Adam logged in to his account and watched his mail download. More than a hundred messages since that morning, and more than half of them junk. Perhaps when he’d finished up in the U.S., he’d ask for a position tracking down spammers. He was pretty handy with a bullwhip, a skill he’d practiced since his early teens. It would be satisfying to line a few spammers up against a wall and frighten the junk out of them.

The motel room he’d taken was like something out of a bad road trip movie, but it was in a handy location to the suspected puppy mill they were going to visit the next morning. A television in the next unit played at full volume, something with a lot of car chases and gunshots.

He tuned it out as he reread Butch’s email. He’d attached a bunch of files on the various people they knew to be linked with the anti-pit bull lobby. Many of these people were simply anti-everything. Most often, a horde of agitators looking for a cause to play with during the downtime between G8 summits, and when the fireworks were over for this one, they’d move on to the next. The thing was, some of them were very good at stirring this stuff up.

He scanned the list. There were stacks of separate files there. What the heck, it’s not like he had a life outside of all this. He kicked off his shoes, took a pull on his beer and picked an olive from an otherwise uninspiring pizza. File after file had very similar information. He picked out a few that would possibly have a match to the journalist and photographer who’d turned up at Dog Haven Sanctuary.

If he emailed the profile shots to Marlo, she could see if she recognized any of them. And if he emailed the profile shots to Marlo, he could phone her to discuss them…and send himself a little bit more batshit crazy. Well, that was a fun fantasy while it lasted.

He would make a list and have Josh print them out and drop around to the Sanctuary with them. That way Josh could let him know right away if they were on to anything. He sent off a message to that effect, logged off, closed up his laptop, and stared at the wall.

And thought about Marlo. Again.

Somebody had to break through that barrier she hid behind, and he really wanted to be the guy with the sledgehammer. But if he chipped away a little and exposed a bit of her fear, he couldn’t walk away from her. Better to leave Marlo with her safety barrier intact.

* * *

Marlo was in the office with Lulah when the police car parked outside. For a moment, she went still as she took her breathing down to the bare minimum, keeping it there with refined control until her thudding heart begged for more.

That was Barrett in the driver’s seat. The sun was at a bad angle on the windscreen, but the silhouette was unmistakable thug. The passenger door opened, and Josh climbed out and paced with long, youthful strides to the open office door. He ducked to enter the office. Lulah followed his path with an appreciative up-down movement of her head, which Marlo admired because she wished, for once, she had the courage to be that brazen.

Josh held out the envelope to Marlo. “Adam would like you to take a look at these. See if you recognize anyone.”

Marlo took the envelope from him. “Sure, Josh. Ah, I’ll take a look at lunchtime.”

“I think he wants it done while I wait.”

She took a quick glance through the window. If that was Barrett in the driver’s seat of the squad car, she wanted him off the property as soon as possible. She turned back to Josh and gave him a little smile. “I’m kind of busy right now. Why not leave them, and I’ll let you know as soon as I’ve taken a look.” She indicated to Lulah. “We’re in the middle of a meeting, so if you wouldn’t mind.”

Josh’s face colored; he nodded and returned to the car. As it drove off, Marlo caught the reflection in the wing mirror of Barrett’s unmistakable barren head and mirrored sunglasses.

* * *

Adam used a late-afternoon run to burn the surplus of emotional energy that had stuck with him since he’d left Marlo and the Dog Sanctuary. He’d found a reasonable sized hill not far from the motel, and run up and down until his knees started bitching at him.

If nothing else, this little bit of chaos was keeping fit.

By the time he reached his motel unit, he was dripping sweat and talking himself out of his stretch routine. The shower was way more appealing.

In the bathroom he opened the shower faucet, hoping for more than the drought-like trickle it had offered up that morning. Yes! The water pressure had improved and he threw off his clothes and climbed in, ignoring his phone ringing from the pocket of his running shorts.

Toweling himself after the shower, he heard his phone ring again. Persistent, whoever it was. He rummaged through his clothing to find his mobile. Butch, shit…. He pressed the button. “Yeah, Butch.”

“Hey, buddy. We got us some intel coming in and it’s not good. The dogmen have got a location on Justice. We’re pretty sure they’re going to try and nab him.”

Adam went cold. “How? How have they found out where he is?”

“We can’t be sure. These days this sort of information can often be extracted from the GPS location data embedded in a digital photograph. They could’ve extracted a digital still image from the Dog Haven video. Or there could be someone leaking information from within the Sanctuary.”

“Shit. I’ve just got out of the shower, can you give me two minutes? Keep your phone free.” He ran to the bedroom and pulled a pair of jeans from his bag. Not again, please God, not again. Not after Emma. He had to get to Marlo. Who knows what those lowlifes would do to her? He grabbed his phone and reconnected with Butch.

“Butch, Marlo might be alone at the Sanctuary. Can you get a patrol car over there? Send Josh.”

“Sure, I’ll have him there in ten to fifteen. Do you want me to phone Marlo?”

“No, I’ll call her. So long as there’s a patrol car visible at Dog Haven, the dogmen should keep their distance. If it’s any of the guys who were bailed, they won’t want to be caught trying to lift their dog. Send the car, and I’ll get there as quick as I can.”

He dialed Marlo’s number. Pick up, hon. Don’t be stubborn. Shit, if she saw his name on the caller ID, would she ignore the phone?

Marlo picked up on the third ring. “Hello, Adam.”

Neutral voice, neutral was good. No danger. “Marlo, hi, are you okay?”

“Yes.”

He heard her caution, and she probably heard his. “Where are you? Are you up at the house?”

“No, I’m in my office. Adam, is something the matter? Because you sound weird.”

“Sorry.” God, he didn’t appear to have such a good grip on things. “We have good reason to believe the dogmen who ran the Richmond Thirty-Two have found out you have Justice, so there’s every possibility they will try and take him.” He waited. “Marlo?”

“Shit.”

“I know, honey. Shit. Now, is anyone with you?”

“No, everyone’s gone into town for pizza and a movie tonight.”

“That’s okay. Go up to the house and lock yourself in. I presume you still have Justice with you in the house, rather than at the kennels.”

“Yes, he’s with me.”

“That’s good. Good. A patrol car is on its way out. Butch is sending Josh, and I’m going to drive down. I’ll leave in a few minutes, but it’ll be a couple of hours before I get there.” He paused again, waiting for any questions or response. Nothing. Oh, damn, she was freaking on the cop coming to the house.

“Marlo, listen to me. Let Josh into the house, okay?”

“Couldn’t he wait in the patrol car?”

If he wasn’t so wired, he would have laughed. “We really need to work on this aversion to cops you have, but in the meantime please let him in. It’s for your safety. I promise you’ll be absolutely fine. If anyone snooping about sees a patrol car in the drive, they’re going to stay away. It’s only for a couple of hours. I’ll be there as quick as I can. Do you have any questions?”

“No.”

“Okay, now put the security system on at the kennels and go up to the house. I’ll see you very soon.”

“Bye, Adam.”

“Goodbye.” He wanted to add something else. He wanted her safe and wanted her to know that he was going to make it good for her…all of it. Everything. He stared at the phone. Marlo had disconnected.

He pulled what little gear he’d brought with him together quickly and packed it in the car. He would call the others he was meeting for the puppy mill raid when he was on the road.

Throughout the drive, he reassured himself that Marlo would be okay. This wasn’t going to be a repeat of what happened with Emma. There would already be an officer at the Sanctuary, and no one would come to any harm. And hell, it’s not as if the place was on fire. He had to keep himself together and concentrate on driving on the right side of the road.

* * *

Marlo checked the security cameras and alarm at the kennels. The dogs were fed, exercised, and settled for the evening. Fala was already up at the house. Calling Justice to her side, she headed to the office to lock up before walking back to the house.

Experience had taught her to recognize the hyper-aware state she was in. Everything around her seemed eerily still, and she walked with furtive steps on the grass shoulder of the driveway rather than the gravel, as if trying to conceal her presence. She watched her environment for threats. A birdcall sounded amplified, and she froze when she heard something moving in the bush by the house. She recognized Fala and put her hand to her chest to comfort the pounding.

She entered her house with the dogs and waited inside the door. Tonight the canine behavioral study paid off, as she watched the dogs move through the house. Even in a supercharged state she knew they’d have a far better sense of anything out of order. They seemed fine. The only thing concerning them was the whereabouts of dinner. Justice was already carrying one of the food bowls to the kitchen.

After feeding the dogs, Marlo called them inside and locked the doors and windows. She had no appetite and couldn’t sit. She began to move, tracking the room, trying to burn off some anxiety. She couldn’t decide if she was more edgy about the dogmen possibly coming to nab Justice or the impending visit from a police officer. But she’d be okay because that police officer would be Josh, and he seemed rather sweet. She’d be safe with Josh…wouldn’t she?

She needed Adam. And perversely, that need felt good. It was even better knowing he was on his way.

Justice suddenly sprang to his feet and padded across the room. Within seconds, Marlo recognized the crunch of car tires on gravel. She watched the dog, and heard a soft growl rumble deep in his chest. Through the window she could see the police car. She ushered the dogs into her bedroom and shut the door.

Although she was comfortable that Fala would be fine, she didn’t want to put Justice under any stress. Dogs could easily be spooked by uniformed figures because of the intimidating body language a person in authority was inclined to display. She didn’t want to set the dog up to fail at something to which he hadn’t yet been desensitized.

Coming back from the bedroom, she heard the car door close then seconds later a sharp knock at her door. Through the opaque glass she could make out the figure of the police officer. Her heart accelerated as she forced her fingers to release the lock and open the door. When her view of the porch widened, her heart changed gear and bashed furiously as if trying to break free.

Len Barrett was on her doorstep.

His smile split well-licked lips and carried all the sincerity of a snake-oil salesman.

Marlo pushed to close the door, fighting the roaring in her ears and the numbness creeping up her legs, but he was too quick for her. “Inside.” He took hold of her arm, physically reinforcing his simple order. He nudged the door closed with his foot and turned the lock.

“Where’s Josh?” she managed, trying to get to the window to check the car.

“He was on another job, so you got me.”

He walked her through to the sitting room and indicated to the sofa as he released his grip. “Sit down.”

A million tiny insects came to life across her skin, and she scratched at her arms.

Odd that inside this fear, it’s his voice I find so sickening.