Battle Tested

Thankfully, Aiden’s attention was diverted by the active pup in his arms as she’d hoped. “I was thinking about naming them after national parks. The two females could be Denali and Shenandoah, the males Smoky and Bryce.”

“Those are awesome names.” Vanessa stroked the puppy he held, wondering how they’d be able to tell them apart.

“You’re in danger from Boyd Sullivan, aren’t you?” Aiden asked abruptly.

She looked into her brother’s mature-for-his-years gaze and knew she couldn’t lie. “Yes. I’m afraid so. But Captain Blackwood is going to keep a cop stationed here at the house at night, so there’s really nothing to worry about.”

“You need to keep Eagle close from now on,” he said, his tone full of reproach. “Even at the hospital.”

“I will.” She forced a smile, knowing that Eagle wouldn’t be allowed in an intensive care unit. “Do you need help feeding the rest of the litter?”

Aiden shook his head. “No, thanks.” He looked at Isaac and Justin for a moment. “Make sure she’s safe,” he said, before disappearing into the kitchen.

“He’ll be okay,” Isaac said, reassuringly. “Just because he’s struggling with an illness doesn’t make him helpless.”

“I know, but at twenty he’s already been through so much...” Her voice trailed off as she glanced back at Aiden before joining the two men and the K-9 beside Justin. “Anything else you need from me?”

“Tell me more about this injured female dog that’s at the veterinary clinic,” Justin said with a frown. “It might be connected to our investigation.”

“Captain Roark said she isn’t from the training center,” Isaac said. “The mother is a chocolate Lab, and the puppies appear to be a mix. Although he did mention there may be a link between this dog and the missing four from the training center.”

“I have to agree,” Justin said thoughtfully. “In speaking with Gretchen Hill, the newest trainer on Westley’s staff, she thinks it’s possible the Olio Crime Organization may be involved with the dognapping. Three dogs are still missing, but when Patriot was returned, her collar had the letters POCO engraved on it. It’s probably not a coincidence that the last three letters stand for Olio Crime Organization. Maybe even Property of Olio Crime Organization. I wonder if the injured chocolate Lab belonged to them at some point.”

Vanessa’s stomach clenched. “We assumed she was attacked by an animal, like a coyote, and Captain Roark agreed based on her wounds. Besides, how would someone from the Olio Crime Organization get on base? Fake ID? Or help from someone inside?”

“Anything is possible,” Justin admitted. “A stretch, but possible. After all, it’s looking more and more like the missing dogs were taken off base.” He shrugged. “Right now, I can’t see how the injured Lab would be linked, but I need to keep an open mind. There could be a connection.”

She shivered at the horrible thought. “I’m sure it’s a coincidence. We know coyotes have gotten on base, so it’s likely she was injured protecting her pups. I doubt her presence on base is the result of foul play.”

“Yeah, you could be right.” Justin’s tone lacked conviction.

There was a moment of silence before Isaac glanced at his watch. “It’s late, we should go.”

Justin nodded. “Don’t forget, Vanessa, you’ll have a cop stationed outside your house at night, and don’t go anywhere alone. I placed a call while you were speaking with Aiden, and someone should be arriving any minute now.”

“Understood.” She walked the two men and their respective K-9s to the front door, Eagle staying close at her side. “Thanks,” she said, glancing at Isaac. “For everything you did for me tonight. If there’s ever anything I can do for you, just let me know.”

A hint of a smile played at the corner of Isaac’s mouth. “You’re welcome.” He paused, then added, “If you’re not working tomorrow, maybe you’d be willing to go with me to meet Beacon’s flight. It’s due to arrive at fourteen hundred hours.”

“I’m off tomorrow and would love to go. The idea of sitting around my house all day isn’t at all appealing.” She was touched that he’d asked, although she told herself not to read more into the offer than what it was at face value. A friend inviting a friend along to meet a plane, nothing more.

“Great, I’ll stop by to pick you up.” Isaac smiled again, then turned and followed Justin out to the street, jumping into Justin’s jeep beside him.

She stood in the doorway for a long moment, her hand resting on Eagle’s silky head, watching as the red taillights of the jeep vanished into the darkness. She gave Eagle a few minutes out in the yard to do his business, then called him back inside.

A tall man with a Security Forces badge on his chest and navy blue beret on his head stepped up beside the doorway, offering a quick salute. “Everything okay, ma’am?”

“Of course. Good night.” She returned the salute and ducked back inside. When Eagle joined her, she closed and locked the door behind her.

Aiden was still in the kitchen with the puppies, calling them by name as he worked on potty training. He took them out of the box and placed them on a spread of newspaper, praising them as they did their business.

“Good boy, Bryce. Denali, you’re doing great, too. Shenandoah, stay on the paper, please. Smoky, you’re a rock star. Nice job.”

Watching her brother interacting positively with the pups filled her with hope and encouragement for his future.

Thank You, Lord, for answering my prayers!

“Are you going to keep them in the kitchen for the rest of the night?” she asked, when all four pups had been cared for and the newspaper mess cleaned up.

“I’ll stretch out on the sofa for a while, keep the box nearby.” Aiden didn’t meet her gaze and she knew that he often slept in the living room with the light on in an effort to minimize the nightmares.

“Let me know if you need help,” she said. “Otherwise I’ll see you in the morning.”

Aiden nodded. She turned toward her bedroom when he called out, “Nessa?”

She looked over her shoulder. “What?”

“That guy, Isaac, is he going to be hanging around often?”

She hesitated, unsure how to respond. “We’re just acquaintances, that’s all. I only just met him today. Isaac has been suffering from nightmares and flashbacks, too, Aiden, just like you. We’re not going to get involved, if that’s what you’re asking. Tomorrow the dog who saved his life will be returning to base, so I’m going along to support him while he picks Beacon up. I hope you don’t mind, especially since Isaac seems determined to protect me.”

Aiden shrugged. “I’m glad you won’t be alone, but I don’t want him to hurt you, the way that Leo guy did.”

She was surprised to realize Aiden had heard about her brief, misguided relationship with Leo Turner, an Air Force captain and one of the physicians she worked with at the hospital. She must have mentioned him during their FaceTime sessions while Aiden was overseas.

It bothered her that now that Aiden was back on base, he’d probably heard the rumors about Leo’s multiple affairs. Her brother had enough to worry about without adding her welfare to the mix.

“Isaac and I are barely friends,” she repeated firmly, for her brother’s sake and her own. “He just wants to help keep me safe, that’s all.”

Bad enough she’d become the laughingstock of the ICU because she’d been oblivious to Leo’s antics, until she’d seen the evidence for herself.

She didn’t know if Isaac was the kind of guy to cheat on his girlfriend. What did it matter? She wasn’t interested in a relationship. And Isaac had enough going on in his life, between Beacon’s delayed homecoming and getting better.

Anything more than friendship would only get in the way.

Isaac had thought for sure he’d have trouble sleeping, considering the way he’d witnessed the attack on Vanessa, but surprisingly, he slept the entire night through.

He scrubbed a hand over his sandpaper-rough jaw and marveled at how many times he’d slept through the night without being awoken from a nightmare. Months ago, they plagued him nightly. Now he only had them once a week, maybe less.

Logically, he knew that his issues weren’t just because of Jake’s death and the horrible experience of being shot out of the sky, but a culmination of several treacherous flights over enemy territory, always under fire, yet somehow managing to escape.

Until that last flight had killed Jake and his copilot, Kevin, leaving only him and Beacon.

He took several deep calming breaths to keep the memories at bay. Maybe he’d slept well because today was the day Beacon was coming home. The thought made him smile and he bolted out of bed to let Tango outside, then to shower, shave and dress.

As always, he took care of Tango first, providing the dog food and water, before grabbing a quick bite to eat. As he nursed a cup of coffee, his gaze fell on the reenlistment paperwork sitting in the center of the kitchen table. He pulled it toward him.

For several long seconds, he stared at the spot where he was supposed to sign his name. He’d have to pass a medical and psychological exam no matter what job he decided to do if he stayed in the Air Force, so why bother filling the stupid thing out? Maybe this was his time to get out of the military.

And do what?

He had no idea.

With a rough gesture, he shoved the paperwork aside. He still had several weeks yet before it was due. No point in dwelling on it now.

Today he only had one priority. Beacon.

After finishing his coffee, Isaac stared at Tango for a moment, then decided to take the dog for a walk. It was going to be a long day if he didn’t find some way to occupy his time until Beacon’s arrival.

Instantly, his thoughts went to Vanessa, Aiden and the four fostered puppies Aiden had named after national parks.

Nope. He shook his head. Not a smart idea to get too emotionally involved. Although, he had offered to talk to Aiden, hadn’t he? And to keep Vanessa safe during the daytime hours?

Yes, he had.

She’d be safe with Eagle until he got there, so he took a quick walk around base to clear his head. He was secretly glad her house wasn’t far from his as it would be easier to keep an eye on her.

He was thrilled when he’d found his place, located on a dead-end street not far from the veterinary clinic.

Dogs were known to suffer from PTSD, too, and he used the fact to argue why he was the best fit for Beacon. With Jake gone, he was Beacon’s best chance. He’d even gotten Jake’s younger sister, Jacey, who was also a dog handler currently deployed overseas, to add her support.

He and the dog were two wounded warriors who deserved to be together. And the powers that be within the Air Force had finally agreed with him.

He ran into Captain Kyle Roark outside the veterinary clinic and waved him down. “Hey, any news on the female dog you operated on last night?”

Kyle nodded. “So far, she’s holding her own. I have her on heavy-duty antibiotics and I’m keeping her sedated because of the extensive sutures. In my professional opinion she was likely attacked by a coyote.”

“I’m happy to hear she’s recovering. And an animal bite is better than the idea of humans hurting her on purpose,” Isaac said with a heavy sigh. “At least now there’s no reason to believe there’s a possible connection to the Olio Crime Organization.”

Kyle grimaced. “I’m not sure they’re entirely out of the picture. No one living on base has reported a lost dog, aside from the training dogs that are still missing. A person within the crime ring may have sneaked the dog on base because she was pregnant and they wanted nothing to do with a litter of pups.”

“Why?” Isaac asked. “They could dump her anywhere.”

“Who knows how these guys think?” Kyle shook his head. “It’s just odd that she showed up here, that’s all. Anyone on base would take better care of their pet.”

“Maybe.” Done with the discussion of the injured dog, he turned his attention to the topic that had him anxious. “Are you going to be around later when Beacon arrives?”

Kyle’s face lit up with a wide smile. “Wouldn’t miss it.”

“Great. I’ll see you then.” Isaac waved and took Tango home.

He did some chores around the house for a couple of hours. By lunchtime, he decided he couldn’t stay home alone any longer. He picked up three meals to go from Carmen’s, his favorite Italian restaurant, and brought them over to Vanessa’s house.

He walked up to Vanessa’s front door and rapped lightly.

A series of high-pitched yips could be heard from inside, making him smile. Vanessa opened the door looking surprised to see him.

“Isaac, I wasn’t expecting you for a couple of hours yet.”

“I brought lunch from Carmen’s,” he said, lifting the bag as proof. “Enough pasta for all three of us.”

Her expression softened as she realized he’d included Aiden. “Come in. Lunch will be a welcome break from the nonstop potty training going on around here.”

“I can only imagine,” he said with a chuckle. Inside, he nodded to her brother.

“Hey,” Aiden greeted him cautiously.

“How are our four national parks doing?” he joked.

“They’re awesome.” Aiden placed the puppies back in their box. “Something smells good.”

“Carmen’s is always amazing.” He set the bag in the center of the kitchen table as Vanessa and Aiden washed up at the sink. Vanessa was more beautiful than he remembered, with her dark wavy hair hanging loose around her shoulders. She wore her dress blues and he appreciated her delicate features.

Whoa, wait a minute. What was wrong with him? He’d been around plenty of attractive women before. Even since his former fiancée, Amber. None had even remotely raised his interest.

Until now.

Vanessa pulled out plates and silverware while Aiden fetched three bottles of cold water from the fridge. He opened the bag and pulled out the aluminum to-go containers of pasta, each still warm from the oven.

Vanessa took her seat, bowed her head and began to pray. “Dear Lord, we thank You for this food we are about to eat and for the friendship You have blessed us with. Keep Beacon and the puppies safe in Your care, Amen.”

Despite his reservations about God and faith, Isaac thought of Beacon and found himself responding with a heartfelt “Amen.”

“Amen,” Aiden added, glancing down at the box of pups near his feet.

The spaghetti and meatballs from Carmen’s were delicious, and as they ate, they discussed the puppies at length. Isaac was impressed at the responsibility Aiden was taking in caring for them, especially the way he’d found a way to identify each one by sight corresponding them to their name. Denali had a notch in her right ear and Shenandoah was the runt of the litter. Bryce had a small tan spot on his belly while the fur on the tip of Smoky’s tail was black.

Vanessa seemed more relaxed, too, despite the bruises that darkened her neck. He was relieved to hear she’d used ice to keep the swelling down.

The time flew by and he soon realized they had to leave to avoid being late. He asked Aiden if he wanted to come with them, but the young man insisted on staying home to watch over the pups.

“I’m going to try some mash while you’re gone,” Aiden said with a wry grin. “Better that Nessa isn’t here to watch, since Kyle warned me about how messy they’ll get.”

“Maybe you should feed them in the bathtub,” Vanessa suggested, her expression half-joking. “That way you can contain the mess and go right into giving them a bath.”

Aiden laughed at her suggestion. Vanessa looked so surprised, Isaac wondered how long it had been since she’d heard the sound of her brother’s laughter.

Fostering the puppies was obviously a great job for him.

“I’ll leave Eagle here with Aiden,” Vanessa said. “I’m sure Beacon doesn’t need the added stress.”

Isaac hesitated, then nodded. “It’s probably best.”

“We’ll take my SUV,” Vanessa said. “I’ll drive.”

“Okay.” After loading Tango into the back, he slid into the passenger seat beside her, wishing he was armed. But only Security Forces cops were armed on base, and as a pilot he couldn’t carry one without special permission. As she drove, he kept a sharp eye out for anything suspicious.

Canyon Air Force Base was huge, covering over 600 acres. Roughly seven thousand people were on base at any given time, mostly military and some civilian. The airport runway was located on the north side of the base, a distance from the housing section.

Isaac swiped his damp palms against his jeans, unaccountably nervous. This was the moment he’d been waiting for since he arrived stateside.

Vanessa glanced at him. “Looks as if there’s already a big crowd of people gathered there along with the media. I hope I can find a place to park.”

Normally he wasn’t a fan of crowds, but knowing Beacon would be getting off the plane in less than thirty minutes made the discomfort worthwhile.

They found a parking spot in front of the command offices and walked from there. With Tango at his side, he kept close to Vanessa as they walked, again keeping a keen eye on their surroundings. No easy task since there were literally hundreds of airmen and officers around.

Once they were situated at the front of the crowd, he shielded his eyes from the sun with his hands, scanning the sky for the plane. There! A surge of excitement hit hard, although he told himself not to get his hopes up too high.

It wasn’t that long ago that he’d stood in this exact same spot waiting for another plane supposedly bringing Beacon home. Only it hadn’t been Beacon on the plane, but some other K-9. He’d suffered a relapse that night, despairing over the possibility of never seeing Beacon again.

At least this time, Vanessa was with him. He glanced over at her, amazed at what a difference it made to have someone supporting him.

He enjoyed spending time with her. She was easy to be around. Not nearly as demanding as Amber had been, or maybe he was just in a better place now than he had been back then. Considering he’d only first met Vanessa less than twenty-four hours ago, it was crazy how much he’d come to depend on her.

Only as a friend, he reminded himself. Once he had Beacon home, he wouldn’t need this weird connection he seemed to have with her.

As the sound of the plane engine grew louder, his heart beat faster with anticipation. The C-130 Hercules aircraft used for transporting troops emerged from the clouds, approaching the runway.

When the wheels hit the tarmac, he realized he was holding his breath and clutching Vanessa’s hand tightly in his. He released her with an apologetic smile.

She rested her hand in a reassuring gesture on his arm. The C-130 coasted to a stop, then angled toward the hangar.

He couldn’t stop himself from taking several steps forward, urging Vanessa along with him as they separated themselves from the crowd.

The cargo door in the rear of the plane opened and a short runway ramp was lowered to the ground. A man wearing his battle dress uniform emerged first, holding a leash, then he caught a glimpse of the familiar black-and-gold German shepherd.

Beacon!

He must have shouted the dog’s name out loud because the crowd burst into spontaneous applause.

The dog stood still for a moment, nose quivering. The animal must have picked up his scent, because he abruptly wheeled toward him, ears perked forward as if in recognition.

“Come, Beacon,” he said, taking a step forward to meet the dog who’d saved his life.

The loud crack of a gunshot rang out.

The entire area erupted into panicked chaos. The airman holding Beacon’s leash yanked the dog hard, diving for shelter as people began running and screaming, dropping to the ground and desperately seeking cover.

Vanessa pulled him down beside her. “Are you all right?” she asked breathlessly.

“I think so.” He was numb from shock, but checked himself for signs of injury. No blood? Good sign. Thankfully, he didn’t see any injuries on Vanessa or Tango, either. “I have to get to Beacon.”

He tried to pull away from her, but she hung on with steely determination. “No, you might put the dog in danger.”

The possibility made him sick to his stomach. Was Boyd really out there shooting at them? Why would Beacon have been the target? It didn’t make any sense for Boyd to come after the dog.

What in the world was going on?

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