Detection Mission. Margaret Daley

together.”

      “I think I like dogs.”

      The vulnerability in her expression chipped away at his declaration he was through with women after Alexa. “In a while you’ll find out. There’ll be two dogs at Molly’s. Besides Kip, Mark’s pet is an ex-K-9 dog—Eliza, a Malinois.”

      “Why would someone take your captain’s dog?”

      “We’re working on that,” Lee said, not wanting to reveal to Heidi what Pauly Keevers had told them—that Rio was taken to find something valuable in the Lost Woods. “In addition to Slade’s father being hurt, his dog stolen and young Brady Billows being kidnapped, a number of lowlifes have disappeared. One turned up dead in the Lost Woods the other day.

      “Who?”

      “Ned Adams? Have you ever heard that name, seen him?” Lee showed her a photo of the dead man.

      She shook her head. “Was he a criminal?”

      “Yes, he was dealing drugs and working for another man we have jailed and awaiting trial. He was shot execution style. Someone is making a point. Something big is going on here, and no one is talking.”

      “But you said you’ve checked around here and I’m not from here. At least you don’t think so.”

      “True, but you may know something about what happened in the Lost Woods that can help us.”

      “You think that’s why that man came after me?”

      “Maybe, especially since you woke up and could possibly remember and talk. Speaking of which...do you know a man named William Peterson?

      “You found another dead body in the woods?”

      “No, but we found Peterson’s car wrecked at the edge of the woods, not far from the highway. He lives in San Antonio, but his neighbors said he left on business weeks ago and wasn’t expected back for a few more days.” He cleared his throat. “SAPD checked with his employer, and he never showed up to see any of his business clients. He’s a sales rep for a manufacturer. When his daughter hadn’t heard from him, she filed a missing-person’s report.”

      “You think I know him?”

      “It could explain your injuries.” He showed her a driver’s license photo of Peterson, a fifty-two-year-old with balding dark hair and a plain face.

      She examined it for a long moment then scrubbed her hands down her face. “I don’t know. The name doesn’t sound familiar at all. Nor does his picture look familiar.” Frustration, mixed with concern, marked her features.

      “Don’t worry. It might not have anything to do with you.” He wanted to touch her and comfort her, take the strain from her expression. He kept his arms at his sides. “I’ll go see if the doctor has signed your discharge papers while you get dressed.”

      “Speaking of clothes, I need to go by a store and pick up some extra items. What you found me in is all I have.”

      “There’s a Super Mart not too far from here. We’ll stop there, then maybe Molly or Gail can take you shopping when you get settled in.”

      * * *

      “I can’t believe all these people came to help fix up this place for me,” Heidi said, standing back from the group painting and preparing the hardwood flooring to be refinished. “I should be helping.”

      “Didn’t anyone tell you that you just got out of the hospital a few hours ago? You’re to rest. Isn’t that right, Gail?”

      Lee’s friend stopped taping the floorboard and looked up at Heidi and him. “I’d better not see you lifting a finger tonight. Consider this your welcome-to-Sagebrush greeting. It’s got to be better than the first one.”

      “Yes. Hands down.”

      Heidi’s laughter floated across the room, drawing a couple of his friends’ attention. Lee liked the sound, light with a musical quality. He hadn’t seen her smile and certainly not heard her laugh much in the short time he had known her, but for some reason he wanted to make that his mission, to see and hear more of that.

      “I thought you were resting downstairs.” Lee touched her elbow and led her toward the exit to the three-room apartment.

      “I was getting bored. Resting is all I’ve done for the past few weeks.” Heidi leaned closer to him, her fresh scent of apples and cinnamon instantly reminding him of his childhood home at Christmas. “Molly went into the kitchen to make some sweet tea for y’all and see to her chocolate chip cookies. I snuck up here when she left.”

      “You said y’all. Maybe you’re from the South. You have a faint accent.”

      She cocked her head and stared off into space for a long moment. “I don’t know. I like the sound of cold sweet tea even though it’s the first of February.”

      “I can’t say it gets that cold here in southwest Texas in the winter.” He guided her toward the third-floor landing. “It’s not that I wouldn’t love for you to join us. I just don’t want you to overdo it.”

      “I have to admit I’m tired. You would think after resting and sleeping so much I wouldn’t be. My body isn’t wanting to cooperate with my mind, which would like to be upstairs with y’all pitching in, especially with how nice Molly has been.”

      He descended the stairs with Heidi next to him. “Tell you what. Come join us about seven when the pizza is being delivered. Until then, take a nap.”

      “All I can promise is I’ll rest. I’m tired, not sleepy.” At the bottom of the steps on the first floor, she turned toward him. “I can find my own way back to Molly’s spare bedroom after I see her in the kitchen.”

      “You’re going to go in there and help her?”

      She pointed to herself innocently. “Who, me?”

      “Don’t answer. I don’t want to know you aren’t resting. See you at seven, and I’ll introduce you to the folks you don’t know.”

      She headed for the kitchen while he went back upstairs. He hadn’t had a chance to talk with Gail. She’d gotten off work late and arrived here as soon as her shift ended. Not three minutes afterward, Heidi had come into the room. He didn’t want her involved at this time.

      “Is she going to behave herself and take it easy?” Gail asked when he entered the first room in the new apartment.

      “Probably not. She may not know it, but I have a feeling she has a stubborn streak.”

      “I call it determination. She went through an ordeal and is alive. Someone wanted her dead in the woods attacked her earlier today.” Gail pursed her lips. “I can’t believe Gus Zoller tried to hurt her. On my floor. Bold. Desperate, maybe. So why go after Heidi unless she knows something?”

      “That’s what I’m thinking. I’ve talked to everyone but his supervisor in housekeeping. She had already left for the day, and I wanted to bring Heidi here.”

      “Mrs. Hanson is a tough one, but all you have to do is flash that great smile of yours and that badge, and you won’t have any problems.”

      “Mrs. Markham, are you flirting with my friend?” Gail’s husband joined them, with beige paint in splotches all over his clothing.

      Looking her husband up and down, Gail fisted her hand and planted it on her waist. “Harry Markham, I declare I’ve never seen a man so messy except when it comes to the dogs. Everything has to be neat and precise with them.”

      Harry flicked his brush at his wife.

      Her eyes grew round when she saw the paint spatter her shirt. “Good thing for you this is an old blouse.” But as Gail said that, she pushed the brush he held upward into his face.

      “I’ll leave you two to work this out,” Lee said and crossed the room