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  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?

  FOUR

  From her position low on the ground, Vanessa swept her gaze over the area, searching for any sign of injuries to the people near her. It wasn’t easy, because most of them were running every which way, desperate to seek shelter from the gunman.

  No evidence of bleeding wounds so far, but that fact was only slightly reassuring.

  Boyd must have been the one who’d taken a shot at Isaac’s dog. Who else would do something so crazy? But why? It didn’t make any sense.

  Unless Beacon hadn’t been the true target. She shivered, despite the heat.

  She remembered feeling something whizzing past her face. Was it possible the bullet was meant for her? She’d been standing in a direct line in front of Beacon.

  “Beacon!” Isaac’s voice was hoarse with fear. “I don’t see him. Where did he go?”

  She tightened her grip on Isaac’s arm, determined to prevent him from running directly toward the plane. “The handler will keep him safe.”

  Isaac didn’t look convinced. “I think Beacon may be hurt. It looked as if he may have hit the side of the C-130 when the handler jerked him out of the line of fire.”

  “We’ll check it out.” She kept her tone calm, worried Isaac might suffer a relapse between the sound of gunfire and the crazed chaos surrounding them. The crowd was thinning so they couldn’t stay here. They needed to move. The runway was clear, but what if the gunman was still out there? Better to try losing themselves in the crowd.

  “This way.” Isaac rose to his feet, clutching Tango’s leash.

  She nodded. “I’m with you.”

  Isaac gently propelled her protectively in front of him, toward a large group of people exiting the area, as if he’d read her mind. “We’ll circle around to the other side of the plane.”

  “Understood.” She continued to watch the people around her for injuries. Security Forces cops swarmed the area in search of the gunman. She hoped and prayed they’d find Boyd, or whoever the shooter was.

  “Help me! Someone please help me!”

  Vanessa stopped and turned toward the sound of crying. A woman was crouched on the ground, clutching her ankle.

  “Isaac, hold up.” She detoured toward the sobbing woman, kneeling beside her. “What happened?”

  “I was crushed in the crowd.” The woman swiped at her face in an attempt to pull herself together. “I was pushed down and someone stomped on my ankle.” She sniffed and swiped at her face again. “Do you think it’s broken?”

  The ankle was swollen and starting to bruise, so it was entirely possible. “You’ll need to have that x-rayed.”

  Isaac dropped down beside them. “We better call an ambulance.”

  On cue, the wail of sirens rose above the din. “They’re almost here.” She glanced at Isaac. “I’ll stay here with her, if you want to go ahead to find Beacon.”

  His gaze flickered with indecision, but then he shook his head. “I’m not leaving you alone. We’ll make sure she’s cared for first.”

  She flashed a grateful smile and then attempted to catch the attention of an ambulance that had just arrived. But she was just one person in a sea of people. Fortunately, one of the cops noticed her and ran over.

  “Crowd crush injury,” Vanessa told him. “I’m a nurse from the hospital. Do you know if anyone else is hurt?”

  “Only minor bumps and bruises so far from what I can see.” The cop’s expression was grim. “Could have been much worse.”

  “I know.” Vanessa silently thanked God for watching over the men and women on base. “She needs a lift to the hospital for X-rays.”

  “Understood.” The cop jogged toward the ambulance, waving his arm. Two paramedics jumped out, grabbed a gurney and headed in their direction.

  Once the injured woman was safely on her way to the hospital, she turned back to Isaac. “Let’s go find Beacon.”

  He nodded, placing his hand on the small of her back, keeping her ahead of him.

  Hyperaware of the heat radiating from his fingers, she did her best to stay focused. As they approached the opposite side of the runway, two cops identified by their dark blue berets stepped in front of them, blocking their path. They both saluted, then stood at attention.

  “We need to get through,” Vanessa said, after returning their salute.

  “This is a restricted area, ma’am,” the taller of the two said. “You both need to clear out.”

  Isaac frowned. “I’m Captain Goddard, and Beacon is my dog,” Isaac said in an authoritative tone.
“I need to make sure he’s okay.”

  “I’m sorry, sir, but as I said, this is a restricted area,” the taller cop repeated. “I’m afraid you’ll need to make other arrangements.”

  She felt Isaac tense and tried to think of a way past these guys.

  “Isaac?” A familiar voice caught her attention. She glanced over to see Captain Kyle Roark, waving at Isaac from behind the two cops. The vet sent him a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry, I have it under control.”

  “Is Beacon all right?” Isaac asked. “He wasn’t hit by gunfire, was he?”

  “No, he wasn’t shot. He’ll be fine.” A shadow crossed Kyle’s eyes. “Try not to stress about this, Isaac. I’m taking Beacon to the clinic. You can visit him there later, okay?”

  The hope in Isaac’s eyes wilted away, replaced by panic. “The clinic? Why? What happened?”

  Kyle made his way through the cops to face Isaac. “Beacon wasn’t hit by a bullet or anything, but he does have a bad laceration and possible head injury.”

  Isaac went pale. Vanessa grasped his arm in an attempt to keep him grounded. “Did that happen when the handler jerked him out of the way?”

  Kyle winced. “I’m afraid so. His head hit the edge of the plane. But I think he’s going to be fine. This is merely a precaution, okay? I just want to watch him for a couple of days.”

  “Yeah, I get it.” Isaac’s shoulders slumped in defeat.

  Vanessa’s heart went out to him. She knew how much Isaac had been looking forward to being reunited with Beacon. Especially after all this time. Six months was a long time and now this latest issue was yet one more obstacle thrown into his path.

  The vet turned and made his way back through the restricted area to care for Beacon.

  “Come on, Isaac.” She forced a smile. “Let’s get out of here. Beacon is in good hands with Kyle.”

  “I know.” Isaac’s voice was low and rough. “I hope he’s right about the injury not being serious. If anything happens to Beacon...” His voice trailed off.

  She squeezed his arm. “It won’t.” She edged away from the two cops, unwilling to talk in front of them. Isaac and Tango followed. “Let’s try to look on the bright side. Beacon is here, on base. Home at last. He’ll be staying with you 24/7 in no time.”