Love's Taming(81)

Just then the chief walked over, a droll look on his face. “If you two are finished trying to figure out how to get a woman or keep a woman, perhaps you can bring me up to date on what you’ve dug up that I can give to the prosecutors.”

Smirking, the men followed the chief into the conference room where they were met by others in the task force. Nodding their greetings, they began discussing the new evidence.

“When the local man, Cal Penski, was killed about two and a half years ago, we were able to shut down his end of the organization pushing the drugs through his strip clubs, which were nothin’ more than fronts for prostitution. And often drugged prostitutes working against their will. Another group just moved right in, but weren’t using the strip joints. This group was movin’ drugs from one place to another inside of dogs. We were able to get most of the gang, except for some of the top people. It appears that Gerard Washington left the area to parts unknown, but Xavier Thomas stayed to try to recoup his losses. You all know I was never able to find out where the dogs were comin’ from or where they were transporting them to. But we think that Rochelle and the DEA were getting close, and that’s probably why she was killed. Someone figured out she was getting intelligence.”

“So what have you found out about the dogs?”

“Suspicion is pointing to some possible groups breeding dogs that keep a steady supply to the gang. They are always big dogs, never very old, and not registered with anyone. We’ve looked at pounds and city shelters, but their adoption records don’t indicate any connection at all. But puppy-mills are around, hard to find, and quite possibly the source of the dogs.”

“All right. Keep working that angle,” the chief said to Shane and Matt as the rest of the group began reporting their findings.

* * *

Friday afternoon could not come soon enough for Annie. Regardless of Shane’s warnings, she could not help but look at the websites touting the horrors of the puppy-mills. Suzanne looked over her shoulder as Annie scrolled through pictures.

Shaking her head she said, “Doc, you’ve got to stop making yourself crazy over this. I know it’s upsetting, but what can you do? You’ve talked to Shane and he is going to follow up on some of the rumors. Don’t you think that might be enough?”

Annie tossed her copper hair over her shoulder as she looked up at her friend. “I seem to remember you on the phone the other day with Dr. Ketchum arguing with him about a dog being attacked.”

“That’s different. That affected one of our clients and I swear that doctor is hiding something.”

Annie raised her eyebrows in response and Suzanne hustled off to answer the phone. Leon was taking a rare day off to celebrate his anniversary with Shirley.

“So what’s Dr. Nancy Drew up to this weekend?” Carl joked as he walked into the room.

“Shane is tied up with a case and is working tomorrow, so I thought I would take the opportunity to visit a couple of farmer’s markets outside of town to see if I can find anyone selling pets that look ill.”

Carl and Suzanne shot each other a look of concern over Annie’s head. “Do you think that is wise?” Carl asked. “You going alone?”

Laughing, she turned in her seat to look at her friends. “Guys! What do you think I’m going to do? I just want to see for myself what is out there. I’m not going to attack anyone!”

“I wish I could go with you, but I am going to visit my parents this weekend. I’d go home on a different weekend if I could, but this is the only one that works for me.”

Annie swung her gaze to Suzanne. “The only one?”

Her face hardening for a moment, a flash of pain sliced through Suzanne’s eyes before being quickly replaced by a steely gaze. “I have someone from my hometown that I don’t wish to run into so my parents let me know when it is safe to come visit.”

Annie realized that Suzanne had just given more information about her personal life than she had ever in all the time that Annie had known her. She wanted to question further, find out what had Suzanne so closed off, especially about men, but knew that it wasn’t the right time or place with Carl standing there.

Nodding, she agreed, “No, you go home. I don’t need a babysitter.”

Carl looked between the two women sighing loudly. “Look, I’ve got tomorrow morning off, I’ll go with you Annie.”

Beaming, she announced, “Perfect! I won’t have to drive out there alone and you can make sure I don’t go all bad-ass on some poor puppy-mill owner.”

“You going to tell Shane what you are doing?” Carl asked.