Addison Fox - Colton K-9 Cop

“You got here fast. K-9’s out of the Austin PD.”

“I was in Whisperwood on another assignment.” Donovan shook the proffered hand before pointing toward a pretty woman covered in soot. “Is she hurt?”

“Claims she isn’t. That’s Ms. Reeves. Bellamy Reeves. She’s banged up and has a few scratches on her elbows and a bigger gash on her arm the EMTs bandaged up, but I’d say lucky all in all.”

At the utterance of her name, Donovan stilled. Although he hoped it didn’t show to Sanger, Alex recognized it immediately, shifting against his side.

Bellamy Reeves? The same woman he’d spoken to so many years ago in the Whisperwood corner store...

“Do you mind if I go talk to her?”

Sanger nodded, his gaze dropping to Alex. “Does he go everywhere with you?”

“Everywhere.”

“Good.”

Donovan walked to the woman, taking her in as he went. She was turned, her gaze focused on her car, but he could make out her profile and basic build. Same long legs. Same sweep of dark hair. And when she finally turned, he saw those same alert gray eyes, that were mysterious and generous, all at the same time.

She was still pretty, even beneath a layer of dirt and grime from whatever happened to her car. Which he’d get to in a moment. First, he wanted to see to her.

“Ms. Reeves?”

She had her arms crossed, the bandage Gus mentioned evident on her forearm and her hands cradled against her ribs as if hugging herself. She was drawn in—scared, by his estimation—and doing her level best to hide it. “Officer?”

He ordered Alex to heel at his side, then extended his hand. “I’m Officer Colton. This is Alex. We’re here to help you.”

Whether it was the use of their names or the fading shock of the moment, her eyes widened. “You.”

“It’s me. How are you, Bellamy?”

Those pretty eyes widened, then dropped to Alex. “He’s so big. Just like I knew he would be.” She instinctively reached for Alex before pulling her hand back.

“You can pet him if you’d like. He’s not formally working yet.”

She bent, her gaze on Alex as her hands went to cup the Lab’s head and ears. Donovan didn’t miss how they trembled or what a calming effect Alex seemed to have on her as she petted that soft expanse of fur. “You grew just as big as I knew you would. But I hope you’ve learned some restraint around plastic toys.”

“Grudgingly.” Donovan smiled when she glanced back up at him, pleased that she’d remembered them. “We nearly had a repeat incident with a few Barbie high heels but I managed to recover them before he swallowed them.”

“He’s a little thief.”

“One who fortunately matured out of the impulse.”

She stood back upright but kept a slightly less shaky hand on Alex’s head. “You’re here because of this?”

“I was in town on another assignment today and hadn’t left yet. Are you okay?” The assignment was a bit of a stretch but somehow, saying he had to visit his mother or risk her wrath didn’t seem like the most comforting comment.

“I’m fine. Gus looked at me quickly and I don’t feel hurt other than the scrapes. Shaken and sort of wobbly, but nothing hurts too bad or feels broken.”

“How close were you to the car?”

“I’d gotten in and realized I hadn’t closed the trunk. I was behind the car when it just—” She broke off, the disbelief still clear in her eyes. “When it just exploded.”

“We’re going to take a look at it but first I need Alex to sniff the rest of the cars that are still here so we can get these people out of here. Can you wait for me?”

“Where else am I going to go?”

For reasons Donovan couldn’t explain, he sensed there was something more in her comment. Something that went well beyond a car bomb or the shaky aftereffects of surviving a crime.

Something terrible had taken the light out of her beautiful gray eyes.

And he was determined to find out why.

Chapter Three

Bellamy stood to the side and watched the chaos that had overtaken the parking lot. Several cop cars had arrived shortly after Donovan and Alex as well as two fire trucks and the EMTs. At one point she’d estimated half of Whisperwood’s law enforcement had found its way to LSP. The scene was well controlled and she’d been happy to see how the local police handled the press who were already sniffing around for a story. They were currently corralled on the far edge of the property, clamoring for whatever scraps they could get.

She’d ignored them, even as one had somehow secured her cell phone number and had already dialed her three times. It was probably only the start and she’d finally turned off the ringer. There would be time enough to deal with the fallout once she knew what she was actually dealing with.

And it might be to her advantage to have a working relationship with someone from the press if she needed to tell her side of the story.

If? Or when? a small voice inside prompted.

Sighing, she let her gaze wander back over the assembled crowd of law enforcement. Would they help her if she truly needed it? Or would they bow to whatever pressure LSP might put on them?

Like a bucket of errant Ping-Pong balls, the thoughts winged around in her mind, volleying for position and prominence.

She’d already taken the proffered water and over-the-counter pain meds from the EMT attendant and had finally begun to feel their effect. The pain in her arm had subsided to a dull throb and the headache that had accompanied her since the accident had begun to fade, as well. But the endless questions in her mind continued.

The EMTs had pressed repeatedly to take her to the hospital for additional observation but she’d finally managed to push them off after submitting to several rounds of “follow the light” as they looked into her eyes, searching for a possible concussion. It had only been Donovan’s input—and assurances that he’d keep a watch on her—that had finally quelled the discussion about removing her from the premises.

Not that she exactly wanted to stand around and watch her car smolder in a pile of burned-out metal. Or question who might have wanted to harm her enough to put it in that condition.

It had taken her quite a while to come up with that conclusion, but once she did the sentiment wouldn’t shake.

Someone had done this.

Cars didn’t just explode when the ignition turned over. And innocent people didn’t just get fired from jobs they were good at and loyal to.

So what was going on and what mess had she fallen into? And had she really left her home that very morning thinking it was just another day?

And how was it that Donovan Colton was the one who arrived to rescue her?

She’d thought of him intermittently over the past five years. Most of the time it was a good memory—a sweet, flirty interlude with an attractive man. But there were other moments—when the memory stung and instead of leaving her with a smile it left her with a strange ache. The painful reminder of what she’d lost that night that went beyond a lost date.

Could things have been different?

In the end it hadn’t mattered. If she were honest with herself, it still didn’t. Her father was horribly injured that night and her life—all their lives—had irrevocably changed.

“Bellamy?” Gus shuffled up to her, his bright blue eyes hazed with concern. “You’ve been awfully quiet standing here all by yourself. Are you sure you don’t need to go to the emergency room?”

“I’m sure. I’m made of sturdier stuff.”

“If you’re sure?”

“I’m sure.” She glanced at the dissipating crowd. “Did they find any other bombs?”

“It doesn’t appear so. The damage from this hooligan seems confined to your car.”