Olivia took Taz with her when she went to work. The Monday morning meeting was the first thing on the day’s agenda, so she went in early and rummaged through the back area containing tactical gear. There in one of the boxes, she found a police dog vest she attached to Taz.

At first, he didn’t seem too keen on the idea, standing there giving her an odd look with his head cocked and his ears up as if to say, “What the hell?”

“If you want to hang out with me, you have to make concessions,” she told him. “As of this moment, you are a special deputy marshal K9.”

He turned his head and sniffed the vest, but then put his ears down and wagged.

That’s settled. “Good. Do what I tell you and we won’t have any problems. Got it?”

The wagging sped up. He followed her to the door and she went to grab coffee before the meeting. In the kitchen, several of her coworkers commented about the dog, Taz receiving ear scratches and back slaps. “Watching him for a friend,” Olivia said several times. “Figured as long as he’s trained for police work, he could keep me company today.”

No one questioned the lack of a badge on the vest or anything else about Taz’s sudden appearance. The dog’s quiet, polite demeanor fit with a trained police dog.

Olivia’s boss did a double-take when she entered the room, but he was already at the podium calling the meeting to order, so she dodged the bullet of explaining Taz to him.

Everyone took their seats, and Supervisory Deputy Director Abraham Navarro began the Monday morning spiel about recent successes. “Our fugitive taskforce arrested Gerald O’Neil Saturday night for numerous charges including felonious assault and battery against a police officer. We worked with Mexican authorities and arrested federal escapee Ivan Morales who is wanted on a double homicide in Mexico City.”

The list went on for another minute, many of her counterparts able to close cases since the previous week. Olivia sipped her coffee and let her mind wander to Victor and the situation he was dealing with. She considered paying Alfie a visit sooner than this evening, but showing up unannounced on his doorstep could lead to trouble. He wasn’t under official Justice Department protection yet, and playing a dangerous game with Frankie and Gino in order to solidify the intel the JD needed in order to take down the West Coast Fifty-seven Gang. As far she could tell, Alfie never worked at home because of his daughter, but it was imperative Olivia keep their relationship covert. The dinners were always preplanned and could be cancelled if Alfie was worried about surveillance from his bosses. She couldn’t risk blowing his status with his mob group or all the hard work she’d put into setting up the deal with the JD to take Gino DeStefano and his “family” down.

“Does anyone have further updates?” Navarro asked, shuffling his papers.

No one did, and he began listing current assignments. Once again, Olivia tuned out. She had a very special position in the district office, allowing her more freedom than most of her coworkers. She’d done her time serving warrants, arresting fugitives, and transporting prisoners, her total dedication to the job helping her climb the ranks quickly and efficiently. When she’d gone to Navarro and told him about Alfie and the potential use of him as an informant, Navarro had wanted to turn it over to the FBI. Olivia had insisted she was the perfect person to handle the case. After several intense discussions, she’d made the decision to go over Navarro’s head and speak directly to the chief director for their territory. Eventually it had gone all the way to Justice. When word had come down from on high that Olivia and her idea had been granted permission, Navarro had let her know how annoyed he was at her. She had no doubt after this case, she’d have to find a new office.

Of course with that permission came the Justice Department’s request for her to investigate Victor. No one, not even Navarro, knew about that. Her contact in Washington had made it clear that if she wanted permission to groom Alfonso Barone as a confidential informant, she had to do something for them. That something had been the investigation. No reason had been given, but there was obviously something in Victor’s background that had made them suspicious.

Navarro would probably never know about that, and that was fine with her. She didn’t want anyone to know. She’d only agreed because she wanted Gino and Frankie B. Buddying up to Victor had been an easy assignment…until she’d figured out what a great guy he was.

If only her contact at the JD would’ve let her off with her original report two months ago, stating that very fact. Not in those exact words, but a sterile, organizational memo citing that she had found nothing suspicious. The whole thing had set her on edge, wondering if they were hoping to find something criminal where there wasn’t anything. It struck her as if they had it in for Victor. But why?

She didn’t like it then and still didn’t now.

Believing she could exonerate him, she’d continued her investigation. So far, she had done that, but the problem was, now she was having a relationship with him. If they found out, her tail would be grass from the Justice Department on down, everyone suspecting she was simply covering for him.

Olivia had been in plenty of quandaries before, but this one might top them all.

The meeting finally adjourned, and as she rose to her feet, Navarro passed by giving her a wave to follow.

Oh joy. He was going to give her grief about the dog, she just knew it.

As she and Taz took their time leaving the room and heading for Navarro’s office, Liv mentally tried out various explanations, feeling out which one Navarro was most likely to buy.

“Shut the door,” her supervisor said as she and the dog entered.

She did, leaning against it and hoping this would be quick. Maybe the best defense was a strong offense. As in, steer the topic of conversation right from the start. “Did you hear about the DEA officer who was shot in San Diego yesterday and the bomb explosion this morning that killed an agent?”

He shuffled some papers on his desk, avoiding her eyes, as if she were insignificant. “What’s with the dog?”

She sighed mentally. Her distraction had been worth a try. “I’m dog sitting, and he’s trained, so I brought him along.”

“Trained in what, chasing tennis balls?”

She kept bluffing. “He’s a trained police dog.”

“And I’m Santa Claus,” Navarro said. “What’s the latest on your investigation?”

He wasn’t going to press her about the dog. She supposed that was a bonus. “I’m looking into the fact that the shooting and bombing I just mentioned happen to be related to the Fifty-seven Gang and Gino DeStefano. I’m meeting Alfonso tonight to pump him for information. He called yesterday and told me Frankie B had put out a hit on a high-level law enforcement officer. I believe it’s tied into my investigation. I’d like to head to San Diego this afternoon and speak to some members on the taskforce involved.”

Navarro finally looked up, kicking back in his chair. “The SCVC taskforce is under the jurisdiction of Victor Dupé. He won’t let you near any of them.”

Little did he know… “You know Dupé?”

“Don’t you? Weren’t you at that hostage situation he was involved in at Christmas with the children’s hospital?”

So he remembered. Go figure. “We spoke during and after, which is why I believe he will let me interview his team.”

Navarro put on his reading glasses and faced his computer screen. “Looks to me like you better get your admin work completed. I haven’t had an official report from you in the past two weeks. Nathaniel is still waiting for you to sign off on that subpoena you served last Wednesday. You need to sit at your desk today and clean it up.”

That was the last thing she was going to do, but pushing him wasn’t a good tactical maneuver. She knew exactly what was on her desk, and although she hated paperwork, she’d have it done in an hour, maybe less. “I’ll clear it before I leave today.”

He took her statement as compliance and nodded. “Dismissed.”

Happy to bail, she grabbed the door handle and pulled Taz to his feet.

“Fiorelli?”

Damn, she’d almost made it. She glanced at him over her shoulder. “Yes, sir?”

“Do not bring the dog again. This is not puppy daycare.”

She didn’t like making promises she might not keep, so she said nothing, hustling herself and the dog out and closing the door behind them.

She stopped at the vending machine and grabbed a bag of crackers and a diet soda before heading to her desk. Taz was ready for a nap and laid down at her feet as she went to work typing up the required forms necessary to get Navarro off her back.

Forty-two minutes and twenty seconds later, she finished the last report, dropped the empty cracker bag in the garbage, and checked to make sure no one was paying any attention to her. Satisfied, she grabbed her half-drank soda and led Taz to the door.

The noonday sun was bright and hot, too hot this early in April, but she had plenty of time to make it to San Diego and back before dinner with Alfonso. It’d be a fast round-trip, but worth it. She was still determined to tell Victor the truth as soon as possible.

Before she and the dog were on the freeway, she sent Victor a text. On my way. Can we meet?

For long minutes, there was no reply. The lack of response could be due to any number of reasons, she just hoped nothing else bad had happened to anyone on the taskforce. Flipping on the radio, she turned to the Southern California news station, but soon grew frustrated as the lunchtime talk show focused on the recent robbery of an actor in Beverly Hills, rather than pertinent news.

Taz had his head out the window again. She queued up her favorite playlist and glanced at the navigation system that handled all her calls and messages while she was driving. It would ding to let her know about an incoming text, but she kept glancing at the screen anyway, watching for a reply.

She was five miles into the drive before the text finally came. “When you hit town, let me know. I’ll meet you here.” He sent a link to a small mom and pop coffee shop a few blocks from downtown.

Feeling a sense of relief, but dreading the upcoming conversation, Liv reached over and patted Taz before turning up the music in hopes of drowning out the doubt demons swimming in her brain.

Victor spotted Olivia’s car across the street as he left the coffee shop with two large Americanos in a tray. He’d told her not to come inside but to wait for him. As he darted through traffic, he saw Taz sitting in the backseat with his ears up and tail wagging.

The combination of Liv and the dog was the best thing Victor had seen all day.

Before he climbed in, he did a casual scan of the area to make sure nothing seemed out of place. No one appeared to be paying him any attention, and he quickly climbed in the passenger seat.

Liv leaned across the console to kiss him as she lifted one of the cups from the carrier. “How did you know I needed a large one of these?”

The kiss had been too quick, too brief. After she’d taken a sip, he caught her by the back of the neck, dragging her face into the center between the seats again, where he laid a proper kiss on her, parting her lips and teasing her tongue with his. She tasted of coffee and comfort, desire and encouragement. When he finally let her come up for air, she looked at him with a deep craving in her eyes and a shy smile. He wanted to freeze that moment and carry it with him the rest of the day.

She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.

The thought struck him as odd. He had a nice life. He enjoyed his job and had good people working under him. He loved his family, and missed them every day. “I brought you a brownie too, if you want one.”

“Coffee and chocolate? You really know how to woo a girl.”

“Next best thing to beer and cannolis.” He fished the folded paper bag of brownies out of his jacket pocket and handed it to her. Taz stuck his head over the seat, licking Victor’s ear and making him jump, almost spilling his coffee. “Hey, boy,” Victor scratched his chin. “Miss me?”

The dog caught the scent of brownies and nearly came into the front seat. Olivia held them out of reach and used an elbow to keep him in the back. “Down, Taz. No chocolate for you.”

The dog obeyed reluctantly, keeping his big face between them. Olivia took another sip and tucked the brownies safely away from the dog’s nose. “Where to?”

Paranoia flared again, eating away at his insides. He scanned the buildings nearby, the cars parked up and down the street. “Drive randomly for a few minutes. I want to make sure we don’t have a tail.”

She put the car in gear and eased into traffic. “I would’ve been here sooner, but I had to do paperwork to get my boss out of my hair. How are Cooper and Thomas?”

“The doctors are keeping Cooper sedated. He’s still in serious condition. I have Thomas at a safe house, and I’m going to insist Ronni join him. Unfortunately, I’ve spent most of the morning dealing with local law enforcement, the bomb squad, the medical examiner, and a host of others, including dozens of requests from news organizations wanting a statement about my “dead” agent. I’m doing my best to keep Thomas’s actual status under wraps as long as possible, but there are too many people involved. Word will leak soon enough.” He rubbed his eyes and took a drink of the hot coffee. It was a bit weak. He probably should’ve gone for straight espresso, but he wasn’t choosy at the moment. “It’s been a long morning.”

She took a left. “San Diego PD have any leads on the bomber?”

“None. The office the taskforce uses for meetings is in a rundown building that houses a senior center, an ambulance chaser, and an accountant. The neighborhood has no traffic cams, no ATM cameras, or other sources of video. No witnesses have come forward. Thomas immediately contacted the dead agent’s superior, obviously, to let him know what happened, and I’ve gotten an earful from him, but nothing helpful. Agent Marin was undercover in the Suarez cartel, and he left a couple names with Thomas that might give us leads into Cooper’s shooting, but we’ve got nothing else substantial on who planted the bomb.”

“You think the shooter might be part of the Suarez cartel?”

“It’s the strongest lead we have at the moment and appears more likely than a mob hit. The suspects we had at the park all turned up as dead ends.”

Liv’s cheek sucked in as if she were chewing on it as she turned the idea over. “Street gang hits are often less precise, so that fits with the different methods and sloppy execution that left both Cooper and Thomas alive.”

“Since Marin’s death is not public knowledge yet, whoever set the bomb believes Thomas died. One of the reasons I’ve been running interference hot and heavy with the news media is to keep the idea alive. Eventually, whoever tried to kill Thomas will figure it out, but I’m buying as much time as possible in hopes we find the killer before he can do any further damage.”

They flowed with the light afternoon traffic, weaving around the city. Both checked rearview mirrors and kept an eye on cars that followed them for more than a few blocks. None raised flags. After Victor was certain they were not being followed, he directed Liv to Thomas and Ronni’s apartment building.

“Celina is still at the hospital, and I put Mitch on bodyguard duty with her so Ronni could be with Thomas. I need to pick up some clothes and things for the two of them. Everyone else is on high alert and laying low. If I had my way, I’d round them all up and put them in the safe house.”

“It’s natural to want to protect them,” she said. “I have to admit, I’m a little surprised you haven’t done that already.”

“I floated it by all of them and got nothing but pushback. They want to work the case, not hide out, and I understand their motivation. Some, like Cooper, have spouses and kids to worry about.”

“They’re afraid to leave them vulnerable.”

“Exactly. We don’t know if this is over, or they’ll start targeting family members as well.”

“What a nightmare.”

His thought exactly. “I’ve been in touch with a former agent who worked on the taskforce several years ago, and who now runs a security service in DC. I can’t get the FBI or Justice Department to release funding for increased security on my agents yet, but if I have to, I’ll hire bodyguards for them myself.”

She pulled into the parking lot. “Director Allen doesn’t believe there will be more attempts on your agents?”

“I spoke to him for the third time today a few minutes ago, and he’s unwilling to come out and say someone is specifically targeting the SCVC Taskforce, even though I’m in charge of several here in California and none of those have been targeted. Some days he’s more politician than agent.”

“He can’t possibly believe these are simply random attacks.”

A parking spot was open at the end of the first row. “In my time as West Coast director, the only instances when we have butted heads has been when it came to budget restrictions. It’s not about what he believes, but what will happen if he declares the SCVC Taskforce needs funding in order to protect its agents. In the big picture, he thinks it shows weakness, that my agents can’t protect themselves, or are not trained well enough. In that case, they don’t belong on this elite group.”

“Ah, yes. Appearances in DC are everything.”

“I could have two dead agents right now, and he still wouldn’t approve funding for increased security for the rest.”

She parked and they took Taz and the brownies and went up to the apartment. Thomas had given Victor a key and the access code for the alarm system.

The place was small, but clean and neat. Victor suspected that was Ronni’s doing more so then her husband’s. While neither of the agents were home all that much, the place had a comfortable feel to it, very inviting. Victor hoped that one day his would too.

Olivia helped herself to a brownie, under Taz’s intense supervision, while Victor gathered clothes. He had no idea what to grab for Ronni from her collection of toiletries, and Olivia jumped in to help.

“Ronni has a lot of hair products and makeup,” she said, eyeing the full shelves. She picked out several bottles and lifted the bag. “Hope I grabbed the right stuff.”

Victor noticed how Taz followed Olivia everywhere. The dog was probably hoping for brownie crumbs, but he also seemed somewhat protective of her.

Maybe I can get her to adopt him.

“Was that a police dog vest I saw on the backseat?” he asked as she took the lead collecting clothes for Ronni, saving him the embarrassment of going through Ronni’s dresser drawers for undergarments.

She smiled, swallowing the last of her brownie and brushing her hands on her jeans. “Taz came to work with me today. He’s in training, if anyone asks.”

Yup, I think I could love her. She found a way to take every situation and make the best of it. He’d tried to do the same throughout his life, taking care of his disabled mother while she raised him and his sisters with no father in the picture and a very limited income.

“You’re amazing, you know that?” He smiled at her as he sent off a text to Thomas, telling him they would be at the safe house shortly.

She returned it, then the smile faded. “Victor, there’s something I need to tell you.”

His stomach went tight at her tone. “What is it, Liv?”

The dog sat at her feet, sensing the unease in her voice. She patted his head, averting her eyes from Victor. “It’s just that… Well, you know how I feel about y—”

Victor’s phone blared with Celina’s ringtone. He snatched it from his pocket. “Sorry. It’s Celina.”

“Oh, um. Go ahead. You have to take it.”

He punched the button. “Celina, how is he?”

Her voice was teary, but with happiness. “He’s awake, Victor! The Beast rises. You have to come.”

Yes! Everyone on the taskforce referred to Cooper as the beast. “That is great news. Hang tight. I’m on my way.”

He disconnected and shoved the phone back in his pocket. “Cooper’s awake.”

Olivia smiled again, but it was strained. “That’s wonderful. I thought they had him sedated.”

“I’ve never known anything that can keep Cooper Harris down, and apparently not even heavy doses of intravenous drugs. I need to talk to him. He might have seen the shooter. It’s a long shot, but it’s possible he could ID the guy.”

She headed for the door. “I’ll drive.”