The Military K-9 Unit Collection. Valerie Hansen

was telling the truth or she deserved an Oscar for acting, Linc decided. Not only was she shaking all over, his own nerves had begun firing wildly. The back of his neck tingled and he sensed danger the way he had in combat when trying to outwit a hidden enemy.

      Pushing her aside with his free arm, he aimed blindly into the dark warehouse. “How could you see a thing in there?”

      “The—the loading door at the other end was partly open when it all happened. The guy must have closed it after he shot her.”

      Linc reached for his radio, reported the possible crime and was assured of backup, then instructed Zoe. “You stay out here. I’m going in to see if I can find the lights.”

      “No way. Suppose the shooter gets behind you.”

      “Star would alert me.”

      “I still think I should go along. I can help.”

      “The dog can do it better,” Linc insisted.

      “I give up. I’m scared, okay? My little boy needs me, and you know I’m unarmed. The shooter knows I saw him. I don’t want to wait out here by myself.”

      He could hear her rapid breathing, feel her fear. “That’s the first totally honest thing I’ve heard you say,” Linc replied. “All right. But stay close behind me in case I have to fire.”

      “Gladly.”

      Stepping inside, Linc placed each boot as silently as possible. He moved ahead in a half crouch in order to present a smaller target. Star preceded him. Zoe followed.

      A swishing, fluttering noise from above startled all three of them. Zoe let out a tiny gasp but didn’t scream, impressing him, despite his lingering anger at her foolish tricks. Star paused for a moment, then looked forward again. “A bird in the rafters,” Linc whispered.

      Although his human companion didn’t react, he continued to feel her presence, as if his actual shadow had substance. He’d have waited for backup if Sullivan hadn’t mentioned a victim. Given that complication, he needed to reach the scene and assess any injuries. Quickly.

      Pausing, Linc waved his palm in front of Star’s nose, then held it up to stop Zoe, too. “Stay here. The panel for the lights is right ahead. When I turn them on, I don’t want you to be out in the open.”

      “Will your dog panic and bite me if you leave?” Zoe whispered.

      Under other circumstances Link would have chuckled. “Not unless I tell her to, so don’t run away again.”

      Sergeant Sullivan’s muttered reply faded to nothing as Linc moved forward. His sight had adjusted to the darkness enough to tell where he was but not enough to spot hidden attackers.

      He reached for the panel and flipped the switches. Banks of overhead fluorescent lights flickered, then steadied, illuminating the entire warehouse.

      Linc’s first act was to ensure that there was no imminent threat. His gaze swept the building contents, then came to rest on Zoe. Star was seated at her feet, panting and totally unconcerned, meaning she sensed no danger lurking nearby.

      In contrast, the flight instructor was standing there with her hazel eyes wide and her mouth hanging open, looking as though she was about to keel over.

      Linc followed her line of sight to the base of the roll-up door. The concrete was spotless.

      No dust.

      No blood stain.

      And no body.

       TWO

      Zoe took a shaky breath. “That’s impossible!” She wanted to explain what had happened but couldn’t. She had seen the shooting with her own eyes. Had watched the victim fall and bleed. So where had the injured woman gone?

      Her companion reached for his mic. “Colson here. False alarm at the warehouse.”

      Watching his expression removed all doubt that he blamed her for the false alarm. Only it wasn’t her fault. It hadn’t been. She knew what she’d seen, how she’d felt when the assailant had turned and come toward her. Imagination or hallucination or whatever a person wanted to call it was not enough to scare her that much.

      The K-9 handler raised a dark eyebrow. “Well?”

      “Oh, no. You’re not going to blame me for this, Colson. I don’t know what really happened, but I am not making anything up. I heard a shot. I saw a victim fall and watched a red stain blossom on her back. There is no way this floor can be this clean and dry after that. Not this fast. There has to be a logical explanation.”

      “I’m waiting for it,” he said.

      Zoe took a deep breath and exhaled noisily. Slowly shaking her head, she glanced down at the imposing patrol K-9. “I’d rather try to explain it to your dog. She looks more likely to believe me.”

      “Don’t let her temporary relaxation fool you. One word or signal from me and Star will be a formidable adversary.”

      “I know. It’s just that sometimes I tend to relate to animals better than I do humans. And see her cute tan eyebrows? She’s not scowling at me the way you are.”

      “Maybe that’s because you didn’t lie to her.”

      “I didn’t lie to you either.” Zoe knew there was pathos in her tone, but she didn’t try to hide or excuse it. “There has to be a clue here. A drop of blood or something. Please. Bring in somebody who can test the area for it. At least give me the benefit of the doubt.”

      “So you can waste our time and resources?”

      Her voice became strident. “Me? You’re the ones who are wasting time by focusing on my life when you should be trying to track down my stupid half brother before he does something else too horrible for words. I haven’t seen him since before he escaped, and I only went because I felt sorry for him. I don’t want to see him on the outside of prison walls. I have my little boy to protect. Do you think I want Boyd anywhere near Freddy?”

      “Why not? You sure visited him plenty.”

      “That’s different. Boyd’s all the family I have left since Dad died. I suppose I should have stayed away, but I kept hoping he was worth redeeming.”

      “By you?” She heard him huff.

      “No. By God and Jesus,” Zoe said, and this time there was new gentleness in her speech.

      “Some people aren’t worth it,” Colson countered drily.

      “I disagree. Everybody should have the chance to reform, no matter what they’ve done.” Her heart clenched. Too bad it was too late to help Freddy’s daddy.

      That all-encompassing statement apparently convinced the cop to turn away and once again use his radio. “Give me Captain Blackwood,” he said. After a short pause he followed with, “Linc Colson here, sir. I’m at warehouse W-16 behind the BX. Sullivan insists she saw a crime committed and is requesting a tech team. Do you want me to stay here until you give me further orders or shall I relinquish the scene?”

      Zoe couldn’t hear the reply because the sergeant was wearing an earpiece, but judging by his grim look, he wasn’t happy with the captain’s decision. She waited expectantly for him to end the call and explain.

      “They’re coming,” he grumbled. “You win. This time.”

      “I’m not trying to win anything,” she insisted. “I just don’t want a criminal to get away with murder.”

      “Right.”

      Zoe could have brought up the sacrifice of personal happiness she’d made when she’d turned in her former husband, John, for possible espionage, a transgression, which may have been responsible for his untimely death,