“I said no."
"Why not?"
"I don’t like searching for cadavers.”
“But you do it."
She glanced away. "Yes, I do it.”
“Then do it for me."
"I think it’s time you left."
Eve rose to her feet. "Please think about it. I need you."
"Well, I don’t need this job." She turned toward Jane and the dog. "Come on, Monty. It’s time you stopped making an idiot of yourself." She snapped her fingers.
What happened next was amazing. Monty rolled over, leaped to his feet, and was by Sarah’s side in the space of seconds. His entire demeanor had changed. He was alert, charged with energy, and gazed at Sarah with total absorption. "He’s very obedient," Eve said. "I don’t think there’s any doubt who’s the dog and who’s the boss."
"I’m not his boss. We’re partners. Monty obeys because he knows there are situations where we could both get killed if he didn’t trust me." She moved toward the door and Monty was on her heels. "Please leave. You’re not going to get what you want."
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"I’m sorry you feel that way. Come on, Jane."
Jane frowned at Sarah. "Don’t make him run when it’s hot. It’s bad for him.”
“No, it’s good for him. We run five miles twice a day, rain or shine. We have to keep in shape and tolerate every kind of temperature. It’s important."
"He got tired." Jane reached out a hand to pet the dog. "You shouldn’t—" Monty was backing away from her touch. "Why is he doing that? I thought he liked me.”
“He does like you. He’s just in work mode."
"Let’s go, Jane." Eve headed for the car.
Jane reluctantly trailed her, gazing over her shoulder at Monty and Sarah Patrick. "I don’t like him this way. He was different before."
They’d both been different before Eve had mentioned the cadaver search. The woman and the dog standing in the doorway were not the duo that had welcomed them into the cabin. No hint of humor or warmth showed in Sarah’s face now. She looked tough as nails, and Monty reminded Eve of a witch’s familiar, remote and clinging only to Sarah.
"It’s very important," Eve called out to Sarah. "Think about it." Sarah shook her head.
"Do you mind if I phone you and ask if you’ve changed your mind?”
“I won’t change my mind."
Eve started the car.
"Wait." Sarah looked at Jane’s disappointed face, and then she glanced down at the dog. "Go say good-bye, Monty." She snapped her fingers. Metamorphosis. Monty bounded out of the cabin and stood up on the door of the passenger seat, trying to reach Jane through the open window.
Jane opened the door and Monty was on her, practically in her lap, whimpering and nuzzling her. She buried her face in his neck, her arms hugging him tightly.
"Enough," Sarah said.
Monty gave Jane a last slurp and backed away. He sat down, but his tail was pounding a drumroll on the ground.
"Thank you," Eve said.
Sarah shrugged. "What can I say? I’m a sucker for kids and dogs.” The Killing Game – Eve Duncan 02
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“Then listen to what I have to say. You could help—" Sarah went into the cabin and closed the door. Eve gritted her teeth in exasperation. Stubborn woman.
"She left Monty outside," Jane said. "What if he runs away and gets lost?”
“He won’t get lost." She started to drive and glanced in the rearview mirror at Monty. No witch’s familiar now, he was again the adorable dog who had melted Jane’s reserve. He turned, padded to the door, and struck it with one paw. It was opened immediately and he entered the cabin. "She takes good care of him."
"She makes him run." Jane scowled. "I don’t think I like her.”
“I do. Sometimes if you’re too soft, it does more harm than good.”
“But he’s a dog. He wouldn’t understand."
Wouldn’t he? Eve remembered her odd feeling when Sarah had looked into Monty’s eyes and told him to say good-bye. It was as if they’d read each other’s minds.
Witch’s familiar…
Crazy. The golden retriever was not sinister. Even when he’d been in work mode, he’d been remote rather than intimidating.
"You like her even though she won’t do what you want?" Jane asked. "Maybe she’ll change her mind."
Jane looked at her skeptically.
Eve felt skeptical herself. "I’ll call her later." In the meantime she’d hit the Internet again and search for other options.
She had a hunch changing Sarah Patrick’s mind would be almost impossible.
The phone was ringing when Eve walked into the house.
"Did you get her?" Logan asked as soon as Eve answered. "You had me followed."
"You wanted protection for the little girl."
"I take it they phoned back to tell you who I went to see?”
“Sarah Patrick. Cadaver dog. Smart move."
"She turned me down."
"Did you offer her enough money?"
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"We didn’t get that far. The minute I mentioned using Monty as a cadaver dog, she iced down.
She accused me of being with the ATF and being sent by someone named Madden. Whom she evidently doesn’t like."
"Do you want me to help?"
"No, I want you to butt out. I’ll get Sarah or someone else to help me.”
“But you want Sarah Patrick."
"Of course I do. She’s the best in the business and she’s a loner. She’d be less likely to turn me in to the police." She added dryly, "And she can’t stand the IRS, which should prove she’s the right stuff to you."
"Definitely."
"But if I can’t have her, I’ll find someone almost as good.”
“I could try to—"
"No, stay out of it, Logan." She hung up. "We’re not going to see Monty again?" Jane asked.
My God, her voice was almost wistful. "Have you ever had a dog?"
Jane shook her head.
Eve felt sorry for her. She had fallen like a brick for Monty. Who wouldn’t. He was utterly adorable. "I’ll try again tomorrow."
"If you want to. He’s kind of cute, but I don’t really care." Jane headed down the hall. "I think I’ll go read my book."
Sure she didn’t care. She was just raising the walls again. An entirely natural response by a child who’d been betrayed too many times in her short life. Eve couldn’t let the opportunity for Jane to have warmth and contact slip away.
She would try to get Sarah Patrick and Monty. If she couldn’t, she’d find another handler with a dog as smart and appealing as Monty.
Fat chance.
Dammit.
She reached for the phone and dialed information for the number of the Camelback Inn.
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ELEVEN
The desert night was chill, the breeze sharp and cool on Sarah’s face as she ran. Monty ran beside her, pacing her. She could feel the blood pumping through her veins, the muscles of her calves flex with every step.
Monty was getting impatient. She could feel it. He wouldn’t leave without permission, but he wanted to stretch out.
Halfway up the knoll, her pace faltered. Monty looked back at her.
She chuckled. "Go on. Make me look bad. Beat it." Monty flew.
She watched the moonlight brush a silver sheen on his golden coat as he ran straight up the incline. Beautiful… Scientists believed dogs were descended from wolves, but she never associated Monty with wild animals except in moments like these.
He was waiting for her on the top of the knoll. She could almost see his satisfaction. Weakling.
"I have two legs, not four." She stopped, trying to get her breath. "And I think you’re part billy goat."
Excuses.
Monty loped over to lean companionably against her. Silence. Wind. Night.
She closed her eyes, tasting them all. God, this was good. Monty whimpered.