Page 26 of Stone Cold Savage

“German shepherd.” Rip finished as Nash was at a loss for words.

“Yeah, I was going to say…” Nash gave Diesel an odd look, “Really? You sure? He’s so blonde and golden.”

“Little less than half husky too.” Rip went on.

“Okay, yeah, I guess I can sort of… Wait, huskies are grey, aren’t they?” Nash questioned.

“Not entirely. He’s also a little Staffordshire… hence the steroid comment.” Rip sneered.

“Staffordshire. Oh wow. That’s why he’s a little intimidating.” Nash framed his own face to finish his thought while moving further away from the dog, “That’s where all this comes from. Big. Beefy. Head… and stuff. And scary. So, why is he still staring at me like that?”

“Because you called him a lab.” Rip snorted.

Nash laughed, “Right, because he knows what that… You think he understands?”

“You also said donkey.” Devyn giggled.

“Oh, dude, Diesel, I only meant like your size. You’re a big guy, and yeah,” Nash continued to stumble over his words with his halfhearted explanation, or perhaps attempt at an apology, to Diesel. “I didn’t mean you were a jackass or anything. Just a big, strong guy… who clearly hates my guts. Okay then.”

“He’s an elite operative, Nash, and knows it. Dogs, in general, sense stress and other human emotions, and he’s trained to respond to those things in a specific way and that they mean something.”

“Really? So, what’s he sensing from me right now?”

“Probably anxiety, and that’s why he’s staring at you like that. He’s trying to get you to crack under pressure to see what you do next and evaluate your threat level.”

“Oh shit. He can tell all that and thinks I’m a threat? How do I fix that? I’ve always been a dog person, never met one I didn’t like or didn’t like me, so this is all…” Nash waved his hand over Diesel, indicating that he was referring to the entire experience going down with … the dog. “This is weird. And, I’m a little frightened, and maybe using that term for the first time in my life. Because he looks like he still wants to kill me.”

“He won’t kill you, Nash. He’s trained to take a bullet and lay down his life for you. He just probably thinks you’re…”

“Weird.” Devyn deadpanned as she stood and headed for the door, “Like the rest of us. Let’s go, Diesel. Time to feed your baby.”

Diesel grabbed the basket holding the kitten, carried it in his mouth by the handle, and trotted along on Devyn's heels.

“Hey, it’s not his baby,” Rip warned. “You’re ruining him. He isn’t a damn night nurse for your cat, he’s a soldier.”

“Uh huh,” Devyn said and waved over her shoulder. “Whatever you say.”

“I’m going to have to talk to Coy and Dillon about this. Our company spent a lot of money on him and his training, and you’re…”

“His new best friend, I know.” Devyn laughed. “He’s still a soldier, and he also has his own kitten.”

Nash stepped aside when Devyn passed to make room for Diesel and his kitten in a basket. Diesel stopped in front of him, lifted his leg, and relieved himself on Nash’s leg.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa.” Nash hollered and jumped back, “You’re dog just pissed all over me.”

Rip shrugged and followed Devyn and the dog, “You really shouldn’t have called him a lab.”

8

“There’s too many to search here.” Coy said, “Will anyone notice if we sign them all out and take them back to the ranch?”

Kenzie plopped on a nearby table and looked at the rows and rows of shelving containing box after box or old case files. “Who would notice? I don’t think anyone is grabbing cases from this many decades back.”

“You don’t have an active cold case division?” Coy asked as he leaned against a metal shelf.

“No resources. No funding. No need. They’re all cold for a reason, and nobody is asking why.” Kenzie admitted. “I say we take as many as we can fit in your rig.”

Coy stepped beside her and began putting files back in the box he’d been going through, “We can get several years’ worth in there. Might need to make a second trip, but hopefully, it doesn’t come to that.”

---