twenty questions. As a cop, it’s my nature to be nosy.”

“Occupational hazard, huh?”

“Yep.” Finn expertly navigated the busy Queens traffic as he drove to the K-9 headquarters. Eva paid attention to the streets they passed to familiarize herself with the area.

“I really appreciate you taking the time to do this, Eva.”

She did her best to smile, hoping it didn’t look too forced. “I want to find the man who took Cocoa as much as anyone.”

“How’s the cheek?”

“I’ll live.” Truth was, her face was tender and sore to the touch, but not bad enough that she needed medical care.

Finn drove until he found a parking spot in the tiny lot adjacent to the building. She climbed out of the white SUV while he released Abernathy from the back. With Abernathy between them, she followed him through the double glass doors that led into the main lobby area. Finn punched in the code that allowed them access so they could go inside.

A woman in uniform sat behind a large U-shaped desk wearing a headset. She appeared calm despite the never-ending ringing of the phone.

Finn waved at the officer, who handed a visitor badge to him while still talking on the phone. He clipped it to Eva’s collar, then led the way inside. The interior of the police station smelled like old coffee, animal hair and the faint odor of gun oil. There were cubicles separating the desks, but she could still hear cops talking at the same time, some on the phone, some to each other. The din made it difficult to hear specific conversations, and the entire place seemed to be one of perpetual chaos.

“Is Joey Calderone around?” Finn asked the officer closest to him. “He’s supposed to meet us here.”

“I’m here.” A man about her age came over. He also had a visitor badge clipped to his collar. “What’s going on?”

“Joey, this is Eva Kendall, and she saw the man who dognapped one of Stella’s puppies.”

Joey, a man who was as short as he was wide, looked horrified. “That’s awful. Why would anyone steal a puppy?”

“No clue, but I intend to ask when I find him.” Finn’s jovial tone held an underlying note of steel. “Have a seat, Eva. Joey is a master at getting sketches done from witnesses just like you. This shouldn’t take too long.”

Eva sat down in the uncomfortable plastic chair, thinking that Joey hadn’t ever had to work with someone with such limited vision as hers. Still, she was determined to give this her best shot.

The questions started out easy, the shape of his face, his build. Eva relaxed as the drawing materialized in front of her. But when it came down to identifying details like the shape of his eyes, his nose and his mouth, helplessness washed over her.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t remember.” She sensed Joey’s frustration, but he kept his tone light and easy.

“It’s okay. Just close your eyes for a moment, see if anything comes back to you.”

She closed her eyes, forcing herself to remember the brief flashes she’d got of the attacker’s face. After several long moments, she opened her eyes. “I’m sorry,” she repeated. “But other than a unibrow over his eyes and the five-o’clock shadow, I can’t tell you anything more specific.”

“That’s okay. It’s better to have something than nothing,” Joey assured her. He put a few finishing touches on the drawing, but even she could tell the face lacked depth.

It could have been anyone. Even Joey.

“How does it look?” Finn and Abernathy crossed over to see the portrait. She imagined Finn was disappointed, but he didn’t say anything. “Thanks, Joey.” He took the drawing and handed it to another officer. “Calvin, I need you to spread this sketch around to the rest of the precincts, so all cops can keep an eye out for him. He’s the one who stole one of Stella’s puppies.”

Calvin looked surprised at the directive, but then nodded. “Yeah, sure. I can do that.”

Eva knew when she was being patronized and couldn’t prevent a flash of anger. She jumped up from the plastic chair, grabbed her purse off the back and threw it over her shoulder. “I told you this wouldn’t work. I told you I didn’t get a good look at him. It wasn’t well lit inside the building and everything happened so fast.”

“It’s okay,” Finn began, but she’d had enough.

She turned quickly and made her way through the various desks of the precinct toward the door.

It wasn’t until she was outside and walking away from the police station that she realized she was more upset with herself than with Finn Gallagher. She should have tried harder to get a good look at the guy. She knew the limitations of her vision but hadn’t attempted to compensate for it.

Instead of trying to stop the big hulk of a man with nothing more than her keys, she should have studied his features, memorizing them for future reference.

Her shoulders slumped with defeat. It would be her fault if Cocoa was lost forever.

* * *

Finn was flabbergasted by Eva’s abrupt departure. What had he said to set her off like that? He couldn’t imagine. He knew civilians didn’t have the same observation skills that were drilled into new recruits during their training at the academy. Having her come work with the sketch artist had been a long shot, but he’d felt it was worth it.

He hadn’t expected her to become so angry and upset.

“Wow, you must be losing your touch,” Joey said dryly. “What happened to the infamous Gallagher charm?”

“No clue,” he admitted. He wasn’t necessarily proud of his reputation with women but hadn’t actively done anything to change it, either. He dated often, but never more than a few times with one woman before moving on. Despite that, he hadn’t left a trail of broken hearts behind. He’d worked hard to make sure the women he went out with knew he was all about fun and nothing more serious. He had Christian values after all, so he’d never crossed the line. And they’d always parted as friends.

But Eva was different from the women he usually went out with. Not just because she was stunningly beautiful, but because of the many complex facets to her personality. Layers he was dying to peel away in order to catch a glimpse of the real woman hiding beneath.

Not that he would be getting that chance anytime soon, he thought wryly. Which was too bad, since she intrigued him in a way the others hadn’t. Unfortunately, he wasn’t relationship material. His dad had been a cop and his mother had left them both when he was just a kid. He remembered being huddled in his bed, listening to his parents fight. His mother had railed at his father that sitting around waiting for him to get home wasn’t fair, especially when she wasn’t even sure he’d come home safely. She’d screamed at him that the reality of being a cop’s wife wasn’t what she’d signed up for and that she was leaving.

Finn’s mother had never come back.

“She’s a looker. You gonna just let her leave like that?” Joey asked, breaking into his thoughts.

“No. Come, Abernathy.” He followed Eva outside, figuring that once she’d got outside she’d change her mind and wait by the police-marked SUV for him to take her home.

But he was wrong. Emerging from the building, he headed toward the spot where he’d left his vehicle, then stopped when he noticed Eva wasn’t waiting by the SUV. In fact, she wasn’t anywhere in sight. He frowned, sweeping his gaze over the area, trying to imagine which way she’d gone. Had she called a car service?

A glimpse of golden-blond hair caught his gaze, and he was shocked to see that Eva was already several blocks away. Did she really intend to walk all the way home? Or was she heading toward the subway station?

Was she familiar with the Jackson Heights area? He wasn’t sure.

Muttering under his breath, he and Abernathy picked up the pace in order to catch up with her. Not because he believed the neighborhood was dangerous, but he had promised to take her home. She’d been assaulted just a few hours earlier, and it didn’t sit right to have her leaving on her own like this.

“Eva!” He called her name, hoping she’d stop and wait up for him. But the streets of New York were always packed with people and, from what he could tell, she didn’t act as if she heard him.

She seemed to be heading toward one of the subway stations, so he tried to move faster, bumping into people as he attempted to navigate around them.

“Excuse me. Pardon me. Sorry,” he said as he jostled the pedestrians around him. Abernathy kept up with him, as if sensing they were on the hunt. “Eva! Wait up!”

She hesitated, turning to look behind her. He waved, hoping she’d recognize him.

But she simply turned back in the direction she’d been going. He scowled, wondering if she was purposefully leading him on. He’d never chased a woman in his life and wasn’t sure why on earth he was doing it now.

For some illogical reason, he didn’t want her to go off alone. The dognapper was probably long gone—the perp had no reason to stick around—but Finn still didn’t like it. Abernathy brushed against his legs as they attempted to close the gap between them. Eva paused at the next intersection, her gaze focused on the subway station up ahead.

“Stubborn as an ox,” he said to Abernathy as they reached the same intersection. He’d only taken two steps when he heard her shriek.

“No! Let go of me! Help! Help!”

“Eva!” Finn managed to shove past an older guy standing in front of him as he attempted to catch up to her. His gaze narrowed when he realized there was a big man tugging on her arm. Realizing the man was trying to get her into a waiting car, he yelled again. “Police! Let her go!”

Finn barreled through the crowd just as Eva was pushed backward directly toward him. He took his eyes off the assailant in time to catch her.

“It’s Finn. I’ve got you!” He clutched Eva close to his chest, breathing hard. His heart—or maybe it was hers—thundered against his ribs. The man jumped into the car and it took off, disappearing into traffic. Finn squinted in an effort to see the license plate, but the cars were too close together. Hopefully he’d get something off one of the cameras nearby. Frustrated and worried, he turned his attention to Eva. “Are you all right?”

“I think so.” Her voice was breathless, and he was grateful she made no move to push him away. He wanted—needed—to keep holding her, making sure she was truly not harmed. Abernathy sniffed at her, his tail wagging as if he was also glad she was okay.

As other subway goers brushed past them, Finn could hardly wrap his brain around what had just happened. If he hadn’t been there, the big man would have succeeded in getting her into the car, abducting her.

Finally, she straightened, putting a little distance between them. “I’m okay,” she said.

“That was too close,” he said, more than a little upset at the attempt so close to their K-9 headquarters. He pulled out his phone. “Patricia? Tell Danielle Abbott I need to get the video feed from the cameras located near the subway station to the south of headquarters.”

“Will do,” the officer promised.

He turned back to Eva. “Sure you’re not hurt?”

“I’m sure.” She allowed him to gently tug her out of the stream of pedestrian traffic. Abernathy sat beside him, waiting for his next command. He bent to give the K-9 a quick rub, then focused on Eva.

“What happened?”

Eva lifted a trembling hand and tucked a strand of long blond hair behind her ear. “A guy came up beside me and grabbed my arm, telling me I had to go with him in the black car, a four-door sedan. I screamed for help, then I heard you call out. That’s when he pushed me backward and jumped into the car to escape.”

Finn nodded. Her story was exactly what he’d seen. He wanted to pull her close again but managed to refrain. He thought back, trying to put an image in his head of the man who’d been beside her. He’d seen the guy only from the back, and he was dressed from head to toe in black. There had been a tattoo of sorts peeking out from beneath the sleeve of his T-shirt. Eva hadn’t mentioned a tattoo but said she’d got only a glimpse of the guy. “Did you recognize him? Was it the same man who stole Cocoa?”

There was a long pause before she finally shook her head. “You’re going to think I’m nuts, but no. It wasn’t the same man.”

He wasn’t sure he agreed but let it go for the moment. This latest attempt on Eva had to be related to the Cocoa dognapping. It was the only thing that made sense.

But how? And why?

THREE

Shaken by her second attack in less than a couple of hours, Eva longed to step into Finn’s broad arms, soaking up his strength. What in the world was going on? She had no idea, other than she knew the man had almost got away with dragging her into the car. If not for her cry for help, and the way Finn had announced he was a cop and called her by name, she was certain she’d already be a hostage in the car being taken to who knows where.

She shivered, realizing how stupid she had been to leave the police station alone. Especially since her motivation was nothing more than wounded pride.

“This has to be related to the incident from this morning.” Finn’s voice broke into her thoughts. “And from what I could tell, the guy was dressed in black and wearing a ball cap, the same as how you described the man from this morning. If we can get the camera footage, we may catch a glimpse of his face or the license plate of the car.”

“That’s fine, but it wasn’t the same man,” she insisted, battling a wave of frustration. She tried to think of a way to make him understand. “This guy was slighter in build and sounded—different. His voice was raspy and he smelled kind of dusty.”

“Raspy and dusty?” His voice held a note of skepticism. “Okay, then, did you notice anything different about the voice or scent from the guy who took Cocoa from the training center?”

“He smelled stinky, like he needed a shower, not dusty.” She thought back for a moment. “And there was a twang in his voice, as if he may have been from somewhere else. A hint of the South, maybe.” When Finn’s eyebrows levered upward she felt defensive all over again. “Never mind. I know this may seem crazy to you as a cop, but that’s the only way I can describe the difference between the two men. Thanks again for coming to my rescue.”

“Hold on, Eva.” Finn reached out and caught her hand. Ridiculous that she liked the feel of his warm fingers cradling hers. “I’m sorry. Sounds and smells are important, so I appreciate the extra clues. We’ll get this guy, and the one who took Cocoa, too. But right now, I’m going to take you home.”

The word home brought an image of Mikey. Mikey! What if her presence put the child in danger? For the first time in years, she was tempted to pray, to ask God to watch over her young nephew. “Okay, but can we please hurry? I’d like to pick up my nephew from preschool. My brother-in-law is out of town for the week at a training conference in Atlanta, so I’m taking care of his son. It’s a bit early to pick him up, but I’ll feel better once he’s with me.”

“Not a problem. Let’s head back to the station, where I left my SUV.” Finn put his arm around her waist and, despite her determination to remain independent, she was grateful for his support. Abernathy walked along Finn’s other side, and she couldn’t help thinking about Cocoa.

Why had the pup been taken by the stinky Southern-twang guy? And why had the raspy-voiced man tried to drag her into the car? None of it made any sense.

Worst of all, she feared for her nephew.

“Do you think Mikey will be in danger?” she asked as they made their way toward his SUV. “Maybe I should move to a hotel temporarily.”

“Where do you live?” Finn asked.

“I’m staying at my brother-in-law’s for now, while I take care of Mikey. He has a small house in Forest Hills, not far from the training center.”

“What about when you’re not staying at Pete’s place?” Finn asked. His tone was casual, but she sensed he really wanted to know.

“I rent a room in a three-bedroom house owned by one of my college roommates. Her parents are doctors at the hospital and bought it for her. The house is only about five miles from Pete’s. I can walk to the training facility or take a short subway ride if the weather is bad.”

“Okay, let’s pick up Mikey and head back to the house. We’ll figure out the next steps later.” Finn steered her toward the SUV and opened the passenger door for her, then the back hatch for Abernathy.

Traffic was always a challenge, especially getting from Jackson Heights over to Forest Hills. Eva could feel her nerves fraying with every stoplight and every bumper-to-bumper slowdown. Logically she knew the two men in black had been after her and Cocoa, not Mikey, but she wouldn’t rest easy until she had the little boy safe at home.

The preschool wasn’t far, and when Finn pulled up beside it, she told him she’d be right back, shoved open her door and jumped out. Quickly, she went inside, then paused, waiting for her eyes to adjust from the bright sunlight to the dim interior of the building.

“Auntie Eva!” She heard Mikey before she saw him running toward her.

“Mikey!” She swept the little boy into her arms, cuddling him close. His blond hair was so much like hers that people often assumed she was the boy’s mother. “I’m here to take you home.”

“You’re early.” Peggy Harris, Mikey’s preschool teacher, came over to stand beside her. “We were in the middle of a Father’s Day art project.”

“I know. I’m sorry.” Eva didn’t want to go into the events of her morning, so she simply offered a wan smile. “Tomorrow he’ll be here for the full day.”

“That’s fine.” Peggy reached out to smooth Mikey’s hair. “You can finish your art project tomorrow, Mikey. Be a good boy today for your aunt Eva, okay?”

“’Kay,” Mikey said agreeably.

Eva held her nephew in her arms as she turned to head back to the doorway, assuming Finn was waiting outside in the SUV. It occurred to her that she didn’t have Mikey’s car seat, and the thought of walking back to Pete’s house, the way she normally did, wasn’t very appealing. Being outside made her feel vulnerable, and she refused to risk anything happening to Mikey.

She turned around and went back to find Peggy. “Do you have a car seat I can use temporarily?”

“Sure, you can borrow this one.” She pulled a bulky car seat from the supply closet. “We have a few extras, but try to remember to bring it back as soon as you can.”

“I will. Thanks, Peggy.” Eva carried the car seat with one hand while holding Mikey’s hand with the other.

Finn and Abernathy were coming into the building as she and Mikey came out. “Next time, wait for me,” Finn chided without heat. “Parking is a nightmare around here.”

“Doggy!” Mikey tugged on her hand, reaching out toward Abernathy. “I wanna pet the doggy!”

Finn laughed, a hearty sound that sent shivers of awareness down her spine. She had no idea why on earth she had this strong reaction to the sound of his laugher, but she found herself smiling as she released her nephew.

Finn crouched next to Mikey, placing his hand on Mikey’s shoulder. “Friend, Abernathy,” Finn said.

“Good doggy,” Mikey said, stroking Abernathy’s silky fur. “Nice doggy.”

“His name is Abernathy,” Finn explained, then cocked his head to the side. “That seems like a mouthful for such a little guy like you. Maybe you can call him Abe.”

“Abe,” Mikey repeated.

“And I’m Officer Finn,” he added.

Abernathy attempted to lick Mikey’s face, which sent the little boy into gales of laughter. Finn chuckled, and for a moment she could easily imagine the K-9 cop with a child of his own.

It was enough to snap her out of her reverie. Having a child—a family of her own—wasn’t part of her future.

Losing her eyesight would make it difficult enough to take care for herself, much less a child.

The sooner she accepted that reality, the better.

* * *

Finn loved watching Mikey and Abernathy together. Boys and dogs went together like peanut butter and jelly. But it was time to get going, so he called Abernathy over.

“Come,” he commanded.

Abernathy instantly wheeled around and came to sit beside Finn, looking up at him expectantly. “Time to go.” He led the way down the street to the parking spot he’d managed to find. When they reached the vehicle, he opened the back. Abernathy jumped inside with lithe grace.

Finn came around to help Eva with the car seat. Once she had it secure, she set Mikey inside, buckling him in. He opened the front passenger-side door for her, and she hesitated for a moment before climbing in.

After sliding in behind the wheel, Finn glanced over at her. “I was thinking once you’re safe at home, I could go out and grab something for lunch.”

She hesitated, then nodded, seemingly relived. “That would be great. I’m still too shaken up to cook.”

“Any particular food Mikey likes best?” NYC was well-known for its variety of restaurants, but he had no clue what three-year-old kids preferred to eat.

“Pizza!” Mikey said excitedly. “I love pizza!”

“I know you do,” Eva said, glancing back at her nephew. “It’s your favorite, right? We’ll eat as soon as we’re home.”

“Speaking of which, I’ll need directions.”

“Keep heading north, then turn left at the next intersection.”

Eva continued to give him directions until he pulled into a narrow driveway in front of an older-model brown brick home wedged in between two others. It was a nice place to raise a child, he thought as he slid the gearshift into Park. He thought there might even be a little sliver of a fenced-in backyard for Mikey to play in.

“We’re home,” Eva said, as she carried Mikey out of the SUV. Finn went around to the back to let Abernathy out, grabbing the dog’s water dish and tucking it under his arm as he followed Eva and Mikey inside.

Eva hesitated for a moment in the doorway, and he wondered if she’d noticed something out of place. “What’s wrong?”

“Oh, nothing.” She flushed as if she were embarrassed, then moved farther inside. The small kitchen was crowded with two adults, a little boy and a dog, but Eva acted as if she didn’t notice.

“Okay, what’s for lunch?” he asked, filling Abernathy’s water dish and setting it in the corner of the kitchen.

“Ordering pepperoni pizza would be easiest, then you don’t have to leave.” There was an underlying note of fear in Eva’s voice and he understood she was loath to be alone.

“Not a problem.” He caught a glimpse of a local pizza flyer on the fridge. Using his cell, he dialed the number and ordered a cheese-and-pepperoni pizza. When that was done, he took Abernathy’s vest off, giving him a bit of freedom to explore. Abernathy lapped at the water, then began sniffing around the edges of the room.

Finn’s phone rang and he quickly answered it. “Gallagher.”

“We got the video feed you requested,” Danielle Abbott, their technical guru said. “But it’s not a lot of help. The camera angle isn’t great. The cars are too close together to get a view of the license plate, and the crowds of people on the sidewalk obscure the view of the perp’s face. I’ll keep trying to clear up the video, but I can’t make any promises.”

Finn battled a wave of frustration. “Okay. Thanks, Danielle.”

“What?” Eva asked.

“We haven’t got anything off the subway camera. At least, not yet.”

Eva shook her head. “It figures.”

The pizza arrived twenty minutes later. Eva opened her purse, but he shooed her away to take care of the bill himself. Eva set the table, and he opened the pizza box, then picked up Mikey to place him in his booster seat. Eva took out a small slice of pizza and placed it on Mikey’s plate, giving it a chance to cool off. He took the seat across from Eva’s and, when she finished, he clasped his hands together and bowed his head to say grace.

“Dear Lord, we thank You for this food we are about to eat. We also thank You for keeping Eva safe in Your care. Please provide us the wisdom and guidance to find Cocoa, too. Amen.”

There was a brief pause before Eva murmured, “Amen.”

Mikey had already taken a bite of pizza, completely oblivious to the prayer. Finn smiled and made a mental note to include the boy next time.

Whoa, wait a minute. Next time? There wasn’t going to be a next time! He was only here because Eva had been attacked twice in one day.

This might look like a nice cozy scene, but Eva wasn’t his woman and Mikey wasn’t his son.

“Finn?”

He looked up from his food, belatedly realizing he was staring at it without making the slightest effort to eat. “What is it?”

“Do you think we’ll be okay here?”

“I think so, yes.” He picked up a slice of pizza and took a bite, chewing thoughtfully. He didn’t want to say too much in front of the boy. “It’s probably better for you to be here than at your own place.”

She nodded thoughtfully. “I hope so.”

“How many people know that your brother-in-law is out of town?”

“My roommates know, of course. So does my boss.” She nibbled at her pizza.

“How long will he be gone?”

“About six more days, he left yesterday. He’s a paramedic and firefighter, stationed not far from Mercy Medical Center here in Queens. He’s their trainer, and there’s some new strategies about caring for patients in the field he has to learn, so they sent him to Atlanta.” She was silent for a moment before adding, “It wasn’t easy for him to leave so soon after...” Her voice trailed off.

Finn nodded his understanding. He couldn’t imagine losing your wife and then leaving your son behind as you went off on a business trip. “It’s great that you’re able to be here for Mikey.”

“Yes.” Her smile held a hint of sadness. “Between the two of us, we’ll help him through this.”

It was on the tip of his tongue to ask about God and faith, but then remembered how she hadn’t immediately joined him in saying grace. Maybe that was part of his role here. Not just to protect her, but to help Eva understand God’s grace and the power of prayer.

Mikey played with his food, pretending his slice of pizza was a plane and dive-bombing his silverware. Crumbs from the pizza crust were falling everywhere, and he noticed that Abernathy had taken up residence next to Mikey’s chair, gobbling up every morsel the kid dropped.

Finn tried not to wince. Normally Abernathy wouldn’t eat from anyone other than him, but with his vest off, he obviously thought Mikey’s crumbs were fair game.

“Don’t play with your food,” Eva said, putting her hand on Mikey’s arm. “Are you full? Or do you want to eat some more?”

“Eat,” Mikey said, popping what was left of his pizza into his mouth. “Can I visit Cocoa?”

Eva froze, her gaze locking onto his. She drew in a shaky breath, then told the little boy the truth, “I’m sorry to say Cocoa is lost, Mikey, so you can’t visit now. But Officer Finn is going to work really hard to find him.”

“Yes, I will.” Finn wasn’t exactly sure how he would accomplish that feat since he didn’t have a clue where to start. Earlier, he’d taken Eva’s keys with him back to the station and had asked Ilona, the lab tech, to run the DNA. Once those results came back, they’d know if the perp who’d hit Eva was in the system or not. But how long would that take? Despite what was portrayed on TV, fast turnaround times for DNA happened only in rare circumstances. A puppy-napping wouldn’t be high on the list.

“I’m sorry about what happened this morning,” he said. He couldn’t imagine what he’d do if someone took Abernathy from him. The dog was more than just his partner.

Abernathy was the only family Finn had since his father had passed away last year. The other K-9 officers were like his brothers, but Abernathy was more than that. The K-9 was his best friend.

“I know.” She offered a lopsided smile. He knew she was worried about more than just Cocoa’s fate.

“I’ll take a look around the place when we’re finished,” Finn offered. “See if there are any extra security measures I can add.”

“I’d appreciate that,” Eva said gratefully. “I know we’re probably fine here, but I don’t want to take any chances.”

He wanted to offer to stay there with her but knew he shouldn’t get too emotionally involved. Bad enough that he was tempted to ask her out for dinner and maybe a movie. What was it about her that made him want to toss his two-date, nothing-serious dating rules out the window?

Five minutes later it was clear Mikey was finished eating. Eva washed tomato sauce off his face and his hands, then lifted him down to the floor. Finn finished his meal so he could help clean up.

“I’ll take care of it,” she said, shooing him away with a wave of her hand. “Do me a favor and check things out, would you? I know I’m being paranoid, but I want to be sure we’re safe.”

“No problem.” Finn moved through the house, taking note of the layout. A living room was located through the doorway from the kitchen, along with a small bathroom and a bedroom. From what he could tell, the bedroom was used as a playroom, toys strewed everywhere.

There were steps leading up to the second floor, where he surmised the other bedrooms were located.

Sure enough, he found two bedrooms separated by a full bathroom. The master suite didn’t look frilly, and he wondered if Pete had already got rid of things that reminded him of his dead wife. Crossing the room, he looked out the window. Just as he’d suspected, there was a narrow fenced-in area containing a patio in which a turtle-shaped sandbox was located. There was a grill out there, too, perfect for spending summer evenings outside.

He did the same routine in Mikey’s room. A look out the window revealed a wooden trellis from beneath his window to the ground. The window had a sturdy lock, but he wondered if there was something more he could do to prevent anyone from using the trellis to gain access inside. It might not hold a man’s weight, but he didn’t want to take any chances.

Finn made his way back downstairs to the main level. He found Mikey in the playroom. Abernathy was stretched out on the floor, his tail thumping against the linoleum.

Eva joined him a few minutes later. “Any thoughts?”

Finn glanced at her. “Just the trellis against the wall outside Mikey’s window.” He kept his voice low so the little boy wouldn’t overhear.

Her blue eyes clouded with fear. “Maybe I’ll have him sleep in the master suite for the rest of the week.”

“Not a bad idea,” he agreed. “I’ll call the 110th Precinct and ask for cops to drive by on a regular basis.”

“That would be nice.” Once again her smile was sad, and Finn found himself wishing there was a way he could lighten the burden she seemed to be carrying around with her.

“Auntie Eva, look!” Mikey picked up the small furry stuffed replica of Cocoa she’d given to him the day she started working with the puppy. “Here’s my Cocoa. I wanna play with your Cocoa.”

Finn knew that a missing puppy was a difficult concept for a three-year-old boy to understand, and Eva glanced at him as if she wasn’t sure how much to tell her nephew.

Since he was hardly an expert on little kids, he had no clue, either.

“I already told you, sweetie, Cocoa is missing,” Eva said gently. “He’s lost, but Officer Finn and Abernathy here are going to find him.”

Mikey’s expression clouded, and Finn was afraid the little boy was about to burst into tears. “Maybe the bad man has him.”

What? Finn glanced at Eva, wondering if he’d heard the child correctly.

Eva had gone pale. She dropped to her knees beside Mikey so she could look him in the eye. “What bad man, sweetie? Did you see a bad man?”

Mikey dropped his stuffed Cocoa and picked up two plastic dinosaurs, slamming them together with glee.

“What do you think?” Finn asked in a soft voice. “Do you think he saw something?”

“I don’t know.” Eva’s expression was full of concern. “He’s only three years old. Maybe he just heard something on TV.”

“He watches cop shows?” Finn asked wryly.

“No, but have you seen some of the cartoons? Several have bad guys in them.”

“Bad guy,” Mikey repeated. “Mommy said the bad guy is real, not make-believe.”

“Mommy said that?” Eva asked in horror. She swayed as if she might go down, so Finn put his arm around her waist.

“Easy,” he murmured near her ear. “If Mikey sees that you’re upset, he’ll cry.”

“I don’t understand,” she whispered. “What does he mean? Why would Malina tell him the bad man is real?”

Finn had no clue, but he remembered seeing her sister’s name on the list of people who had been fired from the training center. Something Eva didn’t seem to know.

He wondered if there had been more going on in Malina’s life than Eva was aware of.

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